Tanaka deactivated his ROOM, and with his Byakugan, examined the physical condition of Blueno and Jabra.
The former was blasted to near death by explosive tags, suffering severe burns all over his body and multiple internal organ hemorrhages.
The latter had his muscles, bones, and organs shattered into a pulp by his Chakra Enhanced Strength Gentle Fist, turning him into a human discus.
Yet, after undergoing treatment with his Op-Op Fruit abilities, along with healing from the Mystical Palm Technique, the two CP9 members did not immediately recover, but their vital signs were completely stabilized. Now, they only needed rest and nourishment to allow their bodies to heal naturally.
As for why he could use the Mystical Palm Technique, that traces back to Tsunade becoming the Hyūga clan's medical instructor.
To establish a medical system that surpassed the rest of the shinobi world, she was even willing to teach her entire repertoire of medical ninjutsu to 100 Hyūga ninjas for free—let alone Tanaka himself.
For most ninjas, both medical ninjutsu and general medical knowledge were difficult to learn, and even harder to master. But for a Hyūga with the Byakugan, it wasn't hard at all.
Take the Mystical Palm Technique, for example.
Tsunade only demonstrated it in front of Tanaka once, and with his Byakugan's insight, every secret of the technique, whether it was the chakra's flow through the chakra pathways and acupoints or its nature transformation, was laid bare before his eyes.
In other words, he fully comprehended all the principles of the Mystical Palm Technique just by watching Tsunade perform it once with his Byakugan.
After that, it was just a matter of repeated practice and perseverance—converting theoretical knowledge into real medical ninjutsu.
Thus, aside from learning Tsunade's Chakra Enhanced Strength, he also mastered medical ninjutsu.
Byakugan.
Op-Op Fruit.
Medical ninjutsu.
With these three combined, even though Tanaka knew nothing about pharmaceuticals, it didn't change the fact that he was a surgical genius.
As expected of an Op-Op Fruit user. Healing injuries is as easy as eating or drinking for him.
Kalifa, who had just witnessed Tanaka treating her two comrades, couldn't help but marvel in secret.
With the severity of Jabra and Blueno's wounds, even if they returned to Enies Lobby and received treatment from world-class doctors, just the medical procedures alone would take at least a full day and night.
After that, they'd still be bedridden for a while—stuck with IV drips and medications until they made a full recovery.
But now, with just a few effortless moves from Tanaka, their conditions were completely stabilized.
With CP9's physical endurance and their ability to use Life Return, all they needed was to eat some Sea King meat to replenish their nutrition.
Recovery was just a matter of time, and it wouldn't take long at all.
At this moment, Jabra, who had previously been unconscious due to severe injuries, and Blueno, whose eyelids were slightly trembling, suddenly snapped their eyes open.
The moment they regained consciousness, the two CP9 members acted in perfect unison.
"Shigan!"
As soon as they opened their eyes, they launched their Shigan attacks straight at Tanaka.
"Stop!"
Seeing this, Kalifa immediately tried to intervene.
But before the two could react, Tanaka had already raised his hand and formed a seal.
"Aaaah!!"
Just as Jabra and Blueno's fingers were about to reach within 10 centimeters of Tanaka, a wave of excruciating pain suddenly erupted from their eyeballs and brains, surging through their entire bodies like a raging river.
The agony inflicted by the Caged Bird was so overwhelming that their attacks halted instantly. They clutched their heads in torment, writhing and screaming in agony on the ground.
Even when their excessive movements caused their still-healing wounds to reopen, making blood gush out and stain the mud and sand beneath them red, they couldn't stop themselves.
While they were unconscious, Tanaka had already branded them with the Caged Bird and taken half of their hearts.
Kalifa looked anxious. She had personally experienced the suffering inflicted by the Caged Bird, so she understood exactly what Jabra and Blueno were going through.
She wanted to plead for mercy on their behalf.
But when she noticed the cold indifference in Tanaka's eyes, she couldn't help but recall the words he had said earlier.
"Only by experiencing the Caged Bird firsthand will they truly engrave loyalty and fear deep into their memory."
And indeed, that was the case.
If she hadn't personally suffered the torment of the Caged Bird, would she have submitted to him so quickly?
Not just physically, but completely—body and mind.
Because of this, Kalifa opened her mouth several times, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to plead for them.
It was better to let Blueno and Jabra recognize reality now than to have them underestimate the situation and suffer a fate worse than death later.
60 seconds.
Not one second more, not one second less.
After making the two CP9 members endure one full minute of the curse's agony, Tanaka finally lowered his right hand.
Thud.
The same Jabra and Blueno, who had just moments ago sprung up like enraged beasts ready to kill, now collapsed as the excruciating pain receded like a tide.
Their reaction was identical.
Like boneless snakes, they sprawled on the ground without an ounce of strength or dignity left.
It was unclear whether the liquid soaking their bodies, clothes, and hair was sweat or blood.
Then came the heavy panting, the constant convulsions.
"I'll leave the task of making your two companions understand reality and accept their fate to you."
After releasing the hand seal, Tanaka spoke to Kalifa.
"Yes."
Kalifa quickly stepped forward, crouching down in front of Jabra and Blueno.
The moment they managed to catch their breath, before they could even speak, she seized the chance to explain everything that had happened.
As they listened, the expressions on Jabra and Blueno's faces shifted continuously.
First rage, then hatred, then frustration, and finally, resignation and despair.
Just like Kalifa, they had come to accept the reality of their situation, recognizing their predicament and ultimately choosing to submit.
Meanwhile—
"AHHHH!!"
The shadow clone that had taken Who's-Who away now mirrored the actions of its original body, forming a hand seal with its right hand and watching impassively as he writhed on the ground.
He screamed, roared, and howled in agony, as if he wanted to tear his own brain out to escape the torment.
In the One Piece world, even Lucci, after awakening his Devil Fruit in the future, was nothing more than three punches and two kicks before Nika Luffy.
Let alone Jabra and Blueno.
CP9's strength was insignificant.
But he never valued CP9 for their combat power—he valued them for their other abilities as secret agents.
Especially now that he was alone in the pirate world, standing in direct opposition to the World Government and the Marine Headquarters.
CP9, whose capabilities were well-rounded and who were now bound by both the Caged Bird and the Op-Op Fruit, made for excellent tools.
Since he had already taken Kalifa, Blueno, and Jabra under his control, there was no way he would let Who's-Who slip away.
Taking one was taking them all.
So why not capture all of the CP9 agents the World Government had sent after him in one fell swoop?
Gotta catch them all, right?