Chapter 169: The Cruel Reality of a Broken Nation
As the massive, steel hull of the Pola defied gravity and passed over the violent crest of the waterfall, the expected solid land did not immediately appear to greet them.
Instead, an even vaster, more surreal inland sea unfolded before their eyes, calm as a colossal mirror reflecting the oppressive, heavy sky!
The giant ship, a technological marvel from another world, hovered over this incredible lake. The engines hummed with a low, vibrating thrum as the vessel stabilized, surrounded by swirling mist that clung to the water's surface like ghosts.
In the distance, continuous mountain ranges rose like the spines of sleeping dragons, their peaks pierced by the clouds.
Faint outlines of exotic buildings with curved roofs and towering pagodas were visible through the fog, appearing as if the crew had arrived at a secluded fairyland torn straight from the pages of an ancient myth.
"Oh my goodness..."
Nami leaned heavily against the ship's cold steel rail, her knuckles turning white as she gripped it. Her beautiful orange eyes were filled with genuine astonishment, scanning the impossible geography that defied her navigational knowledge.
"I thought there would be land immediately above the waterfall... I calculated the elevation, but I never expected... there's an entire inland sea here! How is this geographically possible?"
She took a deep breath, trying to process the sheer scale of the natural fortress before her.
"The geographical structure here is just too amazing! It's like a world cut off from the rest of the ocean."
"Amazing?"
Suzaku let out an ambiguous, low chuckle that didn't quite reach his eyes. He stood with his hands deep in his pockets, his coat fluttering in the damp wind that carried a faint, unsettling scent.
He glanced sideways at the two legendary figures standing beside him—men who seemed completely out of place in this world of pirates and marines. He spoke leisurely, his voice cutting through the ambient noise of the wind.
"What's so amazing about this? You probably don't know, Nami, that Wano Country in the past... was a nation famous for its 'Samurai' and 'Ninja'."
He deliberately drew out the words, testing their weight. His gaze swept over the imposing figures of Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju. A playful, knowing smirk curved his lips—a smile that promised chaos.
"I wonder... what kind of expressions Madara and Hashirama, these two actual 'Ninja' who defined the very concept in their world, will have when they personally witness Wano Country's Samurai and their so-called 'Ninja' later."
At these words, the atmosphere on the deck shifted instantly.
Not only Nami, but even Nekomamushi, the Boss of the Mokomo Dukedom who had returned to his homeland after decades, was so shocked that his whiskers bristled stiffly.
"Wh-what? Lord Suzaku, are you saying...?"
He stared in disbelief, his feline eyes darting frantically from the boisterous Hashirama to the stoic, terrifying Madara. He tried to reconcile the image of these god-like beings with his limited knowledge of shadows and stealth.
"Lord Hashirama and Lord Madara, whose strength is so unfathomable that they can reshape maps... are actually... Ninja???"
In his understanding—and indeed, the understanding of the entire One Piece world—Ninja were merely secretive individuals skilled in stealth, disguise, and assassination. They were shadows that fled from sunlight. They could not be equated with these two beings who could destroy the world with a mere flick of their hands!
"Oh? Hahaha, Suzaku, what do you mean by that?"
Hashirama, upon hearing this, indeed became interested. His depression from earlier vanished, replaced by a childlike curiosity. He tilted his head, his dark eyes sparkling.
"Are there Ninja in this country, just like in our homeland? That sounds exciting! Do they use Chakra? Do they have hidden villages?"
Uchiha Madara, though silent as usual, finally moved his eyes from the distant wonders of the landscape. His Rinnegan gaze landed on Suzaku, carrying a silent but heavy question.
No matter how aloof one's disposition, hearing words related to 'homeland' in a foreign universe always stirs a trace of emotion. Even for the Ghost of the Uchiha, the word 'Ninja' was the core of his identity.
"Hahaha, don't look at me like that."
