C12 Promise

The Sharingan, with its exceptional insight combined with the user's strong learning capacity, could easily replicate an opponent's Ninjutsu, Body Technique, and even illusionary techniques.

Thus, after Garp showcased the Lunar Mark and Rankyaku, Rodney had no trouble memorizing the techniques, but he still couldn't execute them.

The primary issue was that his body wasn't up to par. Training in the Six Moves demanded a certain level of physical strength. Like a typical Ninja, Rodney had high offensive capabilities but low stamina. Despite being a native of the One Piece Universe, he hadn't undergone significant training. He needed more conditioning, and a Shadow Clone would be beneficial.

However, acquiring a Shadow Clone cost 1,000 points, and Rodney often spent his points before remembering this.

His only option was to train rigorously, continually bolstering his physical strength. He had mastered the Lunar Mark and was still honing his Rankyaku.

"Gum-Gum Gatling!"

A barrage of punches flew, all effortlessly evaded by Rodney.

Soru!

In an instant, he was face-to-face with Luffy, delivering a "Shadow Dance Leaf" kick to his chin, sending him soaring. Leaping up, Rodney positioned himself behind Luffy mid-air, twisted his body, and landed another kick to Luffy's abdomen.

"Tornado Lion Strike!"

Boom!

Luffy was driven into the ground. Rising and dusting himself off, he remarked, "That was a close one! You're really strong," while fixing his straw hat with a determined look.

Luffy, still smarting from his easy defeat by Rodney's Sharingan, had issued a challenge. Rodney initially declined, but Luffy's persistence left him with no choice but to accept, and here they were.

Luffy's rubber fruit powers made him immune to blunt force, and without the ability to use Haki, Rodney's physical attacks were ineffective. So, he resorted to throwing Shuriken and Kunai at Luffy.

The Shuriken, guided by the Sharingan, collided mid-air, altering their paths. The Uchiha's Shuriken technique became even more intuitive, cutting off Luffy's escape and leaving him with only one direct path.

Just as he had anticipated, Luffy found himself surrounded, with all possible escape routes blocked. Without hesitation, he surged forward, hands forming a seal: "Fire Escape – Gougakyu!"

The intense heat washed over him as Luffy's eyes widened and he leapt into the air. Below him, Rodney quickly formed another seal with his hands, and in the span of a single breath, a barrage of small fireballs burst forth.

Fire Escape: Phoenix Fairy Fire!

"Damn!" Realizing he couldn't dodge while airborne, Luffy was at a loss. At just fourteen, his combat experience was limited, and thinking on his feet wasn't his strong suit. Biting down hard, he ignored the potential danger to his rubber body from the chakra-infused flames and charged headlong into the attack.

The Phoenix Fairy Fire engulfed him, setting his clothes ablaze, yet, by some miracle, his straw hat remained untouched.

The straw hat must be the key, right?

"Rubber—Pistol!"

His arm stretched out, striking at Rodney with force, but in a puff of white smoke, it hit nothing but a wooden log.

"Hahaha, Luffy, you little fool, Mr. Rodney has already escaped. You're still too young," Garp chuckled heartily. His Kenbunshoku had detected Rodney's preemptive hand signal, allowing him to vanish with incredible speed, leaving a decoy log in his stead.

"Where did he go?"

"Earth Escape – Heart Slash Technique!"

All that remained was a head on the ground.

"Release me, let me out!" Luffy yelled, dusting himself off. Rodney ignored him, preoccupied with the nuisance of dust that Earth Escape always left on his body, making bathing a real hassle.

"Did you see that, Ace? Mr. Rodney prefers to use his head in battle. You all rely too much on your powers. That's your downfall. Mr. Rodney, why not join the Navy? Your abilities would be a great asset," Garp persisted with his invitation.

Rodney, however, instantly declined. Ace, handcuffed with Sea Building Stone, spoke up, "Old man, release me! I need to get to the sea!" Though he could move, the cuffs left him feeling weak and uncomfortable.

