"Such a beautiful firework—brilliant and dazzling, mesmerizing and unforgettable. Pity it lasted only a fleeting moment before vanishing without a trace," Kaguya turned around, smirking toward the distance. "Don't you all agree?"
"Insolent wretch! Don't get carried away!"
With a thunderous roar, a figure flashed forward at lightning speed. Swinging his muscular arm, every muscle taut, he clenched his fist—carrying a faint sound of wind and thunder—and launched a heavy punch aimed directly at Kaguya's back!
Dust flew, and the sky changed!
Smoothie, Reiju, and Shirahoshi gasped in shock, their faces pale.
This overwhelming aura filled them with dread, as if a mountain were pressing down on them. The sheer pressure made it hard to breathe. In the face of such power, they felt like insignificant ants.
And this was just a single punch—yet it carried such terrifying force! It was beyond comprehension.
As the punch closed in with the force of a lightning strike, a pitch-black barrier suddenly rose from the ground, standing between the attacker and Kaguya.
It was none other than a Truth-Seeking Orb!
Boom—!
A deafening crash shook the skies as the massive fist smashed into the barrier!
Crack—!
With a sound like shattering glass, the black barrier fractured like a spiderweb before exploding into shards that scattered to the ground. The attacker came to a halt.
"Huh?"
The attacker looked stunned. He clearly hadn't expected his full-force punch to be blocked by what seemed like a simple barrier. That blow could have flattened a mountain.
"What's wrong? Finally couldn't hold it in anymore?" Kaguya turned around, a mocking smile tugging at her lips. "Five Elders."
The white-haired Five Elder stepped out from the thick forest and stopped. "As expected of the one hailed as the world's strongest—keen senses indeed. To even detect us is no small feat."
Behind him stood several others, each uniquely dressed: one with a flat hat, one with short golden hair, one with a sheathed sword, and one with a prominent birthmark on his head.
The one who had just launched the surprise attack on Kaguya was the one with the birthmark.
Kaguya stepped forward, sneering. "People who overestimate themselves often share one fatal flaw—stupidity."
"True stupidity lies with those who think others are stupid," said the Five Elder wearing the flat hat as he stepped forward. "Do you really believe your little tricks can stop us?"
"You're talking about the barrier?" Kaguya's cold voice was filled with scorn. "Don't forget who it was that got caught like bugs in a spider's web—only barely escaping as they were about to die. Since when did that become something worth boasting about?"
Her words clearly hit a sore spot. The expressions of the Five Elders turned sour.
The Six Red Yang Formation, in the world of Naruto, was one of the top-tier barriers. It required six powerful Kage-level fighters to cast it—no small feat.
With the enhancement of Kaguya's Yin-Yang Release, the formation's power surpassed anything seen before. Even someone as powerful as the Five Elders had taken over a month to break it.
For beings used to looking down on the world from above, that was nothing short of a disgrace.
"Such arrogance," the birthmarked Five Elder said coldly. "You're on the brink of death and still don't realize it. Looks like those lowly ants have made you forget what it means to think clearly. Let me help you remember right now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the birthmarked Five Elder let out a roar, veins bulging on his neck. With a stomp of his foot, the ground split beneath him, and his figure shot forward like an arrow from a bow. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Kaguya. Clenching his fist, it became wrapped in a thick layer of Armament Haki before he punched forward with explosive force!
Just as the punch was about to land, Kaguya suddenly raised her head and smiled brilliantly. "So, how did it feel getting blasted?"
The ancient weapon Uranus hadn't randomly appeared in the Grand Line—of course not. That was all part of Kaguya's plan. She had obtained Uranus years ago, and this time, she used it as bait to lure out those who desired its power.
Not only that, she'd thought of an especially wicked idea: once someone triggered Uranus, it would automatically launch an attack—with Mary Geoise as its target!
Although the Five Elders appeared unscathed, a closer look revealed faint scorch marks on their bodies. Their beards and hair were slightly curled, and they emitted a faint burnt smell. Clearly, they had not emerged from the explosion as easily as they appeared.
The birthmarked Five Elder's pupils contracted. He gritted his teeth and growled, "You're asking for death!"
With that, his punch accelerated even more!
Kaguya's eyes, clear as autumn water, watched coldly as the attack came. Her lips curled. "One should know their limits. Arrogant fools like you are nothing more than frogs at the bottom of a well, crushed beneath others' feet. Don't you think—I'm right?"
As soon as she finished, she waved her arm. A formless power instantly radiated outward!
"Mirror Flower, Water Moon—Domain!"
It was like a drop of water falling into a calm lake, sending ripples outward. The environment around them instantly shifted under the influence of this invisible force.
The earth trembled. The sky swayed. Darkness fell. Wind and sand whipped through the air.
Before them now was a strange and unfamiliar landscape—an endless desert. The sun blazed in the sky, the heat unbearable. The scorching wind howled, lifting a storm of yellow sand that distorted the very air.
This was Kaguya's Amenominaka: the Sand Realm!
The Five Elders' eyes sharpened. Though they didn't know exactly where this place was, the immense power it contained was unmistakable—even without using Observation Haki.
But instead of retreating, the birthmarked Five Elder surged forward even faster. His pitch-black fist carried violent force as he roared, "Enough of these tricks—break it!"
The other Five Elders were shocked. "Stop!"
But he ignored them completely, rushing toward Kaguya like a falling star.
At that moment, Kaguya extended her pale hand, a smirk on her lips. "Down."
As soon as the words left her mouth, the airborne Five Elder plummeted like a hunk of iron, crashing into the ground with a boom!
