The next day at noon.
Under the massive boulder on Hachinosu Island, a spacious clearing was filled with the official crew members and apprentices of the Rocks Pirates.
High above, Captain Rocks of the Rocks Pirates sat imposingly, flanked by his division commanders.
Among them were legendary figures who would shape the future of piracy: Shiki the Golden Lion, Charlotte Linlin (the future Big Mom), Wang Zhi, John, and Silver Axe. At this moment, Whitebeard arrived with Bob in tow.
The appearance of their division commander personally escorting a newcomer immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Who is this guy? I've never seen him before!"
"Not sure, seems like Commander Edward brought a new recruit!"
"He doesn't look like much! To have the commander personally bring him here!"
Murmurs spread through the crowd as crew members sized up the unfamiliar face. Reactions ranged from jealousy to disdain to simple curiosity.
As the second division commander arrived, a sinister smile crept across Rocks' face. The notorious pirate captain rose to his feet, his presence commanding immediate silence.
"Edward, you've come at the right time!" Rocks boomed.
"The test for the new recruits is about to begin!"
"I'm really looking forward to seeing what these newcomers are capable of!"
His piercing gaze lingered on Bob for a moment longer than the others, as if sensing something unusual about this particular recruit. The air grew tense with anticipation - this initiation would be far from ordinary.
"Looks like this newcomer beside you must be quite skilled! To have you personally bring him here!" Rocks remarked, his voice laced with both amusement and curiosity.
"Captain, that's exactly what I wanted to discuss with you," Whitebeard responded, his booming voice filled with enthusiasm as he gestured toward Bob.
"This person is an exceptionally rare talent in martial arts!"
"Oh?" Rocks' eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise. "A martial arts genius?"
His piercing gaze swept over Bob once more, reassessing the seemingly ordinary young man before him. At first glance, Bob appeared unremarkable—but if Edward Newgate of all people was singing his praises, there had to be more beneath the surface.
"Yes!" Whitebeard confirmed, his eyes alight with excitement. "Captain, I have a feeling that if given enough time to grow..." He paused for dramatic effect before delivering the bombshell: "In the future... even I might not be able to guarantee a victory over him!"
The clearing erupted in murmurs of disbelief. Veteran pirates exchanged shocked glances—this was high praise indeed, coming from one of Rocks' most formidable commanders.
"Not inferior to you?" Rocks repeated, a slow, intrigued smile spreading across his face. "Such a genius, huh?"
The pirate captain leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand as he studied Bob with renewed interest. He knew Edward too well—his second division commander wasn't one for exaggeration or empty flattery. If Edward said this recruit had potential to surpass even himself...
"Well then," Rocks declared, his voice carrying across the assembled pirates, "let's put this so-called genius to the test!"
The challenge hung in the air, setting the stage for what promised to be the most memorable initiation in Rocks Pirates history. All eyes were now fixed on Bob, waiting to see if he could live up to Whitebeard's expectation.
The man had absolute confidence in his own strength.
For him to say something like this about the kid, his talent in martial arts must be extraordinary.
After all, when Kaido joined a few years ago, Edward hadn't given such high praise.
"But Captain, there's something we need to settle beforehand..."
Whitebeard didn't notice the subtle change in Rocks' expression.
Still brimming with excitement, he continued.
"Bob was discovered and brought here by me, so he will definitely be joining my second division!"
With that, he planted his naginata, Murakumogiri, into the ground.
The handle created a large crater, and an invisible aura spread like a gust of wind.
His intention was clear.
Bob was his to claim.
If anyone wanted to challenge him, they'd have to get past his Murakumogiri first.
"Wait a minute!!"
Not long after Edward finished speaking, a gruff voice rang out from beside Rocks.
Then, Shiki the Golden Lion, with his long golden hair flowing down, stepped forward from the crowd, a cigar in his mouth and a mischievous grin on his face.
"Captain, I disagree."
Shiki exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes gleaming with competitive fire. "If this kid's really as good as Edward claims, then maybe he belongs in my first division instead." He rested a hand on the hilt of his twin swords, Oto and Kogarashi, the silent threat unmistakable.
The tension between the two legendary pirates crackled in the air, their conflicting ambitions putting Bob squarely in the center of what could become an explosive confrontation. Rocks watched the scene unfold with an amused smirk - this was exactly the kind of ruthless competition he encouraged among his commanders.
Bob meanwhile, remained calm amidst the growing storm, his expression unreadable. He had known joining the Rocks Pirates wouldn't be simple, but he hadn't expected to become a prize fought over by legends before even taking the initiation test. The real trial, it seemed, had already begun.
"Oh?"
Rocks' eyes sparkled with amusement as he watched the confrontation between his two top commanders. The tension between Edward and Shiki was exactly the kind of ruthless competition he encouraged.
