Wano Country.
Denjiro, now going by the name Kyoshiro, had a bad feeling the moment he received Kurozumi Orochi's order.
He had just heard that the monster known as Black Gun Ozz, the man who was once shipmates with Lord Oden and strong enough to contend for the throne of the seas, had fought Kaido in the Flower Capital and actually won.
He had thought this would finally be their turning point.
Then Ozz's very next demand was to have Shinobu captured and brought to him.
That sentence dumped a whole basin of cold water straight into the hearts of all Kozuki retainers.
While Ozz was still in the mood to stroll around and snack his way through the city.
On the other side.
…
Boom.
Dropping down into a dense forest, King slowly shifted back into human form and raised a torch. Flickering flames danced across the black armor covering his face.
"How is it. Any leads?"
In front of him, squads of Beasts Pirates grunts dressed like Viking cosplayers were drenched in sweat, their eyes darting nervously.
"We are very sorry, Lord King. From what we know, this Shinobu woman was once a ninja retainer under Kozuki Oden. Her stealth techniques are extremely troublesome…"
Even with a full scale search, they still found nothing under her bizarre ninjutsu.
"You useless idiots."
Bloodshot veins spread through King's eyes at the report. He sent the lot of them flying with a single kick and finally decided to act himself.
"I heard we captured someone named Kawamatsu a while back. He is one of Kozuki Oden's retainers, right."
In King's view, schemes and underhanded tactics meant nothing.
They were pirates.
Use one of the Kozuki retainers as bait. There was no way the target would not show up.
…
The news spread.
Even Ozz heard bits and pieces. Apparently King and Queen were using Kawamatsu's life as a bargaining chip, threatening to execute him publicly in the Flower Capital unless Shinobu turned herself in immediately.
Under Orochi's push, the message spread across almost all of Wano in no time.
On top of a tall building, Kyoshiro knelt respectfully on one knee, long sword at his side.
On the low table before him was a Den Den Mushi whose face resembled someone wearing a mask, features slightly bloated, expression grim.
A girl dressed as a courtesan sat opposite him, holding the Den Den Mushi's receiver in both hands. Her face was equally serious.
This was a Den Den Mushi Kyoshiro had gotten for her. He had recently managed to track Shinobu down and left her the contact.
"It has been a long time. How have you been, Shinobu?"
Kozuki Hiyori, now known in the capital as Komurasaki, spoke with grave earnestness as she voiced her concern.
"You should already know. The Beasts Pirates are hunting you across the entire country."
Hearing the daughter of Kozuki Oden, Lady Hiyori herself, worrying about her, Shinobu's tense features softened into a small smile.
"Yes, Lady Hiyori. I have run into quite a few people trying to capture me, but each time I have managed to escape without serious danger."
"That is good."
Hiyori let out a small breath of relief and smiled as well.
Hidden away deep in some forest, Shinobu watched the Den Den Mushi opposite her, her eyes darkening.
"However, I still do not understand. Why would those Beasts Pirates brutes specifically target me?"
Shinobu considered her ninjutsu more than decent and her skills far from weak among Kozuki Oden's retainers.
But that still should not merit such a massive hunt. It could not be simply because of her title as a "bewitching kunoichi" and "pretty boy killer," right?
"Well…"
At that, both Hiyori and Kyoshiro, the yakuza boss of the underworld in the Flower Capital, had their expressions sink. Their pupils trembled faintly.
"Shinobu. The operation aimed at you is not actually something the Beasts Pirates or Kurozumi Orochi decided on themselves."
"What?"
Shinobu swallowed hard at those words and the ominous look on the Den Den Mushi's face, waiting in silence for the rest.
Hiyori showed a mix of hatred and fear on her face as she spoke slowly.
"You should still remember how Father often talked to us about his time aboard the Roger Pirates when he was alive."
Shinobu nodded.
"Yes. I remember Lord Oden saying many times that it was the most unforgettable experience and journey of his life."
Hiyori lowered her head.
"In his stories, he also mentioned a monstrous name."
"Ozz."
Even now, Shinobu could clearly recall how Lord Oden had once shared that part of his journey with them, still visibly shaken.
"There was a cabin boy named Ozz on Roger's ship. He was even stronger than me. That guy was a monster through and through."
Of course Shinobu still remembered.
But the next words out of Hiyori's mouth had her eyes widening in shock, her jaw dropping.
"The Ozz Father spoke of has just recently defeated Kaido."
"But he did not drive the Beasts Pirates out of Wano. Instead, he used heavily injured Kaido as a bargaining chip and struck a deal with the Beasts Pirates. In exchange for Kaido's life, they have to hand someone over to him."
"That person is you, Shinobu."
"H how could that be…"
Shinobu's face flushed to the tips of her ears. She twisted her fingers together in embarrassment.
"A man who defeated Kaido… a man acknowledged by Lord Oden himself… wants me."
As a famously "alluring kunoichi," a certified lady killer, Shinobu instinctively went straight there.
Kyoshiro's mouth twitched, his expression turning very strange.
Yeah. No.
Absolutely not.
Hiyori, still just a young woman, did not catch that nuance. She remained serious as she continued.
"So, in order to rescue Kaido as quickly as possible, the Beasts Pirates are already using Kawamatsu's life as leverage to force you out of hiding."
"You absolutely cannot go, Shinobu."
Hiyori gripped the receiver tightly. Her face was full of agitation, with a trace of desperate hope hidden beneath.
"As long as they cannot catch you, Kaido will definitely die in Ozz's hands sooner or later. If that happens…"
"There will finally be hope of liberating Wano."
…
"How naïve."
"Mmph."
(￣～￣)
At a food stall across from the pleasure district, Ozz sat at a table sampling the local sweets.
Beside him, Yamato chomped down one after another. Growing up in the Beasts Pirates' den of wolves had carved some very rough habits into her.
Ozz ate with one eye closed, savoring the flavor, while the other eye drifted toward the street outside.
With his Observation Haki, he had already listened in on every word of their conversation.
He had to admit, Kozuki Hiyori was quite something.
Kawamatsu had been captured while searching for her. Now, for the sake of a sliver of hope, she could so casually cast him aside.
Sigh.
Kozuki Oden was a fool.
He never expected that each of his children would be even more irritating than the last.
"It will not work."
"Even if the Beasts Pirates never find you, I will."
"And Cute-cream is nowhere near his time to die."
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