"Of course, I know that," Shirogai Yamikuro said with a faint smile, his eyes calm even as chaos swirled around him. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to Wano Country."
Before him, Orochi had already transformed into his monstrous, seven-headed serpent form.
"I'm not here for you," Shirogai continued, tone casual. "I'm just passing through. Got a bit hungry, so I came to borrow some food."
"Bastard!!! I'll swallow you whole!"
Orochi's seven snake heads roared in unison, lunging viciously from all directions.
"Too slow," Shirogai said softly, sidestepping each attack with effortless grace. "Orochi, your power is far too weak."
Even Kyoshiro, standing nearby with blade in hand, felt a chill. "This man… he's no ordinary intruder!"
Raising his sword, Kyoshiro barked an order:
"Everyone, attack together! Protect the Shogun!"
"Yes, Kyoshiro-sama!"
The ninjas vanished from sight in unison—only to reappear all around Shirogai in a deadly formation.
Shirogai smiled. "You too? Not enough."
He spun lightly on his heel.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
A storm of invisible wind blades erupted around him.
"Spinning Slash!"
Using the Sickle-Sickle Fruit, Shirogai's rotation unleashed countless invisible blades, slicing through the air—and through the ninjas surrounding him.
"Guh—! So strong!"
Several fell instantly, their bodies shredded by unseen force. The few still standing staggered back in terror, blood staining their armor.
"Stay away! He's a Devil Fruit user! He controls wind blades!"
Shirogai extended his arm, the limb transforming into a blade. He caught Kyoshiro's incoming slash between his fingers and smirked.
"Not bad swordsmanship," he said calmly. "But tell me—do you truly think it's worth dying to protect a tyrant?"
"Silence! I will protect the Shogun with my life!" Kyoshiro roared, wrenching his sword free and striking again. "Die, intruder!"
"Well said, Kyoshiro! My most loyal subordinate!" Orochi cackled, his seven heads writhing. "You dare attack me here? Wano is my domain! I'll make you beg for death before you get it!"
Shirogai chuckled, easily dodging Kyoshiro's next slash. "You really see yourself as a god-king, don't you?"
He stopped in front of Komurasaki, the Oiran, and smiled faintly. "This country is twisted beyond repair… People aren't human, rulers aren't rulers, and even the way they think is a farce. They believe in prophecies instead of their own hands."
Suddenly—
Stab!
A dagger pierced his lower back.
"…"
Shirogai froze, turning his head slightly.
"Komurasaki?"
Even Orochi paused, dumbfounded. Then his laughter burst out, hideous and triumphant.
"Guhahahahaha! Well done, Komurasaki!"
Blood dripped from Shirogai's mouth as he pulled the dagger free. "Heh… Miss Komurasaki, what was that for?"
Komurasaki trembled, tears in her eyes. "The Shogun… he's the ruler of Wano. He mustn't die by your hand."
"Excellent!" Orochi howled with laughter. "I am everything in this country! Without me, even Kaido wouldn't bother with Wano! The people love me—they need me!"
Shirogai shook his head slowly. "This country's thinking truly is… pitiful."
Bang!
His body burst apart into a scatter of blood-red petals—a clone created through the Flower-Flower Fruit.
The real Shirogai had never been there at all.
---
Onigashima
Thump… thump… thump…
In a dark hall filled with the stench of liquor, a massive figure slammed his bottle down, his single horn casting a shadow across the room.
"...That bastard dared to attack Orochi?" the voice growled. "Doesn't he know my name?!"
He stopped mid-roar, glancing toward the sky.
"Kaido."
At that moment, a calm voice echoed across the entire Wano Country—clear, resonant, and mocking.
"Come out and fight!"
Boom!
The heavens ignited. A colossal black fireball—the Demonic Flame: Anaterasu—descended toward Onigashima, crackling with destructive energy.
"King-sama! Queen-sama! There's a giant fireball falling from the sky!"
The Beasts Pirates looked up, faces pale.
"Stop panicking!"
A tall figure with black wings and an eerie mask stepped forward—King the Wildfire.
"The energy from that thing… it's immense," he muttered, hand on his blade. "If it hits, Onigashima will be nothing but ash."
Beside him, a large, bald man laughed boisterously. "Heh heh, calm down, King! What, we dinosaurs gonna be wiped out by a meteor? Pfft—hahahaha!"
That man was Queen the Plague, another of Kaido's top commanders.
Thunder rumbled.
Above the clouds, a massive shadow stirred.
"Seems you won't have to lift a finger," Queen said, grinning. "Kaido-sama's moving himself!"
"BORO BREATH!!!"
A torrent of flame exploded from the thunderclouds, smashing into the descending fireball.
BOOM!!!
The black fireball shattered, raining fiery meteors over Onigashima.
Even so, the impact alone killed countless pirates.
From the storm above, Kaido's voice thundered across the skies:
"Plunderer Shirogai… so you came to Wano after all, eh? Hic! You threatened Joker—said you'd destroy my crew? You've got guts, rookie brat!"
Opposite him, a lone figure stood amidst the burning sky, smiling faintly.
"Destroying a Four Emperors crew… is that supposed to be hard?"
He raised his hand, eyes glinting with calm arrogance.
"Because to me, it only takes… a flick of the wrist."
______
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