"Flower Capital?! That bastard Ozz is still in Wano?!"
"Y-yes!" the trembling underling stammered.
Kaido had assumed Ozz would've fled with Yamato by now, maybe even made it to the first half of the Grand Line. He'd been preparing to track him down and go toe-to-toe in a brutal showdown.
And now they were telling him… Ozz hadn't run at all? He was still in Wano, casually strolling around the Flower Capital with his daughter?!
This was beyond infuriating.
If Ozz had simply disappeared, maybe Kaido could've cooled his head. But this? This was a blatant provocation, an insult to his face. His expression twisted with fury.
Dotol Ozz…
Kaido could already picture his daughter crying in some dark corner, terrified and helpless.
He had thought Ozz might be a man of honor, like Roger and the others. Turns out he was just as ruthless as Kaido himself.
Hold on, Yamato!
Your father's going to crush that bastard and bring you home!
A guttural roar shook the mountain. Kaido's body swelled and expanded, his massive azure dragon form bursting from the cave and shooting into the sky, the soldiers watching in silent awe.
…
Meanwhile, far from the chaos enveloping Wano, a tall figure was calmly walking through the air above the land, as if none of this had anything to do with him.
"Father, what are they doing down there? Why are they chasing those people?"
Perched on Ozz's shoulder, a curious Yamato looked down at the skirmish in the forest below. Among those fleeing, she spotted two figures who looked like a cat and a dog. That must be the Mink Tribe her father mentioned.
As for how they were flying?
Well, this was the almighty Lord Ozz. Of course he could fly.
"That's because Kaido's trying to wipe them out and claim Wano for himself."
Ozz strolled across the sky, utterly unfazed.
Kaido, furious that he still hadn't located Ozz, had decided to settle the Kozuki rebels first.
Below, a grand mansion burned. Flames devoured the structure as the last loyal samurai made a final stand to protect the remnants of the Kozuki clan.
"The once-glorious Kozuki line… reduced to a few stragglers clinging to a burning house?"
Footsteps echoed atop the creaking beams. The flames recoiled from his presence, swords shattered at a glance. A tall figure stepped through the smoke.
Inside the chamber, Lady Toki cradled her children, her eyes wary as the shadow approached the paper screen door.
"Good evening, Lady Toki."
A familiar voice rang out. All three turned toward the entrance.
"Ozz-tarou?!" Toki exclaimed, a glimmer of surprise and hope in her voice.
"..."
Ozz's mouth twitched. That name again. Just hearing it sucked all the mystique from his entrance.
Ozz-tarou. Redjiro. Buggy-saburou.
He'd wanted to complain about these silly Wano nicknames since the day Oden gave them out.
"What are you doing here?!"
Toki was visibly relieved to see him. Her two children, however, were still lost in grief and confusion.
Hiyori trembled in fear, clutching her brother tightly.
Momonosuke brightened when he saw Ozz, rushing over without even noticing the little girl on Ozz's shoulder.
"Ozz-tarou! Where are the others?!"
In his childhood memory, his father had adventured with Roger and an incredible crew. He had even spent time on the Oro Jackson.
If those legends were here to help… maybe they had a chance.
"They're not coming. It's just me. The Roger Pirates… have disbanded."
"W-what?!"
The flicker of hope in Momonosuke's eyes died instantly. He collapsed to the floor.
How could just Ozz-tarou defeat enemies this powerful?
Thanks to Wano's isolation, Momonosuke still thought of Ozz as just a young intern protected by Roger's shadow.
"They were our friends… why won't they come help Father?!"
Typical.
Sheltered, dependent, always relying on others without lifting a finger himself.
Ozz said nothing, but Yamato's eyes flared.
"How dare you speak like that! This is Lord Ozz you're talking to!"
"Momo!" Toki snapped, scolding him with a rare sternness.
"It's alright, Lady Toki," Ozz said calmly.
There was no need to get worked up. After all, Momonosuke wouldn't survive the night anyway.
If memory served, the real threat was about to arrive.
Thunder rumbled overhead.
A colossal azure dragon emerged from the storm clouds, transforming back into human form mid-air as he descended toward the burning manor.
Kaido.
Boom!
The door blasted open under his sheer force.
Toki turned pale, hastily drawing her sword to protect her children.
Kaido stepped inside.
And Ozz turned to face him with a casual smile.
"Well well… if it isn't my favorite frozen treat."
Kaido hadn't expected this. After searching high and low, Ozz had been here the whole time? And Yamato… was right there on his shoulder!
"OZZ!!! YOU BASTARD!!! PUT YAMATO DOWN!!!"
He didn't care about the Kozuki clan. He could kill them anytime. But Ozz? Ozz was a problem.
He raised his kanabo, black lightning crackling around it.
"RAAAAHHHH!!!"
Ozz didn't flinch. But behind him, Momonosuke immediately dove behind his mother in terror.
Toki stood protectively in front of her children, staring tensely at the two towering figures.
If anyone could save them now… it was Ozz.
"STOP!!! KAIDO!!!"
An unexpected voice pierced the roaring flames.
Kaido's kanabo halted just inches from impact. His eyes widened.
The entire room froze.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! YAMATO, GET BACK HERE! OZZ ISN'T SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST!"
"NO!!!"
Yamato stepped forward, gripping her tiny kanabo tightly, her voice unwavering.
"You say that because… you don't understand him. You don't know him at all!"
-----------------------------------------------