Koshiro's Resolve

The next day, the front page of the World News Bulletin carried a striking headline—

[19-year-old Marine rising star takes on "Red-Haired" Shanks one-on-one! Fierce battle ends in a draw!]

The subheading read: Roy, a Marine rear admiral just 19 years old, clashed with the monstrous Red Hair Pirates of the New World! Their Conqueror's Haki nearly destroyed an entire uninhabited island!

The whole world was abuzz!

The New World, inside a tavern—

Pirates sat around the bar, passing a newspaper through the crowd. Its pictures showed the devastation of the uninhabited island, along with the red-and-black lightning of Conqueror's Haki as Roy and Shanks collided!

"Seriously?! A Marine rookie actually stopped Shanks?!"

"I heard half the island just collapsed!"

"Have the Marines gone crazy?! Are they going to have a second 'Garp'?!"

"Nineteen... That Roy is only nineteen!!!"

The place erupted.

Marine Headquarters, Sengoku's office—

Footage of the battle in the East Blue flickered in a projection from a Den Den Mushi.

Afterimages of Roy's teleportation flashed around Shanks like meteors streaking across the night sky;

Fists wreathed in Conqueror's Haki clashed violently with the Famous Sword Griffon, sending sparks flying;

The entire uninhabited island crumbled and caved in beneath the clash of two powers of Conqueror's Haki, like the end of the world.

Sakazuki clenched a cigar between his teeth, its ember glowing as he puffed. "Once he engaged, he should have wiped them out completely, but... he did show the might of the Marines."

Borsalino crossed his legs, smiling lazily. "Young people these days are so scary~ How long has it been since he graduated? And he already dared to pick a fight with a pirate whose bounty is almost a billion~"

Kuzan narrowed his eyes, resting his head lazily on his arms. "He was right to hold back... If Red-Hair had brought his whole crew and fought to the death, that would have been a real problem."

Sengoku sat at the head of the room and, for once, was surprisingly not angry. "What is that brat Roy trying to do...?"

"Smack!"

Garp suddenly smashed the tabletop with one fist, trembling all over with excitement. "Hahaha! That brat's Fist Bone: Meteor hit harder than I did when I smashed islands back in the day!"

Zephyr adjusted his sunglasses and sneered. "Hah, Garp, what have you ever taught him besides useless things like 'you have to drink tea with rice crackers'?"

Garp snorted. "Bullshit! I personally taught Roy Fist Bone: Meteor! Your rigid Six Powers training almost ruined him!"

Zephyr immediately slammed the table. "Nonsense! I trained him in Armament Haki Hardening myself!"

Garp grinned. "Oh? Then what about his Conqueror's Haki? Could you have taught him that?"

A vein bulged on Zephyr's forehead. "...Isn't that because you old bastard took him to the New World to fight all the time?!"

The two edged closer as they argued, until their faces were almost touching!

Garp suddenly reached out. "If you're not convinced, let's settle this like men!"

Zephyr sneered. "Just what I wanted!"

The next second—

"Pfft!"

Garp jabbed his index finger into Zephyr's nostril!

Not to be outdone, Zephyr jabbed a finger into Garp's nostril in return!

With their noses locked like that, the two glared at each other!

Sakazuki covered his forehead, his cigar falling to the floor. "..."

Borsalino said, "Oh~ How scary~ So this is what the legendary 'Marine heroes' are like~"

Kuzan flopped back onto the sofa. "Ah... I'm going to sleep for a while. Wake me when it's over..."

Veins throbbed on Sengoku's forehead, and his fists cracked as he clenched them. "You two... know when to stop...!!!"

Just as Sengoku was about to erupt—

"Swish!"

Vice Admiral Tsuru walked over calmly and grabbed both men by their collars. "If you're going to fight, do it outside. Don't dirty the office."

Zephyr struggled slightly. "Tsuru! Let me go! I have to teach this old bastard a lesson today!"

Garp still had his finger in Zephyr's nostril. "Hahaha! Old man, your nose is pretty stretchy!"

Sengoku finally roared, "You two!!!"

At last, amid Sengoku's roar, the speechlessness of the three vice admirals, and Tsuru's helpless sigh, the farce came to an end...

East Blue, Foosha Village

Shanks pressed a hand to the split between his thumb and forefinger, which had been torn open by Armament Haki, and gazed intently in the direction Roy had disappeared.

"Only nineteen... and he's already that strong."

The sea breeze swept through his long red hair, stirring its ends. There was a hint of complicated feeling in the smile in his eyes.

He turned and looked toward Benn Beckman, who stood nearby.

Benn Beckman lit a cigarette and let out a long stream of smoke, his eyes narrowing. "That guy's teleportation range is at least twenty nautical miles. Observation Haki won't stop him."

Shanks patted the hilt of his sword and said quietly, "That guy... he's another monster of the new era."

"Captain!"

Yasopp hurried over with a sniper rifle slung over his shoulder, his expression tense. "We just got word that the Whitebeard Pirates have appeared near our territory!"

