c14 : Apprenticeship
Early the next morning, Madara was still in the Hokage office (Zefa's former office from the Marine Headquarters, now repurposed in Konoha Village), dealing with the mobile blackboard system to be delivered on credit an invention inspired by Vegapunk's early prototypes which would become their primary future source of income in Konoha.
There was a quick knock on the door, followed immediately by a cold voice:
"It's impolite to knock so rudely!"
At the same time came the sharp cry of a young girl:
"Ah! Sister Tsuru, I know I was wrong! Don't pull my ear!"
Madara did not even lift his head, still fiddling with the commission board, and said in a low voice:
"The door is open. Enter."
As soon as the door swung open, Tsuru walked in, holding a gift in one hand and the little devil's ear Gion's ear in the other.
Seeing Uchiha Madara staring coldly at her without speaking, Tsuru immediately realized her lapse in decorum. She swiftly let go of Gion's ear and bowed deeply before Madara.
"Hello, Mr. Madara. Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Tsuru. I am the elder sister of this child, Gion. I was unaware yesterday that you had taken her as a disciple and may have accidentally offended you. I ask your forgiveness."
Uchiha Madara, facing the woman who even while bowing was still a head taller than him, felt a pang of helplessness in his heart. What is it with the people of this world? he thought. Did they all grow so big after consuming some variant of the Akimichi Clan's expansion pills?
Garp and his three fellow veterans Tsuru, Sengoku, and Zefa were all towering close to three meters, resembling the likes of Whitebeard and Kaido. Even an average Marine was a head taller than himself. Constantly looking up at others made the proud Uchiha Madara extremely uncomfortable.
"Don't worry about it. The so-called 'apprenticeship' was merely a jest of Sengoku's. I only saw that the child had some potential and decided to give her a few pointers."
Madara waved his hand casually, speaking indifferently, as if it mattered little whether Gion stayed or left.
Although it was said with careless arrogance, he immediately regretted it. Gion's large eyes turned red at a speed visible to the Sharingan, and tears welled up like water from a broken dam. Watching her struggle to speak while choking back sobs, Madara felt a twitch in his heart — but his face remained expressionless.
"If your resolve is so fragile, you should return home. Do not speak again of apprenticeship."
Hearing Madara's cold words, the little devil quickly realized the gravity of the situation. She wiped her tear-streaked face with her sleeve, sniffled hard, and forced a wide, goofy grin at Madara, her eyes still red and puffy like a kitten's.
Tsuru recalled the warnings Sengoku and Garp had emphasized before she left.
"Uchiha Madara's strength is unfathomable, comparable to or even beyond Garp's at full power. He is proud, temperamental, and difficult to predict. He responds better to softness than confrontation. When you offer the apprenticeship ceremony gift, tread carefully. Any offense could cost more than just face."
"Madara does value Gion highly, even if he won't admit it. Gion likes him too. But Madara's mind follows its own rules. You must be flexible, and above all, avoid making matters irreparable."
Tsuru quickly adjusted her approach. She saw the situation had not yet collapsed, and before it hardened, she hurried to soften her words.
"Mr. Madara is correct Gion's temperament is stubborn. I will make sure to discipline her properly upon returning."
"As for the apprenticeship, Gion truly holds deep admiration for you. She insisted that it could only be you. I humbly ask that Mr. Madara forgive her childish behavior and accept her."
Madara felt a subtle sigh of relief inside. His own words had forced himself into an awkward situation, and now that Tsuru offered an exit, he hurried to seize it.
"Very well. Let it be so."
Upon hearing Madara's acceptance, Tsuru's expression brightened slightly. She stepped forward and offered the gift prepared for the apprenticeship ceremony.
Madara took it with one hand, noting that it was a scroll, exquisitely tied with gold-threaded ribbon clearly something of significance.
Uchiha Madara was no ordinary fool. He untied the ribbon carefully and spread the scroll open atop the table for all to see.
Written in bold, flowing calligraphy:
'Justice That Soars Beyond the Skies'
The characters were strange, and it was obvious they had not been written in a single smooth stroke. The calligraphy lacked coherence, and in several places the brushstrokes were crooked and trembling. As a work of calligraphy and painting, it could only be described as extremely unqualified.
