Mythical Zoan — Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Yamata no Orochi
The appearance of this Akuma no Mi resembled a pineapple, with six leaves at the top of the fruit. The tips of those leaves were rounded and triangular, following the typical pattern of Devil Fruits.
The fruit's rebirth meant only one thing: the former user was truly dead.
Luffy opened his portable space and stored the fruit inside.
"It's too noisy outside. Zoro, go out there and make it quieter," he said casually. "Oh, and take the corpse and hang it up. You remember what happened in Cocoyashi Village, right? Do the same."
"Understood."
Zoro nodded and immediately picked up the lifeless body of Kurozumi Orochi.
Along the way, they encountered many soldiers. However, the moment they saw Orochi's body being dragged along, none of them dared to stop them. On the contrary, they hurriedly stepped aside in fear, clearing a path.
"Wait! Sanji, you're going too!" Luffy sensed Zoro's position with his Observation Haki and, upon noticing the completely crooked route that green-haired moss head was taking, was left speechless. "He got lost again!"
"I knew this would happen…"
Sanji showed no surprise at all and immediately left the room.
After everyone else had gone, Luffy spoke:
"Now no one will bother us. I'll look for the Road Poneglyph."
Kozuki Sukiyaki stared at the blood on the floor without expression.
Kurozumi Orochi… died like this? So easily…?
"Lord Luffy, thank you for avenging the Kozuki family!" Sukiyaki knelt down and bowed deeply. "The Kozuki family will never forget this kindness!"
As the former Shogun of Wano, he had been betrayed by Kurozumi Orochi, politically assassinated, and had the power of the entire country usurped, leading Wano to its current state.
He deserved this vengeance.
At the beginning, he had lost all hope and hid in Amigasa Village, living in anonymity. He adopted a poor little girl and spent his days crafting dolls and weapons, planning to live out the rest of his life that way.
He never imagined that the day would come when his enemy, Kurozumi Orochi, would die.
"Don't think the Kozuki family will simply return to ruling this country in the future," Luffy reprimanded bluntly. "There's no such convenient thing in this world."
As someone who had personally observed candidates for the position of Shogun of Wano, he knew exactly what he was talking about.
Unlike Dressrosa, where certain trials couldn't be carried out, Wano was a vast country.
Ruling it required someone truly intelligent and capable.
Hearing those words, Sukiyaki was shocked.
Deep in his heart, there had still been a glimmer of hope that the Kozuki family might reclaim the throne.
But Luffy's words completely extinguished that fantasy.
Robin spoke gently, "Lord Kozuki Sukiyaki, why don't you take us to the Road Poneglyph first?"
"Yes… please, follow me."
After standing up, Kozuki Sukiyaki led everyone underground beneath the capital.
No one dared to stop them.
At last, they arrived at a secret underground chamber.
The space was not large. On the shelves lining the walls were three rows of beautiful female dolls, along with several swords and various other items.
"I was trapped here for many years…" Sukiyaki said emotionally. "Kurozumi Orochi came to visit me from time to time."
"We're not interested in your dolls." Luffy's expression darkened. "Where is the Road Poneglyph? And also… Pluton. Is it really slumbering in this country?"
Upon hearing the name Pluton, Kozuki Sukiyaki's eyes wavered.
"That's right…" He clenched his teeth. "It's here."
---
Flower Capital — Outside the Gate
The body of Kurozumi Orochi was pierced through by a spear and hung in front of the city gate.
The onlookers covered their mouths in disbelief.
Blood slowly dripped down, staining the ground red.
"What's the point of doing this?" Sanji leaned against the side of the gate, lighting a cigarette.
"Heh…" Zoro replied from the other side, eyes closed in meditation. "What Luffy did back in Cocoyashi Village was much worse. All the fish-men's heads were piled together on stakes."
"That's not what I'm asking, you moss head…" Sanji sighed. "Forget it. Your almond-sized brain wouldn't understand anyway!"
"What are you talking about, you damn pervert?! Want to fight?!" Zoro opened one eye. "Ever since you ate that copy of Kaido's Akuma no Mi power, you've been getting more and more arrogant!"
"Oh?! You're nothing but a moss head! I'll use my dragon breath to turn you into ashes!"
The two stood face to face, arguing, frightening everyone around them.
The tension grew, and it seemed like a fight was about to break out.
Suddenly—
Sanji looked past Zoro and saw an oiran in the crowd.
Click.
Petrified.
His body froze completely, eyes fixed straight ahead.
"Beautiful…"
One glance was enough to understand.
If the beauty of the world were divided into levels…
There existed one called the "petrification level," capable of instantly freezing Sanji in place.
At present, only three women had reached that level.
The first: Boa Hancock. The second: Shirahoshi. The third…
Zoro turned slightly and narrowed his eyes the next instant.
Beside the beauty stood a man accompanying her.
Tall, with narrow eyes and slender ears, wearing a dark-blue kimono adorned with circular patterns.
When Zoro's Observation Haki locked onto him, a heavy sensation struck him.
A swordsman… And a dangerous one.
Kyoshiro discreetly held the hilt of his sword, ready to react at any moment.
"Kurozumi Orochi… is dead?"
Komurasaki—no, Kozuki Hiyori—covered her mouth upon seeing the corpse, utterly incredulous.
Beside her, Kyoshiro was also shocked.
The Kurozumi serpent that had brought so much disaster to this country… died so easily?
He immediately sensed Zoro's hostility and spoke:
"Who are you?"
"I'm a member of the Straw Hat Pirates," Zoro replied calmly. "Captain of the first division."
He pointed at the hanging body.
"No one is allowed within ten meters. Orders from our captain."
"Your captain…?" Hiyori asked. "Sir samurai, who is your captain?"
"One of the Yonkou," Zoro replied emotionlessly. "Monkey D. Luffy."
---
Onigashima
Kaido received the news of the chaos in the Flower Capital.
He set the Den Den Mushi down, his expression grim.
The Den Den Mushi in Wano functioned similarly to the common ones, but with a much shorter range. These models could only communicate within the same island.
"Master Kaido!"
Before him stood a man clad in black, with enormous wings and a mask completely covering his face.
One of the All-Stars—King, with a bounty of 1,390,000,000 Berries.
"The Straw Hat killed Kurozumi Orochi…" he said in a deep voice. "I'll investigate immediately—"
"No." Kaido stood up. "I'll go myself."
He transformed into a blue dragon and vanished into the sky in the blink of an eye.
Without hesitation, King also transformed into a pteranodon and followed.
Perhaps…
This would lead to a direct clash between two powerful Yonkou.
And he needed to be there to see how the situation would unfold.
(End of the Chapter)