Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or One Piece or any other material taken from Anime, Manga, Books, Video Games, etc that may appear. Examples: Shirone and Kuroka from Highschool DxD. Nor do I claim possession over the weapons used in this fanfiction. I do, however, claim ownership to the theories and concepts I've come up with. I claim ownership over Original Character's I've created (such as Suzuka, Vladimir, Dominic and Alphonse, etc.) and the concept of the original techniques I've come up.
Author Note: Hellow everyone sorry for the long wait. The chapter is somewhat incomplete as my beta reader hasn't had a chance to look over it thoroughly, technological issues, I'm sure people can understand, they lost their phone and laptop and then went on a trip with their family to somewhere with no internet service. (No internet service sucks as we all agree). They did, however, have a chance to check over a part of the story, and I've done my best with the rest. So please enjoy.
On a note, some have pointed out the length of my fights and or lack of banter between text blocks. I have tried to amend this with banter to appropriately express emotions, and after the war will attempt to cut down on the length of my fights.
Discord Link: As always feel free to join the Rise of the Whirling Tides Discord (mX728eD). (h , t , t , p , s,/ / discord . gg / mX728eD ) remove all the commas and spacing. You can also find the link on my profile page.
Chapter summaries 41-43: Last time the Shinobi of Uzushiogakure began bringing the battle to a close either wounding or finishing off their opponents. Saru and his puppets eliminated three of the quintuplet brothers Cadenza, Cabaletta and Counter with the aid of Jozu. Miyuki, the daughter of Kuzan, met Oven head-on unleashing the full arsenal of her inherited ice powers and overwhelmed the heat user whose fate remains unknown. Oden, in his struggles with Smoothie, managed to overcome all obstacles bringing the heated match to a draw scorching himself and Smoothie to a crisp in a last-ditch effort. Shiina using an experimental technique transformed into a hulking monster and stomped Cracker into the ground however she entered a berserker like a state and sought to eliminate all in her path, only to be stopped by her teacher, Naruto.
Last to square off was Houjin and Katakuri. The two adversaries met in heat combat, but it became apparent that Houjin was severely outmatched, well enough aware of this fact the Jounin was but continued the assault to grow and prove himself. Multiple times Houjin was wounded by the aggressive combat style of Katakuri who showed no mercy striking to avenge his fallen brothers and sisters. Showing his superior might, Katakuri struck a deadly blow tearing off Houjin's left arm. Just as all seemed lost, Monet, Houjin's lover arrived on the scene to lend her assistance.
With aid from Monet and words of encouragement to overcome his past, Houjin stopped holding himself back and with the right push came to finally accept his other half, his father's side. Using the powers gifted by his hated father, Akainu, Houjin combined the powers of the Magu Magu no Mi and Kaze Kaze no Mi fusing the abilities gifted to him from both parents. But even so, he was still no match for Katakuri even with Monet's aid. The Jounin was said from death by the hands of Marco the Phoenix.
Marco the Second Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates and Charlotte Katakuri the Strongest of Big Mom's Sweet Commanders clashed. The two fought to settle an old score, but they only fought to a standstill as they were too evenly matched.
As if invigored by the display conducted by his Second in Command, Whitebeard jumped into the battle confronting Linlin directly, and the two Yonko collided! Just as the War seemed to be coming to a close, a new presence arrived attacking Yamato on the sidelines. An overwhelming killer intent overcame the Jounin Commander as the hand of the devil reached for him.
Chapter 44:
Meeting of the Emperors!
The Yonko Collide!
Showdown of the World's Strongest Begins!
The young Jounin stood there as a sinister aura infused with an overwhelming killer intent washed over him, his life flashing before his eyes. Yamato experienced the trauma of his past, witnessing his mother's death and the life that followed, one filled with blood and violence. A coliseum of blood, death and destruction surrounded him, reminding him of the blood he had to spill to survive before being rescued by Naruto and arriving on Uzu no Kuni. Yamato bit down on the inside of his cheek as he tried to move, every fibre of his body was frozen and refusing to budge.
The laughter sent chills down his spine as the reaper's hand-loomed over him, bloodshot amber eyes looking upon him as if he was but an ant. The hand approached in slow motion as if time itself had frozen for the youth. Cold sweat poured down his body as he frantically shouted in his mind.
"Move! Move god damn it!" Yamato shouted internally, trying to force his body to move, but although the hand appeared slow, it was moving at speeds beyond his comprehension. The murderous aura engulfed him like a tight blanket, constricting and suffocating him. His eyes began to shake, unable to focus as the world lost colour, and everything became a blur.
Just as death seemed inevitable, a flash of white filled Yamato's vision. A tall figure appeared before him, their hand stretching out to block the offending limb. The two Titan's clashed as a wave of energy poured out from the point of impact, cracking the ground around Yamato. A calming aura swept over the Jounin Commander, and his eyes regained their focus.
"S...Sensei." Gasped out the Jounin. Standing before him was his Sensei, Uzumaki Naruto, the Shodai Uzukage of Uzushiogakure no Sato and the Eternal Sage. Yamato fell to his knees, gasping for air; he had forgotten to breathe during the entire experience. Yamato's hands dug into soil, his body shaking; the experience had overwhelmed him. Looking up with shaky eyes, the youth could only stare in horror at just who stood before him.
Standing twenty feet tall, easily looming over the much smaller Yamato and Naruto, was something that could only be described as a monstrous beast. It was massive in stature, with arms the size of tree trunks, horns growing out of his head, and a feathered coat draped over his back. In the beast's right hand was a giant black spiked Kanabo.
"K…K...Kaido."
The beast was none other than the Yonko Kaido, Captain of the Beast Pirates, the King of Beasts and once called The Strongest Creature.
"I was wondering who was hiding like a cockroach, so it was you Kaido." Naruto held the Yonko's left hand tightly; they were pushing against each other, breaking the earth beneath them.
"Uzumaki Naruto, we finally meet!" Kaido growled out, appearing slightly miffed from the cockroach comment. With a grunt, Kaido pushed down on his much smaller opponent, but even so, the Kage continued to resist his inhuman strength with ease.
"So this is the Shinobi Leader who has been causing me nothing but grief!" Kaido ground his teeth together in frustration and anger.
"The pleasure's all mine," Naruto revealed a mischievous smirk that seemed only to annoy the Yonko as he raised the giant Kanabo.
"Die for me, vermin!" Kaido roared as he swung the massive club weapon downwards intending to smash the Kage into meat paste. The club was brought down with such force and speed it created a powerful blast of wind, blasting Yamato away and sending him flying backwards.
"Strong!" Yamato flipped in mid-air, channelling chakra into his feet and quickly sticking to the ground. The Jounin bent low, bringing his centre of gravity down and reinforcing his body with chakra to resist the wind.
"Is that all!" Naruto laughed, clenching his left fist he punched upwards meeting the weapon head-on. A loud bang sounded as the two collided, creating a massive shockwave that tore the ground apart. The force of the punch sent Kaido skidding backwards, his tiny feet digging deep trenches in the earth as he slid back over fifty metres.
"Yamato get out of here. Things are going to get messy." Commanded the Sage, receiving a short yes from his officer. Yamato quickly left the area with a Shunshin.
Naruto smirked, without Yamato around he could cut loose. Without hesitating he launched forward, kicking off the ground with but one step and appearing right in front of the Yonko. Kaido was quick to act, bringing up his arms in an X shape over his chest as Naruto's left foot slammed into his forearms. The kick pushed into flesh, sending phantom pains up Kaido's limbs and launching him back even further. Sneering, Kaido dug both feet into the ground and brought himself to a halt, only to look up, sensing an attack from above. Taking a step back, Kaido narrowly avoided Naruto as he descended, his heel smashing into the earth, making it shake and crumble inwards. The crumbling rapidly spread out, throwing Kaido off balance as the land beneath him became unstable and collapsed.
