Chapter 5: Secret Loathing

Sukiyaki was born weak and cowardly, much to his father's disdain. When his father died of illness, he became the next heir of Wano by default since most of his relatives including his superior brothers died of a plague in the Flower Capital. Always feeling inferior...

Oden's relationship with his father was distant and strained in his youth due to his reckless and violent actions. By the time he was 18, Sukiyaki had enough of his behavior and disowned him, doing so impersonally by having a messenger send a written decree to him. Oden was not upset when he received the decree, viewing it as his father being unable to contain his greatness. He referred to Sukiyaki as "shogun" rather than by his name or familial title.

Oden was born in the Flower Capital of Wano Country to the shogun Kouzuki Sukiyaki 59 years before the present day, and he began committing outrageous acts as soon as infancy. When he was less than a year old, he threw his wet nurse across the room. When he was 2, he caught two rabbits with his bare hands, and at age 4, he obliterated a bear by hurling a boulder at it. Starting at age 6, he started roaming the Red-Light District and spent the castle's money at the pleasure halls. By the time he was 8, he started drinking booze and began picking fights with gamblers. At age 9, even the yakuza had banned him from their casino. This resulted in Oden setting their casino on fire and starting a conflict with them, culminating in his capture a year later after he almost killed someone.

As punishment and for rehabilitation as a prisoner, Oden was sentenced to hard labor in the quarries where his talent blossomed, with him working well enough there to gain significant prestige, rising to the rank of Chief Stonemason. He then left prison and reformed his ways. When he was 14, he attempted to help the Flower Capital citizens during a terrible drought as he was unable to bear the sight of people suffering from dried-out wells. He curved the river itself to run through the capital, however, this resulted in the Capital becoming flooded, and the authorities attempted to capture Oden again. To escape, Oden set out to sea for the very first time but was quickly forced to return to land. When he was 15 and still in hiding, he threatened the priest of a secluded mountain to shelter him. He then kidnapped many women from the Capital at night and formed his own personal harem. Said women were free to leave but preferred to stay with Oden. This, however, didn't stop the women's loved ones, as well as many powerful samurai, from going after Oden to stop him, but Oden stood his ground, resulting in the massive Harem Revolt, where the Hyougoro Family was also involved. For the next three years, Oden attempted to set out to sea 38 times. He quickly failed every time, though he managed to survive.

Sukiyaki's thoughts on the matter were secretly this, telling or reporting it to another soul-

Damn you, you caused my love to die when you were born, so I couldn't even have a potentially more responsible heir. Do you realize how rotten your existence is? How you've brought nothing but chaos and destruction to everything you've touched? Sukiyaki's thoughts boiled with rage as he contemplated the mess that was his son, Oden. The once proud shogun now sat in his chambers, a shadow of his former self, nursing a bottle of sake and watching the chaos unfold in his city from his window. He knew that Oden had the potential to be so much more, to bring honor and prosperity to the Kouzuki name, but instead, he was a wild beast that could not be tamed.

At age 18, he went into the Flower Capital and proceeded to cook and eat a pot of Oden soup, heated by using the fire of the burned corpse of a man called Katsuzo, much to the initial dismay of his mourning family members. Turns out that the man called Katsuzo was a friend of Oden and it was Oden's way of honoring him, sharing one last drink with his deceased friend. After apologizing to the family members for the disturbance and leaving the crematorium, he saw that a Mountain God was attacking the Flower Capital and overheard Kin'emon and Denjiro talking about the Mountain God's offspring being in their possession. Oden then told them to give him the giant boar's offspring. Oden then took the white boar when Kin'emon tried attacking the Mountain God. After Kin'emon was overpowered, Oden used the white boar to get the Mountain God's attention. As the giant beast charged at him, Oden struck it down with a single strike. When Kin'emon was going to take responsibility for the Mountain God's attack, Oden knocked him out and took the blame himself. His father's aide then delivered a message to him, saying that he was disowned and exiled from the Flower Capital. Oden was not upset when he received the decree, viewing it as his father and the Flower Capital being unable to contain his greatness. Out of gratitude and awe, Kin'emon and Denjiro began following him.

