"What the hell happened?" Kurama opened his piercing red eyes, scanning his surroundings before fixing his gaze on Kaito.
The memories flooded back. In his prime, Kurama had been a force of nature—unrivaled even among the Tailed Beasts. The Sage of Six Paths, who had divided the Ten-Tails' power into nine parts, had left him with the largest portion of chakra. In the ninja world, he had reigned supreme.
But then he faced Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi, whose Wood Release restrained him like a mere beast. If that wasn't humbling enough, Kurama later found himself under Uchiha Madara's control, treated as a weapon rather than a living entity.
Even after Madara's fall, others rose to subdue him—Uzumaki Mito, Uzumaki Kushina, and Uchiha Obito. One by one, they sealed him away, extinguishing the fiery pride he once had.
It wasn't that Kurama had become weak. The shinobi who had defeated him were simply on a different level—legends who shaped the very course of history.
As Kurama looked at Kaito, his expression remained neutral. "Are you here to fight me?"
"No," Kaito replied, a faint smile on his face. "I just wanted to meet you. I have a feeling we'll be working together for a long time."
Kurama studied Kaito carefully. Unlike his previous hosts, this one felt… different. He didn't sense the same malice or ambition to control him. There was a peculiar warmth, an unexpected familiarity. Though Kurama didn't know it, his bond with Kaito had been established the moment he had been awakened in this world.
"Hmph. Whatever." Kurama closed his eyes again, settling into a restful position.
Kaito didn't press further. Instead, he began transferring the pirate ship's loot into Kurama's spiritual space.
Kurama cracked one eye open. "These treasures are all for me?"
"Not quite," Kaito said, smirking. "Just putting them here for safekeeping. Keeps them out of the way."
Kurama snorted softly. "You're an odd one."
Once everything was moved, Kaito left the spiritual space, his consciousness returning to the ship's cabin. He glanced around, confirming there was nothing else of value. Then, he stepped back out onto the deck, the sea breeze tugging at his clothes.
"Now then," Kaito murmured, tapping his chin. "Where should I look for another Devil Fruit?"
Finding a single Devil Fruit had taken him a year. If it took him that long for each one, unlocking Kurama's full power would be an agonizingly slow process. Eight more years of searching didn't sit well with him. He needed a better plan.
For the first time, Kaito considered joining a pirate crew—or forming one himself. If he led his own crew, he could direct their efforts toward finding Devil Fruits. However, recruiting trustworthy, powerful companions in this era wasn't easy. The strongest pirates were already loyal to established crews, like the infamous Rocks Pirates. And even if Kaito could gather followers, who's to say they wouldn't betray him?
No, forming a new crew seemed too risky. Joining an existing, powerful group would be the more practical choice. In the company of legendary pirates, Kaito could fight stronger opponents and accelerate his progress. The only question was: which crew would be worthy of his loyalty?
Before Kaito could reach a decision, he heard a noise in the distance—waves crashing against the hull of a massive ship. He turned, and his eyes widened as a colossal vessel emerged from the horizon, its sails emblazoned with a fearsome insignia.
"The Rocks Pirates…" Kaito muttered.
He had seen their ship countless times in news reports during the past year. This wasn't just any crew—it was the most dangerous pirate group in the world, led by the man destined to become the overlord of the seas.
On the Rocks Pirates' deck, several imposing figures stood watching Kaito. At the bow was a tall, blond man with a cigar clenched between his teeth. His expression was one of mild amusement, his arms crossed as he surveyed the smaller ship.
It was none other than the Golden Lion Shiki, a future legend who would later rival even Gol D. Roger. For now, he was a prominent member of Rocks' crew, known for his cunning and ferocity.
"Looks like the Anos Pirates ran into some trouble," Shiki commented, blowing out a puff of smoke. "Their captain had a 300 million bounty, right? So what's this kid doing on their ship?"
Beside Shiki stood a towering figure with a broad chest and a crescent-shaped mustache. His booming laughter echoed across the waves.
"Gu la la la… Did you kill the captain yourself, kid?"
It was Whitebeard—Edward Newgate—another of Rocks' top commanders. His presence was like a storm, dominating the atmosphere around him. Though he would one day be known as the "Strongest Man in the World," here he was still rising in power under Rocks' banner.
Before Kaito could respond, another voice cut in.
"What's the big deal? Killing some guy with a 300 million bounty is no challenge."
The speaker was Silver Axe, a heavily armored pirate who carried a massive axe on his shoulder. His tone was dismissive, though his narrowed eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.
"Don't be so quick to judge, Silver Axe," said a woman standing nearby. She had long, flowing hair and a curvaceous figure that turned heads. Even in her youth, her commanding presence was unmistakable.
It was Charlotte Linlin—later known as Big Mom—who had yet to become the fearsome matriarch of the Charlotte Family. Despite her relative youth, she recognized potential in Kaito.
"For someone his age to take down a pirate captain with that kind of bounty…" she mused, her smile sly. "It's not something just anyone can do."
While the others speculated, a heavy silence fell as a new figure approached. He was tall and broad, his mere presence making even Whitebeard and Shiki step aside. His aura was suffocating, an almost tangible weight of authority.
It was Rocks D. Xebec himself. The captain of the Rocks Pirates. A man who would one day be remembered as a tyrant, challenging the very order of the world.
"A kid?" Rocks said, his deep voice laced with both curiosity and amusement. He grinned, his eyes fixed on Kaito. "What's your name, boy?"