NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: CHAPTER 4
Kaito had two main goals: to fight against the strongest and to unlock his full potential. However, defeating a pirate with a bounty of 300 million berries wasn't a challenge for him at all. The battle ended almost instantly, with Kaito crushing his opponent effortlessly.
Such quick fights were unsatisfying, offering meager progress toward improving his Sage Body. Kaito knew that to grow stronger, he needed to face opponents on par with Admirals like Akainu or Blackbeard from the world of pirates or those comparable to Naruto Uzumaki or Sasuke Uchiha from the world of shinobi. Facing these titans of power would yield far more significant progress.
Still, the 20 progress points he gained weren't insignificant. His Sage Body, a powerful ability resembling the physical resilience and chakra flow of Naruto's Sage Mode, was now at 970 progress points, just 30 points away from reaching the intermediate level. Once that milestone was achieved, Kaito's strength would increase drastically.
With his sights set on further growth, Kaito also looked forward to unlocking special rewards through prize draws provided by his system. But for now, his focus shifted to finding the Devil Fruit mentioned by Arnos. After searching for a while, Kaito finally discovered the treasure aboard a hidden ship.
In the basement of the cabin, he uncovered a beautifully ornate box.
"Crack!"
The box opened, revealing a mysterious Devil Fruit. Its swirling patterns and otherworldly colors confirmed its rarity. Kaito held it in his hands, feeling a surge of emotion.
"Finally," he said to himself, his voice trembling with excitement.
Suddenly, the system's voice echoed in his mind:
"Ding, a Devil Fruit has been detected in the Host's possession. Do you wish to use it to unlock Kurama?"
Without hesitation, Kaito grinned. "Yes."
"Ding, congratulations Host! Kurama has been successfully unlocked!"
The system's next message piqued Kaito's curiosity:
"Ding, the Devil Fruit sacrificed by the Host will not disappear permanently but will reappear elsewhere in the sea someday."
Kaito nodded in understanding. This meant that while he had given up the fruit to unlock Kurama's power, there was still a chance for him to find it again in the future.
With Kurama unlocked, Kaito's system panel appeared before him:
Host: Kaito
Abilities:
Armament Haki (900/1000)
Observation Haki (900/1000)
Conqueror's Haki (700/1000)
Special Abilities:
Sage Body (970/1000): Enhances physical strength, resilience, and recovery.
Sage Eye: Locked (requires Sage Body advancement).
Tailed Beast:
Kurama Chakra Mode (Unlocked).
Kurama Mode (Unlocked).
Tailed Beast Bomb (Unlocked): A devastating S-rank ability comparable to the attacks of Naruto and Kurama in their prime.
Although Kaito had only unlocked the initial stages of Kurama's power, even the Tailed Beast Bomb made him a formidable force. This technique, famously wielded by Naruto and other Jinchūriki, was an explosive, destructive force capable of leveling landscapes.
As Kaito continued his journey across the Grand Line, he couldn't help but imagine the battles awaiting him. Combining the power of the One Piece world's Haki with the might of Kurama from the shinobi world, Kaito was ready to face the strongest opponents both seas and shinobi lands could offer.
The release of the Tailed Beast Bomb (Bijūdama) is one of the most devastating abilities in Naruto. This technique, unique to the tailed beasts and their jinchūriki, has the power to obliterate entire mountain ranges and annihilate towns in mere moments. Its destructive force truly lives up to its reputation, making it one of the most feared abilities in the ninja world.
In the original Naruto series, mastering the Tailed Beast Bomb requires a jinchūriki to synchronize with their tailed beast, typically achieved by entering a partial transformation like the half-tailed state. For example, Naruto Uzumaki had to unlock at least four tails' worth of Kurama's chakra to unleash this technique, though doing so came at the cost of his control, as seen during his battle with Orochimaru.
Kaito, however, seems to defy these conventional rules. With only one of Kurama's tails unlocked, he can already use the Tailed Beast Bomb! This extraordinary feat can be attributed to the system's influence, which enhances Kaito's compatibility with Kurama, pushing his power to unprecedented levels.
Having gained this ability, Kaito's strength reaches an extreme height, rivaling even the legendary jinchūriki from the original series. After closing the system panel, Kaito shifts his focus to the treasure hidden in the pirate ship's basement. While Kaito initially showed little interest in wealth during his travels across the seas—a nod to One Piece's world—he suddenly realizes a crucial opportunity: using the treasure to acquire a Devil Fruit at an auction in the New World.
In the One Piece universe, Devil Fruits are rare and immensely powerful items that grant the consumer unique abilities at the cost of their ability to swim. Special auctions, like the one at Sabaody Archipelago, occasionally feature Devil Fruits among their wares. Kaito's decision to collect the treasure reflects the pragmatic approach of pirates in One Piece, who often leverage wealth to secure power.
As Kaito touches the jewels, the system surprises him once again. It offers to store the treasure in Kurama's spiritual space—a boundless, dark world where the tailed beast resides. This space, accessible only to Kaito, mirrors the inner world of jinchūriki in Naruto, where Naruto and Kurama communicated and eventually formed a bond.
Within the spiritual space, Kaito encounters Kurama, the Nine-Tails, whose massive form dominates the landscape. In Naruto, Kurama is the strongest of the nine tailed beasts. According to the Sage of Six Paths' division of the Ten-Tails' chakra, Kurama received the largest share, making him exponentially more powerful than the others. This overwhelming power is evident when even half of Kurama's chakra is enough to overpower other tailed beasts combined, as demonstrated during the Fourth Great Ninja War.