章節 69: Sun Breathing

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Shisui's eyes lit up with excitement. "How long has it been since we last saw him fight seriously?"

Itachi thought for a moment, his voice calm but tinged with anticipation. "Almost five years. Ever since Brother Kitaro became known as the 'Sword God' in the ninja world, he hasn't needed to go all out."

No one in the ninja world had been worthy of challenging Kitaro, and only a few knew the extent of his hidden accomplishments. Outsiders were oblivious to the tales—of the Fourth Kazekage humiliated in the desert for mocking the Uchiha, of the Third Tsuchikage nursing a back injury, and the Fourth Raikage left grounded after challenging him. They knew that if Kitaro ever chose to act seriously, even the notorious Uchiha coup would've been a mere footnote in his story.

Now, that long-held restraint had vanished. Kitaro's presence radiated like a powerful flame, spreading across the battlefield, shaking the Marines who dared to get too close.

Aokiji observed the young warrior with grim determination, feeling the weight of his aura. How could a eighteen-year-old emit such an overpowering presence? As Kitaro unsheathed his Nichirin sword, Haki surged along its length, wrapping the blade in dense energy that pulsed like a living heartbeat.

In that instant, Kitaro's Sharingan transformed—the three magatama in his eyes merged, becoming a striking five-pointed star. His power and focus intensified, causing the very air to tremble.

Aokiji's expression hardened, his Observation Haki flaring as he summoned an ice blade to match. He planned to test Kitaro's skill in swordsmanship, certain his own abilities would be enough.

But before Aokiji could move, Kitaro disappeared in a blur of speed.

"Sun Breathing , First Form: Dancing Flash."

In an instant, Kitaro was in front of Aokiji, his movements so fast that Aokiji's senses struggled to track him. His blade sliced cleanly through the air. Aokiji's head flew from his body, which shattered into fragments of ice before falling to the ground.

"Don't challenge someone's strength with mere hobbies," Kitaro said calmly, sheathing his blade.

"Aokiji Admiral!!"

The Marines were horrified, unable to believe their eyes.

The ice fragments reformed behind Kitaro as Aokiji reappeared, looking more resolved. "I underestimated you. From now on, I'll give it my all."

Summoning his ice powers, he raised his arms, creating thick barriers of frozen armor around him. But Kitaro was already moving, a trail of afterimages lingering in the air where he'd stood only moments before.

"Sun Breathing, Fourth Form: Burning Bones, Summer Sun."

A spiral of flame erupted around Kitaro's blade, and he spun down like a blazing comet, slashing with relentless precision. His sword, enveloped in fire, cut through Aokiji's ice constructs, leaving burning trails across the frozen battlefield. The force of his strike shattered the ice below, sending massive shockwaves across the bridge and scattering the Marines.

Luffy and his crew, watching from a distance, barely held their footing as the sheer impact cracked the frozen sea beneath them.

Nami's scream echoed over the roar of shattered ice. Zoro, awestruck, could only stare, his grip on his own sword tightening. "What kind of swordsmanship… How does he move like that? It's beyond anything I've ever seen!"

As the dust and ice fragments settled, a vast crater stretched across the battlefield, and in its center stood Kitaro, his form radiating heat like a living sun. Across the way, Aokiji emerged from another block of ice, his breathing heavier, his usually calm face now marked by a hint of tension.

"Is this guy a monster? He is only eighteen?!" Aokiji murmured to himself, recognizing the vast difference between them. While he had trained and achieved his power through hard work, the young man before him wielded his strength with effortless brilliance.

"I bear the title of the strongest in the world government," Aokiji said, clenching his jaw. "I can't let myself lose here."

With a swift whoosh, Aokiji reappeared behind Kitaro, leveraging the ice-covered battlefield to shift his position instantly.

"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"

Kitaro reacted just as quickly, unleashing a spiraling wave of flame to intercept. "Sun Breathing, Sixth Form: Solar Heat Haze."

The clash of hot and cold produced a thick cloud of steam, enveloping the area. Before it cleared, Aokiji emerged from behind, his palms transformed into hardened ice fists. He swung at Kitaro with the skill of a Marine trained by Garp himself.

Kitaro dodged with a quick backflip, bringing his blade down on Aokiji's back as he spun. A deep cut appeared, though Aokiji had reinforced his back with Armament Haki.

"That sword… It cuts through my Haki like paper," Aokiji muttered, his usual calm shaken by the realization.

Kitaro didn't stop."Ninth Form: Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance." Flames whirled around him, and he moved like a dragon, striking at Aokiji from every angle. Each swing was swift and relentless, creating a seemingly endless rhythm of attacks.

Aokiji finally evaded these attacks and started attacking Kitaro who was in mid air.

Kitaro shifted into another stance mid-air. "Eleventh Form: Fake Rainbow."

With a fluid motion, he evaded Aokiji's counterstrike, delivering a sweeping slash that took Aokiji's head clean off. But Aokiji's body quickly reformed, shifting away as shards of ice scattered from where he'd been.

Watching from a distance, Zoro's eyes widened with awe and revelation. "A cycle? Each sword form flows into the next, creating a seamless rhythm." He clenched his own sword, exhilarated by the possibilities. "Swordsmanship like this goes beyond mastery—it's a cycle of absolute control. A peak of the swordsmen."

Aokiji continued dodging, releasing freezing attacks as he tried to gain ground, but he found himself at a disadvantage. The relentless sequence of sword forms had left him with multiple minor wounds, and he couldn't find an opening.

Growing desperate, Aokiji took to the air, launching five massive icicles downward. "Ice Spears!"

Kitaro countered, swinging his flaming blade in a wide arc. "Sun Breathing, Seventh Form: Sunflower Thrust!"

The icicles shattered under the sheer heat and force, scattering into fragments before they even reached the ground. Aokiji steeled himself, his mind racing as he struggled to keep up with Kitaro's fluid and unbreakable flow of attacks.

In the distance, Marine soldiers could barely stand as the shockwaves from the clash spread across the ice. Vice Admiral Doberman ordered, "Retreat farther! We're not ready to handle this battle!"

The battlefield was chaos. Other Vice Admirals like Onigumo and Momonga had been subdued by Shisui and Itachi, both of whom guarded their positions with unwavering intensity.

The Marines, exhausted and wounded, anxiously awaited reinforcements from Marine Headquarters.

Suddenly, a golden beam shot through the sky, slamming toward Kitaro with explosive force.

"Wha… What is that?!" the Marine soldiers exclaimed, their heads turning toward the Gate of Justice.

Standing there, cloaked in his signature yellow-striped suit and glasses, was none other than Admiral Kizaru.

"Admiral Kizaru!" the Marines cheered, their morale lifting as reinforcements arrived. Kizaru's leisurely demeanor stood in stark contrast to the chaos surrounding him.

The arrival of Kizaru signaled the intensifying of the battle, but the storm gathering overhead promised an even greater upheaval.

But before Kizaru could act, a deep rumble echoed across the ice as dark clouds gathered above.

A thunderous bolt of lightning crashed down from the heavens, striking the Gate of Justice with a resounding boom. The brilliant flash was followed by a deep silence as the Marines and Pirates alike looked up in awe and trepidation.

"Huh?" Kizaru looked up.

...