The piercing cries of Chidori echoed.
Brilliant blue lightning blossomed underwater, dyeing the torrent of water a vivid azure.
Still caught within the Suiton (Water Release) zone, the CP agents suffered greatly—their bodies convulsed, and their hair stood on end like porcupine quills.
"Aaaagh… s-someone, help me!"
Spandine screamed in agony.
Unlike the CP agents who had at least undergone some training, Spandine had none—he was even weaker than the average person.
The other agents, though also electrocuted and trembling, still prioritized dragging Spandine out of the water first.
Naruto, too, felt the current sear through his body.
Because he still couldn't apply Busōshoku Haki (Armament Haki) over his entire body, the lightning traveling through the water struck him as well.
But Naruto didn't care. He coldly stared at Spandine.
"To think… the infamous commander of CP turns out to be such trash. Fine then—let's start the killing with you."
Spandine froze under Naruto's gaze, his spine turning cold.
"H-Hey, I'm with the World Government…"
Panicking, he grabbed two nearby agents and shouted:
"You two! Stay beside me and protect me! Don't let that brat get close! If I die, you'll all be executed with me!"
The two agents looked thoroughly disgusted but still nodded reluctantly.
Meanwhile, the rest of the agents charged at Naruto again.
"Heh."
Naruto smirked and flung out all the explosive tags he had brought from Konoha.
"If you think you can handle it… go ahead and try!"
After a couple of battles, he still had four thousand tags left—he threw them all at once, blotting out the sky with white paper.
The agents, having never seen Kibaku Fuda (Explosive Tags), stared blankly at the spectacle.
"What the hell? Is this some kind of illusion technique?"
One agent frowned and decided to test it—he kicked at a few tags.
"Rankyaku: Getsuga! (Tempest Kick: Moon Fang!)"
Slash! A wave of compressed air shot through the sky, slicing through dozens of tags.
But the severed tags still ignited.
Fwoosh—
Blazing paper rained down, all heading toward Spandine.
"Tekkai! (Iron Body!)"
"Tekkai!"
The two agents flanking Spandine stepped forward, using Tekkai to shield him.
And then—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Deafening explosions roared. The two agents shielding him were blown apart in a storm of blood and flesh, their bodies hurled away.
Even Spandine wasn't spared. His body was blasted out onto the beach.
"Idiots. Tens of Kibaku Fuda. Even steel would be vaporized. You really thought you could block it with your bodies?"
Naruto's mouth curled with a subtle smirk.
…
"AAAAAAGHHH!!"
Spandine screamed on the beach, rolling and clutching his mangled arm.
His entire forearm was nearly blown off, blood pouring onto the sand.
"Commander!"
"Spandine-sama!"
"Damn it! How did that brat do this?!"
The CP agents rushed to the beach, temporarily forgetting Naruto as they helped Spandine up.
Even if they hated the man, he was still their superior. If he died, they'd face collective punishment—possibly even execution.
"Protect me! Don't let that brat come near me! Aaagh…"
Terror filled Spandine's eyes.
He had come to Ohara for merit—not to die.
One agent stepped forward grimly.
"Don't worry, Spandine-sama. From now on, I won't let him lay another finger on you."
"Really now?" Naruto stepped forward, expression full of mock amusement.
"You really think you can stop me from killing him?"
As he spoke, a massive Fūma Shuriken appeared in his hand.
The sheer size of the weapon sent chills down the agents' spines.
The truth was—they were scared. They didn't know what kind of ability Naruto had.
Spandine was even more frightened. Staring at the blond child, he trembled violently—he could feel death closing in.
"C-Can you… really protect me…?"
Even his voice was shaking.
"Uh…"
The CP agents looked at each other.
They wanted to promise… but Naruto's powers were far too strange—Suiton, Raiton, explosions…
Seeing the hesitation in their faces, Spandine's heart sank.
"Run! Get me out of here! We'll wait for the Marines to arrive and launch the Buster Call! Just go!!"
Screaming, he fled in panic.
The agents had no choice but to follow.
"But Spandine-sama, what about the scholars of Ohara? Our mission—"
"Shut up! My life is more important!!"
…
"Phew… thank God that guy's a coward…"
Naruto exhaled in relief as the agents fled.
No doubt about it—CP agents were strong. Far stronger than any pirates he'd taken down.
He still wasn't sure if he could beat them in a real head-on fight.
After all, he was still young. Despite knowing countless ninjutsu and taijutsu, his body couldn't bring out their full power yet.
"That Spandine and his son Spandam… really are generational trash…"
Naruto couldn't help but chuckle.
Soon after—
From the coast, dozens of Marine warships appeared, surrounding Ohara Island entirely.
Even from this distance, Naruto could feel the oppressive pressure they brought.
He narrowed his eyes toward the two figures standing at the bow of the lead ship.
One had a lazy expression, the other, stern and rigid.
It was none other than the current Vice Admirals Kuzan and Sakazuki—known in the future as Aokiji and Akainu.
Seeing the two, Naruto's lips curled into a grin. He snapped his fingers.
"Let's begin."
In an instant, the massive Tree of Knowledge burst into flames.
The fire spread swiftly, engulfing the entire tree in a matter of moments.
At the same time—
On the ship's bow, Kuzan's face changed drastically.
"They… set themselves on fire?!"
Sakazuki's expression darkened.
With their Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), the two could see the "scholars" within the blaze, still calmly reading their books.
Even as flames consumed their bodies, they did not move.
Until—nothing remained.
Kuzan turned pale.
"So this… is the will of Ohara's scholars. Even in death, they won't abandon their research…"
Sakazuki scoffed coldly. "Dead is dead. The Buster Call is already in effect. They just died two minutes earlier than planned."
Kuzan glared at him, furious.
Sakazuki met his gaze without backing down.
…
Back on the beach—
Naruto winced. "Hot… damn, that hurts. Making dozens of shadow clones self-immolate isn't fun…"
"But this should keep them from suspecting anything…"
He bit his lip, forcing himself to endure the pain. A kunai appeared in his hand, which he raised to his throat.
"Kurama… lend me your power!"
(End of Chapter)
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