Was Yamato's rhetoric genuine?
Completely fabricated from start to finish.
Any rational person wouldn't believe for a moment that Kaido was someone who genuinely cared about ordinary people's welfare.
But this was Wano Country, a land steeped in tradition and honor.
Kai had conducted thorough research on the local culture. The people here possessed an almost naive faith in redemption narratives, particularly the "prodigal son returns" storyline that resonated deeply with their cultural values.
Once Yamato secured the position of Shogun, Kai planned to systematically pin every injustice and atrocity on Kurozumi Orochi's regime.
At the top of Orochi Castle, tension crackled through the air like electricity.
"That treacherous bastard Kaido! I'll never forgive this betrayal!"
Kurozumi Orochi gnashed his teeth with such fury that his jaw ached, directly ordering with venomous rage: "Attack immediately! Chop these two insolent bastards into pieces! I'll make Kaido regret this decision for the rest of his miserable life!"
A tall, bald man with distinctively elongated earlobes and an unnaturally elongated skull quietly stepped forward to offer counsel: "Shogun Orochi, this course of action might not be strategically wise. If Kaido truly intended to move against us with serious intent, why would he send merely two individuals?"
"Fukurokuju, didn't you clearly hear my direct order?"
Kurozumi Orochi's sinister gaze fixed upon him like a venomous serpent preparing to strike, his voice dripping with menacing emphasis: "I am the Shogun of this country!"
"As you command, Shogun Orochi."
Fukurokuju dared not voice further objections, silently praying in his heart that Yamato and her companion were acting purely on their own initiative, leaving some slim possibility for future negotiations.
"Well then, it appears negotiations have completely broken down. Time to prepare for direct assault!"
Observing this hostile development, Kai laughed with genuine amusement rather than concern: "I choose you for this battle! Go forth, Yamato!"
"Hahahaha! Finally, I get to fight again after so long!"
Yamato's eyes ignited with pure excitement as she instantly transformed into her Mythical Zoan Okuchi-no-Makami hybrid form, leaping down from Kai's dragon head with graceful power.
"Kurozumi Orochi, prepare to be knocked flying!"
"Namuji Hyoga!"
Her massive kanabo, wrapped in bone-chilling freezing air that crystallized the surrounding atmosphere, crashed down with devastating intent toward Kurozumi Orochi's exposed head.
"Pr-protect me immediately!"
Witnessing Yamato's fierce approach, the previously imperious Kurozumi Orochi was instantly terrified out of his wits, his limbs flailing comically in panic.
"Don't panic, Shogun!" Fukurokuju blocked Orochi's position with professional precision, forming rapid hand seals: "Ninjutsu: Earlobe Manipulation Technique: Twisted Shield!"
His two peculiar giant earlobes extended like living appendages, twisted and intertwined with supernatural flexibility, instantly forming an incredibly tough braided shield directly beneath Yamato's descending weapon.
Simultaneously, pitch-black Armament Haki wrapped around the organic barrier like protective armor.
BANG!
Yamato's monstrous-strength strike slammed with tremendous force into the improvised earlobe shield.
The terrifying impact force transmitted through Fukurokuju's earlobes to his entire body, and the reinforced floor beneath his feet shattered like thin ice under impossible pressure.
"Ugh!"
Blood spilled from Fukurokuju's mouth as he collapsed helplessly, his body disappearing into the crater his impact had created.
Only a dark, smoking hole remained at the scene of their clash.
"Damn it all! How can she possibly be so overwhelmingly strong!"
Kurozumi Orochi stared at the destruction before him, swallowing hard as cold sweat formed beads across his trembling forehead.
Fukurokuju served as captain of his elite Oniwabanshu and represented his most capable subordinate. Even he couldn't withstand a single strike from this girl?
"Quick, quick, quick! All of you must attack this Shogun's enemies immediately!"
Kurozumi Orochi shrieked in pure terror at the surrounding samurai and ninjas. Seeing their obvious hesitation, he frantically sweetened the deal: "Anyone who can capture Kaido's daughter alive will be rewarded with 500 gold pieces!"
The enormous bounty ignited flames of pure greed in every warrior's heart.
The samurai and ninjas who had been intimidated by Yamato's overwhelming presence suddenly found their eyes gleaming with visions of golden wealth.
After all, the girl before them appeared to be only in her teens or early twenties. With so many experienced fighters present, there was absolutely no reason they couldn't emerge victorious!
"Brothers, wealth and glory await us today! Charge forward!"
Under the heavy reward's motivation, the crowd surged like a burst dam, wielding various weapons and frantically rushing toward Yamato with desperate determination.
"Bring it on, all of you!"
Yamato's excitement reached fever pitch as she directly gripped her kanabo and boldly charged into the approaching mob.
Battle! Pure exhilaration!
Watching the chaotic battlefield unfolding below, Kai shook his head with secret amusement. A bunch of unfortunate fools who had never experienced the wider world's harsh realities.
While 500 gold represented an enormous sum for Wano Country's oppressed citizens, who could maintain an entire week's sustenance with just 5 silver pieces, using it to place a bounty on Yamato's head was laughably inadequate.
That was equivalent to trying to sell premium goods at clearance prices.
