VS the Kurozumi Clan!

VS the Kurozumi Clan!

Among Teacher Kai's many outrageous remarks, Ian felt that today's "You'll be the shogun of Wano Country" ranked in the top three.

In case you didn't know, the shogun of Wano Country you picked was only eight years old this year—a child.

"General Orochi!"

Before Ian could say anything, the surrounding onlookers had already screamed instinctively.

He was killed!

Wano Country's shogun, Kurozumi Orochi, had been killed?

The Ninja and samurai under Kurozumi Orochi reacted even more violently. Shouting "Lord Orochi," the Ninja and samurai led by Fukurokuju rushed toward Kurozumi Orochi's fallen body.

But in the next instant, flames suddenly rose.

With a mere wave of his hands, King sent two wall-like sheets of fire spreading outward, directly blocking the samurai and Ninja's path.

Fukurokuju's face instantly stiffened.

It hadn't been a mistake.

Kaido's gun had been aimed straight at General Orochi.

The old woman named Kurozumi Semimaru also came to her senses. Her face suddenly went pale, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably. "Kaido! What are you doing?!"

"What am I doing?"

Teacher Kai replied calmly, "Just reclaiming my property."

"You, you, you—"

Like a candle flickering in the wind, the old woman trembled pitifully. "You want to break our agreement?"

"An agreement? How amusing."

Teacher Kai gave a cruel smile. "Didn't we just break our agreement with Kozuki Oden?"

Kurozumi Semimaru's eyes reddened, and Ian actually saw tears at the corners of her eyes.

She was crying!

Oh my, after abusing children, Teacher Kai had now moved on to bullying the elderly.

"It shouldn't be like this."

The old woman collapsed to the ground, muttering to herself, "How could you do this?"

Ian merely watched coldly.

Kurozumi Orochi had toyed with Kozuki Oden in the palm of his hand, while Teacher Kai had toyed with Kurozumi Orochi in the palm of his hand.

Teacher Kai was now ready to burn the bridge after crossing it.

A full twenty years earlier than in the original story.

Was it because this time, he had chosen Ian rather than Yamato?

Yamato, who knew nothing about any of this, immediately cheered. "Yes! Dad! You should've dealt with this guy long ago!"

To this white-haired girl, Kurozumi Orochi was simply too annoying.

Good riddance!

However, as the user of the Mythical Zoan Eight-Headed Serpent Fruit, Kurozumi Orochi was not so easily killed.

"Kaido!"

Kurozumi Orochi's corpse began to twist, transforming in the blink of an eye into a six-headed serpent.

Oh, another head was gone—another life had been taken.

The serpent's six heads writhed as it roared at Kaido in disbelief, "What have you done?!"

"A bug-like creature with a bug's tenacity."

Kaido was somewhat impatient, as though wasting even one more second on someone like Kurozumi Orochi was a luxury. "Wouldn't it be better if you just died obediently?"

Kurozumi Orochi was a cowardly man, but with his life under threat, he had no room left for fear. His face was filled only with shock. "Kaido! Are you betraying me?"

"Betraying you?"

Kaido sneered. "Are you questioning a pirate?"

Because I have no morals, you can't condemn me on moral grounds.

"Forget it. There's no point talking so much to someone like you."

Without waiting for Kurozumi Orochi to respond, Kaido looked at Ian. "Brat, since you're his successor, you deal with him."

"Teacher Kai, is this really okay?"

Ian scratched his head. "No matter what, Wano Country is pretty important to us, right? Making someone with absolutely no management experience the shogun and all."

Not just in this life—even before he transmigrated, the highest position he had ever held was class hygiene monitor.

Kaido frowned slightly and said as if it were only natural, "What stupid nonsense are you talking about? If even an idiot like Kurozumi Orochi could do it, are you saying you can't?"

Ian was stunned speechless.

Damn, that made so much sense he couldn't refute it at all.

Ian thought it over, and it really did seem feasible.

Becoming Wano Country's shogun would count as switching to a desk job, right?

Then maybe he wouldn't have to go on business trips anymore.

That wasn't bad at all.

"Then I can give it a try."

Ian nodded solemnly.

Who would have thought that at only eight years old, I'd already be taking office as a national leader?

Even Teacher Kai was a little surprised by how quickly Ian had changed his attitude.

But immediately afterward, he raised a hand and pointed at Kurozumi Orochi, who was flailing about wildly.

"Then go deal with him now."

"Dad! Me too!"

Yamato eagerly raised her little hand high. "That annoying guy—I want to beat him up together with Ian!"

"Don't make trouble, you brat."