Suzaku waved his hand, a mischievous smile playing on his face as he watched their reactions.
"Believe me, this 'Ninja' is not that 'Ninja'. The Ninja here are simply not on the same dimensional level as those from your homeland. They rely on cheap tricks and parlor magic. Don't worry too much about it. You might be... severely disappointed."
With that, he stopped explaining, leaving the legends to their thoughts. He merely ordered the Pola to proceed, its massive form cutting through the mist to dock casually at a desolate shore near the region of Kuri.
The group walked down the lowered gangplank, officially setting foot on the land of Wano Country.
However, the moment their boots touched the scorched earth, that illusion of being in a paradise was shattered. It was violently torn away by the cruel, suffocating reality before them.
The air was heavy, thick with a toxicity that tasted like metal and death. It was filled with a pungent, mixed smell of sulfur, burning refuse, and an unusually foul odor of decay that clung to the inside of their nostrils.
The sky above was not blue. It was a hazy, sickly gray, as if shrouded by a thick layer of industrial smoke that would never wash away, suffocating the sun.
The land beneath their feet was a sickly scorched black. The soil was cracked and dry, devoid of moisture, with not a single blade of green grass growing. The trees were withered skeletons, reaching up to the smoggy sky like skeletal hands begging for rain that would never come.
Not far away, a river that should have been clear flowed with thick, purple-black sewage like ink. It bubbled sluggishly, emitting a nauseating stench that made one's stomach turn.
As far as the eye could see, the entire world seemed to have lost its color. The vibrancy of life had been sucked out, leaving only oppressive black, white, and gray tones.
The few civilians occasionally seen were all ragged. Their clothes were little more than patched rags that hung loosely on their skeletal frames. They were emaciated, their skin clinging tightly to their bones, highlighting every rib. Their eyes were hollow, numb, void of hope or light. They moved like walking corpses.
"...Orochi! Kaido!"
Nekomamushi looked at this familiar yet strange land. His heart broke into a thousand pieces. His large fists clenched so hard his sharp claws dug into his thick palms. His teeth gritted together with a grinding sound.
An angry growl erupted from deep in his throat.
The Kuri he remembered, though not wealthy, was picturesque with clear waters and lush greenery. It was a place of life. It was definitely not the hellish scene before him!
Carrot and the other Mink Tribe warriors, though they had never seen Wano Country's past glory, understood immediately. The lifeless scene before them and the desperate expressions on the faces of the civilians already explained everything.
A mix of profound sadness and righteous anger intertwined in their chests.
"Truly... what foolish rule."
Hashirama Senju's smile had long vanished. His expression was serious, replaced by a heavy heartache as he looked at the dying earth.
"The land is poisoned, the people are starving. Such a country has already rotted from its very foundations. A leader who lets his land die has failed in his most basic duty."
"To destroy the foundation of eternity for immediate gain."
Uchiha Madara's evaluation was even colder and more direct. He stood with his arms crossed, a hint of undisguised disdain flashing in his eyes as he looked at the smoke-belching factories in the distance.
"Such rulers don't even deserve to be called 'scum'. They are parasites destroying their host."
Just then, a frail, small figure not far in front of them caught everyone's attention.
It was a little girl who looked no older than four or five. Her purple hair was messy and matted with dirt. She was wearing a patchwork kimono that was clearly an adult's garment simply altered a little—it hung off her shoulders, exposing her thin, malnourished arms. She was barefoot, her small feet stained with soot.
She was staggering towards the foul-smelling, black river.
She was so thirsty. Her lips were cracked and dry, peeling from dehydration.
Under everyone's gaze, she squatted down by the riverbank. She extended her dirty little hand, trembling slightly from weakness, and actually intended to scoop up the deadly sewage to bring it to her mouth!
Everyone frowned, and even Esdeath's ice-blue eyes showed a flicker of unbearable pity. Even for a believer in survival of the fittest, this was a pathetic waste of potential.
