NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13: Drum Island
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"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Over the next few hours, Rayleigh tirelessly hunted down ten massive Sea Kings, each over a hundred meters long. All of them were carefully stored away by Kaito, finally bringing the hunt to an end.
To accomplish this, they had to move the ship to several different locations. In the end, Rayleigh even captured an additional Sea King, planning to use it as food for the coming days.
The extra Sea King was swiftly butchered by the female warriors of Amazon Lily and temporarily stored in the ship's freezer.
A quick conversation happened between Kaito and Rayleigh.
"All done! Time to head back!"
"Got it!"
"Thank you, Uncle Rayleigh! I know it was a lot of work!"
"Haha! No problem! It's good to stretch my muscles once in a while. Just don't forget that fine liquor you promised me!"
"No worries! I'll make sure you get it as soon as we're back!"
"Deal!"
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On the return journey, Kaito took some time to step into a private room, using the moment to return briefly to his home in the Ninja World.
From his family's wine cellar, he selected over ten bottles of the finest liquor. Once the ship docked and they returned to Shakky's shop, he handed the bottles to Rayleigh.
"Here you go, Uncle Rayleigh! These are my family's prized spirits. I guarantee you've never tasted anything like them. Want to try some?"
"Oh?" Rayleigh's curiosity was piqued as he examined the unfamiliar packaging. "It does look a bit like something from Wano. Alright, let's give it a shot!"
He uncorked one of the bottles, and a rich, heady aroma filled the room. Rayleigh's eyes lit up. "Now this is good liquor!"
Without hesitation, he took a few long gulps straight from the bottle.
"Ahhh! Fantastic! This is the real deal!"
"Haha! Uncle Rayleigh, I'm glad you like it. I picked out the strongest ones just for you."
Most liquor in the Shinobi World was mild sake, but Kaito guessed that Rayleigh, being the type of man he was, would prefer something stronger ,so he picked the best and strongest liquor.
"Oh, right! I've already written down the insights on Haki and the Six Powers techniques, along with the concept of Life Return. Here, take them!"
Rayleigh suddenly remembered, setting the bottle aside to retrieve a stack of notes from the back room.
"Thank you!" Kaito quickly accepted the notes, eagerly flipping through them. With his sharp memory and keen comprehension, he absorbed the information in no time.
However, after reading, he frowned slightly. Handing the notes to his mother, Jiri, he sighed, "The material is fantastic, but unfortunately, most of it is beyond me for now. My body just isn't ready yet."
"Even something like Observation Haki will have to wait until I recover further before I can start training it," he admitted.
As for Armament Haki and the Six Powers techniques? His current frail body wasn't up to the task.
Conqueror's Haki, meanwhile, required a natural awakening. Rayleigh's notes did include some theories on how to awaken it, emphasizing strong willpower, unwavering determination, and an extraordinary spirit.
In Rayleigh's view, Conqueror's Haki was mostly innate—either you had it, or you didn't. Effort could only go so far.
But Kaito didn't entirely agree. He believed it involved the strength of one's spirit and mind, and though it was elusive, he was confident that with the right approach, it could be cultivated.
Thanks to his Heaven Rewards Diligence talent, Kaito was certain he'd eventually uncover a method to awaken Conqueror's Haki through training.
"Haha! True enough!" Rayleigh chuckled heartily. The others in the room exchanged knowing smiles.
"But are you seriously telling me you've already memorized and understood everything in these notes?" Rayleigh asked, visibly surprised.
"Of course!" Kaito replied matter-of-factly. "I have an excellent memory and quick comprehension."
"Well, well!" Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Now I'm really looking forward to seeing what you'll achieve once you're back to full health!"
"Just wait and see, Uncle!" Kaito grinned confidently.
"Haha! Alright, I'll hold you to that!"
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The next five days passed quietly, with Kaito primarily staying in the Pirate World, focusing on practicing a health cultivation technique and meditation. His condition steadily improved by the day.
Meanwhile, Jiri made occasional trips back to the Shinobi World to handle clan affairs. Thankfully, as it wasn't wartime, there wasn't much to manage.
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Another ten days flew by.
Ten days earlier, Kaito and Jiri had bid farewell to Rayleigh and his companions, departing from the Sabaody Archipelago toward Drum Island.
After ten days in the sea, they finally arrived at their destination.
In those days, Kaito's congenital defects had improved by nearly half. With the nourishment of Sea King meat, his body had grown noticeably stronger, shedding its previous frailty.
He even grew 10 centimeters taller, finally reaching a more normal height of 1.1 meters for his age.
Kaito's lifespan had even significantly increased, reaching 27 years.
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[Uchiha Kaito]
Talents: Space-Time Gate, Heaven Rewards Diligence
Lifespan: 27 years, 5 months, 12 days (Life Essence: 6.13/10)
Chakra Attributes: Water, Wind, Fire, Earth, Yin
Skills: Uchiha Chakra Refinement (1/100, Beginner), Traditional Medicine (3,314/10,000, Proficient), Longevity Cultivation Technique (1,145/5,000, Intermediate), Uchiha Meditation (134/500, Skilled)
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At the Drum Island docks:
"Do you need us to stay and wait for you?" the lead Amazon Lily warrior, Naki, asked.
"No need!" Jiri smiled, shaking her head. "You've brought us here, and that's more than enough. We'll be staying here for a while for treatment."
"We can't hold you up any longer. Head back as soon as you can. Once Kaito recovers, we'll come visit you!"
"Thank you for everything!"
Naki nodded, smiling warmly. "There's no need to thank us. In my eyes, your kindness is something we can never repay."
"You're always welcome at Amazon Lily! We'll be off now—farewell!"
With that, Naki waved goodbye and boarded the ship.
The ship soon set sail, gradually disappearing into the horizon.
"Little Kaito! Sister Jiri! See you next time! Make sure to visit me!"
From the stern of the ship, Hancock waved enthusiastically, her voice carrying across the water.
"Goodbye!" Both Kaito and Jiri waved back with smiles.
As the ship disappeared, Kaito noted something with mild frustration. "Hancock's favorability is at 67. Still not enough to bind her."
"Oh?" Jiri raised an eyebrow, teasingly smirking. "So, you've taken a liking to Hancock? She really is a stunning beauty in the making. You should seize the opportunity. You have my support!"
"... Let's talk about this later," Kaito muttered, embarrassed. "It's still at 67. I need 80 to succeed. Maybe next time!"
With a slight shake of his head, he redirected his focus. "Let's go find Dr. Kureha and get started."
"Alright."
After some inquiries in the nearest village, they finally confirmed Dr. Kureha's location.
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