One Piece: Starting with Sharingan, First Mate Uchiha

evening.

The setting sun bathed the eaves of the Flower City in a golden-red hue.

The wide streets were already lined with colorful lanterns.

Huge braziers blazed brightly as ornately decorated festival floats slowly drove through the streets.

A geisha sits on a high platform and plucks the strings of her harp.

Vendors loudly hawked their grilled fish, dumplings, and sake.

People dressed in festive attire led their children out of their homes, their faces beaming with long-lost smiles, as if the upheaval that had occurred in the Great Serpent City the previous night had never happened.

Kurozumi Orochi is dead.

However, in order to continue to deceive Oni Island, some of the Kurozumi family's flags are still hanging around the perimeter of the Flower Capital.

Under Hiyori and Denjiro's arrangement, the Fire Festival was held as usual on the same scale as in previous years.

On the surface, everything is the same as before.

Amidst the lively drumbeats and laughter, the entire city has entered a state of war.

The floats that slowly drove through the streets for the festival were not loaded with fireworks and drinks, but with clean swords, muskets and medicines.

After passing through the bustling streets, the food convoy would quietly change direction and deliver the supplies to a secret port outside the city.

The five thousand rebels had long since dispersed into smaller groups.

They removed their armor, concealed their weapons in cloaks and wooden crates, and quietly left the City of Flowers through different streets and alleys.

No one shouted for the destruction of Kaido.

There were no war drums to send them off.

The city is still celebrating the Fire Festival.

But tonight's lights no longer belong to Kurozumi Orochi.

……

In front of the castle tower.

More and more young people are gathering in the square.

They had learned from their families and samurai about Orochi's death and the impending attack on Onigashima by the punitive expeditionary force.

"Your Highness!"

"Please let us join the punitive expedition!"

"We can take knives too!"

"My father died in Rabbit Bowl, and I will avenge him myself!"

The crowd gradually became agitated.

Hiyori slowly walked up to the platform and raised her palm.

The square quickly quieted down.

She did not publicly announce that Kurozumi Orochi had been killed, nor did she shout the slogan of overthrowing Kaido.

Because at this moment, the City of Flowers must still maintain that false calm.

"Gentlemen."

Hiyori gazed at the faces below the stage, faces filled with anger and longing.

"It's not only those who pick up a knife and head to Onigashima who are considered participants in this war."

"Those who remain in the City of Flowers also have their own battlefield."

Her voice was broadcast throughout the square via a loudspeaker Den Den Mushi.

"There are still elderly people and children in the city who need care."

"The front lines need food and medicine."

"The wounded warrior needs a medical clinic and a bed."

"The Fire Festival must continue; we cannot let Oni Island realize that the Flower Capital has changed."

"If the enemy discovers anything unusual, or even attacks this place directly, those who remain must protect the entire city."

Those young people who were originally eager to join the war gradually fell silent.

Hiyori raised her head and looked at the distant sea shrouded in dark clouds.

"Tonight, someone will go and reclaim tomorrow for Wano Country."

"And those who stayed behind..."

"We must guard their way home."

After a brief silence, an old man began to strike the taiko drum beside him again.

Boom!

The heavy drumbeats echoed across the square.

Then, more and more instruments began to play again.

The people continued to light lanterns, concealing their fear of war and their hope for the future within this grand festival.

……

Outside the City of Flowers, a secret harbor.

Dozens of warships lay quietly anchored on the sea before night had fully fallen.

The Straw Hat crew is making their final preparations.

Nami stood on the makeshift lookout tower, repeatedly checking the nautical chart and the nighttime wind direction.

"The wind is shifting northeast."

"A strong storm is approaching near Ghost Island. All vessels must maintain a safe distance to avoid colliding with each other in the waves!"

Franky and Usopp below were busy around a newly modified warship.

"Super - Complete!"

Frankie opened his arms.

Several cannons seized from the Beasts Pirates have been firmly fixed to both sides of the ship's side.

Usopp wiped the sweat from his brow and proudly patted one of the cannons.

"This is a super long-range sniper cannon that I personally tuned!"

"As long as we aim at Onigashima, one shot will wipe out a hundred enemies!"

"Didn't you just say the recoil might capsize the boat?"

Chopper walked by carrying a first-aid kit.

Usopp's face stiffened.

"That was just to keep everyone vigilant!"

Chopper ignored him.

The little reindeer had already packed all the medicines into boxes of different colors, categorized by minor injury, serious injury, and poisoning.

On the other side, Sanji directed the samurai to load large quantities of food onto the warship.

After he finished speaking, he suddenly realized that one of the military ration boxes was missing.

Sanji slowly turned his head.

Luffy was squatting behind the box, his mouth stuffed full of rice balls.

"Luffy—!"

boom!

Sanji kicked him away.

Before Luffy could even land, Nami punched him on the head again.

"These are military rations!"

