It was clear that Crocodile had mistaken the First Kazekage for an easy target—a grave miscalculation.
A man capable of single-handedly establishing a hidden village in an era of chaos was anything but weak. It was just that his brilliance had been overshadowed by the overwhelming power of his contemporaries, Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju.
The reason he had seemed like an easy mark earlier was simply because he hadn't been focusing on the fight. Instead, he had been studying this world's unique power system.
From what he knew, both Hashirama and Madara had arrived in this world and mastered its energy—something called the "Three Haki." It had even played a crucial role in their battle against Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
He wanted to see if he, too, could learn it. He refused to fall behind his peers.
But his curiosity had led Crocodile to underestimate him.
Now, as the Second, Third, and Fourth Kazekage approached, the First Kazekage, Retto, scowled.
"What are you all doing here? Get back to your own fights! Do you really think this guy is any threat to me?"
Hearing this, Rasa and the others exchanged glances before promptly retreating.
Crocodile, who had been bracing for a group assault, was surprised. His confidence surged once more.
Sure, these ninja were strong, but he was no pushover either. Taking on one shouldn't be a problem!
He even smirked around his cigarette.
"Old man, you'll regret sending them away."
Before the words fully left his mouth, his body dissolved into sand, his golden hook flashing toward Retto.
Nearby, the Second Kazekage watched coldly.
"Using sand against Lord First? Is this guy an idiot?"
The Marine Vice Admiral fighting him scoffed.
"Don't underestimate Crocodile! He's still one of the Seven Warlords—"
His words were cut off as Crocodile's body suddenly froze mid-air before being yanked down by an invisible force and slammed into the ice.
BOOM!
The impact scattered his sand-form, but before he could fully reform, Retto grabbed him again and smashed him down once more.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The brutal sound of repeated impacts echoed across the battlefield, drawing stunned gazes from fighters on both sides.
Even the Third and Fourth Kazekage were shocked.
The Second Kazekage smirked.
"Lord First was the one who carved out Sunagakure in the middle of the Wind Country's deserts. He personally subdued Shukaku and created many of our village's wind-based techniques. When it comes to manipulating sand—he's the original master."
Hearing this, Rasa and the others finally understood, casting pitying looks at Crocodile.
Poor guy. He might have been a formidable opponent, but he had picked the worst possible target.
As they thought this, Retto suddenly began using Crocodile's own sand to attack the Marines.
"Sand Binding Coffin!"
"Sand Waterfall Funeral!"
One powerful Suna jutsu after another erupted from his hands.
The other Kazekage were stunned—his techniques were every bit as devastating as Gaara's, if not more so!
In an instant, the battlefield gained another relentless force, carving through Marine ranks with terrifying efficiency.
From the command ship, Fleet Admiral Sengoku watched, teeth clenched in fury.
"That useless Crocodile!"
Beside him, Garp suddenly exclaimed.
"Geh! Is Moria really going after a little girl now?"
Sengoku followed his gaze and saw Gecko Moria looming over a slender young girl.
His anger flared.
"That bastard! Is he just here to slack off? Does he even remember he's supposed to be on our side?!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru, however, narrowed her eyes.
"That girl might not be as helpless as she looks."
As if to prove her point, Moria suddenly attacked.
"Shadow Spear!"
His shadow elongated into a sharp lance, stabbing toward the girl.
The attack was powerful enough to pierce even a giant's body.
Yet the girl stood frozen, as if stunned.
SHINK!
The spear impaled her—only for her body to dissolve into countless fluttering sheets of paper.
Konan, the Paper Ninja.
But to the Marines watching, her ability sparked a different realization.
"Paper?! Is she a Paper-Paper Fruit user?!" Garp bellowed.
Sengoku's eyes gleamed.
"The Paper-Paper Fruit… must be a Paramecia-type."
For some reason, he felt a flicker of relief. Finally, they were seeing something resembling a normal Devil Fruit ability among Luffy's allies!
But his relief was short-lived.
Because as Konan's paper fragments reformed on the ice, she stood effortlessly atop the water's surface.
Sengoku's mind raced.
He had assumed Luffy's entire crew was using some shared ability to walk on water.
But now, in the chaos of battle, with everyone occupied, Konan was still doing it.
A chilling thought struck him.
What if she's the one enabling the others to stand on water?
He vaguely recalled that since the battle began, this girl had barely fought—just drifted around the battlefield.
Maybe she was supporting the others from the shadows!
His expression hardened.
"All Marines in the nine o'clock sector—focus fire on the girl in the black cloak with red clouds, purple hair, and a paper flower in it!"
Instantly, countless Marine eyes locked onto Konan.
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T/N:
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