The devastated battlefield fell silent as Hanzo and his Marine escort materialized before the Kumo contingent. Despite his exhausted state, A forced himself to stand tall as he leaned on Blue B and stared at The Demigod, though the remnants of his Black Lightning had faded as he barely stood.
"Are you declaring war, A?" Hanzo's voice echoed over the decimated gravel, with a strange glint shining in his eyes as he stared at the man before him.
The three Shinobi beside A each began molding their chakra, in the hope that their minor interference could allow A to escape.
But, before the tension could escalate further, Garp's booming laugh cut through the atmosphere like a blade through silk.
"Bwahahahahaha!! Nothing like that, Hanzo! The bastard just wanted to test himself against me." He gestured expansively at the cratered landscape. "Though I might have gotten a bit carried away with the lesson. I ended up kicking his ass a bit worse than I thought. Bwahahahah!!!"
A's eye twitched at being called 'bastard' and 'getting his ass kicked', and his escorts bristled slightly. Blue B's hand unconsciously moved toward his sword, but a quick glance from the Raikage stilled him. They had just witnessed the gap between their leader and Garp - starting anything now would be akin to suicide.
"He kicked my ass." A admitted with surprising candor, his deep voice carrying both frustration and respect. "It was a good fight, nothing more. My intention was not to spark a diplomatic incident nor declare war between Ame and Kumo."
Hanzo surveyed the destruction around them, his mask hiding any expression but his voice carrying a note of exasperation. "A good fight that destroyed several acres of my territory. You also attacked a high-ranking official of our military."
"Ah, don't worry about that!" Garp waved dismissively. "The kids will help fix it up. They need the training anyway! And it's been years since I had a decent workout. I appreciated it!"
From their position among the Marines, Jiraiya and Orochimaru exchanged glances. Even after all they'd seen, Garp's casual attitude in the face of such overwhelming power was disconcerting. Here was a man who had just fought the Raikage to a standstill (If they were being generous) while clearly holding back, yet he was treating it like a minor training exercise.
"Speaking of visitors." Hanzo turned slightly, his ghostly aura shifting with him, "There's someone who wishes to speak with you."
The few Marines there parted like a sea, revealing Tsunade standing among them. Dan's breath caught in his throat as he watched his fiancée step forward. There was something different about her bearing, a resolve he hadn't seen since before her brother's death.
'What the hell are you doing Tsuna?!! I thought you wouldn't make any rash decisions just yet.' Dan thought as he attempted to step forward, yet a sidelong glance from Hanzo forced him to pause, making him grit his teeth and he prepared to expel his spirit if he needed to save her.
Tsunade walked past Hanzo without hesitation, showing none of the fear that his presence usually inspired. Her eyes were fixed firmly on Garp, who watched her approach with interest.
Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed as he analyzed the situation. His former teammate's body language spoke of a decision already made, and he didn't like the implications. Beside him, Jiraiya tensed, sensing the weight of the moment.
"You've grown stronger, brat." Garp spoke.
"Garp." Tsunade's voice rang clear across the battlefield, carrying none of her usual sharp edge. "Do you remember what you said when we first met? About fighting for the safety of children? About ending the terror that plagues our world?"
The transformation in Garp was immediate and striking. His usual jovial demeanor fell away like a discarded cloak, revealing something far more powerful.
Tsunade could feel the immense aura begin to envelop her as Garp unleashed his Haki upon her.
The power that had so casually dispatched the Raikage now focused entirely on Tsunade, though not with hostile intent.
"I remember." he replied, his voice carrying the weight of two lifetimes of conviction that merged to form his Haki. "Every word."
"Did you mean it?" Tsunade pressed, taking another step forward. Behind her, Dan made an aborted movement, as if to reach for her. "All of it? About creating a world where children don't have to die on battlefields? Where peace isn't just a dream?"
The air seemed to be still as Garp's eyes met hers. When he spoke, his voice carried absolute certainty. "I meant every word. It's why I'm here. It's why I train those kids. It's why I helped build the Marines. Some things are worth fighting for, worth changing the world for. And dreams are what lead the world."
A's eyes widened slightly as he felt the conviction in Garp's words. Even exhausted from their battle, he could sense that this was the true power before him - not the physical might that had so thoroughly defeated him, but the unwavering will behind it.
'Dreams lead the world?' A thought to himself.
Tsunade nodded, as if confirming something to herself. Then, to the shock of everyone present, she dropped to one knee, something one should only do to their superior.
"Tsunade!" Dan's voice cracked slightly, his hand reaching out involuntarily as he stepped forward, Hanzo be damned.
"Hime, what are you doing?" Jiraiya's whisper carried equal parts concern and disbelief.
Orochimaru remained silent, but his eyes narrowed further, his brilliant mind already calculating the ramifications.
"Then let me join you." Tsunade declared, her voice carrying absolute certainty. "Let me help you build that world."
The silence that followed was absolute. Even the perpetual rain of Amegakure seemed to pause, as if the very elements were holding their breath.
Blue B and his fellow Kumo escorts exchanged uncomfortable glances. They had come expecting a possible fight, maybe even a diplomatic incident. Instead, they were witnessing what could be a pivotal moment in shinobi history - the Princess of the Land of Fire offering allegiance to the growing power in Amegakure.
Hanzo remained motionless, though the ghostly essence around him swirled with increased intensity. His eyes, barely visible behind his mask, studied both Tsunade and Garp with keen interest.
Dan felt his heart constrict. He understood what was driving Tsunade - her desire to protect and prevent more children from suffering his brother's fate. But the implications of this moment threatened to overwhelm him.
'We agreed to do this together. I... I can't abandon her now.'
Jiraiya's fists clenched at his sides. Part of him wanted to rush forward, to stop whatever was about to happen. But the weight of Hanzo's and Garp's presence, the absolute power they held, and the way it could negatively affect Konoha made him wait.
Orochimaru's face remained impassive, but his mind raced. If Tsunade joined the Marines, it would fundamentally alter the balance of power in the shinobi world. Konoha would lose not just a Sannin, but the world's greatest medical ninja. The Granddaughter of the True Shinobi No Kami. The political ramifications would be enormous.
'Should I kill her?' Orochimaru questioned to himself.
Suddenly, Garp's Conqueror's Haki burst forward in conjunction with his Chakra, enveloping Tsunade as she held a deep breath.
Yet she stood her ground, not moving a single inch as she stared down the unwavering mountain before her.
[Image]
When he finally spoke, his voice was gentle but firm, carrying the same absolute conviction that the aura around him made them feel.
"No."
~
Hey everyone!! Extra Chapter at 50 PowerStones!!
What do you guys think of the Power Creep in One Piece? Is it as bad as Naruto or better?
Read Chapters Ahead at [email protected]/KillerDJ2023