Usopp and Chopper were full of anxiety, with large beads of sweat rolling down their foreheads. They kept waving their hands, earnestly pleading, "Hurry and leave! If we don't go now, it'll be too late!"
Although their time with Momonosuke, Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and others wasn't always harmonious, and their daily interactions weren't particularly warm,
the images of fighting powerful enemies together (with Doffy taking the blame) always lingered in Usopp and Chopper's minds.
Even though Orochimaru wasn't very fond of Momonosuke, in the eyes of Usopp and the others, Orochimaru was still a big baby. Despite his dislike, Orochimaru merely ignored him.
Moreover, they hadn't reached a point where they could watch others seek death without intervening.
Led by Nekomamushi and Duke Inuarashi, all of the Mink Tribe walked towards Kin'emon and the others with heavy steps and solemn expressions.
Suddenly, a suffocating atmosphere spread, and the air seemed to thicken.
Usopp was burning with anxiety and quickly extended both hands, as if to block the impending storm with his thin arms.
He yelled at the top of his lungs, "Nekomamushi, Inuarashi! Wait a minute! They really don't mean any harm!"
His voice was full of urgency and earnestness, standing out starkly in the tense situation.
Kin'emon, however, remained unmoved, his expression equally solemn as he gazed past Usopp and Inuarashi to face them directly.
"Residents of Zou! I am a retainer of the Kozuki Clan, named Kin'emon!"
Kin'emon spoke with a serious face and a booming voice, his tone solemn.
As soon as he spoke, Usopp and Chopper were instantly dumbfounded, their eyes wide with terror, their faces displaying an expression of "Are you crazy?" Their hearts screamed that all their previous repeated warnings had been in vain!
Unbeknownst to them, Orochimaru had quietly leaned against a nearby tree. Upon hearing Kin'emon's words, an inexplicable surge of anger rose within him, and his face became terrifyingly gloomy.
Kin'emon, completely oblivious, continued in a serious tone, "To find a warrior from our country! A Companion named Raizo came here. May I ask if he has arrived in your country!"
These words were like adding fuel to the fire. Usopp and Chopper instantly bristled, screaming hysterically while frantically twisting their bodies and shouting at the top of their lungs, "We already told you, because he wasn't here, this country was destroyed!"
"Luffy." Nami's delicate brows furrowed as she looked at Luffy with a worried expression. She understood that if a fight broke out, they would definitely have to stand with Kin'emon. No matter what, everyone was now a Companion on an adventure together.
What's more, Luffy also knew Momonosuke's special identity.
Luffy, abandoning his usual carefree demeanor, wore a particularly solemn expression and spoke with a firm tone: "I understand."
The Straw Hat Pirates, following behind Luffy, all sighed in unison. A premonition of impending trouble spread through their hearts.
The two groups faced each other, the atmosphere so heavy it was suffocating, as if the air itself had frozen.
But no one expected that in the next second, Duke Inuarashi, along with everyone else, would all sit down on the ground.
They looked at their devastated country, recalling the suffering they had endured, and their eyes instantly reddened. With tears in their eyes, they looked at Kin'emon and said in unison:
"We have been waiting for a long time, Raizo-sama is safe and sound!"
This sudden turn of events was too abrupt. The members of the Straw Hat Pirates, who had been ready for battle, froze in place upon hearing Duke Inuarashi's words.
Luffy's mouth was slightly agape, his eyes filled with shock. His usual upturned lips unconsciously drooped, as if he couldn't believe what he had heard.
Nami covered her mouth, looking at the Mink Tribe before her in disbelief.
The tear-streaked faces of the Mink Tribe, combined with this astonishing announcement, made the whole scene extraordinarily solemn. Everyone was immersed in this unexpected turn, unable to recover for a long time.
Kin'emon's gaze slowly swept over everyone before him. "Is that so... He's safe, that's truly wonderful."
His smile was filled with the relief of having survived a catastrophe, as if a heavy stone in his heart had finally been lifted.
The hardships of searching for Raizo, the deep-seated worry and anxiety, all transformed into boundless joy at this moment.
Everyone's faces were filled with relieved smiles, exchanging comforting glances, and the atmosphere gradually softened.
But Luffy and the others still hadn't recovered from the huge reversal. Their legs gave out, and they collapsed onto the ground, their faces etched with disbelief.
Usopp's face instantly darkened. He strode to the center of the crowd, his voice rising in disbelief: "Hey! Wait! Raizo has been here all along! Did all of you know about this?!"
The Mink Tribe members wore proud smiles, looking at Luffy and the others. In their eyes, this steadfastness seemed to be a kind of honor.
Usopp's fists were clenched tightly, his knuckles white from the effort, and tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes. He was choked with sobs, his words coming out in gasps:
"You... you... all of you almost lost your lives! And a city that has existed for a thousand years was destroyed!"
The broken walls and ruins he had seen, and the painful expressions of the injured, all flashed through his mind at that moment.
Nami also turned her head away, her shoulders trembling slightly, tears streaming down her cheeks.
These past few days, they had witnessed the tragic state of the Mink Tribe, the lives struggling on the brink of death, the desperate eyes of those who had lost their homes, all filling her heart with sorrow.
Nekomamushi walked slowly with steady steps. His eyes held a hint of apology as he gently patted Usopp's head, his gesture full of comfort.
"I'm very sorry for keeping it a secret from you all," Nekomamushi's voice was deep yet firm, carrying the weight of years of experience.
"The Kozuki Clan of Wano Country and we have been like siblings since a very, very long time ago.
Therefore, no matter what destruction we face, no matter what desperate situation, we will never betray our Companions to the enemy!"
However, for Usopp and the others, the shocking events were far from over.
Looking at the scarred Zou Tribe, Kin'emon's expression was solemn, his face filled with gratitude and respect.
He leaned forward, slowly bowed deeply and solemnly, his movements steady and powerful, as if pouring all his heartfelt thanks into it.
"Everyone! Thank you very much! Also, please confirm this mark."
Kin'emon's voice was deep and resonant. With that, he raised his hands and solemnly took off his upper garment.
A Tsurumaru family crest on his back was revealed to everyone, standing out strikingly in the sunlight.
Seeing this, the Mink Tribe members instantly started whispering and discussing. Exclamations occasionally came from the crowd: "That's right, this is the same Kozuki Clan crest as the two Kings and Raizo-sama!"
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Pirates stared blankly at the design.
They were all too familiar with that pattern; a certain snake-man used to always wander around the ship naked after showering.
It seemed that ever since Kin'emon boarded the ship, Orochimaru stopped doing that. They had thought that a certain unconscious snake had finally started to uphold male virtue.
But what is the Kozuki Clan?
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