Chapter 163: Meet Kuzan and Call Bullet

(T/N: Please consider reviewing this Fanfic, Thanks and appreciate all who support me)

(T/N: There is a new novel called Naruto: The Strongest. Come check out and continue to support me)

(T/N: Enjoy!!)

<><><><><><>

Foxy slumped in despair, looking like a pathetic, ugly fox awaiting its fate. He was well aware of what was coming. 

The Marine before him had made his intentions clear earlier, and now, Foxy had finally learned his true identity.

Marine Admiral, Arashi!

A legendary Marine is known for capturing the Pirate King, Roger, and defeating the Golden Lion, Shiki.

A terrifying record of achievements. And yet, Foxy had never even heard of such a powerhouse before. This didn't make sense at all!

If he had known from the start, he wouldn't have given the order to fire—he would have dropped to his knees immediately, surrendering and begging for his miserable life.

The rest of the crew paid him no mind, each occupied with their tasks. 

Fisher Tiger gripped the helm with both hands, humming a cheerful tune, seemingly in high spirits. 

Nearby, Rosinante, Buggy, and Smoker sat cross-legged on the deck, frowning as they stared at the playing cards in their hands.

Doflamingo stood behind Rosinante, smirking while watching his younger brother's hand. 

Members of Baroque Works were scattered across the ship, armed with mops and rags, cleaning every corner.

Daz Bones carried a bucket of water, his expression shifting as his gaze remained fixed on the man sitting ahead of him. 

His emotions flickered with respect, excitement, and longing, but soon, hesitation and uncertainty surfaced as if he were struggling with a difficult decision.

Crocodile exhaled a puff of smoke, his sharp eyes briefly scanning Daz Bones before a faint smirk tugged at his lips. However, he said nothing.

Kuina and Tashigi stood on either side of Arashi, carefully tending to the wound on his chest.

"Facing the world's greatest swordsman," Arashi said with a slight smile. "How did the fight feel?"

His words were directed at Kuina. Her body trembled slightly before she took a deep breath and answered solemnly.

"I gained a lot from it. I clearly saw the gap between him and myself."

"In the past, I often sparred with my teacher, but as master and student, there were always certain restraints."

Arashi nodded as his gaze fell to her empty sword belt.

"You do need a proper blade."

Kuina's expression darkened. Breaking her sword in the greatest duel of her life was a disgrace. More than that, losing the blade she had wielded for years pained her deeply. And finding a new one would be no easy task.

Powerful swords were almost always in the hands of powerful warriors. Having one forged anew would require a world-renowned swordsmith. Wado Ichimonji was a famed blade, but it already belonged to Zoro.

"I do have two famous swords in my possession," Arashi suddenly said.

Kuina's body stiffened, and she immediately locked eyes with her teacher. A world-famous sword—of course, she wanted one.

"However, they're in the West Blue," Arashi continued. His gaze suddenly shifted to Crocodile.

"Crocodile"

Crocodile nodded. "I know what you're asking. You want to establish contact with the West Blue?"

Arashi's expression carried a hint of nostalgia. "It's been a long time since I last saw Bullet. 

"I'll reach out to him," Crocodile said.

Among Arashi's subordinates, only Crocodile and Bullet belonged to the same generation. Buggy, Rosinante, and Smoker were all juniors in comparison. 

Sending those brats to contact Bullet—knowing that man's pride—would likely be a waste of time. Arashi turned back to Kuina with a smile.

"Those two swords once belonged to warriors renowned across the world. After I killed them, I left the blades in the West Blue."

Kuina bowed deeply, her voice filled with excitement. "Thank you, Master!"

"I've done all I can for you. The rest is up to you," Arashi said with a chuckle.

"I won't let you down!" Kuina declared, her determination unwavering. "I will become the world's greatest swordsman!"

Arashi burst into laughter before glancing at the wounds covering his disciple's body. "Make sure you heal properly."

Kuina nodded firmly. Her battle against Dracule Mihawk had left her heavily injured. Unlike her teacher, she didn't have monstrous recovery abilities. If she wasn't careful, her wounds could severely impact her strength.

The sea breeze swept across the ship, bringing a sudden chill. The temperature seemed to drop slightly, a coolness lingering in the air.

"Huh? That's refreshing," Bon Clay muttered from the lookout post. Raising his binoculars, he scanned the horizon. Suddenly, an unusual figure entered his view.

Across the vast, endless ocean, waves rippled gently under the sunlight. The shimmering water reflected the sky; occasionally, large fish leaped from the sea, splashing back down and sending ripples across the surface.

