Arceus's Pirate Journey

Chapter 310: Chapter 309: The Burning Oden Castle

Given Yamato’s carefree personality, if there were any injuries on her body, she probably wouldn’t notice right away. So, a few doctors had already been ordered to prepare a comprehensive examination for her.

Under the intimidation of Arceus’s name, Yamato was obediently taken to the Pokemon Center for a check-up, the same as Maria and Jack. These new generation’s mainstays have always been highly valued.

However, upon leaving, Yamato saw the sky still ablaze with flames.

”Uncle Mandfeish, why is it still burning over there?”

”Over there... is Kuri, don’t worry. Lord Zeraora has already gone there. I believe the fire will soon be extinguished.”

”Oh.”

...

Not long ago, when Kurozumi Orochi sent out a signal, the undercover agent Kanjuro, who had been lurking by Kozuki Oden’s side for years, sprang into action.

To provoke Oden, Kurozumi Orochi chose to attack Kozuki Oden’s family, even arranging for some people to impersonate members of the Hundred Beasts Pirate Group to attack here.

Except for some household attendants he took away, Kanjuro, Kawamatsu, and Denjiro remained in Oden Castle. Although the sounds of battle exploded from the Flower Capital, nothing happened here.

Until Kanjuro temporarily left the place on the pretext of convenience.

Below Oden Castle, he took out his Tsuji Ushiume and began to paint. Tsuji Ushiume is Kanjuro’s weapon. It looks like a sword, but the tip is a giant brush.

”Ka ka ka, feel the wrath of the Kurozumi.”

The household attendants of the Kozuki only knew Kanjuro by name, not knowing he bore the Kurozumi surname. He came from a troupe of popular stage plays, with naturally superb acting skills.

And because of the Kurozumi surname, Kurozumi Kanjuro naturally also suffered from the fallout of his grandfather, Kurozumi Orochi’s rebellion.

After his parents died, Kurozumi Kanjuro lost himself and lived only by acting as others. Thus, he was highly skilled in acting and could play anyone, feeling joy only when he completely transformed into another person.

In acting, Kanjuro had almost become a demon. He held immense hatred for the people who killed his parents, though he knew not who the culprits were.

When he heard that Orochi had killed those who murdered his parents, he was willing to follow Orochi to the death, but the deaths of the other Kurozumi family members also had him somewhat linked to Orochi.

Kanjuro and Orochi shared one common trait: they were both mad. Orochi had gone mad to the point of hating everyone in Wano Kuni, whether they had the Kurozumi name or not.

The undercover Kanjuro, by Oden’s side, had deeply immersed himself in the role and was quite obedient to Oden’s words. As long as Orochi did not give orders, then Oden’s orders were absolute to him. However, now he had received Orochi’s directives.

The Fruit Ability activated, and a flame appeared below Oden Castle.

He is a Paramecia-type: Brush-Brush Fruit user. Simply put, he’s a lower-grade version of the Magic Brush Ma Liang.

He can turn what he paints into reality. Tsuji Ushiume is his medium for drawing. Without a brush, he can even use his own hair as a brush.

The appearance and capabilities of what he paints are proportional to the artist’s drawing skills. By Usopp’s standards, this is a pretty suitable fruit for him.

But abilities have two sides. Good abilities can enhance drawing capabilities, but if the pictures are too poor or unsightly, it will directly impact the drawn entity’s abilities and functions.

Usually, what Kanjuro draws are hideously abstract, not only unable to exert real power, but also dissolving in water, mostly useful for drawing cabbage to fill a stomach.

Due to the world’s rules, he is not allowed to poorly draw cabbage here.

But that was his deliberate act to hide his abilities by drawing with an unskilled left hand. Now, using his right hand, he had painted a vivid flame.

”Ka ka ka, come forth, Kazenbo!”

Kanjuro erupted into maniacal laughter, burning Oden Castle was also a signal for those in Orochi’s employ, but his mission was simply that. Afterward, he reverted to his original Kanjuro persona.

”No, not good! Lady Toki! Someone’s attacking! They’re burning the house!”

The current Kanjuro showed no sign of being an undercover agent and simply appeared as a loyal household attendant, directly charging into the flames, not even flinching as his hair was scorched, simultaneously slaying some of Orochi’s infiltrators.

He wasn’t pretending but genuinely killed the enemies.

This play lasted quite a while, as many were sent by Kurozumi Orochi. For a time, the three could only barely protect Kozuki Toki. After some time, Kikunojo and Raizo returned with the unconscious Kinemon and the others like Cat and Dog.

”My Lady, Lord Oden... Lord Oden was slain in battle!”

Kikunojo cried as she recounted what they had witnessed.

”My Lady, please quickly gather your things. We should take you away from here now, or it will be too late!”

The shouts of fighting spilled in from outside, yet Kozuki Toki made a decision.

....

”You say... to the future?”

”Yes, that day will surely come. You should go twenty years ahead and wait. I entrust you with Raizo, Kanjuro, Momonosuke, and Kinemon.”

Ultimately, she decided to send them to the future. As a Time-Time Fruit ability user, Kozuki Toki was an ancient person from the past, but she could only travel to the future, not the past.

”My Lady, what about you and Princess Hiyori?”

”We cannot be certain of what awaits in twenty years, so Momonosuke and Hiyori must separate. If you’re worried about the future, you may also...”

”No, please believe we will protect Lord Momonosuke well.”

Before Kozuki Toki could finish, Raizo interrupted, and then, under Kozuki Toki’s Fruit Ability, they disappeared from Oden Castle, while Kawamatsu also departed from Oden Castle through the river with the unconscious Kozuki Hiyori.

Earlier the fire caused Kozuki Hiyori to fall unconscious.

After those who should have left had gone, Kozuki Toki looked at the remaining household attendants.

”My Lady, come with us. We’ll break out together.”

”No, only you shall escape. This place is my destiny, and I will draw attention for you.”

Saying this, Kozuki Toki firmly declined them, going alone to the rooftop.

As the others followed orders and tearfully departed, she also called out something atop Oden Castle. It seemed the power of Kanjuro’s Kazenbo was a bit excessive, for as soon as she finished, Oden Castle collapsed with a thunderous roar, heard only by the ’Hundred Beasts’ men below.

”Zeraora, what was she saying just now?”

”Something like a prophecy.”

Having just finished with matters in the Flower Capital, Zeraora and Setsuna came and witnessed the collapse of Oden Castle...