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The Ryokugyu pushed his powers to the limit, producing an ever-increasing amount of ironwood, all coated with Armament Haki for reinforcement.
Finally, through sheer determination, the Wind Release: Giant RasenShuriken began to slow down before erupting in a thunderous explosion.
BOOM————————!!!
"Guooooooo!!!"
A terrifying force akin to a nuclear blast detonated. On the Red Line, a massive wind sphere emerged, slicing everything in its path with countless wind blades.
The violent gusts swept outward in all directions.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Entire swaths of ancient forest snapped under the intense pressure, the shockwaves even reaching the distant spectator stands.
At the critical moment, Fujitora acted, releasing an anti-gravity wave that blocked the oncoming destruction from harming the spectators.
Only after some time did the shockwaves subside, and the smoke gradually dispersed.
In the epicenter of the explosion, a gigantic hemispherical crater stretched out, its depth and size awe-inspiring. The colossal 500-meter form of Ryokugyu was nowhere to be seen.
"Incredible… such terrifying power! Is this the signature move of Vice Admiral Uchiha Akira?"
During the World Conscription, Uchiha Kitaro had used this very technique to obliterate an island. Later, during Shiki the Golden Lion's assault on Marineford, he had once again demonstrated its destructive might by destroying all the falling naval ships.
To many within Marine Headquarters, this attack was no longer a secret.
"Admiral candidate Aramaki… he's gone…"
"No way… could it be?"
"Vice Admiral Akira's move is just too overwhelming! There's no way Aramaki could survive this!"
Even Figarland Garling, seated as the leader of the Holy Knights, leaned forward with a solemn expression. Such overwhelming power could pose an existential threat to the World Government headquarters or the holy land of Mariejois itself.
"If Vice Admiral Uchiha Akira was this formidable, then just how terrifying was Uchiha Kitaro, his elder brother?"
The Roswald family was equally horrified, their faces pale. That kind of destructive force… "Is this Akira some kind of monster?" If such an attack landed on them, their entire family would be obliterated in an instant.
"Damn that wooden fool! He actually got taken down so easily!"
Suddenly, near the edge of the massive crater, a small flower sprouted from the ground. The delicate bloom quickly grew, blossoming into a massive bud that opened to reveal a figure: Ryokugyu himself.
Having witnessed this devastating technique before, Ryokugyu had taken precautions, planting seeds deep into the ground beforehand. This was also why he chose the Red Line as the battleground.
No matter how powerful Uchiha Kitaro's attack was, it couldn't possibly destroy the entirety of the Red Line.
"Hah… hah… HAHAHAHA!!! Uchiha Akira! That move of yours is useless against me now!"
Ryokugyu laughed triumphantly. He had finally withstood the infamous Rasenshuriken. No longer would it haunt his nightmares. Having overcome it, he believed he could now easily defeat Kitaro (Akira).
His body began to grow once more. As a Logia Devil Fruit user, Ryokugyu already possessed immense power. By absorbing nutrients from prisoners before the battle, he was now brimming with energy. His Mori Mori no Mi (Forest Forest Fruit) allowed him to draw sustenance from any material, granting him a unique advantage—while others grew fatigued, he only grew stronger.
"Admiral candidate Aramaki is still alive!"
"Of course! Admiral candidate Aramaki is a Logia user with the Forest Forest Fruit! As long as he stands on the Red Line, he can't be killed!"
Over the past year, Ryokugyu had tirelessly captured pirates, showcasing his strength and gaining respect from many. As a monster-level admiral candidate, he had no shortage of admirers.
However, Vice Admiral Momousagi (Gion) remained unfazed. She had seen glimpses of Uchiha Kitaro's strength before. The attack just now was merely a fraction of his true power.
Kitaro scratched his head, feigning annoyance. "Man, you're like an indestructible cockroach. What a hassle."
Though he could unleash endless massive Rasenshurikens, doing so might terrify the spectators—something he wanted to avoid.
"Alright then, let's use this move."
"Super Expansion Jutsu!"
Kitaro's body began to grow at an incredible rate, and in an instant, he transformed into a towering giant, standing over ten kilometers tall.
Everyone present was dumbfounded, including Momousagi herself.
"So… so huge!!!"
"How did Vice Admiral Akira get so big?!"
"This… this is insane!!!"
Every spectator was left speechless, their faces filled with disbelief. Even Figarland Garling rose from his seat, his eyes wide as he stared at the colossal Akira.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, too, was dumbfounded. Today had been a day of endless surprises. First, there was Kitaro's Shadow Clone Jutsu (Akiras), with each clone possessing strength surpassing most vice admirals. This alone made Kitaro a one-man army.
Now, he had grown to such an unimaginable size. Size alone was a tremendous power multiplier, and with Kitaro's already formidable strength, his destructive potential had become unfathomable.
Just how much of his power had he been hiding?
A horrifying realization dawned on Sengoku. "Akira had mentioned that all his techniques were taught to him by his elder brother, Uchiha KItaro".
In other words, everything Akira could do, Kitaro could do as well.
Back then, when Marineford faced Uchiha Kitaro, they had been fighting a monster far beyond their comprehension.
Sengoku sighed, a mix of defeat and relief washing over him. So all along, during his confrontation with Marine Headquarters, Uchiha Kitaro had been holding back.
The thought made Sengoku both rueful and oddly comforted.
"So… this is the power of the Uchiha clan, a true divine clan."
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