After a week in Wano Country, Kanata was finally granted an audience with the shogun. She traveled alone to the Flower Capital.
Yasuie had been busy running around, attending to various matters. He had originally planned to accompany her, but it had become impossible. He had gone to the Flower Capital a few days ago, so Kanata ended up going alone. Of course, she hadn't expected to be surrounded by samurai, their swords drawn, as soon as she arrived.
"It's her!"
"She's the one who killed Sukiyaki-sama…! We'll avenge him!"
Kanata didn't understand their anger. She ignored the hostile samurai and turned to Yasuie, who was leading them.
"What's going on? Care to explain?"
"We have nothing to discuss with the criminal –!"
"Silence! …Kanata-dono, do you truly have no recollection of this?"
"I've been in Hakumai this entire time. I know nothing about what happened in the Flower Capital."
"…It happened yesterday."
Kozuki Sukiyaki, the shogun of Wano Country, had been assassinated. It had happened in broad daylight, with many witnesses. A wanted poster had already been created.
Yasuie showed her the poster. It was a face that looked exactly like Kanata's. The sword at her waist had a different hilt, but that could be easily faked. There was no denying it was her face.
"Someone who looks like me assassinated Sukiyaki-dono?"
"Yes. It happened in broad daylight, and I regret that we weren't able to capture the perpetrator… They vanished in an instant."
"Yasuie-sama, what are you waiting for?! She's the culprit! We need to capture her immediately!"
The samurai were enraged, but Kanata simply shrugged.
Just because they looked alike didn't mean she was the culprit. She knew for a fact that there was someone else with a nearly identical face… Of course, the samurai wouldn't believe her. They would simply think she was trying to escape.
But it didn't make sense for Octavia to have done it.
Committing the crime in broad daylight was one thing, but she always wore a mask. She wouldn't reveal her face so carelessly.
"Kanata-dono… Did you truly do this?"
"Even if I said I didn't, would you believe me?"
Only Yasuie, who knew Kanata personally, seemed to have any doubts, but the samurai wouldn't listen.
She had been caught in a trap, but she couldn't simply surrender. She had to escape, breaking through the samurai surrounding her and evading the Oniwabanshu waiting outside. They would pursue her relentlessly.
Yasuie's words wouldn't change anything now. She was more concerned about whoever had framed her, but she couldn't think of anyone who would target her in Wano Country.
Having no suspects was a problem. Oden was a possibility, considering their animosity, but he wasn't the type to resort to such underhanded tactics. And it was unlikely that his retainers would act without his orders. Well, she could worry about it later.
"I'm going to break through."
"…Please don't resist."
"I'm used to being falsely accused, but I won't be captured so easily."
She was facing the samurai of Wano Country, a formidable force that even the World Government hesitated to challenge. Even Kanata would have a difficult time fighting them, or so it was rumored – but rumors were often unreliable.
She created ice spears with her ability, imbuing them with Armament Haki, and sent the samurai flying with each swing.
She had trained with Yasuie's subordinates before, and she knew that each samurai possessed considerable strength. With an army like this, it was no wonder the World Government was hesitant to interfere. Of course, numbers alone wouldn't be enough to defeat Kanata.
"Impossible…! She's only one person! Why can't we defeat her?!"
One of the samurai, shocked by her strength, charged at her, only to be effortlessly blown away by a single swing of her spear.
She had been framed, but she didn't intend to kill them. They were opponents she could easily restrain. There was no need to use her Devil Fruit ability and risk taking their lives.
Having incapacitated most of the samurai, Kanata rushed towards Hakumai.
If Sukiyaki had been assassinated yesterday afternoon, word would have already spread throughout the country. She wasn't worried about her subordinates, but unexpected things tended to happen in situations like this.
It was a frustrating situation, but after all these years, she had grown accustomed to her inherited tendency to attract trouble.
Meanwhile, as expected, Zen and the others who had remained in Hakumai also had visitors.
The samurai who had been sent to surround Kanata and her crew in Hakumai had been summoned to the Flower Capital, leaving only those who had gone directly to Hakumai from their respective villages. They were now facing Zen and the others.
Among them were Oden's retainers, including Kin'emon, who Zen knew personally.
"Hihin, what's going on?"
"Zen-dono… We find it hard to believe ourselves, but… Kanata-dono is suspected of assassinating Kozuki Sukiyaki-sama, the shogun of Wano Country."
"Assassinated?! What are you talking about?! She spent the entire day yesterday training with us! It's impossible!"
"But there are many witnesses! She can't deny it…!"
If they only looked alike, there was a chance it was someone else. But it was rare for two people to have such similar faces, even if they were related.
