One Piece : Brotherhood

Wano Kuni, New World

As the tension mounted in Kuri Fortress, Toki's unease deepened. The distant echoes of the battle raging over in Onigashima—a clash between Oden and two Emperors of the Sea—sent tremors even here, across mountains and seas, rattling the windows and echoing through the walls.

It had been over a day since the battle had begun, yet her instincts, sharpened by decades of surviving a brutal world, warned her that something was amiss.

"Kin'emon, something doesn't feel right… I'll remain here in Kuri," Toki murmured, her gaze hardening as she surveyed the fortress. "You go ahead with Neko and the others to reinforce Shogun-sama."

Nearby, Ashura Doji, watching over Momonosuke and Hiyori as they played, gave her a reassuring nod.

"Toki-sama, you don't need to worry. Oden-sama is the strongest. Those bastards can come at him together, and it still won't be enough to bring him down." He tousled Hiyori's hair with a grin, chuckling as Momonosuke practiced sword swings in his direction.

Bonzaburo, the seasoned veteran samurai and long-serving advisor to both the previous and current shoguns, gave a solemn nod of agreement. He had known Oden since he was a reckless young man and had borne witness to the unstoppable power he'd become.

In his view, not even Kaido and Big Mom together could stand against a man like Oden. And he wasn't fighting alone; alongside him were the daimyos and nearly a hundred thousand elite samurai. The retainers surrounding Oden's family were steadfast in their faith.

Suddenly, a thunderous explosion ripped through the fortress walls, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Kin'emon and the others instantly unsheathed their swords, forming a protective circle around Toki, Momonosuke, and Hiyori.

Kawamatsu rushed to the window, his blood freezing at the sight of a massive black dragon tearing through the fortress fortifications. A group of figures stepped through the breach, each emanating a fierce and lethal aura.

One of them, Bullet, spotted Kawamatsu by the window and let out a low chuckle. "Found you…!" he sneered, gathering energy in his legs and launching himself toward the main building.

Outside, chaos erupted as Ryuji and others cut through the samurai guarding the fortress. Amid the slaughter, Katakuri and King made their way steadily toward the main hall, their eyes fixed on their objective—the capture of Oden's family.

The goal was to seize not only Oden's kin but also the families of the other daimyos fighting on the front lines. Hostages, they believed, would break the will of Oden's forces.

Kawamatsu turned from the window, his voice urgent. "Get Toki-sama and the children to safety!" He spun, grabbing his sword as Ashura Doji stepped up, sword brimming with Ryou, just as a massive fist came crashing toward him.

Ashura intercepted the attack, but the sheer force of Bullet's punch sent him hurtling through the fortress walls, the stone crumbling beneath his impact.

"Kahahaha! You were harder to find than I thought!" Bullet sneered, landing casually amidst the shattered remains of the room, Katakuri and King flanking him. From outside, the sounds of slaughter and screams filled the air as Ryuji and his forces continued their massacre, ensuring no messenger could escape to warn Oden of the ambush.

Bullet's gaze scanned the room until it settled on a familiar face. "Well, if it isn't the stupid cat. Still playing bodyguard for Oden, are we?" he laughed, his voice laced with mocking disdain.

Nekomamushi stepped forward, eyes narrowed with fury. He had recognized Bullet immediately—the former apprentice of the Roger Pirates. Bullet had been a young powerhouse aboard Roger's ship, prideful and obsessed with strength, sparring constantly with anyone who'd humor him.

Though Nekomamushi and Inuarashi hadn't joined Roger's final voyage, they'd been part of that unforgettable crew. To see Bullet now, attacking Oden's family, stoked a furious fire within him.

"You bastard! What are you doing here, Bullet? And with these pirates?" Nekomamushi's fur bristled as he bared his fangs, tail thrashing. The very thought of Roger's former apprentice aligning with their enemies was an insult to the memory of the man they had all admired.

