Udon ended up completely drunk. Tomorrow happened to be his day off, so even indulging in pleasures wouldn't have any consequences. Instead, Kurozumi Orochi left first.
Udon didn't suspect anything at all, since it was common knowledge that Kurozumi Orochi didn't associate with women.
However, before leaving, Kurozumi Orochi specifically spent money to redeem the "Higurashi" that Udon was holding in his arms. So Udon didn't stay overnight in the pleasure district.
Drunkenly, he held Kurozumi Higurashi and returned home, then was knocked unconscious after being fed a large pot of sleeping potion by Kurozumi Higurashi.
Kurozumi Higurashi looked at him with disgust, making sure he wouldn't wake up until tomorrow afternoon before leaving.
The next morning, a neatly dressed "Udon" once again arrived at the Shogun's residence.
"Lord Udon, what brings you here?" The ninja guarding Kozuki Sukiyaki emerged from the shadows and asked in surprise, "Lord Udon, aren't you supposed to be off today?"
"I got so drunk last night that I forgot today was my day off. Before I knew it, I was already at the Shogun's residence, so I figured I'd come check if there's any work to be done."
"I see." The ninja didn't suspect anything. After all, Udon himself was standing right there—it couldn't be fake. Not just the people of Wano Country, but even many nations frequently attacked by pirates had little defense against the bizarre abilities of Devil Fruits.
They trusted what their eyes saw more, even though their eyes often deceived them.
The "Udon" impersonated by Kurozumi Higurashi walked past those ninjas without changing expression, but inwardly couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
After passing through the long corridor, he arrived at Kozuki Sukiyaki's door. At this moment, the Shogun was lying at his desk watching several dancing girls perform. Kurozumi Orochi sat beside him.
Although the climate of the Flower Capital was a mild spring, he was covered with thick quilts and occasionally coughed.
Kozuki Sukiyaki's health had been getting worse and worse lately. This was something everyone knew, and even the doctors were helpless. The medical standards in this country weren't high—eight hundred years of isolation had left Wano Country's medical technology with essentially no progress.
"Lord Shogun, Udon is here." Kurozumi Orochi saw Udon, and when he noticed the other person wink at him, he knew this Udon was Higurashi in disguise.
"Oh? Udon?" Sukiyaki raised his eyes and indeed saw the other's figure, so he waved for the dancing girls to withdraw. Only then did Kurozumi Higurashi slowly enter.
"What is it? You're not supposed to be on duty today, are you?" Kozuki Sukiyaki felt that Udon seemed a bit reserved, but didn't suspect anything.
"Lord Shogun, I found a very strong liquor yesterday that can drive away the cold. I specially brought it for you." Udon said, simultaneously taking out a bottle of wine that had been laced with sleeping potion.
"Oh?" Kozuki Sukiyaki took it with interest and poured a bowl.
The aroma of the liquor immediately spread.
"Truly fine wine!"
The sake in Wano Country had always been low-alcohol rice wine, but this bottle was strong liquor brought from overseas. Kozuki Sukiyaki had never drunk such strong liquor before and immediately became interested.
Normally, given his status, whether food or drink, everything had to be tested for poison. But out of trust in Udon, Kozuki Sukiyaki drank it without a second thought.
Thump—
"It worked. It was almost too easy." Kurozumi Higurashi shook her head and said. The plan had gone so smoothly that she could hardly believe it. Compared to the difficult situation overseas where every step required extreme caution, this plan had been completed far too simply.
Kurozumi Higurashi reached out and touched the unconscious Sukiyaki, then brushed her other hand across her face, instantly transforming into Sukiyaki's appearance.
"The question is, what should we do with this guy?" Kurozumi Orochi casually kicked the unconscious Kozuki Sukiyaki with his foot. According to the original story's development, he didn't kill this person but instead imprisoned him for decades before exiling him.
This was something Ren couldn't understand. The original Kurozumi Orochi didn't seem like a merciful person.
"It would be too easy on him to just let him die." Kurozumi Orochi said hatefully, memories of the unfair treatment he received as a child once again surfacing in his mind.
He wanted Kozuki Sukiyaki to live—to let him personally watch how this country would be destroyed by him! At the very least, he wanted him to witness the destruction of the Kozuki family.
It was true that the Kurozumi clan had wanted to usurp the throne, but the Kurozumi had already received their due punishment. Kurozumi Orochi had never enjoyed wealth or status from birth—he had received nothing, yet had to suffer for his ancestors' sins. If not for that, he wouldn't have wanted to destroy this country in the first place.
"Don't create unnecessary complications." Kurozumi Higurashi warned him.
"Lord Ren has given us this opportunity—you should be grateful." Kurozumi Higurashi warned Orochi.
Kurozumi Orochi nodded, quickly pulling himself out of the mire of hatred, then feeling guilty.
"However, at least before transporting him out of the Daimyo residence, we still can't kill him." Kurozumi Higurashi changed into Kozuki Sukiyaki's clothes, then changed the unconscious man into Udon's clothes.
At this time, Orochi took out hair dye and colored Kozuki Sukiyaki's hair purple.
Waiting until the sky gradually darkened, Kurozumi Higurashi walked in front, while Kurozumi Orochi supported the unconscious Kozuki Sukiyaki following behind him.
Seeing "Kozuki Sukiyaki" come out, the ninja one by one jumped out and knelt before him. Their gazes were all fixed on the floor—no one noticed that "Udon's" appearance was a bit strange.
Just like that, Kurozumi Orochi brought the real Sukiyaki out of the Daimyo residence.
In this way, without anyone discovering, Kurozumi Orochi and Higurashi completed their "cat replaces the prince" plan. However, Kurozumi Orochi didn't kill him immediately—Kozuki Sukiyaki was still somewhat useful.
The only flaw in the entire incident was perhaps that when Udon woke up, he discovered that the beautiful woman Higurashi who had captured his heart had disappeared. This matter left him dejected for many days, causing him to overlook some small mistakes Kurozumi Higurashi made when imitating Kozuki Sukiyaki.
Sea Circle Calendar, 1490.
"Kozuki Sukiyaki" fell gravely ill and summoned the Daimyo of each region to the Flower Capital to announce the successor to the Shogun.
Shimotsuki Yasuie was anxious as if on a hot pan.
He hadn't expected things to happen so suddenly. Kozuki Sukiyaki was only in his forties or fifties.
"I never thought it would be at a time like this..."
What troubled him was that the Daimyo of Kuri and Kozuki Oden were both overseas.
"Find a way to contact Kuri and see if we can get Ren and Oden to return to the country immediately!"
Whether Ren returned or not didn't matter—at least Kozuki Oden had to come back!
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.
If you're enjoying this story, consider supporting on Patreon. You'll get 30 advance chapters immediately, plus monthly updates and bonus content. Every subscription keeps the chapters coming.
Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44
Every new member literally buys me another week of doing this. Every existing member staying is the reason I'm still here.