Inside the cabin of the dark brown ship, Kurozumi Higurashi, with a ribbon tied around her head, sat kneeling on a cushion, playing Go.
She was over seventy, her face full of wrinkles, a head of fluffy, light white long hair draped to her waist, a pointed nose and a wide mouth, dressed in a miko outfit, with two white candles inserted into the ribbon on her head.
Sitting opposite her was Kurozumi Semimaru, with a withered face and sparse hair.
Kurozumi Semimaru spoke, his tone flat, "Recently, many new forces have emerged on the sea, Higurashi, have you set your sights on any of them?"
They were old members of the Kurozumi Family of Wano Country. After the previous Kurozumi Family head failed in his bid for power and committed seppuku, the Kurozumi Family was brutally suppressed by the Kozuki Clan.
Countless Kurozumi Family members were purged, suffering heavy casualties. Kurozumi Higurashi and Kurozumi Semimaru fled overseas, constantly planning a grand revenge.
Kurozumi Higurashi received a prophetic revelation in a dream from a pitch-black Yamata no Orochi, foretelling that the Kurozumi Family would eventually replace the Kozuki Clan and become the Shogun of Wano Country.
Six years ago, Kurozumi Higurashi secretly returned to Wano Country. After several months of observation, she found the prophesied child — Orochi.
Kurozumi Higurashi recounted all the humiliation and pain suffered by the Kurozumi Family to Orochi, whose young heart was greatly shaken, finally understanding why he had suffered from exile and humiliation since childhood.
The seed of revenge was planted in his heart, quickly taking root and sprouting, turning into a raging inferno, intending to set Wano Country ablaze.
He wanted the people of Wano Country to also experience the pain he had suffered back then.
Kurozumi Higurashi had Orochi continue to disguise himself and lie low by Kozuki Sukiyaki's side, while she and her clan brother, Kurozumi Semimaru, sought powerful allies and strength overseas.
Powerful allies needed to meet two conditions: first, they had to be strong enough to deal with Kozuki Oden, the genius samurai of the Kozuki Clan; second, their influence could not be too great, otherwise they would be difficult to control and might backfire.
What they wanted was to become the Shogun of Wano Country and enslave the country.
After years of traveling around, they had briefly joined the Rocks Pirates.
However, with Rocks' formidable strength and his forces, bringing him into Wano Country would inevitably lead to uncontrollable consequences, and it would be hard to say whether the Shogun of Wano Country would fall to the Kurozumi Family then.
But shortly after, the Rocks Pirates disbanded due to the God Valley Incident.
The former crew members of the Rocks Pirates had also established themselves. The Flying Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates were immediately ruled out by them.
The former's power was too vast and difficult to control, while the latter, in Kurozumi Higurashi's judgment, would likely disdain such underhanded tactics.
Charlotte Linlin and Kaido's forces followed closely behind.
Moreover, a year ago, Kaido defeated John and gathered a large number of vicious pirates on the sea, his forces already exceeding 5,000 people. Kurozumi Higurashi hesitated for a moment before also choosing to give up on these two.
Then the suitable powerful allies could only be chosen from Gan Zhui, Silver Axe, and Kaido.
Funnily enough, it was as if heaven was also helping them.
Over these past few years, during their search, they finally found the power suitable for Orochi —
A Zoan, Snake-Snake Fruit, Mythical Zoan Yamata no Orochi form.
"We've waited so many years, there's no need to rush. Let's observe for a while longer..."
Kurozumi Higurashi let out a hoarse, sinister laugh, the candles on her forehead igniting, flickering with a faint blue flame: "To deal with a genius samurai like Kozuki Oden, we must be patient in finding a suitable partner."
From the moment Kozuki Oden was born, he was like a protagonist in a story, displaying unparalleled strength and talent.
Kurozumi Higurashi had observed him from afar, and combined with the rumors she investigated in Wano Country, this was a true monster.
She couldn't help but sigh that the Kozuki Clan was incredibly lucky; a legendary samurai had emerged in this generation.