"Come on, is that all!" Naruto called out as he moved across the collapsing debris with ease, closing in again, his body transforming into a white blur. Appearing in the air above the giant man, Naruto attacked again, a fist planting itself into the centre of Kaido's chest. A loud boom exploded out from the point of impact launching Kaido backwards again. The strike brought him over to Linlin, sending him crashing into the ground next to her like a meteor. Debris sprayed everywhere; a deep fissure had been carved into the ground behind the Yonko.
With an annoyed groan, Kaido pulled himself from the debris, appearing completely unharmed from the attacks. As he brushed some dirt off his torso, Kaido appeared visibly annoyed. He reached into the ground and pulled out his Kanabo, heaving it onto his right shoulder.
"Having trouble?" Asked Linlin in a mocking tone as she looked at her fellow Yonko in amusement. She had found some joy in seeing Kaido tossed around like a rag doll by the much smaller Uzukage.
"Shut it you old hag before I shut you up!" Roared Kaido, releasing a thick wave of murderous aura at Big Mom. Naruto's sudden movements had caught him off guard, but Kaido would repay him tenfold.
"Just try it, you dumb fuck!" Snapped Linlin, raising Napoleon and pointing the tip of the sword towards the King of Beasts in a threatening manner. The two glared at one another before clicking their tongues and turning their attention to Naruto and Whitebeard who now stood beside one another in the distance, over one hundred metres away.
"But it's about time you got here Kaido. I underestimated Uzushio's power. Whitebeard's interference was unexpected. But the old goat has one leg in the grave already and shouldn't be much trouble." Linlin spat in disdain as she glared at the two fighters in the distance. Linlin was confident in her abilities to defeat Whitebeard, but the Uzukage had shown he had some fighting prowess and if she had to fight both of them, then she didn't like her chances.
"Tch you're just weak Linlin. I can easily deal with them both!" Spat back Kaido clearly overconfident. Kaido even believed he could deal with Linlin at the same time if she were to join them, there were not many who could contend with him.
"Muscle brained as always. But be my guest!" Linlin took a step back as if encouraging Kaido to take the field and clash with both Whitebeard and Naruto. Accepting the invitation, Kaido launched forward, moving with surprising speed for his size. With every step, the behemoth left deep footprints in the ground that broke the land around them. He charged right up towards Whitebeard and Naruto, quickly closing the distance and swinging his giant Kanabo.
"Gurararara! Kaido don't underestimate this old fool!" Roared the equally over-eager Whitebeard as he stepped forward, shielding Naruto and swinging his bisento into the incoming clubs path.
"Die Whitebeard!" Kaido matched the cry, bringing the Kanabo down with great strength and smashing it into Whitebeard's bisento. The two mighty weapons collided with a resounding bang, it seemed as if a meteor had struck the earth. The entire battlefield shook as bolts of black lightning erupted out from the point of impact, filling the sky as the Titan's clashed. They stood their ground, their weapons fighting against each other for dominance.
"Now's my chance!" Linlin took advantage of the situation and flew in on Zeus, heading towards Whitebeard. Big Mom had intended to have Kaido distract Whitebeard so she could finish the old fool off. With Zeus's speed, Linlin covered the distance and attacked Whitebeard from the left, swinging Napoleon down at the Yonko in an attempt to bisect him.
"Ikkoku! (Mighty Nation)!"
Linlin's sword transformed into its longsword form in mid-swing. The weapon came down with such force it generated powerful shockwaves that boosted its mighty power.
"Die!" Linlin attacked with the intent to kill, releasing a strong murderous intent. Kaido's eyes glowed red with murder at Linlin daring to take advantage of the situation. Whitebeard, however, appeared unaffected, a smirk appearing on his face instead. Power erupted from the old man's body as his left hand let go of the bisento, the strength with which he held the weapon not waning in the slightest. The act surprised Kaido as he felt the strength of Whitebeard's one arm easily matching his own.
Whitebeard's fist glowed white as he punched out with the power of the Gura Gura no Mi. Powerful vibrations rippled through the air shattering space the fist smashing against Linlin's longsword. A loud boom sounded out as black lightning poured out from the point of impact. Whitebeard effortlessly held back against both his fellow Yonko, meeting their attacks without fear. Edward seemed unphased as he held them off; instead beginning to laugh. Newgate's biceps flexed, and a powerful earthquake poured out into the air with such force it knocked the two Yonko back, sending them sliding away.
"How exhilarating! Gurarara!" Whitebeard was excited and getting more so with every passing blow.
Whitebeard moved to take the offence and attacked Kaido. With a mighty roar, Whitebeard punched his left fist, slamming it into Kaido's outstretched left hand as the beast attempted to block. A loud bang sounded as the force behind the strike sent Kaido flying back, his feet digging trenches in the ground as he flew. Not missing a beat, Whitebeard advanced on Linlin, swinging his massive bisento. A clang sounded as Linlin blocked with her longsword, but as a shockwave tore through the air and twisted the fabric of the world the woman was sent flying back.
Spinning his bisento Whitebeard slammed the poles end into the ground, breaking it apart and releasing a terrifying battle cry. Waves poured out from Edward's body, reshaping the world, twisting and turning it as if collapsing it in on itself.
"I will defeat both of you!" Roared Newgate, declaring his challenge on both his fellow Yonko, intending to take them on all alone. Naruto hadn't even moved and was standing in the background arms folded; he was focusing elsewhere.
Kaido sneered and steadied himself; Whitebeard didn't seem weakened like the rumours, either that or he was putting on a show.
"You're already on your last leg Newgate! Why fight it. Or are you making this your final stand?" Spat out the Beast King, his grip tightening on his Kanabo, ready to attack. Linlin too climbed to her feet, her sword reshaping itself into a long cutlass.
"Do you think you can take us both on you old fool! Have you gone senile in your old age?" Mocked Big Mom as she floated on top of Zeus, flames pouring around Napoleon with the help of Prometheus. Whitebeard merely snorted at the two of them; they didn't know he had recovered from his illness and thanks to Naruto, his body had regained some of the vitality it possessed in his youth.
Whitebeard, while physically still in his late sixties, reaching his seventies, had the vitality he possessed while in his forties. Edward's body was brimming with the power of his prime, and he was eager to test it out.
"Try me! This day has been a long time coming Linlin, Kaido. Today we'll see just who is the strongest out of us three!" Gripping the bisento Whitebeard charged Kaido head-on. The Yonko released a mighty battle cry as he closed the distance and swung the polearm.
"We'll see with your death Whitebeard! I'll crush your head like a grape!" Kaido growled and swung his Kanabo into the polearm's path meeting the blade with his own.
The two weapons collided with one another with a loud ear-shattering bang as the ground beneath them broke apart. The force of the blow sent both fighters sliding back. Linlin flew in again and swung the cutlass, aiming for Whitebeard's neck. Kaido joined the fray, closing in and swinging the massive Kanabo downwards with the intent of pulverising Newgate.
"Is that the best you can do?" With a laugh, Whitebeard thrust his bisento forward with one hand, a white glow encasing the blade. Tremors echoed into the world, as vibrations poured out from the weapon meeting both Yonko head-on. The vibrations collided with the Kanabo and Cutlass with a resounding boom, carrying enough strength to knock both weapons back and stopping them in their tracks.
"What!" Both Yonko seemed surprised that Newgate was able to stop their attacks simultaneously, and with just one arm. Stomping his right foot into the ground, Whitebeard roared and punched out with his left fist. Shockwaves erupted from the mighty fist sending vibrations out into the air; an earthquake struck Linlin and Kaido knocking them back and making the entire island shake. The surrounding ocean churned violently as large tidal waves crashed against the island's shores.
