I just don't know how General Kozuki Sukiyaki obtained sandai kitetsu from the swordsmith Tenguyama Hitetsu, and eventually traded sandai kitetsu for Kōzaburō's Yubashiri.
That sword-swap incident was one of the reasons that spurred Shimotsuki Kōzaburō to set sail.
Tenguyama Hitetsu's sandai kitetsu, Shimotsuki Kōzaburō's Yubashiri—the entanglement here seems rather complicated.
Kisaburō and Kōzaburō even suspected General Kozuki Sukiyaki of using some underhanded means to obtain sandai kitetsu.
After all, during that period their swordsmith friend Tenguyama Hitetsu suddenly vanished.
By the time Fūgetsu Kisaburō and Shimotsuki Kōzaburō secretly left Wano, Tenguyama Hitetsu still hadn't reappeared.
Every bladesmith treats a sword forged by his own hands as his own child.
Only out of respect for the benevolent General Kozuki Sukiyaki did Shimotsuki Kōzaburō agree to the exchange.
Yet he ended up with sandai kitetsu forged by his friend Tenguyama Hitetsu—right when the man had abruptly gone missing.
It was hard for Shimotsuki Kōzaburō not to read more into it.
What Shimotsuki Kōzaburō and Fūgetsu Kisaburō never realized was that their masked swordsmith friend Tenguyama Hitetsu was in fact Wano's shogun, Kozuki Sukiyaki.
Of course, the Shimotsuki clan's power in Wano had grown so great it threatened the Kozuki rule, yet they couldn't expand into the chaotic Kuri District to create a third daimyo.
Coupled with Shimotsuki Kōzaburō and Shimotsuki Furiko's yearning for adventure beyond the seas, the departure was set in motion.
Fūgetsu Kisaburō, equally adventurous, also worried Sukiyaki might trade for his gokudō kaisen—another reason he shipped out.
—"shodai kitetsu! That cursed blade is also one of the supreme grade blades; who knows whose hands it's in now."
Whitebeard Newgate had long since memorized every name on the current list of supreme grade meito.
Given the chance, he'd love to meet the owners of those blades.
"shodai kitetsu is the famous cursed katana our Wano forged; we no longer know where it has drifted."
Fūgetsu Kisaburō sighed—had shodai kitetsu remained in Wano, its fame might have surpassed even the national treasure black blade shusui.
"No idea where shodai kitetsu is? Why not ask me?"
Vice Captain Fang Huo sheathed the seven star demon sword and smiled faintly; he kept track of every supreme grade blade in this era.
Future Pirate King Roger's sword Ace and Hawkeye Mihawk's Black Blade Yoru weren't yet on the supreme grade list.
Those two seemed to have earned their place only after Roger and Mihawk personally submitted their blades to the registry.
Fang Huo remembered young Mihawk already carrying that great sword on his back when he watched Roger's execution in Loguetown.
Whether it had already turned black, he couldn't be sure.
At the time of Roger's execution Mihawk was just nineteen, a lone wolf whose strength had yet to peak—unlikely to possess a supreme grade blade so soon.
After all, a youngster wielding one would tempt every powerhouse around.
Thus, the supreme grade Black Blade Yoru was most likely nurtured into existence by Mihawk himself.
Perhaps that very feat is one reason he became the World's Strongest Swordsman.
When Hawkeye Mihawk trained Zoro, he once stated that any blade can be turned into a black blade.
Because he personally forged Yoru into a black blade, he spoke with such certainty and confidence.
Not even Pirate King Roger, Whitebeard Newgate, Red Hair Shanks, or Big Mom Charlotte Linlin could turn their own blades black.
Ace, Murakumogiri, shodai kitetsu, gokudō kaisen—none of these supreme grade blades are black.
Apart from black blade shusui, only Black Blade Yoru qualifies as a true black blade.
—"You know where shodai kitetsu is?"
Fūgetsu Kisaburō asked eagerly; if he could bring shodai kitetsu back to Wano, he'd be hailed a hero and pardoned for leaving without permission.
Wano would gain another national-treasure blade!
And should his gokudō kaisen also gain supreme grade fame, his prestige would soar even higher.
Even Rocks, Newgate, and Linlin turned to Fang Huo, waiting for the answer.
Kiel Bastard, Stussy, and Maron wondered if they might obtain a supreme grade blade for themselves.
"If you're planning to seize it, there's basically no hope at the moment."
"Because shodai kitetsu now rests in the hands of the World Government's Gorosei—'Warrior God of Finance' Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro."
"Want shodai kitetsu? Then bring down the World Government and the Celestial Dragons first!"
Fang Huo grinned, revealing the blade's whereabouts.
"What?!"
"The Gorosei?"
Rocks and Newgate were both stunned; during Rocks' earlier intrusion into Holy Land Mary Geoise, he had never encountered the Gorosei.
"I thought the five heads of the World Government were just old geezers—never imagined they could subdue a cursed blade like shodai kitetsu."
Maron muttered that if even Fang Huo's demon sword was too terrifying for them to hold, how fearsome must the world's most infamous cursed blade—shodai kitetsu—be?
Anyone capable of taming such a sword must be immensely strong.
"Ordinary old men? Are you kidding?"
"Each Gorosei is as powerful as an Admiral!"
Fang Huo's gaze turned grave; with his Mythical Zoan Horse-Horse ability, Saint Nusjuro could cleave through Vegapunk's sky-dome shield in one slash—devastating might indeed.
He could race across Egghead in an instant and wipe out the island's third-generation Pacifista, proof of his terrifying speed.
The 'Warrior God of Law' Topman Warcury, possessing the Mythical Zoan Boar, could withstand even Straw Hat Luffy's Gear-Five sun god nika form without a scratch.
Worst of all was their immortality!
Without advanced Conqueror's Haki, killing them was impossible.
In the God Valley War, even Rocks failed to kill 'Deep-Sea Marked' Saint Figarland Garling.
With the Gorosei bearing the deeper 'Abyssal Mark,' slaying them would be even harder.
—"Each Gorosei rivals an Admiral?"
"Such is the profound foundation of the World Government."
Even king-level Executives like Newgate and Linlin eyed those monsters with caution, yet eagerness flickered across their faces.
Their future foes would be Admirals and Gorosei—top-tier powerhouses.
Frankly, Rocks' dream of toppling the World Government seemed nigh impossible!
"Terrifying!"
Kiel Bastard and Maron swallowed hard; they dared not confront the World Government head-on.
Had they known the Gorosei were immortal, they'd have even less confidence to resist.
Fang Huo took in everyone's reactions.
Sure enough, some people would never awaken Conqueror's Haki—and now he saw why.