Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: The Red-Haired Pirates Move

A/N: Don't forget to check out my original novel: Can I Magic Please. It's like really good. 😉

ANYWHOOO. ENJOY THE CHAPTER

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Marineford's training grounds thundered endlessly beneath the afternoon sun.

"LEFT FLANK MOVE!"

"SHIELDS UP!"

"FORMATION THREE!"

Vice Admiral Doll barked orders sharply while rows upon rows of Marines shifted formation with disciplined precision.

Nearby, Vice Admiral Momonga observed the battlefield exercises with his arms crossed.

Cannons rotated.

Rifle units repositioned.

Sword divisions advanced and retreated repeatedly.

Every movement was being sharpened for one purpose.

War.

The upcoming battle against the Whitebeard Pirates was hanging over Marineford like a storm cloud.

No one could afford mistakes.

"Again!" Doll shouted.

The Marines groaned internally but obeyed instantly.

Meanwhile—

Far away from the actual formation discipline…

The elite trainees were a complete disaster.

Prince Grus was casually using his Clay-Clay Fruit to create miniature soldiers that were dancing instead of training.

Helmeppo sat on an ammunition crate dramatically complaining about exhaustion.

"I'm telling you," he groaned, "war preparation is cruel."

Beside him, Koby was still trying to properly follow drills despite clearly struggling to keep up.

"Left flank… right flank… no wait—"

"YOU'RE TURNING THE WRONG WAY!" Helmeppo shouted.

"I KNOW!"

Nearby, Hibari calmly practiced rifle shots with terrifying accuracy.

Every bullet hit dead center.

Beside her, Kujaku lazily swung her whip around while sitting on stacked crates.

"This is sooo boring."

Prince Grus sighed.

"At least pretend to care."

Kujaku shrugged.

"I do care."

CRACK.

Her whip instantly wrapped around a passing Marine's ankle and yanked him face-first into the dirt.

"…Just not about drills."

"HEY!"

The Marine shouted angrily from the ground.

Kujaku ignored him completely.

Then suddenly—

A terrifying pressure appeared behind them.

"…Interesting."

Every trainee froze instantly.

Cold sweat rolled down Helmeppo's face.

Koby stiffened.

Hibari sighed quietly.

Kujaku slowly looked back with mild amusement.

Standing behind them—

Was Vice Admiral Gion.

Smiling.

Which somehow made her scarier.

"So THIS," Gion said pleasantly, "is why your formation performance has been terrible."

Nobody spoke.

Nobody moved.

Even Prince Grus straightened up instantly.

Gion's smile twitched slightly.

"Kujaku."

"Yes, Gion-sama?"

"Why are you sitting?"

Kujaku immediately stood up.

"Excellent question."

"Helmeppo."

"Yes ma'am!"

"Why are you lying down during military drills?"

Helmeppo stood so fast he nearly fell over.

"Cardio training, ma'am!"

"…You were eating crackers."

"…Nutritional cardio?"

Gion slowly looked toward Prince Grus.

His clay soldiers immediately saluted in terror.

Then her eyes landed on Koby.

Koby saluted instantly.

"I was trying my best, Vice Admiral Gion!"

Gion stared at him for a moment.

Then sighed.

"At least one of you has functioning discipline."

Helmeppo looked offended.

"What about me?!"

"No."

"…Fair."

Gion folded her arms.

"Listen carefully."

Her tone sharpened immediately.

"In two days, you will witness a war that will shape history itself."

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Even Kujaku became serious.

Gion's eyes swept across all of them.

"Whitebeard is not some ordinary pirate."

"His commanders are monsters."

"The New World is filled with people strong enough to slaughter all of you without effort."

Her gaze hardened further.

"So if I see any more laziness—"

A terrifying aura leaked from her slightly.

"—I will personally bury you into the training ground."

Everyone saluted instantly.

"YES MA'AM!"

Gion smiled sweetly again.

"Good."

Then she turned and walked away.

