Immediate Refusal
"No!"
Kaido's answer came instantly.
"I don't want to know!"
No hesitation.
Though he truly wanted to know the reason—seeing Kai's expression made one thing clear:
If he chose to want to know...
Nothing good would happen.
But was this something Kaido could decide?
Obviously not.
No Choice
Looking at Kaido, Kai's lips curved into a contemptuous smile.
His voice came light:
"Sorry, I was just asking casually." Pause. "I wasn't seeking your opinion."
"You—!"
Anger flashed in Kaido's eyes.
He struggled with all his might.
Again.
The result?
Still futile.
Besides unwillingness, only dejection remained.
"You..."
His voice came strained.
"What exactly do you want!?"
Confusion filled him.
The black substance binding him could pierce through his abdomen.
It could equally pierce his heart.
So why didn't he kill him?
The Proposal
"I want..."
Kai's tone came casual.
"...to make you my subordinate."
"AHAHAHAHAHA!"
Kaido burst into wild laughter.
Seeming extremely happy.
"Dream on!" His voice came savage. "Ever since I escaped Mary Geoise, I swore—I'd never be anyone's slave or subordinate again!"
The laughter continued.
"Making me your subordinate?" More laughter. "Keep dreaming!"
At this moment, Kaido understood clearly:
He was fish on the chopping board.
Kai was the knife.
His life. Death. Freedom.
Everything was no longer his to decide.
But—
This Marine Admiral actually wanted to make him a subordinate?
How was that possible!?
If he couldn't decide other things, this was the one thing he could still decide.
How could he let him succeed!
Ominous Premonition
"Is that so?"
Kai's voice came light.
"Just a delusion?" Pause. "I wonder if you'll still think that way the next second..."
His tone shifted.
"...Barbarossa Kaido."
The light voice reached Kaido's ears.
For some reason, an ominous premonition suddenly arose in his heart.
The laughter gradually stopped.
Turning his gaze to Kai—
He froze completely.
Kotoamatsukami
Kaido's eyes met Kai's.
He saw the pale blue tomoe slowly rotating on the purple circular patterns.
Then contracting toward the center of his pupils along with the purple rings.
Kaido felt like his entire being was about to be intoxicated by them.
He screamed in his heart:
Not good!
But it was too late.
At this moment, Kaido's entire mind had been completely drawn into Kai's Rinnegan.
Instantly activating the ocular jutsu.
Kotoamatsukami.
A pitch-black crow with a single red eye flew out from Kai's eyes.
Shot into Kaido's eyes.
The strongest genjutsu of the Naruto world.
It possessed the ability to change the subject's will.
Making them follow the caster's predetermined suggestions—
While changing their consciousness without altering their memories or personality.
Absolutely perverted to the extreme.
In Kai's view, this was the most bizarre and powerful technique in the Naruto world's power system before it collapsed.
Simple Command
Obey all my commands.
A very simple suggestion.
Planted directly in the depths of Kaido's brain.
Changing Kaido's deep-level ego will through Kotoamatsukami's power.
Gradually, Kaido's expression calmed.
Seeing Kai before him—
He was suddenly stunned.
The person before him—he knew him all too well.
The Marine Headquarters' fourth Admiral. Titled White Dragon. Kai Mitarashi.
Most importantly...
They had just battled each other.
Moreover, his purpose in coming here was to kill Kai.
Though he hadn't succeeded, it definitely didn't mean he had any good feelings toward Kai.
How was it that now...
...facing Kai, not only could he not generate the slightest malice...
...but he even had an urgent impulse to complete ANY command from Kai!?
Even if Kai told him to die immediately—
He wouldn't resist in the slightest.
What was going on!?
Kaido was completely confused.
Practical Considerations
Kai hadn't directly used Kotoamatsukami to plant a suggestion for Kaido to recognize him as master.
After all, he was still a Marine.
Having a "Four Emperor" level pirate following him around calling him master every day?
What kind of situation would that be!
Of course, Kai would never admit the more important reason:
He really couldn't stand the sight of someone with such a massive build calling him master.
That image...
Just thinking about it made Kai shudder.
Regardless—
As long as the tasks he assigned could be completed with quality and quantity, that was enough.
In the end, Kaido was just one of his chess pieces.
As for whether the chess piece was convenient to use?
That was another matter.
New Orders
"Hmm..."
Kai's tone came casual.
"The pirates are mostly dead, so this battle should end." He paused. "Kaido, take the remaining pirates and retreat to your territory."
His voice continued:
"I didn't kill the 'Three Disasters' either, but remember to control them in the future." Emphasis on the next words: "Especially 'Drought' Jack."
His tone hardened slightly.
"I don't want to hear about any more countries or towns being destroyed under mammoth trampling." Pause. "Understand?"
Immediate Compliance
"Understood, White Dragon!"
Kaido replied immediately.
Even startling himself.
He wasn't clear what was wrong with him.
Inexplicably, another question came out:
"Any other orders?"
It came naturally.
Without any sense of discord.
"Nothing else..."
Kai paused.
"Oh right, I'll order Doflamingo to continue trading with you." His tone came matter-of-fact. "If artificial Devil Fruits produce finished products, remember to inform me."
"Mm, alright."
Kaido looked somewhat excited.
"Then I'll retreat first."
He'd originally given up hope on this matter.
But unexpectedly it had a result that satisfied him.
How could he not be happy?
Terrifying Power
Seeing Kaido with such an expression, Kai couldn't help but marvel at Kotoamatsukami's power.
One second: Bitter enemies with deep hatred.
Next second: Without any memory alteration—
The opponent's will had changed.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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