"Gurararara!" Laughing loudly, Whitebeard jumped upwards and descended on Kaido, swinging his bisento downwards with one hand as he fell. Kaido jumped back to avoid the attack, the blade striking the earth where he had once stood. The island shook from the power of the strike, the ground breaking apart and destroying the battlefield.
Naruto channelled chakra back into Uzu no Kuni, rapidly repairing the damage and stabilising the island.
"Oi Whitebeard, watch it would ya. If you break my island, you'll have to pay for it!" Naruto shouted jokingly towards his friend, getting a hearty laugh from the old pirate.
"I guess I better not destroy your home, after all, where else will I be able to drink such heavenly sake with my new drinking buddy!" Whitebeard yelled out, giving another laugh as he ripped the bisento out of the ground.
"What do you think this is?" Barked out Kaido, annoyed at the banter between the two, they didn't seem to care about the danger. The two seemed to be openly mocking not only him but Linlin, the way they looked at them; it was as if they didn't even view them as threats!
"Just a shit show, in my opinion. What was even the point in coming Kaido?" Asked Naruto as he took a few steps forward, appearing to float in the air completely disregarding the laws of gravity.
"Were you trying to take advantage of the chaos to finish not only my people and I off, but also Whitebeard and Linlin? Take out your competition? If so, you made a mess of it. So you might as well bring out your friends, no use hiding." Naruto raised his right index finger and pointed to a random spot to his right, eyes glowing as a tear in space began to rip open.
A pained moan sounded as a dark liquid splattered onto the ground. The strange black-coloured blood stained the earth as numerous figures fell to the ground, their hiding spot having been torn asunder. There were eight figures in total, now standing amongst each other in the open.
In the middle was a six-foot-tall figure with sinister yellow eyes, dressed in a black robe-like cloak. Standing on the right of that one was a five-foot-tall figure wearing a dark purple-hooded cloak. On the left stood an eight-foot-tall figure in a red cloak, both had light-green eyes. Whitebeard easily recognised the three as the ones who had attacked his crew to stop them from assisting Uzushio. However, accompanying them were two new cloaked figures. A figure in a navy-blue cloak with turquoise eyes stood at five-foot and five inches tall next to the one in red, and a figure with purple eyes and a yellow jumpsuit which showed a distinct female figure stood in a hooded topaz-yellow robe next to the one in purple.
Standing behind the five robed figures were three Whitebeard recognised. On the right was an extremely tall and muscular individual wearing a metallic jaw mask. On the left was an even taller man wearing mostly dark clothes that covered his body completely, including a mask over his face and a spiked hat with goggles on. He had a pair of large dark wings on his back resembling angel wings, with flames flowing from the back of his head and a large katana on his right hip. In the middle was a massive man with an extremely thick build wearing a pair of extremely large, vertically striped and high-waisted pants that reached up to just below his chest. His head was hunched forward and was, save for chin folds, indistinguishable from his massive neck due to a nonexistent jawline. He had a distinct Fu Manchu moustache and a sword on each hip.
"Jack, King and Queen." Whitebeard's eyes narrowed as he called out to the three All-Stars under Kaido. King was easily as strong as Katakuri, as were both Queen and Jack. As for the other five present, Whitebeard had felt the strength of three of them, and they were easily on the same level as the All-Stars. As for the other two new arrivals, Whitebeard wasn't too sure on their strength but estimated they were of a similar level.
"Whitebeard, good to see you again." The figure in black spoke in his demonic voice, a decaying hand wiping something underneath the hood, revealing a trickle of black blood on his corpse-like flesh. It appeared Naruto had wounded the one called Munashi.
"So you are the ones who attacked Whitebeard, huh." Naruto's eyes glared daggers at the group, analysing the new arrivals and sizing them up. As he inspected the five in cloaks, he felt a strange twang in his core, as if his chakra was pulling on something, but he couldn't tell what.
"Strange. I feel an odd familiarity." The reaction slowed down as Naruto calmed his reserves, his chakra had started to go wild but was quickly suppressed. Naruto couldn't place it, but he was feeling a strange connection with the hooded intruders.
"Uzumaki Naruto, we have heard a lot about you. The so-called Child of Prophecy, son of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina. Student of Hatake Kakashi and Jiraiya. Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Youko (Nine-Tailed Demon Fox). Toad Sage of Mount Myouboku! " Spat out Munashi in a smug tone, cloak flowing behind him as if possessing a mind of its own. The words he spoke caught Naruto off guard, eyes widening in surprise.
"How do you know that?" Asked Naruto, appearing visibly cool and calm, but on the inside was stunned. There were very few in this day and age, outside of Uzushiogakure no Sato that knew the truth. Whitebeard and Robin were two of those individuals; another had been Gol. D Roger, who was now deceased.
"I know many things about you, Naruto. Father often spoke fondly of you. You will not interfere with his grand plans. I shall see to it!" Munashi launched forward, flying through the air and heading straight towards the immortal Sage. His coattails slashed down at Naruto, releasing two dark grey sword slashes at the Kage. Naruto's eyes narrowed, the slash marks were pure space compressed into physical form. Raising a hand, the Sage released a pulse of chakra meeting the blades head-on and shattering them.
A cloak tail shot towards the Immortal, stabbing towards his right eye. Naruto raised a hand, catching the coat tail in his bare hand and tightening his grip, eliciting a wince of pain from the cloaked figure. Naruto took note of this before swinging the cloaked figure into the ground with a loud bang. The other four cloaked figures launched into action, pouncing towards the Sage. The one in navy blue pulled out from their sleeves a pair of chain whips with spear point tips. With a flick of their wrists, the two weapons flew forward, twisting through the air and wrapping around the immortal's arms, the tips biting into his shoulders.
Naruto showed no reaction and instead grabbed the chains, yanking them back and throwing the figure up into the air before bringing them down into the ground with a powerful slam. The ground broke on the impact as dust flew upwards. The tall figure in red spread open his sleeved arms, giant blood-covered roots exploding out from within and growing towards Naruto. The one in purple jumped up above the Sage and breathed down, releasing a large noxious poison cloud that melted everything that came into its path. Swinging his right hand into the path of the two attacks, Naruto smashed into them with a backhand. A pulse of chakra erupted outwards creating a dome-like shape that extinguished the poison gas and broke the incoming roots apart.
Naruto's senses kicked in as the figure in yellow appeared behind him in a blinding flash of light and kicked out quickly with her left foot. The foot rapidly sped up, transforming into a beam of light and slamming into the Sage's back, launching him up into the air. The woman transformed into particles of light and launched upwards, appearing above the Immortal and kicking down with her right leg, propelling Naruto into the ground with a bang. The force of the kick caused the earth to collapse in on the Sage, creating a human crater.
The rubble was pushed aside as Naruto stood up, dusting his Kage robes off, appearing unharmed from the attacks. Instead, he appeared mildly confused as he watched the woman, he thought it was a woman, in the yellow cloak land on the edge of the crater.
"You know, that reminds me of that Admiral I fought, Borsalino I think his name was." Spoke the Immortal out loud. The woman didn't answer, choosing instead to remain silent.
"I must say, you feel a little off like there's something fake, artificial about you. All five of you seem a little off." The Sage rattled off to no one in particular. The energy signatures of the five hooded figures felt disturbing, fake, but real at the same time. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something wasn't right. He almost felt some kind of kinship with them.
"Kaido feels off as well, but not as much as these five do. I can't put my finger on it." Naruto mused inside his head as he glanced at the five robed figures and even took a side glance at Kaido who has his hands full with Whitebeard.
"There is much you are ignorant of Child of Prophecy." Spat Munashi as he folded in beside his sibling, coattails rising upwards and shifting the space around him. His sleeves folded back, revealing the decaying black flesh beneath that seemed rotten to the core, a truly horrifying sight to behold.
