Kaido surrendered

"Speak," Kaido said, placing his gourd of sake on his lap. "To surrender or not to surrender?"

Queen spoke first. His robotic arm tapped twice on the control panel, the sound was chaotic and different from his usual rhythm.

"Kaido, we need to think this through. We've been fighting the Uchiha Clan for so long, since Kaido of the Beasts Pirates have died? If we surrender now, what about those brothers who died? Did they just sacrifice their lives for nothing?"

Sasaki nodded in agreement, adding gruffly, "Brother Queen is right. The Beasts Pirates have never bowed to anyone since the day they were founded. If we were to surrender, how could we hold our heads high on this sea?"

Foz-Foe crossed his arms and remained silent.

His face was covered by a mask, making it difficult to see his expression, but his fingers were tapping lightly on his arm, tapping very quickly, as if he were calculating something.

Ulti stood next to Page One and turned her head to the side.

"So what if I surrender? It's only respectable to fight back if you can win; stubbornness when you can't is just suicide. I don't want to die."

"Ulti!" Sasaki glared at her.

Why are you glaring at me? I'm just telling the truth.

Kaido did not interrupt them.

He listened, occasionally lifting the gourd to take a sip; a little wine dripped down the gourd's opening, which he wiped away with the back of his hand.

His gaze moved from Queen's face to Sasaki's face, then from Sasaki to Ulti, and finally landed on Jin.

King remained silent. He stood to Kaido's right, his eyes beneath the mask gazing quietly ahead. Only after everyone had finished speaking did he lower his arms.

"Kaido," his voice was flat, "I advocate surrender."

Queen turned to look at him. "Brother Jhin--"

"Let me finish." Jhin raised his hand and pressed it down. Queen shut his mouth.

"I've been guarding Onigashima for months. During those months, I've been calculating one thing: just how strong is the Uchiha Clan?" Jin spoke slowly, enunciating each word clearly.

"The results aren't good. Madara alone could wipe us all out. That last time he slashed Kaido, he wasn't using his full power. I was watching from a distance, and he hadn't even fully activated his Susanoo. If he had, Onigashima wouldn't have lasted a day."

The Stone Hall fell silent for a moment.

"Now it's Fugaku," Jin continued. "He's not Madara. But the hundred men in gray uniforms behind him are all no weaker than me."

The Yaoyu, the Yakumi, the Setsuna —any one of those three old guys, I might not be able to handle. Fugaku himself has never even made a move.

I don't know exactly how strong he is. But I do know one thing: the fact that he dared to bring these hundred men means he's confident he can take us all down.

Queen opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"We can't beat them," Jin said. "That's the truth. I don't like saying this, but I have to."

The Stone Hall fell silent for a while. Kaido poured the last drop of wine from his gourd into his mouth, swallowed it, and placed the empty gourd on the armrest of his chair. The gourd struck the stone with a sound.

"When I fought Madara, I thought about a lot of things." Kaido's voice was muffled, as if he were talking to himself, yet also as if he were addressing everyone.

"When my sword cleaved me into the sea, I had only one thought in my mind—I've never lost so badly in my life."

There wasn't even a chance to fight back. When Ban's sword came down, I don't even remember how I blocked it, all I remember is the pain.

He raised his hand and touched the scar on his chest.

"During those days lying on the seabed, I figured it out. I can't beat him. I accept that. If I can't beat him, I can't beat him. To insist that I haven't lost is just deceiving myself."

I don't believe in bloodlines or destiny; I only believe in strength. Whoever has the bigger fist speaks. Madara's fist is bigger than mine, Uchiha Clan's fist is bigger than the Beasts Pirates '. I know the score.

He paused.

"But I can't just accept this debt." His gaze swept over the people standing in the Stone Hall, over King, over Queen, over Sasaki, over Ulti, over Who's Who, and over every brother who had followed him all the way from Wano Country.

"You guys have followed me for so many years. If I hadn't stubbornly refused to surrender, Uchiha Clan attacked, none of you would have survived. Jin was right, Fugaku's hundred men could have flattened Onigashima. You'll all have to pay with your lives then."

"Kaido..." Queen's voice was a little hoarse.

"I'm not saying I'm afraid of death." Kaido waved his hand. "I was lucky to survive. When I was cleaved into the sea, I thought my life was over."

I've already gained these extra few months of life, which is a bonus. But it's different for you. You're still young, with a long life ahead of you. I can't let myself lose face and cause you all to perish."

He stood up from the chair, and the charcoal fire in the Stone Hall flickered, casting a long Kakkō over him.

"Surrender," he said. "When Fugaku comes tomorrow, I'll give him my answer. The Beasts Pirates will be disbanded. Those who want to stay can join the Earthly Chief Guard, and those who don't can leave."

