Chapter 8

[My Brother is sick again, so I'll be running the story for a bit! Sorry for it being late!!]

The gates of Konoha loomed before them, impressive and imposing. Garp stood at the entrance, his massive frame dwarfing his three grandchildren who clustered around him, their eyes wide with wonder and a hint of apprehension.

"Well, kids." Garp announced, his voice booming with excitement, "Welcome to Konohagakure, the Village Hidden in the Leaves!"

Yahiko was the first to react, pumping his fist in the air. "Wow! It's so big! And look at all the trees!" His enthusiasm was infectious, causing even the usually reserved Nagato to crack a small smile.

Konan, ever observant, noted the intricate carvings on the gate. "The craftsmanship is impressive." she mused softly. "Very different from Amegakure's architecture."

Nagato remained silent, his Rinnegan eyes scanning the area, taking in every detail. Garp noticed his tension and placed a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Remember, Nagato." he said quietly, "We're here as guests. No need to be on high alert all the time. Try to relax and enjoy the experience, eh?"

Nagato nodded, visibly making an effort to loosen his rigid posture. "Yes, Grandfather. I'll try."

Tsunade, who had been watching this interaction with interest, stepped forward. "Well then, shall we begin our tour? I thought we'd start with the village center and work our way out."

"Lead on, young lady!" Garp grinned, ignoring the tick that appeared on Tsunade's forehead at being called 'young lady' by someone who appeared older than her.

As they made their way through the bustling streets, the children's heads swiveled left and right, trying to take in everything at once. The vibrant colors, the lively chatter of villagers, and the enticing smells wafting from various food stalls were a stark contrast to the perpetually gloomy atmosphere of Amegakure.

Yahiko, unable to contain his excitement, darted from stall to stall, peppering the bemused vendors with questions. "What's this? How does it work? Can I try it?"

"Yahiko!" Konan called out, a mix of exasperation and fondness in her voice. "Don't run off like that!"

Garp just laughed, his booming "Bwahahahahahahahahaha!" drawing curious glances from passersby. "Let the boy explore, Konan! That's what we're here for, after all!"

Tsunade, playing the role of tour guide, pointed out various landmarks. "That's the Hokage Tower." she explained, indicating the large red building at the center of the village. "And over there is the Ninja Academy, where young shinobi begin their training."

Nagato's interest was piqued by this. "The Academy? How young do they start training here?"

Tsunade, sensing the underlying concern in his question, chose her words carefully. "Usually around six or seven, but it's mostly basic skills and theory at that age. Nothing too intense."

Garp, noticing the thoughtful frown on Nagato's face, decided to lighten the mood. "Oi, Tsunade! I thought I heard something about the best ramen in the Fire Country. My stomach's starting to think my throat's been cut!"

Tsunade rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Alright, alright. I suppose it is about lunchtime. Follow me, Ichiraku Ramen is just around the corner."

As they approached the small ramen stand, delicious aromas wafted toward them, causing all four stomachs to growl in unison.

"Welcome to Ichiraku!" a cheerful voice called out. A young man with kind eyes and a wide smile greeted them from behind the counter. "Oh my, quite the diverse group we have today!"

Garp grinned, ushering the children to take seats at the counter. "Four bowls of your best ramen, brat! And keep 'em coming!"

As they waited for their food, Yahiko bounced excitedly on his stool. "I've never had ramen before! Is it good, Gramps?"

"Good?" Garp exclaimed. "Boy, you're about to taste the food of the gods!"

Konan looked skeptical. "Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration, Grandfather?"

Before Garp could respond, steaming bowls of ramen were placed before each of them. The rich aroma of savory broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and various toppings filled the air.

"Itadakimasu!" they chorused before digging in.

The reaction was immediate and dramatic. Yahiko's eyes widened to the size of saucers, and he began slurping noodles at an alarming rate. Konan, usually so composed, couldn't suppress a small moan of delight. Even Nagato, after one cautious bite, began eating with uncharacteristic enthusiasm.

Garp, on his third bowl already, paused mid-slurp to eye Teuchi, the ramen chef, suspiciously, his Haki slightly leaking. "Oi, brat." he said in a stage whisper, "You wouldn't happen to be one of those Otsu-whatsits, would you? This ramen is too good to be of this world!"

Teuchi blinked in confusion before bursting into laughter. " I am just a humble ramen chef, I'm afraid. But I'm glad you're enjoying it!"

