In the flickering light of the screen, Yamato and the others watched as Orochi's eight heads were severed one by one. The Shogun of Wano perished right then and there.
"What a waste," Yamato said, looking exasperated. "To think a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit fell into the hands of someone like Orochi. He couldn't even manage a decent fight before being cut down."
The power of the Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Yamata no Orochi, granted its user eight lives. If it had been eaten by a master of Haki, the potential would have been staggering. Beyond its wasted potential, Yamato couldn't help but notice how hideous the transformation looked.
"Now that Orochi is dead, his enemies will likely start rallying the people of Wano Country to wage war against the Beasts Pirates," Haruko noted.
Maria shook her head, lighting a cigarette. "It won't happen that fast. Their first move should be to capture the weapon factories scattered across the country. Without weapons, numbers alone are useless in a real war."
Yamato nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Even with Orochi out of the picture, they aren't ready to face the Beasts Pirates yet. They need a massive stockpile of weaponry first. They'll follow the plan Maria mentioned: take the factories, then gather the samurai for a final push."
After a short pause, Yamato added, "But we won't make it easy for them. We aren't blind to their movements. We can start deploying our forces now. However, I doubt they have the strength to confront our upper echelons. Haruko, do you really think the Straw Hat can defeat my father?"
"I'm not sure," Haruko replied. "Do you truly believe he can, Young Master?"
Yamato shrugged. "I hope he can. Honestly, it's his only choice. If he loses, he and his crew will just end up as prisoners. I can't think of any reason he wouldn't try his absolute hardest to take down my idiot father."
Both Maria and Haruko fell silent. Challenging one of the Yonko was a gamble where victory brought freedom, but defeat meant losing everything. There was no middle ground.
"Still, defeating Lord Kaido is no easy task," Maria said, blowing out a cloud of smoke. "At the very least, it would be simpler than trying to take you down, Yamato."
Yamato let out a boisterous laugh. "Hahaha! You've got that right!"
Her strength had long since reached a level that rivaled or even surpassed Kaido's. Whether it was her mastery of Haki or her refined Devil Fruit abilities, she had pushed herself to the limit. In a sense, she was more qualified to be the 'final boss' of Wano than her father was. But Yamato had no interest in that role. She wanted the Straw Hat to win so she could lead the Beasts Pirates toward a new era.
Meanwhile, in his private chambers, Kaido sat watching the same broadcast. His expression was unreadable, his eyes cold.
"So you're finally dead, Orochi. What an ugly way to go," Kaido muttered, propping his chin on his hand. He felt no remorse for his long-time partner's demise. Even if the samurai hadn't killed him today, Kaido had planned to execute him in a few days anyway.
"The brats of the Worst Generation did a decent job. Now, the real war begins," Kaido said. He picked up a large gourd of sake and took several deep gulps.
He wiped his mouth and grinned. "Fine. I'll give you time to prepare. I'll wait right here for your challenge. When the time comes, I'll personally shatter your illusions."
Ever since he saw the Straw Hat use Conqueror's Haki infusion, a flicker of anticipation had been burning in his chest. It had been decades since he felt this way—not since his battle with Kozuki Oden. He yearned for an opponent who could actually push him. His "eldest son," Yamato, was an exception he didn't count in this context.
For over twenty years, Kaido had been bored, unable to find a battle where he could go all out. Now, it seemed Luffy was finally catching up. This prospect delighted him, and he was willing to wait on Onigashima for the satisfaction of a true fight.
"Straw Hat, don't disappoint me! Ororororo!"
His laughter echoed through the hall as thunder roared outside, and a heavy rain began to fall over the Flower Capital.
In the capital, Kin'emon and the other scabbards withdrew quickly after the execution. They knew the battle wasn't over. One powerful enemy remained, and only by defeating him could they truly reclaim their home.
"Shogun Orochi has been slain!" "Orochi is dead!"
As the news spread, the citizens emerged from their homes in shock. The execution grounds were in total disarray, and Orochi's headless body lay in the dirt.
"Is it true? Is the tyrant really gone?" "It's true! Look for yourself!" "Wonderful! We won't be oppressed anymore!"
Cheers erupted throughout the Flower Capital. It was a testament to Orochi's cruelty that even in the most prosperous part of the country, the people celebrated his death. Just outside the city, Luffy and his companions heard the cheers and smiled.
"We thank you for your help," Kin'emon said, bowing deeply to Luffy, Law, and the others. Kiku, Raizo, and the rest of the Nine Red Scabbards followed suit. "Now that Orochi is dead, we must prepare for the Beasts Pirates' counterattack."
