On a quiet meadow filled with flowers and gentle winds, Kaito gazed at the peaceful scene in the distance, a small smile tugging at his lips.
It's time to leave, he thought to himself.
His hand brushed against the white talisman resting in his system space. Determination flickered in his eyes.
It was the reward given to him after defeating Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki. The system had told him that once the Naruto world was cleared, this talisman would allow him to travel to another world.
For nearly a year, he had hesitated. But now, his decision was made.
"System, I have a question. When can I return to the real world?"
[Clear the next world.]
The answer came instantly. For once, the system didn't make him wait.
"…"
[Host has cleared the Hokage world. System has been upgraded. It can now answer some basic questions.]
"Basic questions, huh?" Kaito's eyes flickered with curiosity. "What happens to this world after I leave?"
[This system will use advanced means to freeze time in this world. Only when the host returns will everything resume.]
"Can I bring people with me?"
[At present, the host can only bring one person. That person has already been brought.]
Kaito fell silent. He knew immediately who the system referred to. Of course, it was Kaguya. Not only was she an inseparable part of his power as the Ten Tails' Jinchūriki, but she was also his woman.
"Which world will this talisman send me to?"
[Unknown. The teleportation is random.]
"…I see." Kaito exhaled deeply.
"System, use the Breaker Talisman."
Hum.
The moment his words fell, an invisible force enveloped the Hokage world. Time itself stopped. People, animals, even the gentle sway of flowers froze in place.
Not far away, a group of girls who had been laughing together suddenly became still as statues. All except one.
"Kaito-kun! Kaito-kun! Something's wrong! Everyone is frozen!" Kaguya's pale face trembled with shock. Despite being the ancestor of chakra, she had never seen such an ability.
"It's alright." Kaito reached out, rubbing her hair gently. "This is my doing. We're leaving."
"Leaving? Where to? And you caused this?" Her voice was filled with disbelief, her wide eyes searching his.
"To another world," he answered with a faint smile. "Now, return inside. It's time."
"…Okay." Though troubled, Kaguya obeyed, slipping back into the sealed space within his body.
"System, activate Boundary Breaker."
Hum!
Blinding light flared, and a white portal tore open before him. Kaito glanced back one last time at the frozen world behind him before stepping forward without hesitation.
The next moment, he emerged into a dense forest, his figure illuminated by a lingering glow of light.
[Ding! Host has arrived in the Pirate World. Two choices are available.]
[Choice One: Assimilate your powers to the rules of this world. All skills will function through physical strength. Reward: Basic Armament Haki, Basic Conqueror's Haki, and Beginner Swordsmanship.]
[Choice Two: Retain your full strength, including chakra, in this world. However, the system will fall into a one-month sleep.]
"The Pirate World?" Kaito muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Of all places, I didn't expect that."
He looked over the options. There wasn't even a need to think.
Armament Haki could be trained. Conqueror's Haki could be awakened. Swordsmanship could be mastered with time. None of these were problems for him.
"System, if I choose the second option, will my body become that of an ordinary human?"
[No. The host will retain his physical strength for self-protection.]
A grin spread across his face. "Good. Then my choice is clear—I'll take the second option."
With his physical skills alone, he could rival gods. The Eight Inner Gates alone were enough to bring even the strongest to their knees.
[Ding! Choice confirmed. System entering deep sleep for one month.]
"Wait—can I still access the system space during your sleep?"
…
Silence.
Kaito sighed. Of course, there was no answer. The system had already gone dormant.
"Well, that was fast." He shook his head with mild amusement.
He tried to summon the training space, but nothing happened. His frown deepened. "So that's gone too. Figures."
Sighing again, he pushed his hands into his pockets. "Whatever. First, I should figure out where I've landed."
He walked along a dirt path, the air thick with the salty tang of the sea. The Pirate World was built on countless islands, each surrounded by endless water. Compared to the fresh air of the shinobi world, the fishy scent of the ocean was strange to him.
After several minutes, he emerged from the forest. A simple wooden cabin came into view.
"Wow! Big brother, are you a foreigner?"
A little girl, no older than six, darted out of the cabin. Her dress was patched and faded from countless washes, her bright orange hair tied into a ball atop her head. She looked at him with sparkling eyes full of curiosity.
"Yes," Kaito said gently, crouching down as he reached to pat her head.
But the girl jumped back with surprising agility, sticking out her tongue playfully. "Hehe! You can't touch me!"
Instead of being annoyed, Kaito chuckled softly. The child's mischievousness reminded him of Ino and the others back in the shinobi world. A faint ache tugged at his heart.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"My name's Risa! Someday I'll become a Marine, strong enough to protect Grandma!" She clenched her little fists, her eyes burning with determination.
"Risa…" Kaito repeated softly, studying her with interest.
From her, he learned the basics of his new location. This was Turner Village, a small settlement in East Blue, one of the four seas of this world.
____
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