Yellow Flash VS Glint-Glint Fruit

Kizaru wore a look of feigned shock, though inwardly he was puzzled as to why his Observation Haki hadn't sensed the attack until the very moment it struck. Was this some kind of Wano Country ninjutsu?

He speculated about the green tactical vest Minato Namikaze wore, never imagining that this man hailed from an entirely different world.

On the other side, Minato was deep in thought. The attack had passed straight through his body! Was it an ability like the masked man's, or were physical attacks simply ineffective? Minato pulled out a marked kunai with a backhand motion and said, "Lord Kizaru, I am Minato Namikaze. How about you hand this Fish-Man over to me?"

Is he here to save Arlong? When did Wano Country form an alliance with Fish-Man Island? Kizaru suppressed his doubts and spread his hands. "That won't do, little brother. He's a prisoner of our Navy. If I let him go, I'll be in a lot of trouble, and I'm a man who hates trouble more than anything."

Minato hadn't expected to talk a powerhouse into backing down; strength would have to do the talking. That was fine—it was a perfect chance to test the strength of this otherworldly expert!

Minato's hands blurred through a sequence of seals: Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger. "Great Fireball Technique!" He cupped his right hand, drew a sharp breath, and unleashed a torrent of scorching flames from his mouth like a flamethrower!

Kizaru narrowed his eyes. His Observation Haki had already gauged the attack's range at thirty meters in front of him, but he didn't know the nature of the technique. He was genuinely surprised when a ferocious sea of fire erupted from Minato's mouth, engulfing the area.

But as a user of the Glint-Glint Fruit, Kizaru wouldn't be hit so easily. The moment the fire surrounded him, he vanished along with Arlong.

Such speed! Minato frowned. Did he dodge? Or did he think the fire release couldn't hurt him? The lack of intelligence made this battle unpredictable.

Suddenly, a voice echoed from behind Minato. "Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"

As the voice spoke, golden light coalesced into Kizaru behind him. His leg shimmered with golden radiance as he delivered a side kick. Minato seemed completely caught off guard, taking the light-speed kick directly to the head.

With a poof, a white cloud of smoke appeared where Minato had been standing, leaving only a log behind. Minato had used the Body Replacement Technique as a reflex before the strike landed, narrowly evading the blow.

Kizaru stopped in mid-air, looking unruffled. "You really are a ninja, little brother. Those circus-like tricks from Wano Country are actually quite terrifying."

Whoosh. Minato reappeared on a nearby tree. "Truly astonishing speed. You dodged my attack instantly and even moved your captive."

Minato felt the situation was tricky; the opponent's attack speed exceeded his own perception.

In truth, Kizaru's speed as a Glint-Glint Fruit user was absurd—perhaps not quite the true speed of light, but the attack he just witnessed far surpassed any battle Minato had fought before. Even the Fourth Raikage, famous for his physical speed, was nowhere near this level.

But when it comes to speed, I won't give up so easily! It seems I have to show some real skill.

Minato pondered this, though the thought process took only a split second.

Having tested the waters, Kizaru was clearly intrigued. "What was that move just now, little brother? Is that also ninjutsu?"

Minato smiled. "Revealing your own intelligence in the middle of a fight is a major taboo, you know."

"My, my, it seems you're quite experienced for someone so young," Kizaru chuckled, continuing to probe.

Minato didn't answer directly. "I don't actually like fighting, but sometimes, combat is simply a means to protect the people I care about."

Minato stood up and looked Kizaru in the eye. "Lord Kizaru, it's quite a coincidence. Your title is Yellow Monkey, and I am known as: the Yellow Flash!"

Kizaru let out a light laugh. "Oh, that is truly interesting." He extended his right hand toward Minato, light gathering at his fingertip. Whoosh. A golden laser shot rapidly toward him.

Minato used a pre-prepared Body Flicker Technique to move at high speed, dodging the beam. He gripped his kunai and charged at Kizaru.

Kizaru watched Minato approach with composure, then shifted into a beam of light and flew into the air. Crossing his arms, he shouted, "Yasakani no Magatama!"

Countless yellow lasers rained down indiscriminately. Minato's figure was swallowed by the barrage; the surrounding area became a battlefield of dense explosions and dust.

