C40 : Independence

• [Zugai Capital in Onigashima of Wano Country] {Year : 20.5} •

"I've arrived, Shogun." Denjiro opened the sliding door to the room that Ryu was within. He looked casual like him, but Denjiro felt the monstrous presence in him as always. 'Still the frightening monster as before, eh...?'

Ryu smiled at him when he continued to look. Denjiro shook his head and casually sat in front of the Shogun, as well as ordering a servant to bring a rare drink for the occasion.

"Bring the Thousand Years Sake from the storage." The servant didn't look surprised that Thousand Years Sake, which was rare as a Great Grade Named Weapon, was going to be used for this occasion. If anything, he felt that it was a pity they didn't have anything better for Shogun Ryu to drink. "Hey!"

Denjiro's rush for the servant to move snapped him out of his thoughts and he quickly moved. "Yes, Master Kyoshiro!"

"So, what's up?" Denjiro started, curiously looking at Ryu. He felt that Ryu's return was too soon for a long journey of traveling around the world. "Is it because of the disappearance of Kaido?"

"No, I came back because of other matters, but speaking of Kaido's disappearance, do you know anything?" Ryu rose a eyebrow.

"Oh..." Denjiro chuckled and pulled his back. "Well, only thing I've heard was Kaido met a big fella and they made some sort of a deal."

"A big fella?" The Shogun squinted his green eyes at Denjiro, who felt unnerved. In the end, Ryu just shook his head. "Alright..."

"..." Denjiro felt his heart beat twice as faster, feeling as if a overwhelmingly strong person allowed him to live. "Erm, anyways... you probably also came here to find out why Onigashima changed so greatly, right?"

"Yeah." Ryu shrugged. "I'm just curious, that's all. But... if something dangerous is going on..."

He became apathetic near the end and looked at Denjiro, the family head of large and powerful Kyoshiro Family. With cold tone and his chilling green eyes looking directly at Denjiro's eyes, Ryu finished.

"I'll eradicate your Kyoshiro Family."

Denjiro definitely knew he was serious. So, he hastily said. "Kyoshiro Family isn't doing anything dangerous. I'm currently converting it into an force that depends on the community, so Kyoshiro Family will always side with the community so long as we are not betrayed."

"Mn. I know." Ryu's demeanor changed as he smirked at him. "I was just saying, that's all."

'Just saying? You nearly made me piss the floor, b*stard!' Denjiro internally raged but casually smiled back outwardly. "Oh, is that so. Well, worry not, as the Family Head of Kyoshiro Family, I will never forsake our birth country..."

He sighed and looked outside, where a porch was at the side. Denjiro saw the two girls being obedient in the porch, paying attention to the woman who was preaching.

"Those girls." Ryu suddenly said. "Why do they feel as if they're being restricted from using Conqueror's Haki?"

"...I don't know." Denjiro shook his head and stood. "A few weeks ago, they'd often mistakenly use Conqueror's Haki whenever they become too emotional but now... It just doesn't come anymore. I think it may have something to do with their personality as they grow up."

"What happened?"

"They've become more timid and shy, unlike any women who became Samurais or Kunoichi with strong wills." Denjiro wryly looked at the two girls from where he was. "It's as if they've chosen the path of being high nobility women, in other word, princesses."

Ryu felt the corners of his mouth twitch. He felt that was ridiculous but it was probably due to them being raised as such. "You've raised them too well, huh?"

"Erm..." Denjiro laughed it off and said. "Well, I'm not one to force them to live a way I want them to. Since they wanted to be one, I'll still help them in their parents' stead."

"Right, who's their parents?" The Shogun asked, curious.

"They're very important friends of mine, but passed away due to their illness." The Head of Kyoshiro Family frowned but smiled as he spoke. "They're one of the reasons why Kyoshiro Family exists now, that's all I'm going to say."

