Although Kiku's sudden actions shocked everyone, the rest of the Nine Red Scabbards reacted immediately.
Nekomamushi stepped in front of Kanjuro, spreading his arms wide:
"Kiku, calm down! What's happening?"
Kiku didn't pause. He slashed at Nekomamushi.
The cat mink's eyes widened in disbelief. Just as Kiku prepared another strike, Denjiro's scabbard intercepted it.
"Kiku, what are you doing? You'd harm a comrade!" Denjiro's voice was solemn.
The others quickly moved to separate the two sides. Inuarashi's hands gripped his twin swords, ready to intervene.
Among the Nine Red Scabbards, bonds were strong, especially between Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, who had grown up together. Now that Nekomamushi had been struck without explanation, Inuarashi demanded answers.
"Comrade?"
Kiku pulled the secret letter from his robe and, with a flick of his wrist, pinned it to the door.
"I have no traitorous comrades like these!"
"This letter clearly states that all four of them intend to defect to Kaido!" His eyes burned red, and the sword energy from his blade cracked the courtyard stones. He prepared to strike again.
"Enough!" Kin'emon roared. "Everyone, calm down!"
He stepped forward, took the letter from the door, and read it carefully. His eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Kanjuro. Then he passed it to the others to read.
Bang!
After examining the letter, Nekomamushi's anger flared. His trident gouged deep lines into the wall:
"Who saw this letter first?"
Nekomamushi's words, fueled by the wound he had inexplicably received, implied Kiku had forged it.
Inuarashi, however, remained calm. "This… is an obvious attempt to sow discord. You wouldn't really believe it, would you?"
Kawamatsu held "Outer Unrivaled" across his chest, his short stature among the nine placing him as a barrier between Kanjuro and the others.
"Kiku, calm down! Anyone can forge a letter like this," he said, his gill scales shifting nervously.
The Nine Red Scabbards had subtly split into factions. Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, and Kawamatsu recognized the letter as forged and trusted Kanjuro. Kiku, the first to see and act on it, firmly believed its contents. The others remained cautious, neither fully believing nor disbelieving, but determined to resolve the situation.
Kin'emon pressed Kiku's shoulder. "Don't act rashly. The letter only says the four intend to defect; it doesn't say how."
Denjiro examined the letter's paper. "The handwriting does look like Kanjuro's. And it claims your true name is Kurozumi Kanjuro. How do you explain this?"
"I… how could I betray Lord Oden…" Kanjuro's face streamed with tears and snot. "That night I even drew a family portrait for everyone…"
Suddenly, he tore open his robe, revealing his chest. "If you don't believe me, cut open this body and see!" He grabbed Kiku's sword and pressed it to his abdomen, but Denjiro blocked it.
Kin'emon tapped the ground with his scabbard, thinking hard. "If that's the case, we'll seek Lord Oden and let him decide."
"Good! Let's find Lord Oden!" Kawamatsu said, his scales glinting dark blue, one hand gripping his sword. "If anyone dares act again…" His gaze fixed on Kiku. "I'll consider him a true traitor."
Oden, having returned from dancing, played with eight-year-old Momonosuke. The Nine Red Scabbards entered in two groups, bowing to him.
"Lord Oden," they said solemnly.
"Why are you here?" Oden asked, puzzled, but smiling. "Come quickly; little Momonosuke can now complete a full swordsmanship set."
Kiku knelt, tears streaming: "Lord Oden, Kanjuro… no, Kurozumi Kanjuro, and the other three intend to betray you! You mustn't let them escape!"
"Nonsense!" Nekomamushi shouted, pointing to the wound Kiku had received. "This man got a letter claiming Inuarashi, Kawamatsu, Kanjuro, and I betrayed Lord Oden. He attacked without hesitation. He's completely insane!"
Oden was bewildered. What letter? How did Kanjuro become Kurozumi Kanjuro? Which four intended to betray me?
Kin'emon stepped forward to explain everything.
After listening, Oden laughed heartily:
"Hahahahaha… I believe Kanjuro and the others would never betray me. Drawing swords against each other is the real betrayal."
"Kiku…" Oden raised his hand, interrupting further protest. "Of course I believe you. But if anyone has betrayed anyone"
His Ame-no-Habakiri unsheathed, slicing the secret letter completely.
He looked around, then pointed to himself. "Better to suspect me, the lord who let the country fall."
Though unusual, Oden's absolute trust moved his subordinates.
Seeing Oden's actions, the Nine Red Scabbards knelt, tearful, pledging their lives to him.
In the distance, Black observed through Observation Haki. He wasn't surprised the letter had little effect. If such a simple scheme could shatter the Nine Red Scabbards' unity, their original bonds would have been too fragile.
It didn't matter. The seed of doubt was planted. When faced with a true crisis of trust, or when conflict erupts, they would remember today's letter. And that day was not far off.