Enraged, Kouzuki Oden charged forward, blades raised, intending to execute Kurozumi Orochi on the spot and deal with Kaido afterward.
At that very moment—
An invisible, colorless barrier materialized before him.
His fully powered twin slash struck empty air and halted abruptly, blocking mid-swing.
"What is this? Glass? No… Get out here, Orochi!!"
Unable to break through the barrier, Oden could only rage helplessly outside it.
Inside, Orochi quickly recovered from his earlier state of sobbing terror and humiliation.
With his life no longer in immediate danger, his petty nature resurfaced.
He began proudly boasting about his achievements over the years—
How he had used Kurozumi Higurashi's Clone-Clone Fruit to impersonate various daimyō and deceive them.
How he had forged the decree of succession.
And more.
Just then—
A massive azure dragon descended from the sky.
Kaido.
Summoning dark clouds, he blanketed the Flower Capital in shadow. His enormous dragon form loomed overhead, causing the city's citizens to tremble in fear.
Moments later, Kaido shrank back into human form and landed on the same level as Oden and Orochi.
"Kaido!!"
Seeing him, Oden's fury flared again.
"So you're the mastermind behind all this! Die!!"
"Worororo! Kouzuki Oden! I've heard of your exploits! I've been looking forward to this fight for a long time!"
Kaido grinned, drawing his kanabo.
Steel met steel.
Boom!
Their Haki clashed like thunder, blasting through the banquet hall and sweeping away everything not bolted down.
Had Orochi not been protected by the barrier, he would have been blown away as well.
After a single exchange, both Kaido and Oden withdrew.
Kaido—because Orochi still had his so-called "plan" and space needed to be left for its execution.
Oden—because he was stunned.
He had assumed Kaido, while strong, would be only marginally superior to the Red Scabbards.
He was a member of the Pirate King's crew, ranked fourth in overall strength aboard the ship.
How could he possibly be inferior to Kaido?
Yet reality struck hard.
Kaido was on his level.
One clash wasn't enough to determine who was stronger—
But deciding the outcome would require a fight to the death.
And Oden had come recklessly—alone.
If Kaido's reinforcements arrived first and he were surrounded, his odds would drop sharply.
Inside the barrier—
Seeing Kaido hold Oden at bay, Orochi's grin widened.
He ordered a nearby room opened.
Inside were large quantities of weapons prepared as tribute for Kaido—
And hundreds of Wano civilians were taken hostage.
Orochi began recounting his tragic childhood.
Because his grandfather's failed coup led to the purge of the Kurozumi clan, he had lived like a dog.
Now that he had the chance—
He would take revenge on Wano.
Then he gestured toward the hostages.
"I'm a man of vengeance! We don't care about civilian casualties! If you insist on fighting, and we can't win, we'll just leave. But how many people in Wano die before that? That's anyone's guess."
Kaido followed with a sinister grin.
"These hostages? We'll either sell them, use them as toys, or kill them outright. Once they fall into my hands, they won't live like humans anymore! Wororororo!!"
Oden burned with anger—
Yet felt utterly constrained.
The more furious he became, the more powerless he felt.
Sensing the atmosphere was ripe, Orochi presented his so-called Five-Year Plan.
For five years, he would "take revenge" on Wano.
During that time, Oden must publicly dance naked once a week to apologize to the Kurozumi clan.
After five years, Orochi and Kaido would build ships and leave Wano, returning the country to Oden.
In those five years, aside from continuing to operate weapons factories, they would refrain from indiscriminate slaughter and ensure basic civilian safety.
Anyone with sense could hear it for what it was—
A scam.
But Kouzuki Oden had no sense.
He believed it.
So did a certain kunoichi secretly observing from the ceiling.
After several hours, under Oden's supervision, the hostages were released.
Then—
Kouzuki Oden truly removed his clothes and stepped outside the shogun's palace.
He danced naked in the streets.
Reinforcements from Orochi's men and the Beast Pirates burst into laughter.
The citizens of the Flower Capital fell into despair.
Their final hope shattered before their eyes.
Disappointment curdled into anger.
The common people of Wano began to resent Oden.
And Oden?
He immersed himself fully in the fantasy—
That by sacrificing his pride, he could save Wano as a lone hero.
He didn't realize—
This was the moment he had the greatest chance to overturn everything.
Onigashima.
After returning, Kaido recounted the day's events to his officers.
Bai Feng listened quietly at the side.
"Muhahaha! That Kouzuki Oden really is a fool! Believing the enemy's words so easily! Why would the people of Wano worship such an idiot? Muhahaha!"
The Queen roared with laughter.
Even the taciturn King showed disdain.
"It seems we overestimated Kouzuki Oden."
"Worororo! An enemy's stupidity is our good fortune!"
Kaido turned his gaze toward Bai Feng.
"Bai Feng, your plan may truly have a chance now!"
Bai Feng pressed his lips into a faint smile.
A cold killing intent flickered in his dark eyes.
"It's too early to relax. Kouzuki Oden still has a chance to turn things around."
"We must follow Orochi's plan for now—numb his vigilance, erode his popular support in Wano, and quietly accumulate strength."
"Only then can we eliminate him completely."
"And after that…"
"My Wano extermination plan can unfold—calmly and without resistance."