Ryu shrugged. The servant chose that moment to bring in a porcelain bottle with a tap stuck in its bottling line. "I've brought Thousand Years Sake, Master Kyoshiro."

He then placed it onto the table between Ryu and Denjiro, before placing two cups for both of them. The servant left when Denjiro told him to.

"This is sake made from a thousand years-old recipe which was handed through one of my retainers." Denjiro poured it into both of the cups and placed the porcelain bottle onto the table. "However, the ingredients are rare and difficult to obtain so we've stored it in one of our storages for special occasions like now."

"It's not really a special occasion for me though..." Ryu laid onto his back and sighed like a lazy and irresponsible man.

Denjiro's hand that had a cup froze momentarily before he rolled his eyes and drank Thousand Years Sake. After drinking it and making a 'so good~' noise, he said. "If that's the case, then are you going to leave again?"

"Nah, got business in Wano Country after all." Ryu shook his head and stared at the ceiling as if it was a sky. "Hmm... Let me warn you about one more thing."

"..." Denjiro constricted the passage of his bladder just in-case the Shogun was threatening him again in preparation.

"Onigashima may be in danger of another third party taking it as their land within the next ten years... It's not Kaido but someone far stronger than him. It's not someone of our race, human, either." Tilting his head downward, Ryu glanced at Denjiro. "Kyoshiro Family needs to reinforce Onigashima's borders. I'm going to tell the government to do so for all over Wano Country as well."

Denjiro placed his cup onto the table and adopted a serious look, understanding this was a matter of Wano Country's future. "What exactly is going to come? Is that the reason why you've returned sooner than we expected?"

"Mn." Ryu sighed at him and stood up. "War. That's what is coming. Not only Wano Country, other lands are going to be involved as well. Anyways, I'm leaving."

*woosh*

Without a second wasted, Ryu immediately left for Flower Capital. Denjiro had a shocked face as he stared at the spot where Ryu had been. War was coming in the next few years and it was not only Wano Country, it was going to be a world-wide war? He swiftly stood up and shouted for a higher-up to move. "Recall all of our men to Onigashima and tell them we're having a important meeting! Make sure they're here by the end of this week!"

"M-master Kyoshiro?!" A higher-up man looked flustered and dazedly looked at Denjiro, who roared back.

"Immediately!"

"Y-yes, Master!"

…

In Flower Capital...

"Head Official, Shogun Ryu has been sighted in Onigashima." A black-cladded person informed the middle-aged and muscular man in an official robe. "It is highly possible that Shogun Ryu will be here soon."

"Yes, I know. You are dismissed." The middle-aged and muscular man in an official robe nodded and waved his hand towards the black-cladded person away. He then stretched his back as he pushed his chair away from the desk he was in. "Gosh, being the Head Official is such a taxing job. I should have stayed as a Official..."

The Head Official stood up and faced the sole giant window in his office. Out of the window was the large scenery of businesses doing their business and civilians roaming about. Although he found his job tiring, it didn't go without any benefits. Such as the view from his office which he found calming and refreshing due to the sight. He brought his hands behind his back and clasped them together, looking like an dignified man.

"It has been awhile, Shogun Ryu."

"Hmm." Ryu appeared within the Head Official's office and found that there were small stacks of papers, which were split into unconfirmed section, approved section, and disapproved section. "Seems you're enjoying your position, Head Official Ikemura."

"Haha!" Ikemura Hawado laughed and turned around to face the Shogun. "I did not expect to be in such position as well! Although it is tiring, I find it satisfying that I was acknowledged by the people of Wano Country and you to be allowed such position."

"Acknowledgement, huh?" Ryu looked like he went into a far-off thought but shook it off as he smiled back at the Head Official. "I came earlier than expected because of a important matter relating to Wano Country's safety and future."

