Wano Country, Flower Capital Chizuru Pavilion, Rear Courtyard.
Thwack!
"Pay attention to the perception of my movements. Don't just look with your eyes, listen. Everything has its own breath..."
Sephiroth, wearing a blue kimono, casually evaded Black Maria's attacks using a single sheet of paper as a prop. He was effortlessly explaining his understanding of Observation Haki.
Black Maria wore a black kimono, its top intentionally loosened, and her full chest was wrapped in white bandages. Every time she swung her fist, her breasts trembled as if they wanted to break free.
Chiyo, wearing a creamy kimono, gently pushed open the courtyard door and watched Sephiroth and Black Maria train. She didn't interrupt, but waited patiently instead.
"Take a break!" Sephiroth said, easily catching Black Maria's Haki-coated fist.
"Okay!" Black Maria nodded, let out a sigh of relief, and sat down in the hallway. She took a prepared cup of tea, sipped it a little, then wiped the sweat from her cheeks with a handkerchief.
"What is it?" Sephiroth asked, turning to Chiyo who was standing still.
"Master, someone has come to apply for a geisha job. She's a pretty young girl..."
Chizuru Pavilion often recruited geishas and wandering girls, but not many were actually accepted. Sephiroth was always selective, preferring quality over quantity. He almost never took on an unattractive woman. Black Maria, who often acted on his behalf, always maintained this standard as well.
"Bring her in."
"Yes!" Chiyo bowed slightly, turned around, and quickly left the courtyard.
Knowing there was going to be an interview, Black Maria quickly wiped her sweat, put her top back on, and tidied her clothes.
A short time later, Chiyo returned with a young girl and stood before them. The girl was probably twelve or thirteen years old, wearing a dull kimono. She had beautiful, long emerald hair and charming eyebrows, with a pretty sweet face. It was uncertain whether her appearance would grow to be more beautiful or the opposite.
Sephiroth looked at the nervous-looking girl. Her appearance wasn't enough to attract his attention yet. He glanced at Black Maria, gesturing for her to take over. Black Maria, who knew him well, understood in an instant.
"What's your name?" Black Maria asked.
"My name is... Komurasaki!" the girl answered hesitantly.
"She's lying!" Sephiroth thought, while sipping his tea. "Green hair, claiming to be Komurasaki. Why does that feel familiar?"
After many years, Sephiroth's faint memories from his past life surfaced in his mind. Wano Country + Green Hair + Komurasaki + Geisha. All those factors pointed to one name: Kozuki Hiyori!
Without waiting, Sephiroth gave instructions to Chiyo: "Chiyo, you go out first and work on something else."
"Yes, Senior." Chiyo bowed and closed the courtyard door.
"So, what are your talents?" Black Maria continued the interview, mentally considering whether this girl was worthy of being recruited.
"I can arrange flowers, play the shamisen, and dance..." The girl who called herself Komurasaki, though she seemed shy, listed one by one the talents she had learned as a noble.
"I didn't expect you to have so many talents!" Black Maria was a little surprised. If true, her talent was more than enough to be a geisha. And if she became more beautiful in the future, she could even become an Oiran.
As Black Maria was about to ask her to demonstrate her talents, a faint black mist appeared in the air. An ordinary person would not have noticed it, but Black Maria felt it instantly, thanks to her Zoan Devil Fruit ability, the Kumo Kumo no Mi, Grignard Ancient Rose Tarantula model, which could produce a hallucinogenic mist.
Sephiroth had combined this mist with his Blood Remembrance ability to create a new trick: Conscious Hypnosis. Once a target inhaled it, he could control the mist to hypnotize them, cause hallucinations, and even distort their subconscious. This ability was crucial for Sephiroth to gather loyal followers in Wano Country.
After he was sure the girl had inhaled the mist, Sephiroth immediately hypnotized her. The girl's eyes lost focus and became empty.
"Tell me, what is your real name?" Sephiroth asked in a deep voice.
"My name is Kozuki Hiyori," the girl answered unconsciously.
Black Maria was stunned. This girl was the heir of the Kozuki Clan, the sworn enemy of Kurozumi Orochi! She was curious what Sephiroth would do.
"Why did you come to Chizuru Pavilion to apply for a geisha job?" Sephiroth continued.
"My father's retainer, Kawamatsu, was hiding with me... To keep me from starving, he often gave me all the food he found, while he starved himself. I decided to leave him so I wouldn't be a burden. Coincidentally, I saw Chizuru Pavilion's announcement and wanted to try. I thought, if I succeeded, I would no longer have to live in misery and wander around..." Kozuki Hiyori answered honestly.
Sephiroth looked at the girl, stroked his chin, and pondered. Setting aside her identity, Hiyori was just a beautiful girl without any special talents in the original story. She was just a 'vase' who was good at the art of tea. She had no useful value or threat.
Hmm!.... Maybe, when she grows up, she'll become prettier, right?
In the original story, Kozuki Hiyori was known as the most beautiful woman in Wano Country. In terms of beauty, she shouldn't be bad... With this thought, the corners of Sephiroth's mouth lifted slightly, forming a malicious smile.
He didn't mean anything by it. He was just interested in the future number one woman of Wano Country. Of course! What's wrong with being a pervert? I am indeed greedy for her body!
After making his decision, he wrapped his arm around Black Maria's slender waist and whispered: "Let her become our geisha at Chizuru Pavilion under the name of Komurasaki! You help me train her well."
Black Maria understood the hidden meaning of her master's words, which made her a little unhappy. There was a possibility that this girl would become a threat in the future. However, she immediately thought, since her master had given her Hiyori, if she could train her properly, Hiyori would always be under her control.
"Understood! Master. I will definitely train her well." Black Maria stuck out her fragrant tongue and licked her red lips, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Sephiroth snapped his fingers, releasing the hypnosis on Kozuki Hiyori. "We are very satisfied with you. From now on, you will be our geisha at Chizuru Pavilion."
"Thank you, Master! I will definitely work hard!" Kozuki Hiyori was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly.
Sephiroth then asked Black Maria to sign a bill of sale with Kozuki Hiyori, buying this future number one beauty of Wano Country for fifty pieces of gold.
Like the story? You can read 7 chapters and an exclusive collection at p@treon/Rzzzy!