Not many days had passed since the Red-Haired Pirates departed when Garp returned to the island. It could only be described as fate's trickery that the two sides narrowly missed each other. Had Garp arrived earlier, the Red-Haired Pirates might have faced complete annihilation at Windmill Village.
Although Garp had crossed paths with Shanks before, their prior acquaintance would never cause Garp to show leniency. He understood all too well Shanks' immense potential—a force that could eventually threaten the Navy's mission.
"Luffy! Grandpa's back! Did you miss me?" Garp's booming voice echoed across the village the moment he set foot on the island. His observation Haki quickly pinpointed Luffy's location, and in an instant, he appeared nearby.
"Grandpa!" Luffy's eyes lit up with excitement as he spotted Garp. Despite his close bonds with the villagers, Garp was still his blood relative—a connection that ran deep.
In the blink of an eye, Luffy's rubbery arm stretched to wrap around Garp's neck, launching himself into his grandfather's embrace like a spring-loaded toy.
"Hahaha! Grandpa missed you too, kid!" Garp laughed heartily. "If it weren't for that nagging Sengoku refusing to grant me leave, I'd have come home ages ago!"
But Luffy's enthusiasm was quickly replaced with determination. "Grandpa, I've decided—I don't want to join the Navy anymore!"
Garp raised an eyebrow. "Oh? If not the Navy, then what do you plan to do?"
"I'm going to be a pirate!" Luffy declared with unshakable confidence, stars shining in his eyes.
Garp's expression froze. His grandson, who once idolized him, was now proclaiming a dream completely at odds with his own. His gaze drifted to the straw hat perched on Luffy's head.
"What's that hat?" Garp asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
"It's Shanks' hat!" Luffy said proudly. "He gave it to me. When I become a great pirate, I'll return it to him!"
At the mention of Shanks, Garp's fists clenched. Memories of the young red-haired pirate flashed through his mind—a man with promise Roger himself had acknowledged. Garp knew Shanks wasn't the type to harm innocents, but hearing that his grandson was influenced by him was infuriating.
"Shanks, you bastard," Garp muttered under his breath.
"Don't badmouth Shanks!" Luffy retorted, his face scrunching in defiance.
"Why, you little brat—!" Garp shouted as he grabbed Luffy and slammed him into the ground, leaving a small crater in his wake.
"Hehe, that didn't hurt!" Luffy laughed, standing up with ease thanks to his newfound rubber body.
"You even ate a Devil Fruit? That damn Shanks!" Garp growled. "Next time I see him, I'll drag him straight to Impel Down!"
"Don't talk about Shanks like that!" Luffy shouted back, throwing a punch at Garp that landed with all the force of a fly buzzing past.
But Garp's patience was at its limit. His grandson was defending a pirate over him. His anger boiled over. "You little brat! How dare you hit me for some pirate!" He raised his fist high. "Let me show you my Iron Fist of Love!"
Luffy's confidence quickly vanished. "Wait, Grandpa—!" But it was too late. Garp's punch landed square on Luffy's head, leaving him rolling on the ground in tears.
"It hurts! Why does it hurt so much? I'm a rubber person!" Luffy wailed, clutching the growing bump on his head.
"Hmph!" Garp crossed his arms. "That's the weight of my love for you, brat! No Devil Fruit can defend against it!"
From a nearby tree, Satoru watched the chaotic scene with an amused expression. But his amusement was short-lived as Garp suddenly appeared before him.
"And where do you think you're going?!" Garp barked. "Luffy's a handful, and as his older brother, you share the blame! Let's see how you handle my Iron Fist of Love!"
Garp swung at Satoru, but just as his fist was about to connect, it stopped mere inches away. Satoru's aura exuded calm confidence.
"Old man," Satoru said coolly, "you can't touch me with an attack like that."
For a moment, Garp was taken aback. He hadn't expected Satoru to block a strike imbued with Armament Haki so effortlessly. A grin spread across his face. "Not bad, kid. You've been training hard."
"Of course," Satoru replied, his pride barely concealed. "I wouldn't settle for anything less."
---
Satoru's abilities and Garp's attempts to "correct" Luffy's dreams lead to a comical and intense series of events, showcasing their familial bonds and unrelenting determination. What challenges lie ahead for the brothers under Garp's fierce mentorship?