They've gathered in the remains of Oden Castle, which is going to serve as their base of operations, according to Kin'emon. While it isn't exactly the coziest or safest of places, it'll serve their purposes. While they settle in, Kin'emon takes this opportunity to thank them for coming to Wano, and then he begins to lay out the truth to all present. Although it sounds somewhat far fetched, by his admission Kin'emon, Momo, Okiku, Raizo and Kanjuro are all from the past; from the Wano Country twenty years in the past by crossing through time itself to this point.
To begin with, Oden Castle is actually called 'Kuri Castle' but was nicknamed after Kozuki Oden because the citizens of Kuri so admired Oden, Momonosuke's father. However, Oden wasn't always so beloved, in fact he used to be quite hot-headed. He was the son of the current Shogun and started fights where he wanted and when he wanted. It eventually got so bad that he was banished from the Flower Capital. After being banished from the Flower Capital, he wandered to Kuri, a place that at the time was such a lawless area that even the Shogun had given up on it.
After several battles with the ronin and criminals in the area, he eventually attracted the attention of their leader, Ashura Doji. The two clashed immediately upon meeting, and in the end he brought down their leader. Seeing their leader defeated, the ruffians immediately pledged their loyalty to Oden. Under his rule, he brought change to the area. He taught the ruffians to build, and farm, a before long they had built the town, the castle and the Paradise Farm for all the citizens.
Kuri had become a prosperous and peaceful region and Oden was named 'daimyo' by the Shogun, Sukiyaki. But while he managed to accomplish all of this, he found that the life of a daimyo was just too restrictive for his tastes. He wasn't a fan of having so many vassels. But things took a turn for the worse when Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi joined forces to bring down Oden, labeling him a criminal. As a result, Oden met his end in the Flower Capital, and while the people of Wano have had twenty years to process this it's only been a few months for Kin'emon, Momo, Okiku, Raizo and Kanjuro.
In the end, all they could do is run for their lives back to Oden Castle as Orochi was intent on completely wiping out the Kozuki Clan...and that meant eliminating Momo, his mother Toki and his sister Hiyori. In a last ditch effort to save them, Toki used her abilities to send them all twenty years into the future. Left stranded by this ability, they set out to investigate what had happened since their disappearance. They were extremely distraught to find that Orochi and Kaido had drug Oden's name through the mud, and that they had nearly destroyed the entire country with all the factories poisoning the land.
In their sorrow, however, they found some comfort when they discovered that even after twenty years they still had allies here in Wano. Men and women who were willing to fight back against Kaido and Orochi, and just waiting for the right time to strike. So, they tasked Okiku and these men and women with finding more allies here in Wano while Kin'emon, Momo, Raizo and Kanjuro set out on a journey to recruit more allies. After everything they went through on the way to Zou, getting seperated and meeting up with the crew, they're finally back in Wano! They're back in Wano, and the forces of Orochi and Kaido don't seem to really believe that they're still alive...which means that the element of surprise is on their side.
"If we intend to win this battle, then we must keep our presence a secret from Kaido and Orochi," Kin'emon finally tells them. "We'll be up against the huge armies of both Orochi and Kaido. On the other hand, we have only the Straw Hat Pirates led by Luffy, the Heart Pirates led by Law, Inuarashi's Musketeers, Nekomamshi's Guardians and finally the rebellious Samurai that we're currently recruiting. Ideally, we would have a force of five-thousand strong...but we're not looking to wage a war. We need to gather information on our enemies, Kaido and Orochi, and prepare a plan to behead their leaders!"
"Alright!" agrees Luffy. "That will be our decisive battle!"
"Good. The battle will take place on an island called Onigashima where Kaido and the Animal Kingdom Pirates have made their base!"
"An island?" Brook questions him. "Even now we still have to cross the sea?"
"Yes. Since it's very close, practically visible from the shore, we don't need a big sailing ship but we still need a ship. To raid Onigashima-"
"What about the raid?" Run asks. "They won't sit idly by while we gather at the shore, and cross the sea."
"We can cross that bridge when we come to it," Sanji interrupts. "The most important thing is time. When should we do it?"
"We'll launch the raid on the day of the Fire Festival," Okiku tells them. "The Fire Festival is a grand celebration for the people of the capital. Kaido is believed to be a deity who protects the country, and on that day, Orochi will lead the Shogun procession to visit and worship the deity. But that's just the story told to the common people. What will actually take place is a banquet for the officals and the Animal Kingdom Pirates."
"I see. So we'll launch our attack, beat the hell outta those drunken fools and behead their leaders." Of course, even with the weight of the conversation, Sanji can't resist the opportunity to flirt with Okiku...much to the annoyance of Nami.
"I drew a symbol representing the date and rendezvous point of the battle," Kin'emon tells them, attempting to steer the conversation back on the right track. "Two birds on fire and a pit-viper and a reversed crescent moon which means rebellion. On the day of the Fire Festival. Twilight - the second hour of the bird. At Habu Port. 'The second hour of the bird' which means five-thirty to six PM on clocks overseas."
"I didn't get that from that drawing at all," mutters Run, squinting his eyes and cocking his head slightly.
"Don't worry. The people who live in the Land of Wano will understand. We must make sure to give these flyers to those with the mark of the moon on their left ankle immediately. We do not know where they are but to spread them as far as possible our friends have spread out all over the country. Zorojuro and Usohachi are carrying out this task in the capital. Furthermore, in order not to get lost upon arriving at Onigashima, we are trying to obtain the blueprints of Kaido's mansion from the carpenter who designed it. To that end, Franosuke is working for him. As for Orobi, we want to know the exact moves Orochi's forces make, so I asked her to work as a geisha and try to approach Orochi while entertaining him! I hear she's very popular now."
"I wanna see Robin in her geisha costume!" Sanji shouts.
"Now, I'd like to delegate tasks to all of you. Brook's ability will help getting food in the capital. Nami's ability to manipulate the weather is like ninjutsu. So, she'll be posing as a kunoichi. What Sanji cooks will gather people together in an a second, so it will help with finding people. Run, your skill with the sword will come in handy. For now I want you to pose as a ronin, no one will pay much attention to a single ronin which is perfect for gathering information."
"What about me?" Carrot asks him.
"Carrot and Chopper I want to go with Kiku and see Inuarshi." Kin'emon grins at everyone from ear to ear. "Everyone has their tasks! I will provide clothes that are suited for all of you!" He reaches into the folds of his kimono and pulls out five leaves. "Each of you, put this on your head. Alright, here we go! Garb-Garb Jutsu! Poof!" In a burst of smoke, they all find themselves in new clothes...with some happier than others. In retaliation for the clothes Nami finds herself in, she promptly delivers a sound beating to Kin'emon, who assures her that all kunoichi are either sexy or frumpy, there is no inbetween. As if to prove this point, he calls out another kunoichi, Shinobu. The woman is...certainly eccentric, and not at all matching what any of them imagined a kunoichi to be. It's a fact that Sanji takes especially hard.
"Until the rendezvous, we will split up but there are three particular samurai that we need to keep an eye out for. If we can find them, they will be a tremendous help. They are Kawamatsu, Ashura Doji and Denjiro. They are Samurai who used to serve Lord Oden as we did. Let's go! All of our allies assembled here! Our targets are the Yonko Kaido and the hateful Kurozumi Orochi! The execution date is two weeks from now on the night of the Fire Festival! We will make a raid on Onigashima where Kaido lives!" With his speech finished, Kin'emon leads them all out of Oden Castle.
"Kin'emon, there's something I don't understand," begins Sanji. "You said that Oden brought down Ashura Doji over twenty years ago...if that's the case, then why is he among the allies that you want us to find?"
"That's a good question. Ashura Doji mended his ways after he was defeated by Lord Oden and pledged his loyalty to him. But...things have changed."
"We've heard that he's become the chief of the Atamayama Thieves Brigade," Okiku adds. "He's living under the name Shutenmaru."
"A thieves brigade, huh?" Luffy asks. "Hmmm...is he strong?"
"Yes. It might not be too much of a stretch to say he is the strongest of all Samurai." A smirk appears on Run's face in response. The strongest Samurai? The Worlds Strongest Man obviously needs to be stronger than the strongest Samurai...right? "As an ally, no one is more reliable than him."
"How interesting," mutters Run. "I really wanna meet this guy now."
"Straw Hat-ya, come here!" shouts Law suddenly, drawing their attention. They all turn to look quickly, finding Law staring at a blanket of dark clouds in the sky. They swirl violently for several long moments, the wind picking up in response to them.
"I've never seen this kind of change in the weather before," Nami tells them all. Just as quickly as it's begun, the wind dies off quickly, only to be replaced by lightning. The bolts of lightning crackle through the dark clouds, briefly illuminating the face of a...dragon? What in the hell is going on in those clouds? Momonosuke suddenly transforms in a puff of smoke, turning back into his dragon form much to the confusion of Okiku and Shinobu. Several long seconds pass before a gigantic blue dragon emerges from the clouds, floating over the town in the distance.
"A dragon?!" screams Luffy. "What's going on?!"
"Things can't get much worse!" growls Law. "That dragon...it's Kaido!"
"Kaido's a dragon?"
"Yes," Kin'emon confirms. "What you see there is Kaido. He can transform himself into a dragon! But...what's he doing in Kuri so suddenly?"
"That's probably our fault," Run tells him. "Luffy, Law, Zoro and I were spotted by Hawkins. He must have passed on the information to Kaido...but that should be all they know. Unless those parlor tricks of his let him read minds, anyway."
"What the hell, red?!" Sanji growls. "We're not here a full day and you and moss-head go and blow our cover just like that?!"
"Don't start with me, cook! I'll toss you over this castle!" Before either one of them can make a move, Nami appears beside them and instantly delivers a sound beating to the duo.
"Would you two knock it off?! We've got bigger problems!" Nami screams at them.
"Kaido is most likely after myself and Straw Hat-ya," Law tells them all. "The Animal Kingdom Pirates need two things to maintain their dominance. Firstly, the weapons that Kaido is getting manufactured in this country. Secondly, is the backdoor trade of the artifical Devil Fruits. We destroyed his factory on Punk Hazard and captured Caesar, effectively crippling his production of SMILE Fruits. We even destroyed his factory in Dressrosa and brought Doflamingo to ruin. In short, we've picked a fight with Kaido. It's only natural that he would come for myself and Straw Hat." After a few moments Luffy turns away and goes sprinting towards the path they'd taken to Oden Castle.
"Oi! Luffy!" shouts Sanji, turning after him quickly.
"Stop! We'll go after him. If more of us go, then they'll find out that all the members of the Straw Hats and Heart Pirates are here and then they'll start hunting for us. Kaido is more focused on Straw Hat-ya and myself, so the best thing you can do for now is to stay out of it this."
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Be rational about this! We'll need every last able-bodied person we can get! I wish I could let things be but we've already gotten involved with the people of this country. If he lets his emotions guide him, then it'll spell trouble for the plan. If all of us aren't there on the execution day, then this alliance is pointless. Let's go, red hair-ya. Room!" With a motion of his hand, Law's 'Room' spreads out in all directions. "Shambles!" Law and Run disappear before their very eyes, replaced by a pair of small stones that drop to the ground.
"Luffy! Wait up!" Run demands as they appear behind him. "We need to-"
"Do you see now, Straw Hat-ya? This is what happens what you try to do good deeds as a pirate!"
"Hey! It is just me or...is Kaido going for the castle?!" All three men come to an immediate halt, and watch intently as Kaido flies in the direction of the castle, circling around and around for several moments before finally turning and opening his massive mouth. "He wouldn't...!" Brilliant flames begin to gather in his maw, growing in intensity for several long moments before he fires off the blast of flames at Castle Oden, or more importantly, the rest of the crew still remaining there. In the blink of an eye, he's completely leveled not just the remains of the castle but the entire top of the mountain. "What the fuck?! No!" A haze of steam instantly begins to roll off of Luffy, his Haoshoku exploding out in all directions.
"Kaido!" bellows Luffy, rushing through the forest in Kaido's direction instantly.