"Hahaha! If this guy is really the martial arts genius Edward claims he is..." Shiki declared, golden hair swaying as he gestured dramatically with his cigar, "how can we let him join the second division?"
The Golden Lion completely disregarded Edward's presence, addressing the crowd instead. "Everyone knows that Edward is just a brute. He has no idea how to nurture such talent." His voice dripped with condescension as he tapped ash from his cigar. "I, on the other hand, am more than willing to test the mettle of this newcomer!"
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard's thunderous laughter shook the clearing, though his eyes burned with fighting spirit. "Shiki, are you trying to steal him from me?" His massive hand tightened around Murakumogiri's shaft. "Fine! But you'd better weigh your own strength first!"
The moment the challenge left his lips, a milky white aura erupted along the blade of Whitebeard's legendary naginata - the telltale glow of advanced Armament Haki. The ground beneath his feet began to fracture as the very air vibrated with his overwhelming presence.
"Only if you can defeat me," Whitebeard boomed, "will you have the right!"
The clearing fell deathly silent as the two titans prepared to clash. Veteran pirates scrambled backward, knowing full well the devastation their commanders could unleash. Even Rocks leaned forward with keen interest, his fingers steepled beneath his chin.
Bob, caught between these two forces of nature remained calm amidst the storm. His eyes flickered between the combatants, analyzing their stances, their weaknesses - already preparing for whatever outcome this confrontation might bring. The true test had begun, and it wasn't the initiation anyone had expected.
The clash of titans erupted without warning.
Whitebeard's Murakumogiri came crashing down, its blade wreathed in the telltale tremors of the Gura Gura no Mi. The very air shattered as he unleashed a devastating slash toward Shiki—no formalities, no hesitation. When pirates of their caliber fought, words were meaningless.
"Hahaha! Good! I'll fight you today!" Shiki's wild laughter cut through the chaos as he crossed his legendary swords Oto and Kogarashi to intercept the blow.
"BOOM!"
The collision sent a shockwave tearing through Hachinosu. A visible dome of force expanded outward, uprooting stones and sending weaker pirates tumbling like leaves in a storm. Apprentices hit the dirt, covering their heads as the wind howled around them.
Yet through the devastation, Shiki stood firm—golden hair whipping behind him, twin swords locked against Whitebeard's naginata, cigar still clamped casually between his teeth. Not even the tremor-tremor fruit's power could shake his smirk.
This was no aging legend past his prime. This was Shiki the Golden Lion at his peak—the same pirate who would later ravage Marineford and challenge Gol D. Roger himself.
Rocks watched from his throne, grinning like a shark. This was better than he'd hoped. Not only did the fight test Bob worth, but it also stoked the fires of competition between his commanders.
And Bob? He observed every detail—the precision of Shiki's guard, the way Whitebeard's muscles coiled for the next strike—already calculating how he'd fare against either of them. The real initiation had become a front-row seat to history in the making.
The message was clear: in the Rocks Pirates, you proved your worth through strength alone. And the battle for his allegiance had just escalated into a war between legends.
Even at his peak, Whitebeard couldn't claim absolute victory over Shiki - their brief exchange proved that much. As their weapons disengaged with a metallic shriek, the Golden Lion made his move.
With deliberate theatrics, Shiki sheathed his twin swords, exhaled a perfect smoke ring, and flashed a predator's grin. "I'm claiming him today!" His golden mane billowed as he jerked a thumb toward the island's rugged peaks. "This isn't the place for a fight. If you've got the guts, let's head to the back mountain after the test and settle this!" The challenge hung in the air like his cigar smoke. "Whoever wins, the kid joins their team!"
"Gurararara! Suits me just fine!" Whitebeard's roar shook the clearing as he slammed Murakumogiri's butt against the ground, sending fresh cracks spiderwebbing through the stone beneath them. His eyes burned with the promise of destruction - for Bob, he'd level mountains.
The surrounding pirates gaped in stunned silence. This wasn't just some recruitment squabble - it was a historic clash between two of the crew's mightiest, all over an unproven rookie. Whispers rippled through the crowd:
"Since when does Shiki care about new blood?"
"Edward's never fought this hard for a recruit before..."
"That guy Bob... just what kind of monster is he?"
Even the other division commanders - Linlin, Wang Zhi, John - watched with newfound interest. Rocks himself chuckled darkly, fingers steepled. The game had escalated beyond his expectations.
Bob observed it all with calm detachment, but his mind raced. He'd known joining the Rocks Pirates would be dangerous, but becoming the prize in a duel between legends? That changed everything. The back mountain would run red before this was over - and his future would be decided in the carnage.
As the tension thickened, one truth became undeniable: whether by Whitebeard's family or Shiki's ambition, Bob arrival had just become the spark that might burn the Rocks Pirates to the ground.
Among the crowd, one apprentice crew member wore a playful expression.
Looking at the calm Bob, A glint of light flashed in his eyes.