The prison cell was dim and silent. Orochi was chained to a stone pillar, and the face that was usually twisted with arrogance and sleaze was now drained of all color, his eyes filled with raw terror.
As the sound of approaching footsteps grew closer, he lifted his head. The moment he saw Shiro, his entire body trembled violently. Whatever stubborn defiance he'd been forcing himself to maintain shattered instantly.
He collapsed into groveling submission.
"P-Please! Spare me! I swear I'll never do anything bad again! I'll work for you—be your slave—anything! Just don't kill me!"
Shiro looked down at him, lips curling into a cold, knowing smile.
He understood Orochi far too well. The man was cunning, cowardly, selfish—an expert in surviving through treachery. If he were allowed to live, he would undoubtedly claw his way back into power through poison and lies. Kozuki Oden had been deceived because he was too kind. That mistake wouldn't be repeated.
"You really think," Shiro said icily, resting a hand on the hilt of the Tetanus Blade,
"that I'd believe you?"
With a sharp ring, the blade was drawn.
A flash of steel—
A scream—
Orochi's head tumbled to the ground. Blood sprayed across the floor.
Shiro didn't move.
He simply waited.
He knew all too well: the man had multiple lives. This was only the first.
Sure enough, moments later Orochi's neck began to writhe, and a new head slowly pushed itself out, eyes still unfocused from regeneration.
The instant consciousness returned—
Slash!
The new head fell as well.
And again.
And again.
After eight cycles, when the eighth head hit the ground, the grotesque body finally stopped twitching. Orochi was dead—truly dead.
Only then did Shiro sheath his blade. He raised a hand, conjuring shimmering warping force and casting "Spatial Bind", wrapping Orochi's corpse in a twisting pocket of compressed space.
A few minutes later, a Devil Fruit materialized beside the body—coiled with serpentine scale patterns.
The Snake-Snake Fruit, Model: Yamata-no-Orochi.
Shiro crouched and picked it up, thinking:
As expected. This useless worm never developed the fruit properly. Eight lives wasted on schemes and politics. In the right hands… this Mythical Zoan could rival even Kaido's Fish-Fish Fruit. Given to the right person, its potential is enormous.
With Orochi dealt with, Shiro turned and left the cell, heading toward the Shogunate Palace.
He needed to see what kind of trouble Moria, the "new shogun," was stirring up.
Inside the Shogunate Palace
The palace was extravagantly decorated. Moria sat on the shogun's throne—once Orochi's—wearing a custom-fitted black shogun robe embroidered with golden patterns. He looked far more dignified than expected.
He held a scroll in front of him, squinting at it with forced seriousness, occasionally furrowing his brows—doing everything he could to look like a man "burdened with the affairs of a nation."
But the moment he caught Shiro entering from the corner of his eye, the act shattered instantly. The seriousness vanished; a groveling grin took its place.
He practically bounced off the throne, hurrying over with his back hunched, hands clasped, and voice trembling with flattery:
"Captain! What brings you here? Do you need something from me?"
Shiro's footsteps echoed across the polished wooden floor as he approached the throne—the highest seat of authority in Wano.
Without hesitation, he swept aside his cape and sat down, fingers tracing the cool, uneven grain of the armrests.
Silence hung heavy in the grand hall.
Only when Moria's breathing turned nervous and shallow did Shiro finally look up, eyes sharp as a hawk's:
"Moria… how does it feel, ruling over Wano?"
Moria froze, panic exploding across his face. He frantically waved his hands, sleeves flapping wildly as sweat rolled down his cheeks.
"N-No! I—I'd never dare! Captain, I'm part of the Virtue Pirates for life! Even if the people here call me a hero, I'll never forget my roots!"
Shiro watched him fidget, and his expression softened slightly.
Leaning forward, he spoke with weight behind every word:
"Moria… of all people, you've seen it up close. Under Kaido and Orochi, the people of Wano lived worse than animals. Starving, freezing, hopeless—their children cried from despair."
His eyes drifted toward the distant villages outside the palace.
"Kaido is gone now. Wano needs someone to protect it. I want you to stay—care for these people. Help rebuild this land. Let the elders rest peacefully. Let the children grow up smiling. Give this country a future."
"That—! Of course!"
Moria nodded vigorously, eyes shining with emotion. He never imagined he would be entrusted with something so important.
But then a thought struck him. His face stiffened.
"Captain… if you want me to rebuild Wano with the people… that means you want me to stay here? Not return to the Virtue with everyone else?"
"That's right."
Shiro nodded.
"You're Wano's hero now. The people trust you with their lives. If you lead, they'll follow—whether it's rebuilding the cities or plowing the fields."
But then Shiro's tone darkened. His gaze sharpened to a blade's edge.
"However—let me make one thing absolutely clear."
His fingers tapped the armrest—tok… tok… tok—each knock ringing through the hall.
"If you ever let ambition rot your heart… if you ever abuse the people of this land… if Wano ever falls into misery again because of you…"
He leaned in, voice dropping to a quiet, deadly whisper:
"I will not forgive you."
His eyes glimmered with killing intent.
"You know my power. I can teleport anywhere—across countries, across seas. If I wish… I could appear beside you in an instant. Taking your life would be as easy as crushing an ant."
Moria's earlier pride evaporated. Cold sweat drenched his back, soaking his clothes.
He straightened instantly, voice trembling but resolute:
"Captain, you have my word! I, Gecko Moria, swear on my life—I'll protect Wano's people! I'll carve your ideals into my bones and live by them! I won't disappoint you!"
T/N: If you would like to read up to 20 chapters ahead for all my works, check out my P@treon: patreon.com/GhidorahWriter
Thanks for reading! Be sure to collect and vote for more chapters!