Staring at the massive hollow blasted open by Jin, Barry and the others were so shocked their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
What had they just witnessed?
Two gigantic water dragons forming out of thin air on the sea was already outrageous enough—but they had actually blown a hole straight through the Aqua Laguna!
Subconsciously, Tilestone swallowed hard.
"T-This… this is the ninja guy's true strength?!"
It was genuinely terrifying.
"That's insane!" Zambai said excitedly. "With someone this strong going with us to save big bro, we can definitely do it!"
"Yeah!"
"It's not just that," Barry said gravely. "This guy can manipulate seawater…"
He had seen it clearly.
Somehow, Jin had mobilized the ocean itself, turning it into two massive water dragons.
Was that ninjutsu?
From a certain point of view, someone like him was the natural nemesis of Devil Fruit users. In naval battles, any Devil Fruit ability user would be at an inherent disadvantage against him.
Thankfully, someone like that was on their side.
"BOOM!!"
The Rocket Man shot forward at extreme speed, blasting straight through the enormous opening and successfully crossing the Aqua Laguna!
"We made it through!!"
"We survived!!"
The Franky Family was so emotional that tears streamed down their faces. Skirting the edge between life and death like that was far too exhilarating.
After glancing into the distance and confirming there were no more tsunamis, Jin calmly turned back and said,
"If you spot anything else behind us, report it immediately."
"Roger that, Ninja Boss!"
Seeing Zambai and the others looking at him with eyes full of worship, Jin simply smiled and said nothing more.
When he returned to the carriage, Luffy immediately rushed over.
"That was awesome, Jin!"
"How did you do that?!"
"Those two huge water dragons just burst out all at once!"
"Yeah, yeah!" Chopper said while wildly gesturing. "That was ninjutsu, right?!"
"Nin!"
"Nin!"
"Ninja big brother is amazing!" Chimney cheered.
"Young people these days are really something," Granny Kokoro sighed.
They had all been standing by the window earlier, watching the entire process—from the formation of the water dragons to their charge forward.
It was unbelievably shocking.
"Yep, ninjutsu," Jin said with a grin as he sat down nearby. "That was Water Release."
"Water Release?"
"That's right," Jin explained. "One of the elemental attributes of ninjutsu."
"Then do you have other attributes too?"
"Of course," Jin said proudly. "I possess all five elemental chakra natures. I've also done some research into Yin–Yang Release and sealing techniques."
He'd sneaked into Danzo's Root base more than a few times back in the day. Some of their secret techniques—he'd seen them.
For example… the Expansion Jutsu.
In a sense, that technique was a manifestation of Yang Release.
As for the Scroll of Seals, he'd studied that often as well—after all, the Third Hokage had permitted it.
Zoro's gaze toward Jin subtly changed.
He recalled the words Jin had said earlier.
If I really wanted to attack, you'd all be dead before you ever saw me.
Indeed.
If Jin truly harbored killing intent, there would've been no need for him to board the train at all. Attacking from afar with that kind of technique would've been enough.
At that speed, if the Sea Train had been hit by such an attack, the outcome would've been no different from crashing into the Aqua Laguna itself.
Total destruction. No survivors.
"So you really have that many attributes?!" Luffy said excitedly. "Then what are the other ninjutsu like?!"
"Can you show us?!"
"Hehe, no rush~" Jin said with a smile. "There'll be chances later."
They were about to head into battle—there was no reason to waste stamina showing off now.
With that, Jin stood up and headed toward the driver's cabin. Nami had said she was contacting Sanji earlier—he wanted to know how things were going on the other side too.
"Nooo, don't go~!"
Luffy hugged Jin's leg tightly. "Show me just one more!"
"Yeah, Jin," Chopper grabbed his other leg. "Please!"
The scene earlier had been far too shocking. They couldn't calm down at all.
Realizing he couldn't move, Jin looked helplessly at the two clinging to his legs.
Wasn't this just shameless pestering?
Luffy was one thing—he often acted like a kid.
But Chopper too?
Then again… when he thought about it, Chopper wasn't much better.
"Hey," Zoro spoke up. "That's enough, you two. The fight ahead is probably going to be brutal. The enemy won't give us time to rest."
"If possible, don't waste your strength."
He didn't know what conditions ninjutsu required, but it definitely consumed something.
Burning energy just to entertain Luffy could wait until after Robin was rescued.
"Tch, stupid Zoro."
"Marimo!"
"Three-sword freak!"
"Crack—"
Veins bulged on Zoro's forehead as he bared his teeth like a shark.
"Was I wrong?!"
"And why did I just hear that damn curly-brow's voice?!"
As he spoke, Zoro searched for the source—quickly locking onto Nami's hand.
Nami had just come out of the driver's cabin, holding a Den Den Mushi.
And that Den Den Mushi looked exactly like Sanji.
Zoro: "..."
So that's where it was hiding.
"Heh. Hearing my voice—feels exciting, doesn't it?" Sanji said with a grin.
"Not at all," Zoro replied coldly. "Looks like you're not dead yet."
Though that's what he said, the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his true feelings.
At the very least, he knew that idiot cook was still alive.
"Tch."
Sanji clicked his tongue, then said, "I heard our crew's got a new member, yeah?"
"Hello, I'm Jin," Jin said with a friendly smile.
By now, Luffy and Chopper had finally let go of his legs.
"I'm Sanji." Sanji paused, glancing at Usopp standing behind him. Instinctively, he wanted to introduce him.
But after seeing Usopp's expression, he silently sighed instead.
Then he continued, "I heard you're a ninja?"
"Hm?"
The moment those words reached him, Usopp instantly perked up.
Franky was the same.
Ninjas were something they'd only ever seen in storybooks before. No one had ever met a real one.
Now that a living, breathing ninja had appeared in front of them, how could they not be excited?
But when Usopp remembered that he had already left the Straw Hat Pirates, his eyes dimmed again.
"Yeah, I'm a ninja," Jin said. "What, you want me to demonstrate ninjutsu too?"
"Haha, looks like Luffy already did that, huh?"
"You really know him well."
"Of course," Sanji smiled. "But that kind of thing can wait for another time."
Sanji was curious about ninjas too—but he knew what mattered right now.
"Alright, let's talk business," Sanji said seriously. "Luffy, I already know the real reason Robin left us."
"So I want your authorization!"
"Authorization for what?"
"Authorization to declare war!"
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