Whitebeard's body was covered in bruises, black and white patches scattered across his skin. His eyes held a trace of wariness as he looked at Kaito.
He'd experienced lightning-speed kicks before—Kizaru loved to use that move. But deep down, he knew: Kaito's was on a whole different level. Whether in speed or power, the two weren't even in the same league.
Kizaru could never have kicked him like this—but Uchiha Kaito could.
The reason Kaito's Lightning-Speed Kick surpassed Kizaru's wasn't just because of his vastly superior physique. Just now, he had also fused the power of the More-More Fruit into his attack. That kick alone had reached a level beyond the strength of an Emperor.
Several of the Whitebeard Pirates' division commanders lit up when they saw their old man appear, shouting "Pops!" as they charged toward him.
But Whitebeard didn't even turn his head. He extended one arm to block the captains behind him and said in a low, commanding voice:
"This man is not someone you can handle. Stay back!"
With that, he yanked off his white coat, revealing his solid, muscular torso. He slammed his naginata, Murakumogiri, heavily onto the ice, unleashing a domineering aura.
Several Marines couldn't withstand it and collapsed to the ground. Kaito's eyes narrowed as the pressure from the Rinnegan exploded outward, instantly suppressing Whitebeard's aura in return.
Under that overwhelming pressure, not only the regular crew members of the Whitebeard Pirates, but even some of the weaker division commanders collapsed to their knees, on the verge of losing consciousness.
Seeing this, Whitebeard could no longer remain calm. If this went on, his men would all be down!
He gripped Murakumogiri and was about to charge at Kaito when suddenly, a deep crimson aura blasted in from Kaito's flank, slamming into him.
Kaito's coat of Justice billowed violently, but it still clung tightly to his shoulders.
His expression didn't change. He glanced sideways and said calmly,
"Red-Haired... is that how you say hello?"
"You don't like it?"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Several figures suddenly appeared beside Whitebeard, led by none other than Red-Haired Shanks.
Their ship hadn't been able to follow—the ice had blocked their path. So Shanks and his officers had crossed the frozen sea directly.
And what they saw upon arrival was Whitebeard being completely suppressed.
To ease the pressure on his ally, Shanks quickly released his own burst of Conqueror's Haki.
Kaito stood alone, arms crossed, facing two Emperors, his expression completely unfazed—as if he didn't see Whitebeard or Red-Haired as threats at all.
This level of composure left even the spectators watching via Den Den Mushi in awe.
...
Dressrosa, King's Plateau
Viola held Rebecca in her arms, her eyes dreamy as she stared at Kaito on the screen. The tip of her high heels nervously twisted against the floor.
Just as she was sinking deeper into infatuation, Kaito moved.
His fingers, resting on his arm, lifted slightly. Instantly, Whitebeard and Red-Haired sensed danger and raised their weapons.
In the next moment, Kaito's body transformed into lightning and shot forward.
This time, Whitebeard was ready. He pushed his Observation Haki to its limit, barely tracking Kaito's trajectory. Red-Haired did the same, and the two Emperors slashed at the same spot with full force.
Clang!
Their Haki-infused weapons slammed into Kaito's leg, producing a metallic ring.
Kaito floated mid-air between them, leg still outstretched in a kick. He smiled.
"Terrifying... I almost lost this leg!"
But Whitebeard and Red-Haired weren't smiling. They'd hoped that, even if the attack didn't cripple him, it would at least immobilize that leg.
Yet here was Kaito, unharmed, joking as if nothing had happened.
Seeing no reaction from the two, Kaito dropped his smile. A purple light flashed in his Rinnegan—
The next second, Almighty Push erupted.
Whitebeard and Red-Haired were both blasted away by the repelling force. Kaito somersaulted mid-air and landed gracefully on the ground.
Then he spread his arms wide—
Universal Pull.
The two Emperors were yanked toward him from opposite directions.
But even while being dragged in, the two still reacted with the reflexes of Emperors.
Red-Haired's sword glowed with red lightning, the dark-red aura crackling violently as he swung it toward Kaito.
"Divine Departure!"
Meanwhile, Whitebeard channeled his quake powers into Murakumogiri's tip. As he slashed, the ice shattered in a curved arc, and tremors spread beneath Kaito's feet.
The ice cracked and collapsed violently.
Faced with simultaneous attacks from above and below, Kaito remained calm.
First, he used the powers of the Deva Path to stabilize his footing.
Then—a deep purple Susanoo enveloped his body.
Red-Haired's Divine Departure struck the Susanoo's armor with a boom. The massive form shuddered slightly, then returned to normal.
The combined attacks had been completely neutralized.
And now the two Emperors were within range.
Two deep purple energy blades appeared in Susano'o's hands and slashed downward at Whitebeard and Red-Haired.
Two shark-fin-shaped shockwaves split the ice, slamming into the flying Emperors.
Blood sprayed from their mouths as they crashed to the ice like broken kites.
...
Kaito dispersed the Susano'o and began walking slowly toward the two fallen Emperors.
Seeing this, Marco could no longer hold back. He entered his phoenix form and rushed toward Whitebeard, trying to heal him with blue flames.
Beckman raised his pistol and aimed at Kaito, ready to shoot.
But then—
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
Marco, mid-air, was suddenly struck by a massive ice bird. Half his body was instantly frozen, and he crashed awkwardly onto the ice. His face was grim as he looked at the newcomer—Aokiji.
White frost still curled around Aokiji's arm as he said seriously,
"Can't let you get in Kaito's way."
On the other side, Beckman glanced down at the glowing sword pressed against his neck, silent.
Behind him stood Kizaru, holding the sword.
His usually laid-back face was solemn, and the light from his amber lenses glinted dangerously as he said coldly,
"Don't move, Beckman."
...
On the tall platform of Marineford, Akainu looked around at the now-empty seats and tugged his cap lower.
It wasn't that he didn't want to act—he was simply weighing the situation.
There were still two Emperors unaccounted for.
Aokiji and Kizaru had rushed out without hesitation, leaving him to hold the fort.
He glanced toward their empty seats and muttered darkly,
"You both ran off... So who's guarding this place now?"