Makima let out a small sigh, the sound light but carrying a weight that suggested memories she hadn't intended to revisit so soon.
"Well, until recently, yes."
Tenjin's brows knit together immediately. His relaxed posture stiffened, shoulders squaring as he turned fully toward her.
"Mom, explain."
Makima hesitated, eyes drifting to the side for a brief moment before she sighed again, longer this time.
"Mhh… well, Hakugan-kun was in some sort of trouble. I don't know the exact details, but he ended up getting kidnapped, and then Law-kun saved him. Then after that, Hakugan joined his crew."
The words settled heavily in the room.
Tenjin's eyes sharpened, a flicker of something dangerous passing through them.
"Why didn't you call and tell me if Hakugan was in trouble?" he demanded. "Is this Pirate blackmailing him into joining them?"
Makima shook her head immediately.
"No, Hakugan was the one who asked to join Law-kun. Tenjin, Law-kun is a really nice boy. He doesn't seem like a bad Pirate. Plus, he has a very cute bear traveling with him. Can you not let him go just this once?"
Before Tenjin could respond, a firm voice cut cleanly through the air.
"Mam. That's not possible."
Tashigi stepped forward slightly, her expression serious, her posture straight.
"A Pirate is a Pirate and all must be persecuted."
Makima chuckled softly at that, the sound amused rather than offended.
"Oh, what a sense of justice," she said lightly. "And please, Tashigi-chan, just call me Makima-chan, okay?"
Tashigi flusbed pink and blinked, clearly caught off guard.
"Oh… okay."
Tenjin exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"Hakugan being there complicates things," he admitted. "But at the end of the day, I'm a Marine Captain. A Pirate is a Pirate. If Hakugan wants to take that path, then he must be prepared to face it to its fullest."
Makima studied her son in silence, her gaze lingering far longer than before. For a moment, it was as if she were looking past the uniform, past the title, and straight into the boy she had raised.
Finally, she sighed.
"Very well. I won't try to stop you any further."
Without another word, Tenjin turned away. He walked over to his cabinet, opened it, and pulled out a sheathed katana. The weapon felt familiar in his hand, its weight grounding him.
He glanced at Tashigi, resolve clear in his eyes.
"Let's go."
And with that, he moved so fast it was almost like he vanished, zooming past her in a blur.
Tashigi blinked, momentarily frozen, then shook herself.
"Oh, okay."
She smiled faintly and hurried after him.
The door closed behind them, leaving Makima alone in the room. The silence felt almost loud.
She smiled softly to herself.
"You say that, Tenjin," she murmured, "but your heart says something else."
Her smile widened just a little.
"How I wish there was someone to bet with right now… to bet that the Heart Pirates will not be captured."
---
Outside, Tenjin strode through the corridors of the Marine base at a brisk pace, his footsteps echoing sharply against the stone floors. His expression was set, resolve etched deep into his features.
Tashigi followed just behind him, her eyes fixed on his back. Confusion and awe churned within her as she watched him move.
He somehow feels different, she thought. Is this the true Captain Tenjin? Known to Pirates as a Demon Lord… am I about to witness something great?
As they moved swiftly through the base, countless Marines stopped what they were doing and snapped into crisp salutes as Tenjin passed. The respect was unmistakable.
It wasn't just because he was their Captain.
Even Marines with decades more experience than him saluted with genuine admiration.
Their respect for Tenjin wasn't born of obligation. No, it was earned.
When Tenjin and Tashigi finally exited the base, a massive Warship came into view. The docks were alive with activity. Marines ran back and forth, shouting orders, hauling supplies, and preparing the ship for departure.
Tenjin didn't slow.
He headed straight for the Warship.
The moment the Marines noticed him, everything stopped.
"CAPTAIN TENJIN!"
Tenjin gave a simple nod in response before boarding the ship and heading straight for the stern.
Once there, he spoke without turning around.
"What's the name of the Island?"
Tashigi, standing just behind him, cleared her throat.
"It's Gokuro Island."
Tenjin raised his voice, carrying clearly across the deck.
"Let's set sail for Gokuro Island."
"Sir, yes sir!" the Marines roared in unison.
