Chapter 340: Princess Tsuki
"All you foolish people of Wano Country, listen up! I know that many of Oden's remnants are still hiding among you!"
Holdem waved his arm and announced loudly to the crowd below the stage:
"See this brat?! He is the bloodline left behind by Oden, Momonosuke!"
"You pathetic samurai, look clearly! This is the end result of the twenty years you've bitterly waited, trying to resist Governor-General Kaido!"
The voice on the stage continued, and the crowd was in an uproar...
A very small number of people secretly gritted their teeth, their fists trembling uncontrollably, their eyes filled with a complex mix of anger, despair, and unwillingness.
But the majority were still bewildered. Hadn't the Oden family been wiped out more than twenty years ago? Their tombstones were even erected at the ruins of Oden Castle.
Even if a child had survived by chance, twenty years had passed. How could he still be so young?
Most people were confused.
But even so, Holdem's words still made them feel an indescribably heavy weight, like a dark cloud hanging over everyone's hearts.
[Twenty years of a moonlit night, nine shadows shall descend upon the dawn]
This was a verse that had been secretly circulating in Wano Country after Oden's death. It was said to be a prophecy, foretelling a day when Wano Country would see the dawn.
"Come to think of it, this year is exactly the twentieth year, isn't it?"
"Ah, now that you mention it, it is..."
"So many things have happened these past two days. I wonder what will become of this country."
Sparse whispers were exchanged in the crowd.
Just last night, Kurozumi Orochi had been assassinated, and today, such news had come out...
The scorching sun of noon hung high in the sky, yet it made people feel an inexplicable chill. A sign of an impending storm arose in their hearts.
A man with a blue pompadour and a grim face slowly walked forward from the crowd.
"It's Kyoshiro. Are you alright? I heard you were seriously injured in a fight with the enemy last night?"
Holdem smiled and spoke upon seeing the newcomer.
However, the other did not say a word, but just walked towards the execution platform on his own, like a walking corpse.
Denjiro's unfocused pupils trembled as he stared fixedly at the corpse.
He seemed unable to accept this reality, trying to find a flaw that could prove this was just a conspiracy.
But he failed.
It was Momonosuke, without a doubt. The savior they had waited twenty long years for. There was not a trace of illusion.
"He's dead..."
"He's really dead..."
Denjiro lowered his head and murmured to himself, as if his bones had been instantly drained of strength, a chill sweeping over his entire body.
Twenty years... and all that was waited for was a cold corpse.
"What are you doing? Hey, Kyoshiro, did you hear what I—"
Holdem's tone was a little dissatisfied. Halfway through his sentence, Denjiro suddenly looked up, and his cold gaze met his.
Holdem's heart trembled. He only felt the other's murderous intent was sharp. In his panic, he was subconsciously about to assume an attack posture for self-defense.
However, the other's movement was faster.
Clang!
Denjiro gripped the hilt of his sword and instantly drew it. A giant slash flew past, bringing with it a large amount of blood.
After suddenly erupting and killing several pirates, Denjiro cut the ropes on the execution platform and quickly fled with Momonosuke's body.
Leaving behind the stunned citizens, who were clearly still unable to react from the scene before them.
In the western land of Wano Country, north of Kuri, [Leftover Town].
The people here lived by scavenging, hence the name.
In a teahouse, several people sat around a square wooden table. A figure was busy in the kitchen.
Boiling water was poured into teacups. After a few tender green tea leaves tumbled, a clear, fragrant tea aroma drifted out, filling the room and making one feel refreshed.
"Princess Hiyori, and Kiku and Shutenmaru, please have some tea."
The teahouse owner, Tsuru, came over with a tray and put down several cups of tea with a smile.
"Thank you."
Hiyori nodded slightly and raised her teacup to blow on it.
To her left, a tall, stout man rested his hand carelessly on the table. He was the samurai known as the strongest in the present day, whom even Kaido was bent on recruiting, Shutenmaru.
Shutenmaru took a sip of the hot tea, then looked at the long-haired man in a yellow kimono, with a feminine appearance and a pretty face, Kikunojo, opposite him.
"I didn't expect you to be hiding here. You still look exactly the same as twenty years ago."
Shutenmaru's tone was flat. Looking at the other's young face, his expression was complicated.
The twenty years he had lived through were just a short period of time in the other's eyes. His heart couldn't help but feel a complicated mix of emotions.
"You haven't aged much either."
Kiku smiled gently and continued:
"After being sent to the present, Kin'emon and the others decided to go out to sea to Zou to seek help."
"I, on the other hand, stayed in Wano Country alone to collect information on what had happened over the past twenty years, so that I could pass it on to them when they returned."
