Lest one Kurozumi Family be gone, only for an even more terrifying Shimotsuki Family to emerge.
One must know that because of the hero, the Dragon-Slaying Great Swordsman Shimotsuki Ryuma, the Shimotsuki Family's reputation has always been excellent.
Now that the Kozuki Family's lineage is dwindling, Sukiyaki cannot allow the Shimotsuki Family to continue growing in power.
Even if the current Shimotsuki Family is loyal and devoted, what about the future?
Who can say for sure!
He cannot leave his descendants with a Shimotsuki Family that holds three Daimyo positions.
If the Shimotsuki Family were to possess the three districts of Ringo, Hakumai, and Kuri, wouldn't the Shimotsuki Family be the ones calling the shots in Wano Country in the future?
After all, Wano Country only has six major regions: the Kozuki Family's Flower Capital, the Fūgetsu Family's Kibi, the Amatsuki Family's Udon, and the Shimotsuki Family's Ringo and Hakumai.
Currently, Kuri is in chaos, a mix of mountain bandits and criminals, without a dedicated Daimyo to manage it.
Having been Shogun for so long, Kozuki Sukiyaki had somewhat of a ruler's mindset.
Therefore, the Kuri District must be controlled by the Kozuki Family.
As long as Kozuki Oden suppresses the chaotic Kuri in the future and becomes the Daimyo of Kuri District.
Then every future successor to the Shogun would be appointed as the Daimyo of Kuri District as a place for training.
This was Sukiyaki's plan.
With two districts under their belt, he wouldn't have to worry so much about the Shimotsuki Family's two districts harboring any disloyal intentions.
After the Kurozumi Family's usurpation occurred once, Kozuki Sukiyaki indeed harbored a bit of wariness and vigilance toward the various Daimyo deep in his heart.
He was also aware of the fact that some people from the Shimotsuki Family had defied national policy and gone out to sea.
The Daimyo of the four Moon families had all come to the Flower Capital to ask for forgiveness; Kozuki Sukiyaki only gave them a light scolding without any punishment.
Because Sukiyaki knew that this was the Shimotsuki Family' way of self-weakening and submitting a token of loyalty to put him, the Shogun, at ease.
In particular, the Fūgetsu Family had sent out their strongest member, Fūgetsu Kisaburō, and the Shimotsuki Family had even let a daughter of the direct line go to sea.
Now, Kozuki Sukiyaki and the Shimotsuki Family had all tacitly accepted that those who went out to sea had died in the outer seas.
It was said that the Daimyo of Ringo was depressed all day because of his eldest daughter Shimotsuki Furiko's 'illegal departure to sea' and planned to hand over the Daimyo position to his 20-year-old youngest son, Shimotsuki Ushimaru.
Even the Daimyo of Hakumai intended to pass the position to his 21-year-old legitimate son, Shimotsuki Yasuie.
The Daimyo of Ringo and the Daimyo of Hakumai, both having experienced that Kurozumi usurpation incident, had already intended to downplay their own presence.
To put General Kozuki Sukiyaki, who was now a widower with only one son, at ease.
The Shimotsuki Family never expected that after they fought desperately to suppress the rebellion of the Kurozumi Family and protected Kozuki Sukiyaki to secure his position as Shogun, reaching the pinnacle of power with two Daimyo seats...
They thought they were carrying on the glory of their ancestor Ryuma.
Instead, it drew the suspicion and concern of Kozuki Sukiyaki.
Looking at it now, it was hard to tell if it was a blessing or a curse.
Perhaps back then, the Shimotsuki Family should not have accepted the position of Daimyo of Hakumai, which split the Shimotsuki Family into two major branches.
---
Inside Shimotsuki Castle in the Ringo District.
The Daimyo of Ringo, Shimotsuki Ichiran, was in his fifties and already had hair half-turned white; he was teaching his experience in managing the Ringo District to his son, Shimotsuki Ushimaru.
This son of his had the bearing of their ancestor Ryuma, his appearance bearing a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to the portraits of Ancestor Ryuma, and his swordsmanship talent was a once-in-a-century occurrence.
At twenty, he had already comprehended Steel Cutting and had initially reached the realm of a Swordsman capable of flying slashes.