The middle-aged and muscular man frowned his eyebrows and stared at the Shogun's green eyes. He became serious and walked ahead of his desk and stood in front of the Shogun, before unhesitatingly saying. "Shogun Ryu, do you require our services to assist as your back-ups? We will not hesitate before Hell and will charge into it so long as you order us to!"

He resolutely crouched before Shogun Ryu, his presence completely changing from a dignified official of the government to a dignified samurai of Wano Country. Although Ikemura Hawado was the Head Official now, he was a Samurai before becoming an official and his strength as a samurai wasn't even a joke even among New World pirates. He would likely obtain a high position in a Yonko's crew if he so desired to, according to his strength.

"No, it's unneeded." Ryu rolled his eyes. "Even with all of Samurais of Wano Country combined, I could easily wipe you all out."

The Head Official stiffened before Shogun Ryu's coldness, but understood that he was simply stating facts. "...I understand, Shogun Ryu..."

"Anyways, just focus on reinforcing the country's defenses and make sure to prepare the civilians just in case." Ryu glanced at the middle-aged and muscular man kneeling in his spot. "By the way, stop calling me Shogun. In few months, a candidate will soon appear."

"A candidate?" The Head Official, Ikemura Hawado, looked disgruntled that Ryu wouldn't be the Shogun the next few years. "We will see..."

The middle-aged and muscular man stood up and walked to his seat.

"It depends on the civilians whether they will accept them as the next Shogun or not. If not... well, they will not be a Shogun until they have gained the community's trust."

Ryu nodded in agreement. "Understandable."

"Till then... You are still the Shogun, haha!" The Head Official grinned at Ryu, who shrugged. The middle-aged and muscular man asked. "Right, what of the defense mechanism that we had? What happened to them?"

"Gone. In this case, I think it's for the best because it gives you all time to prepare best possible for Wano Country's defense responses." Ryu looked at the huge window behind the Head Official and saw the buildings and civilians moving about. "Wano Country has become slightly reliant on me, so they're going to be forced to change and it's for the best, since I won't be always around."

"...Yes." Hawado sighed. "We are already making preparations to check out how we will be defending our land from those Marines who keeps attending our sea."

He then looked at Ryu.

"Oh, right. There were few prisons that lost control of itself, so few of Household Representatives came to us to assist the Prison Guards on retrieving them back in their hands. One of them in particular piqued my attention, Kozuki Kanjuro."

"Kanjuro?" Ryu appeared confused. He remembered who Kanjuro was but wasn't the man supposed to appear later with the other four? He didn't remember seeing Kanjuro during his time in Wano Country either.

"Yes, he is one of few Samurai Representatives of Kozuki Family. I feel he has different intents with the prisoners." The Head Official began to speak of Kanjuro's background which Ryu took no notice of as he thought to himself.

'What's going to happen now that most of Kurozumi Family had been wiped out?' Ryu tilted his head in thought. He knew that Kanjuro was definitely angered by how many of Kurozumi Family remained now and would be fueled by that to take revenge. If Kanjuro became a Samurai Representative of the Kozuki Family, he could cause an internal strife if he wanted to. The Shogun sighed to himself. 'Kozuki Family still is full of troubles after all.'

"So, what are you going to do with him?" Shogun Ryu asked the Head Official. By saying that, it told Hawado that Ryu was not going to get involved unless it was needed.

"Well, for now, surveillance will placed on him." The Head Official became cold. "If the Kozuki Family has endangered Wano Country once again, I will personally request you to end them if the endangerment is out of our abilities of damage management."

"...Only when I find it necessary." Ryu rose a eyebrow. "Do you have any conflicts with Kozuki Family?"

The Head Official tensed but sighed. "Well, it is not exactly me but the one in charge of my household, Ikemura Family. He has been requesting to be wed to Head of Kozuki Family, Hiyori, but keeps getting denied. Because of this, I would often be at conflict whenever Head of Ikemura Family demands something of me from Kozuki Family."

