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His youthful face was completely at odds with his age, looking no older than a man in his twenties.
Arms crossed and eyes fixed forward, he wore a pristine Marine uniform with the rank of Admiral displayed proudly on his shoulders.
His chest was adorned with medals, symbols of the honour and glory he'd earned throughout his career.
There was a gentle smile on his face, but the light in his eyes made even a powerhouse like Katakuri tremble with unease.
It could be said that Arashi's handsome and youthful appearance had nothing to do with the word "invincible."
From looks alone, anyone would assume he was a warm, cheerful, and kind-hearted man, like the friendly boy next door.
But in sharp contrast to that image was the terrifying strength he possessed, which had left countless pirates across the world shaken to their core.
The thick veins on his neck and the bulging muscles beneath his uniform made his sheer power evident even from just a photo.
"One man… defeated two Emperors working together. That kind of strength…" Katakuri narrowed his eyes.
"I want to witness the power at the very peak of this world! How far am I from him…?" he murmured, sighing.
Slowly, he looked over at Big Mom, who was snoring as she dozed off mid-meal. But while she slept, the world had already been turned upside down.
The outcome of the Summit War had shaken the globe, causing waves across all factions.
Whitebeard had been captured, and the once-mighty pirate crew that stood at the top of the world was now in ruins.
Red-Haired Shanks had sustained serious injuries and disappeared without a trace.
It was easy to imagine the chaos that would erupt in the New World once this news spread.
"MOM!!" Katakuri called out in a deep voice. A touch of Haki in his tone made Big Mom's body twitch awake. Her eyes fluttered open in a daze.
"Katakuri…" Big Mom's voice was cold—she was clearly in a foul mood after being woken. Katakuri took a deep breath and replied in a steady voice.
Then, he handed her the newspaper. She was still annoyed, but didn't lose control. She took it and looked down, and instantly, she snapped awake.
"What?!" Her massive body shot upright. Eyes wide, she stared at the page in disbelief. Bold red headlines declared Whitebeard's crushing defeat.
"That old man… he actually lost?! No way. How is that even possible?!" Big Mom shook her head repeatedly, unwilling to believe what she was seeing.
She had once served alongside him in the Rocks Pirates, and later stood shoulder to shoulder with him in the same era.
Through countless conflicts and battles, they had both risen to the throne as emperors.
"I know how powerful that old man is! There's no way he could lose!!" she roared in disbelief.
Katakuri stood before her, silent and stern. When the news first broke, no one would believe it.
But once the shock faded and reality settled in, the New World was bound to erupt.
"How could the Marines have power like this? Arashi? I know that man!"
"He captured Roger and defeated Golden Lion—but this time, his opponent was Whitebeard!!!"
"Even Newgate…?" Big Mom was still reeling, muttering over and over in disbelief.
Clearly, this was far beyond what she had expected. But Katakuri's eyes had already begun calculating the chain reaction that would follow.
Pirates were never the obedient type. With Whitebeard's capture and his crew suffering massive losses, the stability they once held was now crumbling.
The implications of this were enormous. "The New World is going to fall into chaos! MOM!" Katakuri said sharply.
Big Mom turned to him, stunned for a moment, then her expression changed.
As one of the rulers of the seas, she wasn't always just a madwoman—sometimes, she showed moments of clarity and cunning.
"I understand what you mean. Mamamamama… Those crazy bastards… they'll tear the Whitebeard Pirates apart!" she muttered.
Her tone was unreadable—somewhere between excitement and sorrow. Then she blankly turned to look out the window, sitting silently. "Whitebeard…"
When a whale falls, all creatures feast. Whitebeard's capture was destined to create a massive storm across the world.
For decades, he had stood as a titan in the New World, commanding vast territories and countless allies.
But now, with his fall and uncertain fate, the outcome was clear—
Ambitious pirates would go mad, descending like vultures on the dying whale, using the coldest, most ruthless methods to tear it apart.
And this marked the turning point of a new era.
Ten days have passed quietly since the Summit War.
Under the deliberate guidance of certain powers, the results of the battle had already spread worldwide.
Whitebeard was captured, his crew devastated, and the remnants forced into a desperate retreat.
Red-Haired Shanks was gravely wounded, his whereabouts unknown. This shocking news sent tremors throughout the world.
"Even a man like that was utterly defeated by the Marines! Arashi is too strong!"
"God, the Whitebeard Pirates were crushed… What will the future hold now?"
"It's unimaginable! After standing at the top of the world for decades—just one step from becoming Pirate King—Whitebeard ended up like this!"
"Hey, did you hear what he said? ONE PIECE… really exists! A new era has begun!"
