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Chapter 177: Pink Flame, The Power Of The Fire Spirit
The violently surging waves completely submerged the surrounding reefs.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The momentum of the Water Dragon Bullet continued to impact the location where Yuichi had stood. Huge waves, driven by astonishing force, raged without any sign of stopping.
Watching the tumbling sea, Tobirama stood firm on the surface, rising and falling with the swell. No matter how violent the waves became, he remained balanced, like a weightless feather drifting on the water.
Seconds ticked by. The mood in the Pirate World grew heavy.
There was no sign of Yuichi. It seemed the terrifying crash of waves had sunk him to the bottom of the ocean. If that were the case, had Yuichi been defeated? If he had blocked it, he surely would have emerged by now.
The sea gradually returned to a semblance of calm, exposing the jagged tops of the reefs. Yet, there was still no trace of Yuichi.
Tobirama sneered. "Is this the level of the... Otherworld?"
"Hmph! With this level of strength, they managed to defeat the Kage of the hidden villages in succession? It seems the Kage of the younger generation have become weak."
The Five Kage, watching from the stands, immediately wore ugly expressions upon hearing Tobirama's disdain.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat resigned; he was the Third Hokage and Tobirama's direct disciple, so a lecture from his teacher was acceptable. But the Kage of the other villages did not share this sentiment. To be reprimanded by a past Hokage was humiliating, yet they couldn't refute the facts before them.
The Fourth Raikage, in particular, looked ready to explode with rage but could only sit and sulk.
In the projection, Tobirama looked disappointed.
Suddenly, the scene on the light curtain shifted.
A flame erupted from within the waves.
It was a vibrant pink flame. It bloomed suddenly beneath the water like a lotus, instantly blasting the surrounding seawater back. The flames raged, and ripples of intense heat spread across the surface. In an instant, a portion of the sea evaporated, forming a thick white mist that enveloped the area.
Visibility dropped from ten meters to five, then to one.
The sudden explosion of fire and the surging mist stunned the spectators of both worlds.
"What happened?"
"Why is there fire in the seawater? And that color... it's so strange!"
Everyone stared at the massive screen in the sky.
Inside the thick fog, a black shadow emerged.
Hovering in mid-air, the figure held a blade in one hand and raised the other slightly, a flame dancing in his palm. There was no doubt—it was Yuichi.
But why was there fire in his hand? Since when could Yuichi control flames?
"How can he use the ability of fire?" Fire Fist Ace stared at Yuichi's silhouette, bewildered. He was the user of the Flame-Flame Fruit. Was there a second one in existence?
"You weren't killed? Good. If you died that easily, you would have been too weak," Tobirama's voice cut through the air.
In the next second, an astonishing burst of chakra erupted from Tobirama, triggering a terrifying shockwave of air that blew away the surrounding mist instantly.
Yuichi was revealed, floating about a meter above the sea. He held his Zanpakutō, Senbonzakura, in one hand and an eerie pink flame in the other. His wide robes fluttered gently in the breeze.
The Pirate World was stunned. He really could use fire! Had he relied on this power to block the terrifying water impact?
Tobirama stared at the flame in Yuichi's left hand. "What a strange flame. Pink fire... this is the first time I've seen it."
Yuichi remained calm, looking at Tobirama quietly. There was no anger in his eyes, only an imperceptible flicker of joy.
Just moments ago, when he was bombarded by Tobirama's Water Style, the System had issued a mission.
[Mission: The Disdain of Hao Asakura]
• Objective: Defeat the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, using the power of the Spirit of Fire.
• Reward: Hao Asakura Template Awakening Progress + (5~10)%
• Bonus: Unlock Spirit of Fire New Form: Attribute Conversion (Water).
This mission offered not only an increase in template progress but also a new form for his spirit ally. Yuichi was pleased, though the constraint of using the Spirit of Fire was a slight complication.
However, that doesn't mean I can't use my Zanpakutō!
Yuichi narrowed his eyes, locking onto Tobirama.
"Trying to use the power of fire against my Water Style?" Tobirama asked, breaking the silence. "I have to say, that is a stupid decision. Although fire and water restrain each other, this is the ocean. Do you think you can win using flames here?"
Tobirama crossed his arms, shaking his head in disappointment.
"Let me tell you a secret. In an environment full of water, my Water Style ninjutsu consumes almost no energy. But you... I'm afraid the same cannot be said for you! Even in a contest of attrition, you are definitely not my opponent!"
The people of the Pirate World, still reeling from the revelation of Yuichi's fire, found logic in Tobirama's words. If the opponent controlled the sea with minimal effort while Yuichi burned through his stamina, victory seemed impossible.
"Damn it... if only the field didn't disadvantage Yuichi! There would be hope!"
"It's okay even if we lose. There are two battles left. Red-Haired Shanks and Big Mom haven't fought yet. Victory belongs to us!"
People comforted themselves; defeat here was regrettable but not fatal.
However, Yuichi suddenly laughed.
"Consumption?"
"I never thought that winning by exhausting your strength would be the outcome."
"Do you think relying on field advantage and the Flying Thunder God makes you invincible?"
"Hmph!"
Yuichi raised his left hand. The Spirit of Fire danced in his palm.
"Let me show you a different kind of flame!"
Yuichi clenched his left hand, and the fire burst from his fingers, forming a long stream that circled him before slamming directly into the Senbonzakura held in his right hand.
.....
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