Chapter 36: chapter 36 : Robin's Training Chaos
"How does it taste?" Sengoku asked, holding a steaming cup of matcha tea in his hand. His voice was muffled as he chewed on half a senbei, looking down at the little girl.
Sengoku's question snapped Robin out of her memory mode. She raised her head and gave a polite smile: "It's very delicious, thank you."
As the highest combat power of Marine Headquarters, a man who struck fear into countless pirates and commanded respect from countless marines, Sengoku the Buddha didn't hesitate to show his warmest smile in front of children. His eyes squinted slightly as he smiled, "Is that so? That's great. I was worried you might not like the taste of senbei."
Without a doubt, compared to Garp, Sengoku was a much more qualified leader and, at the same time, a capable elder. His meticulous thoughts always allowed him to consider details others often overlooked. He glanced sideways at his companion, who was still crunching through his doughnut conquest. Other than marines, ordinary people—including military family members—weren't usually allowed to enter Marineford freely, as it involved military secrets and confidentiality regulations. But judging from Garp's straightforward and sincere personality, it was probably unintentional.
He smiled gently and continued to ask, "Have you been getting used to life here over the past few months? Kuzan told me earlier that you were malnourished, and I found it hard to believe. I must have a word with your guardian—an eight-year-old needs to drink more milk."
Even though Robin guessed that the general in front of her, with his Buddha-like hairstyle, was likely joking, she was extra cautious. Anxiously, Robin defended, "Mr. Jonathan and Miss Jessica are very kind people. They've been taking great care of me—please don't blame them."
Ever since coming to this island, she hadn't faced any ridicule or mockery from others. Everyone in the town was friendly. Jessica prepared delicious and hearty meals every day, and Jonathan would spend time playing chess or reading books with her whenever he wasn't on duty. For Robin, this was already a tremendous kindness—how could she let them be blamed because of her naturally small stature caused by a monotonous diet in the past?
Sengoku's smile deepened. This little girl, despite her age, understood gratitude and contentment. Especially after learning from Kuzan and Sakazuki's argument that this child had long been bullied by the residents of Ohara, the admiral, known as "the Buddha," looked at her with a hint of compassion. He comforted her, "Everyone on this island is family and friends we protect. Hearing how thoughtful they've been, Uncle Sengoku feels very happy. This is what it means to represent justice as a marine."
Garp finally swallowed the food in his mouth and quickly chimed in, "Exactly, exactly! If any bastard dares to bully you, just tell Grandpa Garp, and I'll beat them up for you!"
"..." Sengoku's eye twitched as he silently calculated the generational gap in his head, then smacked his old comrade—who was flexing his biceps to impress Robin—on the head.
"Sengoku! You've eaten the Mythical Zoan Buddha Fruit, haven't you? How do you not have the Buddha's tolerance?" shamelessly rebuked the so-called Marine Hero.
"?" Robin tilted her head in confusion. "Uncle Sengoku also ate a Devil Fruit?"
The admiral, whose mustache was trembling with annoyance, took a deep breath and ignored Garp. Instead, he turned to the girl and started explaining, "That's right. I've eaten the Mythical Zoan type of Devil Fruit. The ones who brought you here, Sakazuki and Kuzan, are top-tier Logia users. By the way, I heard you're a Devil Fruit user too, right?"
Robin nodded. She had already heard Jonathan mention it before: Devil Fruit users were not uncommon in Marine Headquarters. Here, Devil Fruit powers were often the hallmark of strong individuals. Gone were the days when she was accused of being a demon on Ohara. In particular, when Jonathan and Jessica asked her to demonstrate her ability, Jonathan's starry-eyed look of admiration made Robin feel, for the first time, a small sense of pride in her Hana Hana no Mi.
"Oh? This is the first I'm hearing of it. Little Robin, why don't you show me?" Garp, like an old child, pleaded with pure curiosity.
The girl crossed her hands over her chest and closed her eyes lightly. In an instant, long, thin pink petals floated around her small body like blooming flowers. Four slender arms sprouted from her shoulders, as though they had always been there, flexibly rotating their wrists.
Even Sengoku couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. He asked softly, "Are there any other transformations?"
Robin opened her eyes without speaking and made four small hands sprout on Garp, flashing V-shaped gestures.
"Incredible ability. Whether it's for ambushes or self-application, this kind of instant manifestation is remarkable!" Sengoku gave a high evaluation of its practicality. "What do you think, Garp? ...Garp??"
When Sengoku didn't receive an answer, he looked up in confusion at his comrade, who had been silent ever since Robin started demonstrating her ability.
Garp was staring blankly at Robin, his lips trembling. Suddenly, tears streamed down his face. He choked up and sobbed uncontrollably, "I'm sorry… Sorry… This is too cool!!! TOO COOL!!! Robin, you're about to fulfill my life's dream!"
"?"
"?"
Sengoku frowned. "What are you talking about? We... don't understand!"
Wiping his face with his sleeve, Garp suddenly became serious and resolute. He gave the bewildered girl a big thumbs-up and declared, "I've decided! I'll teach you martial arts! Just imagine!!! Using a hundred flexible fists in battle, with each iron fist landing dozens of strikes per second—that's been my dream since I was young! This move!!! Shall be called: Hundred Cracks!!!"
"......" Sengoku stared blankly, his eyes half-closed.
"....." Robin's eyes widened in shock.
Garp, with a fervent expression, looked at the dumbfounded girl. "Come on, come on, start with 300 push-ups!"
Robin hesitated, lowering her voice as she said, "I... I've never trained before..."
Before she could finish explaining, the vice admiral had already dropped to the ground and began performing standard push-ups with impressive agility. He raised his head and grinned, encouraging her, "Come on, try it using your ability!"
"Hey! Garp!" Sengoku sighed at this typical "Garp-style outburst."
Robin gently placed her teacup and senbei on the table and followed suit, lying on the smooth, clean wooden floor as she attempted to use her Hana Hana no Mi powers to support herself on the ground.
"One."
"Two."
However, having never practiced such a thing, Robin's coordination was poor. With a "thud," her arms vanished, and the little girl's face hit the ground. When she raised her head again, her forehead was already red.
"No, no, still far from it! From now on, do 300 push-ups every day!" Garp laughed heartily.
Robin, who loved books far more than exercise, hesitated. Controlling the Hana Hana no Mi for 300 push-ups was far too difficult for her current level.
Although only eight, Robin was very clever. Recalling what Jessica once told her—"When a girl feels upset, she should cry it out"—Robin blinked, her eyes turned red, and before Garp and Sengoku could react, she burst into tears with a loud "Waaah!"
Partly to express her dissatisfaction and partly because... her face really hurt!
At that moment, the transponder snail on Sengoku's desk started ringing loudly. The two panicked admirals scrambled to comfort the crying girl, just as Vice Admiral Tsuru's voice came from the doorway, "I say, what are you two doing? Bullying a child?"
"We're not!"
"It's Garp's fault!" Sengoku decisively sold out his teammate, then reached out to answer the endlessly ringing snail.
"Hello? Admiral Sengoku, this is Sakazuki."
Several large words suddenly popped into Sengoku's mind: The troublemaker has arrived!!!
____
Expect 2 more chapters today