Yasaka no Magatama!
Kakashi's blue half-body Susanoo raised its spectral arm, forming massive orb-like chakra beads—the Yasaka Magatama. With a mighty heave, they were launched like shooting stars, turning into streaks of brilliant light that rained down on Blackbeard with crushing force.
"Heh! So that's all you've got?!"
Blackbeard let out a wild, scornful laugh, his voice filled with contempt and fury.
He couldn't believe how stupid he had been earlier—getting intimidated by Kakashi's aloof demeanor and calm attitude. He had actually second-guessed himself, held back, and lost face in front of two entire worlds.
It made his blood boil.
"Go to hell, you white-haired bastard!"
Fueled by rage, Blackbeard surged with power. The air around him exploded outward in concentric ripples as his devastating devil fruit ability activated at full force. The vibration waves collided with Kakashi's Yasaka no Magatama, shattering them into glowing fragments.
The sheer force didn't stop there—it blasted forward, completely obliterating Kakashi's half-body Susanoo.
"Damn... This guy's really strong..."
Kakashi let out a dry laugh, his expression wry.
He had expected this result. Rationally, he knew the outcome long ago. But when it actually happened—when his defenses were so easily crushed—it still left him feeling bitter and powerless.
He made a mental note: once this dimensional war was over, he had to seriously start leveling up.
At the very least, his strength had to reach Super Kage-level.
No more excuses. It was time to upgrade his Mangekyō Sharingan. Once he collected enough points, he'd buy another pair from the group mall and merge them into an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
If he did that, reaching Super Kage-level wouldn't be a dream anymore.
Of course, it also meant—
All the points he'd saved up painstakingly until now were about to vanish.
"Ugh… this is going to cost me everything," Kakashi thought gloomily.
Even as his mind churned with strategy, his hands didn't stop moving. He continued casting jutsu and launching counterattacks, refusing to surrender.
Even if they were futile.
Even if he knew he couldn't win.
He would fight until the very end.
A few minutes passed.
Boom!
Kakashi's already weakened Susanoo was shattered completely. Moments later, his body was engulfed in Blackbeard's tremor attack, torn apart and disintegrated by the raw force.
"Hmph! That's what you get for trying to mess with me, you sneaky bastard!"
Blackbeard sneered arrogantly as he stood victorious, gazing down at the remains of Kakashi's scattered form.
In the next moment, he was teleported off the battlefield and returned to his seat atop the towering Stone Pillar.
"Still as cowardly as ever, huh?"
Ace stood nearby and looked at Blackbeard with unconcealed disdain. Ever since learning that his alternate self had been captured and sold to the Marines by this exact Blackbeard, Ace had held nothing but hatred for him.
It didn't help that Blackbeard was one of the few among the Pirate Kings labeled outright as a villain.
Among the members of the Pirate King chat group, many didn't like him.
Of course, he still had his allies.
Kaido.
Big Mom.
Those two shared his temperament and philosophy. They got along like pirates of the same blood.
In fact, the Pirate Kings had gradually split into two factions within the group.
One side: Kaido, Big Mom, and Blackbeard.
The other: Luffy, Whitebeard, and Garp.
And overall?
It was the latter who held the upper hand.
Not because they outnumbered the former.
But because of Garp.
Just one Garp was enough to keep the others in check.
After all, unlike most, Garp could do offline PKs.
Even if he couldn't outright kill someone in another world, he could still wreak havoc—destroy their pirate crews, raze their bases, sabotage their resources.
That alone was enough to keep the more chaotic Pirate Kings from stirring up real trouble.
Which was why, in the group chat, Pirate Kings like Kaido and Blackbeard were usually restrained in their behavior.
Not because they were afraid to act...
But because they were waiting.
Waiting for the day someone surpassed Garp on the combat power list.
Because while Garp was strong—peak third-tier, he was not invincible.
There were several others in the group who had also reached late Tier 3 power.
The balance could shift at any moment.
Meanwhile, back on the Hokage world's side.
"Kakashi, are you okay?" Sakumo asked, looking at his alternate world son with concern.
