At Marine Headquarters in Marineford, Sengoku was poring over the latest report about Arima when Garp burst through the door.
"Sengoku, what's up?"
Garp plopped onto the sofa, pulling out a bag of donuts and asking casually.
"Garp, do you think this report is legit? We were there that day. I don't buy that someone could survive a crushed heart!"
"And if you don't believe it, what then? If Roger came back from the dead, you'd be even more rattled! Relax, Arima's not out to mess with the Marines."
"How would you know? You don't even know him!"
Sengoku tossed the report to his goat, letting it chew the paper to bits, out of sight, out of mind.
Garp grinned, "Heh, you're not me, so how do you know I don't know him?"
Sengoku shot his unreliable comrade a withering look. This conversation could go on forever.
Silence fell, broken only by the sound of the goat munching paper. Then Tsuru walked in.
Seeing the two so quiet, she raised an eyebrow. "What's with you two being so well-behaved?"
Sengoku took a big gulp of tea and asked, "Tsuru, what's your take on the Arima situation?"
Tsuru replied matter-of-factly, "Request assistance from the CP organizations through the World Government and investigate thoroughly in the East Blue."
"Anything else?"
She glanced at Garp. "Garp's got a connection with Arima, and he's in the East Blue, Garp's hometown. It makes sense for him to handle it."
Garp picked his nose. "I don't have that kind of pull! Forgot I already begged the guy once?"
Sengoku pressed, "Garp, what if he's heading to Foosha Village? Aren't you worried about your grandson Luffy?"
"Worried?! That brat's been driving me up the wall! So full of himself, always yammering about becoming the Pirate King! …Hmph, fine, I'm heading to the East Blue!"
With that, Garp stormed out.
At the door, he collided with Aokiji.
From the hallway, Garp shouted back to Sengoku, "I'm taking Aokiji to the East Blue!"
He dragged Aokiji off without waiting to hear what the admiral had come to report.
Aokiji had been on duty in the New World for three months and was back to debrief. Sengoku, knowing this, let Garp go without protest.
In the office, Sengoku chuckled. "That Garp, too proud to admit he's worried!"
Tsuru asked seriously, "Sengoku, what's your plan? We've seen Arima's strength, he's no less than Rocks was back then. Has the World Government issued a kill order?"
Sengoku shook his head. "No word from them. They're probably going to let it slide for now."
…
Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mariejois, the Five Elders were urgently discussing Arima.
"Didn't you crush his heart last time? How did he escape death?" one asked coldly.
"No idea. Let's have CP0 investigate," another replied.
"Agreed. Lord Imu briefly awakened during last year's World Conference, but we won't see Imu-sama again for three years. For now, we leave Arima alone."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
…
After nearly a decade, the once-desolate Dressrosa had regained its glory. Under Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo's rule, the nation's economy flourished.
Yet beneath the King's Plateau, in the depths, Caesar Clown's Smile Factory churned out artificial Devil Fruits day and night.
Dressrosa was also a hub of the New World's underground trade, weapons, slaves, Devil Fruits, bolstered by the might of the Emperor Kaido, the Donquixote Family grew ever stronger.
Behind the prosperity lay unseen death and slaughter.
Doflamingo was among the first to hear of Arima's return. To him, it was a bolt from the blue.
Memories of that day in the plaza before the King's Plateau flooded back, vivid as ever.
"Arima! Even the Five Elders couldn't finish you, quite the survivor. But I'm not the weakling you humiliated back then! Fufufufu!"
The fear and oppression Arima had instilled in him had planted a seed of vengeance, now quietly sprouting.
…
On Cake Island, Big Mom's rage erupted the moment she saw the news.
After the great battle years ago, upon returning to Cake Island, Perospero had informed her that Mont-d'Or's Vivre Card had burned to ash.
Her nineteenth son was dead, her decades of amassed treasure gone, and worst of all, the Road Poneglyph's whereabouts were lost.
Big Mom summoned her family, intent on heading to the East Blue to confront Arima.
Her children pleaded with her, but she was set on going.
Finally, Katakuri stepped forward. "Mama, let me go to the East Blue first. If it's someone impersonating Arima, you won't have to waste the trip."
Recalling the moment Arima's heart was shattered, Big Mom saw the sense in her son's words and relented.
Katakuri, with a few trusted subordinates, set sail for the East Blue.
…
In Wano, Kaido was drunk, sprawled in a chair, clutching a sake barrel and sobbing.
"Wororor….Queen, you died so senselessly! Don't worry… hic… I will get you justice!"
His crew, hearing this, was deeply moved.
Kaido stood, waving a hand. "Alright, you lot, come with me to take down the enemy!"
"Aye!"
With the new Three Calamities, the Flying Six, and others, he boarded a ship bound for the East Blue.
The Island's movements didn't go unnoticed.
The Nine Red Scabbards planned to exploit the island's weakened defenses to overthrow Wano's regime but were stopped by Hiyori.
Hiyori sent a message to Ashura Doji.
"Soon, when the Nine Red Scabbards return, someone will aid our cause!"
…
On the Konoha Senju in the East Blue, the crew had left the Baratie the previous day.
By morning, they saw the newspaper reports about themselves but paid them little mind. No force on the seas could threaten this ship anymore.
It was nearing dusk, and the sunset's glow over the sea was breathtaking.
Arima and Tsunade were alone on the deck, sharing a quiet moment.
Yuna had been clinging to Arima lately, so the couple hadn't had much chance to be intimate.
With Arima's clone taking the family to the Sabaody Archipelago, the Konoha Senju was theirs alone.
Tsunade nestled in her husband's arms, savoring the peaceful silence.
After a while, she asked, "Arima, what kind of Devil Fruits are you planning for the kids?"
Arima thought for a moment. "Let's wait a bit. I want to check Impel Down first, see if there's any valuable fruit ability there."
"Alright. Are you taking Yuna to Shanks' place tomorrow night?"
"Yeah, I need to make a rubbing of the third Road Poneglyph. Once we uncover this world's secrets, we'll head home."
"Back to the ninja world! Arima, suddenly I'm a bit reluctant to leave this place."
Tsunade instinctively tightened her hold on him.
"We can always come back. My Rinnegan can connect different times and spaces. Traveling between worlds isn't too hard."
Tsunade's face lit up with a radiant smile.
Seeing her lovely expression, Arima's heart stirred. Unable to resist, he leaned in for a deep kiss.
When they parted, Tsunade's eyes shimmered with affection, her cheeks flushed.
No words were needed. The two vanished from the deck, off to enjoy their private moment.
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