Tashigi stepped closer.
"Wow… you seem different."
Tenjin didn't answer.
He stared straight ahead, eyes fixed on the horizon. His Captain's coat fluttered violently in the wind, snapping like a banner of war.
Seeing that he ignored her, Tashigi fell silent.
But Tenjin's thoughts were anything but quiet.
One name echoed relentlessly in his mind.
HAKUGAN.
---
Elsewhere.
In an office far removed from the bustle of the docks somewhere in Marineford. three figures were present.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku the Buddha sat at the head of the room. Vice Admiral Tsuru sat beside him, composed and observant. Vice Admiral Gion stood near a projection screen, remote in hand.
The projection illuminated the room as Gion clicked through slides.
Sengoku beamed with a wide smile.
"The upcoming recruits, although small in number, are extremely high quality."
Tsuru nodded slightly.
"A big highlight on that small in number," she said. "This is the smallest amount of trainee recruits in the history of the Marines."
Gion turned from the projection.
"We can't be ungrateful, Tsuru-san. The quality, just as Fleet Admiral Sengoku has said, is exceptionally high. In highlight are three young officers that I think will go on to do amazing things in the future."
Tsuru glanced at her.
"Oh? Well, Gion, you will be the instructor, so you have obviously done more research than us. Maybe you can give us a rundown."
Gion nodded.
"Of course. First we have Koby."
A slide changed.
"Who in a few months has gone from an absolute nobody to showing one of the best potential among the recruits. The amount of growth he has achieved in a couple months is honestly," she paused, disbelief evident even in her voice, "absolutely abnormal. But then again, he is being trained by Vice Admiral Garp."
Sengoku munched on a cracker.
"I know about that boy. Garp has spoken about him on many occasions, even going as far as to call him his successor. Garp does not say such things willy-nilly."
Tsuru nodded.
"True."
Gion straightened.
"The second is Prince Grus. He's a Marine Captain from the West Blue. His achievements speak for himself managing to lock up over 1000 Pirates during his time in the West Blue. But he has a flaw which I think stems from his background."
Tsuru raised an eyebrow.
"And that is?"
"He's incredibly self-centered and entitled, most probably due to being born into a rich family."
Sengoku laughed heartily.
"I'm not worried. I know you, Gion. You'll be able to fix him up real quick."
Gion sighed.
"I hope so."
Tsuru folded her hands.
"So… who is the last one of the next Monster Trio?"
A smile spread across Gion's face.
"The next one is most probably the most impressive of all the new recruits."
Both Sengoku and Tsuru sat up slightly.
"Oh?" Tsuru said.
The slide changed.
A green-haired brat with an arrogant smile filled the screen.
"Meet Marine Captain Tenjin," Gion said. "A Marine who has received the alias of Demon Lord from the various Pirates in the North Blue."
Sengoku's eyes lit up.
"Tenjin!"
Gion and Tsuru both turned toward him in surprise.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Gion asked, "do you know him?"
Sengoku nodded.
"Well, I do but I haven't heard about him in almost eight years. He was the apprentice of Vice Admiral Momonga."
"Oh really?" Gion said. "Then I guess that explains his exceptional talent and achievements. I think the one thing that makes him extremely terrifying is his Logia Devil Fruit. Which is called the Forest Forest Fruit, and it basically allows him to become the element of a Forest. Without doubt, this Devil Fruit makes him a front runner for the position of Admiral in the future."
She gestured to the data beside the image.
"He's defeated over 4000 Pirates in his career, including 15 people with bounties exceeding 10 million. And under his leadership, crime within the entire North Blue has dropped by about 80%."
Tsuru looked impressed.
"Wow. Now that's an impressive track record."
"It really is," Gion agreed. "That's why I see him as the number one among the new recruits. But he as well has a big flaw."
Tsuru waited.
"And that is his massive ego. And I don't blame him. Within the North Blue, without a doubt, he is the most powerful. It's only natural he develops such a personality."
Sengoku leaned back in his chair, popping another cracker into his mouth.
"The next generation, huh…"
He smiled thoughtfully.
"The Marines truly are in great hands."