Kaido grabbed Yamato by one of the tiny horns on her forehead, lifted the little girl up entirely, and set her on his shoulder. "This is Ian's battle."

Got it. This was the battle for the transfer of power, huh?

"Then it looks like I'll have to show off what I can do."

Ian stepped forward.

Killing a big snake would be like kicking a stray dog to death by the roadside—ridiculously, utterly simple.

"Kaido! You want to kill me?!"

Kurozumi Orochi finally realized that Kaido was ready to wipe him out. His six snake heads suddenly twisted, and the fury he had been suppressing could no longer be contained. "Fine, fine, fine! You bastard, you're throwing me away now that I'm no longer useful, huh? I won't spare you either!!"

"Fukurokuju! Tell your men to attack!"

The flames King had used to block the way had already gone out, but Fukurokuju, who led Orochi's Oniwabanshu, remained silent.

He looked at Kurozumi Orochi, then turned to look at Kaido.

"Then make your choice!"

Teacher Kai shouted, "Those willing to follow Orochi, stand behind him. Those willing to surrender to me, now—"

"Kneel!"

The Samurai under Kurozumi Orochi, as well as the ninja led by Fukurokuju, all said nothing.

Their silence filled Kurozumi Orochi with panic, and he roared furiously, "Fukurokuju! What are you standing around for?"

Fukurokuju took a deep breath. The bald man with the exceptionally long head gave Kurozumi Orochi a long, deep look.

He said, "We are the Oniwabanshu, ninja who have served Wano Country's shogun for generations. We offer the shogun one hundred percent loyalty."

Kurozumi Orochi's eyes instantly lit up. "Fukurokuju!"

I never knew you were this loyal.

Even Ian found himself looking at the bald man in a new light.

In the original story, this guy had been quite loyal to Orochi as well. When Orochi faked his death, he pretended to surrender to Kaido, but after Orochi came back to life, he remained utterly devoted to him.

However, in the very next second, Fukurokuju knelt directly before Teacher Kai.

"We are loyal only to the shogun. Whoever is the shogun is the one we serve..."

Ian's mouth twitched.

Pretty honest, actually.

He realized Orochi was doomed, so he immediately decided to switch sides, huh?

"Fukurokuju! Are you betraying me too?!"

Kurozumi Orochi was so furious his lungs felt like they were about to explode.

"Orochi, we once betrayed the Kozuki Family to follow you because you were Wano Country's shogun."

Fukurokuju had already begun addressing Kurozumi Orochi simply as Orochi. "Now, we will follow the new shogun as well."

"This is the ninja way of conducting oneself."

Once they saw Fukurokuju kneel, the ninja under his command no longer hesitated and likewise dropped to their knees.

Once the other Samurai saw the ninja kneel, they followed suit.

Who wanted to die alongside Orochi?

"How could this be?! How could this be?!"

Kurozumi Orochi was already shrieking in agitation. "How dare you bastards betray me?! I'll kill you! I'll kill every last one of you!"

"Worororororo! That's just how this world works!"

Kaido threw back his head and laughed. "Orochi, if you have anyone to blame, blame yourself for being weak!"

"Ian! What are you still hesitating for?"

Ian rolled his neck and stepped forward. The moment his foot touched the ground, brilliant golden light blossomed across his body. Broad golden wings unfurled, and the winged man in golden armor made his entrance amid surging waves of heat!

"Whoa!"

The civilians, already struck speechless by the sudden turn of events, were even more stunned by Ian's transformation. At a glance, it was clear that this form was anything but ordinary.

"D-Don't come near me!"

The scorching heat rushed toward him, and Orochi, who had been raging with fury just moments ago, instantly staggered backward in terror. "You bastard, don't come near me!"

"Hmm?"

Ian tilted his head.

An old woman and an old man stepped in front of Orochi.

"At this point, even begging through tears would be useless."

The old woman named Kurozumi Semimaru wept. "Orochi, fight to the end as a Kurozumi."

"No! No! How can I die here?!"

Kurozumi Orochi trembled as he backed away. "How could this shogun possibly die here?! Stop them! Buy time for this shogun!"

With that, he fled backward in a miserable scramble.

But a figure suddenly blocked his path.

Fukurokuju held a sword, his expression calm. "Orochi, General Ian has yet to say that you may leave."

"Fukurokuju!!"

Kurozumi Orochi's eyes practically spat fire.

Traitors were even more hateful than mere enemies!

Ian nearly laughed out loud.

When it came to reading the wind and switching sides, this guy was truly first-rate.

Was this a Ninja's foresight?

Ian stepped forward, flames rising from his body.

"Come on. Charcoal ought to be burned to ash."

One against three—what did I, Ian, have to fear?