12: Trapping Shukaku

"Well then, I suppose it's my turn now." Doflamingo declared with a sinister grin. His fingers contorted into a shape that seemed impossible for any ordinary human. "Gigantic White Threads!"

Instantly, the sand beneath Shukaku transformed into a web of white strings. Countless threads surged upward, entangling the massive beast in an intricate network. The strings wrapped around Shukaku's limbs and body, immobilizing him entirely.

"You filthy insect! Let me go, or I swear I'll crush you!" Shukaku roared, thrashing violently in an attempt to break free. However, his colossal arms were forcibly pulled apart, and his joints were bound tightly by the relentless threads. Despite his immense power, he found himself utterly restrained.

"Fufufufufu! Even with intelligence, you're still just a beast!" Doflamingo sneered, his eyes glinting with triumph. He turned toward Kaido with a mocking smirk, as though expecting praise. "It seems this is the end, wouldn't you agree, Kaido?"

Kaido remained silent, observing the scene with an unreadable expression. 'As expected,' he mused. Even though this world lacked the complex sealing techniques and ocular jutsu of the shinobi, the Tailed Beasts' strength wasn't insurmountable.

After all, in the shinobi world, Hashirama Senju had divided the Tailed Beasts among the Five Great Nations. If those villages lacked the means to suppress and control the beasts, such a decision would have been unthinkable.

Shukaku's destructive power was undeniable. Against weaker humans, he could crush them effortlessly. But against opponents of equal strength, size became more of a liability than an advantage. It was akin to the Giant Race in the One Piece world—against ordinary foes, they were a walking calamity. But against equals, their large size turned them into easy targets.

Though the Tailed Beasts were far more durable than giants, the principle remained the same.

"It's over, Shukaku. This demonstration will suffice," Kaido finally spoke, his voice heavy with authority. His primary aim had been to witness the destructive potential of the Tailed Beast Bomb. And from what he had seen, it did not disappoint.

"Like hell it's over! I haven't lost! Let me go, or I'll devour you!" Shukaku bellowed, his rage unyielding. He struggled violently, but Doflamingo's threads were imbued with extraordinary tensile strength, rendering his efforts futile.

"Well, he's not entirely wrong…" Kaido remarked, his tone tinged with amusement. It was true—while Doflamingo had managed to subdue Shukaku temporarily, without sealing techniques, fully defeating him was an entirely different matter. The Tailed Beasts were notorious for their regenerative capabilities, making them nearly impossible to neutralize permanently.

"Are you suggesting we continue fighting, Kaido?" Doflamingo asked, his brow furrowing slightly. While he had Shukaku restrained for the moment, he knew that a decisive victory wasn't achievable with his current abilities. Moreover, defeating Shukaku outright might risk offending Kaido, and that was a line Doflamingo was unwilling to cross.

"No, that's enough. Everyone, stand down," Kaido ordered firmly.

Shukaku let out another furious roar, his voice echoing across the battlefield. His struggles continued, but the tension in the air began to dissipate as Kaido's subordinates lowered their weapons.

Kaido's eyes lingered on the bound Tailed Beast. Despite its temporary defeat, the display of raw, destructive power had left a lasting impression. 'So this is the might of the Tailed Beasts. If this much destruction comes from the One-Tail, what about the Nine-Tails? What kind of devastation could its Tailed Beast Bomb unleash?'

Doflamingo released a slow, derisive laugh, stepping back slightly as his strings began to loosen. "Fufufufu… Quite the show, wasn't it? But I'd say that's enough for one day, wouldn't you agree, Shukaku?"

"Enough?! You think you've won?! You're nothing but worms to me! Release me, or I'll destroy you all!" Shukaku bellowed, his voice shaking the earth itself.

Kaido, however, simply chuckled, his laughter low and menacing. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that. But this was only a test, Shukaku. Don't forget—you're in my territory now. You may have power, but without strategy, even a Tailed Beast can fall."

