One Piece : Brotherhood

The banquet within the Shogun's palace was a chaotic, hedonistic affair—a true pirate's revelry. For the first time in years, Kaido indulged deeply, pouring sake down his throat as if to drown the festering humiliation beneath it.

Though he'd emerged victorious, the taste of victory was bitter ash in his mouth. Oden had bested him in spirit and nearly in body, and Kaido knew that. The sake was strong, but not strong enough to erase the memory of Oden's unyielding gaze, even in defeat.

Big Mom, however, wasn't here to indulge; she was here to collect. She tore into a roasted leg of a sea beast, a massive tankard of Wano's finest sake in her other hand, but her eyes burned with something far more dangerous than hunger.

"Kaido, you bastard!" she roared, slamming the bone down on the table. "Have you forgotten our deal? Where's my Poneglyph?"

Kaido, masking his lingering frustration, barked a loud laugh. "Worororo! Linlin, we've just won a monumental victory! Relax for once and celebrate!"

But she wouldn't be pacified. Beneath her ferocious mask of rage lay something far more unsettling—a calculating look in her eyes that knew exactly what Kaido wanted to hide. Oden's cuts were more than flesh wounds; they'd left deep scars on Kaido's pride and cast doubt on his legendary toughness. Big Mom, too, was wounded more gravely than she'd let on.

Oden had struck them both down, almost casually, with a strength that had carved into her own skin, disrupting even her famed recovery. Her body still ached, and she could tell Kaido's wounds were the same; Oden's spirit still clung to the cuts, making their healing painfully slow.

If she weren't as battered as she was now, she would have seized Wano for herself in an instant, eliminating Kaido and claiming his territories. But she bided her time, waiting for a moment of weakness—and her gaze occasionally drifted over to Bullet.

Bullet was a wild card, a rival she had only reluctantly allowed into their alliance. He sat apart from the chaos, isolated at the end of the banquet table, an unscathed predator sulking in silence. His eyes, dark and brooding, held no satisfaction in the spoils around him.

He was still simmering with fury after his encounter with Oden, the humiliation of that man's scorn clawing at his pride. He'd wanted something from Oden, something no amount of blood or violence could force from him. Oden had mocked him, even in chains, reducing his ambition to dust. Bullet was visibly seething.

Big Mom, watching Bullet with a mix of distrust and contempt, finally snapped, her voice cutting through the clamor like a cannon blast. "Bullet! Where's my Poneglyph? You promised me a Poneglyph!" Her voice reverberated with authority, her eyes flashing with the raw power that had made her an Emperor of the Sea.

Bullet looked up, and a sneer curled on his lips. "What do you want, Linlin?" he drawled, his tone thick with contempt. To him, the two so-called Emperors, bruised and bandaged as they were, looked anything but mighty.

If he hadn't intervened in the battle, he mused, their heads might very well be decorating Wano's gates right now. He suppressed a chuckle at the thought of Kaido's severed dragon head mounted for all to see. The two of them looked pathetic, hiding their injuries behind forced laughter and empty bravado.

Kaido's eyes narrowed as he observed Bullet, sensing the disdain in his look. His own hand clenched around his sake cup until it shattered.

This arrogant brat thinks he can stand equal with me? Kaido seethed, his pride boiling up, threatening to consume his fragile patience. But he knew better than to act recklessly; Bullet was a dangerous man, and Kaido's own wounds were still raw.

"Watch your mouth, Bullet," Kaido growled, a dark warning under his words. But Bullet didn't flinch, meeting Kaido's glare with mocking eyes.

Big Mom's anger, however, took a colder, more calculating turn. She'd been watching Bullet's every move, and it didn't take much to see his intentions. He wanted something beyond their alliance, beyond Wano itself.

If only I were at my full strength, she thought, her fingers flexing as she imagined wringing his neck herself. Still, her fury simmered low; she had more to lose than just pride in this game.

Bullet shrugged off Kaido's warning, glancing back at Big Mom with a look of sheer disdain. "I don't owe you anything, Linlin. You and Kaido talked big about defeating Oden on your own, didn't you?" He gave a short, bitter laugh. "If it weren't for me, you'd both be corpses right now."

Big Mom's eyes blazed, her voice dropping to a menacing tone. "Tread carefully, Bullet." Her tone was lethal, and her aura began to thrum with power, mingling dangerously with Kaido's, as if the very air were crackling with barely contained violence. "You're a guest in my alliance. Don't mistake it for anything more."

