Meanwhile, in the back mountain of Foosha Village.
The youngest of the trio, Luffy, the freckle-faced Ace, and the well-dressed Sabo—sporting a top hat and clutching a metal pipe—were drooling around a campfire.
A massive chunk of meat roasted over the flames.
It was the spoils of the three brothers’ morning hunt.
“Ace, how much longer until the meat is ready?
I’m starving.”
Looking as though he might waste away from hunger, Luffy reached out and tugged on Ace’s arm.
Ace kept his eyes glued to the roasting meat.
“Almost, almost.
It should be done in a few minutes.”
Sabo chimed in to comfort him.
“Don’t rush it, Luffy.
It’ll be ready soon.”
A few minutes later, watching the meat turn a perfect golden brown and release a rich, mouth-watering aroma, Ace’s eyes lit up.
“The meat is done!”
In the next second, the three of them tore into the roast like a pack of starving wolves, immediately splitting it into three portions.
Ignoring the scorching heat, Luffy took a massive bite, his eyes sparkling with delight.
“So good!”
Sabo gave Ace a thumbs-up between bites.
“Ace, your cooking skills are amazing.
You’re definitely going to be a master of fire someday.”
Ace didn’t say a word, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward in a massive grin.
Luffy devoured his share in a few quick bites.
He was just about to egg his two older brothers on to hunt another beast when a sudden, inexplicable sense of dread washed over him.
“That’s weird.
Why do I feel like something terrible is about to happen?”
Luffy scratched his head and looked at Sabo and Ace.
“What about you guys?”
Sabo shook his head, but Ace’s expression gradually grew solemn.
“Yeah, I feel it too.
I know this feeling.
The last time I felt this way was when a certain old geezer chased me down and beat me with his so-called Fist of Love.”
Luffy tilted his head.
“Fist of Love?
Huh?
Wait, don’t tell me!”
Luffy and Ace leaped to their feet simultaneously, grabbed Sabo, and bolted straight toward the depths of the back mountain.
But it was already too late.
“Bwahahaha!
Luffy, Ace, don’t run!
Come get a taste of my Fist of Love!”
Garp leaped high into the air from out of nowhere, looking down at the three fleeing brats.
“Hm?
Is that little guy Sabo?
He looks like a fine prospect too.
Then you can all share a taste of my Fist of Love!
Hahaha!”
With that, Garp brought his fist crashing down toward where the three were running.
Luffy glanced back and was scared out of his wits.
“Run!
Grandpa is catching up!”
“Your grandpa?”
Sabo shot him a look of pure shock.
‘Is this how you lived with your grandpa before coming here?’
For the first time, Sabo felt that his noble family wasn’t quite so unfortunate after all.
Even though he wasn’t exactly loved there, at least he wasn’t chased down and beaten by his own grandfather like this.
This so-called Fist of Love looked like it was meant to smash someone to death!
Under the immense pressure, the trio’s running speed forcibly broke past their usual limits.
They narrowly dodged Garp’s Fist of Love, but the resulting shockwave sent them flying.
They tumbled across the ground several times, looking completely battered.
Following close behind, Raizen couldn’t help but twitch his lips at the sight.
No wonder Luffy would run at the mere sight of Garp when he grew up.
Who could endure this kind of training as a child?
“You stupid grandpa, what the hell are you trying to do?!”
Luffy and Ace scrambled to their feet, dragging Sabo along to keep running.
Seeing this, Garp prepared to deliver another Fist of Love.
Spotting this, Raizen quickly stepped in and blocked Garp’s path.
“Stop, stop, stop.
Teacher Garp, what kind of training is this?
They’re just kids.”
Garp tilted his head in confusion.
“I recall you saying you were hunting with a pack of wolves when you were five, right?
Compared to you, these brats still have a long way to go.”
Raizen was stunned.
‘How did I get dragged into this?’
‘I didn’t have a choice back then; I had to run with the wolves.
What, is your grandson also an orphan with no parents and a dead family?’
‘What kind of family background does he have to be copying me?’
Of course, Raizen didn’t dare say that out loud, terrified he might catch a Fist of Love himself.
Instead, he earnestly held Garp back and reasoned, “I didn’t have a choice back then.
Look, under normal circumstances, what kind of grandfather chases his grandson around to beat him to a pulp?”
Seeing Garp waver, Raizen continued his persuasion.
Meanwhile, Luffy and the other two seemed to realize that this newly arrived uncle was actually a good guy, so they hid to the side and peeked out to watch.
“Teacher Garp, these three brats look like they’re only seven or eight, no older than ten.
How can they withstand this kind of training?
If something goes wrong, wouldn’t you regret it for the rest of your life?”
Raizen hammered home a single point: ‘Old man Garp, your method is way too risky and completely unsuitable for children.’
‘Honestly, the fact that these three survived long enough to set sail is incredible.
I refuse to believe they aren’t blessed by destiny.’
Garp stroked his chin.
“You seem to have a point, Raizen.
The pressure I’m putting on them might indeed be a bit too much.”
Raizen nodded.
“Right, exactly.
Training needs to be measured, and the intensity should be moderate.”
“Then how about you train them instead?
It’s enough for me to just train you.”
“Huh?”
Raizen froze in place, beginning to suspect that this old geezer Garp had deliberately set a trap for him.
‘Dragging me out of the training camp, then putting on an act in front of me like he doesn’t know how to teach and only knows the Fist of Love…
Was his goal all along to make me take over Luffy and Ace’s training?’
‘Oh, and now Sabo is included too.’
‘Old man Garp, you played me!’
However, Garp was already laughing heartily as he patted Raizen on the shoulder.
He then waved at the three boys peeking from the sidelines.
“Hey, Luffy, Ace, and that brat named Sabo!
Come here!
I’ve found a teacher for the three of you!”
Seeing that the danger had seemingly passed, Ace led Luffy and Sabo out cautiously, though their postures remained highly defensive.
Pointing at Raizen, Garp announced, “This is my disciple, Bordeaux Raizen, and he’s the new teacher I found for you.”
Raizen shook his head.
‘Fine, old man Garp, you win.
You dragged me all the way out here just to teach your grandson.’
‘Still, Foosha Village has plenty of space and mountains.
I won’t have to worry about destroying things during training, which makes it better than the training camp.’
Resigned, Raizen stepped forward, crouched down, and greeted the trio.
“Hello there.
I’m Bordeaux Raizen, Teacher Garp’s disciple, and also a Marine.”
Sabo blinked, then suddenly shrieked in shock.
“Eeeeh?!
Garp?!
Is he…
is he the Marine Hero, Garp?!”
Raizen smiled.
“My teacher is indeed the Marine Hero that everyone admires.”
He tried his best to appear friendly.
After all, he was here to be their teacher and instill the idea of becoming the Marine King into Luffy’s head, so he naturally had to maintain a good image.