Chapter 25 : VS Kurozumi Clan!

Among the many outrageous statements made by Kaido, today's remark—"You'll be the Shogun of Wano"—struck Ian as one of the top three most absurd.

In case you're unaware, the Shogun you've chosen for Wano is only eight years old this year, still just a child.

"Shogun Orochi!"

Before Ian could even respond, the surrounding onlookers had already instinctively begun to scream.

He's been killed! 

The Shogun of Wano, Orochi, has been killed? 

Even more intense than the crowd's reaction were the ninja and samurai under Orochi's command. Shouting "Lord Orochi," the ninjas and samurai led by Fukurokuju rushed towards the fallen body of Orochi.

But in the next moment, flames erupted.

King merely waved his hands lightly, and two walls of fire spread out, directly blocking the samurai and ninja's advance.

Fukurokuju's face instantly hardened.

This isn't a mistake.

Kaido's gun was aimed directly at Shogun Orochi.

The old woman named Kurozumi Higurashi also realized what was happening. Her face turned ashen, and her body trembled uncontrollably. "Kaido! What are you doing?!"

"What am I doing?"

Kaido said calmly, "I'm just reclaiming my property."

"You, you, you—"

The old woman was like a candle flickering in the wind, trembling in despair. "Are you going to break our agreement?"

"Agreement? How interesting,"

Kaido said with a cruel smile, "Didn't we just break the agreement with Kozuki Oden?"

Kurozumi Higurashi's eyes turned red, and Ian could even see tears at the corners of her eyes.

She's crying! 

Oh dear, after torturing children, Kaido is now starting to bully the elderly.

"It shouldn't be like this."

The old woman slumped to the ground, murmuring, "How could you do this?"

Ian watched coldly.

Orochi toyed with Kozuki Oden as if he was a mere puppet, and now Kaido was toying with Orochi in the same way.

Kaido was ready to burn the bridges.

This happened a full twenty years ahead of the original timeline.

Was it because the chosen person this time is himself, rather than Yamato?

Yamato, who was completely unaware of this, cheered up, "Hooray! Dad! It was about time to deal with this guy!"

For this white-haired girl, she simply thought Orochi was too annoying.

Good riddance!

However, as a Mythical Zoan user of the Yamata no Orochi fruit, Orochi wasn't going down so easily.

"Kaido!"

Orochi's corpse began to twist, and in the blink of an eye, transformed into six-headed serpents.

"Oh, another head gone, and another life taken."

Orochi, with its six heads swaying, roared incredulously at Kaido, "What have you done?!"

"You insects, your lives cling on as stubbornly as bugs."

Kaido, somewhat impatient, seemed to think that spending even a second longer on a coward like Kurozumi Orochi was a waste, "Wouldn't it be better if you just died quietly?"

Kurozumi Orochi was a cowardly man, but when his life was threatened, he couldn't afford to be scared anymore. His face was filled with shock, "Kaido! Are you betraying me?"

"Betrayal?"

Kaido sneered, "Are you questioning a pirate?"

Since I have no morals, you can't dismiss me on moral grounds.

"Forget it, it's pointless to talk too much with someone like you."

Without waiting for Kurozumi Orochi to respond, Kaido turned to Ian, "Kid, since you're his successor, it's up to you to deal with him."

"Kaido-sensei, is this really okay?"

Ian scratched his head, "No matter what, Wano Country is quite important to us, and you want me, someone with absolutely no management experience, to be a Shogun?"

Not to mention in this life, even in my previous one, the highest position I held was just a health committee member.

Kaido frowned slightly, saying matter-of-factly, "What nonsense are you talking about? Even an idiot like Kurozumi Orochi could handle this, and you can't?"

Ian was taken aback.

Wow, that makes so much sense; I can't argue with that.

Ian thought to himself, maybe it really could work.

Becoming the Shogun of Wano Country might be considered a transition to a civilian role, right?

Then maybe I won't have to go on business trips in the future.

Not too bad.

"Well, I'll give it a try."

Ian nodded seriously.

Who would have thought that at just eight years old, I'd be taking on the role of a national leader?

Ian's rapid change in attitude even surprised Kaido a bit.

However, he soon raised his hand and pointed at the roaring Orochi.

"Well then, go deal with him now."

"Dad! I want to do it too!"

Yamato eagerly raised her little hand high, "That annoying guy, I want to help Ian take care of him!"

