Chapter 5: New Horizons and Rising Stars
Ten years had passed since Garp and I began training together.
We were now 15 years old—young in body, but hardened in spirit. Our daily routine for the past decade had been grueling: fighting beasts, sparring with each other, testing the limits of our Haki, Rokushiki, and sword techniques. I could confidently say that our current strength could rival Luffy's post-time skip level—and we hadn't even left East Blue yet.
My goal remained the same:
Become the Marshal of the Navy and change it from within—prevent it from rotting like it did in the original timeline.
Garp's dream was even purer.
"To bring justice to all the people of the world."
That morning, we stood at the village port, bags slung over our shoulders, a small boat prepared for our journey. The entire village had come to see us off—teary-eyed parents, smiling children, and proud villagers who had watched us grow.
"Take care of each other," my mother, Alice, said, hugging me tightly.
Our father, Gara, clapped our shoulders. "Show those Navy elites what real monsters look like."
We both grinned and nodded. "We will."
With enough food packed to feed a dozen men, we pushed off the dock and began our three-day journey to the nearest Navy base—Shells Town.
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Three Days Later – Shells Town
We arrived just before sunset, stepping off the boat and heading straight toward the Navy headquarters.
After a brief registration process, the colonel in charge looked over our records and physical test results with wide eyes. "Impressive… but you're still young. The best I can offer you both is the rank of First-Class Seaman for now."
We accepted without complaint.
We knew ranks didn't matter—not yet. This was just a stepping stone.
We made quick work of local pirate threats and bandits plaguing the nearby waters. In just a few months, our strength and tactical skill shocked everyone. We earned a promotion to Lieutenant, just a step below Colonel. The colonel who once doubted us now personally recommended us for transfer to Navy Headquarters in the Grand Line.
When the ship to fetch us finally arrived, we were stunned.
A towering, muscular man with a wild mane of hair stepped off the deck.
Kong.
The future Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's military—currently a Vice Admiral.
"Garp. Gojo," he greeted us with a grin. "I've heard a lot about you two."
We saluted him respectfully and boarded his ship, ready for the next chapter of our journey.
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One Month Later – Navy Headquarters
The Navy HQ was a fortress compared to Shells Town. Towering walls, massive drill yards, and warships bigger than anything we had ever seen. Here, we joined the Elite Recruit Group—a program for rising stars destined for greatness.
There, we met them:
Sengoku — calm, composed, and tactical.
Tsuru — sharp-eyed, intelligent, and surprisingly beautiful in her youth.
Zeffa, or as they would soon call him, "Z" — a powerhouse with a quiet intensity.
To our surprise, we hit it off with all three. Sparring matches turned to friendship. Strategy sessions led to respect. We trained together, dined together, and shared our dreams of the future.
But when it came to the academy's lessons?
We were already far beyond them.
Observation Haki drills?
Child's play.
Rokushiki mastery tests?
We had been performing Soru and Geppo before most of them learned how to hold a rifle.
Instead, we used our time to build bonds, share insights, and quietly shape the next generation of Navy legends.
And then… the five of us made a pact.
To graduate early and take the Navy by storm.
We didn't just want to serve—we wanted to lead, to change the system, to carve our names into history.
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With Garp, Sengoku, Tsuru, Zefa, and I—Monkey D. Gojo—the seeds of the future Navy's new era had been sown.
And soon… the seas would tremble.