Boom! Boom! Boom! As the thick smoke cleared, Kizaru used his Observation Haki to scan the area, but his senses told him the target hadn't been hit.

However, he failed to notice a black curse mark slowly manifesting beneath his feet, twisting like a crawling serpent!

Suddenly, a flash of brilliant golden yellow appeared behind Kizaru, and his Observation Haki didn't react in the slightest!

Minato had buried multiple Flying Thunder God seals underground before the mission began, and he had used the moment Kizaru attacked to teleport behind him.

Now, utilizing the Flying Thunder God, Minato successfully bypassed the speed of the Logia-type Glint-Glint Fruit and the perception of Observation Haki, seizing a chance for a decisive strike.

After all, a back-and-forth exchange of blows was never Minato's style; seizing the opportunity to end a fight in one strike was the very reason his title, the Yellow Flash, was so feared!

"Rasengan!"

Behind Kizaru, Minato unleashed his signature ninjutsu. He gathered wind-attribute chakra into a high-speed rotating sphere of energy and drove it into Kizaru's undefended back.

Kizaru's expression shifted from confusion to shock. In his disbelieving eyes, the Rasengan, carrying immense wind pressure, made contact with his body.

In mid-air, like a hot knife through butter, the Rasengan tore a massive chunk out of Kizaru's body. The violent wind pressure churned the surrounding air, scattering fragments of Kizaru's form into the sky...

"Vice Admiral Kizaru!"

The watching marines felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar; their pupils dilated in sheer disbelief as they cried out.

Arlong, still restrained nearby, muttered in hateful frustration, "Damn it, how can there be such a strong human?"

Just as everyone stood in shock, the fragments of Kizaru's body drifting in the air transformed into golden rays of light. Like flowing streams, they converged rapidly nearby, reforming into his human shape.

"My, my, that was truly dangerous," Kizaru said, looking genuinely rattled.

"Thank goodness! As expected of the Logia-type Vice Admiral Kizaru!"

The marines' emotions swung like a rollercoaster, and they cheered for Kizaru in unison.

Minato landed quickly, his heart sinking. Can ordinary ninjutsu not hit him?

It shouldn't be completely useless. My attack just now wasn't without effect. The moment I struck, I could clearly feel energy neutralizing my Rasengan. It wasn't a direct nullification; it means ordinary ninjutsu attacks are more like a clash of energy.

In reality, ordinary ninjutsu is not entirely useless. When standard ninjutsu strikes a Logia-type ability user, it can rapidly deplete their stamina. It is only because the people of the One Piece World are monsters of physical endurance that it appears ineffective, a fact Minato Namikaze is naturally unaware of. Minato frowned, contemplating other tactics.

Kizaru, however, was secretly surprised by Minato's method of movement and remarked, "Was that space-time ability just now, little brother? No wonder they call you the Yellow Flash!"

Minato's expression remained grave, and he did not answer. He quickly formed hand seals, pressed his palms together, and shouted, "Sage Mode, activate!"

Orange markings appeared around Minato's eyes, which shifted into horizontal slits. Streams of chakra began to radiate from his body, constantly converting into sage chakra.

"Whoa, whoa, this look is a bit scary," Kizaru said in a flippant tone, though he inwardly raised his guard. Through Observation Haki, he could sense the dangerous intensity of the energy radiating from his opponent. His heart tightened, and he prepared to drop his signature Slacking Monkey persona to enter a serious state.

Kizaru extended his hands in a hollow grip, and golden light converged in his palms to form the shape of a long sword: the Ama no Murakumo Sword. Wielding the blade of condensed light, Kizaru tapped his toes and arrived before Minato in an instant, swinging the sword downward.

Clang! Minato held his kunai in a reverse grip, crossing them to block Kizaru's swift strike, but the ground beneath his feet shuddered violently, splitting into jagged fissures.

What a monster of strength! Minato thought to himself. But I can see you! Under the massive all-attribute boost of Sage Mode, he was barely able to keep up with Kizaru's speed.

The two engaged in a rapid exchange, one sword against dual kunai. However, after dozens of clashes, Minato quickly realized this was unwise; his kunai were being shattered by Kizaru's Ama no Murakumo Sword. Even though he had coated them in sage chakra, it could not compare to the tyrannical enhancement Armament Haki provided to weapons.