Then, out of nowhere, two wheels rolled across those ripples. The moment they passed, the previously disturbed water froze solid, leaving behind a neatly structured ice trail.

Bon Clay adjusted his binoculars, following the movement upwards. The next instant, his eyes widened, and a gasp escaped his lips.

"Oh my god! Someone's riding a bicycle on the ocean!"

His cry immediately drew the attention of everyone aboard. They all turned in unison to where he was pointing.

And soon, they saw it clearly—a lone figure pedaling across the sea, leaving an icy trail that stretched far into the horizon.

"Oh?"

Arashi's eyes glimmered as he shifted his gaze. For a brief moment, time seemed to slow, distance collapsing instantly. The figure on the bicycle came into perfect view, every detail crystal clear.

A smile formed on Arashi's lips. "Kuzan." He softly spoke the name, identifying the man instantly.

The figure riding across the frozen ocean was Marine Admiral Aokiji! At the same time, Kuzan sensed the disturbance nearby and slowly turned his head.

The moment his gaze landed on the ship's bow and the man sitting there, his pupils shrank, and his hands instinctively gripped the brakes.

The bicycle, which had been moving leisurely, stopped atop the sea. Kuzan turned to the warship sailing parallel to him. One by one, he took in the familiar faces standing on deck.

"Arara~" he muttered, exhaling a small sigh. "What an unpleasant reunion."

His eyes shifted again, locking once more onto Arashi.

"Five years… six years… no, eight years. Wait, that's not right. Has it been ten? Ah, I've forgotten. Not that it matters." Shaking his head, Kuzan's expression turned serious.

After a moment of silence, he sighed. "I really didn't want to see you again."

As his words fell, the air around him grew frigid, an overwhelming chill bursting forth and sweeping toward the warship.

Crack—

The ocean froze over. Fish leaping from the waves became encased in ice, suspended midair-like sculptures.

An icy storm erupted across the sea, plummeting the temperature below freezing.

A layer of white frost covered everyone on the Sand, and within a single breath, they had already turned into ice sculptures. 

Bon Clay had no time to react before he was frozen on the lookout. The entire Sand was enveloped in ice in an instant, shimmering mistily under the sunlight.

"Hah!" Kuzan exhaled a breath of white mist, the cold air swirling around him. His right foot was planted on the ice, one hand resting on his bicycle handle, his eyes heavy as he gazed at the frozen warship ahead.

"Crack!" A faint sound rang out.

The ice shattered, and Crocodile stepped out, his expression indifferent, exhaling a puff of smoke. 

Then, Rosinante, Doflamingo, Smoker, Buggy, Kuina, and others emerged from the ice. A cold wind swept past, lifting white snowflakes into the air.

"This isn't exactly a warm welcome," a voice chuckled. "Arashi!"

Seated on a chair, Arashi shook off the snow on his robes. From start to finish, he had remained completely unaffected by the cold.

"Hm?" Kuzan feigned surprise. "And who might you be? All I see is a ship full of notorious pirates."

Arashi laughed, rising slowly to his feet. "Forgotten me already? No problem. I'll make sure you remember soon enough!" With that, he stepped forward.

"Zzt!"

A blue arc of electricity flashed across the ice, and he had closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. 

In an instant, he was right in front of Kuzan. From within the crackling lightning, a tall and powerful figure emerged. 

He threw a punch straight at Kuzan's face without any fancy tricks.

"Not holding back, huh?" Kuzan muttered. His right hand clenched tightly, coated in Armament Haki, and he countered with a punch of his own.

"Boom!"

Two heavy impacts merged into one, shaking both of them and causing a tremor on the icy surface. After a single breath, Kuzan slid backward, blood trickling from his nostrils.

Arashi grinned. "Not bad. You've improved."

"You're not too shabby yourself," Kuzan replied seriously, wiping away the blood. But in his heart, he was muttering—this monster had gotten even stronger.

"I heard that you and Garp used warships as punching bags and practiced martial arts for a while," Arashi said. 

"Your strength wasn't as refined back then. Looks like you've kept up your training over the years."

With that, he lunged forward again, instantly appearing before Kuzan, leaping high into the air and hammering down with a punch.

Kuzan flickered aside, dodging the blow.

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion erupted. The ice within a kilometer radius caved in, crackling with residual electricity.

"What beast-like strength. I'd love to know how you trained your body to this level," Kuzan remarked, eyes narrowing in amazement.

A simple exchange of blows had already caused such destructive force, relying on nothing but sheer power. Bending his body slightly, Kuzan suddenly exhaled.

