"Hehe, this ninjutsu is pretty good, isn't it?"
Standing beside Doberman, Jin laughed softly. "I prepared it especially for you two~"
Provoked like this—on top of the severe pain from his severed arm—Doberman felt his head growing lighter and lighter.
My consciousness… is starting to fade…
Damn it…
That cursed pirate!
Seeing Doberman's condition clearly worsening, the smile on Jin's face only deepened.
Words, at times, were also a weapon.
Glancing at the furious Onigumo glaring at him, Jin said calmly,
"Don't look at me like that. I said I'd stop the Buster Call—but I never said I'd confront you head-on."
Using one's brain in battle—
That was what a qualified ninja was supposed to do.
Meanwhile, within the vast water domain—
Jin floated at its very center, smiling as he looked up at the three Marine Vice Admirals above.
Then, he clapped his hands together.
Water Prison: Dance of the Swimming Fish!
In the next instant, a thin, membrane-like layer began forming across Jin's body, gradually wrapping around him.
With it, he could fight underwater for far longer—
And the resistance of the water itself was drastically reduced.
This is actually the first time I've used this technique against an enemy.
This ninjutsu was something Jin had developed after studying Kisame Hoshigaki's combat style.
Even without Samehada, he could still achieve similar effects.
However, to deal with the warships, Jin hadn't anchored himself at the center of the technique.
That way, he could freely use the Marines aboard the ships to restrain the Vice Admirals instead.
"That bastard…"
The three Vice Admirals who had leapt out using Geppo stared down at Jin in fury.
They had never seen anything this outrageous.
Normally, anyone challenging a Buster Call would prioritize eliminating the top combat forces.
This guy?
He went straight for the warships instead.
Yet infuriating as it was—they had to admit it.
This strategy was brutally effective.
Even if they killed this ninja today, the Navy's reputation would still be dragged through the mud.
Watching their subordinates struggling in the water, veins bulged on Onigumo's forehead.
Ordinary soldiers were one thing—
But those who had eaten Devil Fruits were already rolling their eyes.
Hated by the sea itself, they had absolutely no ability to resist.
They could only wait to die.
"Damn it!"
"One Sword Style: Blazing Inferno!"
Whoosh—!
Armament Haki spread across his blade as blazing flames erupted from it.
A massive flaming slash descended from the sky, cleaving viciously into the water domain below!
BOOM!!
The strike actually tore open a huge裂 opening in the water sphere!
But unfortunately—
Because Jin had not released the technique, the water immediately began repairing itself, flowing back into a perfect sphere.
Onigumo didn't waste the chance and roared,
"All units! Find a way to break out of the water zone immediately!"
Whether anyone could hear him, he didn't know—but it was all he could do.
"I'll go rescue them," Momonga said.
"Geppo!"
He turned into a blur and rushed toward Onigumo's position—
But before he could reach them, a thin water line suddenly shot out.
Water Release: Water Severing Wave!
Whoosh!
Sensing fatal danger, Momonga instantly halted his movement midair and retreated.
Shhk—!
Like slicing tofu, the high-pressure water beam cut straight through a distant section of the bridge.
Momonga's pupils shrank violently.
If that attack had struck him head-on—
Would Armament Haki even be able to block it?
No wonder Doberman had lost an arm.
Most likely, this was the very technique Jin had used underwater.
"I'd advise you not to come any closer,"
Jin said with a grin, standing beside Doberman and Onigumo.
"Otherwise, I'll kill every Marine inside that water zone."
"Believe me—I have the strength to do it."
Looking at the bright, almost sunny smile on Jin's face, Momonga's heart sank straight to the bottom.
"You really think you can kill all of them with two Vice Admirals present?!" he shouted.
Jin didn't answer.
He merely pointed toward the water domain.
Momonga turned—and instantly saw the nightmare unfolding.
Inside the water, Jin was moving at an absolutely terrifying speed.
In almost the blink of an eye, multiple Marines were cut down.
After that, he effortlessly shook off the two Vice Admirals pursuing him and continued slaughtering others.
During the process—
He even cast a provocative glance toward Momonga.
Momonga: !!!
His eyes turned bloodshot.
He wanted nothing more than to skin that brat alive.
But he forced himself to calm down.
Anger wouldn't change anything—it would only rob him of reason.
With decades of experience, he understood almost instantly.
This was psychological warfare.
The enemy was forcing him to choose:
Save the two Vice Admirals—
Or save nearly ten thousand Marine soldiers trapped in the water.
How was he supposed to choose?!
How could he choose?!
And as he hesitated—
More Marines died at Jin's hands.
"If you don't interfere," Jin said calmly,
"I naturally won't slaughter Marines at will."
"But if you do—even if you rescue those two—
you five still won't be able to stop my killing."
"Don't forget—I possess both clone techniques and Water Release."
"If I want to, the same water blade that cut your warship
can just as easily cut through their bodies."
Momonga: ...
He fell silent.
Was he really supposed to gamble the lives of ten thousand Marine Headquarters soldiers?
These weren't rookies from the Four Blues—
They were elite forces of Marineford.
Among them were countless officers with great future potential.
If they all died…
That loss was something the Navy could not bear.
Damn it… move already! What are you hesitating for?!
Onigumo glared at Momonga furiously from inside the water.
Even if some soldiers died, they would be sacrifices for justice!
Did Momonga really think negotiating with pirates would lead anywhere?!
And—
Wouldn't this man also threaten the lives of the enemy's companions?!
You idiot!
Perhaps it was Onigumo's gaze that finally gave Momonga an idea.
His eyes suddenly sharpened as he noticed Robin and the others moving in the distance.
Momonga's expression turned razor-cold.
"Kid, I'll admit—your thinking is viciously clever, but—"
He raised his arm and unleashed a flying slash!
"Don't underestimate the justice of the Marines, brat!!"
BOOM!!
The massive flying slash struck the edge of the water sphere, forcing Jin's clone backward.
With its support broken, the Water Prison technique collapsed, turning back into flowing seawater.
Freed at last, Onigumo immediately grabbed Doberman and kicked off with Geppo, soaring into the air while gasping desperately.
Sa… saved…
That suffocating feeling—
He never wanted to experience it again.
Jin stepped back several paces and looked up at Momonga.
"So you really chose to act…"
he said calmly.
"Aren't you afraid I'll kill even more Marines?"
"Brat, you're not the only one who knows how to threaten people,"
Momonga said coldly.
"If you continue slaughtering ordinary soldiers, I'll go and kill every member of the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"Believe me—I have that strength!"
Hearing this, Jin's expression didn't change at all.
Which only made Momonga feel uneasy.
…Was he really not afraid?
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