Luffy, with two large bulges on his head, hugged his empty stomach with a pitiful expression.

"But I have to fight too..."

"You've already eaten enough for twenty people!"

Not far away, Zoro sat cross-legged on a wooden box, quietly wiping his three swords.

He glanced at the captain, who was being brutally beaten, then lowered his head as if nothing had happened.

The oppressive atmosphere before the big battle was slightly eased by the familiar noise of the Straw Hat crew.

Law had already led the Heart Pirates to prepare to approach Onigashima underwater.

Behind the port.

Momonosuke had changed into a samurai outfit that would allow for easy movement.

At his waist, he wore the short sword that Oden had left him.

Hiyori stood in front of him and reached out to straighten his slightly crooked collar.

Thunder rumbled in the distance.

Momonosuke's body still trembled instinctively.

Kaido's presence and the burning Oden Castle from twenty years ago remain a nightmare he cannot escape.

"Hiyori..."

He lowered his head and spoke softly:

"If I don't make it back..."

"My elder brother will definitely come back."

Hiyori interrupted him directly.

She didn't say that Momonosuke would definitely be able to defeat Kaido, nor did she offer him any empty words of comfort.

"Whether or not you are your father's son."

"Whether or not I become the shogun of Wano Country in the future."

"Today, you must all witness this war with your own eyes."

Hiyori gazed into her brother's eyes.

"Only those who have truly witnessed the blood and price that Wano Country paid for freedom are qualified to decide the future of this country."

Momonosuke remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he gripped the short knife at his waist and nodded solemnly.

Before leaving, he suddenly stopped.

This time, Momonosuke no longer acts like a young master waiting to be protected.

Instead, for the first time, he spoke to Hiyori as her older brother:

"I'm leaving the City of Flowers in your care."

Hiyori slowly bowed in greeting.

"I'm entrusting Oni Island to you as well, brother."

The elder brother took his sword and went to the battlefield.

The younger sister stayed behind to protect the country.

The two children of the Kozuki family have finally stepped into the responsibilities they should bear.

Before boarding the ship.

Viktor sensed a familiar gaze in the crowd.

He raised his head.

Hiyori stood alone on a high point in the harbor.

She didn't approach; the two of them gazed at each other from afar, separated by the passing samurai and the ever-loading of supplies.

Hiyori gently unfolded her folding fan, covering the corners of her mouth, and a charming smile reappeared on her face.

Viktor silently turned his head away.

……

Night fell completely.

The Flower Capital's Fire Festival reached its most lively peak at this moment.

Thousands of sky lanterns slowly rose into the air from the streets, rooftops, and riverbanks.

The orange lights stretched out in a continuous line, resembling a dazzling galaxy suspended upside down in the night sky.

Each lamp bears the most basic wishes of the people.

"I hope I'll be able to eat my fill this year."

"I hope my father returns safely."

"Hopefully the river will no longer be poisonous."

"I hope that one day, everyone can laugh freely."

Under the cover of countless lights, five thousand warriors began to board the warships.

They stood on the deck, gazing up at the wishes that drifted into the distance.

Some people remained silent.

Someone quietly wiped away their tears.

Some gripped their knives tightly, vowing to return alive.

For the first time, this fire festival was no longer a celebration used by Kurozumi Orochi to flaunt his rule.

Rather, it is the entire Wano Country that illuminates the path for those who set out on their expeditions.

All personnel have boarded the ship.

Kin'emon stood in front of the flagship, taking stock of the Red Scabbards and the various rebel armies.

After completing the final handover of the defenses of the Flower Capital, Denjiro also boarded the warship.

The polar diving vessel was the first to sink underwater.

On the distant sea, the Kid Pirates' ships gradually appeared, but they still maintained a clear distance from the main fleet.

Nami stood at the bow of the ship, raising her hand to feel the wind direction.

"Time is up!"

Viktor stood at the highest point of the flagship, gazing at the ghost island shrouded in dark clouds.

The last message Kanjuro sent to Onigashima was that the punitive expedition was still reorganizing in Udon and would not be able to launch an operation within a few days.

The Beasts Pirates have no idea.

The real enemy has already left the Flower Capital.

Victor raised his arm.

"set sail."

One by one, warships sailed out of the hidden port.

There were no war drums.

There was no shouting.

Only the low rumble of oars cutting across the sea could be heard.

Luffy stood at the bow of the ship, reaching out to press down on his straw hat, which was being blown about by the night wind.

From the depths of the distant dark clouds, the faint roar of a dragon echoed once more.

He grinned, revealing the smile he had been waiting for.

"Kaido."

"I'll knock you flying!"

On the city tower of the Flower Capital.

Hiyori stood at the highest point, watching the fleet gradually disappear into the dark sea.

Countless sky lanterns rose from beside her, drifting on the night wind toward the direction of Ghost Island.

Rihe slowly closed the folding fan.

"Bon Voyage."