SIX PATH SAGE OF THE ROCKS PIRATES

"What the hell happened?" Kurama slowly opened his eyes, the fiery amber glow scanning his surroundings before locking onto Kaito.

The mighty Nine-Tailed Beast had been through countless trials in the ninja world of Naruto. Once, Kurama had thought himself invincible, an untamed force feared even by the greatest shinobi.

But those illusions had been shattered time and time again.

He remembered the first blow to his pride: Senju Hashirama, the legendary First Hokage, subdued him with his unparalleled Wood Release jutsu. Kurama recalled the sight of the Wood Dragon constricting him, while Hashirama's calm yet stern gaze bore into him as though he were just another wild beast to tame.

And then there was Uchiha Madara, a man who didn't just control him but bent him to his will with the terrifying power of the Sharingan. Bound to Madara's will, Kurama had been treated as nothing more than a tool of war, stripped of his autonomy.

Even later, Uchiha Obito wielded him like a weapon, unleashing his destructive power on Konoha, only to seal him again. Each encounter chipped away at Kurama's once-indomitable spirit.

"Those humans," Kurama thought bitterly, "monsters in their own right."

Now, Kurama found himself bound to Kaito—a newcomer in his story, whose presence felt oddly different.

"Meeting Kurama for the first time... if nothing else, we'll be living together for a long time," Kaito said with a casual wave, a faint smile on his face.

Kurama's sharp eyes narrowed. "Are you planning to use my power for your own battles?"

Kaito chuckled, spreading his arms wide. "Not at all. I'm just here to meet you."

Kurama snorted but said nothing. The fox spirit had encountered too many humans claiming good intentions to be impressed. Yet something about Kaito felt... approachable, even strangely comforting. It unnerved him.

Without waiting for a response, Kaito placed several ornate chests filled with glittering jewels into Kurama's spiritual space.

"These are for me?" Kurama asked, one eye cracking open as he peered at the treasures.

"Not exactly," Kaito replied, grinning. "They're just better off here than cluttering the ship."

Kurama growled softly. "You're an odd one…" He closed his eyes, deciding to let the strange human be—for now.

Back in the physical world, Kaito leaned against the ship's rail, gazing at the endless ocean stretching before him.

"Next," he muttered to himself, "where do I find another Devil Fruit?"

In the world of One Piece, Devil Fruits were coveted treasures, granting unimaginable powers at the cost of the eater's ability to swim. Kaito had spent an entire year finding just one. If he needed more to unlock Kurama's full potential, it could take him nearly a decade.

The thought was frustrating. Kaito knew he couldn't afford that kind of time.

As he stared at the horizon, he weighed his options.

Creating his own pirate crew seemed impossible—most of the strongest individuals on the seas had already joined prominent crews like the Rocks Pirates. Recruiting skilled fighters was also risky; betrayal among pirates was commonplace.

That left only one alternative: joining an established, powerful pirate crew. But which one? Kaito would need to find a crew whose ambitions aligned with his own, one strong enough to stand against the world's mightiest forces.

He clenched his fist. "If I'm going to conquer the seas and awaken Kurama's true potential, I need allies. The right ones."

In this way, Kaito believed he could strengthen his resolve and abilities by challenging powerful opponents, an essential step in refining what he called his "Sage Body." Though the concept of Sage Body wasn't widely known, it seemed to reflect an ability to draw strength from nature itself, much like the mythical Sage Mode found in distant lands.

Still, Kaito held onto the hope of discovering a Devil Fruit—one of the mysterious treasures said to grant superhuman powers.

"Which pirate crew should I join to find my place in this vast world?" Kaito thought seriously.

Suddenly— Crash!!!

A massive sound echoed over the waves. Kaito snapped out of his thoughts and turned toward the sea. Not far away, a colossal ship emerged, cutting through the water like a giant.

His heart froze.

"It's… the Rocks Pirates."

For a year, Kaito had heard of their exploits—violent, ambitious, and untouchable. This crew was known to gather the strongest and most dangerous individuals under a single flag. Yet seeing their ship in person was a different experience altogether.

At the bow of the ship stood a blond man, smoking a cigar with a confident grin and arms crossed. His aura was unmistakable.

"The Golden Lion!" Kaito recognized him instantly. Shiki, the future legendary pirate who would terrorize the Grand Line, was now just one of the many prominent members of the Rocks Pirates.

Beside Shiki was an even more towering figure, a man whose laugh reverberated like thunder.

"Gu la la la… So, you killed the captain of a crew worth 300 million berries?" The man's voice was filled with intrigue.

Kaito shuddered. This was Edward Newgate—Whitebeard—one of the strongest pirates who would one day be revered as a Yonko. His massive frame and crescent-shaped beard were as imposing as the stories described.

"Impressive, for someone so young," Whitebeard added, though his expression revealed no fear—only curiosity.

"Ha! What's the big deal? I could have done it at his age," said a man clad in heavy armor, a giant axe resting on his shoulder. His voice carried disdain.

This was Silver Axe, one of the lesser-known yet formidable cadres of the Rocks Pirates.

"No, Silver Axe, he's younger than you were then," came the sultry voice of a tall woman with flowing hair and a mischievous smile.

Charlotte Linlin—later feared as Big Mom—was strikingly beautiful in her youth. Her piercing gaze studied Kaito closely. "To take down a pirate captain worth 300 million berries at his age is no small feat. Gu hee hee…"

Amid their chatter, the atmosphere shifted.

Tread. Tread. Tread.

A palpable pressure swept across the deck as a man walked forward. Even the likes of Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Linlin fell silent and stepped aside.

Kaito's gaze locked onto him. The man exuded a dark, commanding presence, his grin as sharp as the cutlass at his side.

"Rocks…" Kaito whispered, feeling a chill run down his spine.

This was Rocks D. Xebec, the captain of the Rocks Pirates—a man destined to challenge the world's greatest powers and leave a legacy of chaos.

Rocks tilted his head, his eyes scanning Kaito with an amused yet calculating look. "A kid, huh? What's your story?"