The entire Marinford has become a battlefield.
The flames of war have gradually reached the entire port, where all the renowned pirates are fighting fiercely against the Navy admirals, each having their own adversary!
Even Dragon and Aokiji are locked in a fierce battle!
Uchiha Sasuke, however, refused Whitebeard's proposal to rescue, choosing instead to stand by Whitebeard's side, helping to protect this old man...
Because Sasuke is very clear...
Whitebeard's body may not withstand this war!
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Yakushi Kabuto, transformed into the Mythical Yamata no Orochi, is wreaking havoc in Marinford, effortlessly repelling anyone trying to approach the execution platform!
But the pressure on the Navy's upper echelon is increasing...
Because Whitebeard Edward Newgate has not yet made a move!
Currently, as the Three Great Admirals of the Navy Headquarters are each being held up, and the top experts of the CP Department have yet to appear, the battles between the Navy and pirates in Marinford have all reached a stalemate, becoming somewhat constrained.
The balance has finally been broken!
The first defeat of the Navy's strongest force directly broke the war's balance, with Admiral Akainu falling to Vice Admiral Garp!
Everyone originally thought the fight between Akainu and Garp would delay the time the longest, but unexpectedly, theirs was resolved first!
Garp swung his pitch-black fist, pounding Akainu's body like a storm, finally knocking Akainu down with one punch!
Even though Akainu entered Tailed Beast Mode...
He was knocked out of Tailed Beast Mode with one punch by Garp!
Garp swung his fist, pounding Akainu to the ground, nonchalantly wiping his burns as he staggered toward the execution platform: "Just lie there, Sakazuki, I'm going to save my grandson!"
"..."
Akainu fell into silence.
His body was covered with wounds.
Even several bones in his body were broken; though his wounds could heal rapidly with Chakra's help, it still required time...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Still in fierce combat with Kizaru, Dark King Rayleigh no longer hid, releasing his Supreme King Haki, with black and red lightning intertwined, instantly piercing through the mist and smoke laid down by Kizaru, forcing this Navy Admiral back!
This Haki is too pure...
Even Kizaru dared not engage in close combat within Rayleigh's Haki.
"Can't waste any more time..."
A flash of light passed through Rayleigh's eyes, his Observation Haki quickly searching for Kizaru's position, his figure zigzagging, rushing toward Kizaru!
The only thing Kizaru could do was hover in mid-air, raising his hand to shoot his photons: "Such a bother, seems I have to casually retaliate... Yasaka Magatama!"
Countless photons poured down...
Each photon shot toward Dark King Rayleigh!
Rayleigh opened his palm toward the sky, releasing a surge of Armament Haki from his hand, exploding the countless photons in mid-air!
Before the powerful outer surge of Armament Haki arrived, Kizaru's body transformed into countless photons and dissipated, his voice still sounding leisurely: "So terrifying... If not for another even more frightening person here, I might have to fight desperately!"
"..."
Dark King Rayleigh's brows knitted slightly.
But Rayleigh had no time to think too much, flipping and leaping toward the execution platform direction, where Garp and Sengoku are jointly battling Yakushi Kabuto!
"Can't find a way to attack his true body..."
The golden Buddha raised its hand, then slowly lowered it, looking up at the colossal body of Yamata no Orochi, muttering: "If the true body can't be attacked, then we can only be passively beaten..."
"Let me give it a try!"
Garp grinned, squeezing his fist, his figure suddenly appearing on Yamata no Orochi, a punch smashing into it!
The next second, Garp's fist pierced through Yamata no Orochi's body, a bizarre power leaving anyone unable to deal with it!
However, Garp's smile remained, slowly opening his fist, his palm intersecting with the ethereal body of Yamata no Orochi, laughing loudly: "Kabuto kid, you can't maintain this state forever..."
As long as Yakushi Kabuto leaves Kamui Hollowfication...
Garp's palm can tear open Yamata no Orochi's body!
This method is clumsy.
Waiting for the rabbit by the stump is Garp's idea.
As long as Yakushi Kabuto leaves Kamui's Hollowfication state, Garp can directly attack this body; if not, Kamui's Hollowfication can only last five minutes...
This isn't fanciful thinking by Garp...
Garp's Observation Haki can mostly perceive Yamata no Orochi's body, only disappearing from awareness when Sengoku attacks, meaning that period won't last long...
Within Yamata no Orochi, Yakushi Kabuto fell into silence.
Never would have thought someone would use such a clumsy method to unravel Kamui, yet this approach is indeed overly risky...
After all...
To capture Kamui, how wouldn't there be a price to pay!
In the next moment, one of Yamata no Orochi's heads suddenly twisted, spewing intense lightning at Garp on the ground!
Luckily, Sengoku the Buddha swiftly blocked it beside Garp, helping his old friend fend off the strike: "Garp, this method is effective… But every part of his body might disappear!"
"Then let's cut open its body that's exposed!"
Dark King Rayleigh's voice reached their ears.
Dark King Rayleigh had just forced Kizaru to retreat and was now beside Garp, slowly drawing his sharp sword, poised to strike at any moment...
