A Devil Fruit in the home of Ringo's daimyo, Shimotsuki Toramaru?
Brook was thrilled with Ametsuki Maiken's intel. He immediately set to work charming the local bigwig, eager to win over the Udon daimyo. If he played his cards right, he could sway Toramaru from being a vassal of the Kozuki clan to pledging loyalty to Brook himself!
Brook recalled that Toramaru's son, Shimotsuki Ushimaru, was the future daimyo of Ringo. Ushimaru had a pet komakitsune—a fox named Onimaru—that would later eat the Mythical Zoan: Onyudo.
This Devil Fruit seemed similar to Chopper's Human-Human Fruit, granting animals human-like transformations. But unlike Chopper, who gained speech and heightened intelligence, the Onyudo leaned toward physical changes. In myth, Onyudo could morph into beasts ranging from a few meters to hundreds of meters tall—mountain-sized monstrosities!
What would happen if a human ate it?
Probably the ability to transform into various giant beasts. In a world like Ultraman, that'd make you a straight-up villain!
After wrapping up his chat with Ametsuki Maiken, Brook decided to head to Ringo. Coincidentally, Whitebeard Newgate and the crew were also bound for Ringo to visit Shimotsuki Kozaburo for some sword-forging business.
Talk about perfect timing! Brook had his sights set on Ringo's Northern Cemetery, the resting place of the legendary dragon-slaying swordsman Shimotsuki Ryuma. Ryuma's blade, Black Blade Shusui, stood plunged into his grave—a national treasure of Wano, tempered by a lifetime of Ryuma's Armament Haki, teetering on the edge of Supreme Grade status.
More than that, the Northern Cemetery was a sacred ground for Wano's samurai, housing the graves of countless master swordsmen from across the ages, their blades buried alongside them. To Brook, it was like stumbling into a wholesale market for legendary swords!
Plenty of fine blades were hidden there, but Brook couldn't just waltz in and loot the place—that'd make him the enemy of every samurai in Wano!
He needed a scapegoat to take the heat.
Doflamingo and Crocodile were pros at dirty schemes. Doflamingo's String-String Fruit could manipulate pawns, and Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit could frame someone else for the job.
Speaking of which, Brook had the Clone-Clone Fruit in his possession. Who should he give it to?
A Mystique-like shapeshifter would be perfect! Imagine the possibilities—any face, any form, instant riches!
Ideally, the eater should have some spy skills. Brook could use a covert operative to handle shady business.
Ugh, but blonde, wavy-haired female officers were so rare, and he hated the idea of giving the fruit to just anyone!
When would the World Government or CP agencies send over some top-tier spies? Their efficiency was downright pathetic—zero stars!
After sorting out his plans, Brook threw a grand banquet, rested for the night, and set off with Redfield and the crew for Ringo aboard their golden airship. Half a day after they left, a dusty, orange-kimonoed boy stormed into Hailou Town.
"What?! That jerk of a master Brook left again?!"
Kozuki Oden clenched his teeth in fury but refused to give up. After a quick meal and drink, he bolted toward Ringo, kicking up a trail of dust in his wake.
This time, he had to join Brook's crew and sail the seas!
For two years, Oden had trained relentlessly. His father, the shogun Kozuki Sukiyaki, kept blocking his dreams of adventure, even demanding he cut ties with his mentor Brook. Oden ignored it all.
He knew his cheapskate master with the flying fleet was his best shot at freedom. Oden's strength had grown so much that even the Kozuki's elite guards couldn't match him—he'd earned his spot on Brook's ship, by Brook's own standards!
And then there was Fisher Tiger, just a year older than Oden, already sailing with Brook for over two years. Worse, Oden heard a rookie his own age had recently joined the crew. That lit a fire under him!
Why could everyone else sail, but not him?
Ignoring Sukiyaki's scolding, Oden raced toward Ringo, determined to board Brook's golden airship.
...
Ringo: Kibi Town
This small town was home to Shimotsuki Kozaburo, the master swordsmith. To the north lay the famed Northern Cemetery, the "Homeland of Heroes," and a short distance south was Ringo Castle, the region's seat of power.
Kibi Town served as a supply hub for Ringo Castle, funneling resources to the daimyo's stronghold.
The Shimotsuki clan was a powerhouse, its prestige soaring after Shimotsuki Ryuma's dragon-slaying legend. In Wano, their influence and strength outshone even the shogun's Kozuki clan!
Decades ago, the Kurozumi clan's rebellion to seize the shogunate failed, and the Shimotsuki clan's heroics earned them a second daimyo title, claiming the former Kurozumi territory of Hakumai.
Hakumai's daimyo, Shimotsuki Token, stemmed from a branch of Ringo's daimyo Shimotsuki Toramaru's lineage. Nowadays, the two Shimotsuki branches stood as equals, neither outranking the other.
Kozaburo's line, a smaller offshoot of Toramaru's main family, specialized in weapon forging, while the main branch carried on Ryuma's dragon-slaying swordsmanship, serving as Wano's martial backbone.
...
Shimotsuki Kozaburo gazed at the legendary Gungnir divine steel, his heart pounding with excitement. He'd already crafted two Great Grade swords, Enma and Wado Ichimonji, reaching the pinnacle of his craft.
He was one of Wano's most renowned swordsmiths!
If he could forge a Supreme Grade sword, he'd become Wano's greatest smith, and his new blade would surpass even Black Blade Shusui as the country's top treasure!
"Newgate, thank you for trusting me! I'll pour my soul into forging you a legendary weapon!"
Kozaburo's bushy, priest-like eyebrows practically danced with enthusiasm. This was his shot at greatness!
Gungnir steel wasn't something you stumbled across every day—most smiths never saw it once in a lifetime!
"Gurarara! Your skills are top-tier, not just in Wano but the whole world. I've got full faith in your craft!"
Whitebeard Newgate waved off Kozaburo's nerves, urging him to take it easy. Even a Great Grade sword would do—Newgate could nurture it into a Supreme Grade blade over time with his Haki.
"This time, I'm pulling out all the stops. I've got rare Haki-absorbing metal left from forging Enma, and I'll throw in the scraps from Wado Ichimonji too!"
Kozaburo was going all-in, emptying his stash of precious materials to create a world-class Supreme Grade sword. The title of Wano's greatest swordsmith was within his grasp!
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+400 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg