"Water Style: Water Flow Bridge!"
With a shout, the blond-haired man stirred the calm sea, creating several water bridges extending from the ocean to the deck. The bald-headed pirates, eyes glinting with malice, charged across the water bridges towards the ship. Three of them brandished their tridents, aiming directly at Natsuhane, who was standing at the ship's edge.
Even in this dire situation, Kaisei continued to plead desperately, "Natsuhane, please, don't hurt them! Just die with me, or the Funato Clan's revenge will destroy the Land of the Sea! We'll be annihilated!"
"Huh?" Natsuhane was baffled.
Such an unreasonable request was beyond belief.
"If I die for a mere Land of the Sea, do you know how many women will become widows?"
Natsuhane had no intention of listening to Kaisei's pleas. He wasn't that noble. Just as the three bald-headed pirates closed in, Natsuhane's eyes flickered briefly, his red Sharingan flashing. In an instant, the three pirates fell under his genjutsu, their bodies freezing mid-attack before collapsing unconscious to the deck.
Their sudden fall shocked the remaining pirates.
"You've got guts, daring to oppose the Funato Clan!" the blond-haired leader snarled, glaring at Natsuhane with surprise. He hadn't even seen what Natsuhane did.
This guy might be tougher than expected...
The leader's face darkened. With a wave of his hand, the pirates surrounded Natsuhane.
Seeing his comrades unconscious, Kaisei despaired completely, "It's over… the Land of the Sea is doomed..."
Anyone who dared resist the Funato Clan within the Land of the Sea would face their full wrath.
"Guys, let's kill this brat. But be careful not to damage the ship!" the leader ordered, and the pirates simultaneously formed hand seals.
"Water Style: Water Binding!"
Vines of water rose from the sea, wrapping around Natsuhane. He remained motionless, letting the water vines entangle him. The blond-haired leader approached, grinning arrogantly.
"Pathetic, I thought you'd be a challenge. Turns out, you're just trash."
He raised his trident, aiming it at Natsuhane's arm.
Natsuhane coldly muttered, "I advise you not to do that. You wouldn't want to lose your arm."
"Huh?" The leader laughed, "Is he delusional?"
As he moved to strike, he suddenly realized he was the one bound by the water vines, not Natsuhane. His own trident was pointed at his arm.
Shocked, he exclaimed, "This... this is genjutsu? Damn it, when did this happen?"
Natsuhane's voice was calm, "When did you start thinking I hadn't used genjutsu?"
"Sharingan... You're from the Uchiha Clan!" Recognizing the red glow of the Sharingan, the leader understood his predicament.
"Why is an Uchiha here in the Land of the Sea? Aren't you from Konoha? No, didn't your clan get wiped out?"
Natsuhane raised an eyebrow, "Maybe you should catch up on current events. The Uchiha Clan has been restored."
"Uchiha? Natsuhane, you're from Konoha!" Kaisei's despair turned to hope, tears of relief streaming down his face. "With Konoha's support, the Land of the Sea is saved!"
Under Natsuhane's genjutsu, the Funato Clan pirates were immobilized, helpless.
Returning his eyes to normal, Natsuhane addressed the cowering crew, "Kill them."
"We… we can't."
"Please, I've got them under control. Why are you so scared?"
"Young man, we're not strong like you. If we spill their blood, we can't handle their revenge..."
Natsuhane sighed, pulling out a kunai to finish the job himself. Just then, Kaisei shouted in terror, "More chakra signatures are approaching! Damn, their reinforcements are here!"
As the sea roiled again, a voice rang out, "Hahaha, so many people on board! We'll have plenty of test subjects this time! Sir, it's good you came with us; our luck has been incredible."
A shabby-looking man appeared from the whirlpool, followed by a large snake emerging from the water, its mouth opening to reveal a long-haired, elegant "woman" dripping with saliva.
This unique appearance and entrance could only belong to one person Natsuhane knew well.
It was his "wife," Orochimaru.
"Don't resist! Stay put on the ship! Meeting me is your good fortune. My master will turn you all into powerful beast-men!" the shabby man cackled.
Orochimaru stepped onto the water, her snake-like eyes narrowing as she spotted Natsuhane at the bow.
"Natsuhane? What a wicked fate! Why are you everywhere?"
…
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