Kizaru also realized that while his opponent had decent taijutsu and bizarre abilities, he possessed no Haki whatsoever. He accelerated his offensive, his sword strikes raining down on Minato like a torrential storm.

The sound of weapons clashing rang out incessantly. Taking advantage of the gaps in combat, Minato scattered kunai across the area, using the Flying Thunder God technique and his mastery of the Three Body Technique to skirmish with Kizaru in close quarters.

Although he had never undergone systematic training in taijutsu, every move he made was a killing blow honed on the battlefield, aimed directly at vital points.

Kizaru seemed wary of Minato's sage chakra. Facing attacks coated in it, he did not use elementalization to evade, but instead relied on his top-tier Observation Haki to dodge or his Armament Haki to tank the hits. Minato's repeated attempts to use Flying Thunder God were also neutralized, and the situation reached a stalemate.

The soldiers on the warship watched the fierce battle with their mouths agape.

"Incredible! I've never seen Vice Admiral Kizaru this serious!"

"They're both monsters!"

Those nearby could no longer track the figures of the two combatants. Across the island, one could only see two streaks of yellow light flashing and entangling, dancing together like brilliant golden streamers. If not for the constant sound of weapons striking and the crater-ridden landscape, it would be impossible to believe this was a fight between two humans.

Clang! Minato blocked a strike from Kizaru and used the momentum to spin backward, creating some distance.

Kizaru lowered his sword. "Are all the newcomers who head out to sea these days this terrifying?"

Minato exhaled slowly, steadying his breathing. "Though we are opponents, you are truly impressive. No, you are quite strong." Minato no longer held out hope for completing the hidden mission.

"Oh, little brother, how about you join the Navy? You don't look like a pirate," Kizaru said, attempting to lure Minato Namikaze with his smooth talk.

"Sorry, we are not from the same world." Minato recalled the "gentleness" of Kushina from his memories and the new life that had just been born, and he revealed a warm smile.

Kizaru shrugged, not reading too much into Minato's honest statement. "This mission is such a hassle. I suppose I'll just have to capture you."

Minato remained noncommittal. Two kunai slid from his sleeves into his palms; he flicked his wrists, and they shot toward Kizaru like bolts of lightning.

"That's useless!"

Kizaru's Observation Haki had long since sensed the attack. Guessing that these weapons might be linked to his opponent's teleportation, he did not stand his ground to defend. His entire form turned into light, and he flashed behind where Minato stood at a speed far exceeding the attack.

Yet, just as he dispelled his elemental form, the Minato in front of him changed!

Minato vanished on the spot like a shadow, while the place where he had stood erupted in a blinding light, as if a dozen flashbangs had detonated right in Kizaru's face!

Even with Kizaru's quick reflexes and immediate condensation of Haki for defense, he had not expected the attack to be a flashbang rather than a direct energy strike. For a moment, even he, the light-man who had eaten the Glint-Glint Fruit, was blinded by the flash!

Zhu Shen, observing from the shadows, laughed hysterically. You dare believe it? The light-man who ate the Glint-Glint Fruit was blinded by a flashbang?

Yet, that was the reality. Even though Kizaru had eaten the Glint-Glint Fruit, his body had not transcended the fundamental attributes of a human.

"Sage Art: Rasengan Super Flash Dance Howl Style Three!"

This was a technique of Minato's own creation, and under the enhancement of Sage Mode, it possessed faster execution and more potent effects. This "plus" version of a flashbang left Kizaru frozen in place for an instant.

As Kizaru was left "streaming with tears" from the sudden stimulus, the Yellow Flash shone once more!

A streak of yellow flickered ghost-like behind Kizaru. Minato extended one hand, a massive Rasengan condensed with natural energy swirling in his palm, and slammed it squarely into Kizaru's back!

Space-time movement again? Damn it, I didn't track the attack! It's too late!

Relying on his combat instincts, Kizaru gathered all his Haki to form a barrier in an attempt to block the attack, while his body instinctively tried to elementalize and escape.

As everyone knows, in the perception of ordinary people, the fastest thing is the speed of light, but even light cannot transcend the dimensions of space!

Before Kizaru could escape the spot, Minato's Sage Art Rasengan had already collided with his Haki defense.

"BOOM!"