They wouldn't believe her if she told them about Octavia.
– While Zen was confronting Kin'emon, Gloriosa was contacting Kanata with a Baby Den Den Mushi.
"…The situation isn't good. How soon can you return?"
"It'll take some time to reach you from the Flower Capital. Everyone, retreat to Mogura Port immediately. We can't stay in Wano Country anymore."
"Is that our only option? We don't have to clear your name?"
"It doesn't seem like they're in the mood for a trial. I'm curious about who framed me, but we can have Oden investigate later."
"Do you think that good-for-nothing will listen?"
"I doubt it."
Gloriosa shrugged, sighing. She relayed the message to everyone.
"Attention, everyone! – We're retreating from Wano Country! Head for Mogura Port!"
The Twilight Pirates immediately sprang into action. They had already prepared for this possibility, and they quickly gathered their belongings and started moving.
Kin'emon and the other retainers couldn't simply let them escape. They drew their swords with grim expressions.
"We can't let you go… This is a serious matter for Wano Country. Please understand, Zen-dono," Kin'emon said.
"Hihin, I understand. I once swore loyalty to Sukiyaki-dono. But I'm Kanata's subordinate now – And there are many things that don't add up."
Zen raised his spear, imbuing it with Haki.
Oden's retainers, knowing his strength, tensed. Gloriosa called out to him.
"Zen! Hurry, we're leaving!"
"I'll hold them off! It'll be difficult to escape while being pursued!"
Zen was the most capable fighter among them. He was the best choice for holding back the samurai. She wished they had another strong fighter with them, but… there was no point dwelling on what they lacked.
They knew their ship was docked at Mogura Port. If they were unlucky, it might have already been destroyed. They couldn't waste any time.
"…Don't die, Zen!"
"I'm not planning on dying anytime soon! Not until I see Feiyun get married… She doesn't have a boyfriend already, does she?!"
"How would I know?!"
Gloriosa snapped, then turned and left, leaving Zen behind.
Kaie ran beside her, and they watched as their subordinates headed for the harbor.
If the samurai were waiting for them at the port, it would be troublesome, but their subordinates weren't helpless. They could hold their own against the samurai. As she thought about Zen, she noticed the threat ahead too late.
"Gyaaaaaaaaah!"
"It hurts… Damn it, it hurts!"
The crew members at the front were blown away, sent flying towards them.
Were there such powerful individuals among the samurai? Gloriosa stared at the figure blocking their path in shock.
"I apologize for the inconvenience, but… I owe Kin'emon and the others a favor. I couldn't ignore this situation."
He was a giant of a man, over six meters tall, with blonde hair, a white mustache, and a massive naginata in hand.
Edward Newgate, "Whitebeard" – one of the strongest pirates in the world, stood before them.
Gloriosa grimaced. "What a troublesome man to appear at such a busy time…!"
"Gloriosa… It's been a while," Whitebeard said.
They had once sailed on the same ship, but they had chosen different paths.
Even old acquaintances could become enemies if they sailed under different flags. That was the way of the pirates. They didn't exchange any further words, simply raising their Haki imbued weapons.
Gloriosa, without turning back, instructed her subordinates, "I'll hold him off. Everyone, head for the –"
"I'll handle this."
With her chained scythe at the ready, Kaie stepped forward with her hood pulled low over her eyes. She was still young, but she was a capable fighter. Whitebeard also had children on his crew. Gloriosa trusted her to handle them.
She felt a cold sweat as she sensed Kaie's incredibly refined Haki, but she didn't flinch while glaring at Whitebeard.
"Step aside. We're leaving this island."
"I can't allow that. You're one of that woman's subordinates, aren't you? Where is she?"
"She had a meeting scheduled today. She's in the Flower Capital."
"So she went to the Flower Capital after committing the crime? What's she planning?"
"Kanata didn't assassinate him. Just because they look alike doesn't mean she's the culprit. There are others who fit that description."
"Octavia? But that woman wouldn't resort to assassination. She'd take his head directly if she wanted to kill him."
"Indeed."
Gloriosa kept the conversation going, waiting for an opportunity. Whitebeard grimaced as he mentioned Octavia's name.
Octavia was on bad terms with almost everyone. Gloriosa chuckled, and Whitebeard's expression darkened.
He raised his naginata, signaling that he wouldn't let them pass. He radiated an aura of power. This was a silent threat.
Behind him stood his subordinates, young but formidable fighters. It wouldn't be easy to break through.
Gloriosa drew a knife from her waist and attacked with blinding speed.
"You're too slow."
