Sea Calendar Year 1501.
New World, Wano Country, Onigashima.
A massive skull loomed at the center of the island. Its two thick horns curved toward the sky like the remains of an ancient demon god, radiating an aura of absolute dominance. Currently, this island served as the headquarters for the Beasts Pirates.
Inside the skull of Onigashima, a small figure sat on a wooden bed. It was a child with long, gradient hair that transitioned from white at the crown to green at the tips, fading finally into a soft blue. She wore a white kimono decorated with blue stripes, tied at the waist by a thick, heavy rope. Most striking was the pair of crimson horns on her head, which resembled those of an ogre.
This appearance made her identity unmistakable: Yamato, daughter of the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates, Kaido.
"I've actually become Yamato, that famous 'filial' child," a soft voice spoke, filled with disbelief.
The new Yamato looked down at her small hands and fell silent. After the initial rush of excitement and the thrill of transmigration, she felt only a sense of helplessness. A filial child! That was the label most fans associated with Yamato, and it was one that usually made people's blood pressure spike.
"No, I have to get rid of that reputation. Otherwise, this whole reincarnation would be a total waste," Yamato muttered, calming her nerves.
In her previous life, she had been a dedicated fan of the series. She had watched One Piece and knew the lore inside and out.
"This transmigration changed my gender, but that doesn't really matter. What's important is that I don't end up as a 'filial' child like the original Yamato did," she said, rubbing her chin as she fell deep into thought.
Currently, she was only seven years old. At this point in the timeline, the Beasts Pirates had already been established in Wano Country for several years. This was the era when Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi collaborated to transform Wano into a massive weapon factory.
In fact, four years ago, Kaido and Orochi had plotted against Kozuki Oden. They used hostages to force him into a humiliating deal, making him dance naked in the Flower Capital every week. According to that agreement, Oden had to dance for five years. This was now the fourth year, and it was quickly drawing to a close.
"That means next year is the day Kozuki Oden dies," Yamato thought, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
Right now, Kozuki Oden was incredibly powerful. Even Kaido would have to put in a serious effort to take him down in a fair fight. Moreover, many of Wano's strongest samurai supported him, recognizing him as the only true Shogun. To maintain control over Wano, Kaido and Orochi had to rely on trickery to stall for time.
It was shocking that Oden actually chose to compromise, but his kindness was exactly what led to his downfall.
"His head just wasn't in the right place. When God opens a door, He usually closes a window. In that sense, the original Yamato wasn't much better," she said, shaking her head with a sigh. "Whatever, I won't worry about that now. I can't do anything yet anyway. In this world, you can't get anything done without power."
Yamato composed her thoughts. Her top priority was getting stronger. As Kaido's daughter, she was born with the talent of a top-tier powerhouse. There was no doubt about her potential, especially since she would eventually awaken Conqueror's Haki at a young age. Furthermore, Kaido belonged to a special race, which explained the horns on his head. Based on these factors, Yamato was destined to become a peerless force on the sea.
"The original Yamato had a great hand and played it terribly. I'm not impressed. Now, I'm going to be a different Yamato, and I'll walk a completely different path," she declared, clenching her small fists. Her large eyes burst with a brilliant light.
She wanted to grow strong. As Kaido's daughter, she would become powerful enough to reign over the oceans.
"Starting now, I'm planning for the future," Yamato said, jumping off the wooden bed.
She walked toward the door. She already had her sights set on a specific Devil Fruit. The reason it was so special was that it was an Artificial Devil Fruit created by Dr. Vegapunk using Lineage Factors. It was actually a successful creation, but for some reason, Vegapunk deemed it a failure and abandoned it on the island where he conducted his experiments.
That island was Punk Hazard. It was still many years before the tragic incident that would ruin the island, and it was currently a research site for the World Government. Most importantly, that fruit was tied directly to Kaido.
When Kaido was captured by the Marines years ago, Vegapunk drew his blood to study his Lineage Factors. This research led to the birth of the world's first successful Artificial Devil Fruit. Yamato's goal was to claim it. If she didn't, it would eventually be eaten by Oden's son.
"That fruit is unique. It's a success and doesn't even have the typical weakness to seawater. It meets all my requirements and is a Mythical Zoan. If it weren't that powerful, I wouldn't even bother with it," Yamato murmured.
When the time came, she would possess the same legendary ability as her father: the Mythical Zoan, Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon. A creature like a dragon held special meaning for her, so she had to have it.
"Even if the gears of fate keep turning, I can still change the ripples in the water. I just need to become a towering wave myself before the great tide of the era arrives," she said, a spark of ambition lighting up her eyes.
Shortly after, Yamato stepped outside and looked up. The sky was gloomy and dark, with no sun in sight. This was Onigashima, a place perpetually shrouded in thick clouds.
"Young Master," a voice suddenly called out, interrupting her thoughts.
Yamato looked over and saw several members of the Beasts Pirates watching her respectfully.
"Yeah? Where's my father?" Yamato asked.
"Lord Kaido went to the Flower Capital to meet with Shogun Orochi," the subordinate replied quickly.
Yamato nodded. "And where is my Second Uncle?"
"Lord King is handling the crew's business," the subordinate said, glancing toward the center of the base. That was where the high-ranking officers of the crew usually worked.
"Okay, I get it," Yamato said, nodding before walking in that direction.
Soon, Yamato arrived at a large office. Inside sat a tall man, his entire body wrapped in black leather. His face was hidden behind a mask, with only his eyes visible. Most strangely, a pair of black wings grew from his back, and a constant flame burned behind his head.
This man was the second-in-command of the Beasts Pirates, the Lead Performer, King the Conflagration. He was the first person to join Kaido's crew. They had met in a government laboratory, which Kaido destroyed before taking King with him. King belonged to a very rare race called the Lunarians, who once lived atop the Red Line. Now, King appeared to be the last of his kind in the entire world.
Yamato walked up to the desk, looking at the formidable man. She knew that if she wanted to start her training, King was the best person to talk to while her father was away.
"King," Yamato said, her voice firm despite her small stature. "I want to start training. I need to get stronger, and I want to start today."
King looked up from his paperwork, his gaze steady. He didn't seem surprised by the request. In the Beasts Pirates, strength was the only currency that mattered. If the daughter of the Governor-General wanted to fight, he wasn't going to stand in her way.
"You're finally showing some spirit," King replied, his voice muffled by his mask but carrying a hint of approval. "Lord Kaido will be pleased. Follow me to the training grounds."
Yamato followed him, her heart racing. This was the first step. She wasn't going to be the girl who obsessed over a dead man's journal. She was going to be the woman who carved her own name into the history of the New World. Her bounty wouldn't just be a number like 550,000,000; she would aim for the very top, surpassing even the legends of the old era.
As they reached the open courtyard, the cold wind of Wano whipped against her face. She looked at the jagged horizon and made a silent promise to herself. She would take what she wanted, protect what she cared about, and most importantly, she would never be a "filial" daughter to the man who sought to enslave this land.
The era was changing, and Yamato was ready to change with it.