On the Battlefield

Standing before the ranks of samurai were four men.

Four samurai with katanas at their hips.

In the center stood two: one with a well-proportioned build, green hair tied in a topknot, and a resolute face.

The other was much shorter, with fluffy blue hair and a grave expression.

On the edges stood one tall and lean, the other short and stout, both equally stern, hands resting on the sword hilts at their waists.

"That fool Oden—does he really think he can bear everything on his own?"

The blue-haired man, Daimyo of Hakumai, Shimotsuki Yasuiye, gritted his teeth. "The moment I let my guard down, things have already fallen to ruin like this!"

"Hahahaha, can't be helped. It's because he's a naive fool that he's Oden."

The green-haired man beside him chewed on a blade of grass, laughing. "But that kid did do one good thing, old man Yasuiye. At least now Wano Country is back on our side."

During Oden's execution, his deal with Orochi had been exposed.

The people of Wano finally understood what Kozuki Oden had been dancing for all those five years.

"But it's already too late."

The tall, lean man sighed, lifting his gaze to the monster drifting through the clouds above. "This is as far as we go."

The green-haired man drew the blade at his waist and spat out the grass from his mouth. His smile didn't fade. "It's true that this is as far as we go. But there's still the future! Let's entrust everything to those who come after us!"

Shimotsuki Yasuiye smiled as well upon hearing this. "Ushimaru is right. Our lives may end here, but in a future we won't live to see, someone will surely inherit our will and reignite this war for freedom against Kaido and Orochi!"

"Hahahaha, exactly! Since we have no more regrets, let's raise hell while we can!"

The Daimyo of Ringo, Shimotsuki Ushimaru, raised his blade high. "Old man Yasuiye, Omusubi, Tempura! Let these bastards see the backbone of a samurai!"

The other three drew their swords in unison. Shimotsuki Yasuiye took a deep breath, then—

"Charge!!!"

With roars and battle cries, the samurai surged forward under the lead of the four daimyo.

"Overconfident."

King crossed his arms and sneered, waving a hand casually. "Kill them."

"Oh!!!!"

The Beasts pirates roared in return, charging toward the samurai.

In the sky, Kaido looked down at the two forces rapidly closing in. His attention fixed on the four samurai at the front.

"Daimyo of Hakumai, Shimotsuki Yasuiye! Daimyo of Ringo, Shimotsuki Ushimaru! Daimyo of Kibi, Fuzuki Omusubi! Daimyo of Usagi, Uzuki Tempura!"

"Ughahahaha! All four of Wano's most renowned samurai daimyo have come!"

The Divine Dragon began plummeting from the sky. The next instant, when he was close to the ground, Kaido reverted to human form and slammed into the earth, cratering it with a massive impact.

He casually swung his Spiked Club to blow away the dust before him, laughing. "Come fight, samurai!"

The four samurai daimyo exchanged glances, then rushed him as one.

"Die, Kaido!"

"Ughahahaha!"

Uncle Kaido was still laughing heartily when Sirius and Yamato just touched down.

When Kaido had transformed back to human near the ground, Sirius and Yamato, who had been riding on him, lost their footing and fell from dozens of meters in the air.

"Waaaaah!! We're gonna die!!"

Yamato clung to Sirius for dear life, crying and screaming in terror.

Sirius was terrified too. Was this really something a father should do? Did Kaido even treat Yamato like a daughter?

But now wasn't the time to curse Kaido. He had to find a way to save them first.

Black fur sprouted from Sirius's body again as he transformed into a werewolf, flames surging from his mouth.

Blazing fire condensed into a pillar, roaring downward. It blasted into the ground, creating a crater, while the recoil slowed their fall.

Sirius kept breathing fire until they were only a few meters from the ground, then stopped, landing safely with Yamato in his arms.

"Sirius, you're amazing! I thought we were dead for sure!" Yamato hugged his arm and giggled.

"Now's not the time to be happy!"

Sirius looked around. They had followed Kaido down and were now right in the middle of the battlefield.

Slaughter raged on all sides.

Sirius's expression stiffened.

A samurai cut halfway through a pirate's neck. Blood gushed uncontrollably as the pirate desperately tried to clamp his hand over the wound, to no avail.

Before the samurai could press further, another pirate ran him through with a blade, then slashed sideways, gutting him open. His entrails spilled out.

That was just one corner of the carnage. Blood and killing unfolded everywhere.

Sirius's eyesight was sharp. He could see every severed limb and broken body clearly.

Sirius's hearing was sharp, and the cries of pain and screams of agony were unending.

Sirius's sense of smell was keen, and the scent of blood nearly suffocated him.

So this was war?

Sirius felt his mind go blank.

This was completely different from hunting on the isolated island before.

People who shared his appearance, who bled the same red blood, were falling one after another—blood gushing, screams echoing.

It was also different from watching Oden fight the Beasts Pirates back then. That man's techniques were vast and majestic; a single casual swing of his blade sent pirates flying in all directions. The scene was far less bloody than this.

"Sirius? Sirius, what's wrong?"

Yamato had no idea what was happening to Sirius. She noticed he had frozen in place and, puzzled, gave him a shove.

"N-no, it's nothing."

Sirius let out a slow breath, feeling a pang of shame inside.

This won't do.

If he wanted to survive on this sea, being afraid of the battlefield was absolutely unacceptable.

But even as he told himself that, Sirius still felt weak and sore all over, with a wave of nausea threatening to rise.

Still, what was up with this little girl?

Sirius glanced at Yamato, who was looking at him with curiosity. How could you be so calm?

Doesn't that just make me look even more pathetic?

"Watch out, Sirius!"

Suddenly, Yamato's expression turned panicked. She shoved Sirius aside, pulled the spiked club from her back, and charged forward.

Clang!

The blade and the spiked club collided heavily.

"Damn it!"

The samurai gripping the sword roared, "Get out of my way, Little Girl!"

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?! Sirius is my most important partner!"

Yamato shouted back, "You idiot samurai!"

With a yell, she put all her strength into her arms, snapping the samurai's blade in two. The spiked club slammed into his face, sending him flying.

Sirius stared blankly at Yamato.

Yamato turned back to look at him. The little girl hoisted the spiked club onto her shoulder, grinned, and gave him a thumbs-up. "Sirius, are you scared?"

"But don't worry—I'll protect you!"

It was kind of cool.