The oppressive atmosphere made Kozuki Hiyori feel as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart.
She glanced back at the amassed soldiers under Orochi's command and the gathering crowd of commoners outside the gates, then gave a helpless, bitter smile.
"Kyoshiro," she murmured, "if I had the chance to choose again, I definitely would've slept with him last night. At least then I wouldn't be this anxious now."
"Don't forget—there are a lot of people watching us."
Kyoshiro froze, completely unprepared for such a bold and unfiltered remark from Hiyori.
But as he looked at the shifting expressions of the commoners and samurai, he understood.
They had come here to witness something—something that might convince them it was worth laying down their lives once more for Wano's future.
To offer up their meager lives for the dream of opening the country.
But if all they saw was Ashura Doji, hot-blooded and reckless, leading a ragtag band of warriors…
Even with the few remaining loyal samurai, it might not be enough to topple Orochi's regime.
Let alone withstand Kaido's return.
"Kyoshiro, what are you two whispering about?" Orochi's voice cut in again.
"I asked you—why would that fool Ashura come here just to die?"
Kyoshiro snapped back to attention, quickly masking his thoughts with his usual playful grin.
"Orochi-sama, Lady Komurasaki was just saying this is the first time she's seen Wano so united under your command. It makes her feel very safe."
"She also said that if the enemy knew how powerful your forces were, they'd be too scared to even show up!"
"After all, with 12,000 samurai gathered in the Flower Capital, even Kaido would be cautious."
Hiyori nearly rolled her eyes at how many times Kyoshiro said "Komurasaki."
But to avoid suspicion, she could only grit her teeth and endure it.
All she could do now was hope Ashura Doji wouldn't show up—or that something unexpected might happen.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, Fukurokuju, leader of the Oniwabanshu, stepped forward with a twisted grin.
"Orochi-sama, we've just received word from our scouts. Ashura Doji has gathered 800 samurai and is marching this way. They should be arriving soon."
"We thought he might stir up some real trouble, but it turns out this is all he's got. Daring to talk about opening the country with just that? It's laughable."
"Against your 12,000 warriors, it's like a mantis trying to stop a cart. Utter suicide."
"Only 800?" Orochi blinked, then burst into laughter.
He strode to the edge of the city wall and looked down at the sea of gathered commoners.
"Ha! You worms! I let you into the Flower Capital today for one reason—to show you just how foolish this 'opening the country' nonsense really is."
"A member of the Nine Red Scabbards, trying to fulfill Oden's so-called will? What a joke."
"I waited two days for this show, and now you tell me it's just 800 samurai coming to die? This is madness."
"But fine. Let's give these fools the welcome they deserve!"
His voice, though not loud, echoed like a curse across the city.
The gathered samurai and commoners turned pale, following Orochi's gaze.
At the end of the road, they saw a towering figure approaching—Ashura Doji—followed by hundreds of warriors.
The flicker of hope that had begun to stir in their hearts was instantly extinguished.
They had waited twenty years.
They had dreamed of the Nine Red Scabbards leading a glorious uprising.
They had imagined many scenarios—maybe not a fair fight, but at least a fighting chance.
But 800 samurai against 12,000?
That wasn't a battle. That was a massacre.
The already heavy atmosphere grew even more suffocating, tinged with despair.
Hidden among the crowd, Yamato's expression darkened. She gripped her kanabo tightly.
"Luo Yu, should we go out now?" she asked.
"This is more than I expected, but if I appear as Oden, maybe I can rally them."
She stepped forward, but Luo Yu reached out and stopped her, smiling.
"No. Wait a little longer. There's a surprise coming."
"A surprise?"
At a nearby stall, a woman in a deep blue qipao emerged, holding the hand of a little girl with a stiff smile.
Luo Yu recognized them instantly.
The woman was Tsuru, Kin'emon's childhood friend. The girl was the last heir of the Shimotsuki clan.
He had run into them on the way here—and even snagged a rare skewer of dango, a delicacy more precious than gold in Wano.
Seeing Tsuru's anxious face, Luo Yu raised his gourd and smiled.
"Yes. Maybe more than one surprise. Just look at Orochi's face."
Tsuru and the nearby samurai froze.
They had rushed here upon hearing of Ashura Doji's uprising, hoping to gauge its chances.
But seeing only 800 warriors, their hearts sank.
They didn't say it aloud—but they were deeply disheartened.
Still, something about this strange young outsider gave them a sliver of hope.
They turned to look at Orochi.
And then—their expressions changed.
Orochi, who had been smirking at the edge of the wall, suddenly froze.
His pupils shrank. His eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.
In the distance, beyond Ashura Doji's 800 warriors, countless figures were surging in from all directions.
Hiyori and Kyoshiro were stunned.
Even Sukiyaki, hidden nearby, couldn't help but blurt out:
"Is this… the Ten Sides Ambush? Surprise after surprise!"