Tsuru's face turned slightly green as she saw this. She had personally checked the scroll last night it was supposed to contain handwriting directly requested from Marshal Kong himself, the hero who once stood shoulder to shoulder with Garp and Sengoku. How had it turned out like this?
Madara gazed thoughtfully at the characters in front of him, his Rinnegan eyes briefly glinting with an unreadable emotion.
Tsuru opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but Madara spoke before she could, causing Tsuru's heart to sink heavily. Based on what she had heard from Garp and Sengoku, Uchiha Madara was proud and temperamental — it would not be strange if he felt insulted and reacted violently.
But Madara instead spoke slowly to the guilty-looking little devil:
"Go and have it framed. Also, tomorrow bring me a handwritten copy of 'The Will of Fire'. One will hang behind my desk, and the other on the left wall."
Only then did the little girl turn her guilty expression into a wide, bright grin at Uchiha Madara, her eyes sparkling once again with excitement.
Then Madara added casually to Tsuru:
"It's rather interesting. I accept this sentiment."
He instructed them to send Gion for training starting tomorrow, mentioning that he still had business to attend to today, and with a flick of his sleeve, he ushered the two of them out of the office without further words.
Tsuru stood for a moment, dazed, still holding the so-called "calligraphy and painting" in her hands. Was this considered a successful apprenticeship? The old lady had racked her brains together with Sengoku all night to prepare strategies — yet none of them were needed? From stepping into Madara's office to being accepted as a disciple, not even ten minutes had passed.
When Tsuru looked down again at the messy calligraphy in Gion's hands, her heart trembled. She still remembered vividly how terrifying Madara had been at the dock yesterday, when his presence alone had made Vice Admiral Momonga and others sweat bullets. If a trivial matter like this had provoked him, the consequences could have been disastrous.
As if suddenly remembering something, Tsuru turned and shot Gion a venomous glare, clearly intending to settle accounts.
Gion noticed Tsuru's menacing expression and quickly blurted out before the elder could act:
"Cough, cough, Sister, don't hit me, I have something to explain!"
Seeing the murderous impatience on Tsuru's face, Gion hurriedly launched into her explanation.
"Lieutenant General Garp said that someone like Master wouldn't care about superficial stuff. He said to go for the emotional route instead. Also, last night's incident wasn't my fault! It was Lieutenant General Garp's bad idea. He changed the calligraphy when I wasn't looking! It has nothing to do with Gion!"
At this, Tsuru finally recalled that she had indeed seen Gion scribbling earnestly in the study last night and had even been relieved that the girl was finally acting more feminine. She hadn't expected this to be the reason.
Just now, she had been wondering how Gion, under her careful upbringing and education, could suddenly show such bizarre behavior. Now that she thought of Garp, that old madman known for his pranks even back during the God Valley incident, everything became crystal clear.
Gritting her teeth, Tsuru cursed under her breath:
"Karp, you bastard! Just you wait for me!"
Then she glared furiously at Gion, who had the nerve to act innocent beside her.
"After I first slaughter that old fool Garp for this nonsense, I'll come back to settle your debts too, you little brat!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"
She stormed off in a rage, leaving Gion frozen on the spot, heading straight toward the Marine Marshal's office without a second thought.
Watching the furious Tsuru vanish in a blaze of anger, a vague illusion of Enma the King of Hell — trailing behind her, Gion shuddered. She silently mourned for Garp's fate and quickly ran off clutching the calligraphy, thinking furiously at the same time.
Go home first, write a second set properly, frame it fast, and rush to find Master for training. During this period, absolutely do not return home! In Sister Tsuru's current state, if I stay home tonight, Master might lose this disciple before the apprenticeship is even official!
Thinking about how she could inherit the Will of Fire and assassinate her master with love and loyalty, Gion's heart surged with excitement. A new life as a filial daughter was just around the corner! The glorious future of Gion Daisy was coming!!
After running a few steps, Gion suddenly thought again — no, maybe she should first borrow Fleet Admiral Sengoku's ceremonial blade and sword rack. After all, it was a treasured heirloom reserved for the next Marshal of the Marines. Even if it got wrecked during Master's temper, at least she wouldn't be heartbroken over her own possessions.
Thinking of this, Gion turned on her heels and sprinted toward Sengoku's office. Compared to paintings and calligraphy, ensuring the succession of the Master's Will of Fire was far more urgent!
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