Oden and Kin'emon were the Lord and retainer of Kuri, a region located on the opposite side of the Flower Capital from Hakumai. Normally, they would have no reason to travel all the way to Yasuie's domain, but Oden had ignored Kin'emon's protests. "It's been a while since I showed my face to Yasu! I'm coming with you!" he'd declared, following Kanata's group.
It was clear to everyone that Kin'emon lacked the authority to actually restrain his lord.
The journey back was on foot, making it slower than the trip in, but Oden and Kin'emon spent the time acting as guides, peppering Kanata and her crew with endless questions about the outside world.
"Damn it... I really do want to see the ocean," Oden muttered, his eyes full of longing. "There's got to be a way."
"Please, Lord Oden, give it a rest!" Kin'emon pleaded.
"At least not today," Kanata said coolly. "I think I'd suffocate with you on my ship anyway."
"That's a hell of a thing to say to a man!" Oden barked.
"If you're looking for someone to blame for your lack of discipline, look in a mirror. It isn't my fault you can't follow a simple rule."
"You really think you're something, don't you, girl?!"
Oden glared at her, a vein bulging in his forehead. Kanata didn't even look at him, her expression as indifferent as a passing breeze.
The two of them were fundamentally incompatible. Oden was a man who detested being bound by anything, while Kanata was a leader who ruled through absolute order and ironclad discipline. Their philosophies were oil and water. Dragon, Zen, and Kin'emon could only shrug and watch the sparks fly.
"Well, that's humanity for you," Dragon noted. "Sometimes you just meet someone you can't stand. Our captain and their Daimyo are a textbook case."
If they had kept things professional, they might have gotten along fine, but Oden's insatiable curiosity kept him hovering near her. Kanata would ignore his provocations for the most part, but the moment Oden's hand drifted toward his sword hilt, things got tense. Zen had already had to step in three times to prevent a duel.
Kanata likely wouldn't lose, but Oden was a high-ranking official and the future Shogun. A bloody confrontation in the middle of the road was the last thing they needed.
"I... I apologize for my lord's behavior," Kin'emon whispered to Zen.
"Don't worry about it," Zen replied. "Actually, I'm surprised. The Oden I knew would have drawn his steel an hour ago. He's actually matured quite a bit if he's limiting himself to just glares."
In truth, it was usually Oden who started the friction. As long as he didn't do anything truly reckless, Kanata was content to simply ignore his existence.
"By the way," Kin'emon said, changing the subject to break the tension. "I've been wondering... that blade at your hip, Kanata. It looks like a masterpiece."
"This? It's a Supreme Grade Blade," Kanata answered.
"What?! A true Supreme Grade?!"
Kin'emon's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. It was the instinct of a samurai; he couldn't help but be drawn to a weapon of such renown. Kanata usually preferred a spear, but since the Muramasa was the most valuable item on her ship, she didn't want to leave it in a vault. She wore it primarily to keep it safe, though she had noticed the covetous stares it drew from the local ronin.
"May I... may I see it?" Kin'emon asked, his voice trembling with reverence.
"I don't mind," Kanata said.
"You have my thanks!"
They took a break by a rocky outcrop. Kanata sat down and handed the sheathed Muramasa to Kin'emon. His hands shook as he took the weapon. Even as an intermediate swordsman, the weight of a Supreme Grade Blade was almost overwhelming.
He slowly drew the steel. He admired the black-stained metal, the unique curve, and the high ridge. He let out a long, shaky breath.
"It is beautiful... but I feel a terrifying pressure coming from it."
"Don't look at it too long," Kanata warned. "If you let it haunt you, it'll be a problem."
"Haunt me?!" Kin'emon looked up, startled.
Oden's expression shifted, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow. "What do you mean by that?" he demanded. He might be a hellraiser, but he cared deeply for his retainers. He didn't want Kin'emon touching something dangerous.
"They say it's a Cursed Blade that turns its owner into a cold-blooded killer," Kanata explained. "If your spirit is weak, you should be careful."
"I-I see..." Kin'emon stammered. "Are... are you alright carrying it then, Kanata?"
"I don't use swords," she replied simply.
"YOU DON'T USE IT?!" Oden roared.
Oden had spent a moment wondering if she was strong enough to suppress the curse, but the truth was much simpler: if she never drew the blade to fight, the curse had no opening to take hold of her. She treated a god-slaying weapon like a piece of jewelry.
(I just hope she never has to draw it,) Dragon thought. (If she ever let that curse in... no one would be able to stop her.)
***
The group eventually arrived in Hakumai.
Lord Yasuie had already begun the process of exchanging their cargo for local currency. George had taken over the negotiations, leaving Kanata free to review the status of the crew. As she listened to her subordinates' reports, Oden spoke up from the side.
"I thought it was a joke when they said a slip of a girl was the captain," he muttered. "But I guess you really are the one in charge."
"You want me to knock you down a peg, you brat?" Kanata snapped.
"What?! You want a piece of me?!"
"Lord Oden, stop!" Kin'emon cried, grabbing Oden's arm as the man reached for his twin blades.
