Marineford, Officers' Residential Area.
In Orion courtyard.
Sakazuki sat on the ground, meticulously trimming a potted plant. Not far from him, Borsalino leisurely watered the flowers and plants in the yard with a watering can. On the grass opposite them, a large sunshade umbrella was set up.
Under the umbrella, Sengoku and Garp were engaged in a heated argument over a box of senbei crackers. Garp, in particular, was furious, having only managed to grab two pieces while Sengoku had devoured the rest.
He was ready to throw a punch to teach Sengoku a lesson.
Seated across from them, Zephyr showed no change in expression, but he nearly burst out laughing at the sight of the two acting like children fighting over a snack. For a moment, it felt as if they had returned to their younger days, when Sengoku was the most troublesome of the three, always managing to infuriate the carefree Garp.
Just then, a chill swept through the air.
Kuzan quickly approached the two and placed four or five boxes of senbei on the coffee table. Before Kuzan could even set down all the boxes, Garp and Sengoku had already emptied the table. Seeing this, Kuzan exhaled a cold breath and handed the last box of senbei to Zephyr.
Zephyr didn't hesitate, taking the box and tearing it open.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, a surprised voice came from behind Kuzan. Before Kuzan, Zephyr, and the others could react, a head popped out from behind Kuzan—it was Sakazuki mother.
The elderly woman, peeking out from behind Kuzan, curiously glanced at the senbei in Zephyr hand, then at Garp and Sengoku, who were munching on the senbei with a satisfying crunch. She immediately grabbed Kuzan sleeve and exclaimed excitedly.
"My eldest son, what is this?"
"Huuuuuh?"
Kuzan tilted his head to look at the elderly woman clutching his sleeve. His facial muscles twitched slightly, and he then pointed toward Sakazuki, who was trimming a potted plant across the way.
"Ma'am, I'm Kuzan. Your son is that gentleman over there."
"No, no, no! He's not my son!" The elderly woman shook her head firmly, still gripping Kuzan sleeve tightly.
"He's my eldest grandson. You're my son~"
"Whaaaaaat?"
Almost simultaneously, Sengoku, Zephyr, and Garp all widened their eyes and stared at Kuzan. Not just them, even Sakazuki across the way nearly split apart on the spot at his mother words.
"No... no, ma'am, you've got it wrong…" Kuzan was also caught off guard by the elderly woman mix-up.
Although he and Sakazuki had clashed over their differing views on justice and principles in the past, he certainly didn't dare to take advantage of Sakazuki like this. Setting aside their differences, purely in terms of age, Sakazuki was five or six years older than him.
According to the elderly woman logic, Kuzan, who was younger than Sakazuki, had somehow become Sakazuki father~
Hmm…....
Though he couldn't help but feel a little smug about it, Kuzan didn't dare show it. After all, Sakazuki was glaring at him with eyes that could kill.
"I'm not wrong!" The elderly woman insisted stubbornly and earnestly, tugging at Kuzan sleeve.
"Son, you're being unfair. You bought it for them but not for me. Mommy's angry~"
"Tsk—"
Kuzan took a deep breath internally and, for the first time in history, cast a pleading look toward Sakazuki.
Worried that his mother might continue to make a scene, Sakazuki quickly got up and jogged over, slightly embarrassed.
"Mother, you've mistaken him for me. I'm your son, Sakazuki!"
"What's wrong with you, child? You're my grandson… Wait, what's my grandson's name?" After a brief pause, the elderly woman stopped overthinking and simply changed the subject, pointing at the senbei in Zephyr hand while still clutching Kuzan sleeve.
"Son, Mom wants to eat that."
"Yare yare, this is troublesome~" Kuzan glanced at his sleeve, which was firmly in the elderly woman grasp. He wanted to pull away but feared getting ganged up on, so he steeled himself, trying to appear calm, and spoke in the role of a son.
"Alright, alright Mother, just wait a moment. I'll go buy it for you."
"No, I'm going with you!" The elderly woman still refused to let go of his sleeve.
"Fine~" Kuzan, thoroughly cornered, gave up resisting and nodded repeatedly like a dutiful son.
"Alright, alright, I'll take you with me."
With that, Kuzan took the elderly woman hand and slowing his pace, walked leisurely out of the courtyard with her.
"Huh"
As soon as they stepped out of the courtyard, the elderly woman suddenly stopped and immediately looked toward the bicycle parked under a tree at the entrance.
She asked curiously "Son, is that your bicycle? Can I ride it?"
Kuzan nodded again and quickly ran over to push the bicycle back. With one arm holding the elderly woman and the other gripping the handlebars, he sat down and softly said.
"Mother, hold on tight."
"Alright, alright, my son is so amazing~" The elderly woman was as excited as a child. As the bicycle started moving, she clung tightly to Kuzan, chattering nonstop.
In the courtyard, Sakazuki, who had been on the verge of erupting in anger, gradually softened his gaze as he watched Kuzan help his mother onto the bicycle. In the end, he even revealed a smile that he himself might not have been aware of.
"How beautiful~"
From the living room, Orion watched the entire scene unfold in the courtyard. After seeing Kuzan ride off with the elderly woman, he turned to Gion beside him and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Gion, did you see Sakazuki expression? It was hilarious! When sakazuki mother mistook Kuzan for her son, his eyes were practically spitting fire."
Gion nodded with a smile, having naturally seen it all.
However, when she noticed Sakazuki reaction, she felt a bit nervous.
Today was a collective holiday for the Marine headquarters, a time for officers of all ranks to gather and enjoy themselves. She certainly didn't want to see Sakazuki and Kuzan get into an argument at such a moment!
Fortunately, Sakazuki not only didn't lose his temper but even smiled as he watched Kuzan and the elderly woman leave.
Knowing what that smile meant, Gion no longer had any worries and said with a smile.
"It seems the relationship between the two admirals has improved quite a bit thanks to the elderly woman presence."
Orion shrugged slightly. "Of course, having an elder in the family is like having a treasure!"
"FLEET ADMIRAL!!!!"
Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside the courtyard, instantly drawing the attention of the two admirals and three elders inside. Before the five in the courtyard could react, a captain rushed in urgently, heading straight for the living room.
After saluting Orion, he hurriedly reported. "Dracule Mihawk has arrived at headquarters."
.....
At the same time.
At Marineford port, a coffin-shaped boat quietly rested by the shore. The world greatest swordsman, Mihawk, carrying his supreme-grade sword, walked forward with elegant steps, surrounded by a group of tense Marine soldiers.
"I am Dracule Mihawk!"
"Tell your Fleet Admiral that I have come to fulfill our agreement!"
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