The appearance of a single shinobi capable of surpassing him was already terrifying enough—but this man before him wielded power nearly comparable to Shigure as well.
Two such monsters emerging in the same era…
It would inevitably lead to another bloody storm.
This, perhaps, was the eternal sorrow of the entire shinobi world.
Just like himself and Madara back then—two existences who could never coexist peacefully.
Hashirama looked at Nagato, floating serenely in the air.
This man even possessed the ability to fly.
"As expected of the strongest Mizukage," Hashirama muttered.
"What a strange power… even I still haven't figured out what kind of ninjutsu this is."
Nagato, meanwhile, observed the distorted space enveloping them.
"However," he said calmly, "your strange ninjutsu likely only functions inside this space, doesn't it?"
He wasn't merely watching—he was analyzing.
Shigure nodded.
"You're right. For now, my ability can only be used within this space."
"For now?"
Nagato froze for a heartbeat.
The implication was terrifying—Shigure might one day use this heaven-defying technique without relying on this isolated domain.
He truly was a terrifying genius.
A monster, even—not only capable of developing such a world-breaking ninjutsu, but already considering creating evolutions of it.
Nagato raised his hand.
Banshō Ten'in.
You're not the only one with special abilities, Shigure.
My Rinnegan possesses power not inferior to yours.
Shigure's body was instantly yanked forward by an overwhelming gravitational pull.
At that moment, Hashirama's expression changed.
"Oh no—this technique is…!"
Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!
Vines erupted violently, intertwining and condensing into a massive wooden dragon.
Its vast jaws opened as it lunged forward, aiming to swallow Shigure whole.
"Kid! Get out of the way!" Hashirama roared.
But then he froze.
Because in the blink of an eye, the world spun—and the next thing he saw was his own Wood Dragon barreling toward him.
Crack!
Boom!
The dragon swallowed Hashirama in a single bite.
He was stunned.
What happened? Our positions… switched?
What kind of ninjutsu can achieve something like that instantly?
Shigure, meanwhile, analyzed Nagato calmly.
The Rinnegan has evolved… it carries the aura of the Six Paths.
I can't directly interfere with him using the deduction properties of the Op-Op Fruit anymore.
A rare frustration settled in his chest.
Even here, the Op-Op Fruit's limitations persisted.
In the world of One Piece, it could not affect enemies overwhelmingly stronger than the user.
And in this world, it could not affect those possessing Six Paths-level power.
"Well done, kid!" Hashirama shouted, emerging from the dragon unharmed.
"But using my own jutsu against me isn't enough to injure me!"
Without giving Shigure room to breathe, Wood Release vines surged again, trying to entangle him.
At the same time, Nagato's gaze sharpened.
So you chose to swap with Hashirama instead of me.
Then you can't swap with me… can you?
It made sense.
Nagato was alive and radiating monstrous Six Paths chakra.
Hashirama, though immortal due to Edo Tensei, could be ignored temporarily.
But sealing Hashirama with Nagato present was impossible.
Nagato would never allow that.
Meaning Shigure would have to endure pressure from both and neutralize Nagato first.
Shigure swung his arm once.
Just a single slash.
No visible blade wave—yet every vine was severed instantly.
His eyes locked onto Nagato.
A crosshair-like pattern flickered in his vision—followed by a targeting interface shrinking rapidly.
When the box turned red—
Shigure raised his blade.
Injection — Shot!
An invisible piercing wave blasted forward faster than sound, striking Nagato square in the chest.
Crack!
BOOM!
Nagato choked, spraying blood.
He hadn't even seen the attack.
ROOM — Transfer!
In the next instant, Shigure appeared behind him.
Lightning surged into his palm—not ordinary Lightning Release, but something sharper, denser.
Heart — Shock!!
Crack!
The strike connected—
—but Nagato's Shinra Tensei burst forth.
An invisible barrier expanded, halting the attack by mere centimeters.
BOOM!
Shigure was blasted away, crashing through the air.
At the same time, Hashirama clasped his hands together again.
Wood Release: Wood Golem Jutsu!
A massive wooden giant rose from the charred earth, its enormous fist swinging down toward Shigure as he flew directly into its shadow.
For a brief moment, regret flickered in Hashirama's eyes.
Shigure probably wouldn't be able to dodge.
The Wood Golem's power—fueled by Sage Chakra—was overwhelming. A direct hit would be catastrophic.
But the young shinobi's body twisted midair, and a flash of steel tore through the smoke.
The very instant Shigure passed by Hashirama—
He gripped his sword, Zangetsu, in one hand.
His voice was cold, absolute.
"I told you… your era has long ended."
"This era—"
"Now is my era."
Clang—!
A sharp, piercing ring tore through the sky.
Hashirama glanced down.
The Wood Golem beneath his feet—
Was split cleanly in half.
One stroke.
Not fractured.
Not shattered.
Cut. Straight. Through.
An impossibly clean line split the titanic construct, and Hashirama froze.
Nagato's eyes narrowed sharply.
The Wood Golem—
a construct stronger than most Tailed Beasts, reinforced with Sage Chakra—
Had been cleaved apart as if it were paper.
The bisected giant toppled, crashing into the earth as two broken halves.
Shigure stood with his back to them.
But then, his eyes flared open—
Blood-red. Burning. Savage.
Fiery Red Eyes — Activate!
He turned sharply, inhaling a deep breath.
Fire Release — Head Hardening Jutsu!
BOOM!
Flames exploded outward like a tidal wave.
A roaring inferno surged across the battlefield, engulfing everything—Nagato, Hashirama, and the fallen Wood Golem—without discrimination.
This was no ordinary Fire Release.
It carried the scorching density of Shigure's chakra, sharpened by Sage Energy, and laced with the destructive undertones of Tailed Beast chakra.
The abandoned factory didn't stand a chance.
Wood Release vines ignited instantly, burning to ash.
Walls melted into slag.
The entire ruin became a crimson sea of fire—a roaring purgatory swallowing everything in sight.