Chapter 25: Chapter 23
The sun was setting over Amegakure, its fading light painting the perpetually rainy sky in hues of orange and purple. In a modest house on the outskirts of the village, the aroma of home-cooked food wafted through the air, accompanied by the sound of laughter and animated conversation.
Monkey D. Garp, the imposing Vice Admiral of the Marines, stood at the stove, his massive frame, one that struck fear in the hearts of pirates across the seas, seemed tame as he stirred a large pot of stew. His usual white coat was draped over a chair, replaced by a simple pink apron with a teddy bear on it that barely contained his broad chest.
"Oi, you brats!" Garp called out, his booming voice easily carrying through the house. "Dinner's almost ready! Get in here and set the table!"
The patter of feet and a chorus of voices responded to his call. Yahiko was the first to burst into the kitchen, his orange hair as wild as ever as he practically teleported over to the food.
"Smells great, Gramps!" he exclaimed, grabbing a stack of plates from the cupboard. "What are we having?"
Garp grinned, lifting the lid of the pot to release a cloud of fragrant steam. "My special seafood stew! Packed with all the good stuff to keep you lot growing strong!"
Konan entered next, her graceful movements a stark contrast to Yahiko's exuberance. At fourteen, she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman already, her blue hair adorned with the origami flower she never seemed to be without.
"It does smell wonderful, Grandfather." she said with a soft smile, taking the plates from Yahiko and beginning to set them out with practiced efficiency.
Nagato followed close behind, his vibrant red hair falling over one eye, partially obscuring his unique Rinnegan. At thirteen, he was still the quietest of the group, but there was a calm confidence in his bearing that hadn't been there a few years ago.
"Can I help with anything, Grandfather?" he asked, his voice soft but clear.
Garp nodded towards a loaf of bread on the counter. "Why don't you slice up that bread, my boy? And where's Kaya? KAYA!" he bellowed, making the others wince slightly at the volume.
"Coming, Grandpa!" a young voice called back. Moments later, eleven-year-old Kaya skipped into the kitchen, her long red hair bouncing with each step. Unlike Nagato's deep crimson, Kaya's hair was a brighter shade, reminiscent of flames dancing in sunlight.
Garp's face softened as he looked at the four children - teens, really, he corrected himself mentally. They had grown so much in the past few years, not just in size but in strength and character. Pride swelled in his chest, tempered by a touch of melancholy at how quickly time had passed.
"Alright, you lot," he said, his voice gruff with emotion he tried to hide, "let's eat!"
For a few minutes, the only sounds were those of eating and appreciative murmurs. Garp's cooking, honed over years of feeding hungry Marines (and his own insatiable appetite), was as delicious as always.
Yahiko was the first to break the comfortable silence. "So, Gramps." he said between mouthfuls, "You excited about the upcoming mission?"
Garp paused, his spoon halfway to his mouth. He considered his words carefully, aware of the mix of excitement and concern in Yahiko's voice.
"It's not about excitement, Yahiko." he said finally. "It's about doing what needs to be done. Protecting our peace, our way of life."
Konan nodded solemnly. "We heard rumors about Chiyo of the Sand. They say she's the strongest Kunoichi alive. Do you think you can beat her, Grandfather?"
Garp grinned, his earlier seriousness evaporating. "Bah! Nothing we can't handle. Our Marines are well-trained and more than enough for her. We'll show those sand-rats what we're made of!"
His confidence was infectious, and the tension around the table eased. The conversation flowed freely after that, touching on lighter topics - training progress, funny incidents from patrol missions, and playful debates about which of them would be the first to achieve the rank of Admiral.
As the meal wound down, Kaya spoke up, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Grandpa Garp, do you think... do you think this war will end soon?"
The girl had remained with them over the last few years do to them being unable to locate her home Village, at least, that's what Garp told them.
In truth, a little over a month later, Hanzo gave him the intel that what was suspected to be her Village of origin alongside a few others had been destroyed, leaving nothing but ash.
The dinner table fell silent, all eyes turning to Garp. He set down his spoon, his expression softening as he looked at his youngest grandchild.