Sukiyaki's thoughts on the matter were this-

Tch, so you've befriended others to bear the brunt of your troubles, have you? Sukiyaki's thoughts remained unspoken, a silent scorn for his son's antics. Yet, as he watched Oden's escapades unfold from afar, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride. The boy had grown stronger, and bolder than any of his peers. But that pride was a double-edged sword, cutting through the very fabric of his own legacy. If only he could channel that power for the greater good of Wano...

After leaving the capital, Oden moved to Shimotsuki Yasuie's residence at Hakumai, where he also met Kurozumi Orochi, who was working as a servant there. Yasuie later got mad at Oden for living as a vagabond instead of rising to his father's challenge. Oden told Yasuie how he wanted to set out to sea, and Yasuie replied that he had to become a competent samurai before he could be so selfish.

After hearing about Ashura Doji, Oden decided to journey to Kuri, which was Wano's most lawless region. During the journey, he was followed by Kin'emon and Denjiro. Along the way, the group was joined by Kikunojo and Izou at Ringo, Kanjuro at Kibi, and Raizo at Udon. Oden entered Kuri alone and fought all the bandits there, including Ashura, Kuri's most dangerous criminal. By the time his companions arrived, Oden had defeated all of his enemies in the span of a single night. He then rounded up the lawless ruffians of Kuri and with his considerable strength, he turned the hellish wasteland, into a place worthy of being called home, bringing peace to Kuri. He had the residents work to build a village to live in, and he built the Paradise Farm to feed them. Oden was then granted the title of daimyo of Kuri at the age of 20 after Sukiyaki heard about his deeds. In addition, Oden chose the companions he made on his journey as well as the reformed Ashura to be his retainers. After Orochi quit being Yasuie's servant, Oden lent him money to support him.

33 years before the present, while fishing at Kuri Beach, Oden discovered Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, and Kawamatsu being tormented by humans who persecuted them. Oden rescued the three and lectured the people who tried to set them on fire. The three then followed him back to Kuri and became his retainers. Three years later, Oden paid the Mountain God and its child, who had grown much taller, a visit and proceeded to use the latter to carry his palanquin while traveling through the Flower Capital along with his retainers to pay his father a visit after hearing that he had fallen ill. As Oden paid him a visit, he was relieved seeing his father invigorated. Sukiyaki is proud that his son became a great man and had a turn-around, but Oden answered that he has been only made great and not changed a bit. Unknown to Oden, this was the last time he and his father exchanged words

Sukiyaki's thoughts on the matter were this-

To befriend those...abominations that Mother Sea declares unholy- Fishmen and Minks, I have truly gained a dimwit for a son. If only I had more brothers and sisters to have heirs that are less foolish than you, Oden. Sukiyaki's thoughts remained unspoken as he observed the unconventional assembly of Oden's retainers. The very sight of them standing in the shogunate, their non-human forms a stark contrast to the traditional samurai, was enough to make his stomach churn. Yet, he couldn't ignore the unmistakable loyalty and power they exuded.

Later that year, Oden learned that a pirate ship had arrived at Itachi Port, prompting him to go there. Charging towards the Whitebeard Pirates, he clashed with their captain while informing Whitebeard that he wanted to join his crew.[50] Afterwards, Oden and his retainers had a feast with the crew. Oden kept asking to join only to be turned down by Whitebeard himself because he correctly sensed that Oden had no experience in subordinating himself to another person up to that point and Whitebeard knew how catastrophic that could be, having served aboard a ship full of such individuals. This caused Oden's enthusiasm to balk, aware that he could not argue against the pirate's reasoning. Two weeks later, the Whitebeard Pirates tried to leave Oden behind, but he caught up to them and held onto a chain he attached to the ship. Izou also held onto Oden and got dragged away with him. After pulling Izou up onto the ship, Whitebeard gave Oden a test. If he could hold onto the chain for three days, he would be allowed into the crew. Just when Oden only had ten minutes left, he heard a woman in trouble and let go. He drifted to an island and scared away some kidnappers who mistook him for a sea monster, saving the woman in the process. On the next day, he got acquainted with the woman, who was named Toki. They were then confronted by Karma and his crew, but Whitebeard came and defeated Karma. Understanding that Oden let go because of his desire to help, Whitebeard allowed him on board, telling Oden that they're going on a grand adventure beyond anything he can imagine. After boarding and being welcomed by the crew, Oden discovered that Inuarashi and Nekomamushi had stowed away on the ship, waiting for Oden. Afterwards, Oden went on adventures with the Whitebeard Pirates.

