"Kurozumi Orochi, you bastard!!"
Hearing Orochi’s mocking laughter, Shimotsuki Yasuie roared in fury, his eyes nearly splitting from the intensity of his anger, blood and tears oozing from them.
If only he hadn’t been so soft-hearted and taken in the ambitious Kurozumi Orochi, none of this would have happened.
Orochi wouldn’t have had the opportunity to harm Lord Oden, and Wano Country would never have descended into chaos.
Countless lives were lost in the turmoil—many samurai were persecuted to death, and the people were forced to consu failed artificial Devil Fruits, turning them into puppets with nothing but the cursed "smile" expression.
Wano, once a powerful country, had completely fallen into Orochi’s hands. The once proud people of the Shimotsuki family had beco re tools in Kaido’s arsenal for conquering the New World.
Shimotsuki Yasuie’s heart was filled with burning hatred. He loathed Kurozumi Orochi deeply, but even more so, he hated himself.
Perhaps, if he hadn’t made that fateful decision, Wano Country would never have faced such disaster.
Anger, regret, unwillingness, and murderous intent surged within him. As a result, tears of self-bla and regret flowed from his eyes, but the smile never left his face. He could only laugh. It was a hollow, mocking laugh—like a clown, mocking the entire situation.
Kurozumi Orochi grinned widely, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But I see you’re very happy. Aren’t you laughing?"
"Guhehehe!!"
" "Do you know?" Orochi’s grin widened even further. "Actually, I’m really grateful to you."
"If you hadn’t taken in, I wouldn’t have had the chance to take my revenge."
"So, I still owe you a big favor."
At that mont, the smile on Kurozumi Orochi’s face grew even more twisted and intense.
What no one noticed, however, was that behind Orochi and Kaido stood a figure with a pale face, her delicate fingers, as slender as green onions, clenched tightly.
Hearing Kurozumi Orochi’s mocking laugh, Shimotsuki Yasuie almost broke his teeth. A blood-red mark appeared at the corner of his mouth from the intensity of his anger.
Around them, many people who didn’t know the truth were laughing and hurling various items at the execution rack—eggs, persimmons, and rotten vegetables. They excitedly shouted, "Admiral Orochi! Kill this traitor!!"
"Yes, yes, yes! Admiral! Kill this guy!!"
"Kill, kill!"
The crowd shouted with growing enthusiasm, and Shimotsuki Yasuie’s heart shattered. His spirits sank to the deepest pit, and his world crumbled around him.
After years of oppressive rule, many in Wano Country had been brainwashed by Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido. They had been convinced that the Kouzuki and Shimotsuki clans were traitors to the country and the ones responsible for the disaster that struck years ago. In their eyes, Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido had beco the guardians of Wano.
"Damn it!"
"Damn it!"
"Damn it!!!"
Shimotsuki Yasuie scread in fury, his heart filled with rage, yet his face remained frozen in that strange, forced smile.
"Did you hear that, Lord Shimotsuki Yasuie?" Kurozumi Orochi taunted, his smile dripping with mockery. "It seems that everyone wants you to die."
"In that case, let fulfill everyone’s wish."
Kurozumi Orochi grinned widely, slowly raising his hand. In the distance, atop a Japanese-style building, a figure with bat wings sneered, raising his hand with deadly intent. He drew back his bow, and the sharp arrowheads glead in the sunlight, sending a chilling, suffocating light across the scene.
A spiral of ard color haki quickly wrapped around the arrow, amplifying its power.
"I, Kurozumi Orochi, the Admiral of Wano Country, now announce that Shimotsuki Yasuie, the traitor of Wano Country, is sentenced to death!!"
With a wild laugh, Kurozumi Orochi raised his arm in triumph. The next mont, the bat-winged figure released the arrow, sending it soaring toward its target.
Swoosh!!
The subtle sound of the arrow cutting through the air suddenly erupted, causing waves of tension to ripple through the crowd.
Shimotsuki Yasuie closed his eyes weakly, resigned to his fate.
Suddenly, Kurozumi Orochi’s face shifted, and Kaido frowned in confusion.
Boom!!!
A deafening roar shattered the mont, and violent shockwaves erupted in all directions. The force was so intense that many onlookers were blown away, their bodies tossed like ragdolls.
As the dust settled, Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido stood frozen, staring at the figure now standing before the execution rack. Slowly, the dust cleared, revealing a tall figure.
A warm, jade-like flag swirled gently in the breeze. The figure stood with a faint smile on his lips, his eyes half-closed in a calm, calculating manner. A black Admiral’s cloak draped over his gray Taoist robe.
In one hand, he gripped a sword, its edge locked firmly against the sharp arrow, halting its progress. The arrow shuddered, its tail vibrating, before finally losing all montum and slowly falling to the ground with a soft thud.
Shimotsuki Yasuie, staring in disbelief at the figure who had appeared out of nowhere to save him, felt his mind go blank. His eyes widened in shock, and for a brief mont, everything seed to freeze.
"Sorry, Master Kang, I’m late."
A soft voice echoed through the air, but it carried a clear undertone of killing intent.
Shimotsuki Yasuie froze for a mont, then suddenly burst out in a wild, carefree laugh.
A smile so genuine, so natural, it seed to co straight from his heart.
"It’s good to be here," he murmured, his voice full of emotion.
Tears flowed freely down his face, but they weren’t tears of fear or despair—they were tears of relief, of hope.
The figure who had appeared was none other than Shimotsuki Koshiro—the strongest warrior of the Shimotsuki family.
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