A/N: Bonus chapter unlocked! We hit 100 Power Stones, thank you so much for the support. You guys are awesome. Let's keep it rolling!
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Because of Wano Country's unique terrain, Rain and Mira left their ship anchored offshore and flew directly into the closed nation's interior.
"First, let's find Bullet."
Rain closed his eyes briefly, spreading his Observation Haki. His awareness swept across Wano like a tide until it locked onto Bullet's presence.
"Got him."
With Mira's help, the two took to the sky, heading straight toward the forest where their partner's aura pulsed faintly.
When they landed, the sight that greeted them made them pause.
"You're injured?"
Bandages were wrapped tightly around Douglas Bullet's body. His towering frame carried fresh scars, and though he stood tall as ever, traces of battle still lingered in his expression.
Rain and Mira both frowned. "Seriously? For you to look like this… did you meet an opponent that strong?"
Their voices carried genuine concern. For all his rough edges, Bullet was still their ally.
Bullet's eyes twitched. "…When you say that, could you at least not smile?"
He turned to glare at Mira, who had been fighting back a grin ever since they saw him.
"Sorry, sorry. Don't worry, I won't laugh out loud."
Mira raised her hands in mock surrender, her lips curved in amusement. She meant no harm, but her smile only deepened.
"..."
Bullet rolled his eyes skyward, deciding it wasn't worth wasting his breath.
"Met a good opponent," he said flatly, as if that alone explained his condition.
"An opponent that could push you this far?" Rain's eyes narrowed slightly.
A single name came to mind. "Kaido…?"
For someone of Bullet's caliber, there weren't many in this sea who could wound him like this.
But Bullet shook his head. "Not Kaido. I didn't even run into him."
"Then who was it?"
Rain's eyes narrowed, confusion flickering across his face.
In Wano, there weren't many who could leave Douglas Bullet in such a state. Besides Kaido himself… who else?
"Wait…" Rain's eyes narrowed, a possibility flashing in his mind. He quickly turned to Bullet. "Don't tell me, you fought Kozuki Oden?"
"Correct."
Bullet nodded, a cruel smile tugging at his lips.
"One-on-one. I killed him."
"…Huh?"
At first Rain didn't react. Then his brain caught up, and his expression froze. "Wait...what?!"
His face twisted in disbelief as he stared at Bullet. "…Did you two have some kind of grudge?"
"No."
Bullet shook his head casually. He had never even spoken to Oden before this. There was no grudge.
"Then why the hell did you kill him?! He was a member of the Roger Pirates too, wasn't he?"
Rain's confusion only deepened.
"It's nothing." Bullet shrugged, his tone casual as if he were describing a meal.
"I just thought he was irritating. And he was a worthy opponent. So… we fought."
Rain's jaw slackened. "..."
Bullet's explanation was so offhand, so absurd, that Rain couldn't help giving him a strange look.
"…Oi. What's with that face?"
Bullet's brow twitched as he caught Rain's expression. His voice hardened. "You looking down on me or something?"
"I'm just saying…" Rain's lips curled into a sly grin. "You didn't seriously think Oden's antics embarrassed the Roger Pirates, so you decided to 'fix the problem' by killing him, did you?"
His eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Tch. Don't talk nonsense." Bullet crossed his arms with a snort, glaring at the campfire in front of him.
"Like I'd waste my time on something that stupid."
He pretended to focus entirely on the sizzling meat over the fire, ignoring Rain's mocking smile.
"Hahahaha! You really are a tsundere, Bullet."
Rain laughed openly, shaking his head. The thought of the brutal, scarred monster of a man acting this way, it was surreal. And yet, somehow, it fit.
As for Kozuki Oden?
If he dies, then he dies. In Rain's eyes, it made no difference. Oden would have fallen to Kaido sooner or later. Whether it was Kaido's hand or bullet's...what did it matter?
The consequences of Oden's death? Rain didn't care. If anyone dared to seek revenge, they would simply crush them all.
In that moment, Rain's eyes suddenly flickered.
A vision spread before him...hundreds of fully armed samurai of Wano, banners raised high, charging forward with blades drawn.
Their voices roared in unison: vengeance for Kozuki Oden.
Rain's lips curved faintly. "Mira… tomorrow, you'll have your chance to fight."
"Rain, you saw it?"
Mira's eyes lit up instantly. She knew well that Rain's Observation Haki had reached the point of glimpsing the future. If he said so, then it would surely happen.
"Yes." Rain nodded, his tone calm but filled with anticipation.
Rain himself didn't know why his Observation Haki sometimes let him see far into the future, almost like Madame Shyarly, the mermaid seer from Fishman Island.
"Tomorrow, Oden's retainers will come for revenge. That will be your training ground."
"Fufufu…" Mira clenched her fists, her expression brimming with excitement.
"It seems Wano isn't boring after all."
Bullet's grin widened when he heard Rain's words. He had been considering leaving, but now?
The thought of facing an entire nation's warriors made his blood surge. His eyes gleamed with a savage thrill.
"So… we'll be taking on a whole country?"
His laughter echoed through the forest, tinged with bloodlust. "Good. Let them all come. I'll crush them head-on."
---
"Oden-sama…"
The nine retainers stood frozen, led by Kin'emon. Beside them, Kozuki Toki clutched her two children tightly as they all stared at Oden's lifeless body.
Disbelief and grief painted their faces. Their lord, the man they swore to follow to the bitter end, had fallen before the great battle against Kaido had even begun.
"Impossible! Oden-sama…" Kin'emon's voice trembled, his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.
The shock quickly gave way to fury.
"Who did this?" Denjiro demanded, eyes blazing with rage. His blade quivered at his side, thirsting for vengeance.
"As long as we know who the murderer is," he growled, "then the next step is clear."
Kanjuro's expression darkened. "The name I heard was Douglas Bullet. A man from overseas."
The words hit like a hammer.
"Douglas Bullet" Kin'emon repeated the name slowly, as if engraving it into his soul.
They didn't know who he was. They didn't know why he came to Wano. But none of that mattered now.
All that mattered was vengeance.
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