Suikiyaki's thoughts on the matter were this-

You finally managed to turn around and you decide to leave so irresponsibly for mere pirates? Sukiyaki's thoughts remained hidden, but his frustration was palpable as he watched Oden sail away with the notorious Whitebeard Pirates. He had hoped that his son would bring stability and order to Wano, not gallivant across the seas with a band of marauders. Yet, as the ship disappeared over the horizon, he couldn't shake the feeling that Oden was destined for something grander than the confines of their land-bound lives.

On his journey, Oden wrote his adventures in a journey log and explored multiple islands and places around the entire world, being absolutely in awe of the things that he has never seen before. He also became a notorious outlaw with a bounty. He found the geography of the world astounding and the government overseeing it as unbelievable. Having grown closer with Toki and marrying her at some point, the couple became parents on their second year aboard the Moby Dick and named their son Kouzuki Momonosuke. Later, as the crew was growing in numbers, Whitebeard split its members into five divisions, and Oden was appointed as the commander of the second division. Two years later, he and Toki would have a daughter whom they named Kouzuki Hiyori.

Docking at an island, the Whitebeard Pirates unexpectedly encountered the Roger Pirates, leading to Oden rushing towards the crew to take their treasure. Engaging the crew in battle, he drew the attention of Gol D. Roger and was knocked away by the pirate. Running back to his opponent, Oden was left amazed at how his captain and Roger were fighting each other. Afterward, the two crews began fighting for the next three days until a cease-fire was made on the fourth day. A few days into it, Oden had a discussion with the two captains, during which he informed Roger that he could read the Poneglyphs. Revealing his intention to reach the rumored final island of the Grand Line and become Pirate King, Roger left Oden frozen from being impressed. Roger begged Oden to join him for a year in order to get to the island, and Whitebeard, despite being against it because he didn't want to lose someone, he considered a brother, ultimately honored Oden's choice to join Roger, leading to him parting ways with the Whitebeard Pirates.

Boarding the Oro Jackson with his wife and children, he discovered that Inuarashi and Nekomamushi had followed him on board. The crew sailed to Mock Town and afterward reached Skypiea, where Oden read a Poneglyph and engraved Roger's message on the Shandorian Golden Belfry Bell. After returning to the ocean, the crew sailed towards Water 7, during which Oden informed Roger that Wano had a Road Poneglyph. Docking at the island, Oden invited Cutty Flam to join the crew but the latter declined the offer. From there, the crew sailed to Fish-Man Island, where Oden read the island's two Poneglyphs and learned from Neptune that Poseidon is a mermaid. Oden later read another Poneglyph after venturing to another island. Upon Toki becoming sick, the pirates dropped her and her children off at Wano alongside Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, during which Oden could tell his country had changed despite not looking at it. Afterward, the crew learned the contents of Wino's Poneglyph. Arriving at Zou, Oden felt a different vibe from the island that did not sit well with him and Roger. Venturing into the country, the crew found the last Road Poneglyph, leading to Oden discovering his family's ties to the Mink Tribe after seeing his clan's seal above the stone. Having left Zou, the crew discovered the location of the final island of the New World and sailed there. There, the crew found Joy Boy's treasure and laughed when they saw it, leading to Roger naming the island Laugh Tale...unaware of the awful truth.

Grateful he joined Roger, he declined offers from his crew members to assist him in opening Wano's borders and instead sought to make his vision a reality with the aid of his retainers and by becoming Shogun.

