Chapter 28: The Kraken's Choice—Itachi's Pursuit
Inside the Thousand Sunny's Soldier Dock system.
"Hey! Why are YOU two hiding here?! It's crowded!"
Nami found herself squeezed beside Usopp.
"Nami! YOU'RE one to talk! Aren't YOU hiding too?!"
"I'm a GIRL. I'm ALLOWED to hide here!"
She crossed her arms defensively. "Luffy and those fighting monsters are scary enough on their own. Now with Itachi added? Let them handle it. I'll just stay here."
She eyed Usopp. "I thought you got stronger over two years, Usopp. Guess not."
"YOU CAN'T SAY THAT, NAMI! This is—uh—temporary tactical retreat! Battle recuperation! It's a STRATEGY! My strategy!"
"Some strategy."
Chopper stepped on both their heads, weeping silently. "We're still the Coward Trio..."
The dock door slid open. All three jumped.
Franky stood there, blinking. "What are YOU three doing in here?"
"Franky! What are YOU doing here?!" Nami demanded. Surely Franky wouldn't hide too.
Franky grinned, fist striking palm. Star symbols spun on his arms.
"SUPER, obviously!"
He gestured around them. "Didn't you notice something different about the Soldier Dock system?"
"Different..." Usopp scanned. "Now that you mention it—channel 0 is gone! And there are 5 and 6 now!"
"EXACTLY!" Franky's thumbs-up gleamed. "I upgraded the Sunny! Added my newest secret weapons!"
Usopp and Chopper's eyes sparkled.
"NEW SECRET WEAPONS?!"
Outside, the battle continued.
Itachi and Zoro carved through murloc ranks side by side. Luffy's Giant Pistol sent enemies flying by the hundred.
Then—a roar shook the plaza.
Everyone looked up.
A massive yellow octopus loomed above.
"KRAKEN!" The New Fish-Man Pirates' terror flipped to ecstasy. "HODY SUBDUED HIM! WE'LL WIN!"
Luffy paused, recognizing his "little squid."
"Hey! Squid!"
Itachi's eyes narrowed. He'd seen the octopus—but more importantly, he'd seen who stood beside it.
Hody.
Impossible.
His slash had been fatal. Precise. He didn't miss. He didn't leave survivors.
Yet Hody stood there, wounds visible but alive.
Zoro saw it too. "Itachi! That was a killing stroke—did you hold back?!"
"No." Itachi's voice was flat. "That was meant to kill."
"Then what IS this guy?!" Zoro's jaw tightened. His own iai slash in Ryugu Palace should have killed Hody too. Yet here he was. Again.
Hody met Itachi's gaze from atop the Kraken.
He's looking at me.
Hody stroked the trembling sea monster. "Kraken! You're my slave from the North Sea! WORK FOR ME! CRUSH THE STRAW HATS!"
The Kraken trembled. Sweat poured from its massive form. Its eyes found the Straw Hats below.
The murlocs roared with renewed fervor.
"KRAKEN WILL FINISH THEM!"
Jinbe stared in disbelief. "The Kraken?! Here?!"
Luffy walked calmly toward the massive creature, completely unafraid.
"Hey, little squid! Remember me?"
He grinned up at the terrified monster. "I told you—I want you to pull my ship! Be our navigator!"
The Kraken's tentacles raised—
"HE'S GOING TO CRUSH HIM!" murlocs cheered.
The tentacles descended—and gently lifted Luffy, placing him atop the Kraken's head.
"SHISHISHISHI! You remember, little squid!"
Jinbe's jaw dropped. "He... TAMED a sea monster?!"
Luffy pointed toward Shirahoshi. "Little squid! Protect Cowardly Star!"
The Kraken nodded happily and moved to guard the princess.
Hody's face purpled with rage. "KRAKEN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! YOU WANT TO DIE?!"
Before he could finish, a shadow fell over him.
He looked up.
Itachi descended on a burning crow of black fire, blade drawn, Mangekyō Sharingan spinning.
Blood trickled from Itachi's eye.
Amaterasu.
Hody's blood ran cold. He RAN.
Behind him, black flames erupted where he'd stood.
He'd seen these flames in Ryugu Palace. He knew: one touch, and he burned forever.
Itachi's gaze tracked him relentlessly. Amaterasu followed—but always a heartbeat behind. Hody's desperate speed kept him ahead of the flames.
Seeing an opening, Hody dove into a crowd of his own murlocs.
"BOSS HODY?! WHAT—AAAAHHHH!"
The black flames found them instead.
Itachi watched the burning murlocs for a moment, then released the technique. Amaterasu demanded immense chakra—and after the Great Fire Annihilation, after everything, he was running low. If he couldn't kill with one strike, preserving his remaining strength was wiser.
He formed seals.
Below, Luffy watched Itachi riding his fire crow through the sky.
"HISS! Itachi can FLY?! And that black flame—SO COOL!"
Then Itachi's next move made Luffy jump with excitement, momentarily forgetting the chase entirely.
From Itachi's mouth erupted multiple fireballs—a barrage of flame homing in on Hody's fleeing form.
FIRE RELEASE: PHOENIX FLOWER JUTSU!
(End of Chapter)
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