None of the guards summoned by Orochi were a match for him; to be precise, none of them were even qualified to withstand a single strike from him.
"Heh heh heh, Oden's back, huh? How will Orochi deal with this matter?
That guy must be in a tough spot now. Regardless of whether Kozuki Oden wins or we win, it means his death is imminent."
"Who knows? But everything's already been arranged, Rotom!"
With Arceus's shout, a TV Rotom flew over. After a flicker on the screen, the scene beside Orochi appeared, captured by a mini-camera Rotom sent secretly out for observation.
"Yamato! Come here, and take an hour's break."
Yamato, who was running an obstacle course nearby, was delighted to hear Arceus's call—rarely does she get a break. However, despite the rest, she was positioned in front of the TV Rotom by Arceus.
"Foster father, what is this?"
"Let me show you just how deceitful the world of adults is."
In the Flower Capital, when Orochi heard the report from his subordinates outside the door, Kozuki Oden had already slaughtered all the guards outside and rushed into Orochi's presence, covered in blood.
It wasn't his blood, but the enemy's. Only then did Kurozumi Orochi remember that Kozuki Oden's nature was that of a reckless madman.
Even though Kurozumi Semimaru's Barrier-Barrier Fruit blocked Oden's attack, Orochi's mind remained quite complex. Bringing trouble into his own house was something he had done over the years.
Although he was despicable and shameless, he wasn't foolish. Having seen the actions of the Hundred Beasts Pirates, Kaidou's behavior when he first arrived at Wano Kuni, it was clear they never intended to fully ally with him from the start, planning instead to occupy Wano Kuni themselves.
Now, the actions of the Hundred Beasts were completely different from what he wanted, but it's easy to invite ominous power, hard to dispel it; he had no means to make Kaidou leave.
His plan to arrange an assassination on Kozuki Momonosuke also had factors involved in this reasoning; despite his hatred for the Kozuki Family, he needed Kozuki Oden's power.
Only by inciting conflict between him and Kaidou, possibly leading to mutual destruction, would he stand a chance.
He understood some of Oden's thoughts; if Oden saw Kaidou improving the lives of Wano Kuni's residents, making Oden himself the people's oppressor, that would be disastrous.
However, his information system was woefully inadequate, and he hadn't received news of Oden's return. When he heard Oden had returned, it was already too late, as Oden had stormed the place.
"Oden... don't... Oden, what are you gonna do!"
"What will I do? Of course, I'm going to cut you down! Orochi, come out and face me!"
Not even Kozuki Oden could break the barrier made by the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, while Orochi's mind raced to devise a strategy. After Oden struck hundreds of blows, Orochi made a surprising move.
"Lord Oden! Please allow me to explain!"
Kurozumi Orochi suddenly stood up, then kneeled with knees together, hands gathered on his thighs, and bending forward, he pressed his forehead firmly against the ground.
In a full prostration, Orochi knelt before Kozuki Oden.
"Hmm? Orochi, you think kneeling will make me spare you? If you have any guts, come out and duel me like a samurai!"
"Lord Oden, I know you are very angry, but please hear me out. Semimaru, lower the barrier."
Speaking, he ordered Kurozumi Semimaru to lift the barrier outside. Kurozumi Semimaru hesitated but eventually complied with the command from Kurozumi Orochi.
Orochi placed his hope on the possibility that Oden would hesitate upon seeing this act. If he was wrong, he had more than one life to think of other ways.
Although it involved betting, his gamble paid off, as Enma was placed at his neck, but Oden didn't cut him down.
"Fine, I'll give you a chance to explain."
"Thank you very much, Lord Oden!" Orochi still didn't raise his head, but a subtle smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Here's the situation. When Lord Sukiyaki was gravely ill, he forgave my grandfather's past mistakes and appointed me as Acting General, which greatly moved me."
While speaking, he squeezed out many tears, conveying an impression of being sincerely emotional.
"This is known to everyone. You can ask the other Daimyo if you don't believe me."
"Ah, and then?" Kozuki Oden had heard his Household Attendants mention it; after all, it was Kurozumi Higurashi's doing with the Clone-Clone Fruit, which Wano Kuni's people didn't truly grasp.
"Then... I'm sorry, Lord Oden! Out of greed, I made numerous mistakes and incurred the Daimyo's hatred, so I foolishly thought of using outsiders to deal with them, leading Kaidou into Wano Kuni.
Initially, I considered him merely a mercenary. However... I didn't realize his ambition was so grand, wanting Wano Kuni itself. By the time I noticed, it was already too late.
No one in Wano Kuni could oppose him; the Hundred Beasts Pirates acted without restraint. Even when I contacted people from the World Government through connections, Kaidou ignored their agents and killed one over the Flower Capital in front of many witnesses."
He recounted his experiences over the years, summarizing that Kaidou was responsible for everything, and he was pushed to helplessness.
"You think I'm a fool? Just now, you looked quite lively and indulgent."
"Lord Oden! I did all that merely to pacify Kaidou, if I didn't cooperate with him, Wano Kuni would become a Hell for him!
I'm also from Wano Kuni—how could I persecute my fellow countrymen? I know you've heard my terrible reputation, but Kaidou's the one behind it. Opening factories, forcing citizens to work the mines—that's all his doing.
Though he pays wages, it's just his way to buy loyalty. For every gold he gives, he takes three from Wano Kuni's treasury!"
At the end, he lifted his head and gazed at Oden.
"Lord Oden, I acknowledge my mistakes, but the true scourge of Wano Kuni is Kaidou. I've been waiting for years for your return; only you can lead us to drive him out and restore freedom to Wano Kuni!"
If one were to find the best actor in Wano Kuni, that person wouldn't be in the theater or the Brothel, but Kurozumi Orochi, speaking not a word of truth. Yet Kozuki Oden felt some regret, as if wronging him.
Nonetheless, he eventually placed Ame no Habakiri at Orochi's neck.
"How do you explain what happened to my wife?"