However, Senju Hashirama, who was directly involved, knew it wouldn't be so simple.
"You're thinking too lightly. That guy Aokiji is a Marine Admiral, after all. How could he fall so easily?"
Hashirama spoke first, his expression solemn as he stared at the figure lying in the massive crater.
"Don't bother pretending. I know you're fine, aren't you?"
Moments later, the smoke slowly cleared, revealing the figure in the pit as he stood back up.
"Ah la la… what an incredible attack. It almost sent me packing," Aokiji said with a lazy tone, scratching his head. "As expected of monsters like Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama."
Hashirama's eyes sharpened. "You're still alive?" he asked coldly.
Aokiji smirked. "Of course. I won't die that easily. What you hit before was only an ice clone. I escaped before the impact."
Everyone who heard this felt their hearts sink.
"Senju Hashirama, be careful! That's Aokiji!"
"An Admiral is not someone you can underestimate!" Illya said nervously, gripping her wand tightly.
"It's fine," Hashirama replied calmly, taking steady steps toward Aokiji.
His stride was firm, without the slightest hesitation.
"Come on, Senju Hashirama," Aokiji said, slipping one hand into his pocket while cold mist surged from the other. "I've wanted to fight you for a long time. Maybe today's the perfect opportunity, don't you think?"
A bone-chilling aura spread rapidly, freezing the ground into massive blocks of ice.
"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"
"Ice Age!"
The two unleashed their ultimate techniques almost simultaneously.
A forest of towering trees burst from the ground, wrapping around Aokiji with overwhelming vitality, while at the same time the temperature plunged sharply. Ice spread in every direction, freezing the battlefield as if winter itself had descended.
Pirates and Marines alike were stunned at the sight of the two powers colliding.
Neither side gave an inch, both determined to overwhelm the other with their might!
"Hahaha, is Aokiji actually in trouble? I really didn't expect this," Kizaru chuckled, stroking his chin.
Despite his casual tone, Kizaru's eyes had sharpened. He was already preparing to act, ready to intervene on Aokiji's behalf.
Though he often appeared lazy and indifferent, Kizaru was far from heartless. He and Aokiji shared a long-standing camaraderie. If his comrade was truly in danger, he wouldn't just stand by and watch.
The world might believe Kizaru was a man who cared only about clocking out on time, but in truth, his loyalty ran deep. When his comrades were in trouble, he would always step forward.
Just as Kizaru began to move with the speed of light—
Suddenly, a lazy voice came from behind him.
"Don't move, Kizaru."
"Your opponent… is me."
No one knew when he had arrived, but Gojo Satoru appeared behind Kizaru like a phantom, his presence carrying a crushing sense of pressure.
It was a force strikingly similar to Conqueror's Haki.
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