The capital quaked with Luffy's words, and almost as if summoned from the shadows themselves, the air shimmered.
Fwip… fwip… fwip!
Dozens of figures materialized, darting across rooftops and sliding down walls.
The sudden appearance of so many people drew murmurs from the frightened civilians hiding in alleyways. Wide eyes followed the silent, masked killers who now stood in formation, weapons glinting under the burning glow of the capital's flames.
At the forefront stood a towering man, his sheer bulk dwarfing even his own subordinates. His mane of crimson hair spilled down his chest like a waterfall of fire, the horns on his headpiece curving upward like those of a demon. Across his back, a sword almost as tall as a house gleamed ominously.
"Who is that?… He didn't seem that strong." Zoro muttered under his breath, his gaze sharpening.
The man's eyes narrowed at the two intruders who were the traitors in his eyes. His voice boomed like rolling thunder, each word soaked with the authority of Orochi's will.
"You've slaughtered the Shogun's men," Daikoku declared, the weight of his blade pressing heavily in the air, though it remained sheathed. His lips curled into a sneer. "For such insolence, you will both be executed here, in the name of Shogun Orochi."
Luffy chuckled, resting his chin in one palm as he sat casually atop the pile of corpses. His eyes glowed faintly with sparks of mischief and lightning. "Execute us, huh? You sure you brought enough men for that?"
The ninjas shifted, some bristling at the insult, but none daring to break formation.
Zoro groaned, rolling his shoulders, annoyance etched deep into his face. "Tch. Enough with the speeches. If you're gonna fight, then fight. Don't waste my damn time."
His hand slid over the hilts of Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu. With a single fluid motion, the steel sang as it left the scabbards. The blades instantly darkened, coated in obsidian-black Haki that pulsed with murderous intent.
"Two-Sword Style…" Zoro whispered, his voice low and dangerous.
BOOOM!
In a single step, the ground beneath him cracked. His muscles coiled, then released the shockwave that shattered the stone as Zoro swung both blades in a wide arc.
"Hawk Wave!"
A crescent of compressed air and Haki erupted forward, slicing through the very air itself as it tore toward the ninja squad like a raging tempest.
ZRRRRAKOOOOOM!
The Oniwabanshu scattered in a blur, bodies twisting and flipping through the sky with supernatural speed. The wave carved through buildings, splitting a wall clean in half, dust and rubble exploding in every direction.
From the smoke, one warrior surged forward. He was a young man wearing a strange, dark helmet. His long orange ponytail whipped violently behind him as his mount was a grotesque catfish Sugamichi that slid across the ground with unnatural speed, leaving deep gouges in the stone streets.
"Shark-skin Sugamichi! Go!" The ninja roared, his voice muffled beneath the helmet.
SKREEEEE!
The monstrous fish screeched and lunged straight at Zoro, its jagged maw snapping like a guillotine.
Zoro's grin widened, sharp and beastly. His green bandana was already tied firmly around his head, his hunter's spirit blazing in his eyes. "Finally, something interesting."
His foot pressed into the stone, and then he vanished.
Swoosh!
Using Soru, Zoro's speed exploded, his figure flickering in and out of sight.
"What—?!" The ninja's eyes widened beneath his helmet.
Zoro appeared directly in front of him, eyes gleaming with savage joy. "Don't blink."
The twin blades arced forward, a roar ripping from Zoro's throat as steel met flesh.
Clang!
SSHHHHK!
The Sugamichi howled as the edge of Yubashiri carved across its side, scales exploding into the air. Sparks flew as the ninja raised his weapon to block, the collision ringing out like a cannon blast.
Zoro leaned in close, his teeth bared in a grin. "You're gonna need more than a fish and cheap tricks to stop me."
The pressure of his Haki surged like a storm, the ground beneath them splintering under the sheer weight of his intent.
From behind, Luffy watched with a smirk, electricity dancing lazily across his fingers. His dark eyes followed Zoro's every move with interest. "Hehehe… guess I'll let him have his fun. But if he takes too long…"
He raised a crackling hand, sparks gathering into a glowing orb. "…I'll fry the whole lot of 'em myself."
The Oniwabanshu tightened their circle again, their silent movements echoing with the hiss of steel unsheathing, the creak of strained leather, the faint pfft of poison darts primed.
While Zoro's blades clashed and rang like war drums against the ninja horde, a sharp wind cutting sound split the air.
Something bit into Luffy's torso, the steel claws of a grappling hook clamping around him. The rope went taut, jerking his body slightly sideways.
Luffy's head tilted lazily, golden sparks flickering in his eyes as he turned to look.
At the other end of the rope stood a giant of a man. His entire body was wrapped in dark-green netting, giving him the look of some monstrous spider cocoon come to life. A yellow kimono stretched tight over his wide shoulders, patterned with shuriken, while a menacing skull crest adorned the forehead of his mask. Only his eyes, cold and pitiless, glared from the opening.
The massive ninja dug his feet into the stone, muscles bulging as he yanked hard on the rope, trying to reel Luffy in like prey. The ground cracked beneath his weight.
But before Hanzo could act further, a voice as sweet as poison floated across the battlefield.
"Such a handsome boy…"
Luffy shifted his gaze again, and this time, his grin widened.
A tall woman had stepped forward, her beauty shining even amid the smoke and chaos. Benten's purple hair glimmered in the firelight, tied up in ornate bows and decorated with skulls, hearts, and combs. Her green eyes shimmered with a strange hunger as they locked onto Luffy, her pale fingers caressing the neck of her biwa, which doubled as a deadly weapon.
Her cheeks flushed pink, and she giggled, voice dripping with delight. "But such a shame… you've offended Lord Orochi. That means you'll have to die here."
Luffy tilted his head back and laughed. His sound was bold, careless, and electric with confidence. "Die, huh? I don't think so. You'll see why."
Before Hanzo could tighten his grip, Luffy's hand closed around the rope with lightning speed.
The golden sparks erupted across his skin, racing down the steel line.
"Wha—?!"
Hanzo's eyes widened beneath his mask. His massive body lifted from the ground as if he were nothing more than a toy. With a casual flick, Luffy hauled him forward, the ninja's bulk tearing through the air.
Whoosh!
"GAAAAHHHH!" Hanzo roared, but his cry was cut short as an electric surge exploded from Luffy's hand into the rope.
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT...
CRACKKKKOOOOOM!
The lightning shot straight into Hanzo's chest, ripping through his muscles and bones with ruthless precision. His scream echoed like thunder over the burning capital as his body convulsed, smoke rising from the gaps in his netted armor.
Luffy's grin sharpened. "Fly."
With a brutal twist of his arm, he whirled the rope overhead and then released.
Hanzo's massive frame was hurled across the battlefield like a ragdoll, his figure crashing through several houses before disappearing into the far distance.
BOOOOOOM!
The stunned crowd of ninjas barely had time to react before a melodic hum pierced the air.
Twang! Twang! Twang!
Benten strummed her biwa, unleashing a flurry of glowing projectiles shaped like razor-sharp arrows. They whistled through the night sky, aimed directly at Luffy's heart.
But Luffy didn't move in haste. His head tilted, his eyes half-lidded, and he whispered, "Too slow."
Swoosh!... Swish... Swoosh!
His body flowed like water, swaying left and right. Each projectile passed within inches of him but never touched.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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