After the eventful introductions at Sengoku's office, Garp led Luffy and Kuina through the winding corridors of Marine Headquarters, eventually stopping in front of an imposing training room.
The sound of clashing metal and disciplined shouts resonated from behind the closed doors. This was no ordinary training hall—it was where new recruits and promising officers were honed into elite Marines under the watchful eye of the renowned Instructor, Zephyr.
Garp glanced down at Luffy, grinning as he patted his grandson on the shoulder. "This'll be good for you both, kids. Zephyr's one of the toughest instructors we've got. If anyone can push you both to your limits, it's him."
Luffy's eyes gleamed with a mischievous glint. "I'm looking forward to it, Grandpa. This could be… interesting."
He flashed a charming grin, and Garp chuckled, opening the heavy doors with a push.
Inside, recruits were running drills in disciplined formations under the sharp gaze of Zephyr himself. Tall, broad, and radiating a no-nonsense aura, Zephyr's presence demanded respect and focus. His hawkish eyes immediately shifted to Garp and the boy by his side, narrowing in curiosity.
"Garp, what're you doing here?" Zephyr's deep voice rumbled across the room, causing the recruits to pause momentarily before resuming their drills with renewed fervor.
Garp strolled over, nudging Luffy and Kuina forward with a hearty chuckle. "Zephyr, meet my grandson, Monkey D. Luffy! And this here is Kuina."
"Grandson?" Zephyr blinked, visibly taken aback. His sharp eyes studied Luffy first, taking in his calm stance and unnervingly mature gaze, then shifted to Kuina, who stood with quiet confidence beside him. "And this girl? She doesn't look like one of yours, Garp."
Garp grinned. "Not by blood, but she might as well be. I took her under my wing. She's got a blade sharp enough to carve up half the recruits here."
Zephyr folded his arms, skepticism clear on his face. "You never mentioned a grandson or a disciple. What are you up to, Garp?"
"No schemes this time, Zephyr. Just thought there was no one better to train them than you."
Zephyr eyed the two again, his gaze lingering on Luffy's unwavering expression before shifting to Kuina's firm stance. "Garp, this boy barely looks old enough to hold a sword, and this girl—she's what, a swordsman-in-training? You expect them to keep up?"
Kuina huffed, crossing her arms. "You'd be surprised what I can handle, sir."
Zephyr's brow arched at the bold response. "Confidence is easy. Proving it is another matter."
Luffy grinned. "We didn't come here to play games. If it's hard, that's even better."
Zephyr studied them for a long moment, then gave a curt nod. "Very well. But I won't go easy on either of you. If you can't keep up, don't expect sympathy."
Kuina smirked. "We wouldn't have it any other way."
Zephyr exhaled through his nose, motioning to his assistants. "Bring out the training equipment. Let's see what these two are made of."
As the recruits subtly stole glances at the newcomers, the legendary Marine instructor watched them with renewed interest
For the next few hours, Luffy and Kuina was put through a rigorous regimen that would have left most recruits exhausted. They ran laps around the training field, lifted weights that seemed too heavy for their small frame, and completed obstacle courses without so much as a word of complaint.
Despite the grueling pace, Luffy and Kuina kept up, acing each task with an ease that left Zephyr watching in silent astonishment.
By midday, Zephyr had intensified the training, moving on to advanced sparring exercises. Yet both the children adapted to every challenge, their movements fluid and precise, as if each maneuver came to them instinctively.
Their punches were fast and sharp, their dodges perfectly timed, and even their footwork showed an unexpected level of finesse.
It wasn't just raw talent—it was a deep, innate understanding of combat that few could match.
Zephyr watched with arms crossed, marveling at Luffy and Kuina's skill. This boy… and that girl... there's no way they're only ten or thirteen. No one this young should be this capable.
But despite his disbelief, there was no denying the children's prowess.
Even the other recruits had gathered to watch, murmuring amongst themselves as they witnessed the young children's remarkable performance.
After several rounds of sparring, Luffy faced off against one of Zephyr's best students—Ain, a young Marine recruit known for her discipline and strength.
Zephyr nodded toward her, signaling her to begin.
Ain stepped forward, eyeing Luffy with a mix of curiosity and seriousness.
"Let's see if Garp's grandson can keep up," She said, drawing her practice blade and taking a stance.
Luffy grinned, his charm flickering through his otherwise composed expression. "Don't hold back, Ain. I'd hate to think you were going easy on me."
She blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his confidence, before regaining her focus. "I won't."
She charged forward, her blade slicing through the air with precision.
But to her surprise, Luffy dodged smoothly, sidestepping her strikes with a speed and agility that left her struggling to keep up.
After a few exchanges, Luffy suddenly shifted his stance, catching her off guard with a swift, controlled sweep that disarmed her, sending her practice blade clattering to the floor.
Ain's eyes widened, shock evident in her expression as she stared at Luffy, who was now grinning playfully.
"Looks like you'll have to try a bit harder next time," He teased, his voice light but filled with a playful edge.
Ain flushed, struggling to regain her composure as she retrieved her weapon.
"You… you're better than I expected," She admitted, her voice tinged with reluctant admiration.
Luffy chuckled, giving her a wink. "I'll take that as a compliment. Don't worry, Ain—you're not bad yourself."
Ain turned away, her face reddening slightly as she muttered, "Cocky little… You're something else, Luffy."
From the sidelines, Zephyr watched the exchange with a mix of surprise and approval. This kid's not just talented—he's a natural. He nodded slowly, realizing that Garp's grandson was no ordinary recruit.
Over the next month, he continued to push both Luffy and Kuina, escalating the training to levels that even experienced officers struggled with. But both the kids met every challenge head-on, mastering techniques that took others years to perfect.
One evening, after an intense sparring session, Zephyr finally approached Garp with a sigh, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Garp, I don't think there's anything left for me to teach them," He admitted, shaking his head. "They… both of them are beyond anything I expected."
Garp chuckled, clearly pleased. "Told ya not to underestimate them. The kids' got a bright future."
Zephyr nodded, glancing back at Luffy and Kuina, who were practicing on their own, seemingly tireless. "They're… remarkable. I've never seen anyone learn so fast."
With Zephyr's formal training complete, Luffy and Kuina began training independently, honing their skills in his own unique ways.
They sparred with seasoned officers, studied combat techniques, and even experimented with their own strategies, continuously refining their already impressive abilities.
But despite Luffy's growing strength, he never lost his charm. He continued to tease Ain and flirt with other recruits, offering them pointers with a mischievous grin, much to their frustration and reluctant admiration.
His reputation spread among the Marines, many of whom marveled at his talent and potential, though few could understand the true depths of his abilities.
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