The truth was that Kozuki Sukiyaki had been dead for a long time.
Dead men tell no tales. Kurozumi Orochi and Kurozumi Higurashi had no reason to keep him alive. He was an obstacle to their plan to seize control of Wano Country. They had used Sukiyaki's body to frame Kanata.
There was a region in Wano called Ringo, where the climate allowed bodies buried in the ground to remain preserved for hundreds of years.
Normally, it was best to dispose of a victim's body to avoid being caught, but they had intended to use Sukiyaki's body all along. It had been hidden in Ringo.
They had dug up the body, and Higurashi, who had once sailed on the same ship as Octavia, had used her Mane Mane no Mi ability to transform into her to carry out the assassination.
Even those who knew Octavia well could mistake Higurashi for her. It was impossible for the samurai, who had never seen her before, to tell them apart.
"It went well, but… Are you sure this was the right approach?"
"Nikyokyokyokyo… It was too risky to meet her while impersonating Sukiyaki. This plan was originally meant for Oden, but… It'll work."
Orochi and Higurashi, in the castle at the Flower Capital, were relieved that their plan had succeeded.
Confronting Kanata directly would be suicidal. But if she was accused of assassinating the shogun, she would be making enemies of the entire country. They had gambled that she wouldn't risk fighting the entire samurai force to clear her name, no matter how strong she was.
They had been nervous when she had effortlessly defeated the samurai who had surrounded her, but they were relieved when she chose to flee.
"She won't be returning to Wano Country after this. We need to prepare the next plan for Oden. Nikyokyokyokyo…!"
"…Yes. We need to be ready for his return."
Their goal wasn't to hand over the shogun's position to Oden. It was to destroy the Kozuki Family's reputation.
They laughed as they reached for their teacups – then they noticed the table shaking.
"What's that? An earthquake…?"
"…No way."
Higurashi recalled a certain pirate crew that was currently in Wano Country. The subtle tremor quickly subsided. Orochi, unconcerned, picked up his teacup.
– The next moment, a massive earthquake shook the entire country.
Rumble!
Edward Newgate, "Whitebeard," had eaten the Gura Gura no Mi, making him a Tremor-Tremor Human.
An ordinary person who consumed this fruit would only be able to create minor vibrations, but a monster like Newgate could cause earthquakes. He could crack the air with a punch, unleash shockwaves, and shake the very earth. A single swing of his naginata could send tremors directly into his opponent's body.
He was one of the most powerful pirates in the world, capable of fighting Roger and Shiki on equal footing.
– And now, he was grimacing. A few minor wounds were on his body.
(…That little girl. Still so young, yet so strong. She's living a dangerous life.)
He hadn't grown weak. He had never been defeated so easily. He had carefully blocked her swift spear thrusts and neutralized her freezing cold with his tremors.
The Hie Hie no Mi's strength lay in its ability to freeze its target. But no matter how skilled Kanata was, she couldn't freeze vibrations.
He was her natural enemy, in a sense. But she wouldn't be defeated so easily.
"Step aside, Newgate…!"
"I can't do that… I owe Kin'emon a favor."
They had clashed countless times. Even though their weapons didn't touch directly, their Haki was constantly clashing. And every one of Newgate's attacks caused tremors.
The earthquake, which had started as a minor tremor, was now tilting the entire island.
"What's he doing?! Is he trying to sink this island?!"
"Gloriosa-san, it's too dangerous here! We need to get away!"
"But there's nowhere to –"
Whitebeard's crew, understanding his power, had already moved away, but… there was no safe place when he was serious.
Unwilling to lose her balance, Kanata leaped into the air, leaving the tilting ground. She deflected a flurry of attacks, and Newgate, grabbing the air itself, slammed it to the ground.
"–?!"
RUMBLE!
The world shook violently. Even Kanata, a seasoned fighter, was caught off guard by the attack. She received a blow that felt like it could overturn the heavens and the earth.
"I can't hold back."
It was just a moment of distraction. Kanata's focus had wavered as she observed Newgate's ability.
He had taken advantage of her hesitation, bending his arm like a bow and unleashing a devastating punch. The impact created a shockwave that obliterated a distant mountain.
"Gah –!"