"I'm fine," Kakashi replied, though his voice carried a bitter undertone. "I just didn't expect that Blackbeard would be this strong. In a real fight... I had no chance at all."
"Understanding your weakness is a good thing," Ryosuke said calmly. "At the very least, it'll push you to grow stronger."
"I know," Kakashi nodded solemnly. "Next time, I'll make sure I'm prepared."
He hadn't been putting in the effort. It wasn't that he lacked the means to earn points—there were always ways but until now, Kakashi had been coasting, a little too comfortable with mediocrity.
But today's defeat was a wake-up call. Sometimes, clinging to outdated ideals or stubborn principles only ends up hurting you.
Sure, this battle wouldn't change the outcome of the war on its own.
At most, it just meant Kakashi missed out on a reward.
But the real issue?
The third round—the upcoming dimensional war.
There, a weakling like him would become a liability.
He'd be an obvious target.
The Pirate Kings would likely gang up on the weakest first.
If that happened?
He wouldn't even have the chance to resist. He'd be eliminated before he knew what hit him.
And if he died… the entire ninja world would suffer the consequences.
If staying true to one's ideals meant dragging the entire world down with you…
Then maybe it was better to let go of those ideals.
"Glad to see you're thinking clearly."
Ryosuke glanced at Kakashi and noticed a change in him.
The laziness in his eyes had faded.
There was a spark there now.
But Ryosuke wasn't worried about Kakashi's personal strength.
No, there were bigger concerns.
In the third round, it wouldn't be Kakashi on the front lines.
It would be Sakura.
It would be Shikamaru.
Those two held the real burden.
And then there were...
Danzo and Hiruzen.
Now those two were a problem.
Neither had any real combat strength.
A couple of Kage-levels? Some random jōnin?
That's just cannon fodder.
No matter how you spun it.
Compared to Sakura's world—where she had already secured outside support from other group members—Danzo and Hiruzen were isolated.
Given their negative reputation in the group...
Ryosuke doubted anyone would lift a finger to help them.
As for Ryosuke's earlier claims that he'd step in?
Heh.
That was only if he felt like it.
Ryosuke wasn't anyone's babysitter.
Whether he intervened or not depended entirely on his mood.
Honestly?
If they lost a few group members along the way...
So what?
Ryosuke had already taken all the major benefits he wanted from this world.
Whatever remained was just scraps.
Unless there was a strategic reason to preserve a specific parallel world, he didn't care whether they survived or not.
The others?
Expendable.
The Hokage world's streak had been broken earlier, this outcome proved a simple truth:
There is no such thing as eternal victory.
No streak lasts forever.
No supremacy is absolute.
A winning streak? Just enjoy it while it lasts!
[Match Ten: Pirate King World — Third Pirate King, Clown Buggy VS Hokage World — Sixth Hokage, Ryosuke!]
As the announcement echoed through the void, Ryosuke casually looked toward one of the towering stone pillars that stretched to the skies, tens of kilometers away.
Atop it stood a red-nosed figure, his silhouette bizarrely reminiscent of the Pirate King himself—Gol D. Roger.
That man was Clown Buggy.
Known for one infamous trait across the multiverse—legendary Conqueror's Luck.
He was a man born under a lucky star. A walking miracle of misfortune avoidance.
However...
In a certain parallel universe, Buggy the Clown had walked a very different path.
A path so unpredictable and outrageous that it led him to become the Third Pirate King, following in the footsteps of Roger and Luffy!
Yes, you heard that right.
In that world, Luffy still managed to become the Second Pirate King, as he did in many alternate timelines.
But most of those Luffys... had already died. They were hunted down and crushed by the World Government.
Only one Luffy survived long enough to defy fate—the Luffy who joined the chat group. Not only did he become Pirate King, he overthrew and destroyed the World Government itself.
That Luffy was a monster. His strength far outclassed the likes of Buggy. But still, Buggy the Clown wasn't a pushover.
In his own world, he became the Third Pirate King, relying on sheer, absurd luck and incredible survivability. He completed the fabled Grand Line journey, unlocked top-tier strength, and carved his name into the annals of legend.