As they continued to eat, with Garp setting a pace that had even Teuchi wide-eyed, the atmosphere relaxed further. Yahiko regaled Teuchi with tales of their training, while Konan politely asked about the recipe. Nagato, his initial reservations melting away, even cracked a joke that had everyone at the counter chuckling.

Tsunade watched this scene with a mixture of amusement and something akin to wistfulness. Seeing these children, so different yet so clearly a family, stirred something in her heart.

After what seemed like an endless stream of ramen bowls (mostly consumed by Garp), they finally emerged from Ichiraku, patting their full bellies contentedly.

"That was amazing!" Yahiko exclaimed. "Can we come back tomorrow, Gramps? And the day after? And maybe for dinner too?"

Garp laughed, ruffling Yahiko's hair. "We'll see, my boy. We've got a lot more of Konoha to explore!"

As they continued their tour, visiting the bustling marketplace, the serene Naka River, and even getting a glimpse of the Forest of Death (much to Yahiko's excitement and Konan's apprehension), Garp couldn't help but feel a sense of peace. Seeing his grandchildren so relaxed and happy, experiencing new things - it was moments like these that made all the hardships worthwhile.

However, as the sun began to set and they made their way towards the guest quarters Tsunade had arranged for them, Garp felt a slight tingle at the back of his neck. His eyes sharpened imperceptibly, and a faint glow appeared in his eye, one that shined with a red glint.

He glanced up at the sky, his gaze seeming to penetrate the very heavens. To anyone watching, it would have appeared as if he were simply admiring the sunset. But Garp knew better. They were being watched.

A slight trace of his Conqueror's Haki blasted into the sky, with it easily destroying the prying eye.

Miles away, in the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen Sarutobi jerked back from his crystal ball that suddenly cracked, his pipe nearly falling from his slack jaw. "Impossible." he muttered, his aged face creased with shock and a hint of fear. "How did he...?"

The Third Hokage sat back in his chair, his mind racing. This Garp was far more than he appeared. The casual display of strength against the Iwa ninja had been impressive enough, but to detect the Telescope Technique (A Technique that uses the pinnacle of Yin Release and Fuinjutsu) from such a distance? It was unheard of.

'What the Hell is this guy?' Hiruzen pondered to himself.

As Hiruzen pondered this new factor that was relaxing in his Village, back on the streets of Konoha, life continued as normal. Garp, his moment of seriousness passing as quickly as it had come, was once again laughing and joking with his grandchildren.

"Alright, you little rascals." he announced, clapping his hands together. "Time to hit the sack! We've got a big day tomorrow. I heard I'm meeting this Hokage fellow from Tsunade."

Yahiko yawned widely, the day's excitement finally catching up to him. "Do you think he's strong, Gramps? As strong as you?"

Garp chuckled, a glint in his eye that the children couldn't quite interpret. "No one is as strong as me, brat!! Bwahahahahaha!!!"

As they entered their assigned quarters, Konan organizing their belongings with her usual efficiency and Nagato performing a subtle check for any hidden surprises, Garp stood at the window, gazing out over Konoha.

The village was beautiful in the twilight, lanterns beginning to flicker to life across the landscape. But Garp knew that beneath the false pretense of peace that the Village advocated was the same brutal system that was prevalent in every other Foreign Village. A system that sent children to fight wars that they had no reason to be in.

It's unknown if it was his life on Earth or his life as Garp that made him despise this cruel world, but he did nonetheless.

"Gramps?" Nagato's quiet voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Is everything alright?"

Garp turned, his usual grin sliding back into place. "Of course, my boy! Just admiring the view. Now, let's see about getting you three into bed. Can't have you falling asleep during your big meeting tomorrow!"

As he herded the children through their bedtime routines, fielding Yahiko's excited questions about what the Hokage would be like and soothing Konan's mild anxiety about making a good impression, Garp's mind was already several steps ahead.

Tomorrow would be a pivotal day. He would come face to face with the so-called 'God of Shinobi' (lol), the man who held the reins of the most powerful hidden village in his hands. And somewhere in the shadows lurked Danzo, the war hawk whose actions would shape the course of history in the wrong way.

But for now, as he tucked the blankets around his grandchildren and wished them sweet dreams, Garp allowed himself to simply be a grandfather. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges. Tonight, he would savor this moment of peace, this slice of normal life that he and these children had been denied for so long.

As the sounds of Konoha's nightlife drifted through the window, mingling with the soft breathing of the sleeping children, Garp settled into a chair, prepared to keep watch through the night. His eyes, twinkling with mischief and determination, gazed out into the darkness.

"Well, Konoha." he murmured softly, "Let's see what tomorrow brings, shall we?"