"Oh." Ryu nodded. It wasn't like he was unable to handle the matter, but the consequences would affect his wife and children if any. "Do you want me to deal with it?"

"Thank you Shogun, but I will handle it myself." The Head Official smiled and then said. "Are you going to leave soon again?"

"After visiting several spots, I will be." Ryu nodded in confirmation before he looked at the Head Official. "But I will return when it is time."

The Head Official, Ikemura Hawado, nodded and bowed his head. "As per your orders, I will strengthen Wano Country's defenses without your presence. We, the residents of Wano Country, will always be ready for your return while we protect Wano Country."

Ryu immediately felt that the Head Official's wording was strange and something went amiss by him but he didn't care for it as he nodded back and disappeared with a step.

*woosh*

Ikemura Hawado heaved a sigh of relief as he collapsed into the seat. For few minutes, he looked like he was in deep thought before he broke into a wide grin. "Hehe, Shogun Ryu missed it, eh? Still a youngling... No matter, he is still our savior after all."

…

Elsewhere in Flower Capital...

"When is he coming?" A beautiful young woman in blue kimono outfit pouted as her maid fussed around her. "He returned after few months and the first thing he does is appear at Onigashima? Hmph, I'll show him why he shouldn't do that!"

"Young miss..." Her maid rolled her eyes. She knew full well that the young miss was simply bluffing as usual. Since she grew up with the young miss, she was practically her childhood friend and knew almost everything about her.

"Hey, he won't have already brought another woman, right?" The young miss hesitatingly asked her childhood friend/maid.

The maid looked like she went into a thought before shrugging. "Perhaps he already has, but didn't you already say you're fine with that?"

"Well..." The young miss inflated her cheeks and sulked. "I know I said that, but I'd rather him not."

"You were simply afraid that he might find you too clingy and that he might think you would look at him like a possession." The maid concluded easily, before looking at her young miss's eyes.

The beautiful young woman in blue kimono looked surprised but nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

"I don't think Ryu would think so." Her maid simply said before she ended the conversation. "Now, let's go out and wait for him as usual."

Although the young miss looked like she wanted to say more, she just nodded in the end. Both of them walked out of their room and became silent. The young miss secretly glanced at her maid's cute face and saw that she was pouting too.

Rin sighed and understood why. 'You also like him, huh?'

…

Elsewhere far away from Wano Country yet nearest out of all islands...

In a large island on a extremely massive elephant's back, clamoring was heard all over the streets and forest. The Mink Tribe had been going on their day as the extremely massive elephant moved on his two-jointed legs that went to the sea floor when it suddenly stopped in middle of nowhere and the Mink Tribe noticed this as no wind came. Then the Filtering Dome, 'Ryu-dome', disappeared. To the Mink Tribe, they viewed Ryu-dome as a reminder of the time when Ryu came and bettered their lives as well as reconciled the relationship between their two Rulers of Mokomo Dukedom, Duke Inuarashi and Master Nekomamushi, who used to fight at the sight of each others. So, when Ryu-dome disappeared, it was as if Whale Forest, also a treasured and revered sacred place to the Mink Tribe, disappeared. They descended into a great clamoring and immediately created several theories on why it disappeared.

Duke Inuarashi and Master Nekomamushi also quickly met together and called for a meeting between themselves along with other important elders of Mokomo Dukedom. Since they called for it in Whale Forest, no one but the Whale Forest Guardians would know what was going on for now.

The huge yellow feline mink, Master Nekomamushi, and the huge canine mink, Duke Inuarashi, snorted at each other when they sat in the same room. The elders of Mokomo Dukedom sighed at them but nevertheless, focused on the topic — the disappearance of Ryu-dome.

One of them, a blue-furred lion mink, started. "So, the Filtering Dome has disappeared. It seems that Zunesha noticed this before us."

The blue-furred lion mink did not call the barrier Ryu-dome as the Solitary Pirate wished them to not, but they couldn't do much for the civilians. The barrier dome was literally simply a filtering dome which would clean anything that went through them. It didn't really protect them from outsiders, as it only cleaned, not block them away.