Countless voices echoed across the world. People were stunned, horrified by the war—but deep inside, a new hope and ambition had begun to stir.
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters—Marineford.
Arashi sat in the Fleet Admiral's office, frowning as he reviewed the files before him. Across from him, Sengoku was also busy with paperwork.
Outside the window, construction scaffolding filled the view, accompanied by the constant clanging of repairs.
Whitebeard's final assault had nearly torn Marineford's foundation apart, rendering it almost uninhabitable.
But Arashi had stayed behind and led the restoration efforts, bringing the base back to its former state.
Now, Marineford was undergoing massive reconstruction. Buildings that had been reduced to rubble were rapidly being rebuilt.
Both men wore troubled expressions. A moment later, they lifted their heads and sighed.
"We're running low on funds. Whether it's post-war compensation or rebuilding Marineford, everything needs money."
"Arashi, do you have any ideas?" Sengoku asked with a sigh.
Arashi narrowed his eyes. "How was Marineford's economy managed before?"
"Sixty percent came from the World Government's funding," Sengoku replied. "That's also why the Marines are bound by their control."
"Sixty percent…" Arashi fell silent. That was a massive portion. It meant the Marines could only function thanks to the World Government's support.
Never underestimate the power of money. Back when Arashi was Commander of the West Blue, he'd learned firsthand how vital funding was.
Without absorbing the underground forces and using them to finance the Marines, he would've never built them up to their current strength.
Every power—even nations—needed a massive financial foundation to grow.
"If you're serious about being Fleet Admiral… And truly want to break free from the World Government's control, then your first priority must be finding a way to make money," Sengoku said with a long sigh.
He had held this position for years and never managed to solve that problem. In fact, for every Fleet Admiral throughout history, it had been a near-impossible task.
Think about it—maintaining a Marine force that spans the entire world, across every nation and island? The cost was astronomical.
Only one group in the world had the resources to support it: the World Government.
As long as they controlled the purse strings, the Marines would remain their obedient hound, a sword in their hand.
"Make money…" Arashi murmured. He now found himself trapped in the same dilemma he had faced when first becoming West Blue's Commander.
Back then, it was still manageable—he could pull together underground powers and use his assets. But now, that wasn't feasible.
Each sea, island, and kingdom had its unique situation. More importantly, the sheer number of Marines was overwhelming. Every second costs money.
Even now, the vast Marine forces summoned from all over the world to fight in the war, just feeding them each day at Marineford was a staggering expense.
"Yes, solving that issue comes first, and it's the biggest problem of all. Otherwise…" Sengoku paused, his expression turning grim.
"All your dreams, all your plans… They'll vanish into thin air. Nothing but empty words." A heavy weight settled on Arashi's shoulders.
Even with all his strength, he was just one man. He could defeat any enemy in the world, but this… was something he couldn't overcome by force.
"How can I possibly raise enough funds to support the entire Marine organisation? And not just maintain it—but help it grow even stronger?"
That question took root in his heart.
"Also, tomorrow, we'll hold a memorial at headquarters. To honour the officers and comrades who sacrificed their lives in this war," Sengoku said quietly.
"You'll preside over the memorial." Arashi nodded.
"After the ceremony, the elite forces sent here from other branches will return in groups to their original stations," Sengoku added.
"That should help ease the financial burden on HQ quickly." Arashi could only sigh.
It was only after he began working at headquarters that he realised just how poor Marineford really was in four words: running a permanent deficit.
Being Fleet Admiral… was no easy job.
Arashi deeply felt the world's malice toward him. In truth, he rarely thought about money since becoming a Marine; his daily needs were all taken care of.
He even received a generous monthly salary. But only now did it truly hit him—soon, the roles would be reversed. He would be the one paying others.
Frowning, he racked his brain but couldn't think of a way to earn enough money. Sengoku, watching his expression, easily read his thoughts.
"Haha, I haven't figured out a way in over a decade. You think you can solve it in just a few days?"
"Once you take office, you'll have plenty of time to explore new options."
Hearing this, Arashi paused for a moment before chuckling. Just because he couldn't solve it now didn't mean he never could.
"For now, let's focus on preparing for tomorrow's memorial. The transfer of the Fleet Admiral position won't happen overnight."
"But this is the perfect time for you to adjust to the role," Sengoku said with a smile.
Arashi nodded. This was a peaceful transition—one generation stepping down for the next. It marked the shift of an era.
That afternoon, shouts and training cries echoed from the grounds.
Bartholomew Kuma stood beneath the shade of a tree, watching the trainees ahead with a dazed look.
The battle at Marineford had ended, but here, things felt much the same, except that everyone bore injuries, more or less.