Bullet roared in laughter, dismissing him with a wave. "Oh, don't flatter yourself, Neko. Still haven't returned to your homeland, huh? Playing retainer for Oden, clinging to your little honor."

His eyes gleamed with sadistic amusement. But before he could say more, his observation Haki flared—a faint blur in his peripheral vision. Raizo appeared out of thin air, his blade aimed with deadly precision at Bullet's neck.

"Clang!" The blade struck his neck but sparked off the metal-like skin Bullet had infused with Haki. Bullet sneered down at the startled Raizo. "You really think a cheap trick like that could kill me?" he scoffed.

Standing beside him, Katakuri's sharp gaze narrowed, intrigued. "A ninja…" he muttered to himself, watching Raizo's stealth technique with interest.

"Bonzaburo-san, take Toki-sama and the children to safety! Kawamatsu, go with them!" Kin'emon barked, his voice firm. In a heartbeat, the retainers tightened their formation, ready to sacrifice everything to protect their lord's family.

Bullet, Katakuri, and King stood before them, exuding a menacing confidence that could crush ordinary men. But the retainers—bound by loyalty, by pride, and by the honor of serving Kozuki Oden—were far from ordinary.

Nekomamushi growled low in his throat, unsheathing his claws. "You think we'll just let you take them?" His gaze shifted to Bullet, a silent vow flashing in his eyes. The memories of their time together aboard Roger's ship only fueled his resolve. Bullet may have once been their crewmate, but now he was an enemy—and Nekomamushi would show no mercy.

Bullet rolled his shoulders, fists crackling with energy as he prepared to engage. "You want to protect them?" He smirked, the glint of a predator in his eyes. "Then you better be ready to die for them."

The air around the room grew dense, a suffocating aura pressing down as Bullet, King, and Katakuri faced off against Oden's retainers. The retainers' eyes held steely resolve—these were the men and women who had dedicated their lives to serving the Kozuki clan, and they would gladly lay down those lives if it meant protecting Oden's family.

Bullet's grin widened, his muscles rippling as he clenched his fists, his skin seeming to harden to steel. "You Kozuki samurai think you're tough? Let's see how much you're worth." With a ferocious roar, he charged forward, his fist hurtling toward Ashura Doji like a cannonball.

Ashura met Bullet head-on, his blade gleaming as he infused it with Ryou, the golden energy dancing across the edge. He swung with all his might, aiming for Bullet's unprotected flank.

But Bullet was faster than his size suggested—he twisted just enough to avoid the worst of the blow, countering with a punch that Ashura barely parried. The impact alone sent shockwaves through the fortress, splintering the wooden beams and rattling the walls.

To the side, Kin'emon and Raizo squared off against King, who stood menacingly with his black wings spread wide. King unsheathed his sword, the blade glowing with fire. With a sweeping arc, he slashed toward Kin'emon, who ducked low, barely avoiding the fiery edge.

Kin'emon countered, spinning with a fierce blow aimed at King's side, but King was swift, parrying with a flick of his sword, his expression a deadly calm.

From the shadows, Raizo took advantage of the opening, his fingers moving in a blur of seals. "Ninpo: Clone Art!" Suddenly, a dozen duplicates of Raizo flickered into existence, each one poised to strike.

They rushed at King from all sides, their kunai flashing as they attacked in unison. King smirked, spinning in a deadly arc as fire erupted from his sword, sweeping through the clones and dispelling them instantly.

The real Raizo appeared behind King, aiming a blade at his back, but King twisted in midair, slamming his fist into Raizo's stomach, sending him sprawling backward with a grunt of pain.

Meanwhile, Katakuri's gaze locked onto Kawamatsu and Nekomamushi. He cracked his knuckles, his arm transforming into a massive fist of mochi as he swung it with tremendous force.

"Let's see how much of a fight you can put up," he challenged.

Kawamatsu leapt forward, his blade flashing as he cut clean through Katakuri's mochi arm. But Katakuri's advanced Observation Haki allowed him to see the attack coming—his arm reformed instantly, molding itself around Kawamatsu's sword.