"I didn't expect to meet you first, Your Highness."
Kiku turned his head slightly to look at Hiyori.
Early this morning, the news of what had happened in the Flower Capital had quickly spread throughout Wano Country.
After learning that Kurozumi Orochi was dead, Kiku couldn't wait to go to the Flower Capital to gather intelligence, but he hadn't expected to run into Hiyori and Denjiro on the way.
Kiku didn't recognize the two of them, but they recognized him.
After explaining the reason, the three of them went to the nearby mountains to find Shutenmaru, who had returned to his old profession as a mountain bandit, which led to the scene of the three of them sitting here together.
"Zou?! Are you saying they are all on Zou now, Kiku!"
Hearing this, and thinking of what she had heard last night, Hiyori couldn't help but be surprised:
"I heard from a pirate named Law that the people of Zou have reached an agreement with him to attack Kaido and are already sending troops to Wano Country."
"Really!"
Kiku also couldn't help but get a little excited.
On the other hand, Shutenmaru at the side frowned:
"Pirates? How did Zou get involved with pirates?"
"I'm not sure about that either, but it's a good thing in the end."
Hiyori said quickly:
"Denjiro has already returned to the Flower Capital to continue gathering intelligence and to inform the samurai to prepare for action. We must seize this opportunity with the pirates' actions."
The thought of soon being able to see her brother and his group, whom she hadn't seen in many years, made Hiyori subconsciously clasp her hands in excitement.
The situation was constantly developing in a good direction.
The dream of overthrowing Kaido, which was originally out of reach, was now becoming a reality step by step.
Shutenmaru fell silent, a glimmer of light in his eyes.
He had not yet agreed to Hiyori's request to join the action, but he had not refused either.
They had failed when Oden was around. Now that Oden was gone, and Kaido's power was even greater, he was even less confident of success.
This was also the reason why he had returned to being a mountain bandit. He was only a retainer of Oden, not of the Kozuki family.
Shutenmaru never believed that two juniors could lead them.
But it was undeniable that Hiyori had indeed brought him hope.
"If the prophecy is true, then this is probably the only chance for revenge."
Shutenmaru murmured to himself.
He knew relatively more about pirates. The Straw Hat crew, who were on par with the Beasts Pirates, were about to make a move on Kaido. This would undoubtedly be a huge war.
And another group of pirates who also wanted to attack Kaido...
Thump—Thump—Thump.
A knock on the door startled the few in the room. Sensing the visitor's presence, Shutenmaru waved his hand to stop them and gestured:
"It's fine. It's Denjiro."
Tsuru stood up and went to open the door. The person who came was indeed Denjiro.
However, the other had his head down and didn't say a word. He was holding something wrapped in a straw mat in his arms and walked in as if his soul had been taken, swaying on his feet.
Hiyori held her hands, her expression grave and a little worried. Seeing the other's appearance, a bad premonition vaguely rose in her heart:
"What's wrong, Denjiro? What... what is that..."
Denjiro didn't respond. He walked all the way to the group, and finally, his legs gave out and he could no longer support his body, falling to his knees on the floor with a thud.
"It's Lord Momonosuke..."
The straw mat on the floor came loose, revealing the tragic corpse lying within.
Looking up, Denjiro's face was already streaked with tears.
"Lady Hiyori! Lord Momonosuke, he!"
"He was killed by Kaido!"
The land of Kuri was a wilderness. The air was roasted and steamed above the sandy soil.
Under the scorching sun of this June, the room at this moment was as cold as an ice cellar, making one's heart sink to the bottom of the sea.
Hiyori covered her face with her hands and didn't say a word, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
Kiku clenched his trembling fists, his lips pressed tightly together, and tears that he couldn't hold back were squeezed from the corners of his eyes.
Kaido!!!
Even Shutenmaru, who had never thought highly of Momonosuke, turned his head, gritting his teeth to keep from looking at the tragic scene, the anger in his heart hard to suppress.
Tsuru stood there in a daze, her pupils unfocused.
"Denjiro..."
"Kin'emon... is he..."
"Is he also..."
Thump.
Halfway through her sentence, all the strength was drained from Tsuru's body, and she fainted.
"Tsuru!"
"Miss Tsuru!"
On a mountain, at the ruins of Oden Castle.
Beside the dilapidated courtyard stood several old wooden plaques. The freshly turned soil was mixed with the smell of green grass.
Several figures stood before the graves, their hearts heavy.
After settling Kin'emon's wife, Tsuru, the group came here to bury Momonosuke's body.
"Denjiro, is there any news of the others?"
Hiyori's gaze was dull as she looked at the boundless wasteland below the mountain, her tone as lifeless as this land.