"Then why don't you enlighten me." Responded the Immortal as his eyes moved between the five cloaked figures watching them like a hawk.
"In due time."
Naruto's right hand twitched; something felt off about this guy, Munashi if he recalled, that was what Whitebeard had said his name was. Kicking off, the immortal sage appeared right in front of the strange cloaked individual, a hand reaching forward as if to unmask him. Yellow eyes glowed sinisterly as a black hole materialised where Munashi's face was and aimed to suck Naruto in. The Sage snorted in amusement, discarding the illusion that was his cerulean blue. The Rinne-Sharingan came to life and unleashed a blast of repressed power that smashed through the black hole, tearing it apart.
Munashi's figure went flying back, a trail of blood black escaping from the black hole that was his hood. The blood splattered across the ground as the being came to a halt, floating in midair.
"The Rinne-Sharingan, my first time seeing it in person. The eyes of a God, fitting." Munashi couldn't help but comment in his thoughts. He could feel the power of those godly eyes.
"Again, you've made me bleed!" Anger reflected in those yellow hues before a giant shadow appeared above him.
"Then you won't like me brat!" Roared the every furious Whitebeard having moved with such speed it shocked all those present except one, Naruto. Whitebeard's fist slammed down on top of Munashi's body, ploughing him into the ground with a loud bang. The land shook and crumbled as the demonic figure was buried into the dirt.
Space split open a distance away from the aged pirate as a crack opened up and Munashi fell out, falling to what would be his knees and puking up another ball of blood. He had just managed to escape, but the powers of the Gura Gura no Mi coursed through his body viciously attacking his internal organs.
"Slippery little bastard, aren't you." Whitebeard spat while climbing to his full height and cracking his knuckles.
"Your fight is with me, Whitebeard!" Kaido roared from behind, charging towards Whitebeard, his body transforming. The Yonko's body began to expand in size; dark scales grew over his skin and dark swirling clouds pouring out from his body. With a monstrous appearance easily dwarfing Whitebeard, Kaido attacked swinging his Kanabo downwards, intending to flatten his foe.
"Bring it!" Whitebeard met the challenge head-on and swung his left fist into the path of the Kanabo, intending to use nothing but pure brute force, channelling neither the powers of the Gura Gura no Mi or Busoshoku Haki into his fist.
"Have you gone insane old fool! Wororororo!" Laughed Kaido, happily watching as Whitebeard dared to meet his weapon with nothing but flesh and bone. It was suicidal, even for a Yonko. Kaido boasted incredible power and could easily transverse the Grandline without even fearing his fellow Yonko. The Kanabo swung with the intent to destroy and struck the incoming fist with a loud bang.
Black lightning erupted from the point of impact as the two kings collided. The single fist of flesh resisted the might of Kaido's Kanabo, showing not a quiver as it easily withstood the might of the monster's attack.
"Impossible!" Kaido was baffled by the sight; he hadn't expected Whitebeard to be able to resist his attack.
"There's a lot that's changed!" Whitebeard gave a battle cry and grabbed the Kanabo with his bare hands, ripping it from Kaido's grip. Using the momentum, Whitebeard's bisento came swinging around from the other side, smashing into Kaido's chest and drawing a small slither of blood, sending the Beast King flying back across the land straight into the Queen Mama Chanter. The ship shook violently as Kaido tore a giant hole in its keel.
"You've gotten stronger, but how!" Linlin was baffled by the sight before her. Big Mom had witnessed Kaido and Whitebeard clash many times, never had the old pirate ever been able to block one of Kaido's hybrid enhanced strikes with his bare fist before. There was a reason Kaido had once been referred to as the Strongest Creature and Whitebeard the Strongest Man; both were on equal grounds. But now something had changed.
"Gurararararara! You've noticed you old hag! Thanks to my friend the Uzukage, I'm better than ever and as healthy as a horse!" Whitebeard laughed as he began to jump up and down on the spot, stretching his limbs and flexing his muscles to show off his newfound health. What neither Linlin or Kaido could know was that Whitebeard during his stay in Uzushiogakure had been having regular sparing bouts with the Uzukage, either with the original or a clone.
"Sparring with Naruto has helped to improve my strength by leaps and bounds. I feel that I will be able to surpass my limitations and continue to grow stronger" Whitebeard looked down at his free hand and clenched it. The Yonko had originally thought he had met his limits and wouldn't be able to grow any stronger, but thanks to the Uzukage's help he was surpassing his boundaries like in his youth.
"This is disturbing news." The cloaked figure in purple was shocked to hear this and couldn't help but turn to look at the Uzukage who was calm as could be.
"Father will probably ignore this and view it as a minor inconvenience. But Whitebeard is one of the few who can threaten his rule. He should not be so easily overlooked." Tasatsu's green hues flickered with doubt as he couldn't help but be worried. "For someone who doesn't carry the Will of D in his name, Whitebeard is still a major threat."
"So what!" A roar carried from the Mama Charter as pieces of debris were tossed aside and the ship screamed in agonising pain. Kaido stumbled out of the hole, relatively unharmed except for the small nick on his chest.
"You've gotten stronger? So have I Whitebeard. Today I will show that I am stronger! My pride demands it!" Kaido stomped onto the beach and retrieved his Kanabo, lifting it onto his right shoulder.
"Jack, Queen, King and the rest of you failed experiment, deal with that damn Kage!" Spat out Kaido, barking orders not only to his all-stars but also to the five cloaked figures. The one in red sneered under her hood and released a bloody red mist into the air filled with murderous intent.
"Do not forget Kaido, you're the same as us!" retorted Akuhei with venom in her voice, she was annoyed by the Yonko's words.
"I'm nothing like you artificial dolls. Created from nothing. Even without Father, I was destined to rule over the Beasts of the World!" Kaido roared back at the woman Akuhei. They may have all had similar origins at the hands of Father, but there was one difference between Kaido and them, he had already been destined to be a King.
"Please, you were nothing before Father found you. Just a lowly unborn beast that was struggling to live." Akuhei snorted in what was amusement as she bickered with the Yonko.
"Quiet before I smash you into a pulp!" Kaido bit back, the mention of his past was upsetting the Yonko. He hated having anything to do with Father and his creations, even if Father was his father too, in a way. Just the thought of his past and what Father turned him into, from what he originally once was, was enough to send him into a berserk rage.
"Enough bickering." A soft angelic voice chimed as the woman in yellow flashed over between Kaido and Akuhei, appearing through multiple beams of light.
"Yes, sister," Akuhei spoke respectfully to her sister in yellow, knowing full well she stood no chance against her. In terms of seniority, Munashi was the oldest of the siblings, followed by both her brother in grey and her sister in yellow.
"Linlin either keep sitting on your ass or help me with Whitebeard!" Barked out Kaido before charging ahead without giving Linlin a chance to answer him. Kaido was angry and needed to vent said anger by killing Whitebeard.
"Just don't get in my way you thing." Big Mom snorted but didn't object and flew towards Whitebeard intending to assist Kaido. Linlin was one of the few who knew a part of Kaido's history and wasn't afraid to call him a thing, as that was what he was, a thing. However, if the two of them combined powers then they would be able to beat Whitebeard, or so she believed.
"Go to hell!" Jack didn't need any more orders and bull-rushed the Uzukage, drawing a pair of large sickles from his belt and swinging them around like a wild animal.
"Too slow." Naruto moved around each swing with little effort, to him Jack was moving in slow motion. The ground beneath the Sage began to break apart as dozens of blood-soaked roots broke free and began to coil around his body. The roots constricted, restraining Naruto and restricting his movements in an attempt to make him easier to hit. With a snort, the Immortal released a burst of chakra from his body that disintegrated the roots. He had utilised the Jinton, or Dust Release, from Onoki to break the roots down on a molecular level.
