"We can first dispatch CP0 to conduct a covert investigation while simultaneously instructing Navy Headquarters to strengthen its defenses. If the battle between Senju Hashirama and Whitebeard yields a result, we will then decide our next course of action based on the situation."
Saturn did not speak further, but a gleam of reluctance still flickered in his eyes.
He knew he could not persuade the other four for the time being and could only temporarily suppress the anger within him.
Meanwhile, on a stretch of sea in the New World, Morgans stood atop a small speedboat, a camera clutched in his hands as he frantically photographed the distant battle. His face was alight with an ecstatic grin, and a fervent gleam shone in his eyes.
"Big news! This is big news!" Morgans muttered to himself while clicking the shutter, "The ultimate showdown between Whitebeard and Senju Hashirama—this is a momentous event capable of shaking the entire world!"
His camera continuously clicked, capturing every instant of the battle between Whitebeard and Senju Hashirama.
The colossal, sky-covering figure of the Wooden Golem, the fists of Whitebeard that shattered space itself, and the collapsing island alongside the towering waves—all were captured within his lens.
"Hahaha! This scoop is sure to double my newspaper's sales!"
Morgans could hardly contain his smile. "The World's Strongest Man versus the World's Most Heinous Criminal—just thinking about that headline gets my blood pumping!"
His speedboat bucked on the waves, but he paid it no mind, continuing to focus intently on his photography.
He knew full well the kind of sensation these photographs would cause once released.
The entire world would be shaken by this battle.
The fight continued for another day.
A fine sheen of sweat had formed on Whitebeard's brow.
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard let out a booming laugh, using it to mask his fatigue.
"This guy is truly strong," Whitebeard murmured, a hint of awe in his voice.
Apart from Roger back in the day, he had never fought anyone for this long. Even clashes with fellow Emperors like Kaido and Big Mom had never been this grueling.
If it continued, they would be forced to go all out.
Whitebeard knew he could still push his power slightly higher, but if he went that far, reining it in would become extremely difficult.
While his awakened Tremor-Tremor Fruit was immensely powerful, it also placed a tremendous burden on his body. Continuing the fight could very well trigger a complete onset of his heart condition.
Across from him, Senju Hashirama stood atop the Wooden Golem's shoulder, his reanimated body feeling almost no fatigue.
His form continuously broke apart during the battle, only to swiftly regenerate.
Even so, his Armament Haki was nearly depleted. After two days of intense combat, even he could no longer sustain high-level Haki coating.
"Without Armament Haki reinforcement, facing Whitebeard's monstrous strength is going to be tough…" Hashirama muttered to himself, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
A thought surfaced in his mind—using the Top Transformed Buddha.
It was his strongest technique, capable of annihilating any foe.
But the Top Transformed Buddha under reanimation wasn't complete, and its consumption was immense, making it unsustainable. More importantly, once unleashed, it would be difficult to hold back, and one of them would inevitably fall.
Hashirama raised his head and looked toward Whitebeard in the distance. Their eyes met across the sky, as if communicating something silently.
Suddenly, Hashirama burst into hearty laughter, his voice carrying a tone of boldness and unburdened ease.
"How about we call it a draw?" Hashirama said, a hint of lightness in his voice.
"Hmm?" Whitebeard was momentarily taken aback, then also began to laugh. "Gurararara! You sure are an interesting fellow!"
He didn't refuse Hashirama's proposal. There was no mortal enmity between them, no need to fight to the death.
And Senju Hashirama's strength had already proven worthy of a draw.
"Fine! Let's end it as a draw!" Whitebeard said magnanimously, slowly lowering his naginata as the power of his Tremor-Tremor Fruit gradually receded.
Hashirama also withdrew the Wooden Golem, pressing his palms together as the fluctuation of his chakra settled. Their battle concluded silently.
Aboard the Moby Dick in the distance, the crew breathed collective sighs of relief when they saw the two stop fighting. Ace and Marco exchanged glances, relief evident in their eyes.
"It's finally over…" Ace said quietly, weariness in his voice.
Marco nodded, a complicated expression in his eyes as he gazed at Hashirama in the distance. "This Senju Hashirama is indeed a terrifying opponent. Even Pops couldn't defeat him."
Teach, hidden among the crowd, had a flickering, uncertain look in his eyes. A surge of uncontrollable ambition welled up within him: "Someday, I too will possess such power…"
...
The news swept across the world like a gale. Whether in the New World, the Grand Line, or even the Four Blues, everyone was discussing this earth-shattering battle.
"The World's Strongest Man, Whitebeard, and the World's Most Heinous Criminal, Senju Hashirama, battle for two days and two nights, ultimately ending in a draw!"
Such was the headline emblazoned across the front page.
Morgans' News Coos flew far and wide, carrying the outcome of the battle to every corner.
The photograph depicting Whitebeard and Senju Hashirama locked in confrontation was breathtaking. The sky-obscuring figure of the Wooden Golem and the space-rending might of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit left countless people in awe.
In Dressrosa, Doflamingo held the latest newspaper in his hand, an unreadable expression behind his sunglasses.
A slight twitch played at the corner of his mouth as the memory of being thoroughly beaten by Roy not long ago surfaced in his mind, stirring a complex mix of emotions.
"Fufufufu… No wonder he dared to lay hands on a Celestial Dragon. What a monster."
Doflamingo murmured to himself, a trace of both caution and resentment in his voice.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere aboard the Moby Dick in the New World was one of jubilation.
On the deck, Whitebeard and Senju Hashirama sat side by side, each holding a large cup of fine sake, their laughter echoing through the sea breeze.
"Hahaha! You're incredibly strong!" Whitebeard laughed heartily, raising his cup to clink against Hashirama's.
A hint of nostalgia flickered in Senju Hashirama's eyes as he smiled and said, "If Madara knew there was an opponent like you, he'd be so excited he wouldn't be able to sleep."
"Oh? Sounds like a formidable fellow," Whitebeard said, taking a satisfying gulp of his sake, interest sparking in his eyes.
"Ha ha, he's a good friend of mine. We used to cross fists all the time, each taking wins and losses," Senju Hashirama said with a booming laugh, a touch of pride in his voice.
In the distance, Marco, Ace, and the others wore expressions of shock upon hearing this.
There was actually someone else who could match him.
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