Shimotsuki Kanjuro!

"What is that thing?"

Shimotsuki Yasuie, a renowned samurai of Wano Country and the Daimyo of Hakumai, who was entrusted by Kozuki Oden to protect his wife and children here, looked up in astonishment.

He saw a colossal figure silently approaching beneath the dark clouds in the sky.

As it passed through the gaps between the clouds, the moonlight scattering through the openings illuminated it.

It was a dragon!

A Golden Flying Dragon, swooping down with its wings spread!

"Enemy attack!!"

Shimotsuki Yasuie instantly drew his sword and roared, "Everyone, prepare for battle!"

This is bad, bad, bad!

If it's really someone sent by Kaido, doesn't that mean Oden and the others' attack has been exposed?

Oden, what's the situation on your end right now?

The samurai scattered across the courtyard immediately moved towards him, drawing their swords and standing on guard.

"Lady Toki!"

Yasuie turned back, looking at the slightly panicked Kozuki Toki, "Please hurry back and look after the two children. Leave this place to us."

Kozuki Toki, having traveled the seas with the Whitebeard Pirates and Roger Pirates, was not a delicate noble lady. She did not refuse but immediately said solemnly, "Then, I'll entrust everything to you!"

Shimotsuki Yasuie nodded solemnly, "This is my promise to Oden!"

Although that man made a mistake, he was already fighting with the weight of the entire Wano Country on his shoulders.

Therefore, I will not let his rear guard fall.

Kozuki Toki hurried into the castle keep. The children were still asleep.

At the same time, the golden dragon descended from the sky, its massive wings stirring up a gale that warped Shimotsuki Yasuie's blue afro, pressing his hair tightly against his scalp.

He stood unmoving, but the samurai behind him turned pale.

What kind of monster is this?

"Who goes there!"

Shimotsuki Yasuie raised his katana, pointing it at the descending flying dragon.

"I am Yamato!"

Before Ian could speak, Yamato, standing on his head, leaped down, swinging her mace. "Where are Kozuki Oden's family?"

You're really in a hurry.

Ian felt a touch of helplessness. Yamato genuinely wanted to participate in the battle between Teacher Kai and Kozuki Oden.

Shimotsuki Yasuie parried with his sword. The next moment, his expression changed slightly as the astonishing power transmitted through the blade made his arm bend slightly.

However, Yamato was still sent flying back.

Seeing the attacker's face clearly, Shimotsuki Yasuie couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

She's just a child about Momonosuke's age!

Could it be that they weren't sent by Kaido or Orochi?

He found it hard to believe that the enemy would be such a child.

"Oden's family will not go with anyone!"

Shimotsuki Yasuie's tone softened slightly. Which adult would take a child seriously?

"Child, it's late. You should hurry back."

"Although I really want to go back,"

Ian flapped his wings and lowered his altitude, saying leisurely, "this is a mission entrusted to us by Teacher Kaido. If we don't complete it, we won't get any good treatment when we return."

"Could you please make things convenient for us?"

He was quite enjoying his time with the Beasts Pirates right now.

Although he was often beaten by Teacher Kai, all other benefits were top-notch.

Ian didn't want to leave for now.

Shimotsuki Yasuie's eyes widened. Another childish voice!

Is it also a child?

But, Teacher Kaido!!

"You... you were sent by Kaido?"

Shimotsuki Yasuie found it hard to believe.

"Dad told us to come!"

Yamato raised her mace. "Hand over Oden's family quickly! We're in a hurry!"

"Dad?"

"She's Kaido's daughter!"

"The monster in the sky is Kaido's disciple?"

Shimotsuki Yasuie's expression turned completely grim.

That lunatic Kaido, actually sending out his young daughter and disciple?

"No matter what, I will never hand over Oden's family to you!"

Shimotsuki Yasuie roared, "Go back! You brats!"

Even though they were Kaido's children, they were still children. Shimotsuki Yasuie couldn't force himself to attack them.