Two hands shot up grabbing Jack's wrists and tightened, making the pirate grunt in pain. With a smirk, Naruto drew the pirate in and rammed his knee into the man's stomach, releasing him as soon as the strike hit. Jack went soaring backwards as King launched forward, the wings on his back expanding, taking on a more leathery appearance. King's speed drastically increased as he drew his sword attacking with one swift motion.
A hand flew up grasping the incoming blade, the Eternal Sage held the blade firmly in his right hand and made a Rasengan with his left. The spiralling sphere ploughed its way into King's chest, launching him back through the air with a loud bang, drilling him deep into the ground. A shadow appeared from behind Naruto as Queen made his move, both swords drawn and swinging down to turn him into sashimi. With little effort, the Sage spun around, his right foot connecting with Queen's right cheek and tossing the giant man aside.
A flash of yellow filled Naruto's vision with a thick purple mist beginning to surround him decaying everything it touched. A dozen swords made of pure light materialised in front of him, intending to run him through. A black hole came into existence behind him, intending to engulf him and everything. At the same time, a thick growth of blood-covered roots tore the ground apart and rose upwards to cut off all escape.
The Rinne-Sharingan gleamed with a murderous twinkle as a foreign energy tried to pierce through his mental walls and into his psyche, reduced to a tingling sensation by the power of his eyes. Chakra poured into the immortal's eyes as a large transparent cube of chakra erupted from his body expanding out and tearing apart the roots, poison, black hole and light swords.
"Jinton, what a pain." Akuhei, the one in purple, said, the level of annoyance she felt was clear by her tone of voice.
"I'm just full of surprises." Remarked the Eternal Sage with a foxy grin, at the moment he was playing with his opponents. His eyes flared up again when the tingling sensation returned in force, the foreign energy once again trying to penetrate his mental walls. Locking onto the signature Naruto turned towards the other cloak wearing individual, the one in Navy Blue. The figure was standing away from the battlefield, their turquoise eyes glowing a faint red matching the red glow around their hands as they stared at him.
"Trying to enter my mind? Foolish effort." Naruto released a pulse of chakra directing it at the figure, hitting them with full force. The pulse struck as the figure released a dainty cry and was tossed up into the air, hitting the ground with a loud thud. The cloak parted revealing a full female figure in tight navy blue jeans and black crop top.
"I think it's time I rip those cloaks away and see who or what you are."
Clasping his hands together, Naruto separated them and a puff of smoke appeared in the air. Reaching into the smoke the Sage retrieved an item and swung it out to the right, impaling the tip into the dirt. His left hand followed reaching back into the veil, retrieving a covered object and slamming it into the earth with enough force to break the ground. Naruto's right hand held a massive greatsword longer than he was and twice as wide with a circle at the top and a curve near the handle. The Sage's left holding a large weapon covered in bandages with a skull on the end of the handle.
"Two of The Legendary Seven Swords of the Mist, belonging to Hoshigaki Kisame and Momochi Zabuza, Samehada (Sharkskin) and the Kubikiribocho (Decapitating Carving Knife), so they were in your possession." Munashi greedily eyed the two swords of legend.
"You know an awful lot, don't you. I'm going to enjoy prying it all from your heads!" Naruto exploded into action, darting towards Munashi, gripping both blades intending to take him out. Samehada swung through the air, bandages unwrapping mid-swing to reveal rows of sharp blue scales. Not to be outdone, the tails of Munashi's coat entered the sword's path and blocked it with a loud bang. A joyful growl escaped the sword as it began to shiver and grind against the cloak.
A cry of pain escaped Munashi's lips blood dripping down from the coattails as the fabric was torn away like flesh. The figure retreated, folding into the void and stepping out of a black hole quite a distance away. The end of the left coat tail was torn away and looked like mincemeat, dripping black blood down onto the ground.
"That's just messed up." Naruto raised his right eye at what had transpired, he had seen a lot of weird shit in his days, but this took the cake. A roar drew Naruto's focus as Jack came stampeding towards him, the pirate's body-transforming as he grew two large tusks, a long trunk and his body becoming covered in brown fur. Jack swung his massive trunk intending to smash Naruto into the ground with one blow. Giving a snort the Sage swung Samehada into the trunk blocking the incoming appendage.
Kubikiribocho swung upwards, clanging with a large katana as King flew in from the right and attempted to catch Naruto off guard. The two pirates pushed down, but Naruto's feet didn't budge as he was firmly fixed to the ground, able to hold both off with ease.
Across the battlefield, Whitebeard laughed with glee as he swung his bisento, easily deflecting Kaido's Kanabo and Linlin's Cutlass at the same time, releasing black lightning on contact. Whitebeard moved with the vitality of someone half his age twirling and swinging the bisento with one hand, every impact creating, shockwaves and lightning storms. Linlin was engulfed in flames as she utilised the powers of Prometheus, she wanted to incinerate Whitebeard. Kaido was using his hybrid form to press the aged Yonko but was met only with failure. With every blow, the three competed in a test of might showing off the reason they were called the Four Emperors of the Sea.
As the two Yonko continued their combined efforts, Whitebeard found the pressure growing continuously. Even with his newfound strength, fighting against bother Linlin and Kaido while they were serious was still a struggle for him. Digging his feet into the ground, Whitebeard channelling the powers of his devil fruit into the bisento swung it into the path of an incoming attack. The blade struck Linlin's flaming sword and Kaido's Kanabo with a loud bang. The world-destroying power shattered the surrounding space knocking all three Yonko backwards.
"Gurararara! I can do this all day you brats!" Whitebeard was one of the oldest of the Yonko, though there was only a couple of years between him and Linlin, but to him, she was still just a brat, as for Kaido he was a mystery. Impaling his bisento into the ground, Whitebeard slammed his fists together, creating white orbs around them; deciding to settle things with his fists.
Stomping forward Whitebeard assaulted Linlin first, swinging his right fist and smashing it into Poseidon as Big Mom tried to block. A crack began forming in the Homie's edge, making it cry out in pain as a shockwave launched Linlin back. Not stopping their Whitebeard moved with astounding speed, becoming a blur and attacked Kaido. Right fist smashed against Kaido's own as the Beast Yonko met the blow head-on. The two fists colliding released an electrical storm on impact that shook the oceans around Uzu no Kuni. A turbulent storm began to form above the two fighters staring out from the centre of the fists. The storm grew as the sky turned black, creating gale-force wind.
Not missing a beat, Whitebeard assaulted Kaido with a barrage of vibration empowered punches. The blows collided with Kaido's body, releasing loud resounding thuds as if someone was banging loudly on a metal door. The sound was so overpowering it rumbled in everyone's ears like the pounding of war drums. Kaido's body shook, but he refused to budge, heels digging into the ground, he raised the massive Kanabo swinging it down onto Whitebeard's head. The blow landed with a resounding thump but didn't appear to phase Whitebeard at all, even as a trickle of blood fell down his forehead.
"Gekishin (Severe Earthquake)!" A mighty blow landed against Kaido's chest as Busoshoku Haki spread out from under the point of impact to protect Kaido's organs. An earthquake flooded into Kaido's body as the fist was releasing devastating shockwaves. The air formed cracks that rapidly spread as the ground beneath them broke apart, launching Kaido back from the blow but easily came to a halt three meters away and swung his massive Kanabo.
The Kanabo landed and smashed against Whitebeard's back, pummelling him into the ground. Whitebeard's hands hit the ground as he supported the weight of the Kanabo and pushed back climbing back to his feet. Whitebeard stood proud unwilling to kneel before anyone. There were only two people in his lifetime Whitebeard would ever kneel to, Gol D. Roger and Uzumaki Naruto.