But Bullet only snorted, clearly unimpressed. "Guest or not, I'm the only reason you're still breathing." He eyed both Kaido and Big Mom, measuring them up with a predator's gleam. It was clear to him that he was in hostile territory, but he couldn't help savoring the fear he sensed beneath their bravado.

If it weren't for Kaido's lieutenants, and Big Mom's own son Katakuri—whom he saw as a potential threat in his own right—he'd have struck them down then and there.

Big Mom, her patience shredded to the last fiber, rose from her throne, her fists clenched. "Bullet, do you want to die?" Her voice was a roar of fury.

He laughed, a cold, mocking sound. "You wanted your Poneglyph? Fine. It's with the Mink Tribe," he said, a sardonic grin spreading across his face. "They have it. Go find them yourself."

Both Kaido and Big Mom knew of the Minks—an ancient tribe, isolated and elusive. Their homeland was no ordinary island, but a living, walking beast: the legendary Zunesha, an ancient elephant that roamed the Grand Line.

Even the most seasoned pirates spoke of Zunesha in hushed tones, knowing the near-impossibility of finding it. Zunesha's origins were steeped in mystery, and those who sought it often returned empty-handed, if they returned at all.

Big Mom's fist slammed into the table, splintering it. "Are you joking with me, Bullet? Do you think finding Zunesha is easy? That thing wanders the seas like a ghost!"

Bullet shot her a contemptuous look. "Maybe if you weren't such a fool, you'd realize you've got a Mink under your nose. Oden's retainers? That mangy cat—use him to find it." His tone was taunting, daring her to act. "Or maybe that's too much for you to handle?"

Big Mom's rage flared to a fever pitch, her conqueror's haki crashing out like a tidal wave. Her injured body didn't dampen her fury; in fact, it sharpened it, driving her to the edge. She wanted nothing more than to crush Bullet here and now, to claim his insolent head.

But just as she prepared to step forward, the tension broke with the sudden arrival of one of Kaido's subordinates.

The Beast Pirates cadre staggered into the hall, breathless and visibly shaken, his face pale as he stumbled over himself. The banquet hall fell silent, all eyes turning to him as he struggled to find words.

Kaido, already on the brink, glared daggers at the man. "What is it?!" he bellowed, his frustration snapping.

The subordinate's voice trembled, each word like a stone dropping into still water. "My lords… something's happened. It's… it's about the prison—the one holding Oden's family and retainers. The entire wing is up in flames… everyone in it is presumed dead."

Before Kaido or Big Mom could process the shock, Bullet's aura exploded like a storm, his face a mask of fury. Without a word, he surged from his seat, smashing through the walls in a powerful burst, his massive form headed straight toward the prison.

To Bullet, Oden's family was the one bargaining chip he held, the leverage he needed to pry open the secrets locked inside Oden's mind. Without them, his plans would be nothing more than ashes—just like the prison he now sped toward.

Big Mom watched him go, and a low, mocking laugh escaped her lips. "Mamamama…! Kaido, it seems your subordinates are as incompetent as you are," she taunted, eyes gleaming with satisfaction as she watched Bullet's desperation.

She'd always suspected he had his own motives for joining them in Wano, and the sight of his plans burning to nothing was sweet vindication.

Kaido's fists clenched, rage building beneath his skin. His eyes were bloodshot, a vein pulsing dangerously at his temple. Oden's family had been his ace in the hole, the key to finally breaking the will of a man who had made him bleed and challenged his dominance.

He'd imagined countless ways to use them to torment Oden, to exact the humiliation he so badly craved. Now, all of that had gone up in flames. "Who was supposed to guard them?" he growled, his voice low and deadly.

"Kaido, looks like you have your hands full," Big Mom said, rising from her seat and straightening her massive frame. "I've got territories to re-establish. I'll be leaving." She cast him a look of casual disinterest, a flicker of triumph in her eyes. "As for Oden—you can keep him. Consider it a favor."

Kaido barely acknowledged her words, his attention locked on the distant glow of the burning prison wing. Her exit couldn't have come soon enough. The fewer people knew about his failure here, the better.

He stormed toward the prison, a wave of silent fury gathering with every step.