...
Kaguya walked over and mocked, "Who would've thought that the mighty Five Elders would stoop to such vulgar antics? If you're ready to surrender, just say so—no need for this grand act of kneeling."
The birthmarked Five Elder's face flushed with rage, veins bulging on his forehead, eyes wide with fury as if they could shoot flames. He roared, "You're dead!"
With that, his large body shot forward like a cannonball. Swinging his arm, he punched forward with all his might!
The punch carried terrifying momentum, like a tsunami. Even before it landed, the sheer force of the punch was already sweeping toward Kaguya, sending her long hair flying. Under this storm-like power, even the space around them began to warp slightly!
But before the Five Elder could reach her, Kaguya raised her hand and clenched her fingers. The birthmarked Five Elder suddenly felt an immense weight and crashed headfirst into the ground with a thud, looking utterly humiliated.
Kaguya sneered, "Really now, I told you there's no need for such courtesy."
Climbing up from the ground, the birthmarked Five Elder gritted his teeth. "This is… gravity?"
"As expected of the Five Elders, you figured it out so quickly," Kaguya said with a cold smirk. "But so what?"
This was Kaguya's space within her Amenominaka, and unlike before, this sand space had been fused with a gravity space, giving it both sand and gravity properties. Its power was massively amplified.
At that moment, several black shadows suddenly burst from all directions, streaking toward Kaguya like lightning. Each strike was aimed precisely at her vital points, murderous intent filling the air.
Caught off guard, it looked as if the silver-haired girl was about to be struck. But just then, she lifted her head, a strange smile curling on her lips.
Boom boom boom—!
A deafening series of explosions erupted as massive flames shot skyward. Thick smoke rolled outward, stirring up clouds of yellow sand in every direction!
From within the smoke, the white-haired Five Elder stepped forward, followed by the others. As they looked at the massive crater in front of them—like a meteor had struck—their hearts sank.
They had tried to take advantage of Kaguya's carelessness to launch a sneak attack. By their estimation, they should've at least injured her, if not killed her. But somehow, she had escaped!
"Great Sand Feast!"
A cold voice suddenly rang out!
Not good!
The Five Elders' expressions changed.
Suddenly, the yellow sand on the ground began flowing rapidly like liquid. The terrain itself started to sink. The Five Elders quickly retreated, leaping back several times to avoid the subsiding sands.
Then, the sky suddenly darkened—as though night had fallen.
Something's wrong!
The Five Elders were alarmed. It wasn't nightfall—instead, above their heads, an enormous mass of yellow sand had appeared at some point, completely blotting out the sky.
How was this possible?!
Suddenly, that massive cloud of sand surged downward like a tsunami, crashing toward the Five Elders below. They had nowhere left to run!
Their pupils contracted sharply!
Boom—!
A tremendous roar echoed as the vast curtain of sand engulfed the Five Elders in an instant!
From afar, Smoothie and Reiju stared with wide eyes. They had never seen anything so grand. To manipulate so much sand at once was unheard of—it was far too powerful!
So this… this is what a battle between true powerhouses looks like?
Pudding's eyes were wide with awe.
Great Sand Feast was a power within Kaguya's Amenominaka, similar in function to Gaara's Sand Coffin. But in scale and intensity, it was far more overwhelming—especially with the added element of gravity. If it hit an ordinary person, they would be crushed into paste in an instant.
However, the Five Elders were no ordinary people.
With a thunderous boom, sand burst into the air, and several figures shot out from the dune, landing on the ground—it was the Five Elders!
Truly, their Armament Haki was among the strongest in the world of pirates. Though their clothes were torn and ragged, their bodies had barely suffered any real damage. This was evident from the black Haki-covered skin visible beneath the tatters.
The birthmarked Five Elder sneered, "Trying to kill us? You're still too naive!"
"Kaguya, surrender," said the flat-hatted Five Elder as he stepped forward. "Even if you're highly gifted and overwhelmingly talented, you can't possibly defeat us. If you give up now, we're willing to let bygones be bygones."
Kaguya raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to get me to surrender?"
"No," said the white-haired Five Elder. "We're saying this for your own good. Don't misunderstand, and don't waste our good intentions."
"For my own good? You think you have this in the bag?" Kaguya smirked, her lips curling into a devilish grin. "It's far too early for that!"
A jolt of unease ran through the Five Elders.
"Capture her!"
Like arrows released from taut bows, the Five Elders flashed toward Kaguya, even faster than before. But it was already too late.
Kaguya softly spoke, "Art is—explosion."
As the words fell, the sand beneath their feet suddenly emitted a blinding white glow. A searing column of light burst forth, slicing through the clear blue sky!
BOOM—!
An earth-shattering explosion shook the sky. The desert erupted in a firestorm, flames soaring skyward. A scorching heatwave instantly turned into a wild hurricane, sweeping outward with unstoppable force!
Far away, Reiju and Smoothie were caught off guard by the sudden blast. The heatwave lifted them into the air like broken kites and flung them backward!
Bang—!
The two crashed hard into the sand, rolling several times before coming to a stop. Reiju let out a cry of pain, unable to rise for a long moment. It felt like her organs had been scrambled.
Fortunately, they had been far enough from the center. Had they been any closer, that single blast would have taken their lives.
But when Reiju finally struggled to her feet and looked ahead, her pupils shrank sharply!
The once endless desert was now a bottomless chasm!
Staring at the enormous abyss before her, Reiju was so stunned she couldn't close her mouth.
So this… this is the power of a true strong one?
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