Chapter 56: Kuri

Of the six regions of Wano Country, the land called Kuri was once known as "the cancer of Wano" — a place so notorious it was practically forsaken. There was no daimyo to govern it. Instead, it was overrun by gangs of criminals and masterless samurai who had been exiled from the other regions, turning it into a lawless wasteland. Even the shogun’s officials and samurai wouldn't dare lay a hand on anyone who fled into Kuri. The shogunate itself had all but given up on ruling it.

But now, there’s no trace of that once-ruined image.

"Kagome, Kagome~♪"

"The bird in the cage~♪"

"When, oh when will it come out~♪"

"In the evening of dawn~♪"

"The crane and turtle slipped~♪"

"Who’s behind you now~♪"

Children sang and played in circles, their innocent voices carrying through the town. Adults passing by would pause, smiling warmly at the sight, savoring each moment of their daily lives as if cherishing something precious.

"Honestly, you’d think folks would be more solemn, seeing as the shogun just passed away."

"Ha ha, come on now, no point in staying gloomy, right?"

"Yeah. Compared to how it used to be, this is nothing. It’s sad about the shogun, sure... but when I think about Lord Oden, who's no longer here..."

"As long as there’s peace, that's enough... This Kuri is our treasure, gifted to us by Lord Oden. With Lord Oden, his retainers, and this town, we can survive anything."

The adults of Kuri spoke with an easy optimism, remembering well that there was once no such thing as peace here. It was only thanks to the great deeds of Kuri’s daimyo, Kozuki Oden, who had led the roughest of men and built this region up from nothing.

Because of that, the people of Kuri were stronger, more resilient than most, and deeply desired peace. They felt a tremendous debt to Oden. Some might grumble about Oden having left for the outside world, but few truly resented him.

Even without a daimyo present now, Oden’s loyal samurai had taken up the reins and were governing Kuri with steadfast dedication.

Thanks to their efforts, the castle town, Hakumai, was vibrant and lively. The nearby Paradise Farm produced enough food that no one went hungry. Smiles filled the streets.

And at the heart of it all, standing atop a hill, was Oden Castle. Officially called Kuri Castle, the people, out of affection, had long since taken to calling it Oden Castle instead — and the name stuck.

There, inside the castle, Oden’s retainers were gathered face-to-face.

"──Kin, did you check this month’s ledgers?"

"Yeah. Thanks as always, Denjiro. Though... the profits these days are barely a trickle."

"Don’t be like that. Isn't it enough that we’re making any profit at all — and in peace, no less?"

"Ha ha, you’re not wrong!"

The two samurai chuckled lightly within one of the castle’s rooms. One was Kin'emon, known as "Foxfire," distinguished by his proud sideburns and traditional topknot. The other, wearing round, dark glasses to block out the sun, was Denjiro.

These two were among the oldest and most central of Oden’s retainers — effectively acting as chief advisors. Kin'emon served as the group's leader, while Denjiro managed all of Kuri’s finances.

Even though they joked about the ledgers, the truth was heavier. The recent death of Kozuki Sukiyaki, Oden’s father and the former Shogun of Wano, weighed heavily on their minds. And now, Orochi had been appointed by Sukiyaki himself to act as the shogun’s temporary successor.

Dark rumors were already circulating in the Flower Capital. Strange new policies, like building weapons factories, had left them deeply unsettled.

"──We’re back."

"──Same here, just returned!!"

"! Ashura, Raizo. How did it go?"

"Nothing worth reporting. We barely got any information!"

"I see... What about you, Raizo?"

"I managed to gather some intel... but the Flower Capital's a mess!!"

Seeing the two enter, Kin'emon and Denjiro immediately straightened up. The newcomers were Ashura Doji — a huge man with a wild pink afro — and Raizo, a ninja with a remarkably large face.

At Kin'emon’s request, they had been gathering information in both Kuri and the Flower Capital. Ashura had also been tasked with hunting down bandits, which he had accomplished easily — he was one of the strongest fighters among Oden’s men.

As for the results, Ashura hadn’t gotten much. But Raizo, a trained ninja who had infiltrated the capital itself, had come back with urgent news to share — though Kin'emon quickly stopped him.