Whitebeard crossed his arms over and coated them with quake bubbles, before swinging them out to the sides smashing both fists against the air. Cracks spread out from the impact making the entire world shake as the ocean stirred. Vibrations travelled through the air releasing powerful quakes out from Whitebeard's body that blew both Kaido and Linlin away. The Kanabo cracked as it was thrown up into the air and crashed into the ground away from its owner.
"Pop's sure has gotten strong-yoi." Commented Marco from afar watching the battle unfold. He had retreated to a safe distance accompanied by Jozu, Vista, Suzuka and Yamato.
"This is not a battle we can enter." Yamato gulped at the sight; he could barely see anything; everyone was moving so fast. It was shocking to see just how strong the elites of this world was.
"I have to get stronger." Yamato clenched his fists in determination.
"It's terrifying." Spoke Suzuka who may have appeared calm, but wasn't so much on the inside. The woman was sweating beneath her mask and goosebumps were covering her body. A shiver went down the woman's spine just thinking about the monsters that exist in this world.
Blood sprayed through the air creating a thick blanket as roots were shaved apart under the blade of Samehada. Tasatsu slid back blood dripping from inside the sleeves of his cloak, the tall figure's chest was rising up and down as they panted heavily. Naruto stood in the distant, blades swinging through the air deflecting attacks from King and Jack, each collision echoing with a loud clang. A third figure joined the fray, Queen rushing forward swinging his twin swords. The flurry of steel left afterimages in their wake as Naruto danced around the blades, swinging his own to counter them with ease. Shockwaves rippling through the air from each collision as the Sage released a hearty laugh.
"You've picked up a few skills." Munashi couldn't help but comment from the back as he watched Naruto fend off attacks from all three all-stars.
"I was never much of a swordsman in my youth, but you pick up a few things when you've lived as long as I have," Naruto commented as he continued to defend, swinging the two greatswords as if they were feathers. Ultimately the Sage still preferred the use of his fists in battle.
"Useless the lot of you!" Akuhei screamed like a harpy as she drew out a long chain whip from her left sleeve. Gripping the handle and flicking her wrist she sent the whip flying towards the Sage. Naruto tilted his head letting it fly past, the whip coiled wrapping around his neck and constricted with spikes jutting out from the sides. Pulling on the end, Akuhei intended to rip Naruto's head off but found the chain wouldn't budge. A hand of golden chakra was extending from Naruto's back and was latching onto the chain, keeping it in place.
Pulling on the chain, Naruto drew Akuhei in and threw her into King, knocking him back. Keeping his grip he directed the chain as it unwrapped from his neck. Still attached to the chain, Akuhei was swung around like a rag doll used as a bludgeoning weapon, ramming into Jack the chain wrapping around the two. The two turned into a ball and chain as Naruto spun them over his head eliciting cries from them both before he slammed them down into the ground crashing on top of Queen shoving all three into the dirt.
Ears twitched as Naruto stepped back. A red blur flew past his face and impaled the ground; it was a sharp red dagger. Turning to the source, the cloaked figure in navy blue was gripping a set of red throwing knives between slender fingers. Without a word, she threw them towards the Sage. The knives curved through the air aimed for his vital points. Snorting, Naruto swung the Kubikiribocho into the knives path, shattering them on impact.
"Isolda what are you doing! Hurry up and break into his mind already!" roared Akuhei as she climbed out of her crater, spitting up a ball of blood.
"Something is blocking me; I can't pierce his mental walls." The one in navy blue spoke, their voice was distinctly female with a haughty undertone but had a musical ring making her words pleasant on the ears.
"Use from your reserves, your powers are useless against him." Barked out Munashi in an annoyed huff and reaching into his right sleeve, removing a long rapier and tossed it into the air. Tasatsu jumped up and grabbed the weapon, a pair of tree roots extended from beneath the cloak and piercing the ground being used to slingshot him at Naruto. The rapier was rapidly thrust through the air transforming into a storm of swords that rained down on the Immortal Sage.
"Is that all?" Naruto smirked and swung Kubikirobocho showing off his strength. The greatsword transformed into a blur leaving behind hundreds of afterimages as it battered against the incoming rapier. With every blow, vibration travelled down Tasatsu's arm shaking his entire body.
Isolda raised her hands in front of her; a third eye opening up on her forehead and glowed grey. A howling roar escaped from the eye as a black shadow began to emerge. The shadow transformed into a giant clawed hand with fur black as night. Four sword-like talons struck the ground as the arm pulled itself free from its confines, along with it the rest of its body. A large beast straight out of a nightmare emerged.
The beast was tall towering ten feet it had five arms in total each longer than the rest of its body. Only two arms possessed four long sword-like claws, the other three stretching from its back were armed with a single scythe blade, not unlike a praying mantis. It's lower half resembled that of an arachnid with sixteen long-bladed legs. Its mouth was long filled with four rows of sharp teeth, drool dripped to the ground. The earth burned as acid bore holes into it. The creature released a terrifying roar as its legs scurried heading straight towards Naruto.
"Not even a face a mother would love" Naruto commented at the ugly creature before him.
Tasatsu retreated as the beast closed in, it's back three arms drawing down to impale the Sage. Samehada swung into the limbs path, battering them aside, forcing the creature back. The beast hissed spitting his acidic saliva. The Sage didn't bother retreating as the acid splashed onto his shoulders and began burning away at his body. Kubikirobocho swung without mercy; slicing the left-back limb in two, making green blood spray through the air. The lower piece flew through the air only to dissolve into black particles. The beast shrieked as it stumbled back, blood hitting the ground and melting it.
"Acidic saliva and blood? An odd creature. Strangely alive, yet at the same time, not." Naruto remarked as he examined the beast. The wounds to his body began to stitch back together as chakra like strings entwined with each other. Samehada swung out, shattering a pair of knives made out of light particles. Rods of light pierced the ground around Naruto, forming a cage boxing him in. Akuhei appeared to the right exhaling a thick cloud of noxious purple gas filling the cage melting the light bars and earth.
"Starting to bore me." Naruto swung the Kubikirobochi, channelling chakra through the blade and slashed his surroundings. A blade of chakra extended from the greatsword cleaving through the bars causing them to break down, before hitting the poison gas. The gas dissipated into nothing as if it never existed.
The earth shook as a roar drew Naruto's focus. The All-Stars were charging towards him once more their bodies transforming as they grew in size. Jack transformed into a colossal woolly mammoth, King into a Pteranodon and Queen in a towering Brachiosaurus.
"Ancient Zoans and three, how rare," Naruto muttered as if amused by their appearances. Tossing the two greatswords into the air, they vanished in puffs of smoke. Hands reached out and impacted against the stampeding forms of Queen and Jack. One hand rested on Jack's giant trunk, the other Queen's large neck, stopping the two in their place. Golden chakra hands extended from the Sage's back latching onto King's wings halting him in mid-air. Gripping tightly, the arms swung the flying reptile into his comrades, knocking them back.
The Sage reached out into the air with his right hand; chakra surrounded the limb as his fingers vanished, disappearing into another space. Pulling back the Sage retrieved a new sword. The weapon was an oversized greatsword, three metres in length surpassing the length of even the Kubikiribocho. The sword took the shape of a curved nine ring sabre with nine large black rings on the back of its blade. The sword had no other distinct features besides its size and nine rings.
"Why don't you all be my guinea pigs and help me test out my new sabre."
Naruto gripped the handle and readied the weapon. Kicking off the immortal charged the all-stars and gave a lazy swing of the giant blade. The sabre swung through the air and began to glow a shade of gold as Naruto channelled his chakra into it. The ring on top lit up as the blade struck Jack's massive tusks. The Mammoth Zoan was thrown backwards getting tossed around like a rag doll, unable to withstand the sabres overbearing strength. The nine ring sabre moved, turning into a blur as a whirlwind erupted from its edge, blood splattering the ground as numerous gashes appeared all over Jack's giant body.
