"But what if Young Master Yamato listens to Gusion and really tries to push some management reforms in Wano?" Black Maria worried. "That might affect our Beasts Pirates' income."
Kaido frowned. "I don't think so. That kid doesn't seem like he knows much about management, and Yamato's clueless too. They shouldn't come up with anything crazy together."
If Yamato found herself and was willing to return to him, she'd become the Oni Princess of the Beasts Pirates again—with the power to actually do things.
Kaido, wanting to train his daughter's abilities, couldn't deny her every opportunity; that would kill her motivation.
"Let's hope so," Maria said, glancing back at the screen, ready to keep watching.
…
Gusion stretched. "That's all for today. Yamato, you really have a lot of energy."
After the day's lessons, Gusion naturally wanted to reward Yamato. So he told her stories while they exercised until night.
Yamato was like a child addicted to stories—one chapter after another, never getting bored, urging Gusion to continue.
Plus, she dug more ore than Gusion and never seemed tired. That's the difference in physical stats—Yamato had 60 points in constitution; mining in Udon was like playing for her.
"Aw, one more chapter," Yamato said, disappointed, wanting to hear more.
Gusion smiled helplessly and changed the subject: "Since you like the story so much, why don't I quiz you to see if you've really listened?"
Yamato perked up. "Go ahead!"
Gusion grinned, "I've told you a lot of chapters. Did you notice how Sun Wukong is different on the pilgrimage compared to when he caused havoc in Heaven?"
Yamato thought for a moment. "I feel like the Great Sage isn't as wild as before—he's humbler, less reckless. Honestly, it feels a bit stifling."
"I thought so as a kid too. Maybe that's the price of growing up," Gusion said. "Did you notice how Sun Wukong treats monsters differently?"
Yamato frowned and thought. "Is there a difference?"
"Think about the Unicorn Rhino King I just mentioned."
Yamato's eyes lit up. "I get it! The green bull wasn't killed by the Great Sage, but some monsters were!"
"And why do you think that is?"
Yamato quickly answered, "Because the green bull had an owner—Taishang Laojun, a big deity."
Gusion nodded. "In short, the monkey never kills monsters with a powerful backer. If they have no background and provoke him, he kills them all."
Yamato shivered. She'd thought it was a pure adventure story, but realized there was so much more beneath the surface.
"So having connections is important. If someone's weak and arrogant, they'll die miserably."
Gusion smiled at her. "So, Yamato, why do you think you've been able to act out in Onigashima and Wano and still survive?"
Yamato was stunned, then smiled wryly. "Gusion-dono, I knew your questions wouldn't be simple."
After days of questioning, she was starting to doubt Oden's correctness. She hadn't called herself Oden once while mining that afternoon.
Gusion's point was clear. She realized she couldn't beat the Calamities or the Tobi Roppo, yet, no matter how many times she escaped or fought, she was never killed or seriously hurt.
It couldn't be Oden's protection—no one in the Beasts Pirates worshipped Oden. Oden was dead.
Her only background was her father, Yonko Kaido.
Because her father was the leader, the officers couldn't kill her even if she attacked.
"Looks like you've been thinking. I won't say more," Gusion said, seeing Yamato's expression.
At dinner, he patted Yamato's stomach, already understanding how "Seimei Kikan" worked—it just took a few more days to master.
Once he did, he could work out and eat like crazy in Udon Prison, and his stats would improve quickly.
After a while, Yamato came back to herself and sat next to Gusion. "Gusion-dono, I feel conflicted lately."
"In what way?" Gusion asked knowingly.
Yamato frowned. "I wonder if I'm really Oden, and if Oden's actions were right. What should I do to be right?"
"That's a philosophical question, hard to answer," Gusion replied. "But I think your confusion comes from not knowing who you are."
"Yeah… who am I?" Yamato said blankly.
"I'd like to just tell you that you're Yamato, but that would be wrong," Gusion said, making Yamato even more confused.
"What do you mean? Didn't you always call me by my real name?" Yamato asked.
Gusion looked up at her. "You know that's your real name. But what decides who you are isn't your name, or what others say or think."
"Then what does decide who I am? Who decides?"
Gusion sat up and looked her in the eyes. "Only you can decide who you are. It's your heart that decides."
"My heart…?" Yamato murmured, placing her hand on her chest. "Will it tell me who I am?"
"Back to the original question: if you think you're Oden, I won't say anything more, because that's your decision. If you think you're Yamato, maybe you still haven't found the real answer," Gusion said seriously. He felt Yamato was close to enlightenment, so he pushed a bit further.
Yamato looked troubled, hugging her head. "I think I'm Oden, but now I feel some of Oden's actions weren't right. But if I say I'm Yamato, that doesn't feel quite right either."
"Why not?" Gusion asked.
"Because Yamato is Kaido's daughter, the Oni Princess of the Beasts Pirates, an enemy of Wano's people. That's not the justice I'm starting to understand," Yamato said, her eyes growing clearer. "So I'm not 'Yamato' either."
"So, you still believe that liberating Wano and opposing Kaido's tyranny is right, right?" Gusion smiled.
Yamato nodded firmly. "I've seen the true spirit and character of samurai. They saw me as Wano's hope, and I really do think my father is wrong. I want to set things right."
"Isn't that good?" Gusion nodded.
Yamato was confused. "You're not against me? Isn't this following Oden's will?"
"Why would I oppose you? I never said Oden's will was all wrong, nor did I tell you not to liberate Wano," Gusion shrugged.
"But… what I want to do next goes against Oden's prophecy and his way of doing things. I won't be Oden anymore…"
Yamato looked distressed. "But at the same time, since I'm opposing Kaido, I'm not 'Yamato' either. So who am I?"
Gusion clapped his hands. "Congratulations, Yamato. You've found yourself."
Yamato was a bit lost at his congratulations. She looked at Gusion, confusion in her eyes. "I… am 'Yamato'?"
"A name is just a label. Once you know your stance and what you want to do, you have a self. Whether you call yourself Oden or Yamato, you're just you—a friend I acknowledge."
Gusion smiled.
Yamato seemed to get it, but also didn't. "So… should I call myself Yamato?"
Gusion nodded. "That's best. At least, that's the name your parents gave you. You'll gradually discover that the bond between parent and child isn't so easily cut."
He had basically completed Yamato's ideological reform. She realized she wasn't Oden or the Oni Princess of the Beasts Pirates. Her life was just beginning.
She was like a sheet of paper, half white and half gray, ready to be painted with her own story.
Whether it would turn black or white depended on what happened next.
"If what you said is all true… no," Yamato shook her head, "logically, your reasoning is probably right. My father has been very lenient with me all these years because he cares."
Gusion said nothing, just watching her.
After a moment, Yamato's eyes became clear. "Though I feel guilty for hurting my father, I don't think my desire to rebel is wrong. I want to correct this country's problems."
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