Thump!
Iron fist and iron leg collided, generating intense air current fluctuations.
The two figures held firm for a few seconds before separating once more.
"No mistake! Kid, what's your relationship with Garp?"
If it was just an illusion before, now, after personally facing Naruto's [Galaxy Impact], Chinjao could confirm with one hundred percent certainty.
'This kid's fist technique was taught by that bastard Garp!'
Just thinking of Garp made Chinjao feel his head ache faintly, especially the phantom pain at the spot where his 'drill head' once was.
Good news: Naruto was cleared of being a spy.
After all, a guy suspected to be a disciple of the Marine Hero had no need to get involved in the war between two West Blue countries as a spy.
Bad news: Chinjao's killing intent towards Naruto didn't lessen but increased.
Thinking of his reduced strength after losing his 'drill head', and the agony of being unable to use [Drill Dragon Drill Nail] to open the ice mountain, only able to watch helplessly as his treasure accumulated over the years was buried under the ice, Chinjao's resentment and anger soared once more.
As for Naruto, he was grimacing while vigorously rubbing his arm.
'Something slipped in... My arm can't use strength from that earlier hit.'
During their collision, Naruto could clearly perceive a wave of fluctuations transmitted into his body through Chinjao's kick.
Immediately after, the muscles in his arm first began to ache and go numb, then his internal organs also seemed to suffer some vibration, making him feel nauseous.
'What a strange fist technique.'
Hearing Garp's name from Chinjao's mouth, Naruto was also stunned, then realized.
'Right, that old man's reputation on this sea was simply too big. His moves weren't unfamiliar to some older powerhouses.'
"Old man, there's no need to drag that old man Garp into our business, is there?"
Considering he was once a member of Roger's crew, even if just an apprentice crewman, and also considering Ace currently staying in the East Blue, Naruto didn't want to reveal his connection with Garp.
After all, Garp was still a Marine at the end of the day. Getting involved with a guy like him, even if no one dared touch him, there certainly wouldn't be a shortage of gossip behind his back.
He was all too familiar with that taste of being talked about behind one's back.
However, this statement from Naruto completely confirmed the master-disciple relationship between him and Garp in Chinjao's mind.
After all, in Kano Country, some martial arts schools also had similar traditions, like 'not being allowed to reveal one's school before making a name for oneself'.
"Good... truly good..."
"Garp! You took my drill head! Then this old man will take your disciple!!"
Saying this, Chinjao directly leaped up, palms pressed together, Haki suddenly coating his entire upper body.
"Hasshoken Secret Technique - Drill-less Dragon Drill-less Nail!"
This was another secret principle he comprehended in agony after losing his drill head. Compared to the original drill head's strong penetrative power, 'drill-less dragon' focused more on overall impact.
"Hey hey hey... I already said don't decide on your own, you stinky old man!"
Seeing the other not only didn't back off but even had killing intent more intense, Naruto also decided not to hold back anymore.
Are you kidding, he couldn't fall at the very first stop after setting sail again.
"Hah!"
Naruto clenched his fists and lowered them to his sides, then took a deep breath. His entire chest cavity expanded like a balloon.
"Life Return - Full Body Release!"
As his control over his body reached the peak, the water and food he had just replenished were quickly digested. His body immediately shifted from the current 'energy-saving mode' back to 'overclock mode'.
His originally nearly two-meter height grew another segment taller.
At the same time, his muscles on his limbs and torso also rapidly swelled.
"Indeed! You really are a Marine!"
Seeing Naruto even execute the secret principles of the Rokushiki, Chinjao became even more certain of his suspicion, his speed of descent further increasing.
"Take off! You don't-listen-to-people-talk stinky old man!"
Naruto's fist was like a large hammer, heavily striking Chinjao's top of his head.
Instantly, shockwaves like the sound of a great bell spread out in all directions.
"What... this kid?"
Chinjao felt the fluctuations his Hasshoken transmitted out were actually partly canceled out!
Although only a very small part, it proved that this kid before him, merely from their first exchange of a few moves, had figured out the basic principles of Hasshoken.
Using fists to produce shockwaves.
These shockwaves could not only serve as weapons, transmitted into the enemy's body along the enemy's torso, but could also spread out, turning into a solid shield, dissipating the enemy's strength.
Of course, what shocked Chinjao even more was that he truly fell into a disadvantage in this contest of strength.
'This kid's strength is stronger than mine!?'
...
"So that guy Uzumaki Naruto actually defeated Grandpa back then!?"
Boo, hearing this, opened his eyes in disbelief.
After all, among the people he could come into contact with, his grandfather Chinjao was the strongest.