With a quick twist, he trapped Kawamatsu's blade in the sticky mochi, his eyes narrowing with anticipation. But Nekomamushi lunged in, claws extended, aiming directly for Katakuri's chest.

Katakuri responded in kind, his chest turning to mochi as Nekomamushi's claws struck, sinking in but failing to do any lasting damage. The mochi hardened around Nekomamushi's arms, trapping him mid-attack.

But the fierce feline grinned, using his strength to rip through the binding, tearing chunks of mochi with him. He broke free and delivered a powerful swipe to Katakuri's face, forcing him to release Kawamatsu.

"Nice try," Katakuri muttered, wiping away a line of blood. His expression remained calm, but there was a newfound respect in his gaze. He gathered a mass of mochi around him, hardening it into sharpened weapons that floated in midair. With a flick of his wrist, he launched the hardened mochi spears toward Kawamatsu and Nekomamushi, each projectile deadly sharp.

Kawamatsu ducked low, spinning with fluid grace as he deflected several mochi spears with his blade. Nekomamushi was more direct, swatting the projectiles away with his powerful claws, though each one left a bruise as they struck with immense force.

"Keep fighting! Don't let up!" Kin'emon shouted, rallying the retainers as he parried another powerful strike from King, sparks flying as their blades clashed. Kin'emon's Ryou-infused sword sliced through the flames coating King's sword, their battle an intense blur of fire and steel.

But Bullet was relentless. With every clash, his blows grew stronger, each punch reverberating through the fortress like thunder. He had Ashura Doji on the defensive, the samurai gritting his teeth as he blocked each crushing strike with all his strength. Blood trickled from Ashura's mouth as he dug in, refusing to fall back even an inch.

"That all you got, Ashura?" Bullet taunted, cocking his fist back and slamming it down like a sledgehammer. Ashura blocked, his arms trembling under the force, but he managed to hold his ground, eyes blazing with defiance.

Just as Bullet prepared another brutal blow, Kin'emon darted in from the side, his sword gleaming as he sliced toward Bullet's exposed ribs. Bullet barely shifted in time, the blade grazing his side. Snarling, he backhanded Kin'emon, sending him skidding across the floor with a heavy impact that left the samurai gasping for breath.

Raizo, recovering from his own blow, launched a series of explosive paper bombs, his voice echoing as he yelled, "Scatter!" The bombs ignited in midair, showering Bullet, King, and Katakuri with fiery blasts. Smoke filled the room, momentarily concealing the retainers as they regrouped, breathing heavily.

But the pirates emerged from the smoke unscathed. King's fiery wings cast an eerie glow through the haze, his gaze deadly calm. Bullet's laughter boomed, echoing off the walls. "Is that all you Kozuki dogs can muster?" he sneered, cracking his knuckles.

Katakuri, too, stood unfazed, his mochi armor reformed and hardened. He gave a slight nod to Bullet and King, and in unison, they charged again, their combined powers crashing into the retainers with unrelenting fury.

Despite the overwhelming power of their opponents, Oden's retainers fought with a fierce determination born of loyalty and honor. They knew they were outmatched, but they refused to surrender, wielding their blades and powers with everything they had, each one prepared to die protecting the Kozuki legacy.

The clash raged on, the fortress shaking with every strike, the very walls beginning to crumble under the intensity of the battle.

*****

Hachinosu, New World

Hachinosu, the island of pirates, was drowning in blood and fire.

Gecko Moria moved through the flaming wreckage with ruthless purpose, his towering form casting a monstrous shadow over the scattered remains of Kaido's forces. Most of Kaido's men had gone to Wano, leaving only a skeleton crew behind to guard his fortress of wealth and power.

But for Moria, this was more than a mere strike at the Emperor's holdings; it was a purge, an all-consuming desire for vengeance he'd waited years to unleash.