"Luffy, wait!" Heedless of Run's calling, Luffy rapidly disappears through the trees. "Luffy! Damn it, wait up!"
"Room!" says Law, calling on his Devil Fruit quickly.
"Shave!" Run disappears, reappearing several dozen meters away with Law trailing after him. "Luffy, wait! Shave!" They continue their mad chase through the forest towards Bakura Town. Try as they might, they quickly lose sight of the man who's sole focus is purely on Kaido. Rushing through the forest as fast as they can after Luffy, they catch catch sight of Kaido over the town, his massive form twisting this way and that as he sails through the stormy skies. As they're covering the ground, hoping to catch up with Luffy before he can do something completely foolish.
Unfortunately for them, however, that seems to be exactly what Luffy intends! As they rapidly close in on the town, they finally catch sight of Luffy...only he is high in the sky and dropping down towards Kaido in Gear Third. Law and Run watch wide-eyed as Luffy deliver as massive blow to the top of Kaido's head, driving the massive dragon straight into the ground. They sprint forward breaking free of the forest and finally entering Bakura Town. Sprinting forward past the fleeing citizens of the town, they charge in the direction of the fallen Kaido, hoping to catch sight of Luffy. Rushing down the streets, they take a sharp turn in the direction of Kaido, and find themselves sprinting straight towards Luffy!
"Straw Hat-ya!" demands Law as they come to a stop beside him. "What are you doing?! Now's not the time to stand around, we need to go! He's so gigantic, so he probably doesn't know exactly what hit him! Now's the perfect time to make our escape!"
"He got Tama," Luffy tells them. The two of them finally notice the defeated and unconscious Speed lying at his feet...the last time they'd seen her, they'd bid her farewell with Otama. "Kin'emon and the others...your crew and mine...we have no idea if any of them are alright! If I can kick his ass now, then it's all over, right?" Without waiting for either of them to respond, Luffy goes charging down the street, disappearing into the distance once again. They watch as Kaido rears up, seemingly unharmed by the punch delt to the top of his head. In the distance, they hear as Luffy roars at the top of his lungs, announcing his presence to the Yonko with no hesistation. In response, Kaido once more opens his massive jaws and fires off a ball of flames down at the town.
"Oh, now he's done it! He's screwed up the whole plan!"
"Then we'll change the plan," Run tells him, watching as Luffy begins his counter-attack. Kaido and Luffy clash in the sky above the town, with Luffy raining down blow after blow on the Yonko...who seems to shrug them off as if they don't even hurt him! The fight lasts only a few seconds under the withering strikes rained down upon Kaido's body by Luffy, who resorts to some of the same powerful attacks he used during their fight with Doflamingo. In the end he manages to knock Kaido out of the sky and drive him into the ground with Gum-Gum Grizzly Magnum.
"Let's go, red hair-ya!" Without waiting for confirmation, Law takes off at a sprint through the streets in the direction of the fallen Kaido. "We need to get out of here now!" Arriving at the scene of the fallen Yonko, they find that the massive Kaido has returned to his human form. But rather than focus on that Run is more focused on the force of Haki gushing out of his Captain's body. "That's enough! Come back, Straw Hat! Come to your senses!"
"Kaido!" growls Luffy, slowly stalking in the direction of the downed Yonko. The massive Yonko growls and groans, slowly pushing himself up by clutching a kanabo. Confusion appears on Run's face, however, when the Yonko begins to stagger in their direction. He's doesn't seem to have so much as a scratch on his body...is he...is this man drunk? "Kaido!" Luffy coats his arms in Haki, and then raises one to his mouth. With a single break he inflates his arm, his body rapidly swelling in size. "Gear Fourth! Bounce-Man!" Kaido staggers onwards in their direction, unphased by this technique and Luffy's Haki. "How dare you mess with my friends, you bastard! Gum-Gum...Kong Gun!"
Luffy appears before Kaido in an instant, and delivers a single powerful punch to the Yonko's face. However, rather than send Kaido flying, the massive Yonko simply stands his ground, head turned slightly. With a sudden jerk of his head, Luffy recoils from the Yonko. Luffy responds immediately by driving his feet into Kaido's stomach, and following it with a strike to his face. Again, there's no real reaction from Kaido other than a grunt as he's driving backwards, sliding across the ground.