"From the intelligence forced from the pirates, Kin'emon is now imprisoned in the quarry in Udon. There is no news of the others for now."
Denjiro's voice was flat, and he couldn't help but glance at Hiyori with worry.
"Princess, you..."
"I'm fine."
Hiyori said faintly.
Below the mountain, the rows of factories were like roaring beasts. Thick black smoke rose from the chimneys, and pollution and destruction mercilessly spread across this land.
"The Kozuki family only has me left. The hope of this country will not be extinguished in my hands."
Standing before her deceased brother's tombstone, Hiyori's eyes showed an unprecedented determination.
"Let's go. Gather the samurai. Tonight, we'll launch a night raid on the quarry to rescue Kin'emon and win over the samurai imprisoned there."
"Before the great battle comes, we must obtain as much strength as possible. Whether we succeed or fail, we must let this country roar out its final anger before it is completely destroyed."
With that, Hiyori turned and walked down the mountain.
Denjiro followed slowly.
Shutenmaru, however, stopped where he was and suddenly questioned:
"What's the point of doing this? Is defeating Kaido just for revenge? And then what?"
"Momonosuke is already dead!"
"Hey! Shutenmaru, what are you saying!"
"Shut up, Denjiro!"
Shutenmaru roared and turned his head, shouting and questioning Hiyori:
"Even if we succeed! What will happen to Wano Country afterward? Will you be the shogun!!"
"Tell me, Hiyori! You are a woman! And you were a geisha! Can you make them acknowledge you!!"
"You...!!"
Denjiro gritted his teeth and glared angrily, but he could not refute Shutenmaru's words.
Hiyori was undoubtedly the only legitimate heir of the Kozuki family now, but in the ideology of this country, it would not be easy to accept a female shogun.
Not to mention a woman who had been a geisha.
Before the decisive battle, they might be able to unite against a common enemy. But after the war, if they really wanted to support Hiyori as the shogun...
...it was foreseeable that they would face numerous obstacles. There would definitely be opposing voices in secret. If it was not handled well, a civil war might break out after the external war was over.
"The princess has endured humiliation for many years for the sake of Wano Country. In the end, is she to be met with this kind of look?"
Denjiro gritted his teeth and gripped the hilt of his sword. The thought of the situation Hiyori might face made his heart extremely unwilling.
"It's alright, Denjiro."
Hiyori said softly, looked up, and met Shutenmaru's gaze, looking straight at him:
"You're right. Not everyone will approve of me. But..."
"My grandfather is still alive, so..."
Pausing for a moment, Hiyori did not continue with the answer she had originally planned.
Kozuki Sukiyaki could not be the shogun. He no longer had the state of mind. Hiyori knew this in her heart, otherwise he would not still be staying in Amigasa Village now.
Staring into Shutenmaru's eyes, she seemed to have seen the answer he really wanted.
"Yes. I will be the shogun of Wano Country."
A gentle breeze blew past, making the flowers and grass bow their heads, dispelling the scorching sun and bringing a bit of coolness.
The hem of Hiyori's clothes fluttered slightly. Her voice was very soft, but her tone was firm and unyielding.
"What will you do?"
Shutenmaru's expression was serious as he stared at the unwavering eyes.
"A woman, or a geisha... I'm more acceptable than Kurozumi Orochi, right?"
Hiyori's eyes narrowed into a crescent moon, and she smiled faintly:
"I will ask Lord Reiner to support me. Just as Kaido supported Kurozumi Orochi, no one will be able to object."
"As long as we endure these ten or twenty years, and wait for the next generation of the Kozuki family's bloodline to grow up, these problems will naturally disappear."
...
"Hiyori... don't tell me you're thinking of..."
"Mm. I've already decided."
"Forgive me, Princess Hiyori!"
Denjiro lowered his head and gritted his teeth, kneeling on one knee and pleading:
"No matter what difficulties there are then, just leave them to us to handle. I really cannot accept you sacrificing yourself to this extent."
"You've misunderstood, Denjiro. This is not a sacrifice."
Hiyori's face still had a gentle smile as she asked back:
"Would Denjiro think that following my father was a sacrifice?"
"How could I...!"
Denjiro hurriedly looked up. "I absolutely never thought so!"
"Of course, I know. Get up, Denjiro."
Hiyori helped him up. Her slender fingers brushed a few strands of green hair behind her ear, and she turned to look at Shutenmaru again.
"Can we go now?"
"..."
Looking at her smile, which was like a spring breeze, a complex look appeared in the depths of Shutenmaru's eyes. After a moment of silence, he slowly knelt on one knee, holding his sword.
"Yes. Please allow me to become a retainer of the Kozuki family again."
(End of chapter)
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