"The Barrier Fruit, Kurozumi Semimaru!" Kaidou said, watching Kurozumi Semimaru beside Kurozumi Orochi as his attack was blocked.
However, he didn't attack again. Using brute force might not necessarily break through this barrier in a short time.
"Indeed, it is the Barrier Technique!" Kurozumi Semimaru said calmly.
His past experience with the Rocks Pirates had taught Kurozumi Semimaru exactly what pirates were. He had long anticipated Kaidou's sudden betrayal of their alliance. After Kurozumi Kanjuro disappeared, he had repeatedly warned Kurozumi Higurashi, but at that time, she was solely focused on seizing Wano Country and reviving the Kurozumi family.
Because of this, Kurozumi Semimaru could only remain secretly vigilant, expecting Kaidou to betray their alliance after the plan succeeded.
No matter how he thought about it, Kurozumi Semimaru couldn't understand why Kaidou would betray their alliance before the plan succeeded. After all, this would bring no benefit to either Kaidou or their Kurozumi family.
"Hah, hah, hah, Semimaru, good thing you're here." Kurozumi Orochi gasped repeatedly after narrowly escaping death.
"Family head, although the Barrier Technique is safe, we are still in danger." Kurozumi Semimaru said with a grim expression.
"Hey, Orochi, is what Kaidou said about the Kurozumi family true? Are you really a remnant of the Kurozumi family?" Shimotsuki Yasuie said to Kurozumi Orochi.
Hearing this, the other Daimyos also turned their gazes toward Kurozumi Orochi, who was protected by the barrier.
"Guhohoho, that's right. Since things have come to this, I won't hide it anymore. I am indeed a member of the Kurozumi family, who you have continuously persecuted since birth. Now, I am also the current head of the Kurozumi family." Seeing this, Kurozumi Orochi understood he could no longer keep hiding, so he spoke directly.
"What? It's actually true?!"
"Orochi, you bastard, you actually deceived us."
The Daimyos all angrily denounced Kurozumi Orochi upon hearing this.
But at this moment, Kurozumi Orochi wasn't looking at them. Instead, he was staring at Kaidou, knowing that whether they could escape today depended on whether he could make Kaidou and the other Daimyos fight each other.
"Kaidou, you bastard, why did you betray our alliance? We clearly agreed to rule Wano Country together." Kurozumi Orochi shouted loudly.
"What?!" Shimotsuki Ushimaru and the others were shocked again, quickly raising their swords in front of them as they warily watched Kaidou and Kurozumi Orochi. Too many unexpected events had occurred today, and nothing could surprise them anymore at this point.
"Wororororo, of course it's because rather than sharing Wano Country with a useless piece of trash like you, it's better to directly bring this country under my command." Kaidou stated bluntly.
"Bastard Shimotsuki Ushimaru, what are you all waiting for? Hurry up and deal with this guy who wants to seize Wano Country!" Kurozumi Orochi shouted frantically at Shimotsuki Ushimaru and the others upon hearing this.
"Kurozumi Orochi, we don't need you to give us orders. Now tell us, where is Lord Sukiyaki?" Shimotsuki Yasuie said to Kurozumi Orochi.
"That's right, where is Lord Sukiyaki?" Shimotsuki Ushimaru and the others immediately chimed in upon hearing this.
Kurozumi Orochi's sinister laughter echoed through the great hall of the Shogun Palace. Stroking his beard triumphantly, his eyes glinted with cunning. "Guhohoho, Shimotsuki Yasuie, Shimotsuki Ushimaru, listen carefully," he deliberately drawled. "That old fool Sukiyaki is currently in my dungeon. If you want him to live, kill Kaidou for me immediately! You should know—Sukiyaki is the last surviving member of the Kouzuki Family in this world!"
The air in the hall instantly froze. Shimotsuki Yasuie jerked his head up, his samurai sword trembling faintly at his waist. "What?!" He sharply seized the crucial information in Orochi's words, his voice trembling with urgency. "Orochi, what do you mean Sukiyaki is the only surviving Kouzuki Family member? Has something happened to Lord Oden?"
Kurozumi Orochi sneered as he paced to the window, moonlight stretching his shadow long. "Guhohoho, that Kouzuki Oden," he paused deliberately, savoring their tense expressions, "was taken care of by that bastard Kaidou half a year ago."Shimotsuki Ushimaru's fists clenched audibly, his voice low with suppressed rage." "Orochi, are you speaking the truth?"
