BOOOOOOM!!!
A deafening roar echoed through the skies.
Island #16 of the Yarchiman Mangrove trembled under a barrage of powerful impacts, its massive form visibly crumbling apart.
Cracks snaked across its surface, and huge mangrove roots split and shattered.
Shockwaves and violent tremors rocked the island, causing those living on it to topple to the ground in chaos and panic.
Everyone watching the battle—pirates, Marines, and other powerful individuals—became visibly serious and grim.
"A Marine Admiral… looking this pathetic? Uzumaki Naruto's power… has it already surpassed that of an Admiral?"
In the depths of the auction house, a Den Den Mushi recorded the battle in the sky, its speaker's tone filled with gravity.
And this was just one of countless Den Den Mushi broadcasting the event across the Sabaody Archipelago.
What was happening here was transmitted across the world in an instant. All the great powers had now taken notice.
The Four Emperors, the Shichibukai, and the lords of the underworld—all wore the same grave expression.
They could feel it: the sea was on the verge of great upheaval.
If a monster like this entered the New World—
Then after the Pirate King Roger's death and the balance established by the Four Emperors, everything would fall apart. War would engulf the entire New World.
Meanwhile…
Buried beneath the earth, having crashed through layers of mangrove roots and soil, Kizaru lay groaning and retching.
"Damn it… Uzumaki Naruto… this is the first time I've ever been so humiliated. What the hell are those golden chains!?"
His face turned from green to purple, then to black as he coughed violently.
Coating his arms in Busoshoku Haki, Kizaru pounded on the golden chains wrapped tightly around him.
But these chains were unbelievably sturdy. No matter how powerful his attacks, he couldn't break free from these seemingly delicate bindings.
After several failed attempts, a bitter smile crept across his bruised face.
"This is bad… I really messed up this time…"
"That's... Borsalino!?"
At the port of Sabaody, Aokiji and Akainu stared in disbelief at the golden blur spinning violently in the sky.
With their keen sight and Kenbunshoku Haki, they could tell—despite the golden light whirling into a blur—that the figure at the center of it was Kizaru.
As the shockwaves rumbled through the island, Akainu smashed his magma-coated fist into a nearby pirate ship, destroying it with a scowl.
"That idiot. He was told to stall Uzumaki Naruto, not get spun around like a damn ragdoll."
Marine Admirals represented the peak of Marine power—symbols of absolute might.
Now Kizaru was getting toyed with. It wouldn't even take a day before the newsbirds spread this humiliation across the seas.
The Navy's pride would be trampled the moment that happened.
Aokiji hesitated but tried to defend his comrade.
"Maybe… Naruto has gotten even stronger. That could explain why—"
"Hmph!" Akainu snorted. "Kuzan, don't kid yourself. You of all people know how strong Kizaru is."
Among the three Admirals—each wielding a powerful Logia—Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit was arguably the most dangerous.
Its sheer speed surpassed even magma and ice.
Faced with that truth, Aokiji had nothing to say. His frown deepened as he turned to the sky.
"What the hell is that guy doing up there…?"
So what was Kizaru doing?
He was getting beat up.
Completely restrained by the golden chains, Kizaru looked like a moth in a cocoon, while Naruto sat on top of him, grinning like a delinquent and raining down punch after punch.
"W-wait, Uzumaki Naruto, let's talk this out… I am a Marine Admiral after all—"
Kizaru tried to speak sincerely, but Naruto didn't even flinch.
Left hook!
Right punch, infused with Fire Fist!
Dozens of giant Rasengan raining down!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The auction house trembled as the Marine Admiral known as the Navy's ultimate force was pummeled black and blue.
"Dammit, can't you just let me talk!?" Kizaru finally roared in frustration, face bruised and eyes swollen.
"Tch, you're one tough bastard…" Naruto flexed his sore arm. "I've been attacking you with the intent to kill this whole time—and yet you're still fine?"
Kizaru's mouth twitched.
Even with his elemental powers sealed, his Busoshoku Haki could still protect him for a while…
But only for a while.
Seeing Naruto pause, Kizaru quickly shouted:
"Uzumaki Naruto! I'll tell you something important! It's not just the Marines who've come after you—the World Government has dispatched the Holy Knights!"
BAM!
Another Fire Fist smashed into his face. His hair singed and turned to ash, floating down.
Kizaru winced but gritted his teeth, continuing:
"The Holy Knights… they're a secret unit. Not well-known, but every one of them has Admiral-level combat power!"
"Shakuton: Renge Rasengan! (Scorch Style: Blazing Spiral Rasengan!)"
Another Rasengan slammed into him, this one superheated.
Kizaru, fighting back the rage, shouted again:
"If you don't flee soon, you'll face all the Admirals and the Holy Knights! You won't stand a chance!!"
"Busoshoku: Fūton: Rasenshuriken! (Armament Style: Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!)"
A pitch-black Rasenshuriken nailed him straight on. Kizaru nearly coughed up blood.
"UZUMAKI NARUTO!!!"
Naruto ignored the screaming and frowned.
"Damn… your defense is ridiculous. And it looks like it'll last for hours…"
"No wonder battles between top-tier fighters here last for days on end."
"High stamina and absurd Haki defense… even if you catch your enemy, you can't kill them easily…"
"No wonder that Kaidō guy got caught by the Navy so many times and still didn't die…"
"Do I need to open the Hachimon Tonkō (Eight Gates)?…"
Naruto hesitated. At his current level, he could probably open the Seventh Gate.
But even with that, he wasn't sure he could finish off someone like Kizaru.
Kizaru quickly jumped in.
"That's right! I can maintain my Busoshoku Haki for three full days! You can't kill me!"
But instead of arguing, Naruto's eyes lit up.
Then he teleported—with Kizaru still bound—back to the auction house.
Kizaru: "???"
Staring in shock, he watched Naruto turn to the auctioneer.
"Hey. I remember you guys were auctioning off Devil Fruits, right? Gimme one—I'm gonna stuff it into this guy."
Kizaru: "…Huh!?"
(End of Chapter)
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