"Kishishishi! Kaido, you bastard! I'll burn it all down. Everything you've built... I'll make sure there's nothing left but ash!" Moria's voice bellowed, echoing through the inferno as he cut down another Beast Pirate who dared stand in his way.

The pirate's desperate pleas were silenced as Moria's shadow spears erupted from the ground, piercing through flesh and armor alike.

"You're all just dogs, hiding behind Kaido's name!" Moria sneered, the familiar rage boiling over as he recalled his brutal defeat at Kaido's hands all those years ago. His Haki—honed in the merciless depths of Udon's mines—flared with lethal intent, spreading a chilling pressure that suffocated the air around him. The weaker pirates tried to run, but Moria hunted them down without mercy, shadows ripping through the ground to ensnare anyone in reach.

Meanwhile, deep within the labyrinthine prison of Hachinosu's skull fortress, a young Yamato could feel the ground trembling from the chaos above. Trapped in a small, dark cell, she sensed her father's fortress under attack and knew she had to seize her chance.

She peered through the darkness, her pulse quickening as she listened for the guards who usually stationed themselves outside her cell. But there was nothing—only the muffled sound of distant battle. It was the moment she'd been waiting for.

She crawled to the corner of her cell, searching the gritty floor until her small hands found a sharp stone. It was cold and rough, cutting into her palm as she grasped it, but she didn't care. Her wide, determined eyes narrowed as she raised it high, then slammed it down against the chains that bound her leg.

"Clang! Clang!" The stone shattered against the metal with every strike, but Yamato refused to stop. Her Oni blood ran hot with defiance, each hit growing fiercer as her arm trembled from the force she poured into every blow. Her breathing became ragged, tears streaming down her cheeks, but her resolve only grew stronger.

"Get off!" she snarled, her voice trembling with barely-contained rage. The chains dug into her skin, cold and unyielding, a bitter reminder of her captivity. But she struck again and again, undeterred even as her hands grew bloody from the effort. She could feel her strength waning, the pain blurring her vision, but she gritted her teeth, ignoring the burning ache in her arms.

Finally, with a resounding snap, the chain around her leg broke. She sat there for a moment, panting, her limbs shaking from exhaustion, but the fire in her eyes hadn't dimmed. There was still the matter of the seastone shackles around her wrists, each link a mockery of her father's oppressive grip.

She looked down at her hands, at the wicked glint of the seastone, and remembered the way her father could heal himself with his devil fruit, wounds closing like magic. She barely understood her own power, the strange, dormant energy within her, but in that moment, she felt something ignite—a desperate, reckless idea.

With a feral look of determination, Yamato lifted her hand to her mouth and bit down hard. The pain was instantaneous, searing, as her teeth sank into her own flesh. Her thumb tore clean off, and blood spurted as she bit down on her wrist, her tiny body wracked with agony.

Tears streamed down her face, and her sobs echoed in the small cell, raw and guttural, but she didn't stop. She forced herself to continue, driven by a hatred that ran deeper than the pain, a hatred for Kaido, who'd taken her freedom and shattered her innocence.

"Let me out…" she whimpered through clenched teeth, her voice shaking as her tears fell faster, mixing with snot and blood. "Let me… out of this hell…"

With one final push, her wrist slid free of the shackle, the seastone clattering to the floor as she cradled her bleeding hand. She gritted her teeth through the overwhelming pain, her face smeared with tears, blood, and dirt. She was battered, her tiny frame barely able to hold itself up, but her spirit was unbreakable.

For the first time in her young life, Yamato felt truly free.

She stood, her unshackled arms hanging at her sides, blood dripping onto the floor. She was weak, her body trembling, but her eyes were fierce, burning with a defiance that was more powerful than her pain. She had no plan, no allies, only the raging fire of vengeance propelling her forward.

"I swear… Kaido, I'll make you pay." Her voice, though small, held the kind of unyielding conviction that could shatter mountains. She stumbled toward the open path, moving on pure willpower as she clawed her way out of the darkness, into a world where the only thing stronger than her hate for her father was her newfound determination to be free.