He's a decent guy, isn't he?

Ian studied the man carefully, finding him more and more familiar the longer he looked.

"Who cares about you!"

But Yamato didn't understand his good intentions at all. The moment Shimotsuki Yasuie refused, she launched herself forward. During this process, her transformation was already complete, and the werewolf Yamato reappeared.

"Don't block my way! Thunder Bagua!"

The move, learned from Teacher Kai through hundreds of repeated clashes, was now unleashed. Her iron club, wrapped in frost, swung forward.

A Devil Fruit user?

Seeing Yamato's transformation, Shimotsuki Yasuie frowned slightly and met the attack with his sword.

Clang!

An astonishingly loud noise.

Shimotsuki Yasuie's face suddenly changed, and he stumbled backward.

Such immense power!!

Much stronger than before!

"Mouth-Tearing Ice Fang!"

Yamato pressed her advantage, unleashing an ice breath from her mouth.

Frost instantly engulfed Kanjuro.

"Lord Kanjuro!"

The surrounding samurai, seeing their lord under attack, didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately surrounded Yamato.

Kanjuro?

Ian finally remembered who this man was.

Shimotsuki Kanjuro.

The future sycophant, Old Kanjuro.

But right now, he was still a proper Daimyo.

But why is he here?

Ian wondered.

Could there be an ambush?

Behind him, Jack and Black Maria had already jumped down.

"Then let's fight!!"

Jack roared with laughter.

Thick fur grew rapidly on his body. The moment he landed, he had already transformed into a massive mammoth. With a charge, he sent several samurai flying.

Black Maria transformed into a human torso with the lower half of a spider. Strangely, the spider's lower body had a face, complete with eyes and a mouth. From this mouth, a large amount of spider silk was sprayed out, sticking to the unprepared samurai, immobilizing them.

Those two are doing quite well too.

Ian thought.

"Ian! Hurry!"

Yamato, seeing Shimotsuki Kanjuro emerge from her ice breath, shouted up, "Go quickly and capture Kozuki Oden's family!"

In such a hurry?

Ian looked down at her. "Are you sure you can handle this?"

"Absolutely no problem!"

The little girl patted her chest, full of confidence.

Ian glanced at Shimotsuki Kanjuro again.

The man was covered in frost. Although not completely frozen, his body was still trembling slightly in the cold.

He doesn't use Haki?

Speaking of which, although this guy was called a model samurai by Oden, in the original work, it doesn't seem like he was ever stated to possess great combat power.

Even in the original work, after Kozuki Oden was defeated, he wasn't among the Daimyo who united to resist.

He's probably just not good at fighting.

Then there's nothing to worry about.

"Alright then, I'll be back immediately."

Ian flapped his wings and flew up, charging straight towards the top floor of the castle keep.

Generally, important figures live on the top floor of the castle keep, right?

Although I want to stall for time, to prevent any accidents, it's better to be quick.

"You're not allowed to go!!"

Shimotsuki Yasuie's eyes bulged with rage as he leaped up, trying to intercept Ian.

Ian didn't even pause his flapping wings; a ball of flame simply scattered as he beat them.

The brilliant flames illuminated Shimotsuki Yasuie's furious face, engulfing him and sending him crashing down.

"Arghhhhh!!"

He doesn't know how to use Haki and is trying to tank my flames with just his physical body. That's not a good idea.

"Lord Kanjuro!!"

The samurai screamed in panic.

"Ian! Didn't I tell you he's my opponent?"

Yamato's dissatisfied shout came from below.

Isn't this because I'm worried about you getting hurt?

Ian thought this, shrank his body, transformed into his beast form, and the next second, he crashed into the top floor of the castle keep.

At the same time, Shimotsuki Yasuie, engulfed in flames, endured the intense pain and shouted hoarsely, "Don't mind me! Hurry and stop him!"

Among the samurai who gathered, two exchanged glances, gritted their teeth simultaneously, and then sprang into the air.