"Does this mean that Ryu has separated from us?" A white-furred squirrel mink rolled his eyes. He rubbed through his white fur as he added. "Oh, right, I should be calling him Shogun Ryu, hehe."

Master Nekomamushi and Duke Inuarashi chuckled at this as well, finding that a pirate becoming Wano Country's Shogun humorous as well but they did not go against it and were glad it was Ryu instead of anyone else.

The white-furred squirrel mink stood up and said. "Just because Filtering Dome has disappeared does not mean Shogun Ryu has forsaken us. It could mean something happened to Shogun Ryu, or perhaps he has gave us a chance to test our defense."

"Although those are possible, I find the disappearance of the barrier a chance for us to test our defense highly likely." A orange canine mink, small-sized compared to Duke Inuarashi, nodded in agreement. "Besides, we are nearing Wano Country as we wished."

"Yes... Zunesha started moving to Wano Country for whatever reason." Duke Inuarashi finally opened his mouth and said, but tilted his head. "Zunesha may have predicted this event and began the travel for this reason."

Master Nekomamushi shrugged. "Eh, the Filtering Dome was a miracle itself. I'm glad we didn't take Ryu's favor for grant otherwise we would have relied on it a lot. But if something did happen to him..."

The yellow feline mink's face twisted into a cold look along with Duke Inuarashi's.

"...Let us help him in any way we can."

The elders did not hesitate for a second to nod in agreement together. After all, Ryu helped them and Zunesha, and they took loyalty seriously, so why wouldn't they? The elders stood up and began to leave for their home in Mokomo Dukedom as well as to inform their neighborhood. As they left, Master Nekomamushi and Duke Inuarashi glanced at each other.

The huge canine mink sighed and wondered. "Has that little rabbit found him yet?"

"I hope so, otherwise we will have to be used as punching bags ahead of us when Carrot returns..." The yellow feline mink sighed too.

Both of them descended into a silence and they left on their way. The Whale Forest Guardians left with Master Nekomamushi and the Musketeers who came with Duke Inuarashi also left with the huge canine mink.

Master Nekomamushi casually flipped his old friend away as he poked his pipe in his mouth. "See you never, Ruler of Day."

"Whatever, Ruler of Night." Duke Inuarashi snorted and smirked.

Both of them had similar thought as they left for their residence. 'I'll make sure that Carrot focus on the other! Hehe~!'

Wind suddenly blew through the Whale Forest and both of them looked up at the sky. They smiled before returning on their way and they were not the only ones.

…

Elsewhere in the New World of Grand Line...

A man with quite large physique that easily dwarf over normal humans stood in middle of darkened forest. Due to his large physique, he gave off an imposing presence to everyone within the darkened forest. He took heavy steps while several scales on his tanned skin slowly receded. There were also few bloodied cuts on his top-heavy build, they appeared to have been in progress of healing but were somehow stopped. As he approached a unknown destination, a shadowed figure approached him from the sides.

"...Katakuri..." The bloodied man with large physique opened his mouth as he stopped and took a glance at the shadowed figure, revealing Charlotte Katakuri who showed his disgust at being called by the bloodied man.

"Don't you dare call me that...!" Katakuri's brows pursed against each other in visible disgust. "I do not wish to acknowledge my relationship with you... I am only here because Big Mom has ordered me to."

"Hmph." The bloodied man with large physique snorted before saying. "Nor do I. Lead the way."

Katakuri kept silent before he turned and went his way. However, the bloodied man could tell that Katakuri was keeping a eye on him. The bloodied man with large physique did not care about that as he followed him into the dark shadow.

When both of them disappeared, the darkened forest suddenly shifted and changed in a different appearance of a bright feeling. It was as if the scenery had been darkened due to the bloodied man's presence.