After a grueling morning of intense training, Renji finally paused to catch his breath. The sun blazed down on the Navy Headquarters training grounds, the air thick with the scent of earth and heat. His clothes were drenched in sweat, clinging to his skin, and every breath he took stretched his muscles to their limits.
As he sat under the shade of a tree, panting heavily, approached. She carried a bottle of water, her steps light and graceful, as if the scorching heat didn't affect her at all. When she reached Renji, she smiled softly and handed him the cool, refreshing drink.
"You've worked hard," she said, her tone laced with genuine concern.
Renji took the water, his fingers brushing against the cool surface. He looked up and nodded in gratitude at her warm smile.
"You really don't have to do this for me..." he said, feeling a bit awkward.
After spending the morning together, Renji had finally understood why Hina had acted so unusually the day before.
"Bringing water to the person who saved my life isn't too much, is it?" Hina replied with a playful smile.
Renji glanced around nervously. The glares from the other Marines were intense, as if they wanted to devour him whole. It was... unsettling.
But the main issue was that he hadn't actually done anything extraordinary. Back before he joined the Navy, he had been training alone in the South Blue. When he saw a ship under attack, he had charged in with his sword, not realizing that one of the people on board would later become a Navy vice admiral.
"Renji, I've finished all of today's training tasks," Toki said as she walked over from another training area, wiping sweat from her brow with a towel. "After cleaning up, we can go eat, right?"
Toki looked slightly exhausted after her training. She had come to the spot where she and Renji usually met, only to find a tall woman sitting beside him. Was she someone Renji knew from the Navy Headquarters? Toki didn't recall seeing her before.
Before she could get a better look at the woman, a strong smell of smoke hit her nose, making her wrinkle it in distaste.
"Hina, there you are. I've been looking for you all morning," Garp said, stepping between Renji and Hina with a quick stride.
Renji couldn't help but chuckle wryly. Garp's overprotectiveness was almost comical. He had no interest in Hina, after all.
Meanwhile, Toki quietly positioned herself behind Renji, eyeing the man who had suddenly appeared.
Hina frowned slightly. "Garp, you don't need to follow me around all the time, do you?"
"Well, Hina, we've always been partners," Garp replied, scratching his head. "Besides, Fleet Admiral Kong has a mission for us."
Garp wasn't lying. He had come to find Hina because they had been assigned a task. He prided himself on being a man of discretion and wouldn't overstep his bounds.
"What could it be?" Hina wondered silently.
It had been a while since they had been summoned by the Fleet Admiral. Every time they were called in, it usually meant they'd be busy for a long time.
As soldiers, their duty was to obey orders. Once they received a command, they had no choice but to follow it.
"Let's go see what Fleet Admiral Kong wants. We can catch up later," Hina said, standing up and offering an apologetic smile.
Renji also stood, understanding that they had work to do. "Good luck with your mission."
Garp and Hina were being groomed as future admirals, and their strength had already reached that level. The more tasks Fleet Admiral Kong assigned them, the easier their future promotions would be. Many in the Navy envied their opportunities, but it was clear that Hina and Garp possessed extraordinary talent.
After leaving the training grounds, Renji and Toki strolled leisurely toward their quarters. During his time at Navy Headquarters, Renji had encountered many individuals who would later become famous figures on the seas.
He had briefly crossed paths with Sakazuki and Borsalino, though they weren't particularly close. Both were currently in the Navy's training camp and would likely graduate soon.
Interestingly, Kuzan had also joined the training camp, living a life of both pain and joy. Those with Logia-type Devil Fruit abilities were given special attention, and Kuzan was no exception. The instructors were eager to impart all their knowledge to him.
Renji, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Fleet Admiral Kong seemed to have a grudge against him, always accusing him of slacking off. As a mere captain, Renji was far from being a top figure in the Navy. He thought catching a few pirates here and there would suffice, but Kong had even assigned him training tasks.
By the time they reached the cafeteria, it was packed with people. Marineford had many dining halls, but the number of Marines far exceeded the available space. The food was passable, but for anything truly delicious, one had to venture to the commercial district, where meals were prepared by the families of Navy personnel.
"Stay here and save us a seat. I'll go get the food," Renji said after circling the cafeteria five times. He finally found a spot and gently pushed Toki into the seat before rushing off to get their meals.
Toki was used to Renji's arrangements. He knew what she liked to eat, and saving seats was her specialty.
As she waited, a lazy voice came from behind her.
"How terrifying. This seems to be the only seat left. Mind if I join you, miss?"
Toki turned to see a man with sunglasses standing nearby. She nodded, as the table could comfortably seat four people.
"Thanks," Borsalino said as he sat down at the farthest end of the table from Toki, quietly eating his meal.
A few moments later, Renji returned with two trays of food. He paused when he saw Borsalino at the table.
"Well, if it isn't the rising star, Renji. Fancy seeing you here in the cafeteria. How terrifying," Borsalino said with a smirk, swallowing a mouthful of food.
Renji set the trays down and chuckled. "Rising star? Hardly. I just don't come here often, but that doesn't mean I never do."
Borsalino shook his head. "Instructor Zephyr talks about you all the time. A monstrous physique, masterful swordsmanship... The only downside is your laziness. Honestly, he won't stop praising you. It's getting old."
Toki couldn't help but laugh. She had no issue with Zephyr's praise, as it was all true. But the jab at Renji's laziness was the real kicker.
'The old guys in the Navy must really have it out for me,' Renji thought to himself. He considered himself quite diligent. Clearly, he needed to train even harder.
That afternoon, Renji marched into the Fleet Admiral's office, demanding that the Navy restore his reputation. The outcome, however, was predictable.
Renji's protests were completely ignored by the higher-ups. In the end, he was no match for the Navy's top brass.
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