"Whoosh!"

Moisture in the air crystallized, transforming into razor-sharp ice blades that shot toward Arashi. Arashi burst into laughter and stomped the ground.

"Lion Majesty: Imperial Earth Coil!"

"Boom!"

The ice surged upward, gathering, spiraling, and merging at an incredible speed. A massive ice lion appeared as a shadow before becoming clear and solid.

With a shake of its mane, the lion deflected the incoming ice blades, sending them rebounding in all directions.

Kuzan tilted his head up, staring at the towering beast nearly a hundred meters high, his expression a mix of astonishment and curiosity. 

Then, his gaze shifted to the man standing atop the lion's head. "This is... the power of the Float-Float Fruit?"

Arashi looked down at him as the ice lion raised its paw and stomped. "Correct."

Kuzan's pupils contracted in shock. A dual Devil Fruit user?! "Incredible… You ate two Devil Fruits."

"No wonder those five old men hold you in such high regard," Kuzan said gravely.

A normal person could only consume one Devil Fruit. Eating a second would cause their body to explode. Even if he were given the chance to obtain a second powerful fruit, he wouldn't have the courage to take that gamble.

"My strength isn't just because of my Devil Fruits!"

As he spoke, Arashi leaped down from the lion's head. Kuzan's eyes narrowed, and he jumped to meet him in mid-air.

"Boom!"

Another collision. The force of their punches rippled outward in shockwaves.

Their eyes met, and they both understood the same thing—an old friend's greeting, an exchange to test and understand each other's strength.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Blow after blow, fierce impacts rang out as their bodies landed back on the ice.

At this moment, it was as if they had abandoned their Devil Fruit abilities, engaging in a pure martial arts battle, trading punches with full focus.

"Swish!"

Arashi sidestepped, dodging a punch, then immediately countered with a strike of his own.

Kuzan's chin was hit, sending him soaring into the air. But he recovered instantly, twisting his waist mid-air and sweeping his right leg sideways.

His kick struck Arashi's abdomen. Decisive and precise attacks. Swift, exhilarating clashes.

The two old friends continued their intense exchange. Before long, blood trickled from Kuzan's mouth.

"Damn, your strength is monstrous… You were already ridiculously strong, yet you've managed to get even stronger."

Gritting his teeth, Kuzan retaliated with a punch to Arashi's face. Arashi laughed, unyielding, and drove his knee into Kuzan's stomach.

"You're not bad either. Your Haki has gotten much stronger."

Kuzan nearly coughed up his last meal but spun around, countering with a fierce strike.

"I can't keep up with you… Your Observation Haki is insane! You're predicting my predictions!"

Arashi laughed heartily. "Times have changed, huh? You can actually keep up with my attacks now."

Kuzan smirked coldly. "Nobody stands still forever."

"True enough. But this makes things more interesting." Arashi grinned. Their fierce battle raged on, whipping up wind gusts over the ice.

The crew on the Sand stood in silent observation. Unlike Arashi's duel with Mihawk, this fight was purely hand-to-hand combat—faster, sharper, and more direct.

Every strike landed with a visceral impact, carrying raw intensity. 

"A battle between Admirals…" Buggy murmured. His eyes flickered as he watched. He was no longer weak. If he went all out, he could unleash incredible destruction.

He had already defined his combat style, just like his superior, Arashi—fierce, overwhelming, and unrelenting.

He enjoyed punching an enemy in the face, watching everything shatter.

Silently, Buggy clenched his fists, his gaze shifting. "Shanks… I'm waiting for the day I land a punch on you!"

...

The battle did not last long, but every punch landed violently, making the sea tremble like rolling thunder. 

Moments later, both fighters fell back onto the ice with a thud, sitting cross-legged side by side.

"Arashi, you bastard!" Kuzan cursed.

"Hahahaha!" Arashi laughed. "Sorry, but I couldn't avenge you back then!"

"That's not what I'm talking about!" Kuzan's expression darkened as he slowly raised his head, looking at the man beside him. 

"You broke out of Impel Down at such a convenient time... Are you after that position, too?" Arashi was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood.

"You mean Fleet Admiral Sengoku's retirement?"

Kuzan nodded. "Of course! It's no secret."

Arashi chuckled. "Your lazy sense of justice isn't fit for the role of Fleet Admiral!"

Kuzan was taken aback before falling into deep thought. Moments later, he let out a sigh. "Sitting here is tiring. I'm going to lie down for a bit."

Then, he simply collapsed onto the ice. 

"A guy like you shouldn't be worrying about the world. Just lie down and relax." Arashi shook his head, amused. Kuzan, seemingly uninterested in arguing, closed his eyes.

