"Sasaki! Let me out!"
With a bruised and swollen face, Yamato gripped the iron bars of the cell and roared furiously.
"I'm going to duel Kaido!"
Because of Uzumaki Naruto's sudden outburst during Kouzuki Oden's execution, Yamato had later "fought alone against many heroes," only to be beaten badly by Kaido's subordinates and captured. She was dragged back to Onigashima before she could even witness the final act of the execution.
As for Uzumaki Naruto—the instigator—he had been knocked unconscious by Kaido's overwhelming presence and captured alongside her.
Now, both of them were locked inside the prison of Onigashima.
"Yamato-dono, please stop making a fuss."
Sasaki, whose own face was also bruised and swollen, stood outside the cell with a weary expression.
"It's far too early for you to challenge Boss Kaido. Boss Kaido has already said that once he's done with his business, he'll personally educate you. If you want to see him, just wait here obediently."
"I don't want to!"
Yamato snarled.
"That bastard dared to lay a hand on my friend! I'm going to beat him up right now!"
"..."
Seeing her stubborn refusal to calm down, Sasaki gave up trying to persuade her. With a helpless sigh, he turned and left.
"Bastard! Let me out!"
Yamato continued shouting, smashing her head repeatedly against the cell door. The entire prison rattled with loud clangs.
She didn't get released—
But she did succeed in waking up Uzumaki Naruto.
"Where… am I?"
Naruto groaned as he sat up, shaking his head. The memory of facing Kaido flashed through his mind, and he gasped.
"That monster uncle is way too strong! He didn't even attack, and I still passed out!"
Naruto had no concept of Haki, so he couldn't understand what had happened. Strangely enough, he didn't resent Kaido at all—he only felt awe.
That man was terrifyingly powerful.
"Uzumaki Naruto! You're awake!"
Hearing his voice, Yamato rushed over and hugged him tightly, bursting into tears.
"I thought you were dead! Waaahhh!"
"..."
Naruto fell silent.
There was a pretty big difference between fainting and dying, but he chose not to argue. Instead, he awkwardly patted her back.
"I just fainted. That uncle didn't want to kill me. I'm fine."
Although he didn't know Kaido well, Naruto could tell that the man hadn't intended to kill him. In fact, that invisible pressure felt more like a test.
And somehow… despite being the younger one, Naruto found himself comforting Yamato.
It felt strange.
Wait—
Naruto suddenly snapped back to reality. He pushed Yamato away and stared at her swollen face, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Who did this to you?!"
"I'm fine!"
Yamato wiped her tears and snot away with her sleeve, then flashed a wide grin. She flexed her arm proudly.
"I beat more than a dozen Headliners!"
Unfortunately, with her face swollen like that, the display looked more comical than impressive.
"You're amazing."
Naruto barely managed to hold back his laughter and praised her sincerely. Then he tilted his head.
"But… what's a 'Headliner'?"
"They're really strong fighters in the Beasts Pirates!"
Yamato explained, then clenched her fists angrily.
"If Sasaki hadn't interfered, I would've escaped with you! Damn it!"
"Beasts Pirates? Pirates?!"
Naruto's eyes widened instantly.
"That's right—pirates!"
When Yamato said the word, her eyes lit up with excitement.
"Someday, I want to set sail too! I'll gather a group of strong companions and form my own pirate crew!"
"Companions…"
Naruto frowned slightly.
The pirates Yamato spoke of felt very different from the pirates he imagined. In his understanding, pirates were criminals—not people you called companions.
"Exactly!"
Yamato suddenly grew even more animated.
"My dream is to find ten reliable companions, travel the world with them—and, by the way, beat up Kaido and his Beasts Pirates!"
"By the way…"
Naruto felt that this "by the way" was actually the hardest part.
The suffocating pressure Kaido had released at the execution platform was still etched into his memory. Naruto even suspected that not even the Third Hokage of Konoha was as terrifying as that monster.
Still, one thing became clearer—
His idea of pirates and Yamato's idea of pirates were completely different.
"Uzumaki Naruto!"
Yamato suddenly stared at him, her eyes blazing.
"Do you want to set sail with me and become my companion?!"
"I…"
Naruto hesitated.
He could feel Yamato's sincerity. She truly regarded him as a friend—someone to share dreams with. From her, Naruto felt a warmth he had never experienced in Konoha.
But he couldn't tell her the truth.
He couldn't tell her that he didn't belong to this world.
That thought made his chest ache.
Damn system…
Naruto cursed inwardly and looked up.
"Yamato, I—"
"Wororororo!~"
A thunderous laugh interrupted him.
Kaido strode in, dragging his spiked club behind him. He looked down at Yamato with disdain.
"Piracy isn't child's play. At your level, you're far too weak to roam the seas freely, you foolish son."
"Kaido!"
Yamato exploded.
"You Ox-headed bastard! Let me out! I want to duel you! As long as I beat you, I can set sail!"
"Wororororo!~"
Kaido laughed heartily.
Then—boom!
He smashed the prison door open with his club.
"Since you've got that much determination, I'll give you a chance."
His gaze shifted to Naruto, and a grin spread across his face.
"And you too, brat—Uzumaki Naruto. Come along."
"I'll definitely beat you up!"
Yamato stormed after him. Naruto hesitated only briefly before following.
Once outside, Kaido transformed instantly into a colossal dragon and soared into the sky. Looking down at them, his voice boomed like thunder.
"I'm in a good mood today."
"I'll personally give you two a lesson."
—
The renowned teacher—Hundred Beasts Kaido—has entered the classroom.