"Hold on. Let’s wait for everyone to be here before we get into details. Where are Kiku, Kawamatsu, and Kanjuro?"

"──No need to worry, Kin-sama♡ We're already here!"

"Kappappa! Heard Raizo and the others were back, so I came flying!"

Next arrived Kikunojo — a breathtakingly beautiful young swordsman who looked for all the world like a woman — and Kawamatsu, a kappa-like fishman with green skin and a wide straw hat. Shortly after them—

"Ahem. I've just returned as well!"

"So, is this everyone? —By the way, where had Kanjūrō gone?"

"Had a bit of a stomachache, you see. But no need to worry—he’s already… relieved himself."

"…I see."

The last to arrive was the massive, kabuki-actor-like man with fiery red hair—"Shower" Kanjūrō. Kin'emon wrinkled his face slightly at the explanation but brushed it aside, welcoming the fact that everyone had gathered.

With this, all the samurai and retainers serving Oden currently in Wano Country were now assembled. There were still about three others who had gone overseas with Oden, but for now, this was it. These seven were the ones barely managing to hold Kuri together.

Then, at Kin'emon’s command, they settled in to listen—primarily to the information Raizō had gathered.

"—Now then, Raizō. How was the Flower Capital?"

"…To put it bluntly—it was filled with chaos and terror. Apparently, a pirate named 'Kaido,' hired as a bodyguard by Orochi, went on a rampage. There were casualties among the samurai and townspeople."

"A pirate…? When I first heard the report, I got excited, thinking Lord Oden might have returned."

Kawamatsu chimed in, recalling his own reaction upon hearing about the pirates. In truth, it wasn’t just him—the moment the word "pirate" came up, everyone’s first thought had been Oden. Along with the three who had left with him and the "Whitebeard Pirates," who had likely taken them in. Though their time together had been brief, Whitebeard, despite being a pirate, had been a man of principle—the kind who would leave behind treasure chests as thanks for food and supplies.

But this new pirate crew seemed nothing like that. According to Raizō:

"They’re nothing like Whitebeard—a vicious crew, by the sound of it… Their leader is said to be a monstrously strong man who treats the capital’s samurai as mere insects. Particularly feared in the capital were Kaido and his right-hand man, a pirate called 'Nue'…"

"…? What’s wrong, Raizō? Is there something else?"

Denjirō frowned as Raizō suddenly hesitated. The others, too, tilted their heads in confusion.

After a pause, Raizō decided to share what he’d heard, despite his uncertainty.

"Well… it’s just hearsay for now, but… this 'Nue' pirate… is said to be a yōkai."

"…A yōkai?"

"Like Lord Kin’s sorcery?"

Ashura and Kikunojō immediately questioned the claim. In Wano, yōkai were creatures of legend—folktales and ghost stories. To them, such beings were simply "sorcerers."

Kin'emon and Kanjūrō themselves had gained supernatural abilities after eating mysterious fruits. Knowing this, they suspected that this "yōkai" might just be another case of sorcery.

But Raizō relayed the eyewitness accounts as he’d heard them—the sheer terror in the voices of those who claimed to have seen it.

"I don’t know… but the townspeople who saw it were beyond shaken…!! Some even say it was a monster large enough to engulf the capital—"

"Preposterous!! A mistake, surely!! No sorcery could achieve something so vast!!"

"Aye. Kanjūrō’s right. Even our abilities can’t reach that scale… Well, mine just changes clothes, so perhaps I shouldn’t speak—"

"…Regardless, what’s clear is that they’re strong and vicious."

"What could Orochi possibly be thinking, hiring scum like that…?"

Denjirō summed it up, while Kikunojō voiced a new concern.

But then Ashura and Kawamatsu—two of Oden’s strongest retainers—spoke up with fierce determination.

"Hah!! Pirate or Orochi’s dog, if they dare mess with Kuri, we’ll cut ’em down!!"

"Exactly!! We’ll skewer ’em and toss ’em out!!"

"Enough. Remember, Orochi is the acting shōgun—defying him risks not just us and Lord Oden, but the safety of Kuri’s people. If they don’t cause trouble, we should bide our time—"

Kin'emon calmly tried to rein them in.

