SailorStar9: With Chapter 255 uploaded, I am back with Chapter 256 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Pairings: Married!Ace/Sasha, Sibling!Luffy/Sasha, Sibling!Sabo/Sasha, Background Protector!Law/Sasha

Disclaimers: One Piece belongs to Oda Eiichirō-sensei. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except my OC, the pairing and the fic idea.

Chapter 256: Arc 16: Wano Country! To the Land of Samurai where Cherry Blossoms Flutter


With Luffy's group en route to Wano, the other Straw Hat pirates had already integrated into the country.


In the work place of a builder's guild...

"We're short-handed here." Minatomo barked, hammering in nails into a building structure. "Could you help me a bit? Hey!" he shouted down to Franky, now renamed Franosuke, who was walking past lumbering a pile of wooden planks. "New guy. Is it you who did this part?" he pointed to the gable support beam.

"Yes, boss." Franosuke fired back. "Is there something wrong?"

"It's more that just something wrong, fool." Minamoto snapped. "What kind of idiot are you? It's perfect!"


On the streets...

"Everyone." Usopp, now renamed Usohachi, had set up shop. "Gather around! Those of you not in rush, please stop and listen. This is a noted sword which Sandei Kitetsu gave ample time to forging. It's totally different from blunt swords that have tips and middle parts that can be easily cut themselves but can't cut anything." he pulled out a sheathed blade from his waist. "Once you draw it, it won't be sheathed until first slicing something." he drew the sword. "Here's a piece of paper." he pulled out a sheet of paper for demonstration. "No gimmicks or setup. One sheet becomes two." he passed the paper through the sword, splitting it into half. "Two sheets become four." he split the paper again. "Four sheets become eight." he split the paper once more. "Eight to sixteen, then thirty-two to sixty-four. I give you the fluttering dance of a springtime sakura shower and the snowfall of Wano's early evening." he tossed the cut up pieces into the air. "Now you see how sharp this great sword is, just by grazing it a bit," he bore his arm and made a cut. "See how easily you get cut. Butt, watch this. What I have here is toad oil." he brought out his main sale item. "If you apply it to the wound," he smeared the ointment on the cut. "You see?" he showed the gathering crowd the closed-up wound. "The blood's stopped, too. The East Blue's special toad oil; come and get some."


In an okiya...

"You're doing great." playing the shamisen, the mama of the house praised the performing Robin, now renamed Orobi. "So irresistible. Your hand is too low. Lower your hips more. What you're trying to achieve is nigh on impossible. So push yourself. You're not gonna be called by the Shogun in a short time like this."

"Okaa-sama." Sasha, now renamed Sahiko, voiced from outside the door. "Your manjū tea snack is ready."


Later that night...

Zoro, now renamed, Zorojuro, exited his frequently patronized sake house.

He was strolling down the streets when he heard a sword being drawn. Turning, he saw a masked man cutting down a stranger with his sword. The smell of blood. The seasoned swordsman caught the whiff of blood from the slayer as he ran past. "Wait." he stopped the killer. "You smell pretty good. Like a blood-scented perfume. It's quite pungent and it makes me sick."

A whistle blown by a police watcher alerted his comrades of the presence of the slayer and within minutes, Zorojuro found himself surrounded by the gathered officers.

Taking advantage of the distraction, the slayer fled.


The next day...

"I smell blood." Zorojuro started, about to use the seppuku blade on himself. "You..." he coated the short knife with Armament Haki. "Are the slasher." he declared, sending an energy wave towards the magistrate, slashing the corrupt man on the chest. Armed with only the knife, he continued to fight his way through his potential executors to retrieve his three swords.


SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.