Naruto: Unlocking Kaido Template

"Did you almost forget about this just now?" However, Rosinante had already seen through everything. In addition to his lazy habits, he had recently developed a penchant for exposing the shortcomings of others, especially when they were putting on a false front. It had practically become his new hobby.

Zixu glanced at Karin and noticed how her eyes, once brimming with hope, gradually dulled and became tinged with disappointment. Realizing something was off, he didn't say much and instead retrieved a peculiar-looking fruit from a scroll. It was unlike any ordinary fruit—the intricate spiral patterns on its surface stood out the most.

The fruit itself resembled a pineapple, especially with its yellow leaves on top, which looked suspiciously like tufts of spiky blond hair.

Karin stared at the fruit in confusion. Was this really the gift Zixu had promised her? Her eyes dimmed further, and she forced a smile.

"It's okay. I like anything Zixu gives me. It's fine... really."

"Karin, this is no ordinary fruit. It... it cannot be tasted. You have to swallow it whole, and when you do, you'll gain magical powers," Zixu explained seriously, introducing the power of the Devil Fruit to her. However, Karin clearly thought he was playing a prank. She found his explanation clumsy and unconvincing.

"...Go ahead, try it yourself," Zixu urged, correctly guessing that she didn't believe him based on her awkward yet polite smile.

Karin pointed at the massive fruit, which was nearly the size of her head, then at her mouth. Her expression made it clear she was skeptical.

"Are you serious? You want me to eat this whole thing? It's too big! I'll choke to death! I—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Zixu's hand, holding the fruit, moved with the speed of a giant python, darting toward her face. With a swift motion, he shoved the fruit into her mouth mid-sentence.

"Mmmph~!" A muffled cry escaped Karin's lips, but the massive fruit quickly stifled her voice.

"No... no, it's too big! I'm gonna die!" With half of the fruit wedged into her mouth, Karin let out a series of incoherent whimpers.

"Come on! Hold on! You're almost done! Don't bite it, or you'll regret tasting it!" Zixu urged, keeping his hand steady. He was careful not to crush the fruit with excessive force, knowing that doing so would ruin everything.

"Ahhh... I can't... it's too much!" Karin's face flushed red from the effort. Her breath quickened, and sweat began to mat her hair to her forehead. She was nearly at her limit.

"Just a little more! You've got this... okay! Swallow it! Don't spit it out—hold it in!" Zixu patted her back encouragingly, helping her exhale, then pressed the fruit further into her mouth.

"Urgh... haah... huff... huff... what the hell was that?!" Karin collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. The experience had been anything but pleasant, and she had no desire to repeat it. Moreover, the fruit left a foul, indescribable aftertaste lingering on her tongue. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Don't try to savor the taste. Just keep it down," Zixu warned her, knowing that if she vomited it up, the entire process would be wasted.

Hyuga Chinano and Rosinante had been silently observing the entire scene. Rosinante, as carefree as ever, had already donned an eye mask and earplugs, falling asleep mid-spectacle.

Hyuga Chinano, on the other hand, watched with a slightly startled expression. No way... If I hadn't been here to witness this, just hearing the sounds alone would have led to serious misunderstandings.

"Focus on your body. Feel the changes and try to control the power surging within you," Zixu instructed, his voice calm yet firm.

"Huh? There really is... something spreading inside me!" Karin's eyes widened in shock.

Although she had been drained and exhausted just moments ago, she suddenly sprang to her feet, revitalized. Her fatigue vanished as if it had never existed. She felt an overwhelming surge of vitality coursing through her veins. All her previous injuries seemed to dissolve, and her entire body brimmed with strength.

In that instant, Karin felt as if she had been reborn, her steps lighter and her spirit renewed.

"Try using that power—you should be able to feel how," Zixu encouraged her, hinting at the transformation ability the fruit had granted.

"Got it!" Karin's eyes sparkled with excitement, a wide grin breaking across her face.

Blue-green flames gradually ignited on her body, wrapping her in a soft, ethereal blaze. The flames swiftly engulfed her entire form.

Hyuga Chinano's eyes widened in amazement. She sensed an immense, almost divine vitality emanating from the flames. This wasn't the destructive fire of battle—no, it was a flame of life. She marveled at its beauty, fascinated by how something so wild could possess such pure, restorative power.

As the flames dissipated, Karin's figure was no longer human. Her entire body was covered in sleek, emerald-green feathers. Long tail feathers trailed behind her, burning with gentle green flames, while vibrant red plumes adorned her chest. She had transformed into a majestic phoenix.

"Well... that's something," Zixu muttered, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief.

Hyuga Chinano squatted down, tilting her head in curiosity. She noticed the similarity between Karin's transformation and Zixu's own dragon form.

"Eh? Zixu, Chinano... why did you two get bigger? Wait... why did I get smaller?!" Karin exclaimed in confusion.

Indeed, while the phoenix transformation was undeniably beautiful, it came with a minor quirk—her phoenix form was surprisingly small, more akin to a phoenix hatchling than a fully grown bird.

Zixu figured it was simply due to her lack of proficiency. It was precisely for this reason that he had given her the fruit in advance—so she could gradually adapt to its power. By the time of the martial arts competition, she would be fully prepared to showcase her newfound strength.

"Can I... turn back now? Oh no, I've turned into a bird!" Karin flapped her wings frantically, developing some unexpectedly bird-like mannerisms.

Ignoring her squawking for the moment, Zixu walked over to Rosinante and kicked him awake.

"You have two choices. One: carry out the mission I assigned you. Two: stay here and teach Karin how to master the power of the fruit before I return," Zixu declared.

"I'll take the second option," Rosinante replied without hesitation. He let out a yawn, stretched lazily, and then sluggishly walked over to Karin.

"Chirp!" Karin, still in her phoenix form, let out an involuntary squawk and flapped her wings in protest.

However, Rosinante casually placed his hand on her back, holding her down with minimal effort.

A wave of chilling, death-like stillness suddenly radiated from his palm. For a brief moment, Karin felt as though her heart had stopped. She was overwhelmed by the sensation of near-death, her entire body paralyzed.

But she trusted Zixu. If he wasn't worried, she wouldn't be in danger.

Sure enough, after a few moments, the chaotic energy surging within her body gradually settled. She regained control over her newfound power. With a concentrated effort, she struggled to shift back into her human form.

Finally, with a burst of green flames, she transformed back, panting slightly from the exertion.

"You should realize the potential of this power," Zixu said with a faint smile.

He deliberately made it sound as if the fruit had been intended as a martial arts competition reward, wanting to inspire confidence in her. In truth, it had always been meant for her.

"Train well. You're no weaker than anyone else," Zixu added, offering a reassuring smile.

With that, Zixu waved goodbye, helping Karin to her feet and dusting off the dirt clinging to her clothes. He and Hyuga Chinano turned and walked away, leaving Karin still slightly dazed, and Rosinante, who looked like he was being forced to work overtime.

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