The moment he finished, the members of the Red Hair Pirates stiffened, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Shanks narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them. Then he grinned. "Hahaha... The Whitebeard Pirates, huh... One problem after another."

As soon as he spoke, the entire crew made ready to depart.

"All hands, listen up—back to the New World!"

"Yes, sir!"

The members of the Red Hair Pirates answered in unison, swiftly gathering their belongings and heading for the ship.

Only Shanks remained standing by the sea, waves breaking against the rocks at his feet.

He gazed at the once-peaceful little village. In the breeze, the sound of the windmill turning seemed especially lonely.

"Shimotsuki Village..."

Shanks's gaze deepened, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"Now that guy has his eye on it, looks like the plan needs to change..."

Remembering Roy's unpredictable teleportation ability, his expression gradually darkened.

"That ability won't be easy to deal with."

Shimotsuki Village, Shimotsuki Dojo

The last rays of the setting sun spilled across the dojo's wooden floor, casting a warm yet slightly solemn atmosphere.

A faint scent of herbs lingered in the air, and the wooden practice swords hanging on the wall swayed gently in the breeze.

"Waaah!! Big Brother Roy, you're covered in blood!!"

Little Nami was so frightened that tears streamed down her face. Her small hands clutched Roy's cloak tightly, as though afraid he might collapse at any moment.

Luffy was even more frantic, waving his arms wildly. "A doctor! Get a doctor, quick!"

Roy laughed and ruffled the two children's heads. "Don't panic. They're just minor injuries."

As he spoke, he lifted the hem of his uniform, revealing a scabbed-over wound. "See? It's almost healed."

Nami sniffled and reached out to poke the scar. Only after confirming that he was really all right did she smile through her tears. "Liar!"

Luffy instantly forgot his worry and leaned closer, his eyes wide. "That's amazing! How did you do that?"

Roy chuckled and turned slightly. "I forgot to show you this."

Before he had finished speaking, his figure blurred, and he vanished from where he stood in an instant.

The next second, he was wearing a brand-new Marine uniform, his white cloak fluttering in the last light of the sun.

"Wow!!!" The two children's eyes went round, their little faces flushed with excitement.

"Clack... clack..."

The sound of wooden sandals came from the other end of the corridor.

Koshiro walked slowly over with Zoro and Kuina, clutching the morning paper so tightly that its corners had crumpled.

The battle photograph on the front page of the morning paper came into view, radiating Haki: Rear Admiral Roy and Red-Haired Shanks clashing with Conqueror's Haki, the entire island splitting apart in the battle.

"Mr. Roy."

Koshiro adjusted his glasses. Their lenses reflected the orange glow of the setting sun, hiding the uncertainty in his eyes. "This morning's news... was truly impressive."

Zoro stared fixedly at the conspicuous sword wound on Roy's waist, gripping his three bamboo swords so tightly that they creaked.

Kuina bit her lower lip. Her father's rare loss of composure made her realize that this seemingly gentle young Marine was probably more frightening than any pirate.

Koshiro looked at his two exceptionally gifted students, and a thought crossed his mind:

A man who can confront a monstrous New World pirate crew head-on at nineteen... perhaps he really can change something.

"Mr. Koshiro."

Roy suddenly grew serious and gave a textbook Marine salute. "I came this time to make a formal request—"

A sea breeze swept past, stirring petals from the cherry grove and sending them drifting down like snow.

"Please allow Kuina and Zoro to join the Marine Elite Training Camp."

Zoro's bamboo swords clattered to the floor, and Kuina jerked her head up, the shock in her eyes beyond words.

Nami and Luffy blinked in confusion, only to see the usually steady Koshiro's fingers trembling slightly.

"Of course, that would be after they complete their basic training."

Roy's voice was gentle but firm. His gaze burned as it swept over the two young swordsmen. "After all..."

At that, he moved, sweeping like a gust of wind to the century-old cherry tree in the courtyard.

He gently pressed a hand against the trunk, Armament Haki flashing faintly at his fingertips.

"Swish!"

The petals of the entire cherry tree cascaded down like a waterfall, a sky full of pink blossoms looking dreamlike in the setting sun.

Amid the rain of petals, Roy's voice rang out clearly:

"If you want to cut through fate, the dojo's wooden swords alone won't be enough."

Kuina's pupils contracted sharply. Those were the very words her father had said to her only last night!

Koshiro stood rooted to the spot, the morning paper clenched in his hand trembling slightly in the wind.

The words "Red Hair Pirates" and "clash of Conqueror's Haki" were plainly printed on the paper.

He took a deep breath, an unprecedented resolve flashing in his eyes, and bowed deeply amid the cherry blossoms swirling through the courtyard.

"Then... I'm counting on you."

From a distance came Nami's excited screams as she watched the cherry blossoms dance, and Luffy's noisy demands to learn teleportation. Zoro had already picked up his bamboo swords, his expression grave.

Roy looked at them, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "From today on, your world will no longer be just one small corner of the East Blue."