Whitebeard effortlessly dodged her attack and sent her flying with the hilt of his naginata. She had been overwhelmed in a single exchange, but in that brief moment, Kaie had slipped past Whitebeard and approached a young boy – Marco.
"I won't let you pass!"
"Out of my way."
Marco, underestimated Kaie because she was a child, thus he was caught off guard and received a dropkick to the face.
"Oof?!"
"Marco?!"
A woman, Whitey Bay, stared in shock as Marco was sent spinning through the air. Kaie slipped past her and swung her scythe.
Bay, however, wasn't easily defeated. She imbued her pistols with Armament Haki to block Kaie's attack.
Marco, nursing a bloody nose, groaned, "That… hurt…"
Suddenly, blue flames erupted around him, and his injuries vanished.
– Marco, who had eaten the Mythical Zoan Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix, could heal any injury instantly. Fighting him directly would be pointless.
"You're strong for a little one."
"That's because you were careless!"
Marco, annoyed by her words, transformed his arms into phoenix wings and stepped forward.
"I'll handle this! Bay, you can step back!"
"Don't get cocky, you brat – Marco!"
"You're both annoying."
Kaie, taking advantage of Marco's distraction, jumped on his head and slammed him to the ground, then transformed into her hybrid form.
Bay and Marco stared in shock as Kaie's body grew larger. She activated her petrification ability.
"Ugh?! W-What is this?!"
Marco panicked as his fingers started turning to stone. Even the regenerative powers of the Phoenix were useless against her petrifying gaze.
But she had to maintain eye contact to petrify her target. Bay, sensing the danger, attacked, and Kaie's focus shifted which stopped Marco's petrification.
He kicked her away and escaped with one arm still partially petrified.
"I-I'm saved!"
"You're saved? Your arm hasn't returned to normal… Can't you heal it with your ability?"
"I don't know…" Marco looked at his petrified arm.
Bay drew her pistols, determined to find a way to reverse the petrification.
Kaie, back in her human form, raised her scythe and faced Bay.
– Meanwhile, the battle between Newgate and Gloriosa was hardly a battle at all.
No matter how much Haki she used, she couldn't block his attacks. And she couldn't dodge either, her movements were predicted by his incredibly accurate Observation Haki.
Newgate had always been the strongest among the Rocks Pirates. Gloriosa wasn't weak, but Newgate had grown even stronger.
"G-Gah… He's too strong…!"
"…Had enough? I'm not planning on killing you. Kin'emon and the others will be here soon."
Newgate observed Gloriosa with a calm expression, occasionally glancing towards Marco and the others.
Gloriosa felt humiliated. He wasn't even focusing on her. But time wasn't on his side either.
"Are you sure you should be looking away?"
"What –"
He was about to retort, but a shiver ran down his spine and a sense of danger washed over him.
"–!"
He instinctively blocked the attack with his naginata to intercept Kanata's spear. The clash of their Haki echoed like thunder.
"…Finally, the captain arrives."
"It seems my subordinates have been causing trouble. Whitebeard."
The distance between the Flower Capital and Hakumai wasn't that great. Kanata, moving at her top speed, had arrived in an instant. She had caught up to her subordinates, who were being held back, and seeing Newgate blocking their path, she had immediately created an ice spear and attacked.
After the initial clash, she grabbed Gloriosa and moved away and handed her over to a nearby subordinate.
Another subordinate, who had been holding her spear, handed it to her, and she stepped forward.
"I've heard rumors of your strength. You're quite formidable."
"I've heard your rumors as well."
"Do… you… recognize… my… face?"
It was a strange question. Whitebeard didn't answer, he simply grimaced. But that was enough.
"A former Rocks Pirate. Edward Newgate, "Whitebeard" – So you're one of them as well."
"You too?"
"Shiki, Linlin, you… You all have the same thought process – All you talk about is Octavia. I guess the only way to deal with former Rocks Pirates is to take their heads."
That was all she needed to confirm. There was no need for further conversation.
"What are you trying to –"
"There's no need for words. I don't have time for you now."
Kanata raised her Haki-clad spear. She called out to Kaie, who was fighting in the background.
"Kaie, fall back!"
If she was going to fight this man head-on, she needed everyone else out of the way.
Kaie obediently retreated, and Bay, about to pursue her to help Marco, was stopped by Whitebeard.
"Pops! We need to find out how to reverse Marco's petrification!"
"I know! But… She's not someone I can hold back against. Stay back."
He turned his attention to Kanata.
BOOM!
They both imbued their weapons with Haki – and the clash created a deafening explosion that seemed to silence the world.