After chatting with Yamato for a short while, Kaido stood up and left. He had business to attend to back on Onigashima. Standing outside the door, Yamato watched as his massive figure transformed into a giant, serpentine dragon. He soared into the sky, his silhouette quickly receding into the dark clouds, leaving Yamato with a trace of longing in her heart.
"The Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Azure Dragon... as long as I can get that artificial fruit, I'll possess the same abilities as the old man. Best of all, I won't have to fear seawater," Yamato's eyes flickered with fervor.
"Young Master, your dinner is ready," a maid's voice called out, breaking her trance.
Yamato calmed her emotions, stepped back into the room, and began to feast. After eating her fill, she went straight to sleep. She had to wake up early every morning to continue her grueling training; this was her life now.
Meanwhile, Kaido arrived back at Onigashima.
"King, come have a drink with me," Kaido bellowed as soon as he returned to the skull fortress.
Seeing Kaido's cheerful expression, King offered a rare smile. "Big Brother, did something good happen? You seem unusually happy."
"It's Yamato. That kid is different now. She actually had the nerve to give me orders! Can you believe it? I wonder if she hit her head," Kaido sat down heavily, laughing until the room shook.
King was stunned for a moment, but he quickly connected the dots. "Big Brother, it seems you actually like that the Young Master is acting this way."
King had followed Kaido for many years; he knew exactly how the man's mind worked. Kaido didn't want a submissive heir; he wanted a warrior.
Kaido looked at King, his expression turning slightly more serious. "Do you know what I saw in her eyes? Ambition! I don't know what caused such a sudden change in her, but it's a good thing. Now I can finally see the extent of her mettle."
King listened quietly. He knew Kaido had his own plans for the girl's future.
"King, if Yamato comes to you for help, don't refuse her. Satisfy her requests as much as possible," Kaido instructed.
King nodded. "I understand, Big Brother. Don't worry, I'll look after her."
Yamato had already asked him for a favor—she wanted that artificial fruit. I won't tell Big Brother about that just yet. I'll let the Young Master surprise him when the time comes, King thought.
From that day forward, Yamato's life became a cycle of leaving at dawn and returning after dark. She poured every second of her time into her cultivation, ignoring everything else.
Soon, an entire year had passed.
In the region of Hakumai, at the foot of a mountain, a small hill five or six meters high was moving slowly across the terrain like a giant tortoise. The ground vibrated with every step. Beneath the massive weight of the stone was a tiny figure: Yamato.
In just one year, the results of her training were undeniable. Her physical strength had improved at a staggering rate.
Bang!
Yamato exhaled sharply, exerting her power to toss the small hill aside. It tumbled across the grass, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Phew, it's almost time," Yamato said, wiping the sweat from her brow.
She had grown taller over the year. Her long hair was tied back into a practical ponytail, and her golden eyes shone with a sharp, disciplined light. Her entire spirit had undergone an earth-shattering transformation. She looked toward the Flower Capital. In two days, it would be the day of Kozuki Oden's execution.
Just two days ago, the five-year agreement between Oden, Orochi, and Kaido had expired. The result was exactly what Yamato expected: Oden had been tricked. Orochi broke his word and prepared to seize Kuri by force. Realizing he had been played for a fool, Oden finally snapped. He took his nine vassals and set out to take down Orochi and Kaido once and for all.
Unfortunately, they failed and were captured. In two days, they would be executed for rebelling against the Shogun.
"Hatred truly twists people. This is just the Kurozumi Clan's final revenge against the Kozuki," Yamato said, shaking her head.
It was a tragedy built on secrets. One of Oden's own vassals was a traitor from the Kurozumi family. Because of that leak, Orochi and Kaido knew the plan in advance and set a perfect trap. However, it was also during this desperate battle that Oden managed to give Kaido a permanent, cross-shaped scar on his chest.
"Ryuo... the advanced application of Armament Haki. I have to master that in the future," Yamato murmured to herself.
Just then, dust rose on the horizon. A squad of soldiers galloped toward her on large animals. Judging by their gear, they were members of the Beasts Pirates.
"Young Master, Lord King sent us with a message," the lead rider said, bowing respectfully. "He says the item you requested has arrived and asks that you return to Onigashima immediately."
Yamato was both surprised and delighted. She hadn't expected King to pull it off in just one year. She had assumed it would take much longer. After all, Punk Hazard was a restricted World Government facility guarded by top-tier Marines and scientists. Infiltrating it was no easy feat.
"As expected of my Second Uncle. Let's go, I'm heading there now," Yamato ordered.
Onigashima was bustling. Yamato hadn't visited the main base in a long time and noticed the crew's numbers had increased significantly. She made her way directly to King's office.
"Second Uncle, I'm here!"
"Young Master, I've fulfilled my mission. I have the fruit you wanted," King said.
He looked at Yamato and felt a surge of admiration. Her temperament was completely different from a year ago. She stood like an unsheathed blade, radiating a sharp, dangerous energy. Though King hadn't watched her train personally, he had received daily reports from the scouts he sent to monitor her. He knew better than anyone how hard she had pushed herself.
This isn't something a normal eight-year-old could achieve, King thought. It reminded him of Kaido's youth. By the age of ten, Kaido had already been the strongest warrior in his home kingdom. Yamato was following that same legendary path.
"You truly share your father's bloodline," King said, sounding satisfied. He pulled out a small box and placed it on the desk. "Inside is the Artificial Devil Fruit."
Yamato's heart raced. With this fruit, she could finally gain the powers of a dragon without the curse of the sea. She took a deep breath and opened the lid. A strange-looking fruit sat nestled inside. It was the world's first successful Artificial Devil Fruit, created by Vegapunk himself. It looked like a green apple with a smooth surface covered in intricate spiral patterns.
Yamato smiled, her eyes bright. "Thank you, Second Uncle."
"There's no need for that, Young Master. Though, you should know that Vegapunk himself considered this a failure," King noted with a chuckle.
"That's only because Vegapunk is a perfectionist," Yamato explained. "He believes only a flawless copy is a success. He wanted to recreate the exact fruit my old man ate, down to the very color. Since this one is the wrong color, he threw it away."
Yamato picked up the fruit, ready to take the next step in her journey. She knew her bounty would eventually reach 3,000,000,000 and beyond if she played her cards right.