The moment she disappeared—

Everyone collectively exhaled.

"…She's terrifying," Helmeppo whispered.

"She's always terrifying," Hibari replied calmly.

Kujaku stretched lazily again.

"I still think she likes us."

"No," Prince Grus said immediately.

A loud horn suddenly echoed across the grounds.

LUNCH BREAK.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Marines everywhere practically lit up.

"FOOD!"

"Finally!"

"I'm starving!"

Even the elite trainees moved faster.

Helmeppo nearly cried.

"Thank the heavens…"

Koby laughed slightly.

"At least we get a break."

As they headed toward the cafeteria lines, Hibari adjusted her cap slightly.

"Tenjin-san would've liked this part."

Koby nodded immediately.

"He'd probably take half the food himself."

Helmeppo groaned.

"And somehow still ask for seconds."

Kujaku smiled faintly.

"He really does eat like a monster."

Prince Grus crossed his arms.

"Hm."

Though even he looked slightly curious.

After all—

Tenjin had been missing for quite a while.

Captured by an Emperor.

Nobody really knew what condition he'd return in.

As they reached the massive serving lines—

Marines packed the entire cafeteria area.

Noise echoed everywhere.

Trays clattered endlessly.

Then Koby suddenly froze mid-step.

"…Huh?"

The others blinked.

Koby stared toward the front of the serving line.

A young Marine with messy green hair was greedily piling mountains of food onto tray after tray.

Meat.

Rice.

Curry.

Bread.

Entire stacks disappearing rapidly.

The Marine shoveled food into his mouth while still serving himself more.

Koby's eyes widened.

"…Tenjin-san?"

The green-haired Marine paused.

Slowly turned around.

His cheeks were completely stuffed with food.

For a second—

Everyone just stared at him.

Then Tenjin casually raised one hand.

"Yo."

Rice nearly fell out of his mouth as he spoke.

The cafeteria exploded into noise.

"TENJIN!?"

"You're alive?!"

"When did you get back?!"

The elite trainees immediately crowded around him.

Tenjin barely even reacted.

He was too busy eating.

"Move," he muttered through a mouthful of rice. "You're blocking the meat section."

Helmeppo looked utterly offended.

"That's your first response after disappearing into Yonko territory?!"

Tenjin finally swallowed.

"I was hungry."

"That's not the point!"

Koby was the first one to properly reach him.

His eyes were practically shining.

"Tenjin-san! You're really alright!"

Tenjin looked at him.

"Obviously."

Koby looked genuinely relieved.

"We were worried…"

"Why?"

"…Because you got kidnapped by Big Mom?"

Tenjin blinked once.

"Oh right."

Everyone stared at him in disbelief.

"How are you so casual about that?!" Helmeppo yelled.

Tenjin ignored him completely and grabbed another plate.

Before anyone else could speak—

Arms suddenly wrapped tightly around Tenjin from behind.

Soft warmth pressed into his back.

Kujaku.

"You idiot," she muttered.

The entire table went silent.

Tenjin glanced sideways.

"…Did you miss me or something?"

Kujaku smiled lazily against his shoulder.

"We're roommates."

"And?"

"And if you died, I'd have nobody to annoy."

Tenjin snorted slightly.

"How touching."

Kujaku's smile widened.

"Would you like a couple whips tonight to celebrate your return?"

Helmeppo nearly choked on air.

"H-HUH?!"

Hibari calmly sipped her drink.

"Kujaku-san is being Kujaku-san again."

Prince Grus looked deeply exhausted already.

Tenjin looked completely unfazed.

"No thanks."

"Aw."

"You're annoying enough without weapons."

Kujaku laughed softly and finally let him go.

The others immediately started bombarding him with questions again.

"What happened in Totto Land?!"

"Did you actually see Big Mom?!"

"How did Vice Admiral Garp rescue you?!"

"Did you fight a Yonko?!"

Tenjin grabbed a chicken leg.

"Yes."

Everyone froze.

"…Yes to which one?"

"All of them."

