Is There Really Such a Coincidence?

Oden's sudden move caught everyone off guard, leaving the Akuta completely bewildered.

"Oh dear, what are you doing? Why are you kneeling down for no reason?"

To be honest, Akuta had never had a very good impression of Oden before.

This guy ignored Wano Country and, for the sake of a promise, went and performed a naked dance for Orochi for five years, leaving all the retainers and people in Wano Country who supported him out in the cold.

But when he actually faced Oden, he found that he couldn't simply criticize the man.

Regardless of whether Oden's idea was naive or not.

But his intentions were always good.

From the perspective of a ruler of a country, Oden was at least among the middle tier.

Oden held his position for two more seconds before slowly straightening up.

He patted his chest and shouted proudly:

"Akuta no Ken, from today onwards, you can stay here and recuperate without worry! Even if Kaido's men sink Wano Country, I will never hand you over!"

"Alright then." Akuta sighed and waved his hand. "I'll stay here for now, but there's something I need to say beforehand."

"Speaking!"

"I'm a restless person, and I won't hold back just because this is your territory. If I get the chance to run into Kaido's men, I'll still fight them."

Oden paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"I'll fight alongside you then!"

With Oden's help, Akuta Kenshin officially stayed at Oden's residence to recuperate.

Meanwhile, after Ringo accidentally released the Akuta, King further expanded the search area to the entire Wano Country.

The Beasts Pirates went berserk, setting up roadblocks and checking everyone they met, asking, "Have you seen a man who uses shadows?"

For a time, Wano Country was filled with fear and unease.

Amidst this tense atmosphere, Oden, without fail, went out every day to perform his naked dance at Orochi Castle as usual.

People are already used to this.

In a secluded room within the Great Serpent City.

On the other side.

Wano Orochi Castle.

In the dead of night, Kanjuro knelt once again in that secret room, waiting for the serpent to arrive.

A moment later, the door was pushed open, and the giant snake stormed in.

"Kanjuro, what are you up to?!"

"Lord Orochi!" Kanjuro quickly bowed down.

"Kanjuro, what kind of work are you doing? I told you to create a fake survivor of the Akutami family to sow discord between Oden and Kaido, and you sent a foreigner instead!"

"Cao Wei! What kind of persona are you trying to create? You'd better do a good job of creating a persona!"

When Orochi received the Akuta from Kanjuro, he subconsciously assumed that the Akuta was a dummy that Kanjuro had created.

However, he remembered that he had instructed Kanjuro to pretend to be a survivor of the Akutami family.

But why has he become an outsider now?

Orochi glared angrily at Kanjuro.

"If you give me a foreigner's character, how am I supposed to instigate a war between Oden and Kaido? Would Oden really fight Kaido for an outsider?!"

Kanjuro dared not delay, and quickly put his forehead to the floor in a standard taxi dismount posture, and hurriedly explained:

"Lord Orochi, please allow me to explain!"

"I don't know where that guy came from! As you instructed, I drew a portrait of an orphan of the Akutami family and hid him outside the castle."

"But before I could release the men, a guy calling himself ' Akuta ' attacked Kaido's transport convoy and factory first!"

The serpent's anger paused for a moment, and it narrowed its eyes.

"What did you say? You mean... you didn't create that Akuta?"

"Absolutely true!" Kanjuro said eagerly.

"I swear to God, that foreign pirate named Akuta has absolutely no connection to the dummy I drew!"

I still don't understand why the name I just came up with is so confusing.

It will be used by a complete stranger!

Upon hearing this, the serpent's anger did not subside; instead, it grew even more gloomy.

"You mean, there just happens to be someone in this world with the same name you came up with, who's going against Kaido?"

"Yes... yes."

"Absurd!"

The giant serpent kicked Kanjuro to the ground.

"What a coincidence! Do you think I'm some kind of brainless idiot?"

"Your subordinate wouldn't dare! Everything your subordinate said is true!"

Kanjuro knelt on the ground again, his voice full of grievance.

"Lord Orochi, think about it. If it really was my doing, why wouldn't I have followed your orders and given him the identity of a descendant of the Akutami family?"

The giant snake's chest heaved violently a few times, but it didn't continue to rage.

Upon closer examination, he realized that this was indeed the case.

Even if Kanjuro had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to act on his own in such a matter.

So that means... it's really that weird?

The giant serpent slowly sat back in its main seat, tapping its fingers on its knees, its face grim as it pondered.

"Is that guy named Akuta with Oden now?"

"Yes," Kanjuro replied hastily. "Oden has already arranged for him to recuperate at the manor, and judging from Oden's demeanor... he seems to value that guy highly."

The giant snake's expression turned even uglier.

"Would that idiot Oden really turn against Kaido for a foreign pirate?"

"I'm not sure," Kanjuro said cautiously, "But judging from Oden's attitude, he does intend to protect the Akuta. He even said in front of the Nine Red Scabbards that even if Kaido sinks Wano Country, he would never hand over the Akuta."

"Um?"

The giant snake's brows furrowed.

"Is that what Oden really said?"

"Absolutely true. I was there at the time and heard it with my own ears."

The large snake fell silent, its small eyes blinking in the dim candlelight.

If Oden is truly determined to protect that guy named Akuta, then things will actually be easier.

Kaido is currently searching the entire territory for the Akuta, and Oden is protecting him like this.

If only one more spark were added, Kaido would know that Oden had hidden the Akuta.

When Kaido arrives with his men demanding Oden's return, and Oden refuses, a conflict is inevitable.

"Hmph..."

The giant snake suddenly laughed again, all traces of its sinister expression vanishing.

"Alright, although the persona has changed, things are still going according to my plan."

Kanjuro cautiously raised his head.

"What does Lord Orochi mean..."

"Since that guy is someone Oden is protecting, our plan will proceed as scheduled!"

The giant snake said with a sinister smile.

"Find a way to leak this information to Kaido. Tell him that the guy named Akuta is being protected by Oden, and that Kaido should go and ask Oden for him!"

Upon hearing this, Kanjuro hesitated for a moment, then whispered:

"Lord Orochi, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should."

"Just say what you have to say, don't beat around the bush."

"Yes." Kanjuro swallowed hard, quickly organizing his thoughts.

"Oden is protecting the Akuta now, but that's because the Akuta attacked Kaido, and he was fighting against Kaido."

"But that Akuta is, after all, an outsider, and the people and samurai of Wano Country may not accept him."

Even if Oden wanted to protect him, if Kaido pressed him too hard, Oden might... compromise.