The forest of Gokuro Island slowly exhaled.
What had moments ago been a writhing hellscape of roots, splintered earth, and shattered stone gradually stilled, the Mori Mori no Mi's influence receding as if the land itself had decided the conflict was over. Broken trees creaked softly in the ocean breeze, leaves drifting down in lazy spirals. The scent of crushed greenery and salt hung thick in the air.
Tenjin turned back.
His boots crunched lightly against bark and soil as he walked toward the separated upper body of Tashigi, who lay propped awkwardly against a tree root. Her glasses were slightly crooked, her sword still clutched in one hand, irritation burning clearly in her eyes despite the absurdity of her situation.
Tenjin stopped in front of her.
Then crouched.
He stared.
For a long time.
His head tilted slowly from left to right, neck rolling with faint, curious cracks as though he were examining an unusual specimen. His expression wasn't mocking, if anything, it was openly fascinated, the way a child might stare at something strange and new.
Tashigi's eyebrow twitched.
"Stop looking at me as if I'm some exhibition!" she snapped.
Tenjin chuckled softly. "You've been cut in half," he said casually, eyes never leaving her. "Yet you are still alive. Now this is weird."
Tashigi's face flushed with frustration. "Then try to do something about it! I'm also confused!"
Tenjin reached down and carefully picked up her upper body as if she weighed nothing at all.
"…What am I supposed to do?" he asked honestly.
"I don't know!" Tashigi shot back. "At least you can try to do something, I can't!"
Tenjin glanced around until his eyes landed on her lower body, which stood several meters away, frozen upright in the exact position it had been severed. He walked over calmly, carrying her like an awkwardly shaped package.
Then, almost experimentally he aligned her upper half with the lower.
As if she were a misplaced puzzle piece, he placed her back where she belonged.
There was no sound. No flash. No resistance.
She just… stuck.
Tashigi's eyes widened.
She gasped sharply as sensation rushed back all at once. In a panic, she sprang to her feet, hands flying over her torso, arms, waist, legs, everywhere checking desperately for something wrong.
Tenjin straightened and watched.
"Well?" he asked. "How is it?"
Tashigi twisted side to side, bent forward, then backward, stamping her feet once or twice. Finally, she exhaled.
"It's good," she said. "I'm fine."
Tenjin let out a low laugh. "What an ability," he muttered. "He makes humans puzzles. That Trafalgar Law."
"It's not supposed to be amusing," Tashigi said sharply.
Tenjin didn't respond. He turned instead, eyes already on the distant outline of the Marine warship waiting offshore.
"It's time to head back," he said, starting to walk.
Tashigi immediately followed, her expression hardening.
"Captain Tenjin," she said firmly. "You let them escape, didn't you?"
Tenjin didn't slow down. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
She kept pace. "Captain Tenjin. I know your strength. It should have been more than easy to take care of those Pirates. You purposely let them go."
Tenjin said nothing.
He continued walking.
The sound of waves grew louder as they approached the shoreline, broken branches crunching beneath their boots. Eventually, the massive silhouette of the warship loomed before them.
As Tenjin boarded, Marines snapped to attention instantly.
"Thank you for the good work, Captain!"
Tenjin nodded once, already moving. He strode straight to the front of the ship and raised his voice.
"Set sail back to base."
"Sir, yes sir!"
The deck exploded into motion. Sails adjusted, ropes pulled, commands echoed across the ship as it began to turn.
Tashigi climbed up beside him, fists clenched.
"Captain Tenjin," she said. "Are you just going to ignore me?"
Tenjin stared ahead at the horizon.
"Tashigi," he said calmly. "If you had a friend, someone you've been best friends with for a long time suddenly does something bad… and the reason for him doing that bad thing is because you were not there for him when he needed you most, what do you do?"
Tashigi froze.
Silence swallowed her words before they could form.
"…I understand your stance," she said quietly.
"If you understand my stance," Tenjin cut in, "then stop bringing it up."
