Naruto: Hero's Fist

Garp's heart froze in his chest as he took in the scene before him. Nagato stood over the body of a Kiri shinobi, his Rinnegan eyes glowing with a fading golden light. Yahiko was at the door, his stance protective as lightning crackled on him, while Konan stood before a terrified Kaya in the corner of the room in a protective manner.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, with a gentleness that belied his massive frame, Garp stepped into the house, closing the door behind him.

"It's alright now." he said softly, his voice carrying a soothing rumble. "You're safe. I'm here."

At the sound of his voice, the tension in the room seemed to break. Kaya burst into tears while Nagato's knees gave out, sending him to his knees beside the fallen shinobi.

Garp moved swiftly, scooping Kaya up in one arm while placing his other hand on Nagato's shoulder. "Yahiko, Konan, come here." he called, his voice gentle but firm.

As the children gathered around him, Garp led them to the living room, away from the grim reminder of what had just transpired. He sat on the large couch, Kaya still clinging to him, and gestured for the others to join him.

"Now." he began, his tone soft but serious, "Tell me what happened."

Yahiko, always the first to speak, started. "We were just settling in, Gramps. Konan was showing Kaya around when we heard a noise outside. Then that Kiri ninja burst in, but I don't think he knew we were here. But after he saw us, he instantly eyed Kaya and Nagato, muttering something about 'maybe some Uzumakis?'"

Konan picked up the story, her voice trembling slightly. "I instantly grabbed Kaya and tried to run, but he was so fast. He almost had us when Nagato..."

She trailed off, looking at her brother with a mixture of awe and concern. Nagato sat with his head bowed, his hands clenched in his lap.

Garp turned his attention to the red-haired boy. "Nagato." he said gently, "Look at me, son."

Slowly, Nagato raised his head, his Rinnegan eyes filled with fear, guilt, and a deep, aching sadness.

"I... I killed him, Grandfather." Nagato whispered, his voice barely audible. "I didn't mean to, I just... I couldn't let him hurt Kaya or the others. I thought it would just take him down. I felt my power surge through me, and then..."

Garp reached out, pulling Nagato into a one-armed hug, careful not to dislodge Kaya who was still clinging to him like a lifeline.

"Listen to me, all of you." Garp said, his voice filled with a mixture of pride and sorrow. "What happened today was not your fault. Nagato, you did a brave thing protecting your siblings. I know it hurts, I know it feels wrong, but you did what you had to do. This is the way this world works."

He looked each child in the eye, his gaze steady and reassuring. "In an ideal world, you would never have to face situations like this. But this world isn't ideal - not yet. And sometimes, to protect what's precious to us, we have to make difficult choices."

Kaya, who had been quiet until now, spoke up in a small, trembling voice. "Is... is it because of me? Did that bad man come because of me?"

Garp's heart clenched at the guilt in her voice. He gently tilted her chin up, meeting her tear-filled eyes. "No, Kaya. This is not your fault. Bad people sometimes do bad things, but that's never the fault of those they try to hurt. You are precious and worthy of protection, just like Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato."

He looked around at all four children, his expression serious but filled with love. "All of you are my family now. And family protects each other, no matter what."

Nagato sniffled, wiping his eyes. "But Grandfather, I... I took a life. How can I ever be okay with that?"

"Are you okay with me, even after I ended lives?" Garp countered.

Nagato looked conflicted at the statement, yet he didn't answer.

Garp sighed deeply, choosing his words carefully. "Taking a life should never be easy. The fact that it hurts you, that you're struggling with it - that's what makes you human. It's what makes you good. But remember this: you didn't kill out of hatred or anger. You acted to protect those you love. That makes all the difference in the world. I know there is a difference between actually doing it yourself, but just remember the reason why you do it. Remember the feeling you have when you did it and hold on to it, it's the only way to keep your humanity."

He gave each child a reassuring squeeze. "What you're feeling now - the pain, the guilt, the fear - it's all normal. And I want you to know that it's okay to feel these things. You don't have to be strong all the time. That's what I'm here for."

Konan, her voice small but determined, spoke up. "We're here for each other too, right? All of us?"

Garp smiled warmly at her. "That's right. You have each other, and you have me. We're in this together, always."

As the night wore on, Garp continued to comfort the children, listening to their fears and reassuring them of their safety and his love. When it became clear that none of them wanted to be alone, he made a decision.

"Alright, you little rascals." He said, his tone lightening slightly. How about we all bunk together tonight? My bed's big enough for all of us."