In the fiery chaos above, Moria continued his bloody rampage, oblivious to the determined little girl making her escape from Kaido's dungeon below. The island itself seemed to bleed, the air thick with the stench of blood and smoke.

And as the cries of the dying rose into the night, Yamato took her first step toward freedom, each painful step fueling her with a purpose that burned as fiercely as the fires that raged across Hachinosu.

As Yamato battered the iron gate with every ounce of strength left in her small, bruised body, the cell door finally gave way with a resounding clang, the hinges snapping under the relentless assault. She staggered forward, heart racing, breath heaving in the cold, damp air of the corridor.

A shadow loomed just ahead, and a voice cut through the dim light.

"You... how did you get out?"

One of Kaido's pirates stood at the end of the hallway, his face frozen in shock as he stared at the mangled mess of Yamato's arm. His eyes darted to the blood staining her mouth, the vacant look in her gaze that spoke of pain—and a purpose even fiercer.

The pirate fumbled with the keys at his side, a shaky hand hovering over his weapon as realization dawned. He had been ordered to relocate her to safety amid the attack, but seeing her like this, mutilated and unwavering, he froze in sheer terror. He knew Kaido despised his own daughter, and yet he'd never seen this look in her eyes before.

Before he could call for backup, Yamato lunged, seizing a jagged wooden beam from the ruins of the cell gate. Her small hands gripped it with unflinching resolve, and, though crude, she infused it with armament Haki, the aura of her willpower coating the wood in a dark sheen.

In that instant, her training in captivity, all the grueling hours spent resisting, all the whispered promises of vengeance, came to life. She was faster than he could have anticipated. With a sickening crunch, the Haki-infused beam struck his skull, shattering it like glass. Blood sprayed as his body dropped lifelessly to the floor.

She didn't stop. The corridor was already ringing with the sounds of footsteps—two more pirates rushing in to investigate the noise. They barely registered the sight of her before she struck again, the beam sweeping through the air like a blade, the sound of bones splintering echoing through the prison walls. The two men slumped to the ground beside the first, their heads struck cleanly off their shoulders.

Now, three headless corpses lay on the cold stone floor, blood pooling beneath them. Yamato stood amid the carnage, her breathing harsh and ragged, but her face was eerily calm, her expression set in unshakeable determination. She dropped the beam, her bloodied hands trembling only slightly as she reached into the folds of her tattered clothes.

There, safe from the blood, she pulled out a carefully folded, creased bounty poster, the image worn but unmistakable. She unfurled it slowly, wincing as pain shot up her wrist, but she didn't let a single drop of her blood stain the paper. She held it up before her, her small fingers trembling.

"I'll find you, master… I swear it." Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was filled with unyielding resolve.

The bounty poster depicted a man she had only witnessed once, a figure who had become a legend in her mind—the one who dared to defy Kaido himself and lived. The man who had nearly brought a dragon to its knees. Donquixote Rosinante.

To Yamato, he was more than a warrior. He was a spirit, a beacon of rebellion in a world that had tried to break her will time and again. He represented freedom, defiance, and a life beyond these chains. And if she had to tear down every fortress and fight through every one of Kaido's minions, she would do it to follow in his footsteps.

Ignoring the throbbing pain in her arm, Yamato took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, her eyes hardening with each step she took toward the light at the end of the corridor. She could hear the sounds of battle echoing from outside, Moria's assault ravaging the fortress, but none of it shook her focus.

With every deliberate step, she repeated her vow like a mantra, the promise that burned in her heart: One day, I'll be strong enough to kill Kaido with my own hands.

And as she emerged from the prison into the firelit sky of Hachinosu, her eyes fixed on the world that awaited her, she knew that the first step to freedom—and to vengeance—had just begun.

*****

Notification:

✨ Up to Chapter 392 is now available on my Patreon! ✨

Join now to read the latest updates early and support the journey! Thank you for your continued encouragement! 🚀

👉 [Patreon : www.patreon.com/Silent_stiele]