As he drew closer, the sight stopped him in his tracks. The inferno roared before him, towering flames consuming the structure entirely, turning wood, stone, and iron alike into molten slag. A dark plume of smoke spiraled into the sky, casting a haunting glow over the palace grounds.

The heat was unbearable, even from a distance, and his Observation Haki swept through the blaze, reaching into the depths of the inferno. He felt nothing—no signs of life. Every heartbeat, every soul that had once been in that building, had vanished, erased by the ravenous fire.

The heat was so intense that Kaido felt its sting even through his dragon-scale skin. The flames flickered, unnatural in their intensity, almost as if fueled by the hatred and suffering contained within the prison's walls.

His gaze snapped to the squad responsible for guarding the prisoners, and without a word, his hand shot out, seizing the nearest pirate by the head.

The man barely had time to scream before Kaido's grip crushed his skull like an overripe melon, blood and bone splattering across the ground. The others could only stand in paralyzed terror, feeling the weight of Kaido's killing intent bearing down on them.

Behind him, Bullet returned, his face twisted in frustration and rage. "You better kill him now, Kaido," Bullet snapped. "And make it public. Make it painful. Every second he's alive now only adds to your humiliation."

Kaido's gaze shifted to Bullet, his eyes dark with murderous fury. He had no patience left for Bullet's taunts, and he wasn't blind to the contempt simmering beneath Bullet's words. Yet he knew Bullet was right.

Oden needed to be silenced, his influence snuffed out like a candle in a storm. Without his family to leverage, the only thing left to do was execute him in the most public, brutal manner possible. Kaido would make a statement to every soul in Wano, to anyone foolish enough to defy him.

Bullet smirked, watching Kaido's indecision with faint satisfaction. As much as he'd wanted to pry Oden's secrets himself, he could see the writing on the wall. He had already taken a rubbing of Wano's red Poneglyph, which was hidden underwater where even Kaido wouldn't find it.

But there was no way he'd allow Kaido to keep Oden around as a trophy. He couldn't risk the news of his betrayal reaching the wrong ears, not while a handful of Rogers' crewmates still roamed the seas.

His pride might be boundless, but Bullet wasn't a fool; there were monsters within Roger's crew that even he didn't fancy crossing. Silvers Rayleigh, Scopper Gaban… a few figures from that past life remained, and though he despised them, he acknowledged their strength. They were a risk he wouldn't take.

Kaido, watching the flames, made his decision. He would execute Oden in the most public spectacle Wano had ever seen. He would send a message so powerful that no samurai, no rebel, would ever think to rise against him again.

Bullet, satisfied with the decision, gave a curt nod, his eyes gleaming with cold calculation. He turned, already plotting his next move. Wano would be left to Kaido and his Beast Pirates to control and pillage, a broken land held together by terror.

But Bullet? He would take his next step towards his own ambitions, sailing into the seas with secrets gleaned and threats silenced.

Behind them, the inferno continued to rage, casting shadows of despair and destruction over Wano—a dark omen for the land's future under Kaido's rule.

*****

Foosha Village, East Blue

In the warm, modest interior of the only tavern in Foosha Village, a man in simple, travel-worn clothes sat quietly, savoring the last bites of a freshly baked apple pie. He wore a loose, dark shirt, well-worn trousers, and a broad-brimmed hat pulled low over his black afro hair, as if he were just another traveler stopping by on his way through the East Blue.

But his eyes—sharp and world-weary—hinted at an authority that few could ever hope to possess. This man, despite his humble appearance, was Sengoku the Buddha, Fleet Admiral of the Marines. The Fleet Admiral of the entire world's naval forces was incognito, blending in as if he were an ordinary civilian.

Yet, not everyone was fooled. Agatha, the tavern keeper who had served him his slice of apple pie, knew exactly who this man was. She'd recognized him the moment he walked in. For Agatha, too, had a history as hidden as it was dangerous—she was Portgas D. Rouge, the wife of the late Pirate King, Gold Roger.

Even as she worked quietly behind the counter, preparing another batch of pies, Agatha watched Sengoku with a kind of quiet mirth, silently grateful that Sengoku would never dream of who she really was. To him, she was just a village tavern keeper, and she intended to keep it that way.

Sengoku leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach as he finished the pie with a contented sigh. "I'll be damned… that's the best apple pie I've had in years," he muttered, brushing the crumbs off his trousers. His goat, Baa-Chan, nudged him, and he absentmindedly fed her the last crumbs, chuckling softly as she nibbled contentedly.

