"Tsk, tsk, tsk…"
Leaning against a tree at the edge of the training grounds, the blond youth clicked his tongue as he watched the battle.
"As expected—no matter the world, the key to victory is always the information gap…"
The fact that these pirates had been freed from Impel Down already proved their strength, some of them were even great pirates.
But they had never fought shinobi before, nor did they understand the myriad techniques of ninja.
From the very start, they had been at a disadvantage.
Genjutsu, taijutsu, Katon (Fire Release), Suiton (Water Release), Fūton (Wind Release), Raiton (Lightning Release), Doton (Earth Release)… Shisui of the Uchiha had mastered over a thousand techniques.
"Doton: Tetsu Iwa Yama! (Earth Release: Iron Rock Wall!)"
Slamming his right hand to the ground, Shisui raised massive walls of stone, trapping his pirate opponent.
But in only a second, the walls were shattered by a single punch.
The three-meter-tall pirate laughed:
"Uchiha Shisui, I've already found your weakness! As long as I use Observation and Armament Haki, your ninjutsu is useless against me!"
In his eyes, Observation Haki broke illusions, and Armament Haki resisted ninjutsu. If he maintained both, he could counter every shinobi trick and eventually crush Shisui.
But Shisui's face remained calm. He stepped back, forming seals once more:
"Raiton: Kaminari Mon! (Lightning Release: Thunder Gate!)"
Lightning dropped from the sky, frying the hulking pirate until his body smoked.
"Suiton: Neba Mizu Nagare! (Water Release: Sticky Water Flow!)"
The ground turned to white adhesive liquid, sticking the pirate's feet firmly in place.
Finally, Shisui inhaled deeply, his chest swelling before he exhaled a sea of fire.
"Katon: Gōka Mekkyaku! (Fire Release: Majestic Flame Destruction!)"
An inferno surged forth like a tidal wave, engulfing the training field and turning the world into blazing flames.
The pirate's face paled. He tried to retreat, but the sticky water beneath his feet refused to release him. After several desperate yanks, he abandoned his shoes entirely.
"Haa…" Shisui exhaled, shaking his head helplessly.
"If only I still had my Sharingan, this wouldn't be so troublesome…"
With only three tomoe, he lacked the power of Mangekyō. Many techniques were beyond his reach.
For instance, with Mangekyō, his illusions would have been inescapable—even with Observation Haki.
"Don't worry," Naruto said with a grin. "Our next target is Akatsuki. We'll get your eyes back."
"Really!?"
Shisui's eyes gleamed.
Without his Sharingan, he was just a strong jōnin—not enough against the top-tier. But with Mangekyō restored, he could become Naruto's strongest blade.
Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"First we eliminate those shadow-dwelling cowards. Konoha can't run anywhere, but Akatsuki? Two or three cats can vanish into any hole. Better to hunt them down now."
"Perfect…" Shisui whispered, fists clenched, eyes glowing with anticipation.
"Uchiha Itachi… I'm coming for you…"
"…Oi."
Law's voice cut in, drawing his blade slowly as he addressed Shisui:
"Ninja, let me be your opponent next. Rest up first."
Shisui sat cross-legged, replenishing his chakra.
Naruto simply observed with interest.
He wanted the pirates to taste the terror of shinobi, but also for the shinobi to feel the might of the seas.
Two worlds. Two powers. Neither weak.
Underestimating the other meant disaster. This mutual clash would only aid in the hunt against Akatsuki's S-class rogues—the strangest and deadliest beings in the shinobi world.
Minutes passed.
Shisui rose, his gaze firm as he faced Law.
"Come, Trafalgar Law!"
Law didn't waste words. He raised his left hand.
"ROOM!"
A pale-blue sphere expanded, swallowing dozens of meters of ground in a heartbeat.
"Not good…" Shisui's expression changed. He hadn't expected such speed. He didn't know what the glowing space was, but it was clearly no good.
He began weaving seals—too late. Law's blade was already descending.
Shhhhhh!
White flashes cut through the air.
Shisui's body split apart—then reassembled in twisted ways. Hands became legs, chest became a head, ears sprouted from thighs, his head sat where his heart should be.
A grotesque monstrosity, like something from a nightmare.
Both pirates and shinobi gasped in horror.
"Shisui, what happened!? Are you alright!?" the shinobi rushed forward in panic.
When reassured by Shisui's calm voice, relief washed over them—but all eyes turned to Law with awe and dread.
"This man… he can slice someone apart and reassemble them…"
"So this is the power from across the seas?"
"Terrifying… just like the rest of them. Every one of those pirates is monstrous…"
"Don't forget that twenty-meter giant. He's the most terrifying. One slap and he sunk the ground…"
Naruto chuckled softly, letting them clash and sharpen each other. Then he went to find Tsunade.
"Tsunade, come serve me."
—
The next morning.
The pirates, now tempered through battle, stood at Oto's gates with grim expressions, their eyes sharp with newfound caution.
They finally understood—shinobi's danger wasn't brute strength, but their countless, unpredictable methods. A moment's carelessness could mean death.
The shinobi, on the other hand, were exhilarated. They too had witnessed the pirates' fearsome power—warriors of raw taijutsu might, wielding both Observation and Armament Haki. And some, with Devil Fruits, possessed abilities more unpredictable than any jutsu.
Under countless gazes, Naruto strode out, dressed in shinobi garb, a massive scroll slung across his back. He raised his hand.
"Let's go. To Amegakure… to hunt gods!"
(End of Chapter)
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