One Piece: Starting with Sharingan, First Mate Uchiha

After the farewell banquet, the hustle and bustle of the Flower City gradually subsided.

The lanterns along the long street were still lit, and the aroma of wine and food lingered in the night breeze.

Kin'emon arranged for the Straw Hat crew to rest in the temporary courtyard.

We're setting sail tomorrow, and everyone keeps saying they'll go to bed early, but when they actually lie down, they still make a ruckus for a long time.

The courtyard finally quieted down as night deepened.

The lights in Victor's room had long been turned off.

Nami leaned against his left side, still clutching his sleeve in her sleep.

Robin wrapped her arms around his other arm, breathing steadily, her long hair falling over her shoulders.

Viktor opened his eyes and looked at the moonlight streaming through the shoji doors.

Before setting sail tomorrow, he has one last thing to take care of.

He did not get up immediately, but instead took out an invitation from his pocket.

The invitations are printed on fine paper with delicate patterns pressed into the corners, and they carry the subtle fragrance unique to the City of Flowers.

Viktor looked at the invitation and fell silent for a moment.

He recalled receiving something similar when he first arrived in the City of Flowers.

The person who sent the invitation was Xiao Zi, the most famous courtesan in the city, the most dazzling and dangerous woman in the city.

The person who sent the invitation again is Kozuki Hiyori, the shogun of Wano Country.

"Let's go and deal with it."

Viktor sighed softly and put the invitation back into his pocket.

He carefully pulled away from Nami and Robin's embrace.

Nami's fingertips tightened slightly, as if she had sensed something.

Viktor paused for a moment, then gently pulled his sleeve from her palm and covered her with the blanket.

Robin's arm loosened.

Victor didn't use his Celestial Hand Power; he simply pushed open the door silently and left the room under the moonlight.

After the shoji doors closed again, Nami, who had been keeping her eyes closed, slowly opened them.

At almost the same time, Robin also opened his eyes, his face showing little surprise.

Nami turned to the side, looked at the empty seat, and muttered a complaint:

"Playboy."

"We already have the two of us."

Robin chuckled softly, offering no rebuttal.

She reached out and pulled Nami back into her arms, saying softly:

"That's just how men are, let him handle it."

"I'm leaving Wano Country tomorrow."

"Some things, if we don't make them clear tonight, we may never have another chance."

Nami was still somewhat dissatisfied.

"Why aren't you angry at all?"

Robin looked down at Nami in his arms, a faint smile in his eyes.

"Because... he probably doesn't have much left to spare."

"It's all thanks to Nami."

Nami's lips twitched slightly, and her cheeks immediately flushed.

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

She wanted to continue arguing, but when she thought of how cautiously Victor had withdrawn earlier, her dissatisfaction inexplicably dissipated.

Finally, she just gave a soft hum and snuggled closer to Robin.

Robin gently stroked her long hair.

"Go to sleep."

We're leaving tomorrow.

"Um."

The two embraced and closed their eyes again.

……

When Victor arrived at a quiet teahouse in the City of Flowers, the long street was almost deserted.

This teahouse is located on a secluded street corner. During the day, it used to have many customers, but at night only two dim lanterns remain in front of the door.

The curtains were half-drawn, and there were no ordinary tea drinkers in the room, only a faint aroma of tea wafting out from the crack in the door.

Victor reached out and lifted the curtain.

Inside the teahouse, Hiyori was already seated.

She wasn't wearing the formal attire she wore during the daytime general's meetings; instead, she wore a simple kimono with her long hair tied back.

The lamplight fell on her profile, making her appear less dignified and composed, and more gentle and feminine, than the person she was during the day when she ruled a country.

Warm tea was placed on the table.

Beside her were two long, narrow knife cases.

Seeing Viktor enter, Hiyori smiled slightly.

"I thought Lord Victor wasn't coming."

Victor sat down opposite her.

"I've received an invitation like this once before."

Hiyori understood what he meant, and her smile deepened, but a hint of melancholy was also hidden in her eyes.

She poured tea for Victor herself.

This time, she didn't say that the cup of tea was normal.

A brief silence fell between them.

After a moment, Hiyori spoke first.

"When I invited Lord Victor back then, posing as Little Purple."

"I also carry the burden of hatred, pretense, and the responsibility to survive no matter what."

She looked down at the tea in her cup.

"At that time, I didn't know if I could wait until Kaido fell, nor did I know if my brother would really return from the future."

"But things are different now."

"Orochi is dead, and Kaido will never come back."

"Now that my brother has become a general, I can finally sit here as Kozuki Hiyori."

Hiyori raised her head and looked intently at Viktor.

"So that's why we've invited you here this time..."

"It's just that Hiyori wanted to personally give you something before you left."

Viktor looked at the two knife cases beside her.

Hiyori nodded slightly and pushed the first sword case in front of him.

The moment the sword case was opened, a domineering and heavy aura surged out from it.

A famous sword lay in the box.

Enma.

The sword that once belonged to Kozuki Oden.

Hiyori's fingertips lightly brushed the edge of the sword case, the sound even lower than before.

"This sword accompanied my father in battle, and it also left a mark on his hands that injured Kaido."

"If there is anything in Wano Country that is worthy of Lord Victor's achievements in the Battle of Onigashima."

"Enma must be one of them."

He held up Oni Island and saved the Flower Capital.

In a place unseen by everyone, he personally ended Kaido's life, bringing the twenty-year-long feud of the Kozuki family to a true end.

Hiyori is willing to give Enma to him.

This is the gratitude from Wano Country.

It was also her own selfish motive.

She hoped that her father's famous sword could continue to shine on the sea in the hands of someone special in her heart.

I also hope that Viktor will remember her more deeply because of this knife.

Victor did not reach out immediately.

Even through the sword case, he could feel Enma's domineering presence.

This knife seems to be constantly drawing upon the wielder's domineering aura and vitality, as if it is waiting for a sufficiently powerful master.

It is indeed an exceptionally fine knife.

But Viktor eventually reached out and closed the knife case.

Hiyori's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

Viktor said calmly:

"This isn't the knife I was supposed to receive."

"Do you feel this gift is too extravagant?"

"It's not too heavy."

Victor shook his head.

"It shouldn't be the way you say goodbye to me."

Enma belongs to Oden, and also to the past of the Kozuki family.

Someday in the future, it may find a swordsman who is truly suitable for it, or it may remain in Wano Country, becoming a symbol that the Kozuki family must remember.

Viktor had already accepted Qiu Shui.

Shusui witnessed his slaying of Kaido and the echoes of the Wano Country dragon-slaying legend in the new era.

If Enma falls into his hands again, the Kozuki family will lose more than just a famous sword.

"You've already handed over too much to others."

Victor looked at Hiyori.

"You should decide the future owner of this knife yourselves."

Hiyori remained silent for a long time.

She finally understood that what Victor rejected was not her feelings, but her impulse to give away her most precious possessions as well.

A moment later, Hiyori gently closed Enma's sword case and opened the second sword case instead.

A chilling aura then spread out.

Another knife lay in the box.

The second generation ghost Tetsu.

It lacks the weighty feeling of carrying Oden's will like Enma, but it is dangerous, sharp, and even more eerie.

Even before the blade was drawn, it seemed as if some cold, sinister gaze was peering into the darkness at the new wielder.

"The Second Generation Kitetsu is also a famous sword from Wano Country."

Hiyori said softly:

"It is not a relic of the Kozuki family, nor does it represent my father's last wish."

"But it is strong enough, and special enough."

"If Lord Victor is unwilling to accept Enma, I hope you will at least accept this one."

This time, Viktor did not refuse.

He reached out and grasped the hilt of the knife.

The moment the fingertips touched the hilt of the sword, the second-generation Kitetsu seemed to sense a new wielder.

A strange aura suddenly invaded along the wrist.

A faint light appeared in Viktor's eyes. He silently suppressed his Yin Release chakra.

The curse-like aura struggled for a moment, then gradually subsided as if swallowed by deeper darkness.

Clang.

The blade is drawn from its sheath.

Moonlight streamed through the window and fell on the blade, reflecting a cold, sharp glint.

Viktor looked at the cursed sword, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"This one suits me better."

Hiyori watched him grip the knife, a complex smile appearing in her eyes.

Enma is too much like her father, too much like the past of the Kozuki family.

The second-generation Kitetsu is actually more suitable for Viktor.

It is not a legitimate symbol, but a knife that carries danger, curses, and a murderous aura.

Viktor already has feelings for her.

That sword carries the legend of slaying dragons and also witnessed Kaido's end.

Now, with the addition of the second-generation Kitetsu, it's as if Wano Country has left traces related to him on both the light and shadow sides.

Hiyori handed him the scabbard.

"From this day forward, this will be Lord Victor's sword."

Viktor sheathed his sword.

He didn't say many words of thanks, but simply placed the second-generation Kitetsu carefully beside him.

For Hiyori, that is enough.

She knew that Viktor wouldn't accept something meaningless.

Since he was willing to take the second generation Kitetsu away, it meant that he would not leave their encounter completely in the night of Wano Country.

The lights inside the teahouse flickered gently.

Enma's sword case was closed again and placed quietly beside Hiyori.

The second-generation Kitetsu has been placed at Viktor's waist, hanging beside him along with Shusui.

After the knife delivery was over, the room became quiet.

Tomorrow, the Straw Hat crew will leave Wano Country.

Victor will return to the sea to continue his pursuit of the last Poneglyph and Laugh Tale.

Rihe will then return to the General's City to continue facing the granaries, workshops, people, and this newly liberated nation.

Neither of them tried to persuade the other to stay.

No one mentioned any promises.

Hiyori slowly got up and walked to Victor.

She shed the composure she displayed as a general during the day, her eyes now only filled with the light of the sun and her own emotions.

She reached out and gently pressed the second-generation Kitetsu at Viktor's waist, then looked up at him.

"Lord Victor."

"Did you simply accept my knife without intending to do anything about it?"

The lamplight flickered slightly.

Outside the teahouse, moonlight quietly fell on the deserted streets of the Flower City.

Viktor looked at Hiyori, who was so close to him, and after a moment, he finally reached out and grasped her hand, which was resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Is this the general's order?"

Hiyori's eyelashes trembled slightly.

"no."

Victor didn't say anything more; he leaned down and kissed her.

In that instant, Hiyori's composure, which she had been forcing herself to maintain, finally completely dissipated.

She reached out and clung to Victor's shoulder, as if to leave all the unspoken reluctance in this kiss on this last night.

The lamplight flickered, and the aroma of tea grew cold.

The partition door deep inside the teahouse was slowly closed.

After tonight, they will each go their own way.

One sails towards Laugh Tale and the final sea.

One remained in Wano Country, guarding the dawn that had just begun.

But at least until the moonlight fades, Kogetsu no Rihe doesn't want to just be a general sitting high up.

All she wanted was to be the woman who, before parting ways, personally delivers the knife to her beloved.