Sabo looked expectantly at Zenkichi and asked, "Godfather, when will you teach us some real combat techniques?"

Arakawa Zenkichi chuckled lazily, waving his hand. "Don't rush it. Once you've mastered the basics, I'll show you combat skills worth your time."

Zenkichi possessed countless training methods: taijutsu, ninjutsu, chakra control, and even soul techniques. After Luffy and the others had a basic grasp of chakra, he laid three paths before them.

"A ninja? Someone who can unleash ninjutsu and spit fire and water? I wanna be a ninja!" Luffy declared eagerly the moment he heard the description.

"A Shinigami, huh? That sounds interesting. Maybe I can become the God of Death," Ace mused thoughtfully.

"Taijutsu and swordsmanship sound more up my alley," Sabo said after a pause. "I think I've got a knack for close combat. I'll focus on taijutsu."

"Good," Zenkichi nodded. "But remember, even though you've picked your path, there are skills all of you need to master. Some things are too important to ignore."

For instance, the Clone Technique was a must in the ninja system, whether it was a basic clone, shadow clone, or water clone. Techniques like walking on water or climbing trees with chakra were already mandatory. Beyond that, mastering Water Release ninjutsu was crucial. In a world covered by seas, where seawater nullified Devil Fruit abilities, being able to manipulate water with chakra gave one a significant edge.

Then there was Haki — the Pirate World's essential power. The three colors of Haki were non-negotiable in terms of survival and strength. Zenkichi understood this better than anyone; his own Pika Pika no Mi (Glint-Glint Fruit) made him keenly aware of the threats from other Logia users.

He spent hours instructing Luffy, Ace, and Sabo, offering specific methods tailored to their chosen disciplines. And he didn't skimp — Eight Gates Released Formation alone was a priceless inheritance.

In the world of Naruto, the Eight Gates were a forbidden, body-destroying technique. But in the Pirate World, where natural physical resilience far outstripped that of ordinary humans, the drawbacks were less crippling. Pirates possessed monstrous physiques that broke the limits of what ordinary humans could achieve. Where chakra-enhanced taijutsu practitioners still hit a ceiling, pirates with their raw bodies often surpassed human limitations naturally.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

After instilling the three with foundational training methods, Zenkichi parted ways with them.

"Training isn't something you finish overnight. Stay diligent," he told them, hands in his pockets. "When you make it to the seas, you'll hear my name echoing across every ocean."

Zenkichi had no intention of sticking around as their caretaker. Passing down those methods was generous enough. Unless having godsons granted him power-ups, he wasn't interested in wasting his time babysitting.

Still, he couldn't help but feel a little mischievous curiosity. What kind of chaos would these brats unleash on the seas with shinobi arts and Haki?

After leaving them, Zenkichi made his way to the Windmill Village tavern for a drink.

"Ah, a visitor from outside?" Makino, the tavern's proprietress, asked with a smile as she wiped down a glass.

Zenkichi nodded. "Yeah, haven't been here long. Just a few months."

"Oh? Then you must've visited the center of Goa Kingdom, right?" she asked, leaning in with interest.

Shaking his head, Zenkichi replied, "Nah. I've been tangled up with three brats out in the woods."

Makino's expression softened. "Would those brats happen to be Luffy, Ace, and Sabo? They haven't shown up around here in a while."

"That's because they've been training with me," Zenkichi said with a grin. "They took me as their godfather."

Makino blinked, stunned. "Godfather?"

Zenkichi chuckled, seeing her disbelief. "Hey, I can tell you're doubting it too. No problem — I'll adopt you as my goddaughter while I'm at it."

Makino's cheeks reddened, and she quickly waved her hands. "Guest, you're being ridiculous. I don't think that's necessary."

Zenkichi smirked, resting his chin in his hand. "Shame. I'm pretty fond of girls like you."

Makino wasn't used to this kind of bold guest. Flustered, she stammered, "Please stop saying weird things like that…"

He shrugged. "Alright, alright. Since you don't like it, I'll drop it. Though… Garp-sama, aren't you going to stop hiding? I noticed you a while ago."

The room stilled.

Makino's eyes widened as the tavern door creaked open and a towering, broad-shouldered old man stepped inside, his face set in a serious frown.

"Garp-sama!" Makino exclaimed. "You're back?"

The old Marine hero fixed his gaze on Zenkichi. "What's your goal here, kid?"

---

100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter

200 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters

Sounds like a fair trade, a real win-win if you ask me.