At the golden banquet aboard the Hell Pirates' ship, Shimotsuki Toramaru couldn't help but notice how comfortably Kozuki Oden had blended into Brook's crew. The once-rebellious young daimyo was laughing, drinking, and chatting like he'd been one of them for years.
Oden really believes he's going out to sea this time, huh…
Toramaru sighed inwardly. Maybe it was time to persuade Shogun Sukiyaki to reconsider his stance. After all, if they tried to stop Brook by force, the Shogun's Mansion would be flattened before the first cannon could fire.
If Oden rises within Brook's ranks, it's almost certain he'll one day return as Wano's rightful ruler. Brother Sukiyaki, please… don't make a mistake now.
Just then, a sudden commotion came from the ground below.
The Oniwabanshu had arrived—Wano's elite covert operatives sent straight from the Shogun's Mansion!
"Young Master Oden!" Captain Shizo shouted from below, cupping his hands around his mouth. "You've committed a grave offense. The Shogun has ordered us to take you back. Please… don't make this mistake any worse!"
Shizo didn't dare rush onto the golden ship—not with a legend like Brook aboard. But fortunately, the ship was hovering low above Isshin Forge, and his voice carried loud and clear.
Leaning over the railing, Oden scowled.
"Go back! I'm leaving this country no matter what! Don't get in my way!"
He was done with Wano's cages. Without exploring the vast ocean, he'd never find peace.
Captain Shizo bit his lip. Should he initiate an attack?
But the terrifying rift in the sky, still lingering from Brook's earlier demonstration of power, haunted his thoughts. Rumors had already spread: it was the work of the Hell Pirates.
Compared to that, even Newgate's legendary mountain-splitting strike felt like a breeze.
How could the Oniwabanshu fight monsters from Hell and the Underworld?
As Shizo stood frozen in indecision, Shimotsuki Toramaru leapt down and whispered something into his ear. Then, with a grim expression, Toramaru activated his Den Den Mushi and called Kozuki Sukiyaki directly in the Flower Capital.
Shizo exhaled in relief. He wouldn't be the one to take the fall this time.
---
"What?! You melted the Second and Third Generation Kitetsu to forge a blade for Brook?!"
The roar from the other end of the call shook the Den Den Mushi.
Kozuki Sukiyaki was livid. His ancestor's masterpiece—the Second Generation Kitetsu—gone. His own lifelong creation—the Third Generation—also gone. Reduced to molten metal for a pirate's weapon.
"Brother Sukiyaki, calm down. What's done is done. Blame the bad luck of the Tenguyama clan. But, if I may ask—how did you even acquire both Kitetsu swords? And why did Oden steal them?"
Shimotsuki Toramaru had no idea that Sukiyaki and Tenguyama Hitetsu were the same person. He simply assumed Sukiyaki had bought them at a high price.
"Help me capture that ungrateful brat! I'll beat him to death myself!!"
Sukiyaki's fury surged again. Losing the Third Generation was one thing. But losing the Second—his ancestral treasure? That was unforgivable.
Toramaru rubbed his temples.
"Brother Sukiyaki, let's be realistic. Brook probably already promised Oden a spot on his crew. We won't be able to stop him. Maybe it's better to let him go, let him experience the world. He might grow up and appreciate your efforts."
Honestly, Toramaru himself yearned to sail the seas. But Wano's closed-border policy had always stood in the way.
There was a long pause on the line. Toramaru frowned.
Why isn't he answering…?
Then Sukiyaki's voice returned—cold, distant, and resolute.
"Toramaru, from this moment on, I sever all ties with Oden. Our father-son relationship is over. If he wants to go out to sea, let him. The Shogunate has no son by that name."
The line went quiet.
Toramaru stood stunned.
Sukiyaki had made his decision. In truth, he had no choice. He couldn't reverse Wano's isolationist policy—especially with the ancient weapon Pluton hidden beneath their land. The more people who left, the greater the risk of discovery.
Perhaps letting Oden go and face the world's cruelty would do more good than keeping him chained.
But even so…
"Brother Sukiyaki, you can't be serious. He's your only son—the only one who can carry on the Kozuki line!"
But Sukiyaki didn't respond. He simply issued a new decree:
"Announce to the nation that I have no such son. And call the Oniwabanshu back."
He hung up.
Then, after a long breath, Sukiyaki sat down, picked up a brush, and began drafting a formal notice severing ties with Kozuki Oden.