And after joining the chat group, utilizing the group's enhancement functions and some ridiculously good luck, he climbed the ranks.
Now?
His strength sat solidly mid-tier among the group's elite.
Not quite true Tier 3, but quasi-Tier 3, which, by combat power standards, was already formidable.
Quasi-Tier 3 = Quasi-Six Paths level.
Comparable to none other than Hashirama Senju during the legendary battle of the Valley of the End.
A single punch from such power?
Enough to level mountains. Enough to turn a battlefield into a wasteland.
And yes, this version of Buggy still possessed the Chop-Chop Fruit.
But after countless battles and blessings from fate, he had awakened it to a terrifying level.
Under awakening, a single strike from Buggy was enough to rip an island in half.
His body? Practically indestructible.
He could split himself into fingernail-sized fragments and reassemble at will.
In short—
An immortal clown.
Swish! Swish!
Two figures appeared in the arena.
"Wahahaha! Finally! The time has come for Lord Buggy, the Clown King, to shine!"
Buggy stood proud, hands on his hips, his red cape fluttering in the wind like he was some war hero. The light shimmered off his figure dramatically.
Well, almost dramatically.
That huge, shiny red nose kind of ruined the moment.
He had the aura of a Conqueror, but the comedic timing of a street performer.
Still, his voice rang out full of confidence as he pointed at his opponent on the opposite side.
"Hey! Kid over there! Are you ready to face the punishment of Lord Buggy, the Clown King?!"
Ryosuke smiled, bright as sunshine. He looked like a polite, cheerful teenager. A friendly high schooler.
But those who truly knew him ould never describe him with words like "sunny" or "cheerful."
That guy was a devil in disguise.
On the Hokage world's side, a quiet wave of pity spread across the spectators.
This clown… really didn't know who he was picking a fight with.
Pointing fingers? Talking trash?
He was digging his own grave.
"Is he serious? This guy's the definition of a clown." Tobirama shook his head with a half-smile, arms crossed.
Honestly, it was impressive in a way. The guy even made statements they themselves would never dare say out loud.
People like Hiruzen and even the ever-dignified Minato found themselves reluctantly respecting Buggy's unfiltered boldness.
But would they ever want to switch places with him?
Not in a million years.
If someone like Ryosuke decided to retaliate seriously…
Buggy wouldn't even leave ashes behind.
Meanwhile, in the Pirate World camp, reactions were mixed.
"He looks younger than Luffy!"
"Sixth again? Is that their rank or something? He shouldn't be much stronger than that white-haired guy from earlier, right?"
"Buggy got lucky with this matchup!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself. What if the kid turns out to be tough?"
"Kaido, you think that's possible? He looks like he's fifteen, maybe sixteen. Even if he started training as a toddler, how strong could he possibly be?"
"Exactly. Luffy only became strong in his twenties. And that's with the legendary Human-Human Fruit—Model: Nika!"
Clearly, most of the Pirate Kings weren't impressed by Ryosuke's youthful appearance.
In their minds, strength required time to mature.
One didn't just stumble into power overnight.
Buggy may not have been the strongest among them, but he had years of experience, a sharpened Devil Fruit ability, and mastery over top-grade Armament and Observation Haki.
Add in that notorious luck, and he was a real threat—especially now that Imu and Uranus were nowhere in sight.
In terms of one-on-one duels?
Buggy had few rivals left in the Pirate King world.
Back on the battlefield—
Buggy heard Ryosuke refer to him mockingly as a "clown."
His blood boiled instantly.
"YOU BRAT! YOU DARE MOCK LORD BUGGY, THE PIRATE KING?! YOU'RE DEAD MEAT!"
Buggy roared, pointing at Ryosuke with shaking fury.
"Cut me into pieces? Sounds exciting. I'd like to see you try."
Ryosuke's reply was light and casual, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
"HOW DARE YOU?!"
Buggy howled in rage, steam practically bursting from his ears.
"I'LL SLICE YOU INTO RIBBONS!! SHI!!"
The clown bellowed and hurled his arms forward, his hands launching toward Ryosuke like homing missiles, cutting through the air like spinning blades.