The steady march of time continued, and two days vanished in the blink of an eye. In the New World, within the Flower Capital of Wano Country, the General's Residence stood as a symbol of authority. Deep inside the large courtyard, the air was filled with the rhythmic sound of wooden swords clashing.
Two young girls were currently engaged in a serious sparring match. One of them wore purple armor over a kimono decorated with green patterns. Standing about 1.3 meters tall, she gripped a long katana that seemed to emit a faint, ominous spirit. Her eyes were firm and full of focus as she performed each slash with practiced skill. The other girl, dressed in a red maid's outfit, held her own samurai sword and moved quickly to keep up with her opponent's strikes.
These two were O-Tama, the current Shogun of Wano Country, and the maid known as Baby-5. For the past two years, O-Tama had been eating well and living a healthy life. More importantly, she had consumed the Blue Dragon Fruit, a Devil Fruit cloned from the Lineage Factor of Kaido. This had caused her body to develop at an incredible rate. Although she was only seven years old, her height and presence made her look more like a girl of thirteen or fourteen. She possessed a majestic and heroic aura that commanded respect. Beside her, Baby-5 had not changed much in physical appearance, though she seemed much gentler and far less irritable than she had been in the past.
The two continued their practice until they were both drenched in sweat. Suddenly, the sound of anxious footsteps echoed from the stone pathway leading into the courtyard. Both girls paused their training and turned toward the noise. They saw Monet running toward them, her face pale with panic and fear.
Under normal circumstances, Baby-5 would have likely voiced her dislike for Monet. Even though they had lived together for two years, Baby-5 could always sense that Monet's smiles were fake. However, the sheer terror on Monet's face stopped any petty thoughts. Before Baby-5 could even open her mouth to speak, Monet pulled out a fresh newspaper with trembling hands.
"This is terrible! Young Master and everyone else... something awful has happened!" Monet cried out.
"What do you mean?" Baby-5 asked, her heart sinking. Since she had been raised by Doflamingo, she felt a deep, sisterly affection for the entire Donquixote Family. Her expression shifted instantly to one of dread.
She snatched the newspaper and stared at the bold headlines. Her mind began to reel as she processed the words. The top headline was impossible to ignore: Straw Hat Luffy Defeats Doflamingo. Below the text was a photograph of their leader, Doflamingo, lying on the ground in a pathetic state. He was unconscious and surrounded by a group of determined Marines.
Baby-5's eyes widened in shock as she read the rest of the report. The details were all there. Two days ago, the Straw Hat Pirates had formed an alliance with the Warlord Trafalgar Law. Together, they had successfully defeated Doflamingo and liberated the kingdom of Dressrosa. Every member of the Donquixote Family had been arrested and taken into custody. To make matters worse, Trafalgar Law had officially renounced his status as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea to return to a life of piracy.
Anxiety washed over Baby-5 like a cold wave. "How could this have happened? This can't be real," she whispered, feeling completely lost.
O-Tama, who had been reading the paper over her shoulder, spoke up with a decisive tone. "Sister Baby-5, we need to go find Master right now!"
Despite her young age and the fact that many saw her as a puppet ruler, O-Tama was showing the true mindset of a Shogun. In the face of a crisis, she provided the focus and direction that the two older women lacked. Baby-5 hesitated for a second, feeling a lingering fear of the Beasts Pirates' high-ranking members, but she looked at Monet's desperate face and remembered her family. She nodded quickly.
A few minutes later, the three of them arrived at the main office of the General's Residence where King was working. As the Shogun and the daughter of Kaido, O-Tama was allowed to go almost anywhere in Wano. The guards at the door could only offer loud warnings, but they didn't dare block her path. Furthermore, everyone knew that O-Tama was the personal disciple of King himself.
They walked into the room and found King sitting at a large desk, his head down as he reviewed various documents. The three of them bowed deeply in respect.
"Master!" O-Tama greeted him.
"Master King!" the others added.
King raised his head slightly. Before any of them could explain why they were there, he spoke in a calm, muffled voice. "I already know why you're here. Don't worry so much. Doflamingo will be fine."
Hearing those words, Baby-5 and Monet both let out a massive sigh of relief. Their faces softened with gratitude, thinking the nightmare was over. However, King's next words turned the atmosphere cold again.
"Don't be so quick to celebrate. The Straw Hat Pirates are strong for rookies, but the Donquixote Family lost far too easily this time. Doflamingo is supposed to be a ruler of the Grand Line and an Emperor of the Underworld. Yet, his entire organization fell apart in a single day. Do you have any idea how much this messes up Master Kaido's plans? Because of your family's failure, Master Kaido has already ordered the Tobi Roppo to withdraw from the Four Seas. You have betrayed his trust."
Monet and Baby-5 turned deathly pale. Their bodies began to tremble under the weight of King's disappointment. Seeing their distress, O-Tama stepped forward to defend them.
"Master, please don't be angry with them. It isn't their fault that this happened!"
King looked at his young disciple and sighed softly. "Fine. I've said what needed to be said. You don't need to fear for your Young Master's life. Big Brother Kaido has already decided to step in personally. After all, Doflamingo's bloodline is very special. Our intelligence says the Navy has sent Admiral Aramaki, former Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and Vice Admiral Tsuru to transport him. They are taking him to Impel Down and want to make sure nothing goes wrong during the trip."
Monet understood exactly what King was hinting at. Having spent years as a spy, she knew the secret significance of Doflamingo's identity as a former Celestial Dragon. The World Government wouldn't let him die so easily.
"However," King continued, his voice turning stern, "don't expect Big Brother to lift a finger for the rest of your crew. You two should go find Fuku Fuku. He will help you arrange some men. Whether you can actually save the rest of your family is entirely up to you."
The two women looked up, realizing the harsh truth. The Beasts Pirates only valued Doflamingo for his connections and power; the rest of the Donquixote Family were just tools that could be replaced. Even being allowed to borrow men to attempt a rescue was a massive favor.
"Thank you," Monet said, gritting her teeth as she accepted the terms. She wasn't sure if they could actually succeed, but it was their only chance.
Suddenly, O-Tama spoke up again. "Master, please let me go with them. I want to see how much I've improved after two years of training."
Everyone in the room was shocked. Baby-5 immediately turned to her. "What are you saying, O-Tama? This is a dangerous matter for adults!"
Monet, however, felt a spark of hope. If the Shogun and Kaido's daughter came along, their chances of success would skyrocket. King remained calm and stared at O-Tama for a long moment.
"Have you really thought about this?" King asked.
"Yes," O-Tama replied seriously. Her small hand gripped the hilt of the Black Blade: Ryuma at her waist. "My father was the strongest warrior in the world when he was a child. As his daughter and your student, I can't stay hidden and protected forever."
King finally nodded, a look of satisfaction appearing in his eyes. "Very well. I agree. You two go and get ready. I still need to get final approval from Big Brother Kaido, but for now, O-Tama, come with me."