—Just then.

"—Lord Kin'emon!! Lord Denjirō!! A report—! Oh, you’re all here!!"

"Hm? What is it?"

The sound of frantic footsteps echoed down the hall. A guard working at the castle burst in, calling for Kin'emon and Denjirō. Though Oden’s retainers were few, as daimyo ruling a region, they still employed a bare minimum of staff.

The man delivered his report in a panic—and it was exactly what Kin'emon and the others had feared.

"It’s—officials from the capital! They’re rounding up men from the village—taking them to the factories!!"

"What—!?"

The retainers shouted in unison, stunned by the news. Then, without delay, they rushed toward the town.

The streets of Kuri’s castle town were peaceful. Or rather, Kuri itself was peaceful. No bandits, no particularly vicious beasts—just a boring little place.

But boredom wasn’t going to stop me from having fun. I sat on a stool outside a wagashi shop, idly plucking sweets from a plate as I watched the scene unfold.

"All men of the province, assemble at once!! By order of Shogun Orochi!!"

"You will now work in the weapons factory!!"

"W-Wait—what about our work here?!"

"I’ve never made weapons in my life!!"

"Silence!! This is the shogun’s decree!! Fall in line!!"

"Mmm~ They’re really doing it. Munch, chew."

In the plaza of Hakura Town, Kuri’s castle town, Orochi’s samurai and officials were rounding up the men under the guise of a "shogun’s order." In Wano, those two words alone were enough to stifle dissent. The townsfolk grumbled, confused and resentful, but they still lined up obediently.

For now, we of the Beasts Pirates were just watching from the sidelines.

"They’re resisting way less than I thought~ Guess the ‘shogun’s order’ really does the trick, huh?"

"Smooth sailin’, boss. Might end without a single hitch at this rate…"

"Ughhh, so booooring. Where’s the bloodthirsty ronin who’d chop up these officials?"

"I-I mean…"

I chatted idly with my crew, staving off boredom. The lack of chaos was disappointing. Sure, it was amusing to watch these men get herded away like sheep, but I wanted spectacle. Watching was fun, but participating was way better.

I briefly considered wrecking the town for no reason—but then I sensed it. A powerful presence, drawing closer. Might as well wait for them to show up first.

Just as I reached for another wagashi—finally, the ones I’d been waiting for arrived.

"—Halt!! What is the meaning of this?!"

"Lord Kin’emon!!"

"Oden’s retainers…"

The crowd and Orochi’s officials reacted instantly—the former with hope, the latter with thinly veiled irritation. But backed by the shogun’s authority (and our firepower), the officials stood their ground, snapping back at the samurai demanding answers.

Ah, that’s Kin’emon. Behind him were Denjirō, Ashura, Kawamatsu, Kikunojō, Raizō… and Kanjūrō too. Hmm.

Eh. They’re okay, I guess? Weaker than I expected. Though maybe I’m just expecting too much.

"Meaning? It’s simple—the shogun’s decree. The men of each province will work in the weapons factories from now on."

"You can’t just—!!"

"Orochi is only acting shogun!! A placeholder until Lord Oden returns!!"

"Placeholder or not, he is the shogun now. And let’s be honest—Oden isn’t coming back. Or are you saying we should halt national affairs indefinitely for a man who abandoned his country to play pirate?"

"Gh…!!"

Oof. Oden’s retainers were losing the verbal spar. Technically, the officials weren’t wrong—once officially appointed, Orochi was the shogun. And Oden was off galivanting as a pirate with no return date. Expecting a country to pause for years for one guy was kinda selfish.

But… where’s the fun if they just get talked down? Time to stir the pot.

"What about the town’s work?!"

"No need to fret. The men will work in shifts, day and night—with wages. And the women can handle things here."

"You… damn…!!"

"—Aww~♪ Thinking of laying hands on the shogun’s envoys~?"

"!!?"

I piped up the moment Ashura’s face twisted with rage. Finally, Oden’s retainers turned to stare at me. Hehe. Confused? A random girl suddenly butting in, flanked by a crew of vicious pirates—yeah, that’d throw anyone off.

