In truth, Sengoku was lying. His injuries were far from minor—the power of that sword strike had cut deep into his body.
But for the sake of morale and the bigger picture, Sengoku had no choice but to grit his teeth and suppress the pain surging through him.
There was only one thing he could do now: keep moving forward, staking everything on the next battle.
Sengoku refused to believe that Marines could not stand against Kronos and his crew. Evil could never triumph over justice.
With that conviction, Sengoku picked up the Den Den Mushi and gave his command:
"Armies, proceed according to the original plan!"
"At any cost—take down Hachinosu and destroy the pirates led by Kronos!"
"In this battle, the Marines will have the last laugh! The defeat of Kronos and his crew is only a matter of time!"
At Sengoku's words, the Marine soldiers erupted with excitement, as if they could already see Kronos and his men falling before them, crushed beneath Marine might.
But the Admirals, who knew all too well the terrifying strength of Kronos and his allies, showed no joy.
They understood: this battle was destined to be brutal. Even if they won, it would not be a clean victory.
At the blaring of the battle horn, ten Vice Admirals led the charge, storming Hachinosu at the head of their divisions like wild beasts.
Before the campaign, Sengoku had made a bold promise to the armies: whoever managed to capture a member of the Kamui Pirates would receive 100 million Berries.
And if that captive was an official core member, the reward would not only be increased tenfold but also come with medals, honor, and a guarantee of elite treatment in retirement.
With such irresistible incentives, it was no wonder the soldiers were ready to throw themselves into madness.
Glory, wealth, and fame—these three sparks ignited the Marines' fighting spirit, driving them to face even the most terrifying foes.
Everyone knew how monstrous Kronos was, but the Marines had already steeled their hearts. Each of them resolved to kill a member of the Kamui Pirates.
"It's my duty to wipe out all pirates!" Vice Admiral Doberman growled, clenching his cigar between his teeth.
"We'll avenge Admiral Akainu!" Vice Admiral Onigumo declared, his killing intent surging. He looked ready to drag the Kamui Pirates down even if it cost him his life.
High above, at the peak of Hachinosu, Kronos stood with his hands clasped behind his back, calmly watching the battlefield unfold below.
Almost to himself, he murmured:
"The Marines are finally here."
"But I wonder… what kind of show do they have prepared for me?"
"I'm truly looking forward to it."
If it were anyone else in his place, fear would have already consumed them.
But not Kronos. Far from trembling, he welcomed it—he wanted the full wave of Marine fury to come crashing down on him.
Marines? To many, they were the invincible embodiment of justice.
But to Kronos… so what?
To cover the Vice Admirals' charge, the Marines poured their strength into bombardment. In just the opening salvo, Hachinosu was blasted with thousands of shells.
BOOM! BOOM!
The sky itself seemed to roar as the island was drowned in firepower. Thousands of shells rained down at once, turning the sky dark.
And then—
From the depths of Hachinosu, a thunderous voice rose:
"Sage Art: Traction Technique!"
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[Naruto: I Don't Want Recognition]
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