Her Armament Haki had activated just in time, but she still coughed up blood, the force of the blow nearly killing her. She refused to kneel. Judging that her fists were faster than her spear, she created ice claws and stabbed them into Newgate's arm.
Blood splattered in the air. She sensed another attack coming and quickly retreated.
"Tch… He's tough. Still standing after taking that head-on."
She pulled out her ice claws as she moved away, leaving bloody wounds on Newgate's arm. But they were merely scratches. Nothing compared to the damage she had sustained.
"I'm not done yet."
The air grew colder as she released her Haki. Newgate sensed her Conqueror's Haki and couldn't help but recall a woman he knew.
They looked alike, yet their auras were completely different. Their eye color was different… but the resemblance sparked another thought.
(Red eyes, the same face as that woman… I see.)
If you knew the inner workings of the Rocks Pirates, it wasn't an impossible scenario. Shiki, obsessed with Octavia, and Linlin, who held a grudge against her, wouldn't care, but if the Marines found out, they would try to kill Kanata at all costs.
The World Government didn't want another Rocks Pirates.
She was incredibly strong for her age, her crew was still expanding, and she had challenged him, Newgate, whom she considered stronger than herself, without hesitation. If he saw her as a threat, he should kill her now. But he wasn't that kind of man.
"Little girl. Do you know about your father?"
"…Yes… But I've never met him."
Kanata endured the pain, buying time by answering Newgate's question.
Newgate stroked his chin thoughtfully while keeping his eyes on her.
"…Do you know what he was trying to do?"
"I'm not interested. Was it something you wanted as well?"
"No, I don't care about that… But I see. You're not going to follow in his footsteps."
He observed the Twilight Pirates behind Kanata. They clearly respected her. They were different from the Rocks Pirates. If her goals were different from Rocks', they wouldn't clash, even if he let her live. Of course, if she intended to "rule" the world like Rocks, she would always be his enemy.
"Are we done talking? It seems Zen has arrived."
"Yes, I've learned what I needed to know. Now all that's left is to defeat you."
A moment of silence – then the two figures clashed.
Kanata imbued her spear with ice and attempted to freeze Newgate's tremors, to suppress his power. Newgate, in turn, channeled his tremors into his naginata, creating devastating attacks.
The earth shook with each clash, but the battle didn't last long. As Zen – or rather, Kin'emon and the others – approached, the scale of Newgate's tremors gradually decreased.
Marco and his crew knew his power, but Kin'emon and the others weren't familiar with it. He couldn't risk harming them.
"Your power is strong, but it seems inconvenient to use," Kanata remarked.
"Don't get cocky, brat."
Newgate's strength was largely due to his Devil Fruit ability, but his Haki and his skills were also exceptional.
He was a veteran fighter, his experience far exceeding Kanata's. He used his skills to their fullest to relentlessly push her back.
– But…
(This little girl… She's starting to adapt to my attacks.)
The same attacks wouldn't work twice. She could learn anything after seeing it once, and master it after seeing it twice. The longer the fight dragged on, the more she would learn. It would only make her stronger. Her parents were both monsters, and it seemed their daughter had inherited their potential.
Newgate grimaced.
"Whitebeard! Thank you for holding her back! We'll assist you immediately –!"
"Don't come any closer! You want to get caught in the crossfire, you idiots?!"
Zen had joined Gloriosa and the others. They were cornered. Kin'emon and the other retainers saw this as an opportunity, but Kanata and Newgate had a different perspective.
This was Kanata's chance.
"God Slayer –!!"
"–!"
Newgate was forced to stop and defend against the sudden blizzard, her most powerful attack. He couldn't use his earthquake ability with Kin'emon and the others so close. As soon as he was occupied, she shouted at her crew.
"Run to the ship! I'll catch up!"
Zen and the rest of the Twilight Pirates ran past Kanata and Newgate, heading for Mogura Port. The samurai tried to pursue, but Kanata created a wall of ice to block their path.
"…You let them escape."
"I'll be there soon. If you want to stop me, be prepared to sink this island."
Their roles had reversed. Kanata was determined to leave, and Newgate had to defeat her to stop her.
The samurai seemed to want to help Newgate, but they didn't realize they were only hindering him.
If he used his full power, he would inevitably harm the samurai. He wasn't heartless enough to do that to those he owed a debt to.
***
They escaped Wano Country without losing a single crew member.