Kurozumi Semimaru nodded slightly, and at the same time, placed a black piece that directly surrounded Kurozumi Higurashi's white pieces on the Go board, determining the outcome of the game: "Thank you for the game."
He took out his biwa and began to play, his expression calm, without joy or sorrow.
"Bang!!"
A violent explosion sounded, a cannonball landed near the ship's side, splashing high water, and the large ship swayed in the violently fluctuating sea.
"What's going on?"
Kurozumi Higurashi was startled, her face changing unpredictably.
Kurozumi Semimaru also stopped, his narrowed eyes slightly opening, like a thin, sharp sword.
A pirate in a kimono ran in, anxiously saying, "Lady Higurashi... It's the Hanafuda Pirates, they're attacking our ship!"
"Hanafuda? That rookie?"
Kurozumi Higurashi's face flickered between dark and light, then she let out a strange laugh: "Immediately counterattack, don't let them get close. How dare a mere rookie attack us?"
"Yes!!"
The pirate hurriedly ran down to organize a counterattack. Kurozumi Higurashi in the cabin looked at her clan brother, Kurozumi Semimaru, and laughed, "Semimaru, it'll be up to you soon."
"Hmm, leave it to me."
Kurozumi Semimaru said in a deep voice, continuing to pluck the biwa in his hand, a melodious and graceful tune drifting through the cabin.
Boom!!
Soon, a loud bang came from the deck outside. The large ship tilted upwards, and all the items in the cabin fell to one side, scattered everywhere, making a clattering sound.
Kurozumi Higurashi and Kurozumi Semimaru were stunned for a moment, then stood up and walked out of the cabin.
On the deck outside, forty to fifty pirates lay scattered, blood staining the deck, a vivid and dazzling red.
The pungent smell of blood assailed them, and Kurozumi Higurashi and Kurozumi Semimaru couldn't help but frown, their expressions slightly changing.
In front of them, the tall and slender Hanafuda was looking at them with a wicked smile: "I really don't know why I targeted this ship, it's just two old men and an old woman about to die."
"You did all this?!"
Kurozumi Higurashi gritted her teeth, the candles on her head flickering violently.
"That's right!"
Hanafuda lifted his chin, arrogantly saying, "Old hag, my boss wants to see you!"
As his voice fell, Kurozumi Higurashi and Kurozumi Semimaru heard heavy, powerful footsteps coming from the other ship. With each step, their hearts felt as if they were being squeezed, contracting slightly.
"Kaido...!"
The sunlight streamed down, a bit dazzling, revealing the man's tall and slender figure!
"Tch..."
Kaido's mouth curved slightly, looking mockingly at Kurozumi Higurashi and Kurozumi Semimaru: "Hey, old hag, it's been a long time, hasn't it? Long story short, hand over all the treasures on your ship, and perhaps I'll be merciful enough to spare your lives."
Kurozumi Higurashi's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. The young man in front of her was a notorious demon. During his time on the Rocks Pirates' ship, she knew he was a true monster.
Young, powerful, reckless, arrogant.
He had not only defeated Admiral and John, but also gathered a large number of followers on the sea... It was truly a case of 'speak of the devil and he shall appear'!
Kurozumi Higurashi's eyes darted around, and she smiled cunningly: "Kaido, speaking of which, we've met before, and there's no enmity between us, so why must you be so ruthless? Besides, we don't have any treasures on our ship..."
"Less talk?!"
Kaido sneered, "The law of the jungle is the rule of the sea. You are destined to be nothing but dust in history, and you dare to defy me?!"
Conqueror's Haki suddenly erupted, and crimson-black lightning fiercely locked onto Kurozumi Higurashi and Kurozumi Semimaru.
Kurozumi Semimaru quickly used his Invincible Barrier to block in front of Kurozumi Higurashi. The terrifying Conqueror's Haki lightning struck the barrier and was blocked.
The lightning spread out, violently striking the deck, sending wood chips flying everywhere!
The railings and stairs were instantly pulverized!