For Kozuki Hiyori and the man now known as Kyoshiro, this day marked the absolute lowest point of their lives. It was a day of pure, crushing despair.
What had just happened? How was Hiyori's identity exposed?
Denjiro's mind raced in panic. It can't be, he thought, a cold dread washing over him. In all of Wano, he was the only one who knew the truth—that the oiran Komurasaki was secretly Kozuki Hiyori. There was no one else. But it was too late for denials. The truth was out, and their twenty-year-long plan was in ruins.
Sweat poured from his forehead, mixing with the blood trickling down his back from an unseen wound. Who's-Who held him in an unbreakable grip, forcing him to watch as Kozuki Hiyori, now fully conscious, stared back at him with eyes that mirrored his own despair.
Only Shogun Orochi seemed utterly lost. He stumbled backward, his gaze darting between the miraculously revived Hiyori and the captured Kyoshiro. His voice was a strangled roar of confusion and betrayal.
"Hey, Kaido, what is this? What in the world is going on? Kyoshiro, what are you doing? Don't tell me you've betrayed me, too!"
The only person who could answer him was the figure seated on the throne at the head of the room. Kaido looked down, a bored expression on his face.
"You're wrong about that, Orochi," Kaido said, his deep voice silencing the room. "This samurai was never loyal to you. You can't betray someone you never served."
Orochi froze, his mouth hanging open. Kaido's next words shattered his entire reality.
"Samurai," Kaido boomed, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "Should I call you Kyoshiro? Or would you prefer your real name… Oden's loyal retainer, Denjiro of the Nine Red Scabbards?"
The name hit the room like a thunderclap.
If the revelation of Komurasaki's identity had made Orochi stagger, the truth of Kyoshiro's identity sent him crashing to the floor.
"Den… Denjiro…" he stammered, his face pale with shock.
Nearby, Fukurokuju was equally stunned into silence, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Queen, however, quickly put the pieces together. A wide, sadistic grin spread across his face as he looked at the pathetic Shogun on the ground.
"Mumama! Seriously, Orochi, it's a miracle you've managed to stay alive this long! The woman you kept by your side was Oden's daughter, and your most trusted guard was one of his retainers. You're the luckiest coward I've ever met!"
Queen's mocking laughter echoed in the hall, and each word was another dagger in Orochi's heart. His face turned from ghost-white to a blotchy, furious red. The terror was replaced by an all-consuming rage.
What a pathetic joke he had become! Kozuki Oden's ghost had haunted his nightmares for twenty years, a constant source of fear that kept him from ever sleeping peacefully. And all this time, Oden's daughter and one of his most loyal retainers were right beside him, hiding in plain sight. He had been played for a fool.
Unforgivable. Absolutely unforgivable!
Fueled by a sudden surge of pure rage, Orochi scrambled to his feet. He lunged at Denjiro, drawing his blade with a shriek. "Traitor!" he screamed, bringing the sword down. But the blade never landed. Who's-Who caught it effortlessly with one hand, his grip like iron.
"You bastard, let go of me!" Orochi shrieked, struggling to pull his sword free. "I'm going to kill him! I'll kill him myself!"
Who's-Who didn't even flinch. He answered to only one man, and it wasn't the Shogun. Unable to break free, Orochi turned his furious, tear-filled eyes toward the throne.
"Kaido! What is the meaning of this? Let me kill him!"
Kaido's answer was calm and dismissive. "Orochi, don't you see? This is a perfect opportunity."
Orochi paused, his rage momentarily replaced by confusion.
"For years, we've been hunting for the rest of Oden's followers," Kaido explained patiently, as if speaking to a child. "We've searched every corner of this country and found nothing. But now, the perfect bait has just fallen into our laps."
A flicker of understanding appeared in Orochi's eyes. At the same time, Hiyori and Denjiro looked up at Kaido, their expressions turning to sheer horror. They understood his plan instantly, and the man on the throne seemed more like a devil than a human.