"Gum-Gum...Double Culverin!" Both of Luffy's fists find their target, and once again little more than a grunt escapes Kaido. "Gum-Gum...Kong Organ Gun!" Luffy rains down numerous strikes on Kaido's massive body, slowly forcing the Yonko to his knees before delivering a single powerful blow to his chin that sees him blown away, smashing through several buildings before slowly coming to a stop in a large crater while Luffy appears before him once again. Several long moments pass before lightning begins to crackle through the storm clouds over head, and Kaido slowly begins to stand while his Haki slowly begins to gather across his body.
"Is that...Haoshoku?" Run mutters, watching as it slowly gathers in his kanabo. "He's projecting it into his weapon?" A feeling of dread begins to gather in the red head's stomach, watching as the weapon crackles and arcs with his Haki.
"He's doing what?" Law asks, staring at the two in the distance.
"Something isn't right." Luffy pays no mind to this, rushing forward at the Yonko quickly, both of them beginning to ready their attacks. "No! Fuck! Luffy, get back!"
"Gum-Gum...King Kong Gun!"
"Raimei Hakke!" The two men rush one another head on, and in the blink of an eye, Kaido has struck Luffy with his kanabo. He sails past the two men, striking the mountain in the distance and then finally flying back in their direction before coming to rest several meters away from Kaido, motionless.
"Luffy!" Run disappears before Law's very eyes, reappearing at eye level with Kaido. "Sea King's Lash!" Run's brow furrows when the large Yonko's response is a simple turn of the head in the opposite direction. "Son of a...!" The full strength of a Haki infused kick isn't enough to phase him?! Alright, then, time to use that.
"Was there another one?" Kaido asks, reaching up towards the red head quickly. The red head twists in air quickly, aiming his fist towards the bottom of Kaido's chin.
"Haki...Burst!" The Yonko's head snaps skyward and he takes a small step backwards, eyes narrowing in response as Run drops to the ground.
"Emission Haki." Kaido raises his hand towards his chin, rubbing it for a moment before cracking his neck loudly and looking down at the red head. "Interesting." Kaido raises his kanabo above his head with a scowl. "Raimei Hakke!" Run grasps the tsuka of his katana tightly, drawing it in an instant.
"Red Line- aaah! Fer...!" A sharp pain suddenly surges through the red head, spreading from his shoulder and accompanied by a sudden weakness. His entire body feels like it's been submerged in concrete, his movements dulled, even as the kanabo closes in on him. However, at the last moment, the weapon diverts from it's path, striking the ground beside him and knocking him several meters away. He crashes through the wall of a nearby building, striking the ground in a storm of splintered wood as he rolls across the floor. "What the fu...?" Run turns his head, glancing over his shoulder at the source of the pain. He's surprised to find that it's little more than a small nail.
With a grunt he reaches over his shoulder and grasps the nail, giving it a sharp yank with weakened fingers. The moment he tosses it aside, the weakness leaves him, and he glares at the innocent looking nail. Is it possible that it's made of Sea Prism Stone?
"Red hair-ya," calls a familiar voice, sounding from the back of the house. The red head looks quickly in the direction of the voice, surprised to find Law standing at one of the windows. "Let's go! We need to get out of here! We don't have much time!"
"Are you out of you mind?! We have to-"
"Live today! We can't do anything if we all captured here! I promise you, we will come back for Straw Hat-ya! But now isn't the time!" Hearing heavy foot-falls, Run glances towards the hole in the wall, teeth grinding and then stands with a grunt and curse. "Room!"
"Son of a bitch!" A massive hand reaches into the hole in the wall, grasping the top of it as Kaido begins to lift.
"Shambles!" Both men disappear instantly, reappearing several dozen meters away on top of a roof. In the distance, Run watches as Kaido effortlessly rips the whole top half of a building off completely, tossing it aside as if it weighs absolutely nothing. "Let's go. We need to check on everyone else..."