"Absolutely true!" Kurozumi Orochi suddenly turned, his smile turning ferocious. "I witnessed it with my own eyes when Kouzuki Oden was killed. What a satisfying death it was!" He spread his arms dramatically. "So if you don't want the Kouzuki Family line to end here, kill Kaidou for me now!"
Shimotsuki Yasuie whirled toward the silent Kaidou, demanding, "Kaidou, is what Kurozumi Orochi said true?"
Kaidou threw his head back and took a large gulp of liquor, droplets trickling down his chin. "Ughohoho, of course it's true." He wiped his mouth, a cruel glint flashing in his eyes. "Oden's corpse is still on my ship right now."
"You bastard!" Shimotsuki Ushimaru could no longer restrain himself, his samurai sword instantly drawn. "Do you have any idea what you've done?! Oden was Wano Country's heir!"
Kaidou suddenly burst into mad laughter, the sound shaking the palace tiles. "You think I've been listening to your nonsense all this time for nothing?!" He stomped violently, the floor cracking beneath his feet.
Shimotsuki Ushimaru was momentarily confused, but then he saw Kaidou's massive form shoot skyward, bursting directly through the roof. Broken tiles rained down as moonlight poured through the gaping hole.
"Look out! Quick—" Shimotsuki Yasuie immediately sensed the danger, but his warning came too late.
"BOOM—!"
A deafening explosion suddenly erupted from beneath the Shogun Palace, shaking the very ground of the Flower Capital.
The massive shockwave instantly tore the main structure of the palace to shreds, raging flames devouring the wooden buildings like a monstrous beast. The blast wave spread outward, triggering chain explosions in dozens of buildings within hundreds of meters. Bricks, tiles, and wooden beams were hurled into the sky before crashing down upon the streets like hail.
The residents of the Flower Capital stared in terror toward the city center.
The once majestic Shogun Palace was now completely shrouded in smoke and dust, with only a few burning pillars visible tilting among the ruins.
The crowd on the streets began to stir.
"What in the world is going on?!"
Someone screamed uncontrollably: "Look! It's the Shogun Palace!"
"Heavens! What happened to the Shogun Palace?! Is Sukiyaki alright?!"
At that moment, some people realized something had happened at the Shogun Palace and quickly rushed toward it.
However, as they approached the surrounding streets of the Shogun Palace, a group of unfamiliar samurai dressed in black martial attire blocked their path.
"Halt!" A man as burly as a bear stood at the forefront, the military insignia on his shoulder gleaming coldly in the firelight. "A rebellion has broken out at the Shogun Palace. By Sukiyaki's order, all roads are sealed!"
Hyougoro of the Flower, leading the charge, came to a stop. The gang leader of the Flower Capital stood nearly three meters tall, his thick arms adorned with vibrant peony tattoos. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the stranger before him: "You say it's a rebellion? Then it's all the more reason for us to enter and protect His Majesty!"
"If you insist on passing through, are you perhaps an accomplice of the Kurozumi Family?" Bullet said bluntly.
"The Kurozumi Family? Does that family still have surviving members?" Hyougoro frowned upon hearing this.
"Indeed, the current head of the Kurozumi clan, Orochi, is staging a rebellion. To prevent any accomplices from aiding the Kurozumi Family's escape, the Shogun has specifically ordered us to block the roads," Bullet explained.
"Is that so?!" Hyougoro didn't believe a single word of it. If someone were truly rebelling, why would Sukiyaki prevent them from offering assistance?
Moreover, he didn't recognize the man before him at all. The stranger's attire and tone made it clear he wasn't from Wano Country. For all Hyougoro knew, the rebels Bullet spoke of could very well be Bullet and his companions.
"Since you refuse to step aside, don't blame me for being impolite," Hyougoro declared.
"Heh, if you want to pass, you'll have to taste my fists!" Bullet retorted without hesitation.
Meanwhile, similar standoffs were unfolding on streets in other directions.
The tall and slender Moria wielded a bizarrely shaped longsword, its tip scraping sparks against the ground: "Shishishi, this road is closed~" Before him, three ronin-style samurai had already assumed offensive stances.
At the northern intersection, the giant Urouge simply hoisted a stone lantern onto his shoulder, using it as a barricade.
In the western alley, Sebastian stood with over twenty Fish-men, blocking the path of the crowd.