NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: CHAPTER 6
The think tank of the Rocks Pirates, Kurozumi Higurashi, adjusted her glasses and stared at Kaito with a skeptical glint. She turned to the other crew members and remarked, "If I recall correctly, this boy has only been out at sea for a year. His name is Kaito Ryujin, and his bounty… it's 100 million berries."
"What? Just a year out to sea, and his bounty is already 100 million berries?"
"Impossible! How could a rookie pirate with only a 100-million-berry bounty take down an entire crew led by a captain worth 300 million berries?"
"And look at him!" Another crew member gestured toward Kaito. "Not a scratch on him. Not even a drop of blood!"
"Does that mean he crushed them… effortlessly?"
The murmurs grew louder. The Rocks Pirates, notorious for being a gathering of the strongest and most ambitious individuals in the world, rarely acknowledged outsiders. But this boy's feat had intrigued them.
"Interesting," Whitebeard muttered from the sidelines, his arms crossed. "The kid's got strength, no doubt. But does he have the guts to survive on this ship?"
"Gurararara! Let's see if he lasts the week," Kaido sneered, already sizing Kaito up like prey.
Kaito, standing on the deck of the Rocks Pirates' infamous ship, The Saber of Xebec, squinted at the figure on the bow—Rocks D. Xebec himself. Kaito could feel it. Rocks' aura was suffocating, a combination of ambition and malice that even dwarfed the intensity of a Marine admiral. It wasn't just strength; it was the sheer will of a man determined to conquer the world. This was the pirate who would one day fall in the legendary God Valley incident, taking the most formidable era of piracy down with him.
Kaito's thoughts raced. As expected from the man who commands legends like Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, and Shiki. If they weren't so divided, they could've ruled the world… but their infighting was their weakness. Just like the Akatsuki in that story I read…
Rocks' voice broke through Kaito's thoughts. "Boy, you've got potential. I'll ask you straight—are you interested in joining my crew? The Rocks Pirates are the strongest force on the seas, and I'm always looking for warriors with ambition."
The crew fell silent. Rocks' invitations were rare. Kaito knew this was an opportunity he couldn't waste. With Rocks' crew, he could sharpen his skills, battle Marine powerhouses like Garp and Sengoku, and push his body toward the limits of human capability. In this world, where strength was everything, the Sage Body technique he was cultivating required such relentless challenges.
Kaito smirked, standing tall amidst the legendary figures. "Of course," he said without hesitation. "I want to face the strongest, and this is the best place to do it."
The crew exchanged glances, some amused, others doubtful. Charlotte Linlin chuckled, already plotting how to manipulate the new recruit. Shiki flicked his sword idly, wondering how long Kaito would last. And Kaido cracked his knuckles, eager to test this boy's mettle.
Rocks grinned. "Good. But don't think you'll have it easy here, kid. The Rocks Pirates aren't just a crew—we're a battlefield."
Kaito nodded. He knew that this was a chaotic band of individuals driven by their lust for power, much like the Akatsuki. But unlike the Akatsuki, whose downfall was orchestrated by hidden agendas, the Rocks Pirates would fall due to their sheer inability to cooperate. That, however, was a story for another day.
Many world governments affiliated countries have sought to curry favor with the Rocks Pirates, tempted by their vast wealth and rumored possession of coveted Devil Fruits. The Rocks Pirates' infamy and resources make them an alluring faction for anyone aiming to achieve greatness.
For Kaito, joining the Rocks Pirates is not only an opportunity to accelerate the progress of his Sage Body—a technique akin to the Sage Mode of Naruto—but also a chance to significantly improve his chances of obtaining a Devil Fruit, a power essential to thriving in the Grand Line.
Reflecting on these advantages, Kaito couldn't find a reason to decline Rocks' invitation.
However, skepticism lingered among the Rocks Pirates.
"It's too sudden to bring someone like Kaito directly under Captain Rocks," Kurozumi Higurashi said, voicing his doubt.
Golden Lion Shiki grinned, his ambitious aura radiating. "Then let's test him. I'll take him on and see what this rookie's strength is really like."
"Oh? You want to fight him personally, Shiki?" Rocks said with mild amusement.
"Exactly. How else can we truly gauge his capabilities?" Shiki replied confidently.
The crew erupted in chatter.
"Captain Shiki, facing this guy directly? Isn't that overkill?" one of the pirates muttered.
"Yeah, Kaito's bounty is only 300 million berries! Captain Shiki's bounty is a staggering one billion! The difference is night and day," said another.
"Ten moves. That's all it'll take for Shiki to finish him off," a pirate predicted smugly.
"You're underestimating Shiki! He'll end it in five!" another crew member retorted.
Despite the crew's dismissive tone, Whitebeard Edward Newgate, with his ever-present wine gourd in hand, intervened. "Hey, Shiki. Isn't this a bit much? Picking a fight with a rookie doesn't suit someone like you."
"Jihahahaha!" Shiki laughed, brushing off Whitebeard's concern. "Relax, Edward. I'll go easy on him. Rocks invited him here, after all. This is just a little test."
But Shiki wasn't without his own motives. The Rocks Pirates, though unmatched in strength, were riddled with internal discord. Shiki, already recruiting allies for his eventual ambitions, saw potential value in Kaito. If Kaito proved himself, Shiki would attempt to recruit him for his own purposes. If not, Kaito would be of no further concern.
"All right, kid, let's see what you've got!" Shiki declared, stepping forward.
Kaito smirked, his confidence unwavering. "A fight with Shiki? Sounds perfect."
Secretly, Kaito was eager for this battle. His Sage Body technique was nearing a breakthrough, with only 30 points needed to reach the next level. Winning this fight could tip him over the edge, unlocking not just enhanced strength but also special rewards—much like how Naruto pushed himself to master Sage Mode.
As Kaito stepped onto the deck, the air grew tense. Rocks observed silently, intrigued by this new recruit. Whitebeard leaned against the railing, his sharp eyes watching for any surprises.
The Golden Lion unsheathed his twin swords, infused with his mastery of the Float-Float Fruit, and prepared to strike. "Come at me, Kaito. Show me if you're worth Captain Rocks' time."
Kaito readied himself, his battle-hardened instincts kicking in. This clash would determine not just his future within the Rocks Pirates, but his place in the New World itself.