Silence.

Helmeppo stared.

"You say insane things way too casually."

Koby looked amazed.

"You really fought Emperor Big Mom?"

Tenjin shrugged.

"She hit hard."

"…That's your review of a Yonko?"

"She also talks to clouds."

Hibari blinked slowly.

"…Fair enough."

Then suddenly—

A sharp voice echoed behind them.

"So you're finally done causing problems."

Everyone instantly stiffened.

Vice Admiral Gion stood there with folded arms.

Tenjin immediately straightened slightly.

"…Vice Admiral."

Helmeppo whispered dramatically:

"He fears her…"

"He should," Prince Grus muttered.

Gion walked closer.

Her eyes scanned Tenjin carefully.

Clearly checking for injuries.

"…You look alive at least."

Tenjin scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"…Thanks."

Gion raised an eyebrow.

"For what?"

"For coming to save me."

The cafeteria grew quieter.

Tenjin rarely thanked anyone.

Gion herself looked slightly surprised.

But only slightly.

"Hm."

She looked away casually.

"You were still my trainee."

Koby immediately spoke up.

"Vice Admiral Gion! Why didn't you tell us Tenjin-san was safe?!"

"Yeah!" Helmeppo added. "We thought he was dead!"

Gion looked completely unapologetic.

"You were training."

"That's a terrible excuse," Kujaku said.

"It worked."

"…Unfortunately."

Gion ignored them all and looked back at Tenjin.

"The war begins soon."

The mood shifted immediately.

Noise in the cafeteria suddenly felt distant.

Everyone knew what war she meant.

Marineford.

Whitebeard.

The War of the Best.

Gion's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Are you ready?"

Tenjin took another bite of meat.

Then answered casually:

"I'm taking down at least five Whitebeard commanders."

The table exploded.

"FIVE?!"

"ARE YOU INSANE?!"

"That's the Whitebeard Pirates!"

Helmeppo nearly slammed his tray onto the table.

"Do you know how strong Yonko commanders are?!"

Tenjin nodded.

"Yeah."

"…Then why are you saying this so confidently?!"

Tenjin swallowed his food.

"Because I'm strong."

The confidence in his voice was absolute.

Prince Grus smirked slightly.

"You really are insane."

Tenjin pointed at him with a chicken bone.

"You can take one too if you want."

"No thank you."

Koby laughed nervously.

"Maybe we should survive first…"

But even he looked inspired.

Because somehow—

When Tenjin spoke like that…

It felt believable.

Far away from Marineford…

Deep within the New World…

The sea itself seemed restless.

Massive waves crashed against the side of an enormous ship.

Upon the black sails fluttered the mark of the Red Hair Pirates.

Crewmates moved calmly across the deck despite the violent waters.

At the front of the ship stood a tall red-haired man with a black cloak fluttering in the wind.

Shanks.

One hand rested casually on the hilt of Gryphon.

His gaze remained fixed ahead.

Beside him, Benn Beckman lit a cigarette.

"So it's confirmed then."

Shanks nodded once.

"Yeah."

"The Beast Pirates are moving."

Nearby, Lucky Roux finished chewing meat.

"Kaido really wants to join the war that badly?"

"He's been waiting for something like this," Beckman answered calmly.

A massive war involving Whitebeard and the Marines—

Of course Kaido would be interested.

Shanks sighed softly.

"If Kaido reaches Marineford…"

Even he didn't finish the sentence.

He didn't need to.

The balance of the world would collapse.

Yasopp adjusted his rifle.

"So we stop him here?"

Shanks smiled slightly.

"Yeah."

His eyes sharpened.

"We can't let him interfere."

The atmosphere aboard the ship shifted instantly.

The Red Hair Pirates weren't loud about it.

Didn't boast.

Didn't scream battle cries.

But every single member understood.

They were about to intercept one of the strongest monsters in the world.

Shanks slowly rested his hand on Gryphon.

Wind whipped violently around him.

"Let's go meet Kaido."

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