Aokiji's Final Struggle

Clang!

Susanoo's slash not only made Kuzan's body tremble, but also sent a buzzing shock through his mind.

Although he had barely blocked Kaze's attack with his Haki, his condition had taken a sharp turn for the worse.

A growing sense of self-doubt began to take root within Kuzan—doubt that he could not defeat his enemy.

"This guy..."

His face turned pale.

To defeat Kaze, this ninja, he had shown a level of seriousness unlike ever before.

Yet even so, he still could not bridge the gap between them.

Of course...

Though Kuzan had begun to doubt himself, he did not choose to give up.

After taking Susanoo's slash head-on, Kuzan released even more cold air into the surroundings.

In an instant, the cold air took the shapes of all kinds of animals.

Falcons.

Tigers.

Wolves.

There were hundreds, even thousands of them.

They surrounded Kaze without leaving a single opening.

Not only that, Kuzan wrapped his Armament Haki around another group of beasts.

He dyed them all blackish purple.

Kuzan focused, his gaze passing through Susanoo and falling on Kaze inside.

In his view, this was more or less their final clash.

As for Kaze.

With an absolute advantage in the battle, his mindset was naturally much better than Kuzan's.

Faced with Kuzan's ability, he merely glanced around.

Watching beasts form one after another from ice.

Kaze held considerable respect for Kuzan's abilities as well.

"No wonder you became a Marine Admiral."

"If you hadn't run into me, the ninjas of the Land of Fire might not necessarily have been able to defeat you."

Kaze murmured softly.

Although the Land of Fire had produced many powerful people under his rule.

Compared with a top-tier fighter like Kuzan, they were still far inferior.

Aside from himself, the Fifth Hokage.