"Are you really going to kill me, Kin'emon...?"
The woman who turned around had delicate features, dressed in blue clothing, her eyes filled with softness and helplessness.
"Kin'emon, the shogun ordered me to come. I had no way to refuse. Are you... really going to kill me?"
Rowan found it somewhat laughable.
Right now, he was wearing Kin'emon's appearance.
And the woman in front of him was O-Tsuru, Kin'emon's lover.
Just to stay alive, this old hag really would do anything.
Thinking about the wrinkled old crone beneath this appearance made Rowan feel disgusted.
"O-Tsuru?"
At this moment, Oden, who had been staring blankly at Orochi's corpse, also looked over. Clearly, he recognized Kin'emon's lover.
"Five years ago, it was this very same Shogun Palace. Back then, you already witnessed the power of this Clone-Clone Fruit user. Yet even now you're still this stupid?"
Rowan's words immediately made Oden think of Kurozumi Higurashi.
Back then, it was precisely this person who had transformed into his father Kozuki Sukiyaki and officially made Kurozumi Orochi the shogun of Wano.
"You're not Kin'emon!"
The sharp scream rang out as the fake O-Tsuru reverted back into the old hag's true appearance. Her eyes locked tightly onto Rowan.
"Who exactly are you?! How were you able to break Semimaru's barrier and see through my sorcery?!"
Rowan rubbed his forehead with one hand.
Why were people in this world sometimes so dense?
Not even mentioning the fake Straw Hat Pirates from Sabaody in his memories, just Oden alone had already seen the Clone-Clone Fruit imitate Sukiyaki before, yet still got fooled at the most critical moment.
"You're not Kin'emon! Who exactly are you?! There can't possibly be another sorcery like mine in this world!"
Her shrill voice grated against the ears.
Rowan replied calmly, "The people in Mary Geoise want to know that even more than you do. But why should I tell you?"
The moment the words fell, within the prison's perspective, the old hag with nearly ten thousand sin value lost her head instantly.
"So your purpose in coming here... was for these two people with special sorcery powers?"
Oden glanced at the three corpses in the room.
In truth, he understood it clearly as well.
If it had only been him, he would never have been able to get past the barrier ability alone. In the end, Orochi would still have used hostages to threaten him.
And with that silver tongue of his, Orochi might even have convinced him to continue waiting for the five-year promise again.
Rowan shot him a glance.
"You really think you weren't wavering just now? Even in the face of facts, you still cling to fantasies. You and your father nearly plunged all of Wano into darkness across two generations. Do you really think the surname 'Kozuki' alone qualifies someone to be shogun?"
Oden froze in place.
Was the name Kozuki alone really enough?
He had never wanted to become shogun.
Even becoming daimyo of Kuri had not been his wish.
His thirty-eight attempts to leave the country in his youth, even severing ties with his father, already represented his true desire.
Perhaps... the Revolutionary Army's ideals were correct.
That position needed someone suitable for it.
If an utterly untalented person sat upon the shogun's seat, then for Wano, it would only bring disaster.
Rowan looked toward the dancers trembling in the corner. After thinking for a moment, he spoke.
"For the next period of time, your freedom will need to be restricted. You'll be staying at the daimyo estate in Kuri for a while. No problem with that, right?"
The women exchanged glances before nodding obediently, though they looked at Rowan with mournful eyes.
Unfortunately for them, Rowan completely ignored it.
"They need to be kept under watch in Kuri for a few days. Also, you can have your retainers, Shimotsuki Yasuie, and the other daimyo begin preparing."
Oden blinked.
"Preparing for what? Orochi is already dead."
Rowan let out a breath, then smacked the side of Oden's head with the hilt of his Asauchi.
"I'll only give you half a day. After half a day, I'll personally take all of Orochi's remaining forces to Tokage Port in Udon."
As his words fell, Rowan formed hand seals. Smoke dispersed around him, and Kin'emon's appearance transformed into that of Kurozumi Orochi.
"I want the final outcome to be that only I escape to Onigashima with a small number of survivors, while everyone else gets ambushed at Tokage Port in Udon."
In an instant, Oden's eyes widened.
It could be played like this too?
He had forgotten that this Revolutionary Army man also possessed the ability to transform into other people.
And compared to Orochi's subordinate's sorcery, Rowan's ability could even replicate clothing.
After Rowan suddenly altered the plan on a whim.
Using Flying Thunder God, he brought Oden and the surviving people back to Kuri. The dancers brought back with them were immediately placed under watch in the daimyo estate.
Afterward, Oden summoned his retainers and informed Shimotsuki Yasuie, instructing him to contact the daimyo and samurai of every region, along with Hyogoro of the Flower Capital, notifying them about the Tokage Port ambush plan.
