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Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Vice Admiral Garp withdrew his gaze from the window and burst into a boisterous laugh. He turned to Sengoku, boasting, "How about that, Sengoku? You saw it, right? This is the kid I told you about. He put on quite a show, didn't he? Hahahahaha!"
Sengoku watched Goku—who was still the center of a massive commotion in the training grounds below—while stroking his long, braided beard. After a long, thoughtful silence, he finally looked away and spoke. "Based on what you've shown me, the boy is indeed special. Breaking the usual enlistment restrictions to let him join the Marines is not out of the question."
"Right? Hahahahaha!" Garp's laughter filled the room.
"But!" Sengoku adjusted his glasses, sharp eyes narrowing behind the lenses. "He is still far too young. Enlisting him now could do more harm than good. Furthermore, we haven't found his family; his background and true identity remain a mystery. If we rush this, we might be inviting hidden dangers into the Navy."
Sengoku knew that talent like Goku's didn't just appear out of nowhere; it usually suggested an extraordinary lineage. Garp didn't argue. Instead, he grinned and asked, "Then what do you suggest we do?"
"We will place him in the Marine Reserve for one year of observation," Sengoku decided slowly. "This 'buffer year' will give him time to mature and learn the values of the Navy. It also gives our intelligence units enough time to thoroughly investigate his past."
Garp stuffed a handful of senbei into his mouth and nodded. "Hahaha! Good! We'll do it your way!" He knew this was Sengoku's final offer and that the extra year would only benefit the boy's development.
"Fine. He will stay under your direct supervision," Sengoku added, returning to his desk for a sip of tea. "See to it that you teach him well."
"Of course! You didn't even need to ask! Hahahahaha!" Garp laughed as he headed for the door. As he passed the tea cabinet, he didn't hesitate; he casually swept the entire canister of premium tea leaves into his coat and strolled out. "Well, I'm off, Sengoku!"
Moments later, after Sengoku finished a document and reached for his tea, he realized the cabinet was empty. That afternoon, a legendary roar echoed through half of Marineford: "GARP!! YOU BASTARD!! GIVE ME BACK MY TEA!!"
After the excitement at the training ground, Major Lanza led Goku away from the stunned crowd of soldiers. Once they found a secluded spot, Lanza ruffled Goku's hair vigorously, laughing at the sky. "Ah hahahaha! Goku, you're amazing! Did you see their faces? It was hilarious!"
Goku frowned, trying to fix his messy hair. "You're so strange, Lanza. What's so funny about that?"
Lanza stopped laughing and tried to look profound. "Ah, you don't understand yet. When you're older, you'll realize how much fun it is to shock people like that."
"That makes no sense," Goku muttered, still confused. Lanza dropped the subject and spent the next few hours showing Goku around the headquarters. Eventually, Garp caught up with them, dismissed Lanza, and took Goku to a quiet, deserted training ground.
Garp turned serious. "Goku, do you like to train and get stronger?"
"Mhm mhm!" Goku nodded eagerly.
"Then tell me... have you ever thought about why you train?"
Goku scratched his cheek, thinking back to his days at the Kame House with Master Roshi. "I didn't think about it much before," he admitted. "But then I realized... I want to train so I can surpass myself!"
Garp was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected such a mature, philosophical answer from a twelve-year-old. This internal drive to break one's own limits was exactly what made Goku a "shining gold" talent in Garp's eyes. "Hahaha! Well said! Surpassing oneself is a noble goal!"
"However," Garp continued, looking at the boy expectantly, "can't we also use that strength to uphold Justice and stop criminals?"
"Criminals? What are those?" Goku asked blankly.
Garp's smile froze. He cleared his throat. "They're bad people who hurt others—like those pirates you beat up on the island."
"Oh! Bad guys!" Goku nodded in understanding. "Of course! If someone is doing bad things, I'll stop them!" Garp was satisfied; the boy already had the right spirit. He changed the subject, asking with a smirk, "So, what do you think of your current strength?"
Goku's eyes lit up. He chuckled and rubbed his head. "Hehe, I feel like I'm pretty strong now!" He was genuinely happy with the progress he had made since arriving in this world.
"Oh? Pretty strong, are you?" Garp asked with a sudden, mischievous glint in his eye.
The next second, Garp vanished and reappeared beside Goku, delivering a sharp punch to the top of his head—a "Fist of Love."
BANG!!!
Goku hit the ground in a face-plant, and a massive bump immediately swelled up on his head. "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!!" Goku screamed, jumping up with tears of pain in his eyes. "Why did you hit me, Grandpa Garp?!"
Garp casually picked his nose and grinned. "Didn't you say you were strong? I'm just testing your limits."
Goku's pain vanished as his fighting spirit flared. He clenched his fists and raised his eyebrows. "So you want to fight me? Then let's go!"