"A Logia fruit?"
Atmos was shocked, having never witnessed such a bizarre and overwhelmingly powerful ability.
Not only were these trees numerous, but they were also incredibly agile, plunging him into an unprecedented difficult battle.
Though he swung his sword repeatedly, enhancing his attacks with Haki, the trees seemed inexhaustible, constantly surging from all directions, leaving him overwhelmed.
"For the Whitebeard Pirates!" Atmos roared, yet as time passed, his stamina and Haki gradually depleted, and his movements grew slower.
Meanwhile, Hashirama Senju stood nearby, observing Atmos's battle with curiosity.
He stroked his chin, pondering to himself, "His strength is indeed exceptional, surpassing many jonin."
As Atmos's stamina was nearly exhausted, he was finally surrounded by the ever-increasing number of trees, ultimately unable to resist and tightly bound by them.
"Old man, I've disgraced you!" he lamented inwardly.
Seeing his enemy defeated, Hashirama Senju, who seldom resorted to lethal force, turned away and left, leaving the battlefield in ruins.
As he watched Hashirama Senju's retreating figure, Atmos, filled with frustration, quickly relayed the information back to the Whitebeard Pirates.
The pirates on the island fell into a state of immense terror.
They exchanged bewildered glances, murmuring in disbelief.
"Someone actually managed to defeat the captain of our 13th division? This is unbelievable!"
"This is a blatant provocation against the entire Whitebeard Pirates!"
The news quickly reached the flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Upon hearing this, Marco couldn't hide his surprise, his brow furrowing deeply.
Meanwhile, Whitebeard, seated on his throne and clutching a massive sake jug, burst into hearty laughter.
"Interesting, very interesting!"
It had been years since anyone dared to challenge the Whitebeard Pirates.
The last time was probably when Ace came around. He harbored no resentment towards being challenged; instead, he found it amusing.
"Maybe we'll gain another son this time," he thought to himself.
In the distance, Hashirama Senju suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
Diamond Jozu rose abruptly, his imposing figure as majestic as a mountain.
"Since someone dares to challenge the dignity of the Whitebeard Pirates, let me go teach him a lesson!"
"I will make him understand that the honor of the Whitebeard Pirates is not something just anyone can tarnish!"
With Jozu's decision, the entire Whitebeard Pirates erupted in excitement.
They raised their cups together, cheering for Jozu.
"Haha, Captain Jozu, show him the strength of the Whitebeard Pirates!"
Whitebeard and Marco did not intervene, for in their view, Jozu's strength was sufficient to rank within the top three of their crew, capable of holding his own even against an Emperor or Admiral for a short while.
And within this sea area, there couldn't possibly be someone strong enough to dare come here.
...
Within just half a day, utilizing the Whitebeard Pirates' formidable intelligence network, Diamond Jozu had already located Hashirama Senju, who was preparing to leave the island.
His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, was fixed intently on the man by the shore.
Suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply.
"Wait!" Jozu raised his hand, stopping the crew members behind him who were about to charge forward. There was a hint of disbelief in his voice. "That man…"
Black hair, red armor, and a face that had shocked the entire world.
"Hashirama Senju…" Jozu's voice was grave. "The World Government's most wanted criminal, the hero who killed three Celestial Dragons."
The crew members behind him gasped.
This name, this face, had spread throughout the world over the past month. They hadn't made the connection before, but now the memories came flooding back.
"What a troublesome situation…" Having noticed Jozu, Hashirama scratched his head, revealing a helpless smile. "What if I said I wasn't the one who did that? Would you believe me?"
Jozu's expression was stern.
Under normal circumstances, encountering someone bold enough to target the Celestial Dragons, he would have invited them for a drink. After all, those who called themselves "descendants of the creators" had long deserved someone to put them in their place.
But—
"You insulted Pops." Jozu's voice was cold as ice. "On these seas, no one insults our Pops!"
Hashirama sighed. He had just heard from these people about the legend of "Whitebeard," the being called the "Strongest Man in the World."
Still… the Strongest Man in the World. How intriguing.
He wondered who would win in a fight between him and that mysterious guy, Roy.
Hashirama's gaze fell upon Jozu, a glint of interest in his eyes.
He could sense the immense power contained within the man before him.
"Since you insist on fighting," Hashirama laughed heartily, "I suppose I'll play along. I'm curious to witness the strength of this world's warriors myself."
The sea breeze suddenly turned fierce.
Jozu's body began to shimmer with a diamond-like radiance, every inch of his skin becoming crystalline, refracting brilliant light under the sun.
"Remember my name," Jozu's voice boomed like thunder. "Diamond Jozu, Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' Third Division! Today, I'll show you the might of the Whitebeard Pirates!"
The corners of Hashirama's mouth curved slightly upward. "Hashirama Senju, a wandering ninja."
Before the words faded, Jozu had already charged forward like a streak of light.
His fist carried a howling gale, distorting the air in its wake.
Unhurried, Hashirama's hands flew through a series of seals. "Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
Sturdy trees instantly burst from the ground, forming a solid barrier between them. Jozu's fist slammed into the wooden wall, creating a deafening crash.
Amidst the flying wood chips, Jozu's pupils contracted once more. His diamond fist had failed to penetrate this seemingly ordinary wooden wall!
"Not bad strength," Hashirama's voice came from behind the wall. "However, that alone won't harm me."
A smirk touched Jozu's lips. "Is that so? Then how about this?"
His body suddenly spun, his diamond form transforming into a dazzling whirlwind. "Diamond Tornado!"
The wooden wall finally buckled under such a ferocious assault, shattering with a crash. Yet, as the dust settled, Jozu froze—there was no one in sight!
"Above!"
Jozu looked up to find Hashirama standing atop a colossal tree that had seemingly appeared from nowhere. Hashirama clasped his hands together again, his calm voice echoing across the entire coast:
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Countless colossal trees erupted from the ground, transforming the coastline into a primeval forest in an instant.
Jozu was surrounded by the giant trees, their thick branches snaking towards him like living serpents.
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