#197 - Chapter 197 Oden's Decision
"Hey, hey, can you guys not ignore me...?"
A sarcastic voice came from behind the house.
Kuzan and the others turned to look.
They saw Kurozumi Orochi slowly walking out, waving a fan.
The ninja looked at Orochi, trembling with nervousness:
"Lord Orochi, they threatened me."
He lowered his head, sweat beading on his forehead, knowing he had nowhere to retreat.
Under the pressure from Kuzan and the others, he had revealed all the information, and now he estimated he was classified as a traitor.
Kurozumi Orochi glanced at him indifferently, his tone cold:
"You may take your own life; I will treat your family well."
He gently shook his head.
"Your superiors also misjudged people; they actually sent a piece of trash like you to carry out the mission."
"Fortunately, things haven't gotten out of control yet."
The ninja gritted his teeth, his face pale.
For the sake of his family, he took a deep breath, raised his ninja blade, placed it against his abdomen, and plunged it in.
Blood spurted out, and the ninja staggered and fell to the ground, the light gradually fading from his eyes.
Kuzan and the others watched coldly, paying no attention to the self-inflicted ninja.
Kuzan looked at Kurozumi Orochi with cold eyes, and asked coldly:
"With your strength, are you sure you want to stop us?"
Orochi smiled disdainfully, waving his fan gently:
"This is my territory; do I need to take action personally?"
He clapped his hands, and immediately, a large group of people rushed out from all directions.
Among these people were not only his guards and ninjas, but also members of the Beasts Pirates mixed in, each one looking fierce and imposing.
Orochi smirked:
"Let them 'enjoy' the hospitality of Wano Country."
Kuzan frowned slightly, his eyes swept over the surrounding crowd, and he was ready to respond.
Shiryu sneered, gripping the sword in his hand, a hint of bloodlust flashing in his eyes:
"It seems like there's going to be a good show today."
Toki stood aside, her expression stern, knowing that this battle was inevitable.
Enel gently patted the metal ornaments on his ears, looking at the approaching enemies with disdain:
"These small fries dare to block our way?"
The battle was about to break out, and Kuzan and the others rushed up without hesitation.
Kuzan condensed ice in his hand, instantly freezing several enemies.
Shiryu's figure was as fast as lightning, and with the flashing of the sword, the enemies fell one after another.
Enel was a surge of lightning, and the current shuttled between the enemy groups, instantly knocking down several people.
Kurozumi Orochi stood in the distance, watching all this gloomily, and had a further understanding of the strength of these people.
Although these people were strong, he still didn't take Kuzan and the others seriously.
He sneered:
"Don't think you can leave here easily; this is Wano Country, my territory!"
In fact, Orochi had already contacted Kaido, and presumably the other party would send someone to support if he noticed the situation here.
Kuzan looked at Orochi coldly, secretly calculating his next plan.
Kuzan knew that the other party was right; this was Orochi's territory, and their reinforcements were endless.
After all, the physical strength of these people was limited.
On the square, the crowd who were watching Oden dance had already run away.
And Kin'emon and the others stayed where they were because Oden hadn't left yet.
"Lord Oden, should we take this opportunity..."
Kin'emon made a slashing motion across his neck.
Kurozumi Orochi was being held back, and if they joined the battle, it was very likely that they would kill him directly here.
Oden hesitated, frowning tightly, as if engaged in a fierce struggle in his heart.
Orochi saw this scene, his eyes turned, and his voice was cold:
"Oden, you don't want the people of Wano Country to be hurt, do you?"
"Come here quickly and take all these people down!"
Kuzan and the others' eyes flashed. From what they had learned during this period, this country had been badly harmed by Orochi and Kaido, and they didn't think Oden would choose to side with Orochi.
At this moment, Oden moved. Although he was still naked, the aura he exuded made people dare not ignore him.
He approached Orochi step by step.
Just when everyone thought Oden would attack Orochi,
Oden stretched out his hand:
"Give me a sword; I will subdue them."
He was qualified to say such a thing. In his eyes, the strongest of Kuzan's group had only just touched the edge of the admiral level.
It was not a problem for him to deal with these people with his strength.
Everyone present looked shocked; none of them thought Oden would make such a choice.
Those belonging to Kurozumi Orochi's group did not speak, but a hint of mockery flashed in their eyes.
Even if a person like Oden was strong, wouldn't he still have to obey Kurozumi Orochi's orders?
The faces of Kin'emon and the others changed from excitement to bitterness, and finally to despair.
"Lord Oden......"
If they could, they didn't want to stay here any longer.
Their disappointment in Oden increased by another point.
Where did the high-spirited daimyo in their memory go? Such a good opportunity was buried like this.
Kuzan and the others' faces sank, unable to understand Oden's thoughts.
Kuzan's brow furrowed slightly, and a trace of unease flashed in his eyes.
Orochi laughed so hard that tears came out:
"Someone, give Oden a good sword."
"Everyone else, step back; I want to see how this good show will play out."
A servant hurriedly presented a sharp samurai sword. Oden took the sword, held it in his hand, and felt the weight and sharpness of the blade.
His eyes became more firm. Although he understood in his heart that doing so violated his beliefs, he had no choice in order to protect the people of Wano Country.
"Lord Oden..."
Kin'emon's voice trembled, full of incomprehension and pain.
Oden did not respond. He took a deep breath and stepped towards Kuzan and the others.
Kuzan's expression became more and more solemn, and he could feel the powerful aura on Oden's body.
This battle would determine their fate.
Enel, who was beside Kuzan, said impatiently:
"What the hell is this guy doing? If you want to fight, then fight. Stop the nonsense!"
Shiryu sneered, gripping the sword in his hand, a bloody light flashing in his eyes:
"It seems like we have to fight desperately today, but that's what I want!"
Oden stopped, the blade flashing, his eyes staring directly at Kuzan, his voice loud:
"Sorry, for the sake of the people of Wano Country, I have to take action."
Oden's voice was firm and calm.
He swung the sword in his hand in front of him, and an invisible wave of air spread around him with him as the center.
Kuzan and the others immediately became alert and prepared for defense.
Oden whispered:
"Oden Ittoryu, Hōmura Saki (Paradise Waterfall)."
With his whisper, the blade flashed with dazzling light.
Oden did not hold back in this one slash, giving it his all.
In this instant, time seemed to stand still.
Oden's sword force was like a rainbow, and the blade slashed through the air like lightning, bringing a dazzling sword light and slashing towards Kuzan and the others.
The air roared, and the sword light tore through the air, making a piercing sound.
Kuzan narrowed his eyes, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and quickly froze the surrounding air to form a solid ice wall.
The ice wall was covered with frost, reflecting the cold light of the blade.
Enel's body flickered with electricity, quickly transforming into a lightning form, dodging away.
Shiryu drew his sword and attacked, the sword light colliding with Oden's sword light in the air, making a harsh metallic friction sound.
Oden's sword light was unstoppable, instantly shattering Kuzan's ice wall and Shiryu's slash, and heading straight for their faces.
A cold light flashed in Kuzan's eyes, his body slightly sideways, and his frost-covered fist suddenly swung out, colliding with the sword light in mid-air, erupting in a deafening roar.
Enel dodged to the side, looking at Oden with a solemn expression:
"This guy's strength is indeed extraordinary."
Shiryu sneered, a black murderous aura condensing on the blade:
"However, this is more interesting."
Kuzan took a few steps back, a trace of appreciation flashing in his eyes:
"As expected of Oden, truly worthy of the name."
...
