Kapitel 15: Imu

Anger flowed from the Five Elders like lava. The humiliating defeat on God Valley Island had left them furious and frustrated.

"Stupid!" one of them shouted. "Damn it, this Hashirama is a damn menace!"

"These pirates are a bunch of trash," exclaimed another. "Usually, they're all arrogant, but now they're being brought down!"

Seeing the alliance completely incapacitated only fueled their rage. Their expressions grew increasingly ugly until they finally burst out in curses.

"What to do?" they asked each other. "We've already made a promise to Imu-Sama. If the plan fails, the consequences could be severe."

The Five Elders looked at each other, unsure of what to do. They felt humiliated and aggrieved. After so many years in charge of the World Government, this was the first time they faced such a difficult and embarrassing situation. Hashirama was a monster, an obstacle they had not foreseen.

Most importantly, they didn't know how to explain the situation to their Lord. Imu's wrath was legendary, and his punishment could be brutal. The Five Elders shuddered at the thought of the repercussions they might face.

"If we had known, we would have done it ourselves," growled one of them, gritting his teeth. "If the five of us had acted, we could have avoided this problem."

"It's too late for regrets," responded another bitterly. "Let's think about how to explain this to Imu-Sama and the descendants of the Kings."

The youngest of the Five Elders, with golden hair and a formal beard, shook his head resignedly. "Let's go and tell Imu-Sama the truth!" he said.

"Yes!" the others exclaimed. "Let's go!"

However, just as they were about to leave, an imposing presence stopped them. Their bodies froze, and without hesitation, they knelt on the ground in reverence.

A bloody circle with strange runes suddenly appeared on the floor of the room, accompanied by a wave of spatial fluctuations. From the darkness emerged a figure shrouded in an aura of mystery: Imu, the supreme leader of the World Government.

The Five Elders, kneeling on the ground, felt a chill run down their spines. Cold sweat covered their foreheads as they murmured in trembling voices: "Imu-sama… our plan… has failed."

"Mu is disappointed," Imu's voice resonated, cold and severe. His eyes, like burning rubies, shone with an intimidating intensity. "The only ones awake who are useful to Mu are you, and all you do is mess everything up."

"Imu-sama, we… we didn't want this either," one of the Five Elders hurried to explain. "Hashirama possesses unimaginable abilities, his strength is much greater than we expected."

"His wood ninjutsu is truly monstrous," added another, his voice full of fear. "Give us another chance, Imu-sama. We will definitely find a way to eliminate this pest and never disappoint you again."

The Five Elders knelt on the ground, pleading for mercy. The fear was palpable on their faces and in their voices.

Imu watched the image projected by the Den Den Mushi with indifference. "There's no need," he said calmly. "The current Hashirama is beyond you. Mu will deal with him personally and let him know who the true master of the world is."

A burst of energy coursed through the room. The Five Elders looked up, astonished. "What… what?" they stammered, not understanding what was happening. "Imu-sama wants to act?!"

Since the founding of the World Government, Imu had never intervened directly in any matter. His presence was a legend, a rumor that inspired equal parts terror and respect.

"His strength is truly formidable," Imu murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming with a cold light. "The wood element catches Mu's attention, but that's all."

Ignoring the Five Elders, who were still in shock from the revelation, Imu continued: "This sea cannot tolerate a variable like him, one that has altered the balance. It's time to put an end to this."

On God Valley Island, Hashirama was about to deliver the final blow to the alliance. However, suddenly, his expression changed. He looked up at the sky as if sensing an invisible presence.

Seeing Hashirama's reaction, everyone present also looked up. Surprise took over their faces.

A dark cloud, covering a large expanse of the sea, floated above God Valley Island. The darkness was such that it turned day into night. But the strangest thing was that in the center of the dark cloud, there was an even darker cloud, like a vortex of shadows.

Xebec, Roger, Sengoku, and the other members of the alliance were speechless. A foreboding sense of terror gripped them. They knew something terrible was about to happen.

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