Hina had initially thought Akainu was making a mountain out of a molehill. He had insisted on taking Uchiha Hiko so seriously, even going so far as to transfer Momousagi and Chaton over—it had seemed utterly excessive. But after seeing Uchiha Hiko gradually reveal his strength, she felt that Akainu had been truly farsighted. Now, watching Chaton get slapped away by Uchiha Hiko with a single blow, she suddenly realized that Akainu had still underestimated him.
Two fighters at admiral level were simply not enough to deal with this man, whose face always bore a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Whenever he sneered, it was easy to feel as though he was mocking them.
Panic rose in Hina's heart. What now? Call for reinforcements? Summon Admiral Kizaru, who was stationed at Headquarters? Or request that Admiral Fujitora be transferred here as well? Perhaps even bring Admiral Ryokugyu over?
Hina did not even realize how absurd that thought was. The Marines gathering such a powerful force now would be enough to alarm any one of the Four Emperors' crews. Yet the person who had given Hina such an outrageous idea was merely a young man who had only recently risen to prominence in the New World.
After Hiko blasted Chaton away with a palm strike, he reined in his aura. The terrifying pressure around him vanished, and his Dojutsu was deactivated.
With a smile on his face, he turned toward Momousagi, whose expression was dark and grave. He knew that she had seen it too. If they continued fighting, Momousagi alone could not defeat him. She was now weighing what to do next.
The Marines' true purpose in coming here had originally been to recruit Uchiha Hiko. But Hina and Chaton had remained so arrogant in their tone, even speaking rudely, that