(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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As Sasuke and Naruto united against Madara, Whitebeard and his crew faced off against the Marine fleet that had been lying in wait for battle.
"Gurarara! Garp, you old fool, this is all because of you!" Whitebeard bellowed from the bow of his ship, Moby Dick, as he eyed his familiar opponent on the Marine warship with a hearty laugh.
"No, no, you wouldn't come up with something like this. It must be Sengoku pulling the strings. Only he could be so underhanded!"
Garp, irritated, dropped the donut he was holding, picked up a massive cannonball, and hurled it toward Whitebeard.
"Newgate! Give me my grandson back!"
As the cannonball shot toward Whitebeard like a meteor, Marco swiftly shifted into his phoenix form and intercepted it.
After a series of explosions, the smoke cleared, revealing Marco unharmed and grinning as he landed back behind Whitebeard.
"You can't attack Pops right in front of me, you Marine fossil," Marco taunted.
"Tch." Garp curled his lip in disdain.
"Kids these days are surely full of theatrics."
Whitebeard chuckled, clearly satisfied with Marco's display.
He smirked and called back to Garp, "If you're looking for your grandson, go find him yourself. Why target the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"Now then, on to serious business… Garp, hand over that brat Kisame, and we can put this whole thing behind us..."
The complex web of relationships in this world made even the most of seasoned warriors hesitate.
Garp was a Marine hero, supposedly sworn against pirates, yet he had a bond with a certain pirate that ran deep.
He and Roger had chased and fought each other alone for years, forging a friendship of sorts.
Roger even entrusted Ace to Garp, a bond few others could understand.
The connection between Garp and Whitebeard also went way back.
When Whitebeard was still part of the Rocks crew, the two clashed repeatedly, forming a grudging respect over time.
Seeing Garp again brought a glint of nostalgia to Whitebeard's eye; few men from their era remained.
If circumstances were different, he'd have liked to share a drink and reminisce with Garp.
'Sharing a drink would be a better alternative to fighting… however, it seems this time, it is not fated.' Whitebeard lamented.
But any reunion would have to wait.
For now, Whitebeard's anger could only be calmed if the Marines returned Fish-Man Island and Jinbei to him.
In truth, few understood the tangled loyalties that bound the Four Emperors and the Marines' top brass.
Kaido was the largest supplier of weapons to the World Government, Shanks visited Mariejois frequently, and even Big Mom held unclear ties with the CP organization.
But today, Garp was here on a serious mission, and he wasn't about to indulge Whitebeard with pleasantries.
"Blasted old fool! Ace is my grandson, and you let him call you Pops—on top of making him the captain of your second division?!" Garp roared angrily, his face suddenly contorting as a thought struck him.
His eyes grew wide with a mischievous gleam.
"Hey, Newgate! Ace calls me 'Grandpa' and you Pops,' so that would make us..."
A father and son… it was left unsaid, but everyone understood.
Whitebeard's expression darkened.
He realized where Garp was going and quickly tightened his grip on his weapon, channeling the power of his Tremor-Tremor Fruit into its blade.
With one swing, he sent a massive wave toward the Marine fleet.
"Enough talk! Let's see if you've retained your skills over the years!" Whitebeard roared, hoping to end the banter before Garp's words drove him insane.
Garp was practically saying:
'Whitebeard, I'm your father!'
He couldn't let that slide.
Garp easily punched the wave and dispersed it.
"Hahaha! Newgate, bring it on!" Garp laughed as he launched himself into the air using Moonwalk, his Marine cloak billowing behind him.
Whitebeard did the same.
His aide, Bogart, quickly barked orders.
"Advance toward the Whitebeard Pirates! Engage in close combat!"
The sound of Garp and Whitebeard's fists colliding echoed across the sea, each impact like a thunderclap.
Marco tried to assist Whitebeard but was intercepted by Bogart.
After all, anyone who had served as Garp's right hand for over a decade was no slouch.
Bogart opened with a powerful, Armament Haki-infused slash, forcing Marco to take him seriously.
The battle raged on between the Marine forces and the Whitebeard Pirates, a showdown between legends and new-generation warriors.
Among the Marines, one figure stood out—Hoshigaki Kisame, the new Shichibukai.
His mastery over Water Style techniques and the power of Three Tails allowed him to wreak havoc on the battlefield.
With his oceanic abilities, he made it nearly impossible for Whitebeard's forces to gain the upper hand.
After a full day of brutal fighting, word reached the Whitebeard Pirates that the Marine's true targets were Ace and Sasuke, who had been ambushed elsewhere.
Realizing they had been tricked, Whitebeard's fury knew no bounds.
"Garp! You Marines are too devious!" Whitebeard bellowed, the veins in his massive arms bulging with rage.
Garp scoffed, though his irritation was evident.
"Hmph! This isn't my doing; it's the work of those Celestial Dragon scumbags!"
Whitebeard's response was to unleash his full power.
With a mighty roar, he raised his fists, which glowed with a faint white aura that sent chills through both friend and foe.
With a mighty punch, he shattered the air itself, unleashing a wave of destruction that sent massive tsunamis crashing toward the Marine ships.
For a moment, Kisame's usual confidence wavered as he watched the towering waves bearing down on them.
But he quickly steeled himself, summoning the full strength of his Water Style.
"Water Style: Ocean Current Technique!"
Kisame's face flushed with determination as he joined forces with Three-Tails to conjure a powerful ocean current, barely managing to counter the devastating tsunamis Whitebeard had summoned.
Breathing heavily, Kisame grinned in exhaustion, while even Garp couldn't help but glance at him with newfound respect.
The strength of this new Shichibukai was indeed beyond expectations.
Whitebeard's fury remained unappeased.
"Garp! Return my sons to me, or prepare to face my wrath!"
Despite Whitebeard's restraint, he knew full well the devastating potential of his abilities.
A direct assault in close quarters would risk his own crew's lives, forcing him to hold back slightly.