"If you're going to sleep, do it on my ship. I've got chilled drinks, fine food, and aged liquor."

At those words, Kuzan's eyes shot open. He grabbed his bicycle, slung it over his shoulder, took a few steps, then hesitated and looked back.

"What are you waiting for?" Arashi laughed. A short while later, Kuzan was lounging lazily on a beach chair, enjoying the ocean breeze with his eyes half-closed.

"Compared to riding around on my bike, exhausting myself everywhere... catching a ride on a free ship is much more comfortable."

He spoke with satisfaction, his tone betraying his pleasant mood.

"Naturally," Arashi smirked. "But running into you out here at sea... now that was unexpected."

"Not really." Kuzan stretched. "I'm on a mission. Not far from here, there's a small uncharted island where a group of shipwreck survivors is stranded."

"You're quite the compassionate guy, huh?" Arashi remarked.

Kuzan scoffed and turned his head away. The ice covering the ship and surrounding waters had already been withdrawn, allowing the Marine battleship to sail freely.

Before long, soft snores could be heard from the beach chair.

Arashi glanced at his old friend, who could fall asleep when his head hit a pillow, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"After all these years, you've gotten lazier." Compared to when they first met—when Kuzan had been fiery and driven—he was now the opposite.

Arashi then turned his gaze toward Crocodile, who was holding a Den Den Mushi. After a moment of silence, the call connected.

"... …"

Silence. Endless silence. The person on the other end seemed unwilling to speak first.

"It's been a while, Bullet," Crocodile smiled faintly.

"Old Sand?" A deep voice sounded, carrying a hint of surprise. But soon, it turned cold.

"Aren't you busy playing your little pirate games? Warlord of the Sea is quite the fancy title. So, what brings you to me?" His voice was icy, laced with mockery.

"I heard your temper's getting worse, scaring off many young ones. Judging by your tone, your anger issues are alive and well." Crocodile smirked.

"Those brats... I'll hunt them down one by one when I have time! Running away from the West Blue… Do they think I, Douglas Bullet, am so easy to mess with?!"

His furious voice echoed, making Buggy, Rosinante, and the others shiver. Bullet's authority and terrifying reputation were clearly second only to Commander Arashi himself.

The Vice Commander of the West Blue, a man in charge of military operations, was anything but gentle.

"Enough talk. Why did you suddenly call me? Let me be clear—I have no interest in helping a pirate." Bullet's voice was cold.

"Hearing that from you... now that's unexpected." Crocodile chuckled.

"Hmph!" Bullet snorted, understanding the implication. But after years in the Marines, he had long since embraced his identity. He relished it.

"Then let's not waste time. I contacted you for one reason only." Crocodile's tone dropped, turning serious as he glanced at Arashi across from him.

"Speak!" Bullet commanded.

"That man... he's back." Crocodile's words were slow and deliberate.

"That man? Who?" Bullett stiffened, his voice lowering.

"Who else?" Crocodile smirked.

"Old Sand!! I don't have time for your games!" Bullet roared.

Just then, another voice came through the Den Den Mushi. "Bullet! It's been quite a long time, hasn't it?"

The voice carried a touch of nostalgia, yet its presence was unmistakably familiar. In an instant, Barrett froze as if struck by lightning.

For a long while, he remained silent before finally speaking in a trembling voice. "Arashi?!" 

Arashi chuckled. "Who else?"

"You're alive!! You're alive!" Bullet's roar wasn't out of anger but sheer exhilaration. His voice was so loud that the soldiers in the corridor outside flinched.

"Of course, I'm alive. Did you forget? I don't die." Arashi laughed.

"Good! Good! Good!" Bullet repeated the word three times, venting his emotions. Then, a grin spread across his face.

"As long as you're alive! I look forward to seeing if you still have what it takes to lead us!" Arashi could hear the familiar challenge in his tone and couldn't help but smile.

"I won't disappoint you." Then, his expression turned sharp. "Are you interested in doing something big?"

Bullet went silent for a moment. Then, his pupils contracted. If this man had suddenly resurfaced and was speaking of a grand plan, it could only mean one thing—something earth-shattering.

Taking a deep breath, Bullet responded. "Tell me."

Arashi grinned. "Let's take down Whitebeard. What do you say?"

(T/N: There is a new novel called Naruto: The Strongest. Come check out and continue to support me)

If you want to support me, join my patr**on. Have 10 advanced Chapters for you guys.

patr**n.com/saitamablast > OP:COI NOVEL TIER