I set down my dango skewer and sauntered forward.

"Ah, wait! Your payment—"

"Not payin’~♡ Put it on the tab of… oh, I dunno, Kuri’s daimyo or somethin’~♡"

"You…! Who the hell are you?!"

"A child…? And those behind her—could they be the rumored…?"

Denjirō barked, Kikunojō eyed us warily, and the officials cut in before I could answer.

"They’re bodyguards hired by Lord Orochi to protect the country."

"Bodyguards… You hired pirates?!"

"Indeed. They’ll handle any… disturbances. So tread carefully."

"Hiiii~!! Nice to meetcha~! We’re the Beasts Pirates!!" I struck a pose, grinning. "And I’m the crew’s sweetest little menace—Nue, the Calamity of Sealing!! Future #1 idol of Wano, at your service~♡"

"Nue… That’s her…?!"

"That child is the vice-captain…? This must be some mistake…!!"

I giggled as their shock washed over me. Even Raizō hadn’t expected the infamous pirate to be a delicate little girl. Good. Stealth had handled the intel blackout perfectly—I’d have to praise him later.

And Kanjūrō’s reaction? Priceless. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear his horror was genuine. (Almost too convincing. But hey, who am I to spoil his act?*)

I skipped closer, twirling my trident.

"In Wano, the shogun’s word is law. Defy him, and it’s straight to the dungeons~ No noble cause, no grand rebellion—just helplessness."

"Tch… I’d never draw my blade on a child to begin with…!!"

"Ooooh~? So you won’t draw? Then—

—you won’t mind this, right?"**

"!!!"

My trident lashed out—slicing Kanjūrō’s gut open. (Could’ve stabbed, but killing him’d ruin the fun~ Aren’t I considerate?)

For a heartbeat, silence. Then—rage.

"Kanjūrō!!"

"Kiku! Tend to him!"

"On it!"

"You… bitch…!!" Ashura’s voice was a snarl.

"Awwww~? But you said you wouldn’t draw~ So that means I can do anything, yeah? (Giggles) Who knew Kuri was this accommodating? No wonder they call it the lawless land~♡"

"I’LL GUT YOU WHERE YOU STAND—!!"

"ASHURA, STOP!!" Kin’emon’s grip locked around his arm.

"Let GO, Kawamatsu! Kin’mon! You expect me to swallow this!?"

"I know!! But we—we can’t—not now…!!"

(Pfft. Even after I gifted them a bleeding traitor, Kin’emon’s pathetic self-control might win out. That "acting daimyo" guilt really weighs heavy, huh?*)

Teeth gritted, veins bulging—their murderous glares were delicious. (Oh, the irony. If Kanjūrō died here, they’d be thanking me later~)

But letting them ignore me? Boring. Time to twist the knife.

"Ehehe~ I don’t mind if you fight back~ Promise! Cross my heart~♡ Or— (extends pinky) —wanna pinky swear? It’s not like you lot could ever beat me anyway~"

"—!! Those words—I’LL MAKE YOU EAT THEM!!"

"ASHURA, DON’T—!!"

(There we go.)

The former bandit lord lunged, his blade a blur. Finally—a real challenge. His Haki was sharp, his strikes sharper. Most of my crew would’ve struggled (King or Queen might’ve scraped a win).

But me?

I caught his sword mid-air—with one hand.

"Let me rephrase~" (Sweet smile) "You’re strong…

—for ants."

"Gh—!?"

My trident flared with Conqueror’s Haki—crushing his stance.

"ASHURA!?"

"He’s… losing in raw power…!?"

"What kind of strength could possibly be in those skinny arms...?!"

I knocked Ashura back, sending his blade flying along with him, using just my spear. Looks like everyone’s properly shocked. But honestly, they're underestimating me way too much. They really should work on their Observation Haki more. I'd like them to be able to sense the difference in strength just by looking. Kin’emon, Kawamatsu, Denjiro—you're all strong in your own right, so polish it up. Well, maybe the samurai of Wano are just naturally more attuned to Armament Haki.

While I was thinking about that, my subordinates started jeering again.

