Kurozumi Higurashi saying she wanted to go to sea was actually just a facade, merely a show for Shimotsuki Yasuie to see.
In reality, she had barely left the port before turning around and boarding a different ship to return. At this time, Shimotsuki Yasuie hadn't even left the hidden port yet.
Shimotsuki Yasuie was still staring blankly at the port's exit when a smaller ship sailed in from outside. He turned his gaze toward it and saw two elderly figures standing at the bow, thin as dried corpses.
One of them looked like an old witch, with two lit candles bound to her head like the Ushi-no-Toki-Mairi of Japanese folklore. Shimotsuki Yasuie was even a bit worried that she might set her own hair on fire.
The other old man had gone completely bald at the center of his head, with only a stubborn ring of hair remaining around the edges.
"Going to sea at such an advanced age?" Shimotsuki Yasuie muttered, feeling that Ren was being a bit too harsh. For elderly people like these, even if they weren't to be supported and cared for, they should at least be given some lighter work, shouldn't they?
Going to sea was something that made even Shimotsuki Yasuie worry that their old bones might not withstand the wind and waves, and they might die aboard the ship.
Just as he was thinking this, the ship had already docked at the shore. Kurozumi Higurashi led Kurozumi Semimaru down from the deck, walking right past Shimotsuki Yasuie as if they hadn't seen him at all.
Shimotsuki Yasuie sniffed the air, sensing a deathly, decaying scent wafting toward him. The smell felt familiar, though he didn't dwell on it.
Watching the trembling figures of Kurozumi Higurashi and Kurozumi Semimaru walking away, Shimotsuki Yasuie felt it necessary to write to the current person in charge of Kuri, asking them to show more care for the elderly.
After all, they shouldn't be assigned such arduous work.
With this sense of social responsibility, Shimotsuki Yasuie departed. He had no idea that these two elderly figures who had walked past him would, in the coming years, bring this nation to its knees in suffering.
Flower Capital.
Kurozumi Higurashi led Kurozumi Semimaru through the streets of the Flower Capital with practiced ease. It wasn't that they were particularly familiar with the Flower Capital, but rather that this country had gone unchanged for far too long.
One year, two years, five years, ten years—the layout of the Flower Capital remained the same. Even damaged houses, when rebuilt, couldn't escape their original arrangement. The people living inside might change from generation to generation, but from a macro perspective, the Flower Capital had maintained this appearance for centuries.
"Hehehe..." Kurozumi Higurashi let out a sinister laugh. From now on, this eternally unchanging nation would undergo great upheaval.
The Kozuki clan, and everyone in this nation, would pay for their sins!
However, Kurozumi Higurashi had forgotten that the Kurozumi clan's current predicament was entirely of their own making.
The two of them didn't attract too much attention. Kurozumi Higurashi was well aware that her appearance was somewhat conspicuous, so she had changed her features upon entering the Flower Capital. Following the route from memory, they found Kurozumi Orochi's residence.
Over these years, Kurozumi Orochi had secured a modest position of authority in the Flower Capital. His status might not have been particularly high, but the advantage was his proximity to Kozuki Sukiyaki. This way, when Kozuki Sukiyaki passed away, Kurozumi Orochi becoming the acting Shogun wouldn't face opposition from everyone.
During this time, he had displayed quite a few abilities that made many people look at him with new respect—not the spineless demeanor he had shown in the original story.
"You've arrived, Higurashi." Kurozumi Orochi saw Kurozumi Higurashi enter with Semimaru and hurriedly stepped forward. Higurashi had been staying in Kuri for some time, and he hadn't seen her in a while.
"Orochi, how is Kozuki Sukiyaki's health now?" Kurozumi Higurashi addressed Kurozumi Orochi directly by name.
"His health is steadily deteriorating, but I didn't dare continue poisoning him," Kurozumi Orochi replied. In the past, in order to increase his power, he had consumed a Snake-type Zoan Devil Fruit, and among the abilities he gained was a kind of venom.
After continuous dilution and modification, Kurozumi Orochi had used it on Kozuki Sukiyaki.
He hadn't poisoned Kozuki Sukiyaki's food and drink, but instead used tiny needles to gradually release it into his body.
However, Kurozumi Orochi hadn't yet obtained the man's absolute trust, so he hadn't killed him outright. Moreover, the minuscule amount of venom wouldn't draw attention—this modified poison would only trigger old ailments Kozuki Sukiyaki had developed from his sword-forging days, rather than directly harming his body, so even doctors would have difficulty detecting anything amiss.
"Find an opportunity to increase the dosage. We no longer need Kozuki Sukiyaki now," Kurozumi Higurashi said coldly.
However, she didn't mean for Kurozumi Orochi to immediately kill him. That would be the most direct method, but not the most advisable. The two of them deliberated in low voices for a while, concluding that the greatest obstacle still lay with Kozuki Oden.
"I've heard Kozuki Oden's strength is slightly greater than Ashura Doji's. Ashura Doji is now a great pirate with a bounty of over 700 million Berries. Orochi, your strength is no match for his at all," Kurozumi Higurashi was relatively well-informed about affairs overseas.
With Kurozumi Orochi's current strength, if he were to be given a bounty, it would likely only be around 200 million. Perhaps even less—after all, Kurozumi Orochi had been biding his time all these years, and his combat abilities had grown quite rusty.
At this moment, Kurozumi Semimaru, who had been silent all along, pulled a wanted poster from his robes.
"Lord Ren said that when necessary, we can seek cooperation with this pirate."
Kurozumi Orochi took the wanted poster and saw that detestable-looking man on it. This person truly irritated him at first glance—the last person to make him feel this way had been Kozuki Oden.
"Kaido?"
"This guy doesn't look very bright. Can it work?" Kurozumi Orochi asked.
"Don't judge by appearances alone," Kurozumi Higurashi replied. Ever since learning about this matter, she had been investigating Kaido's background. One could say this man only appeared reckless on the surface.
But a foolish person couldn't have survived on the Rocks Pirates' ship.
Since learning about Kaido's exploits, Kurozumi Higurashi hadn't dared to underestimate him. Especially since Ren had specifically warned them to be more careful this time.
To be honest, if Ren hadn't been backing them, Kurozumi Higurashi wouldn't have dared to make deals with Kaido. Otherwise, who knows when this Wano Country might fall to Kaido.
Even so, she had no intention of seeking cooperation with Kaido immediately. This matter would have to wait until at least Kurozumi Orochi became the acting Shogun. Without Ren intervening, only by controlling the nation's power would they have any bargaining position before Kaido.
Hey everyone,
I need to tell you what's actually happening.
I just got hit with mass cancellations. On top of being buried in academics until the 9th. I'm in deep financial trouble right now—like, genuinely don't-know-how-I-cover-next-month trouble.
I want to do more for you. I have another Naruto fic ready to drop the moment this academic hell ends. But I can't keep creating if I can't survive.
I'm not powerless about the work—I know I can deliver for you. But I'm powerless to stop the bleeding alone.
If you've ever thought about supporting, this is the moment. Not "someday." Now.
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