Beams of light lit up the sky and came crashing down on Naruto. The Sage, in turn, swung the giant sword into the beams. The beams of light appeared to be absorbed by the blade, sinking into its metal as the ring at the very top lit up changing from black to gold. Pointing the tip of the blade towards Jack's bleeding body, the tip of the sword lit before the same beams of light it absorbed were fired. The beams struck Jack's gigantic frame, battering him without mercy, piercing through flesh and filling him with holes.
Jack's entire body shook, legs barely able to keep him standing as he reverted to his human form. The All-star collapsed to his knees, a pool of blood forming beneath him, his appearance a blood-stained mess. Jack wretched and spat up a wad of blood, a light beam had punctured his right lung,
"Absorption and reflection?" Tasatsu took a step back, blood dripping from his sleeves. The strange nine ring sword he had never heard of, it wasn't something Father had ever told them about.
"So what it's just some fancy sword, I'll just melt it!" Akuhei spat out, a purple mist rolling out from her hood, words full of venom. The woman launched towards the Sage before Tasatsu could stop her. The cloak she wore quivered and expanded as a roar penetrated the air. Four clawed fingers extending from the sleeves as three long reptilian tails covered in dark purple scales grew from underneath.
The cloak blended in turning into darkening scales as three elongated necks extended out from where her face once was. A shadow loomed over the immortal sage as a vicious beast with three heads and three tails loomed over him. A thick purple mist was rolling off the monstrous creature's body dissolving the terrain. The beast was nightmarish with serrated fangs and two sets of curved horns sticking out from the side each head. A long spine drew down each neck with bone spikes jutting out.
"Hoooo? What manner of beast is this?" Inquired the Sage eyeing the massive beast, it was easily twenty feet tall and was glaring down at him with three sets of noxious green eyes.
"Render the flesh from his bones!" The head-on the right spoke up in an overbearing tone.
"Melt him down!" The head-on the left barked back in a gravelly tone.
"Yes, we shall tear him limb from limb!" The middle head spoke up, its voice matching Akuhei's, but was a much deeper tone.
"Yes tear him, rip, shred, destroy! Leave nothing left! Eat his flesh! Melt his bones!" The other two heads agreed with the main.
"That's gotta be annoying." Commented the Sage as he gripped the curved sword preparing himself. The giant three-headed beast rampaged towards him, tails tearing the ground apart as they moved. Giant jaws opened as all three heads spewed out a toxic stream of poisonous gas. Everything the streams hit melted away, nothing was left alive as they fused into a giant overbearing wall.
Naruto swung his sword towards the incoming poisonous gas without fear. The blade touched the toxic mist, and the moment it did lit up with a golden aura. The second ring began to glow sucking the gas into the sword's metal. As quickly as it arrived, the gas disappeared, swallowed up by the nine ringed sword.
"Attack together!" Munashi floated up into the air seeming to absorb all light his coattails slashing down. Munashi was compressing space into physical form creating two crescent moon black blades that sliced down from overhead.
The one in yellow flashed behind the Sage and extended the sleeves of her cloak. The cloak ends lit up as swords of light poured out in droves, quickly turning into one hundred sharp swords. Tasatsu impaled the ground with his hands, making the earth shake and quiver. The ground around Naruto broke apart as five thick blood roots emerged each was comprised of a dozen more wrapped tightly around each other. The beast commanded by Isolda roared rampaging from the left, its limbs rapidly regrowing. The Nightmare swung down with both its primary claws, each glistening in the light of the sun. Akuhei's three heads roared unleashing another thick wave of noxious gas from the front.
"Don't you have any new tricks?" beckoned the Sage as he swung the nine ringed sword, five rings began to light up as a suction force was released. Space shifted around the Sage redirecting all five attacks becoming intercepted by the sabre. All five attacks struck the nine ringed sword together and were absorbed ceaselessly into its blade. Five rings lit up in total turning from black to gold. A total of seven rings were shining brightly.
A beam of light flashed towards Naruto as the one in yellow bounced all over. Fifty rifts in space opened up all around Naruto with the yellow figure moving through them. The yellow figure moved through the rifts in speed, their speed slowly increasing as they transformed into a beam of light. Multiple beams of light extended from the rifts that were surrounding Naruto. With a flick of a sleeve, the rifts suddenly changed their angle, and all were pointing towards Naruto.
A hollow roar bellowed loudly as Tasatsu's body began to grow in size, worm-like ripples appearing beneath his cloak. Roots extended from the sleeves and opened sections of the cloak transforming into four thick limbs forged entirely of roots with branches growing from them. Each limb had five long appendages with long talons shaped from branches. Blood dripped from the limbs forming a pool beneath Tasatsu only to be absorbed by his root-like feet. With a howl his arms extending whipping towards Naruto, multiple roots growing from them forming spear-like tips.
Cold steel cut through the air intercepting the beams and offending limbs as a whirlwind spun around the Sage. Naruto rotated his body, moving on the balls of his heels to swing the blade into the path of all incoming attacks. The remaining rings lit up as the blade absorbed the incoming beams of light and slashed the tree limbs apart. Tasatsu released an ungodly screech like howl as blood poured out from the tree limbs. The remains retreated as the wounds closed up and regrew.
Blood soaked seeds flew through the air originating from the wound. The seeds had a single eye with roots growing from them. The seed used the roots to bury into the ground and grew rapidly using the blood-soaked in the earth. The earth trembled and shook as young trees grew from the soil, nine in total ranging from six to ten feet in height. Each tree had a lone eye sitting at the top and had the appearance of a dead oak with black branches dripping with blood.
"That's new." Commented the Sage, if it were his younger self he would be recoiling in horror. These single-eyed trees were something out of a horror story. However, Naruto could only reveal a satisfied smile even in the face of such grotesque creatures, he had gotten what he wanted. All nine rings on the back of the sword glowed bright gold and detached themselves from the sabre. Once detached, nine new black rings took their place.
The nine golden rings floated around the Sage gathering in a protective formation before they began to change their shape. A golden light grew from their centre, and each manifested into the shape of a three-metre long nine ringed sabre matching the one in Naruto's hand.
"I have to thank you, all of you, for allowing me the chance to test out my new Six Paths Sacred Treasure." Naruto swung the sabre in his hand and commanded the nine floating in the air with a mental order. The nine swords cut through the air and instantly impaled the demonic trees. The trees crumbled away as the nine swords retreated returning to a defensive position around the Sage, covering all angles.
"You've made your Sacred Tools!" Munashi was taken back by the sight of this sabre. The weapon was powerful, godly so. It was able to absorb all incoming attacks, reflect those attacks back at Naruto's enemies and even duplicate itself to produce nine new copies. These copies were then controlled by the Sage to attack and most likely defend. Whether they possessed the same absorption ability as the original, Munashi wasn't keen to test.
"He has fully inherited the abilities of the Sage. Never in our wildest dreams did we think he would go one step beyond and create his tools. Whether they rival, the strength possessed by originals will remain to be seen." Munashi kept his distance from the bizarre sabre, watching it with two beady yellow eyes the uncertainty he felt reflected within.
"Tentaberu Saiba more affectionately known as the Universe Devouring Saber. Anything it touches it greedily consumes and uses to fuel its power!"
Naruto revealed the name of the sabre he carried and parts of its use but didn't go into any more detail than necessary. The Tentaberu Saiba of his Nine Sacred Sage Tools was the strongest offensive item when it came to offensive capabilities. Whereas the Yama Houkai Sao (Mountain Collapsing Rods), which had temporarily given to Vladimir, were the strongest offensive weapon when it came to raw power. The sabre had been based on Samehada's ability to devour chakra then expanded. Unlike Samehada the Tentaberu Saiba could absorb any attacks, absorbing the power into the nine rings on its back. Once all nine rings turned gold, it was able to create nine new swords each with the absorption and reflection ability of the original. However, the nine new swords had one other ability.
