"Seventy percent is mine."
Seeing the seriousness on Gurd's face, Orochi realized he wasn't joking—he genuinely intended to take seventy percent.
Rage ignited instantly.
Orochi's expression twisted into a snarl as he glared at Gurd.
If the man before him were Kaido, he wouldn't have dared raise a single objection—he might even have considered it justified.
But a mere Headliner, a low-ranking officer who wasn't even an All-Star—what right did he have to claim more than him?
In their alliance, Orochi stood as Kaido's equal. Even the three All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates had to show him deference.
Just like how Queen had no right to compete with him over the courtesan Komurasaki.
So this was outright insubordination!
Fine. He'd slaughter them both!
"Guhohoho... Since becoming the shogun of Wano Country, this is the first time I've suffered such humiliation!"
Orochi slowly rose to his feet, his killing intent boiling over.
"Oniwabanshu!"
At his command, eleven ninjas of the Oniwabanshu instantly appeared—two even clinging to the ceiling above.
Armed with ninja tools, they stood ready, awaiting Orochi's order to swarm and attack Gurd.
The atmosphere grew razor-sharp with tension.
"Brother Gurd."
Just then, Kyoshiro stood and approached the table, smiling. "We and the Beasts have been allies for years. Let's not let money ruin our harmony, hm?"
As he spoke, Kyoshiro positioned himself behind Gurd, his right hand silently gripping his scabbard, poised to strike.
As Orochi's most loyal dog, he had to act—whether to join the Oniwabanshu in attacking Gurd or to mediate.
There was one more thing.
Kyoshiro narrowed his eyes, studying Orochi's murderous expression through his lashes. His final concern faded.
This wasn't an act.
Knowing Orochi as he did, the man truly wanted Gurd dead. That meant no one had uncovered his true identity.
Now, he just had to play his role as Kyoshiro.
Shing!
Kyoshiro thumbed his blade slightly out of its sheath, smiling as he issued a veiled threat. "Brother Gurd, how about this—we split the spoils fifty-fifty. What do you say?"
"Fifty-fifty?"
Gurd chuckled, leisurely pouring himself a bowl of fine sake before standing to face Kyoshiro.
Splash!
He upended the bowl onto Kyoshiro's head.
"Who the hell do you think I am?"
Gurd's gaze was icy.
"A mere yakuza boss dares to tell me what to do?"
"..."
Kyoshiro froze.
He hadn't expected Gurd to break convention so blatantly, flipping the script and turning hostile. Normally, both sides would try to de-escalate and compromise.
Did this man actually want a fight?
It made no sense—what could the Beasts possibly gain from this?
"You bastard! How dare you insult Kyoshiro!"
Orochi roared in fury.
"Oniwabanshu—kill him!"
"Yes!"
In the next instant, the Oniwabanshu attacked without hesitation.
Throwing stars, kusarigama, explosive bombs—
A barrage of ninja tools hurtled toward Kyoshiro!
"What?!"
Kyoshiro's eyes snapped open in shock. His focus had been entirely on Gurd—he never expected the Oniwabanshu to target him.
Drawing his blade—
Clangclangclangclangclang!!!
Steel met ninja tools in a furious clash, sparks flying in all directions!
When the Oniwabanshu's assault ceased, the ground around Kyoshiro was littered with shattered ninja tools, and numerous throwing stars were embedded in his body.
Blood trickled down his forehead.
Kyoshiro's eyes darted around, taking in the Oniwabanshu who had surrounded him, before shifting his gaze to Orochi.
No explanation was needed.
He knew he'd been exposed.
This meticulously orchestrated betrayal was all to kill him.
Orochi pointed at Kyoshiro with a trembling hand, his voice filled with rage: "Kyoshiro, I truly never imagined you were a retainer of Kozuki Oden! Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
"Defense? Don't underestimate a Kozuki samurai!"
Kyoshiro knew the game was up. He tore off his ridiculous pompadour wig and stripped off his upper garment, revealing the crest on his back.
After fifteen long years, he could finally shed his disguise and face the world as a true Kozuki samurai.
"It's the Kozuki crest!"
The ninjas gasped in hushed tones.
Though they'd received the intel, they'd truly struggled to believe that the highly respected Kyoshiro Boss was a Kozuki mole.
What terrifying resolve it must have taken—to suppress his burning hatred, to play the role of Orochi's loyal dog for fifteen years without ever slipping up.
Orochi's face twisted into a snarl as he bellowed.
"Kill him! Kill him now!"
"Yes, sir!"
The ninjas attacked once more!
Wind Blade was the fastest, launching himself from the ceiling with a powerful kick, his crossed blades slashing toward Kyoshiro!
"Die!"
"Clang!"
A shattered blade flew into the air.
Wind Blade's eyes rolled back as he crashed heavily behind Kyoshiro, a massive gash bleeding across his chest, his twin swords severed by Kyoshiro's strike.
"Don't rush in! Attack together!"
Fukurokuju commanded the remaining ninjas, beads of sweat forming on his brow.
"Cherry Blossom Shuriken!"
Chiyo Girl hurled a barrage of throwing stars.
Kyoshiro swiftly retreated, kicking up a long table to shield himself while raising his sword to block the hook chain attacking from the other side.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
The table was now studded with throwing stars.
His blade tangled with Hanzō's hook chain, the connecting links instantly tightening as the ninja tried to disarm him.
Kyoshiro's arm bulged with veins as he forcefully swung his sword toward Chiyo Girl's position. The sheer strength of his motion yanked Hanzō—still gripping the chain—through the air, slamming him into Chiyo Girl.
"Waaah!"
"Boom!"
The floor shattered!
In the distance, Gurd stood with arms crossed, leisurely observing the battle.
"How useless."
In mere moments, several Oniwabanshu had been incapacitated. Stopping Kyoshiro now seemed nearly impossible.
Kyoshiro was strong—undoubtedly above the level of the Flying Six. Whether he could match an All-Star was debatable—King and Queen were unknowns—but he could certainly give Jack a run for his money.
Expecting the Oniwabanshu alone to handle him was asking too much of these ninjas.
Orochi, hiding behind a screen, could see his forces losing ground. Frantic, he screamed at Gurd.
"Gurd! Stop Kyoshiro now!"
"Lord Shogun, as per our agreement, I'm only responsible for preventing Kyoshiro from escaping General Castle. Everything else is not my concern."
Gurd refused without hesitation.
"Don't worry—Wano Country's strongest warriors are drinking in the banquet hall next door. They'll notice the commotion soon. Kyoshiro may be powerful, but he'll tire eventually!"
"You—!"
Orochi nearly stomped his feet in frustration.
Those useless fools next door weren't even as capable as the Oniwabanshu. Even if they could wear Kyoshiro down, the cost would be devastating.
"Fukurokuju! Summon the samurai!"
"Understood!"
In the banquet hall, the high-ranking officials of Wano Country were still drinking and reveling, their laughter and the music of the prostitutes completely masking the commotion in the side chamber.
Until the messenger appeared.
"Assassins!"
"Kyoshiro is a Kozuki Samurai—he's trying to assassinate the Shogun! Everyone, head to the side chamber and stop Kyoshiro immediately!"
"What?!"
The officials froze for a moment before erupting into chaos, especially Hotei from the patrol unit, who scrambled to his feet and rushed toward the side chamber.
When the group reached the side chamber and slid open the door, a wave of scorching flames surged forth, engulfing everyone.
"Fire Fist!!!"
(End of Chapter)