Suzaku didn't move, merely giving Carrot a sharp look.
The next second, the rabbit girl's figure instantly vanished from her spot. She moved with the speed of lightning, stirring a gentle breeze that blew the dust around them.
Just before the little girl's hand touched the poisonous, bubbling water, Carrot firmly but gently grabbed her thin wrist.
"Little sister, you can't drink this water!"
The sudden change startled the little girl.
She looked up and saw a strange face with long white rabbit ears looming over her. Her mind went blank with terror. To her, this wasn't a savior; it was a monster from the stories.
Then, out of instinct born from living in a land of oppression, she let out a terrified scream.
"Wah!"
"Bad guys! There are bad guys!"
Her cries were sharp and piercing, echoing across the desolate wasteland.
But the numb villagers nearby, upon seeing Suzaku and his group, not only did not approach to help, but instead showed even greater fear.
They saw the splendid, spotless clothing. They saw the shine of Nami's jewelry. They felt the suffocatingly powerful aura radiating from these strangers. In their eyes, this group was undoubtedly 'big figures'—perhaps high-ranking Beast Pirates or cruel nobles—more terrifying than the hunger they faced daily.
They guessed it might be nobles on an outing, here to mock them or kill them for sport. They couldn't understand why else such pristine people would come to such a remote village!
One villager scrambled away on all fours, shouting hoarsely, "Quickly! Go inform Tama's grandfather! Tama is in trouble! The officials are here!"
The rest kept their distance, huddling together and trembling, not even daring to take another look.
Immediately after, a similarly emaciated woman rushed over in a panic. She didn't have a weapon. She only had her body.
With a heavy thud, she fell on her knees before everyone, banging her forehead on the hard, rocky ground like a crazy person.
"Please spare us, great sirs! Please spare us!"
Thud! Thud!
"Tama... she's only four years old and doesn't understand anything! She didn't mean to disturb you, great sirs! She just... she just wanted some water! She didn't know it was forbidden!"
Blood soon seeped from her forehead, staining the grey dust red, but she didn't stop. She repeatedly uttered pleas for mercy, her voice breaking with hysteria.
"Please, let her go! Take my life instead! Please!"
"Auntie, please get up! We're not bad people!"
Kind-hearted Nami, seeing this, felt her heart shatter. She quickly stepped forward to help the woman up, her hands trembling as she touched the woman's bony shoulders.
"We just saw her about to drink dirty water and wanted to help her! We aren't going to hurt anyone! Please, stop!"
However, the woman seemed not to hear. Her eyes were dilated with terror, and she only banged her head harder.
Years of oppression had long etched an indelible mark in their hearts.
Any 'big figure' was someone who could arbitrarily decide their life or death. Any explanation was superfluous; only humble begging might earn a shred of pity. Resistance was death. Explanation was death.
Watching this absurd yet heartbreaking scene, Nami's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, trembling.
"See?"
Suzaku's calm voice rang out at this moment, cutting through the woman's sobs. It clearly reached the ears of every companion.
"This is Kaido's 'achievement'."
He pointed a gloved hand at the factories billowing black smoke in the distance.
"His factories discharge highly toxic waste into the rivers, polluting the water and poisoning the land. People can't grow food. The rice paddies are dead. To survive, the young and strong can only enter those dark, sunless factories, exchanging arduous labor for a meager ration to feed their families."
His gaze swept over the desperate land before them, and those people who didn't even dare to resist, their souls seemingly drained. His voice became cold and indifferent, simmering with a dangerous undertone.
"Meanwhile, in the Flower Capital, separated by high walls and protected by samurai, the nobles and Kurozumi Orochi's lackeys still enjoy the clearest water and the most fertile land."
He looked down at the bleeding woman and the terrified child.
"They live lives of song and dance, indulging in debauchery while children drink poison! Though both are on the land of Wano Country, the lives of the common people and the so-called nobles are two different worlds!"
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