"Fly my swords!" Taking command of all nine blades once more, Naruto launched them at his nine opponents, turning them into golden beams, one sailing at each of Naruto's foes.
Munashi disappeared into the void avoiding the incoming sword. Naruto took command of the sword changing its trajectory, sending it towards Akuhei joining its brother. The figure in yellow transformed into a golden beam of light and moved out of the path of the sword. Without a target, it changed course darting towards Tasatsu. The swords impacted against seven different targets, instead of impaling however they detonated. Nine giant explosions went off simultaneously. The three All-stars were caught up in the blasts, two in their zoan forms were able to absorb most of the impact. Jack was thrown through the air like a ragdoll, smoke flowing from his mouth, burns covering his entire body, eyes rolling into the back of his head, consciousness lost.
Tasatsu released a hallowing screech as blood sprayed the air, burns covering his tree-like limbs as he went sliding back. Akuhei's three heads roared in anger, scales falling acidic blood dripping to the ground. The nightmare beast had used itself as a shield to protect its master and had its entire upper half blown to pieces.
"Grr what useless fools, can't they do anything right!" Kaido sneered under his breath, watching his subordinates and the children of Father fail in their battle against the Uzukage.
"Gurarara! Looks like your pawns aren't doing so well Kaido!" Whitebeard bellowed on the other side of the battlefield as the explosions went off. Having personally experienced Naruto's strength first hand, Whitebeard was well aware of the Sage's battle prowess.
"Looks like you and Linlin have bitten off more than you can chew. Why not just give up and go home with your dignity intact before suffering any more humiliation." Whitebeard said with a mocking smile as he twirled his bisento gripping it with both hands and swinging it towards both his fellow Yonko. A heavy wind blew forward tearing the ground apart generated from the pure force of the swing.
"If anyone is going to be humiliated it will be you Whitebeard from your defeat at my hands!" Kaido roared as his body expanded again, fingers transforming into dangerous looking claws as his head become more elongated. Kaido took on the form of a humanoid dragon standing on two legs, standing almost three times his base height. The horns on his head becoming more distinct.
A bright red light began to spill out from Kaido's mouth; flames pouring out from between rows of elongated teeth. With a mighty roar, the hybrid zoan unleashed a tyrannical flame. The torrent of fire poured towards Whitebeard growing to such size it dwarfed him. Linlin roared with Kaido and swung Napoleon unleashing a terrible wave of bright flames. The two attacks poured towards Whitebeard with the intent to turn him to ash.
"Bring as much heat as you want! It won't stop me! Gurararara!" Whitebeard bellowed as he reached out with a free hand, fingers clutching at the air, grabbing it as if it was a blanket. With a strained grunt, Whitebeard pulled on the world, turning it upside down. Everything in front of Whitebeard became reversed as space started to collapse in on itself. The two walls of fire became twisted in mid-air and were flipped upwards, the direction changing creating a blanket of fire covering the sky.
Whitebeard planting his right foot in the ground raised the bisento, holding it like a javelin. Grunting Whitebeard's muscles tensed and he threw it, launching the weapon at Linlin. Tremors poured out from the weapon fracturing the space around it.
Fear reflected in Linlin's eyes as the weapon flew towards her. Gripping Napoleon, the only female Yonko, swung the sword, transforming it into a giant broadsword as big as she was. The broadsword swung in the bisentos path colliding with a loud resounding clang. A chip flew off the homies body, making him scream in pain as he flew out from Linlin's grasp. Linlin flew backwards blood flying from her mouth as she crashed into the ground with a loud thud.
"Gurarara! This isn't even a workout!" Whitebeard stalked forward before going into a full-on run and charging towards Kaido's transformed state. Giving an irritated grumble Kaido charged forward as well.
"I'll make you eat those words Whitebeard!" Kaido's claws gleamed as his body underwent a new transformation becoming serpentine. Kaido's body lifted into the air as clouds began to roll off his glistening scales, thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed in the skies as the pirate transformed into a giant dragon. In this form, Kaido blotched out the sky, had four branch-like horns, four claws on each limb with long moustache and hair that took on a flame-like pattern.
"Perish Whitebeard; I am the Strongest Beast alive!" Kaido roared in his dragon form unleashing a monstrous jet of fire from his mouth. The heat hit Whitebeard who only laughed and made a backhand motion unleashing an overbearing tremor that blew the flames away. Legs bent, and with a powerful leap, Whitebeard jumped up into the air, landing on Kaido's head grabbing him by the horns.
"Fall you pitiful imitation!" Whitebeard grabbing the front horns began to pull, muscles bulging as he groaned with effort. Tremors shook the world as Kaido's entire body spun and Whitebeard flipped him throwing the massive dragon into the earth. The entire island shook and trembled beneath Kaido's massive body.
"Shit!" The ground beneath Yamato and the other shook violently and began to break apart. A large bubble materialised around them and made them float up into the air. Robin and Itachi joined alongside them as the earth where they once stood collapsed. In a third bubble were Marco and his brothers.
Naruto had retreated to quickly protect his people, coating them in a protective bubble of chakra. A large chakra dome appeared surrounding the entirety of Uzushiogakure no Sato extending beneath Uzu no Kuni encompassing that of Lower Uzushiogakure protecting the underwater city of the Fishman residence.
Munashi quickly acted retreating into the void of space, pulling his siblings and the all-stars with him avoiding being crushed by a large fissure opening up.
Naruto placed his hands on the soil of Uzu no Kuni channelling chakra into the island stabilising it. The earth began to come back together, restoring the island to its original state. The destroyed forests began to regrow as new towering oaks and pines took the place of the fallen.
"Gurarara! I can cross tossing a dragon off my bucket list now!" Whitebeard bellowed landing back on the ground, hands-on his belly.
"Curse you Whitebeard!" Kaido rumbled as his elongated claws dug into the earth and were used to lift himself off the ground. Soil and debris fell from his scaled body as the giant dragon began to rise back up into the air.
"I will not be done in by you! I am the Strongest Creature! You are just a man!" Kaido spat out in his anger, fire bubbling from his jaws as lightning flashed past him and struck the ground.
"Strongest Creature? I think not you pathetic lizard!" A scornful rumbling intruded on the conversation as a shadow loomed over Kaido, and an overwhelming killer intent poured forward. A giant hand loomed over Kaido's massive body coming down on top of the dragon pushing him back into the earth. The hand was covered in deep orange fur and shaped like a paw with an opposable thumb and sharp claws.
A pair of sinister demonic eyes loomed over the entire island as a giant figure was towering over all.
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"Strongest Creature? I think not you pathetic lizard!" A scornful rumbling intruded on the conversation a shadow was looming over Kaido and an overwhelming killer intent came pouring down. A giant hand loomed over Kaido's massive body only crash down on top of the Yonko pushing him back into the earth. The hand was covered in deep orange fur and shaped like a paw with an opposable thumb and sharp claws.
A pair of sinister demonic eyes could be seen looming over the entire island as a giant figure towered over Uzu no Kuni.
"The King of Beasts is not a title that belongs to an oversized gecko, like you!"
A beast as big as a mountain loomed over the fallen Kaido, nine long tails swaying behind it. Natural disasters followed the beast with every tail sway it caused, with each sway the surrounding ocean churned violently. Black storm clouds came rolling in across the sky, lightning flashed, and thunder boomed. The wind grew violent as maelstroms descended from the sky and into the ocean. Tornadoes fell around the beast as the earth shook beneath it.
"Let me show you who the true King of Beasts is!"
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