Naruto: Shared Talent Chapter 125 125: The Encounter

AAAGH! THAT HURTS!"

Hearing Luffy's scream, Nami's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. "Luffy is a rubber man! How can a normal punch hurt him?!"

She spun around to face the intruder. As the dust settled, a man in a crisp Marine Vice Admiral's coat stood before them. eting their shocked gazes, Garp chuckled, "Long ti no see, Luffy!"

Luffy didn't even have ti to worry about the lump on his head. The look in his eyes was one of pure terror; childhood mories of "training" flooded back like a tidal wave. That fear, etched into his very soul, was instantly reawakened. Luffy looked at Garp warily and stamred, "W-why are you here... Grandpa?"

Grandpa?!

The Straw Hat crew stood frozen. For a second, they wondered if Luffy had simply lost his mind from fear and decided to claim the Marine Hero as a relative to save his skin. But knowing Luffy, he wasn't the type to surrender, let alone make up a fake lineage.

Before they could untangle the mystery, Garp stepped forward and grabbed Luffy, his face darkening with mock gloom. "You little brat! You waited until I wasn't ho to sneak out and beco a pirate! You've nearly worried to death with your nonsense!"

Garp wound up and delivered another blow squarely to the top of Luffy's head!

Duang—!

"OWWW! It hurts! Why does it always hurt so much when Grandpa hits ?!" Luffy clutched his head, his face contorting in pain.

Garp snorted with pride. "Hmph! My 'Fist of Love' is a strike that can bypass any Devil Fruit curse!"

The crew didn't really buy the explanation, but they didn't dare ask for clarification. Garp had already hoisted Luffy up by the collar, looking ominous. "Since I've caught you here, I'm going to give you a proper lesson! Then I'm dragging you back to beco a Marine!"

"No way! I'm the man who's going to be King of the Pirates! I'm never becoming a Marine!" Luffy struggled violently, his tiny rubber fists pumlling Garp's face. Garp simply ignored the "soft" rain of punches as if they were mosquito bites.

However, Garp's temper flared. "How dare you raise a fist against your beloved Grandfather! You've clearly picked up all the worst pirate habits! Allow to correct them right now!"

The Straw Hats' hearts jumped into their throats, terrified their captain might actually be beaten to death. But just as they prepared to launch a rescue mission, both grandfather and grandson suddenly tilted their heads back, and a large snot-bubble grew from each of their noses.

"THEY FELL ASLEEP ALREADY?!" Nami shrieked.

Pop! Pop!

The bubbles burst simultaneously. Garp blinked awake, saw a similarly groggy Luffy, and imdiately flew back into a rage. He landed another Fist of Love.

"Trying to confuse your Grandpa by sleeping?! How cunning!" "THAT HURTS! You old geezer! This is war!" "Still talking back?! Take this!"

Duang! Duang! Duang!

After a thorough "education," a bruised and swollen Luffy and Garp fell asleep together again. Nami and the others gave up. It was clear this was just a bizarre family dynamic; Garp didn't actually intend to kill Luffy, and Luffy was powerless to resist.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside. After a series of crashes, Zoro burst into the room, looking frantic. Seeing his companions safe, he let out a sigh of relief. Behind him, several "elite" Marine rookies—including Koby and Helppo—lay on the ground with swirly eyes. Zoro had held back, so they were rely unconscious.

Zoro frowned, looking around. "What happened? Where's Luffy? Did he go find Usopp already?"

Nami pointed helplessly at the person who looked like a literal overstuffed pig-head. "That isLuffy."

Zoro stared at the "pig" for a long ti before nodding. "Well, he's wearing the sa clothes, I guess."

He barely recognized his captain. Looking at the old man holding Luffy by the neck, Zoro grew irritated. "Who's the old guy? Did he do this to Luffy?" He reached for his swords, ready to cut the intruder down. Sanji quickly intercepted him. "Idiot! That's Luffy's family business. We're better off staying out of it!"

Finally, Garp and Luffy woke up again. They stretched in unison and, as if nothing had happened, began chatting about family affairs. They even started working together to repair the wall Garp had smashed, leaving the crew utterly speechless. During the repairs, Garp casually ntioned Luffy's father, Monkey D. Dragon, but Luffy claid he'd never t the man, and the topic was dropped.

Nami's inner monologue scread: AS IF! WHAT KIND OF FREAKISH GENE POOL DOES THIS FAMILY HAVE?!

While Garp was having a family reunion, Ren and his crew finally approached the Sabaody Archipelago. But as they neared the coast, Ren sensed a suffocating atmosphere of slaughter. The sea appeared empty, yet a sharp sense of danger pricked at his skin.

"It seems the Navy doesn't intend to let reach the New World so easily," Ren remarked with a confident smirk. He strode to the prow, standing tall. Looking out over the dark expanse of the ocean, he laughed, "Since you're already here, stop hiding! Co out and fight!"

A second later, the tranquil sea began to churn with millions of tiny bubbles. The bubbles grew larger and more violent until, with a massive roar, the surface erupted. Dozens of warships surged out of the water, surrounding Ren's ship in a perfect blockade!

Directly opposite Ren, a man with a stern, rock-hard face spoke in a low, rumbling voice: "Pirate Ren. Today is the day of your execution."

Ren's smile widened. "So it's Admiral Akainu. And you brought quite a fleet. What's this? Are you planning a Buster Call just for my one little ship?"

He scanned the periter. There were at least twenty warships. Aside from Akainu's massive flagship, there were ten dium-sized cruisers and several smaller support vessels. This much firepower was usually reserved for taking down a Yonko.

Akainu's arm transford into roiling, bubbling magma. Searing drops fell onto the deck, hissing as they burned through the wood.

"For a criminal as heinous as you, I will personally—"