The heavy smell of sweat and steam filled the air in Udon Prison. Chains clanked, men groaned, and boiling pots hissed with poisonous food. Yuta sat cross-legged in the corner, pretending to be just another worn-out prisoner, though his eyes were quietly watching everything around him.
For weeks, he had been working on his plan—talking to the prisoners, earning their trust, learning what drove them. Most were broken men who had lost all hope.
"Hey, you lot," Yuta called as he tossed a loaf of bread into the crowd. "Eat up before those guards decide you don't deserve lunch again."
A scruffy old man caught the bread and blinked up at him. His hair was white, tied in a tiny bun, and his body looked like it had shrunk over the years. His once-broad shoulders were now small and frail, yet his eyes still burned with pride.
"Thank you, young man," the old man said with a trembling voice. "You don't look like the usual prisoner. What's your name?"
Yuta smiled faintly. "Just a traveler who got unlucky."
He knew this man well—Hyogoro the Flower, his old teacher from decades ago. It broke Yuta's heart to see him like this, but he couldn't risk revealing who he was.
A guard stomped by, kicking over a bowl near Hyogoro. "Eat off the floor, old man!"
Before the guard could swing again, Yuta stood up and caught his wrist with ease. "Careful," he said calmly. "You might break your leg tripping over your own ego."
The guard glared, then huffed and stomped away, muttering under his breath.
Hyogoro chuckled softly. "You've got guts, boy. Reminds me of someone I used to know… long ago."
Yuta smiled quietly, hiding the sting of nostalgia. "Maybe that guy was just as handsome as me?"
The old man burst out laughing, shaking his head.
Later that evening, while Yuta handed out stolen food from the kitchen, a loud clank echoed from another cell. There sat Eustass Kid—chained, one arm missing, eyes burning with rage.
Yuta recognized him immediately. "So that's the infamous Kid, huh?" he muttered to himself. "Looks a lot smaller in person."
Kid's sharp eyes turned toward him. "What did you just say, brat?"
"Nothing. Just saying you have… a charming smile," Yuta teased, waving off his glare.
"Tch. Go to hell."
Yuta grinned. "Already there, buddy."
Over the next few days, he continued watching, waiting, pretending to be another worker while quietly helping Hyogoro and other prisoners.
Then one day, the sound of heavy machinery echoed through the yard. A massive ship docked outside, and the laughter of a familiar, loud voice followed.
"QUEEN THE PLAGUE IS HERE, BABY!"
Yuta sighed, scratching his head. "Not him again..." He recall his own rapping days back in Wano and he decided never again. So he made sure to lay down while the funky boi was there.
He watched Queen strut around the prison, shouting orders, making sure everything was "perfectly in control." Yuta smirked.
"Perfect timing," he whispered. "Once you're done showing off and start leaving, I'll make sure this place stops being your playground."
He tossed a small piece of bread to Hyogoro, who smiled in gratitude.
"Hang tight, old man," Yuta said under his breath. "Tomorrow, this cage won't hold anyone."
…
While Yuta was quietly working inside Udon to free the prisoners, the others were just as busy across Wano. With Kanjuro gone, there was finally no traitor to ruin their efforts. Everything was moving smoothly for once, though everyone knew it wouldn't last forever.
In the Flower Capital, Usopp was doing what he did best—talking. Standing on a crate in the middle of the street, he waved his arms dramatically, telling stories that blended truth and lies so perfectly that no one could tell the difference.
"Gather around, brave men of Wano!" he shouted. "I am the Great Tengu Warrior who once fought Kaido himself and lived! But I cannot win alone—I need warriors of courage and heart!"
Well this suppose to be just a performance, if he were to do this openly then his head might have been flying by now.
The crowd gasped and whispered. Some laughed, others scoffed, but many listened. The people of Wano had been living in fear for so long that hope felt like a distant dream. Usopp's words—no matter how exaggerated—planted that hope again. Slowly, a few men stepped forward, then more followed.
"Count me in," said one man with a scarred face. Only later we'll know how many actually ready to fight.
Usopp grinned proudly. "Excellent! You shall be my second-in-command! Now… who else dares join the great rebellion?"
Meanwhile, inside Orochi's castle, Robin had managed to slip through the layers of guards and spies. Dressed in the kimono of a court lady, she bowed politely to everyone, blending in like a shadow. She was collecting information—records, maps, and secret letters.
In one quiet room, she found scrolls sealed with Orochi's mark. She smiled softly. "So this is how you've been keeping your grip on Wano," she whispered, unfolding one of them.
Just as she read about the trade routes between Orochi and Kaido, she heard footsteps approaching. Calmly, she folded the scroll back and smiled as if nothing had happened.
Outside the capital, Franky was still searching for the blueprints to Kaido's castle. He had checked black markets, old warehouses, and even taverns full of shady builders. "Man, who hides castle plans this well?" he groaned. "If it were me, I'd have just uploaded the design somewhere!"
He slammed his wrench against a wall in frustration, but his determination didn't waver. "I'll find those plans. Gotta make sure that giant lizard doesn't have any surprises for us."
In another corner of Wano, deep in the forest, Luffy was training with Maki. Sweat dripped from their faces as both stood opposite each other, fists raised. Maki had taken over Yuta's advice—teaching Luffy how to control Ryou, the advanced form of Haki.
"Focus your energy, not on hitting hard, but on letting it flow through," she instructed.
Luffy grinned, his hands glowing faintly. "Heh, like this?"
A rock nearby exploded into dust.
Maki smirked. "Better. You're getting there."
Her irritation on Yuta for dumbing Luffy on her was finally easing up, if so only slightly.
Just when everything seemed to be coming together, Law received a call through his Den Den Mushi. His expression darkened.
"Yuta was right," he muttered. "She's here."
The sea trembled as a massive ship approached the shores of Wano. On its bow stood a towering woman with a wide grin and crazed eyes.
Big Mom had arrived.
The wind carried her laughter across the waves. "Mama-mama! Its finally to get back to that brat. !" She muttered with clear Angry.
Who else it could be, she was talking about Yuta.
The storm of chaos was about to begin.
xxx
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