Chapter 374: Advancing Toward Onigashima
Yamato—having received Brett's acknowledgment—cheerfully led Brett's group into the forest toward their hidden base.
As they walked, the girl happily shared her recent experiences with Brett.
Daily rigorous training. Learning governance knowledge under Kawamatsu and Hyogoro's instruction, preparing to become this nation's shogun.
But mainly—the battle of wits with the Beasts Pirates.
The Beasts Pirates had ruled this nation for over a decade. They weren't useless. How could every manhunt end fruitlessly?
Several times their whereabouts had been exposed. Fortunately, Yamato's strength had already become extraordinary. Without Kaido personally mobilizing, the Beasts Pirates had no one capable of stopping them, so each time they'd escaped by luck.
"After learning internal destruction Armament Haki, King stopped being my match!"
Yamato grinned proudly. "Even his tough body can no longer withstand my kanabo! And now I've mastered the ultimate technique too!"
"Very impressive."
Brett smiled.
Though still somewhat immature, Conqueror's Coating wasn't a technique just anyone could master.
Conqueror's Haki was the quality of a king—one in a million.
Then Conqueror's Coating was the technique of a conqueror—one in tens or hundreds of millions.
Everyone who'd mastered it was among the seas' elite few.
Yamato was already quite remarkable.
Not to mention she'd also mastered advanced Armament Haki techniques—like Brett, she could combine Conqueror's Coating with internal destruction Armament.
This girl now truly possessed the ability to protect this nation.
Conqueror's Coating?
Walking behind and to Brett's side, Tesoro glanced sideways at that brilliantly smiling white-haired woman.
Should he say she truly was Kaido's daughter? She was the same age as Brett too.
Among young people Brett's age, this woman was probably the only one who could see Brett's back, right?
Tesoro felt irritated. Why didn't he have Conqueror's Haki?
"Yamato will become this nation's shogun afterward."
Inuarashi said with a smile. Watching Yamato's back, he seemed to see his lord from those years.
Different gender. Personality not entirely identical.
But undoubtedly, she was Lord Oden's will's inheritor.
No one suited becoming this nation's shogun better than her.
Tesoro said nothing.
He felt somewhat curious. If Kozuki Oden's son hadn't perished in flames back then but survived and now appeared in Wano—how would these people choose?
Quite interesting, right?
But Tesoro reconsidered. How these people chose didn't matter much. Yamato was his friends— Brett of Fish-Man Island's personally appointed new shogun of Wano.
Yamato led Brett's group to their secret base—also a massive cavern carved by hollowing out a mountain.
"Welcome, Brett!"
Just entering the cavern, Brett's fellow Fish-Man Kawamatsu already approached. This man's face also showed complete excitement.
"Let's skip the pleasantries."
Brett smiled. "Are preparations for war complete?"
"Of course!"
Kawamatsu nodded emphatically. "All forces we could gather—we've assembled them!"
"The power resisting Kaido has never been as strong as this moment!"
"I see."
Brett nodded. "Then, shall we begin?"
"Yes!"
Yamato nodded emphatically. "Let's begin! Drive the Beasts Pirates from Wano!"
Though they'd wanted to hold a banquet first, the wine before battle clearly couldn't compare to wine after victory.
Brett and the others just rested here briefly, then prepared to mobilize all forces.
Kawamatsu and the others had assembled over two thousand people in this cavern.
All were samurai dissatisfied with Kaido's rule. Among them were many formidable swordsmen.
Particularly, Brett spotted a corpulent figure with impressive presence.
If memory served, this guy was Ashura Doji, right?
Probably the strongest among the Nine Red Scabbards.
"Ashura was quite unconvinced by me at first."
Yamato noticed Brett's gaze toward Ashura Doji. She said proudly, "After I thoroughly beat him several times, he gradually acknowledged me."
"He even said I made him feel nostalgic!"
Brett chuckled softly.
Of course nostalgic.
Years ago when Kozuki Oden subdued Ashura Doji, hadn't he also used force first, then won him over with personal charisma?
Yamato had basically replicated that history.
When Brett looked at Ashura Doji, this man was also stealing glances at Brett.
"Can this man really be trusted?" He couldn't help asking.
"Brett's strength is beyond question. Even Kaido isn't his match!"
Nekomamushi said solemnly. "Without his help, we couldn't possibly defeat the Beasts Pirates."
Ashura Doji nodded without saying more.
After counting personnel, Kawamatsu looked toward Yamato.
Yamato nodded slightly, stepping forward. Then she shouted loudly, "Let's move out!!"
Everyone departed.
Carrying several days' rations. Carrying sharpened weapons.
This battle—victory or nothing!
"Denjiro will later lead another force to rendezvous with us at Habu Port."
As the group marched across snow, Kawamatsu explained while traveling. "He's also gathered many ronin samurai—a powerful force."
Brett nodded lightly without commenting.
After all, in his view, these numbers meant nothing anyway.
Several thousand people combined probably couldn't match Yamato alone.
This world was just that cruel.
Meanwhile, the Flower Capital.
After Kurozumi Orochi's death, Kaido had installed someone else as the new shogun.
So compared to the past, this city hadn't changed much.
In this city's most luxurious pleasure district, the wandering leader respectfully called Kyoshiro Boss by the city's people now knelt in a prostrate bow before a paper door.
His voice was very solemn.
"Then, milady, I depart."
No one responded inside. Kyoshiro stood. He pressed the sword at his waist, turning and departing without looking back. His steps were resolute as iron.
Then, behind the paper door, sounds arose.
The sound of a shamisen.
Extraordinarily spirited and passionate.
As if playing a victory song.
Soon, a force quietly departed the Flower Capital, heading toward this nation's inland sea's largest port.
Two forces simultaneously concealed their movements. Lying low by day, moving by night, both approached the appointed location.
However, inevitably, two forces of such size would eventually attract some attention.
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