XX-level Hokage

"Are you threatening us?" Sengoku asked.

No, I'm just giving you a choice: join me or continue struggling in this corrupt world. Only by standing on my side can you...

"It will truly allow you to realize your ideals." Mashiro said calmly.

Chapter 194: King of the World (Part 2)

"So what do you want our navy to do?" Sengoku's tone turned serious. "Are you willing to form an alliance with us?"

"Allies?" Mashiro paused slightly, then shook her head. "In my view, alliances are based on strength. If you wish to cooperate with me..."

"Then you must prove your strength."

"You mean you want to fight?" A hint of surprise flashed in Sengoku's eyes, but he quickly calmed down, understanding that this was the only way forward.

“That’s right.” Mashiro nodded, her tone carrying a hint of challenge. “Let me see if the Fleet Admiral, the legendary Navy, really has the strength to contend with me.”

"Your ambitions are quite grand," Garp scoffed, "but do you really think you can succeed?"

Mashiro looked at Garp with a determined gaze: "Success or failure isn't something you can just talk about. If you're not convinced, then feel free to try."

Sengoku remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, "Mashiro, I know you're very strong. However, even with the three of us joining forces, you might not have a chance of winning." Mashiro smiled slightly and said, "Is that so? Then I'll see just how much trouble you can cause me."

Before he could finish speaking, Mashiro vanished in a flash. Sengoku, Garp, and Aokiji immediately became alert.

Just then, Mashiro suddenly appeared behind Sengoku, and a hand slammed towards Sengoku's back with a whistling sound. Sengoku reacted quickly, dodging Mashiro's attack by sidestepping.

However, Mashiro's attack did not stop. She had already gathered powerful chakra in her other hand and blasted it towards Sengoku.

Sengoku roared and activated his Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Buddha Form. His body instantly swelled, transforming into a golden Buddha.

The Buddha clasped its hands together, unleashing a powerful shockwave that collided with Mashiro's attack. Boom!

A massive explosion rang out, shaking the entire port. Garp and Aokiji immediately joined the battle.

Garp unleashed an extremely powerful mix of Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, throwing a punch at Mashiro. Mashiro dodged Garp's attack with a quick movement.

However, Aokiji had already seized the opportunity to activate his Logia-type Ice-Ice Fruit ability. With a wave of his hands, countless icy blades shot towards Mashiro.

With a cold snort, Mashiro quickly formed hand seals and unleashed the Wood Release: Descent of the Tree World.

Countless trees surged from the ground, blocking Aokiji's icy attacks. The three powerful naval officers quickly deployed into formation, preparing for the battle.

"The Golden Buddha has descended!" Zhan Guo roared, then transformed into a giant golden Buddha, its enormous body gleaming with a mysterious light in the sunlight.

He clasped his hands together and unleashed a powerful shockwave at Mashiro, its force like a mountain collapsing and the earth splitting, hurtling straight towards him. "Shinra Tensei!" Mashiro's eyes instantly transformed into Rinnegan with tomoe, sensing the surrounding energy.

With a gentle wave of her hand, the surrounding air seemed to be under her control, forming a defensive barrier that blocked Sengoku's attack and instantly sent him flying.

"What immense power." Sengoku's figure stopped in mid-air, then he clasped his hands together and continued to unleash an even more powerful shockwave.

"Wood, vines entwine!" Mashiro chanted softly, and the surrounding trees and leaves instantly came to life, forming a circle of vines that rushed towards the Warring States Buddha statue, attempting to bind it.

At the same time, Garp leaped up, raised his fist, and gathered powerful Armament Haki, launching a fierce attack on Mashiro. "Seabed Meteor!"

Mashiro smiled slightly, secretly calculating her response strategy.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!" Water instantly gathered in her hand, transforming into a giant water dragon that rushed towards Garp.

Water Dragon and Garp's fist collided in mid-air, the powerful shockwave instantly distorting the surrounding air and creating a deafening roar. "The clash of water and Armament Haki... truly worthy of the Lord of the Seas," Garp remarked, adjusting his stance.

At that very moment, Aokiji also acted swiftly, summoning a patch of ice that instantly lowered the surrounding temperature, forming an ice wall in an attempt to block Mashiro's water dragon.

"The power of the Ice-Ice Fruit?" Mashiro was slightly taken aback. "Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

The pure white flames instantly ignited in her hand, colliding with the ice to produce intense steam that spread out instantly, obscuring everyone's vision.

"Such a powerful flame!" Sengoku felt the heat and his heart tightened.

"This is truly remarkable." Garp's expression turned serious. He was about to continue his attack when he noticed that the steam in front of him was gradually dissipating, and Mashiro's figure reappeared.

At this moment, Mashiro had already activated her Rinnegan, her hands clasped together, gathering even more powerful chakra, preparing to unleash her ultimate attack. "Sealing Tide!" she whispered.

The surrounding atmosphere instantly became so oppressive that it was almost suffocating.

Then, Mashiro thrust out his hands suddenly, and the surrounding air currents swirled like a storm, forming a huge vortex that swept towards Sengoku, Garp, and Aokiji.

"What kind of power is this?" Sengoku was shocked and quickly adjusted his posture to prepare to defend himself.

"Quick, everyone, join forces!" Garp shouted, swinging his fist and channeling his Haki to prepare to meet the massive cyclone. Aokiji also activated his ability, the ice wall formed from frost continuously strengthening in front of him, attempting to block Mashiro's attack.

However, the cyclone of the true white was unstoppable, sweeping over them in an instant and crashing into them, bringing tremendous impact and pressure.

Under this force, Sengoku finally felt an irresistible panic. His Buddha form was torn apart instantly like paper in front of Shinshiro's vortex.

The battle grew increasingly fierce, with all three Sengoku warriors giving it their all.

Lightning flashed across the sky; the sea surged with ferocious waves. In the battle, Mashiro continuously displayed her formidable strength. She was not only proficient in all five elemental ninjutsu, but also possessed the Rinnegan.

In battle, she can quickly analyze the enemy's weaknesses and formulate corresponding tactics.

While Sengoku, Garp, and Aokiji are all top-tier fighters with formidable strength, they gradually found themselves at a disadvantage against Mashiro. Although Sengoku's shockwave was powerful, it was easily blocked by Mashiro using Wood Release.

Garp's Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki were powerful, but in front of Mashiro's Rinnegan, his movements seemed to become transparent. Aokiji's Ice-Ice Fruit ability also lost its former power in front of Mashiro's Fire Release.

The battle lasted a long time, and all three Sengoku members were exhausted. However, Mashiro remained calm and resolute.

As Mashiro advanced, Sengoku, Garp, and Aokiji were finally overwhelmed and tackled to the ground, panting heavily and looking extremely battered. "Surrender?" Mashiro asked coldly, her gaze firm and unwavering.

“It seems we have no choice.” Sengoku slowly sat up, his face full of exhaustion, and his lips twitched slightly.

Chapter 195: A Series of Lies

"Finally, I'd like to ask a question: what exactly does your envisioned new era look like?" Sengoku asked hoarsely, his voice very low. Mashiro gave a meaningful smile, as if he had already anticipated Sengoku's question.

In a sense, Sengoku and Akainu are the same kind of people, both pursuing absolute justice, but Sengoku is more rational than Akainu.

Mashiro chuckled softly and slowly said, "It's alright to tell you. The world I want to create won't only have so-called justice." Just as shadows cannot exist without light, a world cannot have only justice without evil. I will preserve the existence of pirates, but their identities and nature will be completely different from the current chaotic situation.

Upon hearing this, Sengoku's gaze flickered slightly. The existence of pirates had always been one of the sources of his hatred, and the Navy had sacrificed countless lives to eliminate them.

"Keep pirates?" Sengoku scoffed, his tone skeptical and incomprehensible. "Your so-called justice allows those evils to exist?"

Mashiro nodded, her expression remaining calm. "Yes, pirates must exist, but not in the current chaotic state. The vast majority of pirates will be..."

They were incorporated into a completely new system—the Pirate Alliance.

"A pirate alliance? Is this the purpose of your organization?" Sengoku instantly understood.

"Yes, it is managed by several powerful pirates, such as Kaido and Big Mom. Although I have defeated them now, they will still be an important force."

There are other exceptionally powerful pirates, such as Whitebeard, Shanks, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea; they will all be under my command.

In this alliance, pirates will no longer be rampant villains, but rather like adventurers, continuing to explore the seas and search for treasure.

We must never bully the common people.

Whether it's pirates or so-called justice, I will redefine them all.

Upon hearing this, Aokiji fell silent, pondering Mashiro's idea, which was very similar to his view on justice, except that he had never considered how to truly change this deeply entrenched system.

Mashiro's plan is to provide a way out for pirates who are not entirely evil at heart, which may be more practical than simply eliminating them.

