Awakening Of Uchiha [Naruto/One Piece]

Chapter 11: Garp Adopts Ace

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'It seems this sickly little guy is far more complex than I thought. Never judge a book by its cover,' Shakky mused to herself.

'Uchiha? I've never heard of it—very mysterious!'

As these thoughts crossed her mind, Rayleigh broke the silence.

"Katsumi, are you sure this news is true?" Rayleigh asked seriously after regaining his composure. "This isn't something to joke about."

"Of course," Katsumi replied confidently. "Back then, after your Roger Pirates disbanded, Roger went to the South Blue. There, he met and fell in love with a woman named Portgas D. Rouge on Baterilla Island. After spending a year together, Rouge became pregnant with Roger's child."

Katsumi paused, his tone steady as he continued, "After that, Roger surrendered himself and started the Great Pirate Era. The World Government, however, caught wind of the possibility that Roger had left behind a child in the South Blue. They sent countless agents to the region, resulting in the deaths of many innocent pregnant women."

He glanced at Shakky and added, "I believe you must recall this event, Aunt Shakky. You're well-informed, after all."

"Yes," Shakky affirmed, her expression turning serious. "I remember it clearly. Anything involving Roger is something my husband and I paid close attention to. But as far as I recall, the matter seemed to reach a dead end. All it accomplished was the needless deaths of many women and children."

Her eyes narrowed as she thought aloud. "So, Portgas D. Rouge managed to escape the World Government's search? How did she pull that off?"

"She did," Katsumi confirmed, nodding. "It was only possible because of the secret help of Marine Vice Admiral Garp and Rouge's extraordinary determination. She endured for two years without giving birth, evading the World Government's pursuit. But because of that, Rouge died shortly after giving birth to her child."

Hearing this, Shakky and Kaori's expressions grew complex. They both felt an immense sense of sympathy and admiration for the sacrifice Rouge made.

"I didn't expect it to be like that," Shakky murmured, her voice tinged with emotion.

Rayleigh, however, snorted in frustration. "Garp? You're telling me that Garp helped Rouge? That bastard Roger trusted a Marine—Garp—and didn't believe in me?"

He crossed his arms, his tone a mix of anger and disbelief. "It's just the kind of thing that idiot would do! Humph!"

Shakky shook her head, offering a calmer perspective. "Actually, that was probably the best choice. Whatever Garp promises, he follows through on. On the other hand, had the child been entrusted to you, the World Government would've caught wind of it far more easily."

She gave Rayleigh a pointed look. "Don't forget, during that time, everyone in the Roger Pirates was under constant, intense surveillance. The World Government isn't stupid, and Roger certainly wasn't either."

"True," Rayleigh admitted reluctantly, sighing. "It seems we owe that old man Garp a massive favor."

He straightened up and asked, "So, where is this kid now? Did Garp hide him at Marine Headquarters?"

The thought alone made Rayleigh's lips twitch in a mix of frustration and amusement. The idea of Roger's son being raised as a Marine felt too absurd to process.

"No," Katsumi said with a small smile. "Garp took him to his hometown, Windmill Village in East Blue, and entrusted him to a kind-hearted bandit named Dadan. Oh, and he also went one step further—he recognized Ace, Roger's son, as his grandson!"

Katsumi chuckled. "I can't help but feel like Garp did this on purpose, just to one-up Roger and make him metaphorically call him 'Dad.' Probably his way of getting back at Roger for throwing such a huge responsibility on him. Haha!"

Rayleigh: "..."

Shakky: "..."

The two stared at Katsumi, momentarily speechless. There were so many absurdities in what he had just said that they didn't know where to begin.

"Good bandit? Recognizing Roger's son as his grandson?"

"This kind of nonsense is exactly what Garp, that bastard, would do!" Rayleigh complained, his eye twitching in disbelief.

"Hehe!" Shakky chuckled. "If Roger were alive, wouldn't he end up calling Garp 'dad'? I bet he'd fight Garp to the death over it!"

This pair of old enemies, constantly outwitting each other, made for a truly chaotic dynamic. She could even imagine Garp's frustration when Roger dumped this responsibility on him.

And knowing Garp's personality, as well as his complex relationship with Roger as both a rival and a friend, Shakky was sure he had no choice but to accept it. She couldn't help but think that Garp probably wanted to kill someone at the time.

"Hahaha!" Rayleigh burst into laughter. "He deserved it! Roger's antics were completely unreasonable—Garp was right to take revenge on him!"

Then, with a tinge of nostalgia, Rayleigh mused, "Gol D. Ace? That sounds exactly like the kind of name that bastard Roger would choose!"

He sighed, his thoughts drifting back. "Roger's sword used to be called Ace."

"No," Katsumi interjected, shaking his head. "Ace's full name is actually Portgas D. Ace, not Gol D. Ace."

Katsumi explained further, "This wasn't just to avoid suspicion and keep the World Government off their trail. It was also because Ace himself hated his father and refused to acknowledge Roger as such. He carries a deep resentment toward him."

Looking at Rayleigh, Katsumi added solemnly, "So, if you plan to meet him, you'd better keep this in mind. In his eyes, all the suffering he's endured, the death of his mother, and the burden of carrying Roger's bloodline are all because of what he sees as an irresponsible, worthless father."

Rayleigh frowned, pouring himself a drink and taking a deep sip. "I see… That child has been through far too much," he sighed. "And Garp, that bastard, isn't exactly a model elder either. I doubt he's guiding Ace in the way he truly needs."

Setting his glass down, Rayleigh continued, "If you ask me, it's likely this kid will end up as a pirate. He's smart, you can tell that much from his mindset. But Garp training him to be a Marine? That's a joke."

Rayleigh shook his head knowingly. "Even Garp must have doubts about the justice of the Marines and the World Government. Otherwise, he wouldn't have left Ace with a bandit. If Garp truly wanted Ace to be a Marine, he would have kept him at Marine headquarters, raising and teaching him himself."

He sighed again, this time with a hint of respect. "Don't be fooled into thinking that old man is clueless. As someone who's fought against him, I can tell you Garp is sharp—very sharp."

After a pause, Rayleigh leaned forward and said seriously, "Now, regarding the conditions we discussed earlier—I agree. Give me some time, and I'll write down my experiences with Conqueror's Haki, Marine Six Styles, and Life Return for you."

His tone grew heavier as he continued, "But let me remind you, Conqueror's Haki isn't something everyone can awaken. Even with written guidance, it's incredibly difficult to practice and master. If you do manage to awaken it in the future and want to further develop it, come find me. I'll personally teach you everything I know."

"The same goes for Armament Haki and Observation Haki. If you want to take them to a higher level, I'll guide you myself when the time comes."

"As for the Six Styles, you can learn those on your own. They're mainly designed to stimulate the human body's potential and pave the way for awakening Armament and Observation Haki."

Rayleigh paused briefly before adding, "Life Return, however, is different. It stems from the Six Styles but surpasses them by far. It's incredibly difficult to master. Even I spent a long time learning it. You must approach it with patience and caution—don't push yourself beyond your limits."

Life Return, he emphasized, could not be rushed.

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