After observing for several moments and confirming that Yamato was completely immersed in glorious combat, her kanabo crackling with Haki lightning as she sent opponents flying with each devastating swing, Kai ceased paying close attention and turned his focus toward another interesting development.
Kyoshiro, the guard leader supposedly trusted by Kurozumi Orochi, was currently restraining his own group of samurai from joining the chaotic fight.
"How interesting. Attempting to reap benefits from others' conflict? Too bad for you. Kurozumi Orochi is indeed a fat clam waiting for slaughter, but Yamato represents the skilled fisherman wielding the sharp blade."
Kai sneered with cold calculation. Time for him to exercise his own combat muscles as well.
The massive divine dragon descended upon Orochi Castle with earth-shaking impact, transforming seamlessly into a five-meter-tall dragon-humanoid, his battle-hungry eyes firmly locked onto Kyoshiro's position.
Kyoshiro, who had been carefully observing both Kai's and Yamato's movements, suddenly felt his instincts screaming danger. His hair stood on end as he instinctively gripped his long sword's hilt with white knuckles.
At this critical moment, only his cold weapon could provide any semblance of security.
"Kyoshiro-aniki, what's wrong with you?" The samurai members of Kyoshiro's family also noticed their leader's obviously abnormal behavior with growing concern.
"He's also worth 500 gold pieces, isn't he?"
A purple-haired, powerfully built man reached confidently for his sword hilt, a cruel smile playing across his lips: "Kyoshiro-aniki, watch me take this monster's head and present it proudly to the Shogun!"
"Yuji, stop immediately!"
Kyoshiro called out desperately to halt him, but his warning came far too late.
Yuji's figure flashed forward like a vengeful ghost, appearing directly before Kai with supernatural speed.
Seeing Kai remaining completely motionless, Yuji's savage grin widened with predatory satisfaction: "Already too terrified to move? Don't worry at all. This master will grant you a mercifully quick death!"
"Single Sword Style: Iai!"
CLANG!
The brilliant sword flash met Kai's exposed skin with the distinctive sound of metal striking impossibly hard metal.
Kai looked down at the faint white mark slowly fading on his chest and released undisguised laughter that echoed across the battlefield: "Can't Kurozumi Orochi even guarantee his guards receive proper nutrition?"
A mocking smile played across his lips as he spread both arms wide, deliberately exposing his muscular torso to the samurai's incredulous view.
"You just attempted to take my head? If you believe you can accomplish it, please proceed! Hahahaha!"
What complete and utter humiliation!
Yuji's face flushed bright red with embarrassment and rage. Not bothering to process his surprise at Kai's incredible defensive capabilities, he immediately gripped his sword hilt with both hands and swung his katana in desperate afterimages.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The crisp sounds of striking steel seemed to form a beautiful, if futile, symphony of failure.
Kai provided encouraging commentary as if cheering on a struggling student: "Too slow, far too slow! Faster, you need to be faster!"
Slashing attacks without Armament Haki proved nothing more than scratching an itch on his transformed hide.
"Why... why... is it completely useless..."
Yuji, whose hands had gone completely numb from violent recoil, was forced to stop his assault, staring in absolute disbelief at the utterly unharmed Kai.
"Already out of tricks?" Kai feigned disappointed surprise. "Then this demonstration ends here!"
"Dragon Claw!"
White light emanated from the razor-sharp claws adorning Kai's transformed palm, then he swung downward with lightning speed and devastating intent.
"Not good!" Kyoshiro's pupils contracted to pinpoints. Unable to conceal his true strength any longer, he flashed forward to position himself protectively in front of Yuji, drawing and swinging his blade in one perfectly fluid motion.
CLANG!
Dragon claw and forged steel clashed with a deafeningly sharp explosion that shook the castle's foundations.
Such tremendous raw strength!
Kyoshiro frowned with genuine concern, struggling to resist as the reinforced floor beneath his feet developed spreading cracks under the immense pressure.
"You managed to block it?"
Kai expressed no surprise at this development. Ten years in the future, Denjiro wielding twin swords could briefly match pace with Roronoa Zoro in direct combat.
Kyoshiro forced his features into a diplomatically humble smile: "Perhaps we could discuss this situation..."
But Kai's smile took on a distinctly dangerous quality: "Block this next technique first, then we'll discuss future possibilities!"
"Dragon Pulse!"
Kai launched his zero-startup attack without any warning whatsoever.
The dazzling shockwave struck Kyoshiro with pinpoint accuracy.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Unable to withstand the tremendous kinetic force, Kyoshiro was blasted backward by the overwhelming impact, shooting through the air and smashing through countless interior rooms in a cascade of destruction.
Yamato, who was fighting with pure enthusiasm in the distance, caught sight of this spectacular scene and immediately puffed up her cheeks in indignant anger like an adorable but furious puppy: "Annoying Kai! We agreed before departing that I would handle everything myself!"
"Please forgive me, Yamato. Next time I promise to restrain myself."
Kai responded with an unrepentantly cheeky smile that showed no real remorse.
He simply couldn't help his itchy hands when presented with such an interesting opponent, could he?
However, this battlefield would indeed have to be left entirely to Yamato's capable hands now.