Chapter 10: Black Panther Bacura
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The arena.
The atmosphere was tense as the Uchiha clan watched from a small, cordoned-off area of the arena. They had a clear view of the battle below.
"This is a smart move by Akira," Uchiha Fugaku commented, observing the stage. "This fight will not only reduce the number of casualties to zero but also show them our strength."
The Uchiha clan had already recognized the Kuja's fighting power from the previous encounter. Though their country was composed entirely of women, they were warriors not to be underestimated. A direct conflict with Amazon Lily would certainly result in heavy losses on both sides. The bet offered a solution—if they won, they'd demonstrate their prowess and avoid unnecessary bloodshed. And even if the Kuja reneged on their agreement, they would be wary of the Uchiha's abilities.
Meanwhile, on the arena floor, Akira stood calmly as his first opponent appeared: a massive black panther, towering at four to five meters tall and six to seven meters long. It growled menacingly at Akira, saliva dripping from its jaws as if savoring a future meal.
This black panther, Bacura, was no ordinary beast—it had been raised for generations by Amazon Lily's emperors as an executioner. Boa Hancock sat at the highest point in the arena, crossing her legs arrogantly as she addressed Akira.
"This isn't even a true match," Hancock said, her voice dripping with disdain. "Bacura here ensures there's nothing left of the executed, not even bones. But if you're truly worthy to face me, then show your strength. Prove you can survive this test, or die trying."
Akira chuckled softly, his tone playful. "You're quite the clever little kid, aren't you?"
Gasps erupted from the crowd, and the Kuja warriors bristled with fury.
"How dare he insult Lady Hancock like that!"
"Kill him, Bacura!"
"That arrogant man has no idea who he's dealing with!"
The Amazon Lily spectators, loyal and passionate as ever, roared in defense of their empress, their voices a wave of anger aimed at Akira.
Hancock was annoyed and with a single command from her, Bacura lunged at Akira with blinding speed, its enormous jaws wide open, ready to rip him apart. The crowd watched, anticipating a swift and brutal execution.
But Akira remained unfazed. He raised a single hand and spoke calmly. "Stop."
In an instant, Bacura froze mid-lunge, its massive body halting mere inches from Akira. The crowd gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Shut your mouth," Akira ordered.
With a soft *click*, Bacura closed its jaws.
"Sit."
The black panther obediently sat down on the arena floor.
"Now, give me your paw."
Without hesitation, Bacura lifted its massive right paw, placing it gently in Akira's hand.
"Twirl around."
And just like that, the fearsome executioner of Amazon Lily began spinning in circles, eliciting a stunned silence from the audience. The once terrifying beast now resembled a playful pet.
"Bacura!!" one of the Kuja warriors shrieked in disbelief. "What are you doing?!"
"Why are you obeying that man's orders?!"
"How is this possible?!"
The female warriors of Amazon Lily were in complete shock. They had never seen anything like this before. Bacura, the most fearsome creature on their island, was now prancing around at the command of an outsider.
In the Uchiha section, five-year-old Uchiha Sasuke laughed with delight. "Haha! Look at that! Brother Akira is amazing!" He clapped his hands excitedly, his face lit up with joy.
At this time, Sasuke was still a carefree child, growing up in a loving family. He was kind-hearted, lively, and full of admiration for Akira, whom he idolized as Akira was known as the strongest person in the Uchiha clan.
The other Uchiha members smiled, feeling proud of Akira's performance. Uchiha Fugaku, watching from his seat, spoke with admiration. "Akira's mastery of Genjutsu is remarkable. If I was in his place, I could control the panther too, but not with such ease."
Uchiha Mikoto, Fugaku's wife, teased him gently. "Are you jealous of him, dear?"
Fugaku chuckled. "Jealous? Not at all. The stronger Akira becomes, the better. With him, the Uchiha clan may rise to the top once again or even more than just the past goal."
Fugaku, like many in the Uchiha clan, had long dreamed of restoring their clan to its former glory. Though they had made progress under his leadership, the clan was still far from reclaiming its peak status. Suppression from Konoha's leadership had left them struggling, but in Akira, Uchiha Shisui, and his son, Uchiha Itachi, Fugaku saw hope for revival.
Suddenly, *thud!* Bacura collapsed to the ground, its massive body going limp, eyes now glazed over. Akira stood over the defeated panther and smiled as he looked up at Boa Hancock.
"Well then," Akira said, his voice calm but firm, "let's start for real this time."
Boa Hancock's face twisted in anger, her pride wounded. Moments ago, she had boasted of Bacura's ferocity, and now that very beast lay helpless at the feet of her enemy. She bit her finger in frustration. "What did you do?" she demanded.
Akira's eyes glinted with mischief. "It's simple," he explained. "I used illusion to control it."
"Illusion? Is that some kind of Devil Fruit power?"
"No," Akira corrected. "This is a special ability passed down through the bloodline of my Uchiha clan."
Hancock's eyes narrowed, quickly piecing the puzzle together. "It's your eyes, isn't it?"
Akira smiled and nodded. "Exactly. My eyes can hypnotize and cast illusions. If you look into them, you may fall under my control."
The crowd murmured in shock and fear, their earlier bravado fading. Many began to avert their gazes, unwilling to risk meeting Akira's powerful eyes.
The fight was far from over, but the balance of power had already shifted dramatically.
....
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