Orochi and his family then imprisoned Sukiyaki in a hidden room in the palace and told the populace of Wano that the shogun had passed away. Sukiyaki initially accepted his death...until time passed and he became more frantic about the length of how long it would take for him to die in that room...till someone finally let him. Ethanbarn V. Nusjuro of all people- one of the Five Elders.

It was said this Ethanbaron family was rumored to have once attacked Wano 400 years ago out of spite for one of their vassal knights, Dracule Cyrano, a seemingly civil and respective man who hid his true nature as an unscrupulous and dishonest criminal who was overconfident and insufferable deep down, being bested by the mere Shimotsuki Ryuma, a student of a certain island's clan outside of Wano during his travels, slaying one of the Ethanbaron's dragons, which forced the World Government to not attack the country directly again for centuries.

Nusjuro looked at him with the indifference of a man briefly glancing at a mere gnat and Sukiyaki noticed the man was semi-transparent.

"Vegapunk is working on making prototypes for hologram-based Transponder Snails. But this isn't the main issue.," the man said.

Nusjuro then clarified what he wanted out of the former shogun, "Your son, Oden, has shown a remarkable ability to bring change, even amidst the chaos he often creates. He is a force to be reckoned with, and if we can guide him, perhaps we can use him to our advantage."

However, Sukiyaki read between the lines and realized their intentions.

"You plan to annex Wano to your World Government...your Empire...and if we don't, you'll eventually find a way to reach here and perform a hunting game to purge the populace for not being of your system.," Sukiyaki argued.

Upon hearing this, Nusjuro's demeanor changed entirely. His eyes lit up with a malicious glee as he leaned in closer to the weakened Sukiyaki. "Ah, so you've figured it out," he said, his voice a serpent's hiss. "The great Oden, a tool for our greater ambition. But fear not, for I shall grant you an audience with our esteemed Emperor Imu. Perhaps he will see the value in your lineage and offer you a role in our grand design."

"It does make sense, you've been so isolated from us that you've developed your own narrative to make sense of the altered texts...as if we didn't immediately tried to rewrite the Poneglyphs the moment we realized we couldn't destroy them. After all, my clan knows of how to write it.," the bald man remarked.

"Y-you speak heresy! What would a clan apparently obsessed with our culture understand-," the shogun argued.

"I know you won't say anything since you're well...not half the man he is. So I'll reveal it...I am Shimotsuki V. Byakuo. I'm at least 912 years old and counting as far as I'm concerned.," the bald man spoke as his face gave an uncanny sinister grin.

Sukiyaki was befuddled at this revelation, the Shimotsuki Family is a renowned and formerly powerful family from the Wano Country that served the Kozuki family. Why would they change their name, let alone become World Nobles of all things, unless...unless a horrid revelation came to his mind.

"Every clan with the Tsuki came from the moon with princess Kaguya. The clan you hunted to extinction- the Kurozumi, they're the rightful vassals...and that's not even the punchline, Kaido's family...or rather his name is Ō D. Kai...the Oni are the rightful rulers of the nation you relabeled Wano after your ancestors- Kozuki drove them out and nearly wiped them out to claim your title as rulers.," Byakuo explained.

Sukiyaki felt the room spin around him as the gravity of Byakuo's words hit him like a ton of bricks. The very foundation of his understanding of Wano's history was crumbling before his eyes. He had always known that the Kurozumi had a storied past, but to learn that they were the original inhabitants of Wano was a revelation that shook him to his core. His own family, the Kouzuki, were the invaders? The very people he had sworn to protect and serve were descendants of the conquerors?

"Also, the Kozuki were among the founding families of the World Nobles- but they were slowly assimilated into mine as vassals when my peer- the leader of the Kozuki and I had an argument. Apparently, he fell for a winged false Human insect and this caused him to turn on his natural heritage. But he was the exception. All of the clans prior to your generation have secretly being our servants. The Kurozumi leader who caused their ostracization by attempting to usurp the Kozukis, was trying to protect the populace from being enslaved since your father was a traitor who realized the true history and didn't buy the atonement narrative of your grandfather. And he took the burden...and you ended up marrying his daughter...how did she die? Any garnet protrusions? Did she curse you or smile like an imbecile? It's clear where Oden got the balls from since you're spineless. And your negative thoughts are a sign of your true heritage.," Byakuo elaborated.

