"What's happening outside? So noisy?"
In the heart of the Flower Capital stood a building perched atop a mountain.
The structure, a three-story wooden edifice, coupled with the mountain it rested on, allowed anyone standing there to survey the entire Flower Capital.
To the right of the mountain grew a colossal cherry blossom tree, shaped like a crescent moon, casting its shadow over the entire building.
It was the season of cherry blossoms in full bloom. Under the moonlight, the brightly lit building, bathed in the serene lunar glow, transformed this place into the most beautiful spot in the entire Land of Wano.
From afar, it appeared hazy and ethereal, like a scene from a fairy tale.
This was the "Shogun's Mansion," the center of power in the Land of Wano.
Inside the Shogun's Mansion, the daily song and dance performances were underway.
In the opulent hall,
Several singers danced gracefully in the center, while musicians on the side passionately performed their familiar tunes, hoping to gain the appreciation of the distinguished guests.
On either side of the singers, the influential figures of the Land of Wano sat in two rows, lounging casually on the carpets, drinking with abandon and laughing heartily.
At the head of the hall, a burly figure with a large head and mouth, bald, with a square face, a crown on the left side of his head, a topknot on the right, purple hair mostly on his sides and the back of his head, and a beard that curled upwards, was laughing heartily while drinking with two beautiful singers in his arms.
This fellow was the most powerful man in the Land of Wano at present, the Shogun, "Orochi Kurozumi."
Just as everyone was laughing loudly and the room was filled with merriment,
The clamor from outside intruded.
The sheer volume of the noise clearly disturbed Orochi Kurozumi's enjoyment, causing his smile to vanish instantly.
"I'll go and see."
Noticing Orochi Kurozumi's displeasure, a tall, bald man with a long, pointed black mustache, wearing square sunglasses, a purple kimono with an orange sash embroidered with the character for "ninja" and shuriken patterns, and a stern, unsmiling demeanor, spoke up. This man was "Fukurokuju."
"Yes! Go ahead!"
Orochi Kurozumi waved his hand dismissively, then his smile returned. He picked up the wine cup handed to him by a singer and boomed with laughter, "Let's continue drinking, guhehehehe!!"
Fukurokuju glanced around the room, then turned and left, not through the main entrance, but through a hidden door behind Orochi Kurozumi.
He was the captain of the "O-roshi Oniwabanshu," Orochi Kurozumi's personal ninja force, who were loyal to and protected the Shogun of the Land of Wano.
Ever since Kurozumi Sen'goku's death, he had become Orochi Kurozumi's personal bodyguard.
Beyond the room lay another chamber.
Inside this room stood the other members of the O-roshi Oniwabanshu.
They were: Daikoku, Hanzo, Kazekage, Fūjin, Raijin, and Bishamon.
The O-roshi Oniwabanshu consisted of eleven members in total, led by Fukurokuju, and the individuals in the room were all his subordinates.
"Boss, did something happen outside? Why is it so noisy?"
Upon seeing Fukurokuju, Hanzo, a large and sturdy man wearing a full-body yellow kimono that covered him entirely except for his eyes, also adorned with shuriken patterns, spoke first.
"That is precisely why I came."
Fukurokuju finished speaking and looked directly at Kazekage, whose hair was disheveled, a scroll held in his mouth, and who wore a pink kimono. He instructed, "Kazekage, you're the fastest. Go quickly and find out what's happening. Lord Orochi is very displeased right now. Hurry back."
"Mm!" Whether he was naturally taciturn or simply unable to speak with the scroll in his mouth, Kazekage nodded. He formed a hand seal in front of him, and with a 'poof,' a large cloud of white smoke erupted around him. When the smoke dissipated, his body had vanished from the spot.
"Ninjutsu..."
Just then, a voice laced with curiosity clearly entered the ears of everyone in the room.
As the voice arrived, the external commotion seemed to hit a pause button, abruptly ceasing.
"Who?"
Fukurokuju turned his head towards the outside of the room and shouted.
At this moment, the neighboring room, perhaps sensing the commotion, also saw its singing and dancing gradually fade.
"This is bad! Protect Lord Orochi!"
The first to regain his senses, Fukurokuju rushed towards the adjacent room, with Fūjin and the others following closely behind him.
Bang—!
Without bothering to open the door slowly, Fukurokuju kicked it open violently. Seeing that there was no abnormality in the room, exactly as it was when he left, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He then quickly approached Orochi Kurozumi, bowed, and said, "Lord Orochi, we heard the sounds of intruders just now. Did you also hear them?"
"I heard them."
Orochi Kurozumi nodded with a grim expression.
"Who could it be?"
"Is it those samurai who are still unyielding, unwilling to accept their fate, and have come to assassinate me?"
Orochi Kurozumi mused.
Creak—!
Just then, the door to the room slowly opened from the outside inward.
Everyone looked up in unison, only to witness a scene that filled them with terror and dread.
A colossal ship was slowly descending from the sky, then hovering above the courtyard outside the door.
On the deck of that massive sailing ship stood several figures. Due to the moonlight being behind them, only their silhouettes were visible.
However, one figure's eyes could be seen faintly glowing.
What kind of eyes were they?
Deep, beautiful, and as soon as they appeared, they rapidly filled their entire field of vision, as if replacing the night sky outside, creating their own world, instantly capturing the minds of everyone in the room, making them feel as if they had been transported to another realm.
"Ahem!"
Just as they were about to lose themselves, a light cough jolted them back to reality.
"Intruders, intruders."
Fukurokuju and the others, who were the first to recover, instantly reacted. They all drew their weapons, shielding Orochi Kurozumi behind them, and stared grimly at the figures on the giant ship that had now landed in the courtyard.
Especially the one standing at the forefront, the silver-haired figure whose gaze had almost entranced them moments ago.
At this moment, they dared not look again at those beautiful eyes that seemed to possess a magical allure.
Dong—!
Like the tolling of a bell.
Kōtarō, with his companions, disembarked from the ship.
They walked through the air, like gods from beyond the heavens. The ripples emanating from their footsteps seemed to land on the hearts of everyone in the room. Even without any imposing aura, they involuntarily quickened their breathing and felt chills run down their spines.
"That's..."
"Kazekage."
It was only then that Fukurokuju and the others clearly saw that a fat man wearing glasses, walking at the rear, was carrying someone in his hand.
Upon closer inspection, wasn't that Kazekage, who had been with them just moments ago?