A massive explosion rang out. Blinding blue and gold light sprayed everywhere, and the light erupting across the island seemed to momentarily eclipse the glare of the sun.

"Ah, my eyes!"

The marines watching from the distant warship felt as if they had been hit by a flashbang; one by one, they bowed their heads in pain, clutching their watering eyes.

After the light dissipated, a tall figure stood in the center of a massive crater. His gray-striped suit was in tatters, and the Navy "Justice" cloak on his back had long since vanished into fragments, leaving only a gaping wound on his back!

"You've made me lose face in front of my subordinates, Minato Namikaze!"

Kizaru's face was cold as frost. Feeling the injury on his back, his tone carried a hint of chill.

Minato looked at the wounded Kizaru, but he couldn't help but feel a sliver of doubt. Is this constitution really human?

He had taken a Sage Art Rasengan head-on, yet it was only a minor injury. Anyone else would have been shredded to pieces by the energy of the Rasengan, let alone this supercharged Sage Art version!

Drip, drop...

Blood dripped slowly from Kizaru's body, hitting the ground and transforming into golden light elements.

"I won't hold back anymore, Minato Namikaze. Don't go dying on me just yet."

Kizaru narrowed his eyes, which had yet to fully recover, and crossed his arms. A dazzling radiance slowly emerged from his entire body as he ascended into the air, appearing as if he had transformed into a being made entirely of light.

The ground beneath him was dyed a brilliant gold by the flowing light, as if a sheet of white paper were being saturated with golden paint.

Within a few breaths, half the island had become an ocean of light. The entire world seemed to be a magnificent golden space where no other color could be seen, yet even amidst all that light, nothing was as blinding as the figure at the very center.

"Extreme Light Laser!"

Kizaru pointed a single finger, and a massive laser cannon erupted from behind him like divine retribution, blasting toward Minato.

The attack arrived in an instant, leaving Minato only enough time to instinctively shift his body to the side. The terrifying laser grazed his right arm.

BOOM.

A mountain behind him was pierced clean through by the laser, kicking up a cloud of dust. Minato's entire right shoulder had simply vanished—vanished in the most literal sense of the word.

"Now that you've lost an arm, how will you activate your abilities?"

Kizaru, now a being of pure light, looked on mockingly at Minato, who was enduring the agony while breaking into a cold sweat.

Even with the astonishing regenerative powers of Sage Mode, Minato could not instantly regrow a severed limb.

Realizing that this battle might no longer be winnable, Minato calmly began to weave hand seals with his remaining hand.

"Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!"

"Oh? You can activate it with one hand? Then I'll just have to cripple your other one."

Another terrifying laser streaked toward Minato.

As Minato activated the illusion, he simultaneously triggered the Flying Thunder God technique linked to the kunai he had thrown at the start of the fight. During the initial skirmish, he had quietly transferred that mark onto Arlong, and the Flying Thunder God technique required no hand seals to activate.

Kizaru believed this strike would shatter Minato's attack and cripple his remaining arm, but that was merely wishful thinking.

The moment Minato's illusion took hold, Kizaru felt a mental lapse. He saw Fleet Admiral Sengoku roaring at him in a rage:

"Borsalino, you've botched the mission again! All your future bonuses are canceled!"

The Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique could conjure the deepest fears or most unwanted scenarios in an opponent's mind; the greater the target's inner dread, the more lethal the technique.

However, Kizaru was a veteran of countless battles, and his mental fortitude far exceeded that of an ordinary man. Within a few breaths, he shook off the illusion and regained his senses. But as he scanned his surroundings, where was his opponent?

He quickly spotted Arlong's corpse on the warship docked at the nearby coast.

"Where is that Minato Namikaze?"

Kizaru flashed back onto the warship.

"Re-report, Vice Admiral! That pirate suddenly appeared on the ship and killed the fish-man before we could even react."

Kizaru's expression turned grim. He stared at Arlong's body, feeling immensely irritable, and unleashed his Observation Haki to scan the surrounding seas, but he found nothing.

He understood that with the opponent's ability to teleport, even he, a user of the Glint-Glint Fruit, could not keep him here. This mission had truly been botched.

Kizaru rubbed his temples, waved his hand irritably at the soldiers, and said, "Set sail. We're heading back."