Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for just $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations <<
----------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 171: Whitebeard Enters the Battle, The Second Battle Begins
Was Whitebeard about to make his move?
Everyone's gaze remained fixed on the standing figure displayed on the screen.
The people of the Pirate World were ecstatic. Among the original Four Emperors, Whitebeard was a name that carried immense weight. He represented a legend of the sea, an entire era unto himself. He was a figure comparable to Gol D. Roger, and while his final achievements might not have equaled the Pirate King's, in terms of raw power, Whitebeard stood on equal ground.
To claim there was a gap between them would be splitting hairs. Now, the man known as the "World's Strongest Man" was about to take the field. How could anyone not be thrilled? Even ordinary civilians who despised pirates felt a surge of adrenaline.
In contrast, the people of the Ninja World felt a sense of unease, though some remained optimistic.
"This guy looks ancient. Can he really fight at that age? Even if he was strong in his prime, surely he's past it now!"
This was the prevailing view among the common folk. However, the ninjas felt a distinct sense of foreboding.
Did age necessarily equate to weakness? Not in their world.
Konoha's Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Iwagakure's Third Tsuchikage, Onoki of Both Scales, were both advanced in years. Yet, very few in the entire Ninja World would dare to claim they could defeat them. Their age brought experience, often making them even more dangerous than their younger counterparts.
Boom!
Suddenly, the focus shifted.
The screen changed, replaying the final moments of the previous match: Kaido's decisive blow against the Fourth Raikage. Kaido's fist, coated in exaggerated Armament Haki, had struck the Raikage squarely on the forehead.
One punch. An instant kill.
[The First Battle]
[Winner: Pirate World]
[Current Score — Pirate : Ninja]
[1 : 0]
Winning the first round sent a wave of euphoria through the Pirate World. The gloomy atmosphere from previous defeats was swept away. Kaido's victory had been overwhelming; there were no close calls or desperate struggles. He had suppressed his opponent from start to finish.
The Fourth Raikage had underestimated the pirates, and he paid the price for looking down on an Emperor of the Sea. Furthermore, his fighting style had been completely countered by Kaido. Trying to brawl with Kaido without a sufficient speed advantage was a recipe for disaster.
On the screen, Kaido seemed ready to continue his rampage, his fury not yet fully sated, even as the Raikage lay unconscious. But then, a beam of light descended from the heavens, enveloping him. In an instant, both Kaido and the Fourth Raikage vanished from the inexplicable Gobi Desert battlefield.
Their disappearance signaled the start of the next phase. A countdown appeared on the massive light curtain.
[The Second Battle is about to begin]
[Please confirm candidates]
[Countdown: 10...]
[...]
[3]
[2]
[1]
Yuichi's group and the Five Kages made their selections simultaneously. As the countdown hit zero, the text on the screen shifted.
[The Second Battle]
[Pirate World: Whitebeard (Edward Newgate)]
[Ninja World: Fifth Kazekage (Gaara of the Sand)]
Swish!
The scenery on the light curtain transformed. The battlefield shifted from the desolate Gobi to a massive, rocky jungle. Two beams of light struck the ground, depositing Gaara and Whitebeard onto opposing stone pillars.
The moment he materialized, Whitebeard turned his icy gaze toward Gaara. Immediately, his expression soured.
"A brat... You're sending a little kid to fight me? Are you handing this old man the victory on a silver platter?"
Whitebeard momentarily forgot that the opponents had chosen their fighters blindly; the matchup against Gaara was pure coincidence.
However, Whitebeard was displeased regardless.
The Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, summoned via the Time Selection Privilege, was currently at his peak. During the defense of Sunagakure, his performance had satisfied his people, even though he had ultimately lost to Yuichi. That loss had been due to Yuichi's overwhelming speed—sand simply couldn't catch him—and the need to protect the village, which limited Gaara's tactical options.
But this time, the battlefield was not Sunagakure. Gaara could unleash his full power without restraint.
Facing Whitebeard's taunt, Gaara merely glanced at him impassively. Sand began to stream out of the giant gourd on his back, circling his body in a defensive formation. He was ready for war.
The cold demeanor of the child bored Whitebeard, though he begrudgingly admired the boy's calmness. Young people should be impulsive, yet this kid showed no fluctuation in his eyes, even in the face of disdain.
Gripping his massive bisento, Murakumogiri, Whitebeard grinned. "Not much for talking, are you? Fine, let's cut the nonsense. This old man will let you make the first move! Come on, brat from the other world!"
Gaara's eyes narrowed slightly. He felt only one thing: the old man before him was unfathomable. Whitebeard possessed absolute strength, but also a sharp mind and deep cunning. Offering the first move was simply a way to gauge Gaara's abilities.
Gaara subtly sensed the terrain. This was a rocky forest. While not as ideal as a desert, his sand could grind the rocks down to increase his supply. However, that process took time—time he needed to buy.
His primary objective was to stall.
With that thought, Gaara crouched slightly. A large mass of sand coalesced beneath his feet, forming a floating platform that lifted him into the sky.
Seeing this, Whitebeard mentally adjusted his assessment of Gaara.
A cautious brat. Before attacking, he secures his safety. Taking air superiority... that makes him troublesome to deal with.
Suddenly, the sound of shifting sand came from both sides.
Whitebeard curled his lip and took a casual step back.
Swipe!
Two tendrils of sand lashed out, aiming to bind him from the left and right. His step back allowed him to dodge perfectly. However, the sand twisted in mid-air like a living thing, snapping back to wrap around Whitebeard's wrist and shoulder.
He can control the sand in the air as freely as his own limbs? Whitebeard mused.
This reminded him of that brat Crocodile.
With a cold huff, the quake power within his body surged. A high-frequency vibration ripple traveled through his muscles, instantly pulverizing the binding sand and scattering it into dust.
He broke free with ease.
The two combatants stared at each other, both frowning slightly as the tentative exchange ended.
.....
Support this fanfict by leaving a Review, Comments, and Power Stones.
For Advance Chapters:
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations