The sea was silent.
Everyone could clearly feel the awkward atmosphere.
When Aokiji claimed to be the navy, a hearty laugh erupted from the ship on the sea, as if things were soon about to get lively.
"Hahaha... this person is really the navy..."
The captain of the Konoha Pirates, Senju Hashirama, held his belly, laughing loudly. Yet no one present seemed willing to echo his laughter, their gazes subtly strange.
"Brother, stop laughing."
Senju Tobirama could sense the strangeness of the situation and solemnly advised, "Now is not the time to laugh..."
"..."
The red-haired youth glanced coldly at the laughing, hearty man and then turned back towards Aokiji on the sea, his face growing increasingly sullen.
"Admiral Aokiji, you are indeed a navy officer, and even a Logia-type ability Admiral of the navy, but do you know how difficult it is for a navy with no background, one who hasn't come from a training camp like you, to get promoted?"
"..."
Aokiji's brow furrowed again.
Promotions in the navy actually depend entirely on military merit, without regard for special abilities; as long as one can achieve enough war merits, anyone can be promoted.
However...
There are still differences.
At least for them, the Logia-type ability users, gaining war merit is easy, effortlessly fulfilling the orders of superiors, while other less powerful navy officers often get sacrificed...
A navy officer with no special abilities, not even proficient in combat, would find it nearly impossible to get promoted to Vice Admiral...
No, wait...
Aokiji quickly realized.
What does navy promotion have to do with you pirates?
Moreover, these pirates don't seem to be insignificant nobodies. How could regular pirates injure him, an admiral, before he even saw the enemy clearly? These pirates shouldn't be in the East Sea; they're overqualified even for the First Half of the Grand Line...
"Well... that..."
Aokiji's brow furrowed as he instinctively asked, "Your pirate group seems a bit too concerned about the promotion of a regular navy officer..."
"Catch him first."
Red Sand Sasori didn't want to argue with Aokiji any longer, he just raised his hand and waved, "Put him in the sea and then have a nice chat with him..."
Even if they wanted to have a good talk with Admiral Aokiji, it couldn't be at this time, at least not when Aokiji still has the power to resist.
"Divine Sky Strike!"
A jet-black fist flew out from the ship!
This massive fist suddenly slammed towards Aokiji's body. Aokiji raised his fist, covering it simultaneously with Armament Haki, and punched back!
However...
Cracks appeared directly on the ice beneath Aokiji's feet!
This seemingly ordinary strike...
Aokiji unexpectedly couldn't block it!
Aokiji's eyes instantly became serious, his body swiftly rolled to the side, avoiding the jet-black fist covered with Armament Haki!
The ice surface was instantly punctured by the fist!
"Ice Ball!"
Aokiji flipped to his feet, raising his hand to release five ice pillars towards that great ship!
"Water Release: Water Array Wall!"
A figure appeared at the bow of the ship, spitting out a mass of water, instantly forming a defensive water wall, which was promptly frozen into an ice wall by the ice pillars!
"Nani?"
Aokiji looked at the ice wall in surprise.
Crash!
The ice wall suddenly shattered!
Uchiha Madara stepped on the ice on the sea, recklessly breaking through the ice wall, rushing towards Aokiji, his eyes showing utter disdain!
"Interference..."
Uchiha Madara disdained the help of others; he had witnessed Aokiji and the tattooed man's duel at Log Town's port, and it was exactly when his predatory instincts were piqued!
Aokiji also showed no fear, advancing directly toward the opponent, their fists clashing instantly, the entire ice surface shaking from the impact!
Above in the sky.
Clouds began to roll overhead.
Uchiha Madara's Haki appeared especially terrifying!
Aokiji's face became even more stern, clearly sensing this terrifying Supreme King pressure, this peerless Haki!
This level of Supreme King Haki, even those monsters in the latter half of the Grand Line might not possess the sheer arrogance and Haki of the person before him!
But...
Aokiji had never seen his opponent before.
"Tall guys are really troublesome..."
Uchiha Madara's mouth curled into a grin, a hint of wantonness flashing in his eyes, his Susanoo's skeletal frame suddenly unfolded, and the Susanoo's fist took on a jet-black hue!
Bam!
Aokiji's towering body was sent flying backward with a punch!
The moment this navy admiral landed, his arm abruptly lifted!
"Ice Block·Pheasant Beak!"
Aokiji's right hand instantly turned into ice, and an ice bird resembling a phoenix, emanating cold air, flew towards Susanoo!
"Is that all you've got?"
Uchiha Madara controlled his Susanoo as it entered the second form again!
In Susanoo's hand appeared a long blade that shimmered blue, slicing a blow at the incoming ice bird, the sword qi instantly splitting the ice bird in half, continuing its momentum towards Aokiji!
"Is this... a Sword Master!"
Aokiji's body barely managed to enter Elementalization, turning into a pile of ice blocks, and the sword qi instantly split the pile of ice in two!