The office was quiet as Sengoku adjusted his glasses and spoke with a firm tone. "The Navy will begin internal purges immediately. But for now, let's focus on something more pressing."

He turned toward Garp, his gaze sharp. "Are you sure about everything you said concerning his strength?"

"If so, we need to reassess Arakawa Zenkichi's bounty."

Garp scoffed lightly, arms crossed. "Even without my input, that 500 million bounty was laughable."

He paused, then added, "Intelligence shows that Zenkichi possesses both Kizaru's Pika Pika no Mi and Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi."

Just mentioning those two Devil Fruits made Sengoku's eyes narrow.

"Both of those are among the most powerful abilities in the world. Either one alone qualifies someone to become an Admiral-level threat."

Sengoku furrowed his brows. "The Pika Pika no Mi is still with Kizaru, and the Gura Gura no Mi belongs to Whitebeard. Are you saying Zenkichi somehow copied them?"

Garp nodded. "It's possible he's not a Devil Fruit user at all. The reports suggest he's unaffected by seastone."

"That makes him even more terrifying. If the weaknesses of Devil Fruits don't apply to him, then we have no countermeasures."

He sighed heavily. "In my opinion, the best course of action for both the Navy and the World Government would be to negotiate peace with Zenkichi. But... after killing a Celestial Dragon, that bridge has burned."

Sengoku stayed silent, then contacted the Five Elders. He relayed everything Garp had told him.

After a tense silence, the Five Elders responded. They hadn't anticipated that even Garp was no match for Zenkichi. Realizing the danger too late, they agreed to raise the bounty.

---

Meanwhile, far away in Shimotsuki Village, Arakawa Zenkichi opened the newspaper delivered by the News Coo.

His image was printed on the latest wanted poster, a bold 1.5 billion Berries stamped beneath it.

Zenkichi raised a brow in surprise. "Well, they finally got serious."

He found it amusing—what took others years to earn, he had taken effortlessly.

Still, 1.5 billion was fair, considering what he could do .

He tucked the poster away and turned to watch two kids training nearby with wooden swords.

"Be more focused," Zenkichi said calmly. "Especially you, Kuina."

"You nearly cracked your skull on a whetstone earlier. If I hadn't caught you, you'd be dead."

Kuina laughed awkwardly and bowed her head. "Thank you, Zenkichi sensei. I'll train harder from now on."

Her voice was firm, no longer uncertain like before.

"You two keep at it," Zenkichi said. "But it's time I left this place."

He had no more reasons to stay.

Whitebeard's power—every last trace of it—was now his.

And now, a new evolution had begun. He had unlocked his fourth template: Uchiha Madara.

But not the ordinary Madara—this was Six Paths Madara. With both Rinnegan, the Ten-Tails sealed inside him, and the Nine Tomoe Rinne Sharingan in his forehead—he had become something beyond human.

Zenkichi could already feel the power resonating inside him.

And with practice, he'd one day unlock the same abilities Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had demonstrated—abilities tied to the ultimate eye.

Hearing his decision to leave, both Zoro and Kuina looked devastated. They tried to speak, to ask him to stay.

But Zenkichi smiled gently and shook his head.

"There's no feast that lasts forever," he said, turning his back to them.

"I've taught you everything I could. Some of it might still be beyond your reach now... but keep training. One day, you'll master it all."

"I'll be waiting for you at sea."

With a confident stride, Zenkichi left Shimotsuki Village behind and walked straight onto the ocean surface, heading toward the Grand Line.

---

Elsewhere, a vast pirate fleet cruised across the sea.

On the deck of the flagship, a lookout raised his telescope and gasped in disbelief.

"Captain! You're not gonna believe this—there's a guy walking on water!"

The call drew attention immediately.

The fleet's captain, a middle-aged brute in golden armor, strode out onto the deck. He took the telescope and looked for himself.

A grin split his face.

"Well, well... isn't that bold? Walking across the sea like it's solid ground? He thinks he's untouchable."

"Full speed ahead," he barked. "Let's see what this arrogant fool can do."

"Yes, Captain Krieg!"

The pirate ships veered toward Zenkichi, sails flaring with wind as they surrounded him in a semicircle.

Moments later, Zenkichi stood alone in the center of the sea, calm and unbothered as dozens of cannons aimed at him.

Captain Krieg leaned on the railing, laughing.

"You got a name, kid? Not bad, walking on water. I like your guts."

Zenkichi didn't answer. He simply looked up, eyes calm and sharp.

Krieg grinned wider, still trying to win him over. "Join my crew, and you'll have power, status—anything you want. No need for a fight."

Zenkichi remained silent.

Krieg's smirk faded.

Something about that stillness sent a chill down his spine.

---

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