Momonga walked briskly through the bustling corridors of the North Blue Marine Headquarters. Officers and enlisted men alike snapped to attention as he passed. Countless salutes were thrown his way, each one met with a simple nod. There was no time for pleasantries today—he had pressing matters to attend to.
Finally, he reached his office. The door swung open smoothly as he stepped inside and closed it behind him. With precise movements, he shed his blazer, hanging it neatly on the coat rack, and strode directly to his desk. A sense of urgency lingered in the air as he reached for the Den Den Mushi and carefully dialed a specific number.
The Den Den Mushi vibrated—Buru Buru Buru Buru Buru—until a crisp voice answered, "Hello, Momonga. It's very rare for you to call me."
Momonga allowed himself a brief, hidden smile. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Sengoku chuckled warmly through the receiver. "It truly has, Momonga. And… I'm hoping this call is about you finally accepting my promotion offer to Vice Admiral? We're short on officers, you know."
Momonga chuckled awkwardly, shaking his head. "I'm afraid that's not why I called, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Sengoku's voice dropped slightly, tinged with a sigh. "I figured as much. Your dedication to the North Blue is still as strong as ever. So… Momonga, since you called me personally, it must be important. What is it?"
Straightening in his chair, Momonga's expression became serious. "Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. This is about a new Marine talent I've discovered."
There was a pause on the other side, followed by a tone of disbelief. "A Marine talent?" Sengoku's voice rose slightly. "Really, Momonga?"
"Yes," Momonga replied, his voice steady and confident. "Someone I believe has the potential to shape the future of the Marines."
Sengoku sighed. "Momonga… did you really call me to tell me about some Marine you scouted? That's… nice and all, but it's hardly something that needs reporting. I am a busy man, you know."
Momonga quickly interjected. "I know, sir. But this is no ordinary talent. That's why I wanted guidance on how to proceed with him."
Sengoku was silent for a moment, pondering the seriousness in Momonga's voice. Then he finally spoke. "Fine. I'll hear you out. Tell me about him."
A small smile appeared on Momonga's face as he leaned forward. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the boy in question is seven years old."
Sengoku whistled softly, a mixture of curiosity and disbelief in his tone. "Seven years old… he must be exceptional to catch your attention at that age."
Momonga's smile widened. "Indeed, sir. He possesses a monstrous Logia Devil Fruit listed in the Encyclopedia as the Forest Forest Fruit. In addition, he has Conqueror's Haki."
There was a stunned silence on the other end of the line. After a few seconds, a shouted exclamation cut through. "WHAT DID YOU SAY!?"
Before Momonga could even process the reaction, another voice interjected lazily through the Den Den Mushi. "Well, now that's something."
Momentarily taken aback, Momonga asked, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, do you have someone with you?"
The lazy voice replied, "Hello, it's Borsalino here… or Admiral Kizaru, for you."
Momonga's eyes widened. "Admiral Kizaru?"
"Yes," came the response, calm and detached. "It's nice to meet you."
Sengoku's voice suddenly snapped through the Den Den Mushi. "Shut up, Borsalino!"
Unfazed, Kizaru brought the receiver unusually close to his mouth and asked with casual curiosity, "Momonga, are you sure about what you've just said?"
Momonga chuckled nervously, caught between the two titans. "I'm certain, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. The boy even defeated approximately 100 infamous North Blue pirates by himself, knocking out around 96 of them with nothing but his will."
Sengoku paused for a long moment before chuckling and finally bursting into laughter. "Momonga… has this boy joined the Marines yet?"
"No, sir. Not yet. But he seems genuinely interested in fighting for justice. I'll be meeting him next week to determine his answer," Momonga replied firmly.
Sengoku's tone turned sharp, filled with command. "Momonga… make sure you do everything in your power to secure this boy for the Marines. We cannot allow him to become an enemy."
"Yes, sir. I will do my utmost," Momonga affirmed. "That's why I wanted guidance regarding his development. Should I send him directly to Marineford for proper training?"
Sengoku considered it. "No. Keep him with you in the North Blue and mentor him there. The Grand Line is far too dangerous for a seven-year-old. He needs time to grow."
Momonga nodded. "Understood, Fleet Admiral."
Kizaru's lazy voice cut in again. "Do your best, Captain Momonga."
"Shut up, Borsalino," Sengoku barked.
Kizaru raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku… I was just offering words of encouragement."
Sengoku's sharp reply came immediately. "Why don't you motivate yourself first?"
With that, the Den Den Mushi went silent. Momonga was left alone in his office, twitching slightly at the absurdity of the argument that had just unfolded. He exhaled slowly, his expression hardening with resolve. "No matter what… Tenjin must join the Marines."
---
10 Years Later
1529, Age of the Sea Calendar
North Blue Marine Headquarters
A young woman paced impatiently in a sunlit office, irritation etched across her face. She was slim, her dark blue shoulder-length hair framed her sharp features, and a pair of red glasses rested atop her head. She wore a fur-lined dark blue jacket over a green floral shirt, light blue fitted pants, purple gloves, and black shoes. A sword with a green handle rested casually against her side, a subtle aura of danger surrounding her presence.
"Where the hell is he?" she muttered, frustration bleeding through her words. "I swear, they're handing out high-ranking positions to the most incompetent people ever."
Just then, the door creaked open. A young man sauntered in, his posture relaxed and confident. Lean and muscular, his messy green hair fell into sharp eyes that scanned the room with amusement. He wore an open beige shirt revealing his chest, black pants, tan boots, and a white, gold-trimmed captain's coat draped over his shoulders. In one hand he held a bag of chips, and in the other, a few plastic bags from recent shopping.
"Oh… Tashigi," he said upon seeing her, flashing a wide grin. "I'm back."
Tashigi stomped her foot in frustration. "Don't give me that 'I'm back' nonsense. Where the hell have you been, Captain Tenny?"
The boy blinked, genuinely confused. "Wait… but Tashigi, I thought you said I could take time off for my birthday?"
A vein bulged in Tashigi's forehead. "I said I'd cover for you and you could take the weekend off. I did not say you could take the entire week!" Her voice rose, irritation sharpening each word.
He sighed, tossing a chip into his mouth and strolling toward the desk. Placing his packages down, he circled the chair and plopped himself in. "Tashigi, you read too much into nuance. That's why you'll grow old worrying like this."
Tashigi's glare was unrelenting. "How the hell did you become a Marine Captain, and why the hell am I stuck with you?"
He simply flashed a wide, confident smile. "You're asking the wrong person, because I have zero answers for either question."
This boy was none other than Rokkaku Tenjin. Ten years had passed, and in that time, he had risen rapidly through the Marine ranks. Now a Captain, he commanded the highest respect in the North Blue, proudly carrying the nickname he had given himself: Captain Tenny.
Despite the casual, cocky demeanor he displayed, a quiet, dangerous power radiated from him. A living testament to the years of discipline, power, and potential that had been nurtured under Momonga's guidance.
The story of the seven-year-old who had defeated the Nagels Pirates had now evolved into legend. And now, the North Blue had its most formidable Captain, a man whose very presence commanded respect, fear, and admiration in equal measure.
Aside from the fact that only Pirates had such fear for him. Because when he was not hunting Pirates, he was just an incompetent. Marine Captain.