[Would host like to use the special draw?]
"Yes!"
[Congratulations, Host, you have gained the skill Rasengan from the elemental nations]
"Rasengan? That's not bad at all."
In the Hokage world, the Rasengan was created by the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, who was inspired by the Tailed Beast Bomb. It took him three years of research and training to develop the powerful ninjutsu, and the Rasengan isn't just strong, it's a technique that can evolve and scale with the user's strength. And now, thanks to the system, Ayr didn't need to develop or evolve it slowly. He could directly use all Rasengan techniques right away.
Of course, there were limits. Ninjutsu like the Sage Art Rasengan couldn't be used since Ayr hadn't unlocked Sage Mode. But even without that, the Rasengan moves Ayr now possessed were all top-tier. None of them ranked lower than Grade A ninjutsu.
A strange energy began to flow into Ayr's body. It was the knowledge, technique, and power needed to perform the Rasengan. In the Naruto world, chakra was required to release ninjutsu, but this was the world of One Piece, there was no chakra here. So, the system adapted. Instead of chakra, it converted the cost into physical strength, the system made sure Ayr could actually use what he got.
Now with the Rasengan Ayrs' strength had once again taken another leap
⸻
[Host: Ayr]
[Abilities: Armament Haki (920/1000), Observation Haki (920/1000), Conqueror's Haki (800/1000)]
[Special Ability: Sage Body (20/2000) – Currently Mid-stage. Progress increases through training or combat.]
[Ninjutsu: Rasengan (All Variants)]
[Note: When Sage Body reaches max progress, it upgrades to the next level, greatly enhancing physical strength, combat ability, and recovery rate. Upgrade grants a Special Lottery Draw.]
[Unlocked: Tailed Beast – One Tail (Unlocked), Tailed Beast Bomb (Unlocked), Nine-Tails Chakra Mode (Unlocked), Kurama Mode (Unlocked). Offering Devil Fruits to the Nine Tails unlocks more of its power.]
[Sage Eye: Locked. (Unlocks after Sage Body is advanced.)]
⸻
Seeing his updated abilities, Ayr couldn't help but smile. The satisfaction from watching yourself grow could not be overstated, Although now getting the Sage Body to the next stage wouldn't be easy, it now needed 2,000 points instead of 1,000, but he wasn't worried. Being on Rocks Pirate ship meant endless chances for battle and training.
Closing the panel, Ayr stood up and looked around. He wanted to test his new Rasengan. But after thinking about it, he decided against it. The power of the Rasengan was just too destructive. He'd end up leveling the entire room if he wasn't careful so he pushed on to a later date.
Instead, he started his daily training routine inside the room. If he wanted to push his Sage Body toward the next stage, he'd have to put in the work.
Time passed and night fell.
"Haaah…" Ayr let out a long breath. After half a day of training, sweat drenched his body and soaked through his clothes.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. Sage Body progress +2.]
The system's voice echoed in his mind. Just two points, but it was still something. Every bit counted. Besides, the gains weren't just in progress points. Training like this gradually increased his overall strength as well.
After finishing, Ayr went to the private bathroom in his room and took a hot shower. Only First mates on the ship had private baths, interns and regular crew had to swim in the sea or wait their turn at the public bathhouse.
'Shiki, I thank you with all my heart"
Fresh out of the bath and wrapped in a towel, Ayr lay on his bed, preparing to sleep.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A loud knock sounded from the door.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"Master Ayr, Captain Rocks wants you at the bow. Says he's got something to discuss," a pirate's voice responded respectfully from the other side.
"Got it."
Ayr dressed quickly and stepped outside. He had forgotten that Rocks had told him earlier in the morning to come see him at night. Now reminded, he felt a flicker worry, did it have something to do with what happened earlier?
After all, he'd clashed with Golden Lion in the morning and managed to wound him twice. But anyone who saw that fight knew Golden Lion wasn't going all out. The wounds were from carelessness. So while Ayr wasn't weak, he also wasn't one of the strongest on the ship.
Rocks, on the other hand, was in a league of his own. As the captain of the Rocks Pirates, his strength was unmatched. Even someone like Golden Lion was firmly beneath him. For a man like that to show interest in him, after just one day, was hard to wrap his head around.
With that thought, Ayr followed the pirate to the upper deck.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting pale silver light across the waves. The deck was quiet. At this hour, no one else was around—except for a single tall, broad-shouldered figure standing near the bow.
It was Rocks.
Ayr paused for a moment, staring at the man's back, before stepping forward. The wooden deck creaked under his feet.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Each step echoed faintly in the still night. As Ayr approached, Rocks slowly turned his head, eyes locking onto him.
"Captain Rocks," Ayr said. "You called for me?"
Instead of answering, Rocks gave a small smile and asked a question of his own. "Ayr, why did you become a pirate?"
"Why did I become a pirate?" Ayr repeated, caught off guard. He didn't have an answer, not one he'd ever share, at least.
When he first set out to sea, he never intended to be a pirate. And he sure as hell didn't want to be a Marine either.
Was that Reason enough?