Kozuki Oden, ever the curious soul, slipped into the Hell Pirates' prototype timed Wind Shoes. He took to the air like a kid in a candy store, ditching his old rival Kaido without a second thought and zipping back to the Flower Capital to wrap up one last "mission" before setting sail.
If Kozuki Sukiyaki knew his ungrateful son was helping outsiders swipe his stuff, he'd probably grab that leather belt!
...
After a day kicking back in Ringo, the Hell Pirates sailed back to Hailou Town in Kuri Province. The giants of Hell Giant Fortress, meanwhile, had clambered aboard the nearby Onigashima. They fell head over heels for the island, shaped like a massive skull and pulsing with raw, untamed energy.
It felt like it was made for them—wild and primal, boosting their training like nothing else. Just being there made everything click into place.
Roky wasted no time, petitioning Brook to claim the island. Brook gave the green light, letting the giant clan start reshaping and fortifying their new home.
...
Hailou Town buzzed with its usual chaos that day.
The lord's manor was swarmed—warriors hauling in captured yokai, others clutching Pattern Fruits, all gunning for rewards and a spot in the Hell Underworld.
"Brook-sama, this is the yokai I nabbed in Kibi. The little freak can boss animals around, stealing food from folks' homes! Took everything my brothers had to reel him in!"
Five ronin knelt before Brook and the crew, a pale boy with wine-red hair and thick lips bound at their feet.
The kid shot them a venomous glare, quick to mask it. He and his folks had been from a traveling theater troupe, but after his parents got offed, he'd turned sharper, meaner—a master of masks and mimicry.
"Yeah, Brook-sama—this guy's Evening Shower Kanjuro, Kibi's infamous demon. He's gotta be some kind of curse-weaver, plaguing the innocent!"
The ronin piled on the dirt for the bounty and a shot at the Hell Underworld, desperate to sell their tale.
Brook clocked the familiar face right away—the so-called "Evening Shower", one of the Nine Red Scabbards: Kanjuro!
Kid's real name was Kurozumi Kanjuro, a branch off the Kurozumi family tree. Same age as Kozuki Oden—ten years old—but already a grizzled vet, just like Nico Robin at that age.
That Brush-Brush Fruit of his? A total game-changer. Draw what you want, and bam, it's real!
Cranes for flying passengers, food that filled bellies and fueled bodies, storm clouds raining ink arrows...
You name it, he drew it. Clones identical to himself, dead ringers for Kozuki Oden—creations with their own smarts, voices, and free will...
Brook's mind raced. No question—he was claiming this god-tier fruit. Too broken to pass up!
Imagine sketching a dozen beauties from other worlds? Yohohoho, paradise!
"Good work! Head over and claim your reward."
Brook waved off the five ronin to Hyougoro, rewards in hand. Tricks or no tricks, they'd bagged the kid—they earned their cut.
He had Kanjuro hauled back to Parrot's castle for lockdown. No plans to recruit this Kurozumi snake; that fruit was earmarked for his own bloodline.
...
Word spread fast: those ronin scored spots in the Hell Underworld and fat purses. Every warrior in the crowd turned green with envy. Who wouldn't? The perks here beat scraping by in the wilds.
"Brook-sama, this is the Pattern Fruit I dug up!"
A tall warrior in a wide-brimmed hat stepped up, face shadowed—he clearly didn't want eyes on him. From his satchel came a white, swirled-round Devil Fruit, handed reverently to Hyougoro, then Brook.
The Devil Fruit caught Brook off guard. Could this be the legendary Millet-Millet Fruit? The one that tamed beasts and even artificial Zoan users?
"You're from around Amigasa Village in Kuri, right?"
Brook rolled the fresh prize in his palm. Jackpot—this Wano trip was paying dividends!
No wonder big shots raked in Devil Fruits like candy. Power begets power.
Look at Big Mom's crew, Kaido's beasts, or Doflamingo—the kingpin of black-market deals. His network spat out top-shelf fruits like confetti: the Op-Op, Gold-Gold, Flame-Flame...
The hat warrior flinched at Brook's words, a telltale tremor.
"No need to spook—I'm not digging. Thousand gold coins are on the table. Or you need something else?"
Brook sensed the guy's wariness—the old "wealth flaunts danger" vibe. Afraid some thug samurai would jump him post-payout.
Joining up solved that, but he wasn't biting. Just the gold, probably for a quick escape or some burning need.
"Gold's all I want, milord. If you could see fit..."
Spot on—the ronin wanted cash to vanish, live free, or settle a score.
"Done. Stick with Hyougoro-sama for the payout. He'll watch your back for a couple days—after that, you're on your own."
Brook chuckled softly. A down-on-his-luck swordsman flush with coin, no Underworld ties? Prime target for the yakuza types lurking in the shadows.
"Much obliged, milord!"
The warrior's voice cracked with relief as he trailed Hyougoro out. Brook didn't pry about the windfall's purpose—just flagged a subtle tail on the guy, for kicks.
That aura on the ronin? Thick as fog—a solid mid-tier swordmaster. Useful, sure, but Brook had a roster full of 'em. No sweat.
"Jahaha! Congrats, Brook—another Devil Fruit in the bag!"
Golden Lion Shiki boomed with laughter. In his eyes, Brook's every scheme paid off in spades—true masterstroke stuff.
"Yohohoho! Mood's high—feast time!"
Brook threw his head back and laughed. Two premium Devil Fruits today: Millet-Millet and Brush-Brush—both bursting with potential.
Now, just waiting on that deadbeat Oden to deliver. Don't let me down, you hear?
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+400 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg