MTLNOVEL Chapter 5: CHAPTER 5
Kurama slowly opened his eyes, scanning his surroundings before locking his gaze onto Ayr.
"What the hell just happened?" Kurama's deep voice rumbled.
In his past life, Kurama had considered himself invincible in the ninja world. After all, Sage of Six Paths had divided Chakra among the Tailed Beasts, yet Kurama remained the strongest. But fate played cruel tricks.
First, he met Senju Hashirama. The legendary ninja used Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence, pinning Kurama down as if he were a mere house cat.
Kurama endured.
Then came Uchiha Madara, who simply looked at him with Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and before Kurama even realized it, he was under a genjutsu, reduced to a pet.
Sealed by Uchiha Obito later, Kurama's once-proud heart had been shattered.
But this was different. This time, he wasn't bound by the Sharingan or the Wood Style. He was here… because of Ayr.
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Kurama remained silent for a moment before sighing. "You're not like the others…"
Ayr smirked. "We'll be together for a long time, so I thought we should meet properly."
Kurama studied him, sensing something unusual. Unlike his past experiences, he didn't feel trapped or controlled. Instead, there was a strange sense of harmony—like Ayr was someone he could acknowledge.
"You plan to use my power in battle?" Kurama asked.
"No, not yet. Just wanted to say hello." Ayr shrugged.
"..."
Without another word, Kurama closed his eyes and lay back down, resting his massive body.
Ayr, seeing no need to disturb him further, moved all the treasure from the pirate ship into Kurama's spiritual space.
"These things are for me?" Kurama cracked one eye open.
"No, I just don't want them taking up space on my ship," Ayr replied casually. "Easier to access when I need them."
Kurama sighed. "You're an interesting one…"
With everything secured, Ayr's consciousness returned to the real world. He stepped onto the deck, contemplating his next move.
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The Problem with Finding Devil Fruits
Ayr tapped his chin, thinking.
"Where do I go next to find another Devil Fruit?"
Devil Fruits were rare. Despite traveling for a full year and engaging in countless battles, he had only managed to obtain one.
At this rate, unlocking the full power of Kurama could take nearly a decade. That was unacceptable.
"Maybe it's time to change my approach," he thought.
For the past year, Ayr had been a lone wanderer, searching blindly for opportunities. But if he joined a powerful pirate crew, he could encounter stronger opponents, accelerating his Sage Body's progress.
Moreover, being part of a large crew meant access to greater resources—including Devil Fruits.
"But which crew should I join?"
Creating his own crew was an option, but recruiting powerful allies was easier said than done. Most strong individuals had already pledged allegiance to established pirate groups like the Rocks Pirates.
And even if Ayr managed to gather a crew, there was always the risk of betrayal.
That left one viable option—joining an already powerful pirate crew.
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The Rocks Pirates Appear
Suddenly, the calm sea was disrupted by the sound of waves crashing against a massive ship.
"Crash!!!"
A shadow loomed over Ayr's vessel.
Emerging from the mist was a colossal battleship—the kind that only one pirate crew in the world possessed.
The Rocks Pirates.
Ayr narrowed his eyes. He had seen this ship countless times in the newspapers. It belonged to the most infamous pirate crew of this era—the future rulers of the seas.
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Aboard the Rocks Pirates' Ship
On the deck of the massive ship, a man with long blond hair, a cigar in his mouth, and a confident smirk stood at the bow. His arms were crossed over his chest as he observed Ayr.
Golden Lion Shiki.
A legendary pirate who would one day be feared across the Grand Line.
He took a puff of his cigar before exhaling slowly. "Oh? This ship belongs to the Anos Pirates, right? Their captain had a bounty of 300 million."
His sharp eyes locked onto Ayr. "Interesting… Looks like someone wiped them out."
Beside him, another man with a massive frame, broad chest, and a white crescent-shaped mustache let out a hearty laugh.
Edward Newgate—Whitebeard.
"Gu la la la… Kid, did you really take down a 300-million bounty pirate all by yourself?"
Further back, a heavily armored man carrying a giant axe snorted. "Hmph, it's just a 300-million bounty pirate. I could've done that easily."
This was Silver Axe, one of the key figures of the Rocks Pirates. Though not as legendary as Whitebeard or Shiki, he was still a force to be reckoned with.
"You say that now," a sultry voice interrupted.
A tall, curvaceous woman with long flowing hair smirked as she glanced at Ayr with curiosity.
Charlotte Linlin—Big Mom.
At this point in history, she was still young and beautiful, unlike the enormous matron she would become in the future.
"This brat looks young, doesn't he? Maybe seventeen or eighteen at most," Linlin mused. "Killing a 300-million bounty captain at that age? Not bad."
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The Arrival of Rocks D. Xebec
Tread! Tread! Tread!
Suddenly, the deck fell silent. Heavy footsteps echoed as an ominous aura filled the air.
A tall, burly man approached, exuding raw dominance. His mere presence made even titans like Whitebeard and Shiki step aside.
Rocks D. Xebec.
The most feared pirate of this era. The man who would one day challenge the world itself.
Rocks grinned as he laid eyes on Ayr.
"A kid?" he muttered, his voice filled with intrigue.
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