SIX PATH SAGE OF THE ROCKS PIRATES

They immediately understood what Rocks D. Xebec meant by this maneuver.

Simply put, Rocks also had an interest in Kaito's unique abilities, so the crew refrained from engaging him in battle.

When Kaito heard the pirate's words, he immediately realized that Rocks himself had orchestrated this rescue.

Instead of lingering where he was, Kaito followed the pirate sent by Rocks to his quarters.

"This is your room, Lord Kaito," one of the pirates said respectfully.

Kaito was presented with a luxurious cabin, equipped with everything a person could need—soft bedding, polished furniture, and ornate decorations fit for a commander.

"Not bad!" Kaito commented, surveying his surroundings with a nod of approval.

Over the past year, Kaito had been accustomed to sleeping on the rough wooden floors of smaller pirate vessels. Now, being treated to such lavish accommodations, he felt an immense sense of satisfaction.

"Lord Kaito, typically, only the top cadres of the Rocks Pirates are allowed rooms like these," the pirate remarked cautiously.

As Kaito had learned, the Rocks Pirates operated more like a cutthroat meritocracy than a traditional crew. A person's value, strength, and potential dictated Rocks' attitude toward them.

Ordinary crew members slept in shared, spartan quarters. Promising recruits got better treatment, but only the elite—the likes of Kaido, Big Mom, and Whitebeard—enjoyed such opulence.

By all rights, Kaito, as a newcomer, should have been relegated to a modest bunk. But his fight with Shiki, the Golden Lion, had changed everything.

The battle had showcased Kaito's mastery over his newfound powers, reminiscent of the Nine Tails' chakra, and Rocks had taken notice.

As a result, Kaito had been elevated to an official crew member on his first day—and even given a cadre's quarters, a rare honor.

"Really?" Kaito chuckled to himself.

The hierarchy within the Rocks Pirates was simple: strength, potential, and ambition dictated one's place. Kaito found himself satisfied with how quickly his abilities were recognized.

"Then, I'll take my leave, Lord Kaito," the pirate said, bowing before departing.

Alone at last, Kaito lay down on the plush bed.

A second later, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have gained 50 Sage Body Progress Points."

"Ding! Sage Body Progress has reached 1000. Sage Body Level: Mid-Stage Achieved!"

"Tsk, I almost forgot about this," Kaito muttered.

His battle with Shiki had served a dual purpose: first, to test the powers he had recently unlocked from the Nine Tails, and second, to earn Sage Body progress by challenging a worthy opponent.

And Shiki, with his mastery of the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, had not disappointed. In just a few intense minutes of combat, Kaito had gained significant progress in his Sage Body.

As the system's notification ended, Kaito felt a surge of power coursing through his body. It was as if a cleansing energy had washed over him, refining his bones, muscles, and flesh.

His body felt lighter, stronger, and more resilient—a rebirth akin to the transformations achieved through Sage Mode training in Naruto's world.

"Not bad," Kaito mused, clenching his fists. His newfound strength was palpable, but he was curious to see how far he had come.

Drawing his sword, Kaito glanced at his left hand, then at the blade in his right. His eyes gleamed with determination.

Kaito extended his left hand, placing it under the gleaming knife.

He held the handle firmly in his right hand, channeling Armament Haki into the blade. With a calculated strike, he slashed toward his left wrist, testing the strength of his Sage Body—a physical transformation inspired by the fusion of Naruto's Sage Mode and the Zoan abilities from One Piece.

The knife descended, but the edge, dulled by the Sage Body's innate durability, left no mark—not even a faint scar.

"Just a little harder," Kaito muttered, his voice steady but curious.

This time, he coated the blade in a denser layer of Armament Haki, its dark sheen pulsating with raw power. The enhanced blade sang through the air and struck his wrist with greater force.

"Zi!!!"

The blade left a clean wound, and a thin line of blood trickled down his arm. Kaito studied his wrist with a calm, detached expression, letting the blood flow freely. He wasn't doing this for self-harm but to measure the resilience of the Sage Body in its mid-stage.

Seconds passed. The bleeding slowed and then stopped entirely. Soon after, the wound began to seal itself, the flesh knitting together at a speed visible to the naked eye. Within ten seconds, his wrist was as pristine as before, leaving no scar behind.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Kaito clicked his tongue, impressed. "The mid-stage Sage Body is even more impressive than I imagined."

He compared his regenerative capabilities to those of Marco's Phoenix Fruit from the Whitebeard Pirates, renowned in One Piece for its miraculous healing abilities. At the primary stage, Kaito's Sage Body already rivaled the Zoan ancient species in resilience. Now, at the mid-stage, it was approaching the level of Marco's legendary Devil Fruit—a testament to its power.

"If it reaches the advanced level…" Kaito thought aloud, his lips curving into a smile. "It might even surpass Marco's Phoenix Fruit entirely."

Kaito flexed his wrist, noting the strength imbued by the Sage Body. Even without the protective layer of Armament Haki, his flesh could endure strikes from a Haki-coated blade with only minor damage. The strength of his physical body was undeniable—similar to the durability of Kaido's dragon form or the power behind Naruto's Sage Mode-enhanced strikes.

"Choosing the Sage Body was the right choice," Kaito mused. When he first arrived in this world of pirates and Devil Fruits, he had faced a difficult decision: to pursue the mythical Sage Body or the powers of the Sharingan and Rinnegan from Naruto.

The Sharingan and Rinnegan were powerful, but for a physical brawler in a world like One Piece, the Sage Body was far more practical. Its combination of resilience, regeneration, and physical strength fit Kaito's needs perfectly.

As Kaito marveled at his progress, a voice echoed in his mind.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host. Sage Body has reached the mid-stage. You have earned one special lottery draw."

"A special lottery?" Kaito's eyes gleamed with curiosity. The system's rewards had never disappointed him. If this was a "special" draw, it could mean obtaining rare items or abilities—perhaps even something as powerful as a mythical Zoan Devil Fruit or a technique rivaling the Six Paths abilities.

With a grin, Kaito thought, Let's see what fortune has in store for me now.