One Piece: Fire Pillar Of Justice

Greetings, everyone!

My name is Rengoku Kyojuro!

Back on Earth, I served as the Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, hunting demons!

I remember clearly—I was protecting the Mugen Train when I fell in battle against an Upper Rank demon. Yet, it seems fate wasn't done with me, as I've now reincarnated in this strange new world!

Judging by the way everything sways, I'm likely on a ship.

"Ugh… So, you're the craftsman from Wano Country who escaped with the remnants of the Kozuki clan?"

A proud member of the Marines—the protectors of justice!

Before me stands the legendary Marine hero himself, Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp, casually picking his nose while addressing another man.

"That's correct," the man responded cautiously.

"A craftsman from Wano, huh? So, does that make you a samurai? Like that Oden guy?"

At the mention of "Oden," the man flinched, waving his hands in denial.

"I am nothing compared to Lord Oden! I have no talent for swordsmanship!"

Garp continued picking his nose, showing little reaction to the man's words.

"Besides, not everyone from Wano is a samurai. Even among samurai, warriors like Lord Oden are extremely rare," the man added, trying to clarify.

"Hmmm…" Garp's gaze drifted away from the man.

"Well, in any case, I must thank you. Without your help, my child and I would have surely perished at sea," the man said, bowing deeply in gratitude toward the Vice Admiral.

"Hohohooo!" Garp suddenly exclaimed, as if something exciting had just occurred to him.

Smack!

"What's wrong, sir?"

"Could it be… an assassination attempt by Wano's samurai!?"

Garp's shout brought a rush of Marines and officers storming into the room.

"Look at this!" Garp declared, dramatically holding out his finger.

"Uh, sir?"

"A massive booger! Look at the size of this thing!"

"Get it together, Vice Admiral!" the Marines groaned in unison.

...

After the subordinates finished their comedic uproar, Garp finally turned back to the man.

"I get what you're saying. From what I can see, you're clearly an ordinary person, not one of the samurai reported to us. So, what are you planning to do from here on out?"

At Garp's question, the man hesitated for a moment.

Then, as if resolving himself, he opened his mouth to speak.

"Please, Vice Admiral… I beg you to take in my child!"

"What?"

"I mean it—please allow my child to join the Marines!"

The man's sudden request left Garp both baffled and reminded of the kids back in his homeland.

"But why the sudden request? There must be a reason."

At Garp's inquiry, the man removed his top, revealing numerous scars from blade wounds across his torso.

Although mostly healed, the scars told a story of intense and brutal battles.

"My life is as good as over. When I escaped Wano, I was already gravely injured. I managed to perform makeshift first aid with rudimentary medical knowledge."

Hearing the man's self-deprecating explanation, Garp snorted dismissively.

"Is that all? These wounds are nothing. Once we reach Marine Headquarters, the medics can patch you up good as new."

"No!"

The man's resolute shout caught Garp by surprise. After observing his determined attitude for a moment, Garp's tone shifted, and he asked calmly,

"Is there a deeper reason?"

Realizing his outburst, the man immediately prostrated himself before Garp in apology.

"My deepest apologies! I was too desperate and acted rudely..."

"That's fine. Just explain," Garp said, giving him permission to continue.

The man took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Have you heard of the Kozuki clan's craftsmen?"

"Yeah, I've heard bits and pieces. They're the ones who created the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades, right? Legendary swords like the 'Shodai Kitetsu' were made by their smiths."

"Correct. Shodai Kitetsu is one of the Supreme Grade Blades, a masterpiece among masterpieces. But it's also a cursed blade, a yōtō (demonic sword). Most blades crafted by the Kozuki clan's smiths carry a similar curse."

"A cursed blade?"

"Yes. A yōtō is a sword that drains the life of its wielder, feeding on their essence. Even now, there are famous swords like that in the world. For instance, Lord Oden's two blades—Enma and Ame no Habakiri."

"Enma?"

"Yes. Enma is classified as a yōtō because it forcibly absorbs its wielder's Haki. It doesn't matter what type—whether it's Armament, Observation, or even Conqueror's Haki. Enma drains them all."

"So that's..."

Seeing Garp's expression shift, the man nodded and continued.

"Exactly. Even the almighty Conqueror's Haki is not spared. Enma forces its wielder to give everything it demands."

