The blue sea stretched endlessly as a dog-headed warship cut through the waves.
Rhett glanced at his freshly reinstated bounty poster and quipped to Roger,
"Captain, the World Government says we're 'uncovering dangerous secrets' and 'threatening global stability' again. They bumped our bounties back up. Looks like we'll be seeing Garp soon—kinda nostalgic, huh?"
"ROOOOOOOGER—!" Garp's voice boomed from the prow, his fists cracking audibly. "You're not getting away this time!"
On the deck of the Oro Jackson, Roger dug a finger into his nose. "Kuhahaha! Garp, long time no see! We just got our bounties back, and here you are already. Don't you ever get tired?"
Rhett chimed in, "Yeah, Uncle Garp, take care of yourself. Back to work already?"
Just then, a tall figure stepped out from behind Garp.
"Vice Admiral Garp, allow me."
The fiery young Kuzan—not yet "Aokiji"—stood with wild curls and eyes sharp as a hawk's. One hand in his pocket, the other pointed straight at the Roger Pirates.
"That blood-mist guy over there..."
"Fight me."
Rhett, leaning against the mast with a bottle of booze, raised an eyebrow. "Oh? The Navy's rookies got guts these days?"
Kuzan's voice burned with conviction. "Kuzan, 19. Naval Academy graduate. I'll bring absolute justice to these seas—"
Shanks and Buggy shoved their way to the railing, cheering. "Rhett! Kick his ass!"
Sighing, Rhett handed his bottle to Buggy. "Hold this for me."
He leapt, blood mist solidifying underfoot like stepping stones. Three strides across the waves, and he landed smoothly on the warship's deck.
Total show-off move.
After this, he'll probably call me 'senpai.' Hehehe.
"Kid, you've got courage," Rhett tilted his head. "But courage and stupidity are thin lines apart."
Second round of posturing! Which other transmigrator gets to flex in front of a future Admiral?
"Soru!"
Kuzan vanished—reappearing behind Rhett in a blur, leg whipping toward his head.
*CRACK!*
Rhett blocked with one arm, blood mist coiling around Kuzan's limb like a living thing.
"Kowaii ne, Kuzan-san. Rokushiki? Not bad."
Kuzan backflipped, palms slamming the deck. "Geppo! Don't get cocky!"
Mid-air steps became a sudden dive—
"Shigan: Jūren!"
Rhett didn't flinch. His torso dissolved into mist, all ten finger-jabs passing harmlessly through.
"Wha—?!"
"My turn." Rhett's form scattered—reforming instantly with a knee buried in Kuzan's gut.
*WHUMP!*
Kuzan flew backward but twisted mid-air, landing in a crouch.
Garp crunched on rice crackers nearby. "Kuzan, use Haki!"
Black Armament surged over Kuzan's arms as he charged again.
Now Rhett got serious.
"Ara ara~ Kowaii ne, Kuku-san. You've got Armament too?"
*CLANG—!*
The metallic clash sent sailors clutching their ears.
Deadlocked, Kuzan shifted—
"Rankyaku!"
The air slash grazed Rhett's cheek... or so it seemed.
The illusion shattered.
"Oops! Psych~"
Blood mist erupted into a thousand spikes, lancing at Kuzan from all sides.
"Tekkai!"
His skin hardened to iron. Sparks flew as the needles scraped harmlessly off.
Then—
"ENOUGH!" Garp's fist cratered the deck between them. "Take your brawl to a deserted island! You're wrecking my ship!"
Rhett materialized, rubbing his head. "C'mon, Uncle Garp. We barely warmed up, and you're already throwing punches?"
*BONK!*
A lump swelled instantly on Rhett's skull. "Brat, show some respect to your elders!"
Kuzan, ever the hothead, wasn't done.
"Blood Tide: Bind."
*SHWIP!*
Tendrils of mist shot from the deck, snaring Kuzan's limbs like serpents.
His eyes widened. "What the—?!"
Even with Soru, he couldn't break free. Strength drained rapidly—Armament Haki barely slowing it.
Garp frowned. "Oi, this ain't good..."
Rhett leaned on the mast, rubbing his new head bump. A snap of his fingers—
"Sink."
*BOOM!*
Kuzan pancaked into the deck, wood splintering beneath him. He strained—couldn't even twitch a finger.
Kuzan's veins bulged, teeth gritted silently.
Garp finally intervened, dispersing the mist with a wave. "Quit bullying rookies."
He hauled Kuzan up by the collar.
Suddenly formal, Kuzan bowed. "Senior Rhett... I've heard you're a master swordsman. Teach me."
Rhett blinked. I liked you better when you were rebellious. Change back.
Other transmigrators don't get this—by the time Luffy's era rolls around, they'd be running for their lives.
Now Kuzan stood at attention, standard-issue naval sword raised.
Rhett sighed. Somehow, this enthusiastic version is worse than the future lazy bastard.
With exaggerated slowness, he drew Kuroshio—the massive blade's tip scraping the deck. "Sure about this?"
Kuzan struck first. "Soru!"—sword thrusting for Rhett's throat.
Rhett swung one-handed. The impact sent Kuzan spinning like a baseball.
"Batter up!"
Three and a half rotations later, Kuzan cratered into the mast.
Rhett flipped imaginary hair. "Score~"
Forum post: "What tier is yeeting future Admiral Kuzan into a triple axel?"
Time meant nothing to Rhett. Steal your milk bottle as a baby. Humiliate you in your prime. Dance on your grave when you're old.
Kuzan spat splinters. "How... heavy is that sword?!"
Rhett hefted Kuroshio onto his shoulder. "Eh, barely 2,000 pounds."
Garp snorted. "Kuzan, I told you not to arm-wrestle monsters."
Undaunted, Kuzan kicked off the air with Geppo. Blade became a blur—
"Tsubame Gaeshi!"
Rhett vanished.
"Where—?"
*THWACK!*
Flat of the sword smacked Kuzan's skull, planting him face-first into the deck.
"Where's your Observation Haki? Wasted all that Rokushiki training?"
Bruised but unbroken, Kuzan charged again—this time coating his entire body in Armament.
Rhett grinned. "Now we're talking."
He planted Kuroshio into the deck and pulled out a butter knife stolen from Rayleigh.
"Three free hits. Sorry, this is the smallest blade I've got."
Silence.
For once, Rhett looked every bit the stern mentor, waiting patiently.
Kuzan closed his eyes, steadying his breath. He knew winning was impossible—but he'd give everything to answer Rhett's challenge.
Just as his eyelids shut—
Rhett's shit-eating grin appeared behind him, a blackjack in hand. "Kid, I'm a pirate. Never been ambushed before?"
Kuzan: "You motherfu—"