Shukaku growled in response, his pride refusing to yield, even as he remained ensnared by Doflamingo's strings.

With a final glance at the subdued beast, Kaido turned to his crew. "Prepare to move out. We've seen what we needed to see. This experiment is over."

Though Shukaku roared in protest, his voice faded into the distance as Kaido and his men began their retreat. In the back of his mind, Kaido couldn't help but wonder: 'How many other monsters like this are out there? And how can I use them to cement my dominance?'

Doflamingo wasn't about to let go of Shukaku just yet. He flashed a cruel grin and said, "Fufufufu, of course, I'm fine with holding on. But Kaido-sama, you'll have to convince him. What if I let go and he immediately tries to attack me?"

Shukaku didn't miss a beat, his voice dripping with venom. "You're brave enough to keep holding me down? Fine. The moment you let go, I'll tear you to pieces!"

Hearing this, Kaido's patience finally snapped. With a deep growl, he shouted, "Enough! Shukaku, Doflamingo is not our enemy!"

Shukaku gritted his teeth, clearly displeased, but he grudgingly complied, though his warning was sharp. "This time, I'm doing it for Kaido's sake. But next time I see you, I'll devour you, Doflamingo."

With that, Shukaku dissipated into a cloud of white smoke, vanishing from sight.

Kaido let out a quiet sigh of relief as he watched the Tailed Beast retreat. At least Shukaku had given him face, or things would have gotten awkward in front of Doflamingo and King. Kaido was still adjusting to this world—though his current body boasted the greatest power, he hadn't fully grasped the capabilities of the original Kaido yet. There were still many things he didn't know, like the extent of Kaido's abilities and ultimate techniques. For now, it was better to avoid unnecessary conflict.

'Gone already,' Kaido thought, observing Doflamingo and King's lack of reaction. The ability to summon and vanish in a puff of smoke like that was terrifying. With such powers, it would be nearly impossible to capture or pin them down.

Doflamingo and King walked over to Kaido, and King cautiously spoke up. "Kaido-sama, what about Shukaku…"

"That guy's gone for now," Kaido responded, though his attention was on something else.

From the ground, the Nine-Tails, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "I must admit, you humans from this world are far stronger than we are from my world. Your physical resilience seems to outclass ours by miles. That idiot Shukaku was too overconfident, and that's why he lost so embarrassingly."

"Oh? Your world, does it not have strong warriors?" Kaido asked, intrigued. He knew that while the strength of the early warriors in the Naruto world might not match the peak of the One Piece universe, once figures like the Six Paths level warriors appeared, they could easily surpass any force in the Pirate World.

"Strong warriors? Pfft! It's just a bunch of weak samurais and useless ninjas," the Nine-Tails snorted dismissively.

'Samurais?' Kaido's mind quickly pieced together the meaning. It seemed like the Naruto world was still in a chaotic period, far from the unified Five Great Nations era he had expected. No wonder!

The Nine-Tails stretched and yawned, saying, "Well, I'm off. There doesn't seem to be anyone worth fighting here anyway." Then, with a flash of white smoke, it disappeared.

Once the Nine-Tails was gone, King turned to Kaido, his expression thoughtful. "I didn't expect their world to have samurais and ninjas as well. But Kaido-sama, how did you summon them?"

Kaido didn't immediately answer. As a leader, he didn't feel the need to explain every action to his subordinates, especially on something that was not easy to explain. After all, Kaido was a villain, and villains needed to maintain a certain air of mystery. He glanced at King and said, "King, head back."

"Yes, Kaido-sama," King replied, nodding obediently.

As the crew began to disperse, Kaido's mind was already turning. The display of Shukaku's power had been impressive, but there were still more questions left unanswered. What kind of forces had the Naruto world truly hidden, and how could he exploit them for his own dominance in this new world? 'If Shukaku could wreak havoc like that… What would the Nine-Tails, with its even greater power, be capable of?'

The possibilities were endless.