NOVEL WEB Chapter 11: Itachi Round
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At the arena.
The crowd was stunned by Bacura's defeat, all too aware of the humiliating power of Kitaro's hypnosis. None of the Amazon Lily warriors wanted to meet the same fate—being controlled like a puppet in front of their people was worse than death.
Boa Hancock's composed expression faltered as she acknowledged the threat Kitaro posed. She hadn't expected his abilities to be so terrifying.
"Marigold!" Hancock commanded sharply.
A large, muscular woman with long orange hair and an imposing figure stepped forward from beside Hancock. Despite her size, she moved with surprising agility, landing lightly in front of Kitaro. With a massive sword in hand, she pointed it at him, her voice dripping with menace.
"Man, I'll slice off your head."
But before Marigold could act, Kitaro raised his hand calmly. "Hold on. Your opponent isn't me."
The air grew still as a thin figure emerged from Kitaro's side.
"Your opponent is him."
It was Uchiha Itachi, standing confidently next to Kitaro.
Marigold's eyes widened with disbelief. "A kid? You're sending a child to fight me? You dare mock me?!"
Her fury was palpable, her enormous frame towering over the young Itachi.
Kitaro's smile was unshaken. "Do you think I would underestimate you? This battle determines the future of my Uchiha clan. Itachi is no ordinary child. He's a prodigy of our clan, and I trust him with this fight."
Itachi nodded with quiet determination, his eyes reflecting an unshakable resolve. He wanted to bring victory for his clan.
Marigold sneered, her voice dripping with condescension. "Boy, don't think I'll show you any mercy just because you're a child."
Without warning, Marigold's body began to change. She transformed into a half-human, half-snake figure, her muscles expanding as she took on the fearsome Gorgon form. The audience of Amazon Lily erupted in cheers.
"Lord Marigold!"
"The Gorgon's curse has appeared!"
"What a powerful and majestic form!"
"This is the mark of a true warrior, the one who defeated the legendary Gorgon!"
According to legend, the three Boa sisters—Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold—earned their titles through a heroic feat: slaying a fearsome monster known as the Gorgon. However, the Gorgon, in its death, cursed the three sisters as punishment. As part of the curse, each sister was marked with a pair of eyes on her back, and anyone who set eyes on them would be instantly petrified.
This curse shaped much of their abilities and how they interact with the world. Hancock, the eldest, gained the ability to turn anyone who harbors lust for her into stone, a power that reflects the Gorgon's petrifying influence. Sandersonia and Marigold, on the other hand, can transform into human-snake hybrids at will, channeling the Gorgon's monstrous traits.
Due to the nature of their curse, whenever the three sisters bathe, the tribe must evacuate the main castle and set up barriers around the area to prevent anyone from accidentally seeing the eyes on their backs, which would result in instant petrification. This practice became an essential tradition on Amazon Lily to protect their people from the deadly consequences of the curse.
But still the women of Amazon Lily admired Marigold's transformation, while the Uchiha clan watched in astonishment almost believing it was really a curse.
"What kind of transformation is this?" Uchiha Fugaku asked, his eyes narrowing. "It doesn't resemble any ninjutsu or transformation techniques we've seen."
From the stands, Kitaro explained, "This is the power of the Devil Fruit, a unique ability in this world."
The Uchiha clan members turned their attention to Kitaro as he continued.
"It is said that in this world, there are rare fruits called Devil Fruits. Eating one grants incredible powers, but also comes with the curse of the sea. Those who consume Devil Fruits can no longer swim in seawater. Despite this drawback, the power they gain is far beyond the cost."
Kitaro glanced at Marigold's form. "What you see before you is likely the power of the 'Snake-Snake Fruit,' cobra form—a Zoan-type Devil Fruit (Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: King Cobra)."
"Zoan fruits allow the user to transform into a specific animal or human-animal hybrid form, enhancing their physical abilities and regenerative power."
The Uchiha members were speechless as they tried to wrap their minds around this strange power.
"How valuable are these Devil Fruits?" one of the Uchiha asked.
"Extremely," Kitaro said seriously. "Even the less valuable ones can sell for more than 100 million Ryō, and the rarest can be worth tens of billions."
"100 million?!" Uchiha Shisui gasped. "That's an astronomical figure."
Fugaku nodded gravely. "Our clan's entire yearly budget doesn't even come close to 100 million Ryō. And tens of billions… It's hard to imagine."
Kitaro continued his explanation. "Devil Fruits are divided into three types: Zoan, Paramecia, and Logia. Zoan, like Marigold's form, grants users animalistic strength and resilience. When fully mastered, these abilities can make them nearly immortal, allowing them to regenerate from even fatal injuries."
"Paramecia," he added, "grants superhuman abilities. Some can control gravity or cause earthquakes that can split the earth and sea."
The Uchiha listeners exchanged uneasy glances.
"But Logia," Kitaro said, his tone more serious than ever, "is the strongest type at least at first stage. Logia users can control and transform into natural elements like fire, lightning, or ice. Some can freeze oceans, while others can incinerate everything in their path."
The Uchiha clan was deeply shaken by Kitaro's words. They had only just arrived in this world, and they hadn't expected to encounter such overwhelming powers.
"Is this power… on par with the Hokage?" one of the Uchiha asked in disbelief.
Kitaro nodded. "Yes, and in some cases, even stronger. Many of the strongest individuals in this world could surpass the strength of a Hokage. Perhaps only the legendary First Hokage, God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama or Ghost of the Uchiha, Uchiha madara, could rival them."
The Uchiha clan members were stunned. These were the pinnacle of power in their eyes, and the First Hokage—known as the God of Shinobi—was in a league of his own. Only Uchiha Madara, their clan's legendary ancestor, had ever matched his might.
"Are you saying," Fugaku began, "that some of these people might be stronger than even the First Hokage?"
Kitaro's eyes darkened. "It's possible. This world is full of strong warriors who can match gods."
The Uchiha clan fell into silence, the weight of Kitaro's words sinking in. They had come to realize that this world was far more dangerous than they had anticipated. The path ahead was fraught with peril, and the stakes were higher than ever.
As the tension in the arena grew, Uchiha Itachi stepped forward, his gaze locked onto Marigold. The battle for the Uchiha clan's future was about to begin, and all eyes were on the rumored young prodigy.
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