All he could do now… was hope. Hope that Oden would one day return wiser, ready to inherit the responsibility of guarding Pluton.
Until then, he would begin preparations for a contingency heir—should Oden die at sea, the Kozuki line would not die with him.
---
Back aboard the golden ship, Shimotsuki Toramaru relayed the order.
The Oniwabanshu, now free of responsibility, quietly withdrew.
Toramaru then approached Oden, relaying Sukiyaki's message.
To everyone's surprise… Oden didn't care.
In fact, he grinned.
"He disowned me? Finally! The chains are off!"
Even Toramaru couldn't take it anymore. He punched Oden square in the face, leaving him bruised and bloody, then stormed off the ship in a fury.
---
"Yohohoho~! Oden, as the saying goes: 'Once a teacher, always a father.' So from now on… call me Dad!"
Brook teased, laughing as he saw the battered samurai crawl back toward the banquet.
He tossed him a Blood Crystal Dandelion.
"Eat it. You'll heal up fast. Your real dad may have disowned you, but your new dad's taking you to see the world!"
Oden snatched the healing herb out of the air and devoured it instantly. Brook couldn't help but admire the guy.
Tough, reckless, and built like a monster... this guy's potential might even rival Kaido's.
From now on, Oden would be Brook's personal enforcer—another legend in the making.
As for your future wife, Toki… I'll take good care of her in your place, Yohohohoho~!
Brook smirked.
And Momonosuke? Let's nip that mistake in the bud.
Maybe Oden wouldn't marry at all.
Or maybe Brook would arrange a match with a wild boar Mink tribe woman.
Could be fun raising a pig-faced Inosuke instead.
---
After Oden finished healing, the golden ship soared through the skies, heading straight for Kuri's Haikdou Castle.
It was time to reward the loyal followers who had stood by Oden's side all these years.
---------------
Kozuki Oden was practically bouncing off the walls on the golden ship. He ran around the deck like a wild animal, screaming with joy and shouting nonsense.
"I'm going out to sea! I'm really going out to sea!!"
Brook rubbed his temples in annoyance. Oden's volume was starting to disturb a very important person—his precious daughter.
Just as Brook's expression darkened, Redfield stepped in, ever the gentleman.
BZZZT!
A single jolt of "Professor Electrotherapy" struck Oden with pinpoint precision.
And just like that, Oden hit the ground twitching, a thin stream of smoke rising from his hair.
One treatment—ADHD cured.
The entire crew burst out laughing.
Everyone aboard knew the unspoken rule: No one messes with Kanna, the little princess of the Hell Pirates. Not even Kozuki Oden. Not even the Overlords.
Make Kanna cry, and you'd see hell in real-time.
Even Shakky had been scolded once. She'd casually picked Kanna up by her tiny foot and twirled her upside-down like a toy. Kanna had laughed—but Brook hadn't.
His glare that day could've cracked sea prism stone.
Brook knew his daughter wasn't fragile. But still—he couldn't bear even the idea of her getting hurt. He knew it was obsessive, knew it was probably unhealthy…
But damn it, there was no such thing as too much love for his little girl.
Even Linlin grumbled sometimes, saying Brook would spoil Kanna into a weak, pampered princess.
"A real princess should bite pirates, punch Marines, and take down warships!" Linlin often said.
"Not cry over a scraped knee!"
Eventually, Brook relented—slightly—and started spending more time with his two sons, Hades and Osiris, to balance things out.
---
While Kozuki Oden snored and sizzled on the deck, the golden ship descended upon Kuri's Haikdou Castle.
Brook wasted no time. He handed over the Fruit to Hyogoro, the sturdy and loyal yakuza boss.
As for Ashura Pengnan, he declined to eat a Devil Fruit for now. He had his reasons—he aspired to become a true swordsman, just like his brother Ashura Doji.
Even now, he was training his brother's son, Ashura Doji jr., a wild youth with insane potential. Brook had no doubt that one day, Doji could rival even the Drought King Jack in raw strength.
"Then I'll leave Kuri and Tuwan to you two," Brook said. "Keep collecting Devil Fruits for me."
He had no intention of wasting these powers on people with no ambition.
The mayors of the underworld families—Fukugami, Hattori, and the rest—had no desire to leave Wano. So Brook wouldn't waste gifts on them.