But after gathering together, Yasuie and Hyogoro ended up having a conversation.
"From what you've said, they truly don't seem to care about Wano's ruler position, yet they insist on returning the choice to the people."
Hyogoro the Flower lightly tapped the floor.
"I'm just an underworld boss from the Flower Capital. I don't understand those kinds of things."
Shimotsuki Yasuie's expression remained serious.
"The shogun of Wano can only ever be a Kozuki. That was the oath made back then."
Hyogoro shook his head slightly.
"That was the oath of you daimyo, not mine. But... I'll support Oden."
At that moment, Hyogoro's wife walked over and handed Yasuie a cup of tea.
"Boss Hyogo, Lord Oden's dancing has gotten better and better over these five years. I also believe Lord Oden can restore Wano."
Yasuie finally relaxed slightly.
"That dance... over these five years, it's caused everyone who once held hope to fall into disappointment. So... I hope to use this opportunity to restore Lord Oden's honor!"
Hyogoro looked over.
"And how do you plan to restore it?"
Yasuie replied, "A great victory. A guaranteed victory. A crushing victory over Orochi's forces."
After returning to the Shogun Palace, Rowan threw Orochi's corpse into a cesspit.
Very soon, several returning samurai outside the now completely silent palace noticed something was wrong. The moment they pushed open the gates, they were met with corpses strewn everywhere.
"Lord Fukurokuju..."
"How is this possible?!"
"Who did this?!"
"Hurry! Find Lord Orochi!"
The group split up to search, and by sheer coincidence, they found Rowan disguised as Orochi hiding in a secluded location.
His trembling body appeared utterly terrified.
"Oden... that bastard Oden! I'm going to kill him!"
That single sentence immediately let the samurai know who had attacked the Shogun Palace.
But that foolish lord... Oden, who had danced in humiliation for five years regardless of the weather why had he suddenly made his move?
So... should they still remain loyal to Lord Orochi?
"What are you thinking?!"
Rowan glared coldly at them.
"A despicable coward who relied on a sneak attack do you really think he can defeat Kaido?!"
Hearing that, the samurai instantly discarded their earlier thoughts.
Rowan immediately stood up and straightened his robes.
"Since that bastard Oden chose to break the agreement, then we go to war! Only I can lead Wano! I am the rightful shogun!"
"Notify everyone! Gather at Tokage Port in Udon! We head to Onigashima first, then march on Kuri!"
The samurai dropped to one knee.
"Understood."
That's right.
A sneak attack on the Shogun Palace meant nothing.
Behind Lord Orochi stood Lord Kaido himself!
The samurai quickly got up to gather people, but after only taking a few steps, Rowan panicked.
"Take your shogun with you too, idiots! Are you planning to leave me behind here?!"
Uh...
The samurai, many of whom had previously been mountain bandits, exchanged awkward glances. But after thinking about the overwhelming power of the Beast Pirates, they still believed the shogun's position should remain secure.
Time quickly passed.
During that period, Rowan even used Flying Thunder God to meet briefly with Kuma and Dragon, discussing the next phase of the plan.
By evening, five large ships had docked at Tokage Port.
And Rowan, having gathered all of Orochi's remaining forces, also arrived there.
But the moment he brought his troops to the harbor, the scene before him made him press a hand against his forehead.
So were the samurai of Wano actually brain-damaged?
He had very clearly told Oden this was supposed to be an ambush, not a frontal confrontation blocking the harbor entrance!
"My fellow people! We are all citizens of Wano! We all know how many have died in the mines these past five years! How many more died in the weapon factories!"
"And even so, they still aren't satisfied!"
"My fellow people! If we do not resist, there is only death waiting for us!"
"Kill Kurozumi Orochi! Destroy Onigashima!"
At the front of the samurai stood Shimotsuki Yasuie and Hyogoro the Flower.
After thinking for a moment, Yasuie stepped forward.
"Lord Oden endured humiliation for five long years, all for this very day! The sorcerers are dead! Let the name of Kozuki rise once more!"
Not far from Tokage Port, Rowan, disguised as Orochi, looked toward them.
Restore the name of Kozuki?
Shimotsuki Yasuie, daimyo of Hakumai.
In Rowan's memories, this man was far more qualified as a leader than Kozuki Oden ever was.
Even without counting the butterfly effect caused by Rowan himself bringing about Shimotsuki Hikoro's overseas request for aid.
Yasuie had already, at the cost of his own life, changed the raid location in the original timeline and unintentionally played the master actor Kanjuro himself.
One could say he had been one of the most important pieces.
But...
At a moment like this, saying such words meant this old man was an absolute royalist.
Rowan already knew that liberating Wano would face enormous resistance.
