"Oh my, isn't this our Oni Princess? Sorry for not welcoming you sooner."
Orochi stood up when he saw Yamato, with a drunken grin.
Yamato frowned instinctively at Orochi's appearance, but didn't forget Gusion's instructions. She led Gusion forward. "Shogun, we're here on important business."
Orochi put on a show of enthusiasm, as if he'd forgotten the party scene he was in, quickly rushing up and trying to pull Yamato to a seat.
Yamato looked disgusted but didn't evade, walking along with Orochi as Gusion followed behind, quietly observing the surrounding military arrangements.
The head ninja of the Oniwabanshu was likely hidden somewhere in the room, invisible but present, with an almost imperceptible gaze trained on them. Besides that, the most dangerous threat was the old man who stuck to Orochi like a shadow.
This monk-like elder was Kurozumi Semimaru, a member of the Kurozumi family. He'd lived overseas before but had developed his Barrier-Barrier Fruit ability to an exceptional level.
Because Orochi was family and had fulfilled the clan's dream of ruling the country, Semimaru made it his life's mission to protect him. Even with Kaido's daughter arriving, rumored to be delivering food, Semimaru remained vigilant, never letting his guard down against Gusion and Yamato.
Once he understood the defenses, Gusion relaxed. Meeting Orochi face-to-face tonight was the right call—Orochi's party meant his personal security was weaker than usual. There were no powerhouses like Kyoshiro present, and the Oniwabanshu were out gathering intel. The only guards in the room were Semimaru and the head ninja.
Orochi wasn't careless, just overconfident in Semimaru's power. Even Kozuki Oden hadn't managed to break through the barrier and kill him; now, with the country under his thumb, Orochi felt untouchable.
Gusion and Yamato exchanged a glance—the tacit understanding built over the past few days was clear.
Yamato recalled Gusion's plan. Though doubtful, she decided to trust him. He'd said she didn't need to bring her weapon—the spiked club—as it would alarm Orochi, so she'd left it with Gusion, who promised to return it when needed.
But Gusion himself wasn't carrying a weapon either. Yamato couldn't figure out how Gusion planned to assassinate Orochi. After all, even if you attacked bare-handed, an Ancient Zoan user like Orochi wouldn't die instantly. If he survived the first blow, Semimaru would protect him, and the main Oniwabanshu force would arrive in seconds.
Still, Gusion asked only for trust.
"Oni Princess, does Kaido have any instructions?" Orochi led Yamato forward. Suddenly, a bad feeling struck him, but before he could react, Semimaru pulled him back.
Yamato's acting was poor; the moment she prepared to strike, killing intent showed on her face, alerting Semimaru.
Semimaru acted without hesitation—whether or not it was a false alarm, he triggered his barrier instantly to protect himself and Orochi.
At that moment, he saw the black-clad man beside Yamato suddenly draw a long blade and assume an iaido stance.
Gusion noticed Semimaru's reaction but wasn't disappointed in Yamato's acting. Without her identity, they couldn't have gotten close to Orochi at all. As long as they reached him without top-tier guards nearby, Orochi's head was as good as theirs.
At the next moment, Yamato unleashed Conqueror's Haki, as Gusion had instructed. This wasn't to clear out weaklings, but for its natural intimidation effect—even if it couldn't knock out strong enemies, it might make them hesitate for a split second.
Her sudden Haki startled the Oniwabanshu leader lurking above, making him hesitate and miss his chance to attack Gusion and Yamato.
Gusion moved.
He unlocked Mazuko—his power surged instantly. His body was covered in dark red Haki, which flowed along the blade. Even with the sword sheathed, it glowed with a crimson aura.
Accompanied by a shrill whistle, steaming breath shot from his mouth, lightning crackled, and the tatami mats beneath his feet flipped as a sonic boom echoed in the room!
With thunder roaring, wind howling, and the sonic blast ringing, Mazuko was drawn.
Gusion moved like a blur—only a few meters separated him from his target, but Orochi was already beneath his blade!
Seeing the overwhelming force of Gusion's attack, Orochi realized only now that he faced a deadly swordsman. But he wasn't panicked, believing that Semimaru's barrier was impenetrable—even Oden hadn't broken it.
But in the next instant, Gusion was inside the barrier before either of them realized what happened. The Haki-infused blade sliced across Orochi's neck.
Storming into the enclosed space, Gusion's blade sent blood spraying. With all his power behind the attack, Orochi—whose stats were barely above average—stood no chance.
And Gusion's momentum didn't end there. Before Semimaru could adjust the barrier, Gusion's follow-up slash cut him down as well!
The wind raged within the collapsing barrier. As Semimaru died, his power faded and the barrier shattered, sending a whirlwind through the room, scattering tatami and blood.
Standing atop the two corpses, Gusion flicked the blood from his blade. He didn't dodge as an attack fell from behind.
Bang—
Fukurokuju's strike was blocked by an invisible barrier.
"Bakudō #81. Dankū!" Gusion called.
The Oniwabanshu leader, Fukurokuju, stared in shock, forced back by the rebound.
"Barrier-Barrier Fruit?!"
He was stunned—wasn't Semimaru dead? Even if not, why would he protect Gusion?
Gusion turned calmly, sensing ninjas converging from all sides. "Orochi has rebelled and been executed by order of Kaido-sama. Will you die with him or serve your new master?"
Yamato immediately joined in, projecting her own Conqueror's Haki. "My father, the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates, has appointed me as the new Shogun of Wano! Are you going to rebel too?!"
Seeing Orochi's corpse and hearing the declaration, the Oniwabanshu hesitated.
Orochi was dead—would they really die for him? That would be suicide.
Fukurokuju was the first to kneel. "I will serve Shogun Yamato!"
The other ninjas quickly followed suit. "We will serve Shogun Yamato!"
Gusion finally relaxed—his covert mission was essentially complete.
The real challenge was getting close to Orochi and escaping after the kill. The barrier most considered impenetrable was nothing to Gusion's teleportation ability. As long as no top-tier threat was present, Orochi's death was guaranteed.
And these ninjas were never loyal—when Kaido publicly killed Orochi in the original story, they switched sides just as quickly.
Now, with Orochi dead and Yamato present, they wouldn't risk their lives. At Gusion's words, they instantly understood their position.
"Yamato, let them up. The Shogun's residence needs some cleaning."
Yamato nodded with a smile—she hadn't expected the coup to go so smoothly. Gusion really was both brave and wise.
Then she realized she had no idea what to do next, so she turned to Gusion. "Gusion-dono, what should we do now?"
Gusion felt a headache coming on. Was Yamato really not that smart? If he left, could she rule Wano properly?
But now that he was involved, he could only take it step by step, stabilizing Wano's situation as best he could.
"Do you have a list of the ninja?"
Fukurokuju, quick on the uptake, stepped forward. "May I ask how we should address this great swordsman who has rid us of a tyrant?"
Gusion was inwardly amused—this guy was quick to switch sides, now calling him a savior right after trying to kill him.
"Gusion-dono is my advisor," Yamato said. "He has full authority to manage Wano alongside me."