---
Everyone turned toward the speaker. It was Aramaki, the future Navy Admiral, also known as Ryokugyu.
"Hey! You two agree with me, right?" Ryokugyu called out to Fujitora and Uchiha Kitaro.
"I agree," Fujitora replied calmly. "I've been curious to test the legendary strength of the Uchiha Clan."
Kitaro shrugged and spread his hands. "Fine by me. Even though I, Akira may pale in comparison to my brother, Uchiha Kitaro, but that doesn't mean I'm helpless against others."
"Then let's find a better place," someone suggested.
None of the three objected. Sengoku, who was overseeing the proceedings, didn't oppose it either. He, too, wanted to see the full extent of the strength these three world military recruits possessed.
---
The group boarded a battleship and traveled to a small, uninhabited island nearby. Sengoku, Aokiji, and Kizaru stayed on the ship to observe from a safe distance.
On the island, Kitaro, Ryokugyu, and Fujitora prepared to face off.
"Gentlemen," Ryokugyu said with a smirk, "allow me the honor of striking first!"
"Kinniku Mori Mori ~ Forbidden Forest!"
With a booming shout, Ryokugyu's arms transformed into sprawling trees. From the barren ground, vibrant flowers bloomed, and towering trees grew at an incredible rate, forming massive fists.
"I ate the Mori Mori no Mi, becoming a Forest Human! I embody life itself, the very balance of nature!"
The massive wooden fists surged toward Fujitora and Kitaro. Fujitora, ever composed, drew his blade and blocked one effortlessly. Kitaro raised a single hand, stopping the assault without breaking a sweat.
"I'm just getting started!" Ryokugyu roared.
His body transformed into a massive tree-like figure, towering dozens of meters high. Thick vines sprouted from his form and lashed out in all directions, targeting both opponents.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The relentless onslaught forced Fujitora and Kitaro to stay on the move, dodging the vine strikes. Fujitora slashed through some of the vines with precision.
"Not bad for a blind man," Ryokugyu muttered, annoyed at Fujitora's agility. "Your Observation Haki must be exceptional if you can evade my attacks so effortlessly."
"Heh," Fujitora chuckled. "I may be blind, but my heart sees just fine."
Fujitora leapt back, landing gracefully on solid ground. He assumed a striking pose, gripping his sword firmly.
Hummmm—!
The blade emitted a dark purple glow as Fujitora channeled immense gravitational energy into it.
"Gravity Blade: Raging Tiger!"
With a powerful swing, Fujitora unleashed a massive wave of horizontal gravity. The force obliterated the incoming vines and crushed everything in its path, leveling the terrain.
BOOM!
The gravitational attack struck Ryokugyu's enormous tree-like form, forcing him back. Cracks formed in his wooden body as pieces splintered and fell away.
Meanwhile, Kitaro seized the opportunity to leap onto a nearby rocky hill. His hands moved rapidly through a series of seals.
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A torrent of flames burst forth from Kitaro's mouth, sweeping across the battlefield like an ocean of fire. The fiery wave consumed Ryokugyu's forest, reducing it to ash.
"You think fire is my weakness? If I had such an obvious flaw, what would be the point of fighting?!" Ryokugyu sneered. "Bokarin ~ Firebreak Forest!"
He conjured a new set of trees resistant to flames, effectively neutralizing the attack.
Suddenly, the ground beneath both Kitaro and Ryokugyu trembled.
BOOM!
A crushing gravitational force bore down on the battlefield, pinning Ryokugyu and Kitaro in place.
"Gentlemen," Fujitora said calmly, sheathing his sword. "Let's not forget there are three of us in this fight."
The immense gravity shattered the rocky hill beneath Kitaro, forcing him to leap away. Ryokugyu reverted to his human form and stumbled as a massive hole opened beneath him.
Crash!
Kitaro emerged from the rubble, his hand glowing with a swirling ball of energy.
"Giant Rasengan!"
He hurled the massive chakra sphere toward Fujitora, who responded swiftly.
"Gravity Blade: Raging Tiger!"
Fujitora unleashed another wave of gravity, clashing directly with the Giant Rasengan. The resulting explosion rocked the island, sending shockwaves in every direction.
As the smoke cleared, sharp wooden spikes erupted from the ground, growing rapidly. Fujitora leapt into the air, using his gravity powers to hover above the chaos. Kitaro dodged gracefully, leaping from one spike to another.
"Fools! You can't defeat me! I am nature itself!" Ryokugyu bellowed, his frustration mounting. "Humans can never overpower nature!"
"Is that so?" Fujitora said, smiling faintly. He sheathed his sword once more and pointed it toward the sky.
Hummm—!
A purple gravitational ripple shot into the heavens. Moments later, a deafening roar filled the air as a fiery meteor streaked toward the island.
"A meteor?!" Ryokugyu shouted in disbelief.
On the ship, Aokiji's eyes widened. "This old man… his power is incredible."
"Terrifying, as always," Kizaru muttered, his voice tinged with mock amusement.
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