They finished their preparations for departure and contacted Kanata with a Baby Den Den Mushi. As they left the harbor, Kanata, running across the sea, caught up to them and was immediately taken to the infirmary.
Sukura hadn't come with them, so a female doctor, his assistant, treated her injuries.
While she received treatment, she summoned Gloriosa and Zen to confirm the situation.
"Is it true that Sukiyaki-sama was assassinated?" Zen asked.
"It's impossible. He's one of our most important allies. He's practically the only one who can read the Road Poneglyphs."
Oden could also read them, but he would never cooperate with Kanata. He was that kind of man.
"That's true," Zen nodded in agreement.
"Then who did it?"
"Someone who holds a grudge against the Kozuki Family, or someone who wanted to frame me. It's probably one of those two."
They hadn't made any enemies in Wano Country aside from those they had encountered through trade, but if it was related to the Kozuki Family, Kanata had simply been framed.
Either way, she had to inform Oden.
She asked a subordinate to bring her a Den Den Mushi and finished receiving basic treatment. She should have been resting, but the doctor allowed her to make a call.
She contacted Roger. After a few rings, his cheerful voice answered.
"This is Roger! Who's this?"
"It's Kanata. Is Oden there?"
"Yeah, long time no see! You're calling about that message, right? Hold on!"
There was a shuffling sound, then silence. A few minutes later, footsteps approached.
"It's me! Sorry for asking you to deliver that message!"
"I doubt you're actually sorry, but… There's something I need to tell you."
"Hmm?"
"Sukiyaki-dono passed away."
"…I see. His health was already poor –"
When Oden had left Wano Country with Roger, they had already heard that Sukiyaki was ill. It wasn't surprising that he had died after two years. He was trying to convince himself when Kanata dropped the bombshell.
"It was an assassination."
"–What?!"
He froze for a few seconds, then gripped the Den Den Mushi so tightly that he nearly crushed it, and asked again.
"He was assassinated. It happened while I was in Wano Country… and now I'm being accused of killing him."
"He was assassinated? Did you do it?"
"You think I did it, you idiot? If you're Roger's source for deciphering the Road Poneglyphs, Sukiyaki-dono was mine. I had no reason to kill him."
"That's true… But wait, if you didn't do it, then who…"
Oden's voice was filled with confusion. His three retainers were probably nearby. She could hear their voices occasionally.
"There's only one thing I can tell you – two years have passed, and you were supposed to be in Wano Country by now. This trap was likely meant for you."
"For me? But… Why would they target me?"
"You're the shogun's son. If you were accused of killing your father, you would never become shogun. Someone might be after your position."
It was just a guess, but human desires were usually driven by money, love, or power. It was the same in Wano Country.
Oden fell silent, deep in thought. Kanata, having delivered her message, decided to offer a final piece of advice.
"Be careful if you decide to return. The situation in Wano will likely calm down if you return now, but –"
"…No, I haven't found my answer yet. I can't go back yet…!"
"I thought you'd say that."
If he was willing to return, he wouldn't have asked her to deliver the message.
She sighed and shrugged. "That's all I wanted to say."
"I'll contact you if anything happens. I can't enter Wano Country anymore, but if you find out who assassinated Sukiyaki-dono, let me know."
"Yeah. This concerns you as well."
They ended the call.
She had delivered her message. Oden's message to his retainers should have been relayed through Yasuie, so there shouldn't be any problems.
The immediate issue was resolved. She hadn't expected to fight Whitebeard, but he was an enemy they would have to defeat eventually. It wasn't a wasted battle. She had at least gauged his strength.
"…Well, that's done for now. I'm going to sleep. Set course for Hachinosu."
"Understood. Get some rest."
Gloriosa nodded and left the room with Zen. Kanata lay down on her bed, lost in thought. She had delivered Oden's message, and for now, they would focus on their trade with Rommel Kingdom.
She had another enemy to deal with – Newgate, in addition to Shiki and Linlin. But her objective remained the same.
She replayed their battle in her mind, analyzing Newgate's fighting style, then slowly drifted off to sleep.
***
Two years passed.
Their trade with the Rommel Kingdom was thriving, and the Twilight Pirates continued to expand.
One day, Kanata received a call from Rayleigh.
– Roger had fallen ill.