"A truly terrifying weapon," Garp muttered, his tone grim.

"A cursed blade is indeed a terrifying weapon. Ironically, however, the Kozuki clan's blacksmiths specialize in crafting such swords. The process of forging them naturally absorbs the smith's Haki. For someone like me, who has no Haki, it even drains my life force."

"So, you're saying you've lost a significant amount of your life force over time."

"Yes. I was involved in forging one of the Third Generation Kitetsu, the successor to the Kozuki clan's tradition. How old do you think I am?"

At the man's question, Garp scrutinized him carefully before answering.

"You look just a bit younger than me."

"I'm 30 years old this year," the man replied.

"What?!?"

Garp's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what he just heard.

The man's appearance was that of a weathered, 60-year-old elder.

The man chuckled bitterly and continued, "I am nothing but an ordinary human with no particular talent. By sheer luck, I grew up under the tutelage of the Kozuki clan's blacksmiths and stubbornly forced myself to be part of crafting the Third Generation Kitetsu. However, I pushed myself too far. By the time the sword was completed, I looked in the mirror and saw… this."

Listening to the man's tale, Garp let out a long sigh, his expression tinged with sympathy.

"...In any case, even if medical treatment could heal my body, my lifespan cannot be restored. That is why I am entrusting my child to you, Vice Admiral."

The man stood from his chair and knelt before Garp, lowering his head in a gesture of utmost respect.

"Please... I beg you to take care of my child."

Seeing the man bow so sincerely, Garp was suddenly reminded of an old friend.

After a brief moment of silence, Garp sighed and spoke.

"Alright, I'll take care of the child. But what about you? What do you plan to do?"

"Though my skills are mediocre, I have devoted my entire life to being a blacksmith under the Kozuki clan. With the time I have left, I want to dedicate myself to creating my greatest masterpiece—a gift for my child."

The man's determined gaze made Garp nod in approval.

"I'll contact one of the workshops supplying the Marine Headquarters. I'll arrange for you to use a smithy there."

"Thank you," the man replied, his voice filled with gratitude.

...

Garp and the man entered the room where Kyojuro was waiting and began explaining the situation.

From the cursed blades of the Kozuki blacksmiths to the political intricacies of Wano Country, they detailed everything:

•The current location of the ship and the Marines' role in the world.

•The events that led the man and Kyojuro to board this warship.

•The agreement between the man and Garp regarding Kyojuro's future.

The two took turns explaining, carefully tailoring their words to be understood by a child.

However, unbeknownst to them, Kyojuro's soul, carrying the wisdom of an adult, quickly grasped the meaning behind their words and showed no resistance.

After listening to them, Kyojuro nodded with a bright smile.

"I understand! Then, I'll follow this old man!"

Contrary to their expectations, Kyojuro readily agreed to stay with Garp.

Although the man in front of him was a stranger, Kyojuro considered him his new father and felt it was natural to respect his wishes.

Additionally, as a former Hashira who valued strength, Kyojuro was drawn to Garp's heroic aura.

Heroes recognize heroes, after all.

"Good! But first, we need to know this kid's name," Garp said, turning to the man.

The man paused for a moment before replying.

"According to Wano's naming conventions… his name is Rengoku Kyojuro."

"Hmm, Rengoku Kyojuro… A strong name. But considering his Wano origins, it might be wise to use an alias to avoid drawing unnecessary attention," Garp suggested.

"In that case, let's shorten it to just 'Kyojuro.'"

And so, Rengoku Kyojuro became simply Kyojuro in this world.

"Now then, Kyojuro, let's get you some proper clothes. The attire of Wano will stand out too much at Marine Headquarters," Garp added.

"Understood! Old man, what should I call you?" Kyojuro asked earnestly.

At this, Garp stroked his thick beard, his mind wandering to memories of his own mischievous grandson who stubbornly declared he'd never become a Marine, preferring a pirate's life instead.

The thought of that red-haired brat caused Garp to briefly clench his fists in annoyance.

Shaking off the memory, he looked at Kyojuro, who was about the same age as his grandson, and replied with a grin:

"Just call me Jiichan (Grandpa)!"

"Understood, Jiichan!"

"Kahaha! That's the spirit! Let's go! From now on, you'll be reborn as a brave warrior of the sea—a Marine!"