The children's eyes lit up at this suggestion, and soon, they were all piled into Garp's massive bed. Kaya curled up against his chest while Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan huddled close on either side.

Nagato was the last one awake, with him asking the question that had been bothering him the entire day. 

"Do you still have your humanity, Grandfather?"

Garp thought slightly about the question, yet his answer was firm.

"No."

The question seemed to somehow satisfy Nagato, with him drifting onto sleep as well.

Hours passed, and as the moon rose high in the sky, Garp carefully extracted himself from the tangle of sleeping children. He tucked the blankets around them, ensuring they were warm and secure, before silently leaving the room.

He paused at the door, looking back at the peaceful scene. In sleep, the worry and fear had faded from their faces, leaving only childhood innocence. The sight both warmed his heart and filled him with a deep, smoldering anger at the world that would threaten such innocence.

Quietly, Garp made his way through the house, pausing only to lift the body of the Kiri Shinobi and throw it out. For now, he needed air, needed space to process the rage building inside him.

Stepping out onto the porch, Garp took a deep breath of the cool night air. The perpetual rain of Amegakure had paused for the moment, leaving the world washed clean and quiet under the light of the full moon.

As he stood there, Garp felt the anger he had been suppressing for the children's sake begins to surface. It bubbled up deep within him, a primal force of protective fury demanding release.

With a low growl that seemed to resonate through the very air, Garp unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, yet this time, it was laced with such emotion that even the Heavens could feel true fear.

The blast of spiritual energy shot upwards, parting the clouds that always made Amegakure rain and revealing the star-studded sky above.

The Eternal Rain that was seemingly everlasting in the Land of Rain stopped.

In the distance, trees swayed as if caught in a sudden gale and were uprooted, and any small animals in the vicinity fell unconscious, overwhelmed by the sheer force of Garp's will.

As the energy dissipated, Garp's eyes fixed on the moon, now clearly visible in the cloudless sky. Its serene light seemed to mock the turmoil in his heart.

"I swear." Garp murmured, his voice carrying the weight of an unbreakable vow, "I will remember this, Kirigakure. When my grandchildren are grown, when I no longer need to worry about their safety every moment... you will answer for this night. Your Shinobi actions will be paid to you as a debt. Because right or wrong, Justice be damned, I will not fail my grandkids again."

The moon hung silently in the sky, bearing witness to Garp's oath. Its light cast long shadows across the porch, turning Garp's imposing figure into something almost mythic - a guardian spirit, terrible in wrath, standing watch over those under his protection.

For a long moment, Garp stood there, his eyes fixed on the heavens.

As he stood there, Garp's mind wandered to the future he was fighting for. A future where children like Nagato wouldn't have to bear the burden of taking a life to protect their loved ones. A future where Kaya wouldn't have to fear being hunted for the power in her bloodline. A future where Yahiko and Konan could grow up without the shadow of war.

Garp took a deep breath, feeling his anger settle into a steady, burning determination. He had always known that his chosen path would be difficult, but nights like this drove home how challenging it would be to reshape this cruel and cold world.

But as he turned to go back inside, to return to the warmth of his family, Garp felt a renewed sense of purpose. Every hardship, setback, and moment of pain was worth it for the future he was fighting to create.

As he closed the door behind him, shutting out the moonlit world, Garp made a silent promise to himself and the children sleeping peacefully in his bed. He would be the shield that protected them, the sword that carved out a better future, and the bridge that would lead them to a world of peace.

With that thought, Garp returned to his bedroom, carefully settling into bed. Sensing his presence even in sleep, the children cuddled closer to him. As he drifted off, his last conscious thought was of the future, which he would shape with his own two hands, no matter the cost.

And that future seemed desperate to arrive, as three years passed in an instant.

Read Chapter Ahead on [email protected]/KillerDJ2023

[AN: So, this wraps up Volume 1. In this Chapter, I kinda wanted to focus more on Garp as a person. Because I understand that we see the Garp in One Piece seem to care more about the Marines. But I feel, if given another chance and a foreign viewpoint through his merger with the other soul, he would pick his grandchildren. The only reason he isn't giving them the Galaxy Impact treatment is because he doesn't want to mess up his current plans or endanger all his grandchildren, as a major incident like that could see him declared as a threat by all of the great nations. But trust... they WILL be dealt with.

Q & A Chapter after this, so hit me with those questions. Author-San, out.]

[PS: I'm trying to update the chapter frequency!]