Our strands of Memories (One Piece Naruto Crossover)

Chapter 4: Captain Hyuga of Vice Admiral Garp's Division

When Garp said that the kid is his to have, he was serious. The method he used on Fleet Admiral Kong is unknown but by the time Neji receives the order, he is assigned to Garp's division as a Captain. Quite a high rank considering that he just joined the marines. They are probably taking his power into account after the one man army battle.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Neji lets out a soft sigh. The reflection in the mirror is still him wearing a white shirt with black cravat and black pants. The shoes are black too, easy to wash and secured. There is a thin layer of white bandage around his forehead, covering the strange blue green x like with two short lines that embed on his skin. The mark was already there when he woke up, not even knowing why. He asked the nurse, Isabella, about it, and the doctor but none of them know. Even Garp-san. And strange enough, he felt relieved when he saw the mark. He felt another feeling too, a little resentment. It is kind of a mixed complicated feeling. Relieve and resentment? Can they go together? What is this mark to him? Why couldn't he remember anything? It . . .

A sudden pain strikes Neji, making him grab his head in a hurry, bending a bit over. The throbbing headache always appears whenever he tries to remember something about his past. He clears out his thoughts, making the pain lessen. Looking at the clock, Neji lets out a small sigh. It is time to go, he can't be late for his first mission. Grabbing the marine cap on the table, he debates a few seconds before carrying it on his arm instead of wearing it. He doesn't like the cap.

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Marine officers run back and forth, busying themselves with the coming expedition. Some barking orders there and here, while others stocking up the boat up and down. Vice Admiral Monkey D Garp is standing with his loyal right hand, the marine headquarter marine, Bogart, near the port. The dog head boat is probably his. Dogs remind him of Ka- . . ..Ka what? Anyways, it looks ridiculous. He even wears the same dog mask!

"Ah, Neji! You're here! Bwahahahahaha! The uniform suits you." Garp enthusiastically says. At the mention of his name, all the other officers turn around to look at the young appointed captain. The regular white kimono is nowhere to be found, instead, a white shirt that portrays his slender but strong body. The marine cape adorns his shoulder, long reaching just above his ankles, leading to the black pants that cover up the pair of long legs. The ebony silky hair is tied back a bit at the end, leaving the rest shadowing his shoulders. In contrast to that is his white porcelain skin and a special pair of snowy purple tint eyes. An odd layer of bandage shields his forehead and a black tie to finish the look. He looks fabulous. How can this guy look good in anything?!?!

"You look like a marine now kid! Bwahahaha!" Bogart next to him offers a quiet congratulation. Okay, the 2 inches fact is a lie. This loud man is huge! The height difference when he sat by his infirmary bed and when seeing him standing up close like this is scary. He is just 18. He will continue to grow right?

"I am a marine captain, Garp-san. Thank you Bogart-san." The young man nods toward his superior. "So this is your ship, Garp-san?" Neji says, taking a close look at the giant floating piece of metal.

"It's mine. Cool eh?"

"It looks ridiculous." he stoically says .

"Bwahahahaha! You got some nerves kid!" Garp laughs out loud again, appearing to be amused about what his new captain said, slapping the man back while Neji avoids it just in time. No kidding, who wants a taste of that monstrous strength?

They talk for a bit more with Bogart watching over their conversation, questioning the decision of the Fleet Admiral Kong. Don't get him wrong, he knows that his superior is a strong man. Vice Admiral Garp can be attentive when he wants to. However, overall, he is not the most suitable man to teach someone the proper way of becoming a marine. Not to mention his carefree spirit and abnormal family. With Hyuga's potential, shouldn't Vice Admiral Sengoku be a better choice? How can he even get Hyuga in the first place?

Despite Bogart's internal crisis, it's time to deck the boat. They are moving out! Walking behind his superiors, Neji takes in the sensation. The unfamiliarity he has with the ship proves that he doesn't live on land near the sea, or river or anywhere close to big water places. So islands are not an option. But where could his home be? When he was taking care of the garden, he had a feeling that he was used to being surrounded by trees or plants. So he lived in a forest? The answer doesn't come out right though. He doesn't even know why.

"Is this your first time out on the sea kid?" Garp's question fills his ear, breaking up his chain of thoughts. He has developed a habit of going into deep thinking nowadays, making himself unaware of anything around him. This is not good.

"If you don't count the time when you picked me up. Yes, this is my first time being properly on the sea." Looking over a bit at the man standing beside him, Neji finds himself lucky. If his ship didn't pass by that time, where would he be now? Deep down at the ocean or in some fishes' stomachs?

"Oh yeah, Sengoku is an Admiral now."

"Yes?" That is random. "Shouldn't you be too, Garp-san?" He had read a bit about Garp's legendary history that made him a marine hero in everyone' eyes. This man is insanely strong and his reputation is worth becoming an Admiral.

"Nah, that's too much. My freedom will be taken away. And double paper works too!" So that's your main reason! Without looking at the young captain, Garp openly shares his thoughts. "Being an Admiral means that I will become the servant of those Celestial bastards. I joined the Marines to help people, not become those jerks' slave!" Turning to Neji, his voice becomes serious. "And you better wear that cap too, kid. Your appearance, especially your eyes, won't do you too much good if you go around looking like that. The World Noble desires rare things, and now you are on the list. Be careful."

Surprised at Garp's warning, Neji Hyuga feels grateful to the man. His words contain such kindness and worrisomeness as if he is talking to a family member. Monkey D. Garp is a good man. Smile slightly at the Vice Admiral, Neji looks down at his cap. He doesn't like the idea of having something cover his eyes but he guesses cautious safety is his top priority now. Letting out a small sigh, he wears the white marine cap on the top of his head, a black veil halfly covers his face, touching the tip of his nose. After making himself comfortable to see, he continues to stand there with Garp, staring at the blue sea before him while sharing the blissful silence between them.