Chapter 29 : Willpower!!!

Willpower? 

Ian found it hard to believe that Kaido-sensei was being serious with him. 

He wanted to remind him, Do you really think you're the hot-blooded protagonist of a shounen manga? Shouting things like "friends" or "bonds" and suddenly powering up? 

Wake up. You're the big villain who gets punched into a volcano by the actual protagonist when they power up! 

However, before Ian could say anything, Kaido-sensei waved him off, telling him to get lost. It seemed like he wasn't joking. 

Willpower? 

Ian thought for a moment. This force... actually existed in this world—it was something real, a power you could wield. 

The Six Powers' ultimate technique, Paper Art, was essentially injecting willpower into the body to control every part with precision—even hair, which doesn't have nerves, could be manipulated. 

Hmm. 

Now it made sense how Luffy's ability to cling to life worked. 

It really works! Strong willpower is the key! 

Even if the body is riddled with wounds, an indomitable will can still keep it moving. 

Now that he thought about it, using willpower to give fire a tangible form wasn't entirely impossible. 

But how exactly do you train willpower? 

Kaido-sensei had said, "If you want to, you can do it." 

What did that even mean? 

"Ian!" 

Just as Ian was lost in thought, a voice called out, and his eyes brightened. A cute white-haired girl had leapt in front of him, her eyes sparkling. "Are you done with work?" 

Next, Ian still had to find King to ask about the enemy forces and have Fukurokuju prepare the troops. 

But when he saw the girl's expectant gaze, he hesitated. 

"Let's go play hide and seek." 

"Yay!" 

Ian's prediction was spot-on. Just a minute later, he found himself behind a staircase, watching Jack—who was trying to squeeze his massive body into a cramped space. 

Seriously? Two guys almost four meters tall playing hide and seek? 

After playing with the kids for a while, Ian finally went to see King. After learning about the situation with the three rebellious daimyo, he headed off to see Fukurokuju. 

"What?" 

Fukurokuju was shocked. "Those daimyo actually dared to rebel?" 

Ian shot him a sideways glance. Fukurokuju is really out of the loop. 

"Fugetsu Omusubi, the daimyo of Kibi; Uzuki Tempura, the daimyo of Udon; and Shimotsuki Ushimaru, the new daimyo of Ringo," Ian explained. "They've all raised armies, and their combined forces exceed eight thousand men. They should be regrouping in Udon right now, preparing to attack the Flower Capital." 

"Traitors, all of them!" 

Fukurokuju was furious. "How dare they commit such an outrageous act of treason!" 

"Ian-sama, I will immediately gather our forces. The Flower Capital can muster over five thousand soldiers, and I have more than five hundred ninja under my command. I will send them to scout the enemy's movements right away." 

"Go ahead," Ian replied with a nod. 

Although it was a joint rebellion by three daimyo, the Flower Capital alone wouldn't be able to match their combined forces. 

But it was more than enough. 

After all, in battles between the strong, regular armies were nothing more than background decoration. 

Let alone ordinary soldiers—even formidable fighters like King, Queen, Zoro, Sanji, Yamato, and Marco during the Onigashima War… what could they really do? 

In the end, the only ones who could truly decide the outcome of a war were Kaido and Luffy. 

"Understood," Fukurokuju said, bowing.

Fukurokuju hurriedly departed.

As the sun set in the west, in Udon.

This region, located in the southern part of Wano Country, is a mountainous area.

Although agriculture is difficult to develop here, Udon is rich in mineral resources. The largest mining facility in Wano is located here, and the main mineral they extract is Seastone!

Wano is the largest producer of Seastone in the world, and 90% of its Seastone comes from the mines in Udon.

The value of the Seastone extracted here every day is nothing short of astronomical.

At this moment, in a desolate area within this region, smoke from cooking fires rose above the sprawling camps.

The armies from Udon, Kibi, and Ringo had already converged here. After making their final preparations tonight, they would march out tomorrow, heading straight for the Flower Capital.

They were already very close to the capital. All they had to do was cross the river that separates Udon from the Flower Capital, and they would arrive directly at the heart of Wano.

At the center of this vast camp, inside a tent, the three daimyo from the three regions were hosting an unexpected guest.

"It's truly a relief that you're still alive, Lady Toki."

The speaker was Ushimaru Shimotsuki, the new daimyo of Ringo. "As long as you're alive, the Kozuki family hasn't completely vanished."

Ushimaru was a renowned samurai in Wano, a descendant of the legendary dragon-slaying swordsman, Ryuma Shimotsuki. His close-cropped hair was a shade of blue, and he had a sharp, commanding presence.

Sitting before him was a woman, Lady Toki, the wife of Kozuki Oden, who Ian believed had traveled far into the future.

"What exactly happened during those five years?" 

Fugetsu Omusubi, the daimyo of Kibi, asked in a deep voice. His face was painted with a kabuki mask, and a long ceremonial rope was tied across his forehead. "We had all thought Oden had truly lost his mind!"

Lady Toki fell silent for a moment, then spoke. "Orochi took many hostages and threatened Oden. He and Kaido deceived Oden, telling him that if he acted like a fool for five years, they would leave Wano alongside the Beasts Pirates."

"..."

The three daimyo's breaths became audibly heavier.

They could hardly believe that Oden had been such a fool!

In a matter of the nation's survival, how could he afford to be so soft-hearted?

"Let's be blunt—what's a few sacrifices compared to the bigger picture?"

Right now, it's not just those hostages who are doomed; the entire nation is on the verge of destruction.

"If the truth had been revealed sooner, would we be in this situation today?" 

But now, with so many dead, berating the widow in front of them is something they simply can't bring themselves to do.

Shimotsuki Ushimaru took a deep breath to calm himself. He then asked Kōzuki Toki seriously, "So, Lady Toki, what advice do you have for us now?"

"I heard about your plans from Lord Yasuie's retainers, so I came immediately."

Kōzuki Toki respectfully bowed to the three daimyos. "Please, I implore you all—stop this."

"You say—what?" 

Udon Daimyo, Uzuki Tempura's lord with prayer beads around his neck and a narrow face, asked, "Stop?"

"You can't win."

Kōzuki Toki replied, "If your enemy is the Beasts Pirates—"

"Enough!"

Shimotsuki Ushimaru cut her off with a low, angry growl. "I thought you had some profound insight, Lady Toki. If you wait until you're certain of victory before acting, then you might as well go play house!"

"Lord Ushimaru—" Toki said, her voice trembling.

"Enough, Lady Toki," interrupted Fugetsu Omusubi, shaking his head. "If our country is in peril, what kind of samurai, what kind of man, would stand by and do nothing?"

Toki was at a loss for words.

"This might be the best chance we'll have in countless years."

Uzuki Tempura said seriously, "Oden may be dead, but Orochi was killed by Kaido too, and he's handed the position of shogun over to a mere child. The Flower Capital is surely in chaos now."

"There won't be a better chance than this. The Beasts Pirates will only grow stronger! Unless... Oden could come back to life."

"…"

Toki couldn't respond.

She could hear the bitterness in their words.

Yes, if only Oden were still alive, if only he had waited a little longer, if only he hadn't been deceived, wouldn't everything have turned out differently?

She was overwhelmed with grief.

She couldn't stop them. She couldn't stop these warriors from rushing toward their deaths.

Oden, it's all our fault. 

**********

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