"…Sorry for being inconsiderate."
The ship sailed on.
Wind snapped against sails. Waves rolled endlessly beneath them. A long stretch of silence followed.
Then Tenjin turned back, a smug smile creeping onto his face.
"Besides," he said, "if you really had a problem with them escaping, you could have done something about it instead of being cut in half like some bread."
A vein popped on Tashigi's forehead.
"Captain Tenjin," she snapped, voice laced with shame and irritation, "let's not talk about that, okay?"
"Why?" he pressed, grin widening. "Is it because you were useless the entire fight?"
"Well I couldn't have expected him to cut me in half, okay?!"
Tenjin burst out laughing.
The sound was loud, genuine, infectious.
Around the deck, Marines visibly relaxed. Shoulders dropped. Tension eased. Seeing their Captain laugh like that made the weight in their chests lift, just a little.
---
Marine Headquarters
Stacks of paperwork covered Sengoku's desk like a small mountain range.
Sengoku and Tsuru sat across from one another, quietly sorting documents related to the upcoming trainee escorts.
"The logistics for this are so irritating," Tsuru said. "We need a Vice Admiral each to escort the trainees. Who even made up these rules?"
Sengoku sighed. "It was that old man Kong. He said it was to motivate the youth, so they can see where they could be in the future. And even though we are short on personnel, I don't want to change the foundation built by Old Man Kong."
Tsuru sighed. "Sengoku… I'm sure Kong would want you to build the Marines in your image without his shadow looming over you."
"I know," Sengoku replied. "Actually, I believe in his foundation. That's why I don't want to change it."
Tsuru smiled. "I see. That's good then."
A booming then laugh echoed down the hall.
The a few seconds later the door flew open.
"SENGOKU! ARE YOU HERE?!"
An old man walked in laughing loudly, then paused.
"Oh," he said cheerfully. "Tsuru. You're here too."
"Hello, Garp."
Monkey D. Garp, Hero of the Marines, grinned.
"What are you doing here, Garp?" Sengoku asked flatly.
Garp walked over then dropped into the chair beside Tsuru. "I'm here to check if the preparations for the trainees are going well. Koby and Helmeppo are excited about this you know."
"Why wouldn't they be, Garp?" Sengoku muttered.
"I don't know."
Tsuru eyed him. "You just wanted to see Sengoku, didn't you Garp? You don't need to hide behind it being official business."
Garp laughed. "I don't know what you're talking about Tsuru!"
A knock then interrupted them.
"Who is it this time?" Sengoku barked.
"Calm down Sengoku, " Tsuru said gently. "Come in."
A Marine entered and saluted. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku. An agent of CP0 is on the line."
"CP0?" Sengoku stiffened. "Bring the Den Den Mushi here."
The Marine complied, placed it on the table, saluted, and left.
Sengoku leaned forward. "Hello."
"Is this Fleet Admiral Sengoku?" a voice asked.
"Yes this is him."
"Alright Fleet Admiral. Saint Paul of the Manmayer family has been shipwrecked in the North Blue. We require you to contact the Marine forces there to cooperate with us and give Saint Paul a comfortable stay while we wait for backup."
Sengoku stood abruptly. "A Celestial Dragon. Is he safe?"
"Yes. We are traveling to Lvneel Kingdom. We do not want any problems when we get there."
Garp clicked his tongue. "A bastard survived. Why didn't they die?"
The agent paused. "Fleet Admiral… is there someone else in the room?"
"Yes. Vice Admiral Garp and Vice Admiral Tsuru."
"…Understood."
"I'll coordinate with the North Blue forces," Sengoku said.
"Thank you."
The call ended.
Sengoku sank back into his chair.
"Just ignore it," Garp said. "Let them die."
"You know I can't do that," Sengoku replied. "Luckily… the North Blue has someone capable. That boy Tenjin. Tsuru, can you contact him?"
Tsuru nodded. "Okay."
She reached for the Den Den Mushi and dialed.