Wano Country.
Kuri Region, Ruguo Waterfall.
The enormous whale-shaped ship rose slowly, pulled upward by a school of golden carp — exactly as it had thirty years ago.
"Hard to believe it's been almost twenty years already…"
Perched atop the mast, the first-division commander Marco the Phoenix surveyed the mist-shrouded land below.
"Cheer up, Izo!" said Vista, captain of the Fifth Division, clapping him on the shoulder. "Wano's been liberated!"
"Mm."
Izo forced a small smile. Though glad to be home, a trace of regret lingered in his eyes.
He had not personally taken part in the battle that brought down the Beasts Pirates — a wound to his pride that still stung.
"Come on," Vista grinned. "Let's go pay our respects to Oden!"
At the head of the group, Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors, waved a massive hand. "Let's go ashore!"
Led by their towering captain, the veterans who had once sailed to Wano alongside Oden strode toward the distant hills of Oden Castle.
Half an hour later, they reached the summit. The land around them lay barren and scarred.
The proud castle that Kozuki Oden had built with his own hands eighteen years ago was now nothing more than blackened ruins and crumbling stone. All that remained was a lonely tomb.
Whitebeard drove his great bisento, Cong Yunqie, deep into the earth and lowered himself to sit before Oden's grave, silent and dazed.
Thirty years ago, they had arrived in this country by chance, met Oden, and — through chaos and laughter — had become sworn brothers under different flags.
Back then, they thought their adventures would last forever.
But twenty-five years ago, Oden had been drawn away by Gol D. Roger.
He'd promised to return within a year.
Yet when that year passed… Oden never came back.
It had taken only twelve months for Roger's crew to reach the last island and fulfill their dream.
But when the Roger Pirates disbanded, Oden neither returned to Whitebeard's ship nor sent even a single word.
Only later did Whitebeard hear from Roger that Oden had likely gone home.
At the time, Marco and the others had urged Whitebeard to visit Wano, but the old man refused.
"Why should I chase after someone who broke his promise?" he'd said bitterly. "If Oden wants to come back, let him come himself. Until then, we stay put."
When the captain had spoken, the crew obeyed.
Years drifted by.
It wasn't until eight years later that they heard from Oden again — only to learn he had already been dead for three.
That knowledge became the greatest regret of Whitebeard's seventy years of life.
"Sorry, Oden," Whitebeard murmured, his deep voice heavy with grief. "I'm a useless brother."
"Father," said Marco softly, stepping forward. "Everything's ready."
Whitebeard nodded. "Then let's begin. It's a little late, but let's finally have our banquet with Oden."
At his command, the captains of the Whitebeard Pirates moved into action.
Jozu, captain of the Third Division, carried a bundle of firewood and stacked it before the grave.
Fossa, captain of the Fifteenth, swung his burning blade to ignite it.
Thatch, captain of the Fourth, set a massive black pot atop the flames and began giving orders.
Into the pot they threw everything — Kanto-style broth, eggs, radishes, potatoes, kelp, konjac, fish balls, and chikuwa.
In moments, a rich fragrance filled the air.
Anyone else witnessing this sight would have been stunned.
Who in their right mind would cook hot pot atop a friend's grave?
It was absurd — borderline sacrilegious.
But men like Whitebeard had their own ways of honoring the dead.
He was cooking oden — on Oden's grave.
If word of this ever spread, it would shake the world.
Yet Marco, Jozu, Vista, and the others didn't bat an eye.
"Oden loved oden more than anyone," Whitebeard said fondly, his massive shoulders shaking with laughter. "He and I made a deal — whoever died first, the other would cook a pot of oden on his grave when visiting. Said even the smell would make the soul happy."
"Hahaha! That's just like Lord Oden!" Vista laughed. "He even used to burn oden on other people's bones as farewell offerings!"
"It's a man's promise between you two!" Marco grinned.
"Oden'll be smiling from the afterlife for sure!"
Laughter rolled across the ruins.
The broth bubbled and boiled, steam rising into the cool air.
As Oden himself had once taught, the secret to perfect oden was patience — the longer it simmered, the better it tasted.
They waited in silence for an hour.
"Father, time's up!" Marco said, checking his pocket watch.
Whitebeard grunted, took the chopsticks Vista handed him, and was the first to eat.
Once their captain had started, restraint vanished.
The "sons" of Whitebeard's crew surged forward in a feeding frenzy.
Marco, Vista, and the other commanders, being closest to the pot, claimed the first bites.
The rest scrambled for whatever they could reach.
The chaos itself felt right — oden was meant to be eaten together, with noise and laughter.
Before long, the pot was empty.
"Hey! Leave some for me!"
"I haven't even had a bite yet!"
"At least let me taste the broth!"
Those stuck in the outer circle pleaded and laughed as the next batch went into the pot. The air buzzed with warmth and camaraderie.
No one noticed the shadow descending from above.
Far off in the sky, a massive ship approached through the clouds — flying toward the mountain.
The Whitebeard Pirates, once known as the strongest crew on the seas, were here in Wano.
As the host and ruler of the land, Sugisawa Yuuto naturally came to greet them.
"I see them! There's a crowd up on that hill!" cried Wendy from the lookout post.
"That's Pops and the others!" exclaimed Ace, his voice filled with excitement. His recovery from his weakened state was nearly complete.
But then he frowned. "Wait… what are they doing?"
Sabo tilted his head. "Good question."
Koala shaded her eyes and squinted. "It's too far — can't make it out clearly."
"Wait," said Violet, using her clairvoyant powers to focus on the scene. Her expression twisted with disbelief. "They're… they're cooking hot pot. On a grave."
"Aha?"
"Nani?!"
Ace's jaw dropped as the others stared in collective shock.