However...
A group of heads of the Yamata no Orochi suddenly came probing simultaneously!
"Sage Art... Inorganic Reincarnation!"
The eight heads roared at the same time, with eight tails simultaneously stabbing into the ground, causing the expressions of Garp, Sengoku, and Rayleigh to change simultaneously!
The very next moment...
Sharp spikes suddenly protruded from the ground!
Each spike was wrapped in black Haki, seemingly aiming to pierce them directly, forcing Garp and the others to hastily retreat!
Originally, they thought the three of them could easily deal with Yakushi Kabuto, but even three people found themselves struggling against Yakushi Kabuto's bizarre abilities!
At this moment, Whitebeard had no patience left to wait.
Whitebeard wanted to rescue Portgas D. Ace before the Hundred Beast Pirates and BIG·MOM Pirates made their appearance at Marinford.
From the start to the finish, Whitebeard never forgot his goal!
"Gurararara... Let's go save Ace, kid Sasuke!"
After scanning the battlefield, Whitebeard smashed his fist towards the direction of the execution platform, opening up a path forward!
Whitebeard gripped his Murakumogiri Greatsword, slowly advancing step by step across the battlefield, with no one daring to halt his actions!
No...
Or rather, no one could disturb him!
The current Navy indeed lacked manpower, and those who tried to stop Whitebeard's advance were easily blocked by Uchiha Sasuke, allowing the elderly man who sat upon the title of the world's strongest to calmly walk step by step towards the execution platform.
"Gurararara..."
Whitebeard's mouth curled into a wide smile, watching Sengoku the Buddha, Garp, and others defensively suffering under Yakushi Kabuto's Yamata no Orochi's assault by the execution platform, he couldn't help but laugh aloud: "What a sorry state..."
"Damn..."
A trace of embarrassment flashed across Sengoku's face.
He had originally thought Yakushi Kabuto was a small fry he could easily capture, yet now even with the combined efforts of him, Garp, and Rayleigh, they were struggling, and so far hadn't even managed to land a scratch on Yakushi Kabuto...
"It's understandable they can't capture Yakushi Kabuto..."
Uchiha Sasuke stood next to Whitebeard, slowly raising his head to gaze at the Yamata no Orochi in the sky, he spoke softly: "After all... Yakushi Kabuto has also obtained the power of Uchiha... Only an Uchiha can defeat another Uchiha!"
No matter about others...
At least from the current situation... The Yakushi Kabuto possessing the Kamui Sharingan was undoubtedly an invincible presence!
The few people present...
Definitely couldn't deal with him.
Uchiha Sasuke slowly tightened his grip on his Kusanagi Sword, he spoke solemnly: "You go save them... I'll handle things here..."
"Kid Sasuke..."
Whitebeard's brows knitted tightly.
Upon hearing Uchiha Sasuke's words, the heads of Yamata no Orochi suddenly lowered from the clouds, with sixteen gigantic eyes fixed intently on Uchiha Sasuke!
Responding to Uchiha Sasuke's words...
Yakushi Kabuto didn't think he was guaranteed to win!
Yakushi Kabuto's laughter slowly emerged from the mouth of the Yamata no Orochi: "Oh? Sasuke-kun... Does this mean you're planning to betray us Akatsuki again?"
"..."
Uchiha Sasuke's expression was grim, he couldn't resist glancing at Whitebeard.
However, Whitebeard's demeanor remained unchanged, the old man perhaps had long anticipated the awkward position Uchiha Sasuke held within the Akatsuki, and was fully aware of Sasuke's sentiments.
Uchiha Sasuke slowly lifted his head, looking at the Yamata no Orochi in the sky, he stated solemnly: "Betrayal doesn't matter, I never intended to join Akatsuki...
That place was always just a dwelling for a bunch of cold-hearted individuals, and I had once simply thought myself to be one of them!
Reflecting on it now is truly painful...
No matter what was done there we had to consider costs, whatever was done had to take that guy's attitude into account, whatever was done had to follow a fate never grasped firmly in one's own hands, now even unable to protect a friend's life!"
Originally, Uchiha Sasuke had lived in the agony of a double agent identity, constantly fearing the punishment that might descend from Uehara Naraku, hence he often diligently completed missions; he also worried Naraku might act against the Whitebeard Pirates, thus constantly alerted others to be cautious...
Now...
In this war rapidly approaching its conclusion...
After much struggle, Uchiha Sasuke finally opted to follow the direction of his heart!
Uchiha Sasuke tightened his grip on the Kusanagi Sword, slowly lowered his head, his voice deep: "Even if I constantly followed that guy's orders, it was never going to change Niisan's fate, nor could it change Ace's fate..."
"That guy?"
Sengoku immediately identified the crucial point, his face flashed with surprise and seriousness: "Uchiha Sasuke, are you referring to the leader of Akatsuki?"
Just as Uchiha Sasuke nodded, intending to reveal the truth about the Akatsuki leader, a voice from the sky came down, slowly reaching everyone's ears.
"Hm, Sasuke, so this is what you've always thought?"