The morning on Arubi Island felt more peaceful than usual. The blue sky stretched wide, wispy clouds drifted gently, and the salty scent of the sea wafted on the fresh breeze. The students who had stayed overnight at the inn were now preparing to return to town. The courtyard was filled with the sounds of suitcases being pulled, the laughter of some students, and the instructions of teachers arranging departures.
Kaito stood among them, his shoulders relaxed, his face expressionless but with a faint smile. He didn't join in the commotion, simply waiting quietly, observing his surroundings. His eyes briefly met Ellen's from afar. The woman maintained a cool expression, as if the incident from the previous night had never occurred. Kaito only responded with a brief glance before looking away. He had no intention of escalating the issue.
The bus finally arrived, and the group of students boarded. The journey home felt short. Once in town, the students were directed back to school for a brief report. However, an announcement from the academy caused many students to cheer.
"Since your trip went well, school will be closed for the next two days. Use this time to rest."
Cheers erupted immediately. Many students discussed their plans: some wanted to go shopping, others wanted to sleep all day, and still others planned to go downtown to play.
Kaito only responded to the announcement with a faint smile. A two-day vacation was no ordinary opportunity for him. It was the perfect time to deepen his mind on something that had been nagging at him since the previous night: Haki.
…
That afternoon, Kaito returned to his modest residence. He sat on the porch, dressed casually, letting the city breeze blow past his face. In front of him, a cup of warm tea steamed gently.
But his mind wasn't completely at peace. Ever since he first mastered Haki, he had noticed something different. The energy sheath covering his body wasn't just a hard shield or an aura of dominance. There was something else pulsing beneath it, a pure energy that wasn't of this world.
Kaito closed his eyes. His breathing was deep and rhythmic, following the pattern of the energy flowing through his body. He activated Armament Haki first. A pitch-black sheath covered both of his hands, gleaming faintly in the twilight. But this time he didn't stop there. He allowed the Omnicore energy stored within him to resonate with the haki.
Instantly, a different aura filled the air.
The black glow of the haki changed, blending with a pale, almost transparent blue light. The aura vibrated, as if containing the pulse of life itself. Kaito opened his eyes slowly, staring at his hands, now glowing with two layers of fused energy.
"…So this is the result," he murmured softly.
To test, he grabbed a large rock in the courtyard. With a tap of his finger, not a blow, just a light touch, the rock shattered into pieces, shattered as if under thousands of tons of pressure.
Kaito grinned. "This… far surpasses anything I've ever seen in the One Piece world."
He tried to compare. The emperors of that world—Shanks, Big Mom, Kaido—all possessed legendary haki, enough to shake the sea. But what he felt now was different. His haki wasn't just spiritual power and willpower, but a layer of universal energy fused with his bodily systems through his Omnicore skill.
The energy wasn't just hardening, it was strengthening the fabric of reality around him. Kaito's blow didn't just shatter the surface; it penetrated the core, severing molecular bonds, seemingly nullifying the target's resistance.
He continued by activating Observation Haki. Instantly, his vision and senses expanded. He could sense not only the movement of birds flying high above the city, but also the pulse of a stray cat running down a narrow alley a few hundred meters from where he sat.
But once again, the Omnicore's energy intervened. His perception penetrated deeper, not just physical movement, but also subtler energy vibrations, a kind of resonance that depicted an opponent's intentions and possible movements in a fleeting timeline.
Kaito let out a long breath, amazed at himself. "At this rate... I can even rival Katakuri's Future Sight. No, this is even sharper than that."
Night began to fall. The sky turned golden orange before darkness engulfed the entire city. Kaito remained on the terrace, now concentrating on his King's Haki.
The moment he released even a tiny bit, the air around him vibrated. The previously lively cicadas' chirping suddenly vanished. The birds perched on the power lines flew away in panic. An invisible aura spread, pressing down on the surroundings like an endless ocean.
But the Omnicore changed everything once again.
His Conqueror's Haki didn't stop at mental domination. It resonated with the universal energy residing within his body, creating vibrations that disrupted the very fabric of space. The walls of the house creaked, the air seemed to vibrate, and the distant streetlights flickered as if disturbed by some cosmic disturbance.
Kaito quickly retracted his aura, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention. He sighed with a faint smile.
"So this is why... why my haki feels different. The Omnicore's universal energy fused with my willpower, expanding its original limits. Even emperors... they wouldn't be able to match this level."
He leaned back in his chair, gazing up at the star-studded night sky.
"If I keep practicing this... maybe haki can become my primary weapon, not just a supporting technique."
The tea on his table had grown cold, but he didn't care. That night, Kaito simply sat in silence, letting his mind wander between plans, experiments, and growing ambitions.
Two days off wasn't a long time. But for Kaito, it was enough to take a step further toward a power no one else could reach.
…
That night, after satisfying himself with his haki and discovering that his strength was already far above that of the One Piece emperors, Kaito sat cross-legged in his room. The dim light of a desk lamp illuminated the room, while in front of him floated a blue holographic window, displaying the system that had been his partner and greatest secret.
