Chapter 244: Take Down Kurozumi! Annihilate the Beasts!
Wano Country in Marine Calendar year 1498.
Flower Capital.
A bustling street, brightly lit and filled with people coming and going.
"Phew—today's over too. There are still four years left until the Five-Year Promise. I must keep going and rescue all the Hostages!"
Kozuki Oden, wearing only a white Fundoshi, completely ignored the disappointed or disgusted Gazes of the people around him. He put his Clothes back on with a Smile on his Face.
It seemed he had just finished a Naked Dance. Judging by the sweat on his forehead, he had performed it quite seriously.
"Lord Oden!!!"
Just as he was gazing into the distance towards Orochi Castle, Kin'emon's shout suddenly rang out from behind him, filled with anxiety and panic.
Oden turned around and was surprised to see that Kin'emon wasn't the only one who had come. Denjiro, Kikunojo, Ashura Doji, and others had also rushed over, their Expressions ranging from anger to Nervousness.
Their arrival seemed to have a strange effect, instantly the Atmosphere of the entire Street became serious and drew the curiosity of many Citizens nearby.
"What's wrong?"
As soon as Oden asked, Kin'emon, as the chief Vassal, urgently shouted, "We just received News from Oden Castle! Kaido and the Beast Pirates attacked there! The Den Den Mushi there is unreachable now!"
"What—!"
Kozuki Oden was shocked and paled, instinctively stepping back a few steps, but immediately stopped and began running frantically towards the outside of the Flower Capital.
At this moment, his mind was filled with the images of Kozuki Toki, Momonosuke, and Hiyori.
"Don't let anything happen, please don't let anything happen!!"
At the same time, Kin'emon and the others desperately followed behind, shouting loudly, "Lord Oden, Kuri Region is too far from here! You can't just run back on foot! Kawamatsu has gone to prepare Horses!"
But Oden couldn't hear these words at all. After all, he could run much faster than a Horse. At this moment, the faster, the better.
As for the issue of Stamina consumption along the way, he didn't even think about it.
"What should we do? We can't catch up to Lord Oden!"
Just after running out of the Flower Capital, Denjiro, wearing Glasses, stopped and looked exasperatedly at Oden's figure, who had already left them far behind in the distance.
"Kawamatsu is here!"
"Quick, get on the Horses!"
At this moment, Kin'emon was pleasantly surprised to see Kawamatsu leading six Horses. Judging by their large and sturdy Body Size, they were likely 'borrowed' from a wealthy household's stable.
But who could care about such things at a Time like this?
"Where's Lord Oden?"
"No Time for Explanation! Get on the Horses and chase after him!"
Kin'emon and the others quickly mounted the Horses, frantically whipping their flanks and rushing towards the direction of the Kuri Region.
Completely ignoring the Starlight still filling the Sky above, the group desperately galloped towards Oden Castle in Kuri Region under the stars and Moon, each person praying in their Heart that Madam and the Highnesses were safe and sound.
Meanwhile.
In Ringo, where heavy snow fell and it was always winter, Shimotsuki Ushimaru, who was personally holding a broom and clearing the snow from Toko Cemetery with his Vassals, had just received urgent Intelligence brought by a Samurai.
The Beast Pirates launched a night raid on Oden Castle!
Massacre of the Citizens of Hakumai Town!
Kaido declared he would sweep away all Daimyo Family and rebellious elements in Wano Country!
These shocking pieces of News stunned everyone present. They let the goose-feather snow fly around them in the cold Wind, unable to understand why Kaido had suddenly gone mad.
Shimotsuki Ushimaru, who looked almost identical to the Future Roronoa Zoro but had no Bloodline relation, frowned and directly took out a small Den Den Mushi from his pocket to contact Shimotsuki Yasuie in Hakumai.
They belonged to two branches of the Shimotsuki Family, usually living their own lives and not interfering with each other, but they would contact each other when something happened.
It must be said that their two families occupied half the country of Wano Country and were the only Samurai Family that could rival the Kozuki Family!
"I was just about to call you. You received the News too, right?" Shimotsuki Yasuie, who was thousands of Nautical Miles away, said with a solemn Expression.