Kanata's crew watched the exchange with varying degrees of amusement and hostility. Some were ready to step in, while others were practically hoping for Oden to draw his sword so they could see their captain bury him.
Finally, Zen stepped in, physically hauling Oden away before he could say something else stupid. He dragged the Daimyo toward Yasuie's residence, leaving the others behind. In that moment, an unspoken agreement was reached between Kin'emon and Kanata's officers: Keep those two in separate rooms at all times.
George watched Oden be dragged away, exhaling a cloud of tobacco smoke. "What was that about?"
"He doesn't like me," Kanata said. "And I don't particularly like him either."
"That's rare for you," George noted.
Usually, Kanata was indifferent to everyone unless they mentioned her mother. But something about Oden's personality rubbed her the wrong way. Dragon could only shrug; it was a simple personality clash.
George moved on to the financial report. He had managed the payouts and bonuses for the crew. Kanata trusted him with the purse strings, so she only checked the totals. She had ordered the crew to move in groups while in town to avoid any trouble.
"That covers the money," George said. "How was the trip to the Capital?"
"Productive. But the information we gathered is... sensitive."
Kanata knew she couldn't share the details of the Road Poneglyphs with everyone. While her veterans were loyal, the newer recruits hadn't been fully vetted yet. A leak regarding the path to the Last Island would bring every power in the sea down on their heads.
"We're going to stay here for at least a month," Kanata decided. "We need to solidify our internal order and ensure no one slips through the cracks."
"So, training and discipline for the rookies?" George asked. "This country is safe from the World Government, so it's a good place for a retreat."
"I also want to train all of you," Kanata added. "From here on, we'll be fighting people with bounties in the hundreds of millions. You need to be ready."
"Seriously...?" George groaned.
Kanata planned to ask Lord Yasuie to allow joint training sessions between her crew and the samurai of Hakumai. It would be a perfect stimulant. The samurai were disciplined and strong, providing a much-needed benchmark.
"I suppose it's necessary," George admitted. "Scotch and I really need to master Six Powers and Haki."
"Six Powers is easy once you grasp the mechanics," Kanata said. "Think of it as a foundation for Haki."
She wanted everyone to at least master the Sky Walk and Shave techniques for mobility. The rest would follow.
"I'm sure the other four powers in the New World—Roger, Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Shiki—already know about the Road Poneglyphs," Kanata mused. "Especially since three of them were on the same ship as my mother. We have to assume they're looking for the same things we are."
They were on a collision course with the strongest pirates in history. Improving their strength wasn't an option; it was a requirement for survival.
***
"Joint training? I think that's a wonderful idea," Lord Yasuie said, his eyes twinkling. "It's a rare chance for my men to see how warriors from the outside fight."
"We might not be the best examples," George joked, "but we'd appreciate the help."
Yasuie and George began coordinating the logistics. Zen wagged his tail happily, clearly excited for the upcoming bouts. Oden, who was listening in, rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I want in on this," Oden declared.
"Absolutely not, Lord Oden!" Kin'emon barked. "Do you have any idea how long we've been away from Kuri? The retainers will have my head! You need to go home and explain yourself."
"Kuri runs fine without me," Oden scoffed.
"That isn't the point!"
Kanata looked at Oden. "If you want to join, you can. But go back to Kuri first. Tell your people what you're doing and bring your own samurai back with you."
"Huh? Why?" Oden asked.
"It'll be good for them," Lord Yasuie interjected. "Your retainers should be the strongest in Wano if they're to serve the future Shogun. Let them test themselves against these foreigners."
Yasuie believed Oden was the only one fit to lead Wano, and he wanted Oden's "Scabbards" to be ready for the world. Oden grumbled but eventually agreed, heading back to Kuri to settle his affairs.
"Oden is strong," Yasuie noted after he had left. "Zen is a master, but even he might be surprised by how much Oden has grown."
"They've already fought," George mentioned.
"Oh? And?"
"Lord Zen is quite powerful," Zen said, stepping forward. "I've beaten most challengers in my time, but Oden gave me a real run for my money. I'm only the second strongest on this ship, so maybe I should use Oden to push myself back to the top."
"Zen is the second strongest?!" Yasuie was genuinely shocked.
Zen had once been called one of the greatest warriors in Wano. If there was someone stronger than him on the ship, it had to be a monster. He looked at the giant, Feiyun, but Zen shook his head.
"Our Captain, Kanata, is the strongest among us," Zen said. "She surpassed me some time ago."
Yasuie looked at Kanata. He had assumed she was a non-combatant leader, a brilliant tactician perhaps, but not a front-line warrior. "People really do hide their true selves," he whispered. "I look forward to seeing this training."
The date was set. In a few days, the joint training would begin. Until then, the crew was ordered to conduct self-study and independent drills.
George, however, was already feeling the weight of the task. He had to keep an eye out for spies, maintain the budget, and now, somehow, manage the explosive "compatibility" issue between Kanata and Oden.
"I think my hair is going to turn white before we leave this island," George sighed.
***
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