"Call me Grandpa!" Garp landed a punch, leaving a smoking, red lump on Ace's head.

"Stinking old man!"

"Damn it, you bad boy, why won't you call me Grandpa? I want my grandson to love me too. Mr. Rodney, how about you become my grandson instead?" Garp's thoughts were a bit scattered, true to Luffy's grandfather. It was a mystery how he fathered a son with such a high IQ, and even more baffling how that son gave birth to the emotionally intelligent Luffy.

Maybe the dragon inherited its mother's intelligence? It seemed Luffy's genetics had evolved from the rest of the Garp family.

"No thanks." Rodney stepped back, gazing out to sea. A large ship appeared to be docking, and with his Sharingan activated, his vision sharply enhanced, he could clearly see the ship's flag and the people aboard.

The Black Spade Pirate Group!

"Ace, your crew has arrived."

"What? Everyone..." Ace was deeply moved, then suddenly remembered Garp's presence and panicked, "No, they can't come here!"

Garp too turned his gaze to the sea and roared with laughter, "Hahaha, Ace, looks like you've got yourself a solid crew."

Crew members who wouldn't abandon their captain were a leader's most treasured asset, and Ace had chosen well.

"Of course!" Ace boasted, then noticed Garp heading towards the port draped in his cloak of justice. Alarmed, he called out, "Wait! Old man, where are you going?"

"Do I even need to ask? A bunch of Pirates have shown up, and as a navy man, it's my duty to step in!"

Ace dashed forward, only to be tossed back by Garp. Rodney helped him to his feet as Ace pleaded earnestly, "Rodney, let me go! I need to save everyone!"

He didn't know the full extent of Garp's strength, only that he was stronger than him, stronger than his father whom he both respected and resented, and definitely stronger than his entire crew. If Garp intervened, his crew, his friends, would stand no chance of escape.

Rodney looked at him, knowing full well he could aid Ace's escape; the key to the Sea Building Stone cuffs was in his possession. But if Ace fled and set sail on the Great Voyage, there was a strong chance he'd end up as White Beard's son. This was someone who had never felt a father's love, and upon receiving it from White Beard, it would be all too easy for him to become his son.

After the Toppling War, Black Beard...

Rodney simply looked at him and asked, "Ace, do you really have to become a pirate?"

"It's only natural!"

"Even at the risk of death?"

"I'm not afraid to die!"

"Even if it means dying in front of Vice Admiral Garp? Allowing the man who raised you to watch helplessly as you die, living with regret for decades to come?" During the Toppling War, Garp was shackled by the justice behind him, forced to watch his grandson perish at the hands of Red Dog. Wasn't he in agony?

How could he not be?

Ace and Luffy were his grandsons! What kind of elder wouldn't cherish their own kin?

"I..." This time, Ace hesitated.

He held a deep respect for Garp. Despite calling him "old geezer" or "old man," Garp was still his grandfather; he just didn't want to acknowledge it. Rodney's question posed a difficult choice for him. As a pirate, he was destined to clash with the navy.

From the moment he chose the pirate life, he had disregarded his own mortality. But now, Rodney's question made the prospect of death seem frightening. To die in front of his grandfather, powerless to do anything, unable to save himself, and to leave Garp burdened with guilt until his dying day?

How utterly cruel would that be?

Even with the title of Navy Hero, Garp was, in the face of kinship, just an ordinary old man.

"Ace, what are you thinking about? They're your crew, your partners! Don't you owe it to them to be responsible?" Luffy suddenly yelled out. To him, nothing was more important than his mates, which visibly annoyed Rodney.

Yet, Luffy's words also strengthened Ace's resolve. He looked Rodney in the eye and declared earnestly, "I will not die in front of that old man! Absolutely not! Rodney, I give you my word! Please help me. I'm their captain; I led them here, and it's my duty to take care of them!"

Ah, the people of this world place such a high value on loyalty, inspiring admiration and yet, at times, bordering on the absurd.