At the summit of Onigashima, inside the sake-soaked great hall, Kaido slumped across his massive throne, surrounded by more than a dozen empty sake barrels.
Amber liquid trickled through the grooves of his bulging muscles. Those golden eyes—normally sharp enough to freeze the whole world—were now fogged by drunken haze. His mouth twitched as he mumbled:
"Damn it… why can't I just die… Jumping from the clouds… fighting the strong… nothing works…"
He grabbed a full barrel of sake beside him and gulped it down in one breath, liquor spilling down his chin. Yet the frustration of being unable to die refused to fade.
Just then, heavy, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the hall.
King the Wildfire strode inside, his steps quick and urgent. Even standing before a drunken Kaido, his voice was respectful—but tense:
"Captain Kaido, emergency report!
Our scouts have confirmed that Shiro of the Virtue Pirates has broken through Wano's coastal defense line. Their ship is heading toward Kuri at full speed. Judging by the formation… they intend to meddle in Wano's affairs!"
"Shiro…?"
The moment Kaido heard the name, the drunken blur vanished from his eyes. His gaze sharpened like a beast awakening.
He abruptly sat upright, knuckles whitening as his fists clenched.
For years, Shiro had been like a stubborn nightmare—showing up out of nowhere, never talking, going straight into a fight, and leaving immediately afterward.
What enraged Kaido even more was the truth he hated to admit:
Shiro didn't see him as an equal opponent at all.
He treated Kaido like a walking experience pack.
Whenever Shiro reached a bottleneck in his strength—or when one of his crewmates needed battle training—he would come knocking on Wano's door, start a fight with Kaido, and vanish using the Paw-Paw Fruit's teleportation before Kaido could retaliate.
All Kaido could do was stand there and rage.
Being used as someone else's training dummy—with no way to strike back—was a humiliation Kaido could barely endure.
"UNFORGIVABLE!!!"
Kaido slammed a fist against the throne's armrest. Thick wood splintered beneath his fury.
He rose to his feet and hurled the half-full barrel at the ground. It shattered with a violent crash, spraying sake and shards across the hall.
"Pass down my order!
Mobilize ALL forces of the Beasts Pirates stationed in Wano!
GIFTERS! PLEASURES! WAITERS! ALL HEADLINERS (SHINUCHI)!
Every last man—assemble immediately!
I'll tear that brat Shiro to pieces today!"
"Yes, Captain Kaido!"
King bowed deeply and rushed out. His black wings unfurled as he shot into the sky to relay the command.
Within an hour, the entire Beasts Pirates force in Wano had gathered.
It was the largest mobilization they'd made in Wano to date—even greater than the force Kaido sent against Oden years before.
A sea of armed pirates marched across the plains beneath Onigashima, weapons raised, killing intent surging as they moved toward the port. Their orders were clear:
Do not allow the Virtue Pirates to step foot into Wano.
Meanwhile, at Wano's harbor—
The massive Virtue ship slid smoothly into the port under Jinbe's precise steering.
Standing at the bow, Jinbe cupped his hands respectfully toward Shiro.
"Captain, we've safely arrived at Wano."
Shiro gave a small nod, stepped lightly off the deck, and landed on Wano's soil.
He didn't order an attack.
Instead, he turned toward Moria.
"Moria. Come with me. I'm going to show you some of Wano's… scenery."
Moria looked confused, but followed.
And of course—Shiro had a reason.
Three years ago, Moria had stormed into Wano with his own crew, challenging Kaido head-on. Though he lost and barely escaped with his life, something unexpected happened:
To the suffering people of Wano… Moria became a hero—
a brave man who dared stand against Kaido's tyranny.
Believing he died in that battle, the citizens erected a monument in Kuri to honor him.
And because of Wano's isolation—and because "Moria" (Gecko Moria) sounded close to "Kozuki" in their dialect—the people had mistakenly recorded him as:
"Kozuki Moria."
Shiro had known all of this.
Walking through the streets of Kuri, the two finally reached the busiest district—packed with civilians broken by years of oppression.
Shiro stopped walking.
He turned to Moria.
"Your stage is ready… 'Kozuki Moria.'"
Moria inhaled deeply, stepped up onto a makeshift platform, and shouted to the crowd:
"People of Wano!
I—Kozuki Moria—did NOT die!
Though I once lost to Kaido, I have NEVER abandoned the fight!
Today, I return to lead you all—
to overthrow Kaido and Orochi,
and reclaim our homeland!
Those who join me will stand as heroes of Wano—
warriors who will save this land!"
At first, the people looked stunned.
But when someone recognized the iconic bat-shaped cloak… the towering silhouette… the unmistakable hairstyle—
The entire street erupted.
"It's Lord Moria! It's really him!"
"Our hero has returned! We're saved!"
Despair turned to hope.
Hope turned to fire.
Families ruined by Kaido's tyranny surged forward, fists raised, shouting cries of rebellion, pledging allegiance to Moria.
In barely an hour—
Over ten thousand people had gathered around Shiro's group,
Their numbers even surpassing Kaido's amassed forces.
And all of it—from beginning to end—
was exactly according to Shiro's plan.
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