"So... what price did Arashi mean?" Kuma was puzzled. Since the incident at Sabaody, Arashi hadn't sought him out.
Understandably so—he was a Marine Admiral now, busier than ever. But as time passed, Kuma grew increasingly anxious.
People tend to dwell on things. The more Arashi acted like it didn't matter, the more it weighed on Kuma's mind. What would become of him in the end?
"Death?" Kuma muttered.
In the training field, Rob Lucci and his group were still full of energy.
Kuma's role was more medical—whenever someone collapsed from exhaustion, he was there to slap them back into shape.
The only oddity among them was the pirate, Roronoa Zoro.
Kuma knew well that this young swordsman was only allowed to remain here safely because of his special connections.
Zoro had used the back door—a pirate protected by status. His childhood friend Kuina was a Marine Vice Admiral and Arashi's disciple.
With someone so strong and well-connected behind him, Zoro faced no problems and even joined the training program. Another unusual figure was Gecko Moria.
"A former Warlord of the Sea, now mingling in a Marine training camp…" Kuma sighed.
But he had to admit, since Moria joined, his aura had completely changed. The decay and laziness were gone, replaced by confidence and purpose.
His now-slimmer frame made him look rather sharp—in the past, Kuma would never have believed Moria could carry any charm at all.
Suddenly, his gaze shifted to the entrance of the training grounds. Two figures slowly approached. Leading the way was none other than Arashi.
"So he's finally here," Kuma whispered, face growing serious—but inside, he felt strangely relieved.
The Marines would never ignore him forever. Sooner or later, he knew he'd face judgment. And for the worst-case scenario… he had already prepared.
"Is this the end of my life?" Kuma murmured. At the entrance, Smoker walked beside Arashi.
"These kids are training hard," Smoker said with a faint smile. "Though the war is over, the Ashura Unit's traditions live on."
He often came to watch the recruits, even offering guidance. Sometimes even Vice Admiral Garp dropped by to share stories and battle strategies.
There was no doubt—this Ashura Unit was filled with promising talent.
Especially with recent rumors swirling in Marine HQ that Admiral Arashi would soon be promoted to Fleet Admiral, these recruits might become the next generation's elites, the very backbone of the Marines.
As one of Arashi's officers, Smoker felt even more responsible for their future.
"Not bad at all. I've read their war records," Arashi said with a smile.
"Their achievements alone are enough to earn them medals." The two continued chatting as they made their way toward the training grounds.
Arashi had spent most of the day swamped with paperwork, helping Sengoku transition leadership. It was already a done deal—he was the next Fleet Admiral.
Today, he finally had a break and came to see the younger generation.
"Kuma." As he entered, Arashi's gaze landed on him.
"Admiral Arashi," Kuma responded in a deep voice. He was ready to accept whatever judgment awaited. Running had never been an option.
With his personality, once he made a promise—even if it was a mistake—he would never break it.
"About you…"
Arashi narrowed his eyes, clearly still thinking about how to handle him. Kuma's bold actions during the Sabaody incident had truly enraged him.
Suddenly, someone dashed out from the training crowd and dropped to his knees with a loud thud. Forehead pressed firmly to the ground.
"Roronoa Zoro."
"What do you think you're doing?" Arashi turned his head and stared coldly.
"Please, take me as your disciple!" Zoro shouted. "Teach me the strongest swordsmanship in the world!"
His heart pounded, and he grew tense.
"Oh?" Arashi chuckled with amusement. "You think I'd take in a pirate as a disciple?"
Smoker stood silently nearby. The sight of Zoro kneeling stirred memories—he recalled his own past in Loguetown.
But Zoro admired the admiral's strength, while he had once been drawn to the man's unique sense of justice.
The training field fell into complete silence. Rob Lucci and the others stopped what they were doing, all eyes fixed on the scene.
After a long pause, Zoro raised his voice again, loud and clear. "I'm sure you'll take me as your student!"
Arashi paused for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Hahahahaha! Interesting. Very interesting!"
Then, he turned around suddenly. "Roronoa Zoro. I admire your confidence, your ambition and your fierce hunger for strength!"
"From this day forward, you will train here… as my disciple." His voice echoed across the field, leaving everyone stunned.
Still kneeling, Zoro took a deep breath, slowly raised his head to look at Arashi's back—then knocked his forehead to the ground three more times in solemn respect.
"Kuma!"
Arashi called out again.
"There's something else you should know."
"You've been stripped of your title as Warlord of the Sea. From now on, you'll remain with the Marines."
"Once I take office as Fleet Admiral, I'll grant you the rank of Vice Admiral." His voice carried clearly across the training grounds. Kuma's body trembled—but then, slowly, he relaxed.
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