"Don't be so formal! We're friends, aren't we?" Luffy said with a wide grin.
Law nodded, getting straight to the point. "What's the plan?"
"We need weapons," Kin'emon explained. "We'll travel to different regions to gather allies and form an army. With Orochi gone, recruitment will be easy. The hard part is arming them. We need to target the weapon factories."
"Wait," Kawamatsu interrupted. "I've prepared a secret stash of blades in Ringo. We can arm a large group immediately."
"Really? That's perfect!" The group was revitalized by the news.
"I have manpower ready as well," Denjiro added. "Even though I was exposed early, my followers were hidden in advance. I can call them to arms now."
With weapons and men secured, the rebellion was finally taking shape.
"Our next moves are clear," Kin'emon said. "We seize the factories and head for the Udon Mining Camp. There are many samurai there who refused to bow to Kaido. If we rescue them, they will be our strongest allies."
As they planned their strike, a massive force of Beasts Pirates was already moving out from Onigashima to reinforce the factories.
In Udon, the All-Stars Queen and Jack had been watching the events unfold.
"Orochi died like a dog. What a waste," Queen said, puffing on a cigar. "Who would have thought Oden's vassals were alive this whole time?"
"Now that the Shogun is dead, the seat is vacant," Jack said. "Is the Boss still planning to make Yamato the Shogun?"
Kaido had previously mentioned a plan to turn Wano into a 'New Onigashima'—a pirate paradise with Yamato at the helm.
"That isn't urgent," Queen replied. "To make that dream a reality, we have to exterminate these pests first."
Jack nodded. Between the scabbards, the Straw Hats, and Law's crew, it was clear the Beasts Pirates were the primary target.
"Let's get ready. We'll leave Udon to them for now and regroup at Onigashima," Queen said with a cruel glit in his eye. "I'll leave them a little 'gift' before we go."
"Are we really abandoning this post?" Jack asked.
"We aren't abandoning it; we're letting them have it temporarily," Queen clarified. "Once we wipe them out, the whole country will still be ours."
Soon, the two All-Stars departed for Onigashima. But as they left, another massive presence was approaching the borders of Wano. One of the Yonko, Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin, had arrived at the waterfall.
"That old hag! She actually came!" Kaido roared when he heard the report.
Linlin had called him days ago, claiming she was coming for the Straw Hat's head. Kaido had told her to stay away, but she had ignored him completely.
"Lord Kaido, what are your orders?" a subordinate trembled.
"Sink them! Don't let them set foot on this island!" Kaido yelled.
"I'll handle it," King said calmly. He knew he couldn't beat Big Mom alone, but preventing her ship from climbing the waterfall was a task he could manage. He took to the skies immediately.
Back at Yamato's location, the news arrived quickly.
"She chased him all the way here?" Yamato wondered aloud. "Does she want Luffy that badly, or is she just using him as an excuse to see my father?"
Yamato suspected that despite her father's aggressive tone, he didn't actually want to kill Big Mom.
"Lord King has gone to intercept them. They likely won't get in," Haruko said.
"Don't be so sure," Yamato mused. "Big Mom can fly. Even if her ship goes down, she might find a way in. In the original... well, I suspect she'll make it."
"You think King is in danger?" Maria asked.
"No, Uncle King can fly too. He's smart enough to retreat if things get too heated," Yamato said. She wasn't worried. This was all part of the chaos she expected. "Let's get ready. A Yonko is visiting; we should show some hospitality."
Yamato wore a mischievous grin. She wanted to sit down with Big Mom—not to fight, but to dig up some embarrassing stories about her father's past.
"If she makes it, won't she and Lord Kaido just start a war?" Haruko asked.
"Maybe for a bit," Yamato laughed. "But don't let my father's tough talk fool you. Big Mom took care of him back in the day. Deep down, he'll probably be happy to see her."
Maria and Haruko shared a look. The idea of two Yonko sitting together like old friends was hard to imagine.
"How do you even know about their history, Yamato?" Maria asked.
"I did some digging into the era before the Great Pirate Age," Yamato said with a sly smile. "But I only know the basics. I plan to ask Big Mom for the juicy details when she gets here."
Yamato stood up, full of energy. "I'm going out to greet our 'guest' and build some rapport. It'll make the questioning easier later. See ya!"
She rushed out before they could stop her. Maria and Haruko could only sigh. "There she goes again. Lord Kaido is definitely going to have a headache after this."