"Mm, although I don't know the Situation with Kaido, since he has already made a move, let's take this opportunity to resolve the Beasts and Orochi in one fell swoop!"
Shimotsuki Ushimaru's sharp Gaze was fixed on the Dark Clouds in the direction of Kuri Region. The Twin Swords at his waist seemed to respond to the Hot Blood in his Heart, trembling slightly as if eager for Combat.
"Of course!"
"Although Oden's recent actions have been disappointing, the Kozuki Clan is in trouble, and we Daimyo cannot stand by and do nothing!"
The sturdy Shimotsuki Yasuie spoke into the Den Den Mushi while allowing his Attendants to help him put on his Armor. Then, he gripped the Katana handed to him with his Right Hand.
"Daimyo Fuzuki Oden of Kibi and Daimyo Ugetsu Tenguyama of Udon just told me they have already gathered most of their Samurai and are heading towards Kuri Region!"
"News also came from the Flower Capital that Oden and his group of Vassals have also departed!"
Shimotsuki Ushimaru listened, pondered for a moment, and said, "Too hasty, they are too hasty. They should have waited for everyone to gather before going. However, with Kozuki Oden there, there shouldn't be a big problem."
Although he strongly disliked Oden's Naked Dance behavior over the past year, he still highly acknowledged his Strength.
"I think we cannot ignore Kurozumi Orochi. He has the Mimawarigumi under his command. While those Ninja are not good at frontal Combat, they are skilled at Assassination and guerrilla tactics."
Shimotsuki Yasuie walked with a grim Expression to the Balcony of his Attic, looking down at the nearly four thousand armed Samurai who had already formed ranks below. He asked, "Then what is your meaning?"
Shimotsuki Ushimaru, leading the Vassals behind him towards Ringo Castle in the east, said heavily, "First, take down the Kurozumi Clan in the Flower Capital, and then go Support Oden and the others. This way, we won't have to worry about problems from the rear!"
Originally, if Kozuki Oden and the Daimyo of Udon and Kibi had been willing to wait for them to arrive before setting off, they could have ignored Kurozumi Orochi altogether. The best option would have been to concentrate their forces and first deal with the Beast Pirates in Kuri Region.
But since they had already split into two groups, it was better to take down the Flower Capital first!
"Alright!"
Shimotsuki Yasuie of Hakumai did not hesitate further and decisively agreed to Ushimaru's Operation Plan. After ending their call, he forcefully drew his Long Saber, its sharp Blade pointing directly at the bright full Moon in the Sky. Under the gaze of thousands of Samurai, he tilted his head back and shouted loudly.
"Take down Kurozumi! Annihilate the Beasts!"
This shout seemed to stir up the Wind and Rain of Wano Country, not only echoing throughout the night sky of Hakumai but also erupting in Ringo, Kibi, Udon, and other regions.
Even many Samurai in the Flower Capital who were still willing to follow the Kozuki Family rushed towards the Kuri Region on fast Horses after hearing the News.
For a Time, the Atmosphere throughout Wano Country became extremely tense. Many Citizens quickly hid in their homes, sensing that Wind and Rain were coming.
But they could only tremble and pray that misfortune would not befall them.
Above Onigashima.
Five Marine Warships floated quietly above the Dark Clouds. From their Height, the Moon in the night sky was unusually large and bright.
Beautiful!
This was Mihawk's thought as he gazed at the Moon from the Deck. His sharp, wavy golden Hawk-Eyes seemed completely unconcerned with the Chaos and Situation on the large black Island in the distance.
Neither the Blood nor the Fire, nor even the rolling thick smoke of stampeding Horses, were as worthy of attention as the Milky Way at this moment.
He actually wanted to go down and spar with those Samurai who inherited ancient Swordsmanship, but Lord Imu's Mission was the most important!
"What a pity, the Bloodline of Shimotsuki Ryuma is about to end here..." Mihawk sighed, gazing at the Moon with his back to Gion.
The Author's main job has been a bit busy recently, and posting three chapters is a bit difficult to maintain. I am very sorry.
(End of this chapter)