But his satisfaction wasn't just from the pie. He'd come to Foosha Village for one reason: to meet with his old friend and former comrade-in-arms, Garp the Fist. The two hadn't spoken face-to-face in more than a year, not since the day Garp had left the Marines in a storm of fury, nearly demolishing Marineford in a fit of rage.

Sengoku had taken the trip without informing a soul, leaving the trappings of his office behind to arrive as just a man—a friend. He was determined to try, once more, to convince Garp to return to the Marines.

The door swung open with a low, familiar creak, and Sengoku's eyes shifted to the doorway as a large, broad-shouldered figure entered, wearing his trademark grin and cap, eyes scanning the room.

Garp took in the sight of his old friend, sitting in the quiet village tavern, trying to appear inconspicuous with a goat at his side. For a moment, Garp's face tightened—only slightly, but enough that Agatha, still observing from behind the counter, noted it.

She knew why. She could see Garp was hiding a maelstrom of emotions as he processed his friend's arrival, sensing what this meeting might mean.

After a moment's hesitation, Garp's rough voice boomed out, breaking the comfortable stillness. "Sengoku…! What in the hell's the Fleet Admiral of the Marines doing all the way out on a backward island like this?"

A hush fell over the few patrons in the tavern, who, startled, turned their attention toward the two men. Most of the regulars were well-acquainted with Garp's loud, jovial presence, but they were visibly shaken as they processed Garp's words.

Fleet Admiral of the Marines. Slowly, the patrons began murmuring to one another, shooting glances at Sengoku, who calmly raised a brow, his calm demeanor unshaken as he continued feeding his goat.

Unbothered, Agatha slipped back into the kitchen, preparing another helping of pie, for both Garp and Sengoku. She knew how much Garp liked to talk with his mouth full, especially when he was avoiding difficult conversations.

Sengoku tilted his head, giving Garp a dry look. "Do you have to make such a scene, Garp? I came all this way to see you, only for you to announce my title like a fool."

His words were a reproach, but his tone was affectionate, laced with old camaraderie. He gestured to the stool beside him. "Well? Sit. Unless you're planning to throw me out of here too."

"Don't tempt me," Garp muttered, though he couldn't suppress a smile as he dropped heavily onto the stool beside Sengoku. He glanced at Agatha, giving her a brief nod, which she returned with a warm, knowing smile as she set down a large slice of pie in front of him.

Garp picked up a fork, digging into the pie but keeping his gaze trained on Sengoku. "So, you tracked me down to a place like this. I'm guessing you didn't come here for the apple pie, as good as it is."

Sengoku sighed, turning serious. "I came because I wanted to see you in person, Garp. It's been years. Too long, if you ask me."

Garp snorted. "And whose fault is that, huh?" He took another bite, chewing slowly, stalling. "If you hadn't gotten so cozy with those Elders—"

Sengoku's face darkened, his voice dropping low. "You think it was easy for me, Garp? You think I wanted to carry out their orders? I had my reasons." He paused, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "But you… you practically destroyed Marineford in a single fit of rage. Some of the younger Marines still talk about that day like it's a campfire ghost story."

Garp shrugged, unbothered. "I left because I had my own reasons. Because you know damn well I'd never bow to those old tyrants." He put his fork down, and for a moment, his eyes met Sengoku's with a flash of old, unyielding defiance.

"If you've come here to ask me to rejoin, you're wasting your breath. I have nothing to say to those Elders—and if they think I'll be a pawn for them, they're wrong."

Sengoku felt a pang of regret. He knew this argument well; they'd had versions of it countless times. And yet, seeing his old friend up close again, Sengoku felt a renewed desperation.

"Garp, I know you don't want anything to do with the Elders. I don't blame you. But the Marines—your men—they still look up to you. There are battles that only someone like you can face, enemies who can't be stopped without someone of your strength, your presence. And with the tides shifting in the New World…"

Garp met his gaze, and for a moment, Sengoku saw the flicker of something he hadn't seen in years: vulnerability. But Garp's expression hardened, his voice coming out in a low, firm tone.

"I have my own battles, Sengoku, battles that don't involve the Marines. There are things… things you can't understand." He glanced at Agatha, catching her eye briefly, though Sengoku didn't notice. "I have a family to protect."