"Kaido," Orochi began, his voice trembling with a new emotion. "You mean… we use them?"
"Exactly," Kaido said, his grin widening. "Imagine this. One month from today, we hold a public execution on Onigashima for Oden's daughter and his last known retainer. When the news spreads, what do you think the remaining rebels will do?"
Orochi's face lit up with sadistic glee. "They'll come to rescue them! They'll walk right into our trap, and we can finally wipe them all out!"
"Precisely," Kaido confirmed. "And it's only fitting that you, the great Shogun of Wano, should be the one to make the announcement."
The Shogun's expression turned cruel and ecstatic. "Don't you worry, Kaido! I'll make sure every single person in Wano hears the news! But… is a month really necessary? I can hardly wait to see them all die!"
"We need to give the samurai enough time to gather their forces and prepare," Kaido explained. "We want them to come at us with everything they have. Only then can we crush them completely. Besides, I will be leaving Wano for the next month."
This sudden announcement startled everyone, especially Orochi.
"What? Why?" he asked, his panic returning. "Kaido, if you're not here, what if those samurai…?"
"Calm down," Kaido interrupted, his voice laced with amusement. "It's simple. They'll only dare to make a move if they think I'm gone. My absence is a crucial part of the trap."
Understanding dawned on Orochi's face, and his excitement returned tenfold. He even began to clap his hands together like an eager child.
"Of course, of course! That's brilliant! If you were here, they wouldn't have the courage to show themselves. You're a Yonko, after all!"
For Hiyori and Denjiro, however, there was only the cold, bottomless pit of despair. They were going to be the reason their comrades were led to their deaths.
"Maria," Kaido ordered, his gaze shifting to the giant woman. "Oden's daughter is your responsibility. Who's-Who, you'll handle Denjiro. Keep them alive. I want them in good condition for the execution."
Black Maria, realizing Kaido had no personal interest in Hiyori, felt a wave of relief. A perverse, cruel smile touched her lips. "Don't worry, Lord Kaido. I'll take very good care of Oden's precious daughter."
"Good," Kaido said. "Alright, Orochi, I'll have King coordinate the details with you. You can go back and start preparing your announcement."
Hearing his dismissal, Orochi nodded eagerly. "I'm on my way! This time, I'll finally capture every last one of Oden's followers!"
After Orochi and Fukurokuju scurried away, and Black Maria and Who's-Who had their prisoners taken to the dungeons, Kaido addressed his top commanders.
"King," he began, "you're in charge of all arrangements. You know what I expect. I only care about the result."
"Understood, Lord Kaido. Leave it to me," King replied with a respectful nod.
Kaido's gaze then swept over the other All-Stars and the Flying Six. "I'm calling this the Wano Purification Plan. Don't underestimate these samurai. I'm treating this as a test for all of you—a test of your strength, your teamwork, and your intelligence. Unless you face an enemy you truly cannot handle, I will not intervene. Don't disappoint me."
Feeling the weight of Kaido's gaze, every one of his powerful subordinates straightened their backs, their expressions serious.
"Leave it to us, Lord Kaido!" they roared in unison.
"We won't let you down!"
"They're just a bunch of samurai!"
"Hmph." Kaido nodded once, satisfied. "Then I'll sit back and enjoy the show. Worororo!"
With a final, booming laugh, Kaido's body began to shift and expand. He transformed into his immense azure dragon form, shattering the roof as he ascended into the sky. This time, he made no effort to hide his presence, allowing everyone in Wano to watch as the country's monstrous guardian flew away.
As a transmigrator, he knew it would be a waste not to use his knowledge of the future. Now was the time to make his preparations.
There were several places he needed to visit. The blueprints for Pluton, the Road Poneglyphs, the research data for Devil Fruits created from his own Lineage Factor, and a few interesting Devil Fruit users he wanted to recruit.
He would seize everything that could be useful to him. With his current power, it would be almost effortless.