1: Becoming Kaido

"I... I actually became Kaido?"

Staring at his reflection in the mirror, Kaido fell silent.

Just a few minutes ago, he had woken up from what should have been an ordinary nap, only to discover that his body had undergone a shocking transformation. What's going on in this world? Since when could you wake up in someone else's body just by taking a nap?!

But as the realization settled in, he couldn't help but feel that his new situation wasn't all that bad. After all, he had become Kaido, one of the Four Emperors of the Sea. Not just any pirate, but the so-called "Strongest Creature in the World," ruling the seas, land, and air. Though, judging by the timeline, he hadn't earned that title yet.

Damn it! This feels like a scam. I only made it to the Whole Cake Island arc in the One Piece storyline. I haven't even caught up to the Wano arc! Kaido clenched his fists, annoyed. If only I'd known more of the story, I'd be at a huge advantage right now.

Flexing his arms, he tested his new body. While he had inherited Kaido's form, he hadn't absorbed any of the original Kaido's memories. That was... concerning.

All he knew about Kaido was pieced together from what little he remembered of the series. Kaido was one of the Four Emperors, a seemingly invincible beast who had an unhealthy obsession with suicide. Gecko Moria, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had been defeated by him, and Kaido also worked closely with Doflamingo. Beyond that, his knowledge was embarrassingly limited. Oh, wait—Kaido also had a subordinate named Jack with a bounty of 1 billion berries. Right, Jack! That was something.

But the rest of Kaido's crew? Absolutely no clue.

"Ugh, this is bad," Kaido muttered, his face pale. What if someone figures out I'm an imposter?

"Hold up... hold up..." Kaido's eyes suddenly lit up. I'm the captain of the Beasts Pirates! Even if the crew gets suspicious, what are they gonna do, kill me? This body is indestructible!

He vividly remembered the scenes from the anime: Kaido surviving a fall from 10,000 meters, shrugging it off like a minor inconvenience. The Navy had captured him 18 times, yet no one could execute him. This body wasn't just strong—it was practically immortal.

As confidence returned to him, Kaido clenched his fist. "Alright, first things first: test my powers." He smirked. If Kaido can survive 10,000 meters and fight the Navy, I've got nothing to worry about.

Just then, a sudden chime echoed in his ears.

Ding-dong! Newbie Gift Pack activated...

Startled, Kaido froze. A voice followed:

Congratulations! You've obtained the summoning contracts for the Nine-Tailed Beasts from Naruto. The contract has been signed. The Nine Beasts are now your partners. This system will now uninstall. Good luck!

"Wait, what?! Hey, hold on!" Kaido shouted in panic. "How do I summon them? Hello? Are you listening? How do I use the damn beasts?!"

But no matter how much he yelled, the mysterious voice didn't return. Kaido slumped into his chair, exasperated. "Great. Just great. The system dumped me with this insane ability and vanished into thin air."

Before he could stew in his frustration, the commotion drew the attention of two crew members standing guard outside. The door burst open, and two burly pirates wearing fur coats rushed in.

"Is everything alright, Supreme Commander Kaido?" one asked nervously.

"Are you okay, sir?" the other added.

"Nothing's wrong. Leave."

The two pirates exchanged a glance, saluted hastily, and left.

Kaido leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. I know bits and pieces of Kaido's character, but when it comes to his crew and the Beasts Pirates... I'm practically clueless. Hell, I don't even know who my top officers are.

He sighed deeply. This was turning out to be way more awkward than he had anticipated.

"Well," Kaido muttered to himself, "I've got indestructibility, a pirate empire, and apparently a Naruto crossover power set. Let's see where this goes."

"You two, who are you?" Kaido asked, his deep voice rumbling as he eyed the pair of lackeys standing before him.

The two didn't seem offended by the question, though their expressions were tinged with helplessness. One of them stepped forward and answered, "I'm Da Vinci, and he's Cliffin. We're both your standby subordinates, Supreme Commander."

"Standby subordinates?" Kaido repeated, scratching his chin in confusion. His gaze fell on the swords strapped to their backs. Without thinking, he pointed at one of them. "Give me that sword."

"Oh, yes, sir!" Da Vinci quickly unsheathed the large sword from his back and handed it over.

Kaido gripped the weapon, examining it closely. In this massive body of his, the sword—which was over a meter long—looked ridiculously small, like a dagger in the hands of a giant. He couldn't help but marvel at how enormous he was. I'm taller than Whitebeard! What am I now, eight meters tall?

He shifted his focus back to the sword. The thought crossed his mind: If Big Mom's body can withstand cannon fire, and Kaido can survive a 10,000-meter fall, surely this body is indestructible, right? Time to test it out.

Raising the blade, he aimed it at his own arm, preparing to stab himself. But just as he was about to thrust it downward, a sudden wave of hesitation stopped him. Wait, what if it goes all the way through? That would hurt like hell!

Da Vinci and Cliffin exchanged baffled glances, watching their commander in silence.

"What is he doing? Trying to scratch an itch?" whispered Cliffin, scratching his head.

"That... doesn't look like itching," muttered Da Vinci, equally perplexed.

From their perspective, there was no logical reason for Kaido to stab himself. Everyone knew his body was impervious to blades, bullets, and bombs. It was like watching someone use a toothpick to poke at a boulder—it made no sense.

Unfazed by their confusion, Kaido pressed the tip of the blade against his forearm. He could feel the cold steel against his skin, but there was no pain. Slowly, he increased the pressure. With a loud ping, the meter-long blade snapped in half, unable to withstand the force.

So it's true. I'm really indestructible! Kaido thought, his confidence surging. He let the broken sword fall to the ground and nodded to himself. I might not have Kaido's memories, but his body is all mine—and it's the real deal. Now, I just need to figure out how to fight like him.

One thought lingered in his mind: Haki. He frowned. Kaido is a Yonko—there's no way he doesn't know how to use Haki. But how the hell do I activate it?

Kaido flexed his fingers, but no sparks of Conqueror's Haki emerged. His mind was blank on the subject, and he couldn't shake the feeling that, in his current state, his combat strength was far from its peak.

While Kaido brooded, Da Vinci and Cliffin continued to stare at him with wide eyes, utterly bewildered by their leader's strange actions. Kaido, noticing their gawking, decided to use them as his first source of intel.

"Alright," Kaido said, fixing his gaze on the pair. "Tell me something. What era are we in right now? Is that old geezer Whitebeard still alive? And where exactly are we?"

The two lackeys stiffened at the sudden barrage of questions. Cliffin scratched his head nervously, glancing at Da Vinci as if asking for backup.

Kaido folded his massive arms, his towering frame casting an intimidating shadow over them. If I'm going to lead this crew—and survive—I need to know exactly what I'm dealing with.