In the desert of Alabasta.
Vice Admiral Tsuru's expression grew increasingly grave.
Because the battles on all sides were becoming deadlocked, with no clear winner emerging for a long time, and the Konoha Pirates seemed to handle it with ease.
Especially…
The captain of the Konoha Pirates, Senju Hashirama.
Senju Hashirama's strength was formidable, yet he was a person who inherently loved peace. He was always forgiving towards those weaker than himself and wouldn't suddenly erupt into fury during battles, causing despair like his old friend Uchiha Madara would.
Moreover…
In Senju Hashirama's view, Sengoku was not the epitome of evil.
Senju Hashirama merely controlled a towering wooden figure, extending its giant palm, slowly clenching it into a fist to strike Sengoku the Buddha's golden statue!
"Armament Haki: Entanglement!"
The golden Buddha's palm was also covered with a layer of pitch-black Armament Haki. It raised an Armament Haki-laden hand and forcibly caught the wooden giant's fist, even attempting to shatter the wooden figure's body!
Boom!
The ground of the desert trembled!
The wooden giant's body shattered but then recovered under Senju Hashirama's control!
"Using Haki directly?"
Senju Hashirama stood on top of the wooden giant, curiously observing the scene. He nodded seriously and said, "It seems to be quite a terrifying power, perhaps I should take it more seriously..."
The already tall wooden figure began to grow again!
The over a hundred meters tall wooden giant clenched its fist and pressed down forcefully. The golden Buddha barely compared to its lower leg, causing Sengoku the Buddha to suddenly feel immense pressure!
"Shockwave!"
The golden Buddha gritted its teeth, suddenly lowering its palm and raising it with force once more, emitting a beam of light from the palm that struck the wooden giant's body!
The moment the towering wooden figure was hit, its arm and fist shattered under the pressure of the shockwave, and its massive body staggered back a few steps, almost falling to the ground!
"About to fall?"
Senju Hashirama stood atop the wooden giant, clustering his hands together. Vines sprouted from the wooden figure and instantly pierced into the ground to help stabilize its body.
"Quite an interesting ability..."
"Utilizing massive size and high-speed movement to pressure combat with the air..."
Senju Hashirama stroked his chin, looking down at the panting golden Buddha, and his expression gradually became serious. He directly controlled the gigantic wooden giant to raise its hand!
In the next moment!
The towering wooden giant also slapped towards the golden Buddha!
The air generated a powerful shockwave under the rapid speed of the wooden figure, lifting immense sandstorms from the ground!
And along with it...
Naturally came the formidable strength of the wooden figure!
Senju Hashirama's wooden figure, which could compete with Uchiha Madara's Complete Form of Susanoo, was never just for show!
"Really troublesome..."
The golden Buddha-shaped Sengoku suddenly lifted its arms, seemingly supporting the sky, and firmly blocked the wooden giant's palm: "What kind of joke is this immense force, exactly what bizarre ability is this that can suppress a Zoan-type Mythical Fruit Ability user..."
This wooden figure, merely grown from vine roots, should only be a facade like some giants of the sea, right?
Why...
The wooden figure could even suppress him, a Zoan-type Mythical Fruit Ability user!
Sengoku even felt somewhat powerless, as if his Buddha form was struggling to compete against the opponent, merely relying on the strong recovery of his Zoan-type Mythical Fruit Ability to barely hold on!
"This is not good..."
Vice Admiral Tsuru stared intensely at the golden Buddha, whose mouth was already bleeding, and her eyes twitched: "The opposing wooden figure's power is too great; he can't suppress the opponent. Sengoku is already old, and it's difficult for him to maintain this level of combat for long..."
Perhaps no one realized one thing...
Admiral Sengoku the Buddha was already over seventy years old.
This age was when most navy personnel needed to retire. Sengoku only seemed not particularly old due to the life force of his Zoan-type Mythical Fruit Ability.
But still...
Aging is unavoidable.
In contrast...
Senju Hashirama was in the prime of life, with life force and stamina far more terrifying than the average person, making this level of combat effortless for him!
"Phew, don't underestimate people too much!"
The golden Buddha slowly lowered its head, clenching its teeth!
The golden Buddha suddenly withdrew one of its sky-supporting hands, with Armament Haki entwined around it again, clenched into a fist, and struck the wooden hand pressing down, forcibly shattering the wooden giant's hand from within!
Internal release of Armament Haki strikes the enemy's body from a distance!
Countless wood fragments scattered down!
Yet Senju Hashirama paid no heed to the shattered hand of the wooden giant. Even with a broken arm, under the enhancement of his Wood Release Chakra, the wooden figure's wounds quickly regenerated and heavily slapped onto the golden Buddha's body!
The golden Buddha rolled over and fell in the desert, raising a massive cloud of yellow sand, as if Sengoku's body was struck by a massive hammer!
In the next moment!
The golden Buddha suddenly leaped off the ground, disregarding the blood at the corner of its mouth, with a fist attached with an air wave striking towards Senju Hashirama on top of the wooden figure!