"I'm in charge of Wano Country on behalf of the Uchiha Clan, and we'll follow their rules. The Samurai class is gone, the Daimyo are gone, there will be no nobles in Wano Country anymore, everyone will be equal. Me too."

Queen kept his head down and didn't speak. Sasaki turned his face to the side, his lips pressed tightly together. Ulti gently nudged Page One beside her, Page One didn't make a sound.

King was the only one who didn't bow his head. He looked at Kaido, then nodded slightly.

"I'll go inform Fugaku," Jin said.

Kaido waved his hand. "You don't need to go. Just have one of your men run the errand." He sat back down in his chair, placing the empty gourd on his lap. "You stay here; I have something to say to you."

Jin didn't ask any further questions. He turned around and waved to the messenger standing at the door. The messenger quickly ran over, Jin whispered a few instructions, the messenger nodded, and then ran out.

Only Kaido and King remained in the Stone Hall.

Kaido stared at the charcoal fire for a while.

"Ember."

"Exist."

Do you harbor resentment towards me?

Jin was silent for two breaths. "No."

"Really not?"

"Really, no," Jin said. "I accept Kaido's decision. If you can't beat them, you can't beat them. I understand that."

Kaido nodded. He looked down at the empty gourd on his knee and rubbed the mouth of the gourd with his thumb.

"My life has been worthwhile. I've fought, won, and lost. I accepted the loss to Ban. Now that I've surrendered, I accept that too. And now that I've accepted it, I feel at peace."

He didn't speak again. Only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire remained in the Stone Hall.

Jin stood quietly by his side, keeping him company until the embers went dark.

The next day, Fugaku arrived on time.

The shore of Onigashima was crowded with people.

Kaido stood at the very front, with King and Queen on either side of him, and the Flying Six's All-Stars lined up behind him.

Further behind were the crew members of the Beasts Pirates, densely packed, stretching from the coastline all the way up the stone steps inside Onigashima.

They were summoned. Kaido said that everyone had to be present and witness what happened today.

Fugaku, accompanied by Yaoyu, Yakumi, Setsuna, and a hundred Night Owl Guard, walked across the sea.

The greyish-white array stretched out in the morning light, their steps perfectly synchronized, and not a single person uttered a sound.

When he reached the shore, Fugaku stopped and looked up at Kaido.

Kaido stood on high ground, looking down at Fugaku. The two stared at each other for a moment.

"Have you thought it through?" Fugaku asked.

"I've made up my mind," Kaido said.

He took a step forward and stood on the rocks at the edge of the shore.

Jhin and Queen did not follow behind him.

They just stood there watching, and the All-Stars of the Flying Six didn't move either.

Kaido stood up there all by himself, and he stood at the very front.

He took a breath, turned around, and faced the densely packed crew behind him.

His voice was loud, rough, and hoarse, echoing across the entire coastline.

"The Beasts Pirates are disbanded, effective today."

There was a moment of silence on the shore, then an uncontrollable commotion arose.

Some people leaned forward, some exchanged glances with the people next to them, but no one spoke.

Kaido continued speaking, his pace slow and his pronunciation clear.

"Those who wish to stay will be incorporated into the Uchiha Clan's Earthly Chief Guard and will be at the command of the Uchiha Clan. Those who do not wish to stay may leave. I will not stop you."

He paused for a moment.

"From today onwards, the land of Wano Country will be under the jurisdiction of the Uchiha Clan. I, Kaido, will oversee it for them and follow their rules."

The Samurai class is gone, the Daimyo are gone, the nobles are gone. From now on, everyone in Wano Country will be the same: some will farm, some will fish. If you break the rules, you'll be punished just like everyone else.

A moment of silence fell over the shore. Some people opened their mouths, then closed them again. Some looked down at their feet. A few young sailors had red eyes, but no one cried out.

After saying these words, Kaido turned around and faced Fugaku.

"The Beasts Pirates have surrendered."

His voice didn't tremble when he said those three words, and he didn't bend over. He just stood there and said those three words calmly, as if he were saying something he had already thought through.

Fugaku looked at him for a couple of moments, then nodded slightly.

"Lord Natsu Yin will remember those words."

He turned his head and winked at Taoho behind him.

Taoho pulled a scroll from his sleeve, unfolded it, and found it covered in writing, the ink still fresh.

He handed the scroll forward, and Fugaku took it and unfolded it in front of Kaido.

"This is the reorganization plan. After the Beasts Pirates disband, your men will be divided into three groups."

The first batch of people who are willing to be incorporated into the Earthly Chief Guard will begin registering this afternoon. After registration, they will be processed according to the rules of the Earthly Chief Guard.

The second group, those who want to leave, have three days to leave Wano Country; we will not stop them.

The third group, those who are still undecided, can stay in Wano Country and not register yet, until they have thought it through.