(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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Wano Country, Kuri.
The weather was exceptionally clear today. The blue sky was dotted with a few leisurely white clouds, and a handful of seagulls flew by, leaving behind their droppings as a rather unwelcome souvenir.
Wano Country's geographical location was incredibly unique, resembling a natural war fortress. The entire nation was surrounded by towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. This terrain had even posed a significant challenge for the World Government, which had never managed to bring Wano under its control.
Wano was, without a doubt, a lawless land.
Kuri, in particular, was a special place within Wano. It was a land of exile, a paradise for criminals.
Once the residence of the Kozuki family, Kuri was ruled by their daimyos for generations. Decades ago, the infamous Ashura Doji terrorized this region until Kozuki Oden defeated him, bringing a brief period of peace and prosperity to Kuri.
However, with Oden's tragic fall, Kuri returned to its former state of poverty and chaos. The crimes committed by Kaido's subordinates have made life unbearable for the common people.
High above the ruins of Oden Mansion, Colt appeared silently.
The once-majestic Daimyo Mansion now lay in ruins, providing the perfect stage for him to summon the Ninja Alliance Army.
As for Robin and the others, they remained outside of Wano Country.
Colt had no intention of involving them in this battle.
This was a battle for the ninjas—a declaration of their existence to the world.
No outsiders were needed.
Colt landed lightly on the ground, his eyes emitting a faint purple glow. A pitch-black crack silently appeared in the air, rapidly expanding as tens of thousands of ninja alliance troops materialized within the ruins.
Before the troops could fully settle, several figures rushed to Colt's side at breakneck speed.
"Colt!"
Several tender voices called out simultaneously, filled with deep longing.
Led by Hinata, the girls couldn't contain their excitement and rushed toward him like swallows returning to their nests.
Colt smiled warmly, opening his arms to embrace each of them.
*Hiss*
He couldn't help but feel relieved that he had only taken a few wives. Any more, and he might not have been able to hug them all at once.
"I've missed you so much," Hinata whispered, her face pressed against his chest. Colt's clothes were already damp from her tears.
He held them tightly as if trying to merge their bodies with his own.
"I've missed you all too,"
The ninja alliance forces, still dazed from the sudden summoning, quickly averted their eyes from the scene, choosing not to pry into Colt's personal affairs.
The image of Colt's eyes just a while ago, vast and unfathomable like the universe itself, had only deepened their belief in his invincibility.
No one doubted that if this living God had wished it, he could have crushed them all with a single gesture.
The situation grew awkward.
The handsome young man comforted the girls softly, while over ten thousand ninjas stood around, chatting idly about trivial matters.
"Is this the New World? The sky here seems to be so vibrant and unpolluted."
"Yeah, the clouds are so thick and white."
"Even the trees are taller than those in Konoha. Amazing."
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya floated silently to the side, her presence immediately noticed by the girls.
Hinata, Ino, and the others blushed, realizing that now wasn't the time for affection, and quickly stepped aside.
"You've become very strong," Kaguya said, her expression serious. A faint trace of fear flickered in her eyes as she studied Colt.
Through her Byakugan, she could see the immense energy swirling within him, stirring a storm of emotions in her heart.
She couldn't comprehend how Colt had grown so powerful in such a short time.
"Thank you for taking care of the girls all these years," Colt said with a smile.
Before coming to the One-Piece world, he had entrusted Kaguya with their safety.
From his occasional conversations with Hinata, he had learned that Kaguya had been silently watching over them, a fact that had solidified their authority among the ninja alliance. Especially for Hinata, after all, she wasn't just representing herself—she was backed by the Goddess herself.
Colt raised his hand slightly, gesturing to the world around them.
"Do you feel it? This is almost a paradise."
Kaguya closed her eyes, sensing the abundant natural energy in the air. She nodded slightly.
"The natural energy here is overwhelming. Planting even two Divine Trees would have little impact, and they would bear incredibly bountiful fruit."
A rare smile graced her lips, and for a moment, the world seemed to pale in comparison to her beauty.
Colt, however, remained composed. He had faced far greater challenges than this.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," he said with a light cough.
"We'll plant the Divine Trees after dealing with the current rulers. It won't take long."
Kaguya nodded obediently.
For the Ōtsutsuki clan, a few years were nothing compared to their endless lifespans. With the threat of their clan gone, she could afford to wait.
After addressing Kaguya, Colt turned his attention to the ninja army.
The crowd fell silent, their breaths held as they awaited his words.
Among them, he spotted many familiar faces: Shikamaru, Tenten, Neji, Chōji, Jiraiya, Konoha's gatekeepers, and even Hanabi, Hinata's younger sister.
Hanabi had grown into a young woman, her demeanor colder and more ethereal than her sister's.
When her eyes met Colt's, she blinked playfully, bringing a smile to his face.
She was still the mischievous sister-in-law he remembered.
"Everyone, it's been a while," Colt said softly, his voice carrying clearly to every ear.
"I believe you already understand the purpose of this mission. This is an invasion—a declaration by us ninjas to the New World."
The crowd remained silent, listening intently.
"In this world, ninjas are seen as subordinates to samurai, a profession with no room for advancement. I find this simply unacceptable."
A strong wind began to blow, whipping through the clothes of the assembled ninjas. Colt's tone grew more intense.
"Wano Country is the place I've chosen for us. Here, samurai reign supreme, but that changes today."
He spread his arms wide, as if embracing the entire world.
"My people, I need a war!"
"With my will, go forth and conquer this country. Change the world!"