He had other plans.
---
The Ripe Fruit would go to the Dwarf Tribe. With the power to accelerate the growth of plants and animals, it was perfect for a race devoted to agriculture and cultivation. They could even use it to boost the artificial Devil Fruit farms.
Then there was the Scroll Scroll Fruit, one of the most fascinating abilities Brook had ever encountered.
This power let its user draw scrolls that could absorb and store nearly anything—attacks, objects, even massive quantities of water. The scroll's size was adjustable, compact for transport but vast in capacity.
"It's basically Ryze from League of Legends," Brook muttered to himself with a smirk.
"Or one of those ninja storage scrolls from Naruto. Add a little flavor and boom—you're a mobile arsenal."
He remembered how Raizo of the Mist had once used it to absorb Kaido's heat breath… and later released a flood of seawater to extinguish the fires of Onigashima.
That's not a Fruit… that's a walking natural disaster.
Brook's mind raced. What if they stored hundreds of slashes from master swordsmen? Or Redfield's Thunder Dragon? Wouldn't that make the user a literal turret?
If they could store seawater… could they store a floating island?
Could they store Shiki's entire flying fortress?!
The possibilities were endless.
"This fruit is a beast," Brook said to himself. "Castle Fruit and Pocket Fruit can step aside. The Scroll-Scroll Fruit is the real king of storage!"
---
Fueled by curiosity and excitement, Brook gave the order.
The golden ship turned and soared back toward Ballon Island, leaving Wano behind.
---
Back on the ground, Hyogoro began testing his new power.
He pulled out his prized sword, Sakurabone, and gave it a swing.
"Lengthen!"
The blade extended—10 meters… 20 meters… 40 meters!
"That's probably my current limit," he said, eyes gleaming with childlike glee. "I'll keep pushing it later."
Then he turned to Ashura Pengnan, eyes full of mischief.
"Pengnan, look at my 40-meter sword! C'mon, duel me! I'll let you have a 39-meter head start!"
The yakuza boss burst into laughter as he waved his comically long weapon around.
Ashura Pengnan stared, regret flooding his chest.
Maybe I should've accepted that Devil Fruit after all…
But it wasn't pride stopping him—it was resolve. He still wanted to become stronger through sheer swordsmanship. But now he realized…
Devil Fruit or not, I'll still be me. And I want to be strong enough to protect Lord Brook.
"Yes," he clenched his fist. "Next time, I'll take a Hex-type Fruit. No more hesitation!"
And with that, Hyogoro yanked him into more training—dragging Pengnan along as a test dummy for his ever-growing blade.
---
Meanwhile, in the Flower Capital, word reached the Shogun's Mansion.
The golden ship had departed.
Kozuki Sukiyaki let out a heavy sigh.
"Oden… don't let that pirate fool you too much. The Kozuki Clan still needs you."
---
In Suzugo Castle, Shimotsuki Toramaru stood on a balcony, watching the clouds drift across the sky.
He envied Oden—envied the freedom, the ocean, the adventure.
But his duty was here.
He would carry the name and honor of the Shimotsuki Clan, and protect Wano from the shadows.
Still, he wasn't without dreams.
"Koshiro…" he murmured.
Shimotsuki Kosaburo had already decided: when his grandson turned ten, he would send him to study under Brook. If not Brook, then Redfield… or even Shiki.
"Brook isn't just strong," Kosaburo had said. "He's the future king of this era—greater even than our ancestor, Shimotsuki Ryuma."
---
A few days later, the golden ship returned to Ballon Island, soaring above the clouds.
Brook summoned two important allies:
Manmichele of the Dwarf Tribe and Tianmulan of the Three-Eyed Tribe.
To Manmichele, he entrusted the Ripe Fruit.
She would become the ultimate cultivator, growing vines across Sky Islands, food plants from Boeing Island, and eventually working alongside the young Heracles himself.
To Tianmulan, he gave the Scroll Fruit.
At first, Brook considered giving her the Imitation Fruit, but she had no talent for espionage. What she did have was a brilliant mind.
"With this power and your brain," Brook said, "you'll develop something amazing. If stamina's an issue, I'll give you potions, vitality dishes—even the blood of a millennia-old dragon."
Tianmulan nodded, already imagining blueprints in her mind.
A scroll to absorb tidal waves.
A scroll to store entire fleets.
A scroll that could reshape the battlefield.
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