“Gya-ha-ha! What fools! You think you can beat Lord Nue?!”

“Even if you all gang up, you’re no match for Lord Nue!! Get it through your thick heads, country bumpkins!!”

“Too bad! If your dumb lord hadn’t run off overseas, maybe you wouldn't have ended up like this! What a pathetic lord you’ve got!!”

“...Those bastards...! How dare they mock Lord Oden...!!”

Oho. Looks like the heckling is really getting under their skin this time! Not bad! Guess running with pirates is starting to sharpen their taunting skills. Pirates who are good at provoking and trash-talking often turn out strong in real fights too, so these kids might have some potential. Especially that last one. That kind of jeer, where there's actually a little truth to it, cuts the deepest. Nothing pisses people off more than being hit with a hard fact.

Well, let’s keep it rolling. I unfurled my wings, floated up to eye level with them, and said,

“She’s floating...?!”

“Those wings... Is that sorcery...?!”

“Heh. Guess you've figured out where you stand now, huh? —But really, to think your lord abandoned such strong samurai and such good people just to go play pirate overseas... He must have been a terrible lord. A fool of a lord, really. You know, you don’t have to stay loyal to such a fool. Why not come join us instead? I’d be happy to have you.”

“Grrrr... No way...!!!”

“Kh...!!”

“Tch...!!”

“I see. Well, that’s fine. If you ever change your mind, just say the word. With your strength, you’d be welcomed as officers anytime.”

I smiled as I turned my back to them. The thing is, I figured it wouldn't be easy to provoke them into fighting with cheap insults—and besides, if it came to a full fight, while I’d be fine, I'd lose more than a few subordinates.

After all, the standing orders were clear: if they resist, we can deal with them, but if they don't, we leave them be. Better not push it further. I meant to knock Ashura out, but he stayed conscious. I even threw out some real heavy provocations, hurt Kanjuro a bit too—technically one of their own—and still, only Ashura made a move. The heckling got to them, sure, but they stayed put.

I mean, I could force a fight and beat them down... but that wouldn’t be very fun, and it would break the deal we made.

Maybe it’s better to keep pushing little by little, until someone finally snaps. When that happens, I’ll pick a fight solo and have my fun. Right now, securing workers for the weapons factory is the top priority, and part of my job is to test their willingness to resist. I’ve shown them enough of my strength already.

Unlike the Flower Capital, I want them to experience fear slowly. A quick scare is nothing compared to the terror of a noose tightening little by little. Fear and imagination feed each other best that way.

“Just like we agreed, we’ll let this incident slide. —Alright, to the weapons factory! Let’s move out!”

“Yes, ma’am...!!”

“Yeah!!”

Well, I didn’t get to cut loose this time, but this’ll do. I gave the order, and even Orochi’s own samurai were too scared to say anything, so that was good enough for me. I rounded up the village men and set off for the weapons factory—humming the old nursery rhyme the village kids had been singing earlier.

Kagome, kagome ♫

──And so, after the Beasts Pirates and Orochi’s samurai visited each region of Wano, rounded up the village men, and showed off their power to a certain extent—

A small incident occurred within the Beasts Pirates.

It happened while they were on their way to a location that Orochi had arranged for them to visit.

“──Lady Nue!!”

“Hm? What is it—wait, ah!!”

Responding to the call of her subordinate, Nue turned around—and saw something unfamiliar standing there.

The subordinates seemed a little spooked by the towering figures. Even though they were chained up and docile for now, there was no telling when they might lash out.

But Nue’s reaction was the complete opposite—her eyes lit up at the sight of these literal monsters.

“They finally arrived!! Ahaha!! Up close, they’re even more impressive!!”

“If you’re pleased, then I’m glad,”

said Joker—Stussy—with a faint smile, standing nearby.

It was Joker who had worked behind the scenes to secure the purchase of these creatures, invisible to normal humans. Nue was delighted, and after Kaido had learned of their existence, he had wanted them badly too.

“──‘Failed experiments’ of the Ancient Giants.”

“──Jukikiki!!”

What stood before them were remnants of an extinct race—the Ancient Giants, purchased from a certain island.