"Don't be a nuisance, you brat," Kaido said as he grabbed Yamato by the little horn on her forehead and lifted her up, placing her on his shoulder. "This is Ian's fight."

Understood, a battle for the transfer of power.

"Then it seems I need to show off," Ian said as he stepped forward.

Killing a giant snake was no more challenging than kicking a stray dog on the side of the road—simple and straightforward.

"Kaido! You want to kill me!!"

Orochi finally realized that Kaido was ready to wipe him out. His six snake heads suddenly twisted, and his anger could no longer be contained. "Alright, alright! You bastard, planning to kill me when I'm down, huh! I'll make sure you regret it!!"

"Fukurokuju! Get your men to come at me!"

The flames blocking their path had already extinguished, but Fukurokuju, leading the Orochi's Oniwabanshu , remained silent.

He glanced at Orochi, then turned his head to look at Kaido.

"Choose now!"

Kaido announced loudly, "Those who are willing to follow Orochi, stand behind him. Those who wish to surrender to me, now,"

"Kneel down!"

The samurai under Orochi and the ninja led by Fukurokuju all remained silent.

Their silence made Orochi anxious. He roared in anger, "Fukurokuju! Why are you still standing there?"

Fukurokuju took a deep breath, the particularly long-headed bald man gave Orochi a deep look.

He said, "We are the Oniwabanshu, ninjas who have been loyal to the Shogun of Wano for generations. We pledge our hundred percent loyalty to the Shogun."

Orochi's eyes lit up in an instant. "Fukurokuju!"

I never knew you were so loyal.

Even Ian found a new respect for the bald man.

In the original work, this guy was also quite loyal to Orochi. When Orochi faked his death, he pretended to surrender to Kaido, but after Orochi's revival, he remained steadfastly loyal.

However, the next moment, Fukurokuju knelt directly before Kaido.

"We are only loyal to the Shogun. Whoever the Shogun is, that's who we are loyal to."

Ian's lips twitched slightly.

Quite straightforward.

Now that Orochi is finished, they've decided to switch allegiance, huh?

"Fukurokuju! Are you going to betray me too?"

Orochi's fury was so intense it seemed like his lungs might explode.

"Orochi, we once betrayed the Kozuki clan to follow you because you were the Shogun of Wano."

Fukurokuju now directly addressed Shogun as Orochi, "and now we will follow the new Shogun."

"That is the way of the ninja."

Seeing Fukurokuju kneeling, his ninja subordinates hesitated no longer and followed suit.

As the ninjas knelt, the other samurai also bowed their heads.

Who would want to die with Orochi?

"How could this be! How could this be!"

Orochi roared in agitation, "How dare you betray me! I will kill you all! I'll have you all slaughtered!"

"Hahaha! That's the way the world is!"

Kaido laughed heartily, "Orochi, you only have yourself to blame for being weak!"

"Ian! What are you waiting for?"

Ian twisted his neck and took a step forward. As his foot touched the ground, a brilliant golden light erupted from his body, and his wide golden wings unfurled. The golden-armored Winged Man emerged, bringing with him a wave of scorching heat!

"Whoosh!"

The crowd, already stunned by the sudden turn of events, was even more astonished by Ian's transformation. It was clear his change was anything but ordinary.

"Don't, don't come near me!"

The intense heat radiated towards him, and the previously furious Orochi was now terrified, stumbling backward. "You, stay away from me!"

"Hmm?"

Ian tilted his head slightly.

An elderly woman and an old man had positioned themselves in front of Orochi.

"At this point, even tearful pleas are futile," the old woman, known as Kurozumi Higurashi, cried out. "Orochi, fight to the end as a Kurozumi."

"No! No! I can't die here!"

Kurozumi Orochi trembled as he continued to retreat. "How could this Shogun possibly die here? Hold them off for me! Buy me some time!"

With that, he clumsily fled.

However, a figure suddenly blocked his path.

Fukurokuju, sword in hand, stood with a calm expression. "Orochi, Shogun Ian hasn't said you could leave."

"Fukurokuju!!"

Kurozumi Orochi's eyes blazed with fury.

A traitor was more loathsome than a mere enemy!

Ian nearly laughed out loud.

When it came to shifting allegiances, this guy was truly top-notch.

Is this the foresight of a ninja?

Ian stepped forward, flames rising around him.

"Come on, Kurozumi should be burned to ashes."

One against three? What's there to fear?

**********

Support me on my patreon and read upto 15 early chapters.

patreon.com/PirateKing24