He believed that given a few more years, this son would be able to completely surpass him and reach the realm of a Peak Swordsman.
As for whether there would be a chance to reach the realm of a Great Swordsman in the future...
That would depend on Shimotsuki Ushimaru's own opportunities and timing.
If he became a Great Swordsman before forty, he would surely shake Wano Country.
That fellow Fūgetsu Kisaburō, didn't he also choose to go to sea just to become a Great Swordsman?
In these recent generations of Wano Country, fewer and fewer Great Swordsmen have appeared.
Without enough powerful experts and battles, Great Swordsmen will only become rarer.
Perhaps going to sea to seek out challenges from the strong is an important opportunity for ascending to a Great Swordsman.
"Father! Are you thinking about Sister again?"
Seeing Shimotsuki Ichiran occasionally zoning out and sighing during the teaching, Shimotsuki Ushimaru knew his father was missing Shimotsuki Furiko, who had gone to sea.
"I wonder how Furiko is doing."
Shimotsuki Ichiran sighed, the life paper in his hand being his only comfort.
Previously, the life papers of the Amatsuki Family had all burned up, and those of the Fūgetsu Family had mostly burned as well, leaving only Fūgetsu Kisaburō.
This caused the Daimyo of Amatsuki and the Daimyo of Fūgetsu to wail in grief and even fall seriously ill.
Currently, the Shimotsuki Family's life papers were still fine.
But no one knew when the members of the Shimotsuki Family might run into trouble.
The danger of the outer seas seemed to far exceed their imagination.
Living through such worry-filled days was the main reason Shimotsuki Ichiran's hair had turned completely white.
In fact, ancient nations like Wano Country and Zou Island both possessed the technology for life paper.
In the future, the two Minks, Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, who would end up in Wano Country, would have life papers on them to return to Zou Island.
This showed that the life paper technology already existed before the Beasts Pirates established themselves in Wano Country.
This technology was not brought to Wano Country by the Beasts Pirates; it likely originated from the advanced technology of the Great Kingdom.
Even Yamato, who had never been to sea, learned how to make life paper and made one for Fire Fist Ace.
---
Just as Shimotsuki Ichiran was feeling sentimental, Shimotsuki Ushimaru suddenly saw his sister Shimotsuki Furiko's life paper twitching actively.
"Father!! Sister's life paper!!"
"Sister might be getting closer and closer to Wano Country; she's coming back!"
Shimotsuki Ushimaru shouted in surprise and joy; he had been separated from his sister for five years and missed his genius sister who used to defeat him with a wooden sword.
He was no longer the boy he once was; he now had the strength to protect his sister.
As long as his sister could return safely, even if she had violated the laws of Wano Country, he would protect her at all costs.
He would never allow his sister to be punished by the Shogun's Mansion.
"Furiko..."
Shimotsuki Ichiran's eyes were also filled with surprise and hope; whether Furiko returned fleeing for her life or in glory, he would protect his precious daughter.
Upon learning that the people of the Fūgetsu and Amatsuki families were almost completely wiped out, he had been immensely worried about his daughter's safety, even wanting to defy the Shogun's Mansion's decrees to go out to sea and find her.
He had even thought that if that fellow Kozuki Sukiyaki dared to punish Furiko, he would have a major falling out with him.
If it weren't for him and several other Daimyo back then, it wasn't even certain if Kozuki Sukiyaki would have lived to grow up and become Shogun.
If even a small matter like pardoning Furiko's crimes couldn't be done...
He would... he would commit seppuku in front of the Shogun's Mansion to let the people of the country know how Sukiyaki was persecuting his benefactor and great hero.
"Quickly, have someone clean Furiko's room and prepare the best ingredients."
"My daughter must have suffered in the outer seas."
Shimotsuki Ichiran hurriedly sent people to get busy and immediately ran to the port; he was even more worried that Shimotsuki Furiko and the others wouldn't be able to safely pass through the natural barrier of the waterfall.
After all, using the Giant Koi Swimming Upstream to scale the natural barrier of the waterfall was a very dangerous affair; one slip-up and the ship would be destroyed, and everyone would perish.
But what he didn't know was that his daughter was returning from the sky, and she was bringing his grandson...