"Shave! Shave!"
Little Luffy continued practicing, his movements becoming more refined with each attempt.
At first, he could barely keep his balance, stumbling after each burst of speed. But gradually, he learned to stabilize his footing, ensuring that he wouldn't fall even after a rapid movement.
Soon, the distance he covered increased as well.
However, since this technique relied heavily on leg strength, Luffy's small frame limited his range. Even though he grasped the concept, his weak legs meant he could only travel about four to five meters in a single burst.
Still, for a five- or six-year-old child, this was nothing short of astonishing.
"(Original) Luffy: Hiss~ So I was able to learn 'Shave' when I was six years old?"
He was genuinely surprised.
Just recently, he had mastered this very technique in his own timeline after a great deal of effort. Yet, his younger self from this alternate world had learned it so effortlessly.
If only someone had taught him when he was young—he might have been even stronger now!
For the first time in his life, Luffy started to question his grandfather's methods.
---
"(Former) Akainu: I didn't expect Luffy to have such talent. He's much stronger than you, Garp."
"(Former) Garp: Hahaha! Of course, he's my grandson!"
Garp laughed heartily but then paused, realizing something.
Technically, this wasn't his grandson—it was the alternate version of Luffy from this different timeline.
---
"(Former) Sengoku: You still have the nerve to laugh? If you'd properly trained him, Luffy could have been a powerful Marine soldier!"
"(Current) Kizaru: Luffy Admiral, I didn't expect you to have such high talent. It doesn't match your education level at all."
"(Current) Luffy: ....Since joining the Marines, I've been studying hard, okay?"
---
Seeing that Luffy had already grasped the fundamentals of "Shave," Akainu decided there was nothing left to teach him about it.
Instead, he turned to Luffy and asked, "Do you still want to continue learning?"
Luffy nodded eagerly.
"Yes! I can't defeat the wild boar with just this one move!"
That wild boar was still on his mind.
"Is there an attacking move?"
"Alright, then. The next technique is 'Finger Pistol,' one of the Marine Six Styles."
Akainu prepared to demonstrate, but before he could move, a voice interrupted him.
"Just teach him 'Fist Cannon' instead."
It was Ron's voice.
Akainu hesitated.
Fist Cannon?
That was an advanced version of Finger Pistol. Wasn't it too early for Luffy to learn it? Normally, one would have to master Finger Pistol first before even attempting Fist Cannon.
However, since it was Ron's command, Akainu complied.
"Alright. The next move is 'Fist Cannon.'"
He demonstrated the technique, smashing a nearby boulder with a single punch.
Little Luffy's eyes widened in amazement.
"So strong! It's like my fists are cannonballs! I want to learn this too!"
Without hesitation, he began training with Akainu.
---
On a nearby warship, Garp looked confused.
"Commissar Ron, why didn't you let him learn Finger Pistol first?"
Ron took a sip from his thermos and replied casually.
"Your grandson prefers to attack with his fists. If you make him learn Finger Pistol, he'll probably never master it because it's not his preferred attack style. But if you let him learn Fist Cannon, he'll have it down before sunset."
Garp was puzzled.
That didn't make sense. Finger Pistol was the easier technique, while Fist Cannon was far more difficult.
How could Luffy struggle with an entry-level move but find an advanced one easy?
Ron chuckled.
"This is called teaching according to aptitude."
"Everyone has their own fighting habits. If you force them to learn in a way that contradicts their instincts, their body will reject it. Your grandson naturally fights with his fists."
Garp still didn't understand.
His grandson had never displayed a particular preference for punches before.
How did Ron even know that?
He stared at the political commissar in disbelief.
Ron, of course, had the answer—he had seen One Piece. He knew that in the original timeline, almost all of Luffy's attacks revolved around his fists.
---
"(Former) Sengoku: Garp, watch and learn. Maybe you'll pick up some real parenting skills."
"(Former) Garp: Tch! There's nothing wrong with my way of education! If my grandson wants to learn Marine Six Styles, I'll teach him right now! Hmph!"
"(Former) Luffy: ...."
---
At that moment, a Marine officer landed neatly on the warship.
It was Vice Admiral Momousagi.
She approached Ron and Garp, saluting.
"Commissar Ron, Vice Admiral Garp. We've apprehended a suspicious young man."
"He was loitering near the warship."
"Judging by his clothes, he appears to be a noble from the Goa Kingdom."
Garp raised an eyebrow.
"A noble from the Goa Kingdom? What's one doing here?"
Ron, however, had already guessed the answer.
"Bring him aboard."
"Yes, sir!"
A moment later, Momousagi returned, dragging along a boy dressed in aristocratic clothing, wearing a tall hat and carrying a water pipe.
"Let me go!"
The boy struggled, clearly displeased.
"Why are you arresting me? I haven't done anything wrong!"
It was him.
Sabo.
Ron exhaled, blowing lightly on his cup of hot tea.
For him, changing the fate of major characters was the key to growing stronger.
So now that Sabo had practically walked into his hands, how could he let this opportunity slip away?
---
Suddenly, the scene froze.
The live broadcast screen changed.
A new system message appeared.
---
[Random Question and Answer Begins]
"When a character closely tied to Luffy appears, the random Q&A mode will activate."
"The question for today: Guess this person's future identity in the alternate world."
"This will be a multiple-choice question. The first to answer correctly will receive a reward."
---
A countdown began.
3...
2...
1...
[Character: Sabo]
Question for the original world audience:
"In this world's timeline, what will Sabo's future identity be?"
A: Pipeline Repairman
B: King of Goa
C: Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army
D: Hokage of Konoha Village
---
Question for the alternate world audience:
"In the original timeline, what was Sabo's future identity?"
A: Pipeline Repairman
B: King of Goa
C: Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army
D: Hokage of Konoha Village
---
The system had set up a fair test.
Each world only knew their own version of Sabo's future, but neither side knew the truth about the other.
Guessing recklessly was risky.
Even Sabo himself was baffled.
"Wait... what is my future identity in another world?"
---
To be continued...
----––-------------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
patreon.com/Samurai492