"Wars don't end quickly or easily, Kaya." he said gently. "But that's why we're doing what we're doing. We're not just fighting - we're building something new. A system that protects people instead of using them as tools. It'll take time, but I believe we can create a world where wars like this are a thing of the past. Where Justice is more than a word we shout as a slogan." 'Afterall, I failed in the past, but it won't happen again.' Garp spoke, leaving the last part unsaid.
His words hung in the air, filled with conviction and hope. The four teens exchanged glances, each seeing in the other's eyes the same determination that burned in their grandfather's.
"Don't worry gramps!! We'll help you do it!!" Yahiko grinned, breaking the moment of solemnity. "Now, who's up for dessert?"
Garp's booming laugh filled the kitchen. "Damn brat!! Always thinking with your stomach. Fine, who wants ice cream?"
The enthusiastic chorus of "Me!" that followed brought smiles to everyone's faces. As Garp dished out generous scoops of ice cream, the earlier serious mood dissolved into one of simple family joy.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of games, stories, and laughter. Garp regaled them with tales of his early days as a Marine, carefully edited to exclude any references to his previous life. The children, in turn, shared stories of their own adventures and mishaps during training.
As the night wore on, Garp's yawns became more frequent and pronounced. Finally, after a particularly massive yawn that seemed to nearly unhinge his jaw, he stood up.
"Alright, you little rascals." he said, stretching his enormous frame. "This old man needs his beauty sleep. Don't stay up too late, you hear?"
A chorus of "Yes, Grandpa" and "Goodnight, Gramps" followed him as he made his way to his bedroom. Within minutes, the sound of his thunderous snoring echoed through the house.
The four siblings (for that's truly what they had become, regardless of blood) remained in the living room, the mood turning slightly more serious now that Garp was asleep.
"Do you think he'll be okay?" Kaya asked, voicing the concern they all felt.
Nagato placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Grandfather is strong, Kaya. Stronger than anyone I've ever known. He'll be fine."
"Besides," Yahiko added with a grin, "can you imagine the poor Suna nin who have to face him? They won't know what hit them!"
Konan nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "True. Remember when he took down that entire squad of Iwa jōnin with just his pinky?"
There was a moment of silence as they all recalled that particular incident. Then, almost in unison, they burst into laughter.
"Oh man." Yahiko gasped between chuckles, "I almost feel sorry for Chiyo and her puppets. Gramps is going to turn them into kindling!"
"Maybe we should send a message to Suna." Nagato suggested, his usually serious face split by a wide grin. "Warning: Beware of Flying Puppets!"
This set off another round of laughter, only slightly muffled to avoid waking Garp (though given the volume of his snoring, that seemed unlikely).
As their mirth subsided, Kaya wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. "I hope Grandpa takes it easy on them, at least a little. It wouldn't be fair otherwise!"
"Fair?" Konan raised an eyebrow. "Since when has Grandpa ever fought fair? Remember his training methods?"
They all groaned in mock horror, recalling the often bizarre and always challenging training regimens Garp had put them through over the years.
"Hey," Yahiko said, his voice taking on a more serious tone despite the lingering smile on his face, "we should do something nice for Gramps before he leaves. To show him we believe in him."
The others nodded enthusiastically, and they spent the next hour plotting and planning, their earlier concerns forgotten in the excitement of preparing a surprise for their beloved grandfather.
As the night deepened, they finally decided to turn in. Each went to their respective rooms, but not before sharing a group hug - a tradition they had started years ago and maintained even as they grew older.
In the quiet of the night, with Garp's snores providing a familiar backdrop, each of them reflected on how fortunate they were. They had found not just a protector in Garp, but a true family. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.
The next morning dawned bright and clear, a rarity in the typically rainy Amegakure. Garp awoke to find his grandchildren had prepared a feast of a breakfast, complete with a banner reading "Go Get 'Em, Gramps!"
As they sat around the table, enjoying the meal and each other's company, Garp felt a swell of pride and love.
'Damn brats.' Garp thought, though the wide grin on his face betrayed his thoughts.
[Author's Corner.
Pretty tame chapter. Planning on a Double Release today so given me a little while. Just wanted to take a break on the intense stuff and show Garp and just Grandpa.
Question: What's the best Female Naruto Fic on Webnovel?]
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