Now to hear that the [Great Hero] actually defeated once his grandfather when he was just in his early twenties was truly hard for him to imagine.
At least if he himself were fighting Chinjao, he was absolutely couldn't think of any way to win.
"Shut up, Boo. That was definitely because Grandpa had lost his 'drill head'!"
Sai directly rejected his brother's statement, but then he seemed to think of something, his gaze shifting to his grandfather's pointed top of his head.
"Wait, Grandpa, your drill head has always been fine, hasn't it?"
Bringing this up, Sai also vaguely had some memory.
When he was around ten years old, he indeed vaguely remembered his grandfather had a long period where he didn't want to come home. When asked why, everyone was tight-lipped.
Until one day, Grandpa came back laughing heartily running back home, shouldering again the 'leader' responsibilities.
That day, not only the Happo Navy, but even the Happo Army and all of Kano Country celebrated nationwide.
"You two brats, don't interrupt me!"
"The story is just getting to the most crucial part!"
…
Naruto's fist and Chinjao's head contended against each other, their Armament Haki also mutually consuming in the constant clashes.
But clearly, Naruto, with another energy system within his body, was far superior to Chinjao, who relied solely on brute force, both in strength and endurance.
Chinjao's huge form was continuously pushed back by Naruto's fist. The expression in his eyes transformed from initial killing intent to astonishment, then to incredulity.
Finally, with a cry of pain and the sound of some kind of bone sliding, Chinjao's entire person indeed, as Naruto had initially said, 'took off'.
Bang!
Chinjao's body heavily crashed down from mid-air, directly turning a nearby house into ruins.
Fortunately, their battle had attracted much attention from the initial stage, and nearby residents had long since evacuated, thus not causing more damage.
Also, only after the outcome of their fight was decided did Naruto belatedly realize see clearly the surrounding Happo Navy that had surrounded them.
"Bastard! How dare you treat Chief Chinjao like that!"
"Brothers, follow me!"
"Charge!"
Kano Country was a nation that revered martial arts. As the largest violent organization within this country, the vast majority in the Happo Navy possessed a courageous spirit.
They wouldn't be scared off by the power Naruto displayed.
Even if they died, they would bite off a piece of flesh from the opponent.
Looking at the crowd swarming forward, Naruto couldn't help but also feel a headache.
'I just hadn't paid for a meal. How did it become this situation?'
But now, not acting wasn't an option. He couldn't just allow them to capture him.
Just as both sides were at daggers drawn, a battle imminent, Chinjao's voice suddenly came from the ruins.
"Everyone!! Stop right now!!"
Within the Happo Navy, the leader's command was absolute.
So even though everyone was already blood boiling, prepared for a fight to the death, they still obediently stopped.
After shouting that, Chinjao's figure quickly stood up again from the ruins.
"Hahahaha... It's back... it's really back!"
Everyone found their leader's joyful voice strange. Even Naruto couldn't help suspect if that old man across had been knocked silly.
That would be troublesome.
However, when Chinjao returned to everyone's line of sight with his pointed head, those people also one after another empathetically let out joyful cries.
"Chief, your head!"
"Drill head! The drill head is back!"
…
"That's how it was. That kid Naruto owes me a great favor."
"Without him, my head would probably still be that ugly flat shape even now."
Chinjao said this while still reaching out to stroke his pointed head.
Hearing this, Sasuke thought to himself, 'This doesn't seem much better either...'
But considering most people in this world had strange and unusual appearances, perhaps they had their own unique aesthetic, so he shouldn't comment too much.
"Later, as repayment, I promised him one condition, and he also learned Hasshoken from here."
"Actually, looking at your relationship with Naruto, letting me directly teach you the secret principles isn't out of the question..."
Chinjao ended his reminiscence, looking at Sasuke with a friendlier expression.
'Come to think of it, this kid was at least much more polite than Naruto, even knew to send a formal visit notice through the front door.'
"No need. He is he, I am I."
Sasuke waved his hand in refusal.
"Let's wait until I help you resolve that whatever weapons matter before talking about fist technique matters."
"Hahaha... Good spirit, no wonder you could participate in that battlefield swarming with monsters."
Hearing this, Sasuke instead was stunned, then rarely showed a smile.
"You already figured it out?"
Chinjao smilingly replied.
"Of course, that day's commotion was so huge. Our place isn't some remote backwater. We certainly had Den Den Mushi broadcast here."
Saying this, Chinjao also pointed at his eldest grandson Sai.
"Only this kind of foolish kid would not recognize you."
"[Flame Wolf]..."
Hearing his unpleasant title, Sasuke couldn't smile anymore.
'...Who on earth came up with this name?'