Mashiro's eyes flashed with calmness and decisiveness as she continued, "On the other hand, the Navy will also be transformed. After overthrowing the World Government, I will establish a new ruling system above all the kingdoms in the four seas—the Ocean Kingdom."

At that time, the navy will become an integral part of the host country, responsible for ensuring its smooth operation.

The justice you uphold will continue, but no longer to serve the corrupt Guanlong people; it will serve true peace and order.

"A kingdom of the sea?" Sengoku repeated the phrase Tsuru and Akainu had uttered countless times in his ears, sensing the immense upheaval it implied. "How do you intend to establish this kingdom? Will all the nations willingly join?"

A confident smile appeared on Mashiro's lips as she said, "I won't give them a choice. When the Four Emperors, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Navy, the Revolutionary Army, and other forces..."

Once I have control of the power, the world will fall into a power vacuum.

The rulers of those kingdoms will have no choice but to submit to me, or they will be powerless to resist the ensuing chaos.

At that time, I will inform all the kingdoms across the four seas of the establishment of the Maritime Kingdom. This will be a completely new system that transcends national boundaries.

Sengoku and his two companions listened in silence. Although they were still reluctant to cooperate with pirates, they had to admit that Mashiro's plan had solved, to some extent, a problem he had been unable to solve—how to maintain long-term order in this turbulent world.

Mashiro continued, "And in this kingdom, the Revolutionary Army will also become an important force. They have always been working to overthrow the corrupt rule, and now I will give them a legitimate identity. They will be responsible for dealing with evil on land, especially overseeing officials in various countries to ensure that there is no more corruption and oppression."

"So, this is what you meant before, wanting the Revolutionary Army to control the land and the Navy to control the sea?" Sengoku said in a complicated tone.

"As expected of a Marine Grand Master, you understood my meaning so quickly." Mashiro nodded. "Most importantly, there will be no more nobles in this kingdom. The Celestial Dragons will be completely eradicated, and their rule will be ended forever. This world doesn't need those so-called nobles. Instead, there will be a unified society without class differences. I will rule the entire kingdom in the name of God."

"The wisdom of the gods?" Aokiji frowned, feeling uneasy about the title.

Mashiro smiled slightly and continued, "That's right. In this new era, I will become the sole ruler of the world. Pirates, the Navy, and the Revolutionary Army will all obey my orders."

I will use absolute power and wisdom to ensure the stability and prosperity of this kingdom.

And if you wish, you will all become leaders of the new navy, leading commanders who represent justice.

Sengoku's brow furrowed deeply. In Mashiro's vision, he found a completely new definition—a justice that neither entirely depends on the existing system nor merely serves corrupt rulers.

However, this justice comes at the cost of Mashiro's absolute rule.

He had to admit that Mashiro's plan was extremely tempting, especially after years of experiencing the corrupt rule of the World Government. However, Mashiro's ambition and ruthlessness also made him feel a vague sense of threat.

"Your plan sounds...not bad." Sengoku said softly, a hint of hesitation in his voice, "But I have one more question, sorcerer. You say you want to rule this empire in the name of the gods, so once you have all that power, who will oversee you?"

Sengoku asked the same question as Akainu had asked before.

Mashiro paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's very simple. I don't need anyone to supervise me, because only I can truly understand the suffering of this world and lead it to true peace. The concentration of power is inevitable in order to prevent new chaos from arising. As for supervision, I will let the facts and results prove my decision."

Sengoku fell into deep thought. He knew that excessive concentration of power could very likely lead to new corruption and dictatorship, but at this stage, he could not deny the feasibility of Mashiro's abilities and plans.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered something Akainu had told him before he came.

“We can join him; with our strength, we can overthrow the second tyrant.”

Finally, he raised his head, looked at Mashiro, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and said, "If everything you say is true, we can follow you to overthrow the World Government and break this corrupt world."

The Economic News once again reported a series of shocking news stories.

Im looked at the newspaper in his hand, then crossed out five red marks. Meanwhile...

The Five Elders, located beneath the Four Symbols Seal, instantly turned into skeletons, and the black power vanished from their bodies.

Chapter 196: Immortality

In the underground cell, Mashiro looked at the five skeletons in front of him, a thoughtful expression on his face. The Five Elders, who were supposed to be "immortal," had actually perished in an instant.

Mashiro was well aware of the Five Elders' vitality. Even if they were burned by Amaterasu or attacked by Yin-Yang Release, as long as they were not completely reduced to ashes, they could quickly recover.

"Im is really decisive, but it's a real shame that a hidden move he made beforehand has been lost," Mashiro muttered to herself.