The so-called samurai spirit of this country, loyalty to lords, and all those twisted ideals would become obstacles to awakening the people.
But he hadn't expected Shimotsuki Yasuie to already begin laying down his political pieces before Kaido had even been defeated.
"That's really... giving me a headache."
One of the newly appointed Oniwabanshu ninja beside him bowed respectfully.
"My lord, what should we do?"
Rowan glanced at him.
The arrow was already on the string. It had to be fired.
Clearly, the other side understood this as well.
That was why they had shouted those slogans just now slogans acknowledged by all the daimyo and Hyogoro the Flower alike.
This battle was destined to be a victory from the very beginning.
After all, Rowan himself, disguised as Orochi through transformation, was on Wano's side. No matter what happened, Wano would win.
Under such circumstances, the slogan of "restoring the Kozuki name" could easily wash away the "Fool Lord" reputation caused by Oden's humiliating dancing over the past five years.
Rowan's gaze toward Shimotsuki Yasuie became slightly more serious.
To be able to seize momentum and move pieces so quickly in such a short amount of time...
He truly couldn't be underestimated.
However...
Only those who held power truly possessed the right to speak.
"Shimotsuki Yasuie!"
Rowan shouted loudly.
"Several years ago, when this country stood at the brink of crisis, I accepted the responsibility entrusted to me by the previous shogun himself! Where was Oden back then?!"
"Our foolish lord, from the moment he came of age, constantly violated the laws in his attempts to sail out to sea! Abandoning his people, abandoning all the retainers and samurai who believed in him!"
"When faced with a powerful enemy, when faced with everyone's expectations, he instead danced that humiliating dance year after year!"
"A man like that! Precisely because of this, he lost the trust of the previous shogun!"
As the words fell, even the people on Orochi's side froze for a moment.
Several of those who had known Orochi before all turned their heads toward him.
Why did Lord Orochi suddenly sound so eloquent?
The two sides confronted each other, Rowan's gaze colliding with Shimotsuki Yasuie's.
Both clearly understood the schemes the other was plotting.
However, Rowan had no intention of giving him more opportunities.
"Kill!"
"Those who rebel! Those who betray their word! They deserve execution!"
"Charge through! The day we return from Onigashima will be the day order is restored!"
The moment those words rang out, the morale of Orochi's side surged.
On Onigashima stood the Beast Pirates, and above all, Kaido himself, a terrifying force beyond reason.
As long as they broke through and reached Onigashima, then when they returned, victory would already belong to them.
There were still many Beast Pirates stationed inside the weapon factories as well. As long as weapons continued to be produced, they remained natural allies.
"KILL!!"
In an instant, chaos erupted across Tokage Port.
Just like before, Orochi was heavily protected by samurai and ninja as they charged through the battlefield toward the harbor.
In truth, at a moment like this, Wano's side only needed to destroy the five large ships to cut off their escape.
But Lord Shimotsuki Yasuie did not allow it.
And he had given a reason convincing enough to persuade everyone.
This was the Land of Samurai.
The number of swordsmen here truly was enormous.
Blades flashed throughout the battlefield. Corpses fell one after another amid endless cries of slaughter as Orochi's forces rapidly diminished.
Most of the rabble had wills rooted only in profit.
And that kind of spirit was insufficient to support powerful swordsmanship or strength.
In truth, without Kaido, Orochi's forces alone could never have stirred up such chaos in Wano.
The daimyo of each region, or even Hyogoro of the Flower Capital alone, could have crushed him.
"AH!"
A flash of white light swept through as Shimotsuki Yasuie pulled his sword from the chest of a ninja.
Everywhere his eyes turned, those he fought were still citizens of Wano.
Even the one who had just fallen had once belonged to the Oniwabanshu before Orochi ascended to the position of shogun.
Just like Fukurokuju, their loyalty was to the position of shogun itself not specifically to the Kozuki clan.
"Clang!"
Three shuriken were knocked away by Yasuie's blade. He countered immediately, slashing toward the attacker who had ambushed him.
"Pshh!"
Blood splattered as the enemy collapsed to the ground.
Yet Yasuie's brows remained tightly furrowed.
Amid the endless battle cries, Rowan, protected in the center of his guards, crossed through the battlefield.
The two exchanged glances in passing.
The moment you begin plotting against someone, perhaps they are already plotting against you as well.
Those words had reminded everyone of Oden's unreliability in the past and also gave conviction to the samurai still loyal to the position of shogun.
The moment Oden returned with the Revolutionary Army's new arrangements, Shimotsuki Yasuie had immediately discussed matters with Hyogoro the Flower.
And it was precisely for the sake of restoring the Kozuki clan's reputation that this direct confrontation had been created.
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