[Ding! Rare Ticket item detected]
[Would you like to use it now?]
Kaito grinned faintly, his fingers tapping the air as if selecting invisible buttons. "Why not? Let's see what entertainment you have in store this time, system."
[Processing…]
A holographic wheel appeared, spinning rapidly, displaying various skill icons from various fictional worlds. Blue, red, and gold lights flickered, creating a tense atmosphere. Kaito simply sat there, his crystal blue eyes reflecting the swirling light.
[Congratulations!] You've acquired a new skill!]
[Skill: Eight Inner Gates (S)]
Kaito's eyes widened slightly, then a small laugh escaped his lips. "Heh... now this is interesting."
[Eight Inner Gates (S)]
The Eight Inner Gates is a body-limiting technique originating from the Naruto world. The human body has eight chakra gates that function to restrain the flow of life energy so that the body is not destroyed by its own power. By opening these gates, the user can access powers beyond normal limits.]
Kaito was familiar with this technique. It is a technique where opening the gates grants increased speed, strength, stamina, and reflexes to levels far beyond those of ordinary humans. However, in his home world, opening the final gate (the Gate of Death) results in the user's physical destruction.
As Kaito recalls, there are a total of eight gates in this technique, as the name suggests. Each enhancement is as follows:
Gate of Opening – Releases muscle limits, increases basic physical strength.
Gate of Healing – Eliminates fatigue, accelerates regeneration.
Gate of Life – Ignites vital energy, increases attack power.
Gate of Pain – Frees pain, the body surpasses normal limits.
Gate of Limit – Maximizes physical potential, greatly sharpens reflexes.
Gate of View – Expands perception, lightning-fast attacks.
Gate of Wonder – Surpasses human limits, aura burns green.
Gate of Death – Absolute release of energy, unimaginable destructive power.
Unlike Might Guy, Kaito can use this technique without side effects. Because Kaito's body is Dante's demon-misfortune hybrid, he is completely immune to the side effects of opening the gates. His body can withstand the energy pressure and cellular destruction without the slightest injury. This makes the Eight Inner Gates technique a purely offensive skill with no risk of death.
Kaito read the description carefully. The smile on his face grew wider. "So... I can use Night Guy without sacrificing my life? This is absolutely insane."
He closed the system panel and stood up. The night was still long, and he didn't want to waste the opportunity to test his new abilities.
Kaito took a breath, igniting Armament Haki on both of his arms. A gleaming black layer appeared, mixed with the faint blue glow of the Omnicore's energy. Then, with a focused mind, he decided to open the first gate.
"Gate of Opening… open."
In an instant, his body was enveloped in a burst of faint green aura. The air pressure around him vibrated, and the wooden floor beneath his feet cracked finely from the surge of power. His hand movements felt lighter, his punches more powerful, and even his pulse could be heard louder in his own ears.
"No pain… no limitations. This really works."
He continued by opening the second, then the third, then the fourth gate. The green aura grew brighter, his hair swaying in the swirling energy. His heart pounded, but his body remained stable, showing no signs of damage. On the contrary, the Omnicore absorbed the excess energy and channeled it evenly.
"Amazing. If Might Guy saw this, he would surely be shocked."
To test it further, Kaito assumed the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist stance. The movements were smooth, flowing like a stream of water, but this time his body was propelled by the energy of the Eight Inner Gates. As he swung his fist, the air in front of him was pushed so hard that it created a gust like a small hurricane, sending the window curtains fluttering wildly.
He smiled with satisfaction. This combination wasn't just a perfect fit, it was like they were made for each other.
"Haki, Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, and now the Eight Inner Gates. If I use them together... no creature can withstand it."
He paused for a moment, staring at his fist. In his mind, he imagined one day opening the Eighth Gate by combining Haki and the full-level Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist technique. Just the thought made his blood boil.
That night, Kaito continued training. He opened and closed gate after gate, testing the energy transitions, combining them with haki and martial arts moves. There was no pain, no injury, only power flowing through his body.
Kaito then decided to reveal his status.
[ding!]
[STATUS]
Name: Arashi Kaito
Age: 17
Race: Human
Level: 45
Strength: S+
Speed: S+
Defense: S+
Intelligence: EX
Charm: S+
Skills:
-Photographic Memory
-Rokushiki (Perfection)
-Dante Sparda Physique
-Omnicore
-Cold Heart
-Observation Haki (Perfection)
-Vergil Battle Experience
-Weaponry Haki (Perfection)
-Conqueror's Haki (Perfection)
-Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist
-Eight Inner Gates
Weapon:
-Captain Kaizo's Mask
-Yamato
Ticket:
-Legendary 1x
Points System: 7900
Satisfied with his status, Kaito decided to go to bed, as school would start tomorrow, and the next spirit Shido would have to defeat would appear.
Outside, the moon dimmed, watching a man slowly climb towards a level of power even legends couldn't imagine.