Otama swallowed nervously. She didn't understand all the complicated words the big man was saying, especially since she was only six years old and had never left the borders of Wano Country. But she didn't need to understand every word to feel the deep sadness and despair in his voice.
"What happened after that, Uncle?" she asked quietly.
"After that?" Kaido let out a low chuckle, a sound like rocks grinding together. "Worororo! After that, I gave up on this country completely. Then came the betrayal. The very nation I fought and bled for sold me out to the World Government. And for what? For a worthless seat at their fancy meeting. But those fools didn't have the strength to catch me, so I got away."
He paused, a distant look in his eyes. "I was only fifteen then. It wasn't long after that I met the third person who gave me a reason to hope. That was when I felt the most alive. His name was Rocks!"
A flicker of nostalgia crossed Kaido's face as he recalled the past. "Those were the best days of my life. The freest."
"After I escaped the World Government's grasp, I didn't have to fight for anyone else, but I couldn't find any happiness in it. I had realized that the biggest monster in this world was the government that claimed to protect it. I despaired, see? I was strong, Worororo, but even then, I wasn't strong enough to change a damn thing."
"That is, until I met Rocks," he continued, his voice growing stronger. "He told me his dream. He wanted to crush the World Government and build a new world on this sea, a world ruled by the free! His dream convinced me. I joined his crew and became a pirate."
"And he meant every word of it. With a crew full of people who believed in the same thing, we started to take over the sea. We were building a new order, a pirate's order, with the final goal of taking down the World Government. Worororo, it's just a shame… we failed in the end."
Kaido lifted his large gourd of sake and took a long, deep drink. He seemed a little drunk as he spoke again. "Back then, I thought it was such a pity. I really believed we were so close, just a little bit more, and we could have torn down the whole rotten system. Maybe things wouldn't have gotten better, but they sure as hell couldn't have gotten any worse than they are now."
"But now I see the truth. That 'little bit' we were missing? It was a gap as wide as the ocean. Realizing that made me lose hope all over again. If even a man like Rocks couldn't do it, then who can? The Pirate King? Worororo…"
His bitter, self-mocking laughter echoed along the coast of Kuri, carrying a weight of years of disappointment.
Sensing his sorrow, Otama tried to comfort him. "It's okay, Uncle. Please don't be sad. There's always hope, right?"
Her small voice was answered by Kaido's booming laugh. "Sad? Worororo! Maybe I was, a long time ago. But not anymore. In fact, I've found a new reason to hope. But this time, I'm not putting my faith in anyone else. This time, I'm going to change the world with my own two hands."
Feeling the powerful confidence radiating from him, Otama's eyes widened in admiration. She raised her small fists in the air excitedly. "Wow, Uncle, you're amazing!"
Just then, Kaido turned his intense gaze back to her, asking his final question. "So, what about you, kid? Are you gonna keep waiting for some Kozuki samurai who might never show up to save Wano? Or do you want to save it yourself?"
"Me?"
The question hit Otama like a physical blow, leaving her completely stunned. A moment ago, she would have answered without hesitation: the Kozuki samurai. But now? After hearing Kaido's story and all the strange rumors about the Kozuki family lately, she wasn't so sure. She thought about everything he had said and finally answered, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
"I… I want to help everyone too. But I'm just a kid. I don't have power like you, Uncle. I can't protect anyone."
"What if I gave you that power?" Kaido's voice was low, and he was finally revealing his true purpose.
"Huh?" Otama's face was a mask of confusion.
A sly grin spread across Kaido's face. "You know, kid, we've been talking for a long time. I know your name, but you never asked for mine. That's a bit rude, don't you think?"
Otama immediately looked flustered, but she wasn't scared. "Oh! I'm so sorry, Uncle! Um, what's your name?" she asked apologetically.
"Me?" Kaido looked down at her small, smiling face and spoke his name, letting it hang in the air between them. "You've heard it before. It's… Kaido!"
"Oh, so you're Uncle Kaido… Wait… EH?!"
Time seemed to freeze. The smile on Otama's face vanished, replaced first by a blank look, and then by a deathly pale terror. Her entire body began to shake uncontrollably. Her eyes, wide with fear, stared at the man in front of her.
"Ka… Kaido…" she stammered.
"That's right," he confirmed, his voice calm. "I'm the demon you've heard about. The Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates who worked with Orochi to kill that fool, Kozuki Oden. I am Kaido of the Beasts."
"How… how can this be…?" Otama's trembling grew worse, and she started to back away slowly.
Kaido watched her, a slight smile on his lips. "What's wrong, kid? You were so brave a minute ago. Cat got your tongue now?"
His words seemed to snap her out of her fear-induced paralysis. She looked at the giant man before her, replaying their entire conversation in her mind. Suddenly, a spark of courage ignited within her, and she yelled, "I… I'm not scared of you!"
"Worororo!" Kaido's laughter was even louder and more pleased than before. That courage alone put her leagues above Momonosuke.
He reached his enormous hand out toward her. As she flinched back in surprise, he spoke. "I'm giving you a chance right now, kid. A chance to save Wano Country with your own strength."
With Otama staring at him in utter shock, he made his declaration.
"Be my daughter!"
"Eh?!" The words sent Otama's mind reeling, unable to comprehend what she was hearing.
"Orochi is dead," Kaido explained. "As long as you agree to become my daughter, I will make you the Shogun of the Flower Capital. With my power behind you and the title of Shogun, you'll be able to change this country. And if you still think that's not enough…"
He pulled out a Devil Fruit, its surface covered in strange, pink scales, and held it out to her. "Do you see this? Eat this Devil Fruit, and you will gain a power as strong as my own."
"Now, the choice is yours," Kaido said, his eyes boring into hers. "You can become my daughter and, with my help, save Wano on your own. Or, you can keep suffering, waiting for samurai who might never come, and who probably couldn't beat me even if they did…"
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