"How would you know about that?," asked Sukiyaki as this fact about Oden's late mother was never revealed to the public.

"I have spies hidden in your offices that slowly gave her the Garnet disease so we could use it to convert into gems. That's how we become rich- by exploiting the dead. Much like Flevance in how we plan to turn the Amber Lead into refined houses from their bodies. Your wife made a fabulous necklace when we dug up her corpse.," explained the bald man as his glasses glowed ominously.

If Sukiyaki had more resolve, he would've lunged and tried to mercilessly throttle this monster for this revelation...but in truth, he was craven deep down much to his self-loathing.

"By the time, you've come out, your son has died. The public say it was due to Kaido shooting him via a bullet as he boiled alive, but that was an act- it was Kurozumi Higurashi who used the Clone-Clone Awakening to truly become Oden as she died. The real one...I just murdered after Alister, Imu, and I revealed how he didn't find Laugh Tale and Roger's adventure to find One Piece was a lie...also Roger didn't die in Logue Town...but after everything we've put him through he might as well be dead. Byayayayayaya! You should've seen his face contort to despair as his purpose was denied from him and he felt like he was truly born with no purpose for his power.," Byakuo gloated.

Sukiyaki felt bile rising in his throat at the thought of his son's pain and betrayal. Yet, he remained outwardly calm, his eyes never leaving the man before him...or rather, pathetically, he was relieved that his son- the cursed thing that made him feel less of a man and took his love died in shame. And...this brought intense guilt for his past negative feelings, his secret loathing a father should never feel for a son.

"I can see you won't have the guts to avenge him, so I'll let you live the rest of your days till we slay Orochi and Kaido- our pawns as we liberate Wano to be part of our collective in over 20 years time...," Byakuo said as the hologram vanished.

"And if you try anything...," said Byakuo's voice within the former Shogun's head as Sukiyaki was suddenly struck with Conqueror's Haki from an immeasurable distance as he fell to his knees with sweat dripping profusely from his forehead as he nearly foamed from the mouth.

He got the point as he left his hidden cell, ashamed of the truth he could not tell or admit to others. Realizing he would become a mole for the World Nobles when the time was right because the alternative of mass genocide, if he turned it down, was far worse. But his decision to remain silent was even more sinful.

At that point, his son Oden had been executed and Wano had been turned into a barren, polluted wasteland by Orochi's factories, Sukiyaki was filled with shame that he had failed to stop this, causing him to consider committing seppuku.

However, Sukiyaki remained alive and he managed to acquire Oden's swords Ame no Habakiri and Enma, which he intended to pass down to his children Momonosuke and Hiyori respectively after mustering enough courage to fight off the Orochi subordinates who had the gall to use the swords shipped from Mary Geoise to Wano after Byakuo killed his son. Sukiyaki settled in Amigasa Village in Kuri to wait for his grandchildren, concealing his face with a mask and adopting the alias of Tenguyama Hitetsu- to protect them and out of shame. And knowing his future intended role with Byakuo's intentions clear.

Four years ago, Amigasa Village suffered from a great famine. When its citizens were on the verge of death, a group of pirates led by Portgas D. Ace washed up on the island, and the citizens were saved by stealing their food though Ace allowed them to take the food. Around a year ago, Beasts Pirates Shinuchi X Drake came and destroyed Amigasa Village. Sukiyaki stayed in the ruins of the village in order to wait for Oden's children, and a young girl named Kurozumi Tama stayed with him to wait for Ace. Sukiyaki became Tama's master and put her to work weaving kasas.

He had witnessed the son of the man who inspired his own son, feeling envious of his inherent courage. Sukiyaki was saddened by how he later died and how shameful it was that he would play the role of a mole, secretly relaying information to Cipher Pol and the Elders behind his country and Orochi's backs. And he was proud that Monkey D. Luffy managed to bring some hope...and even if he did a traitorous action...he would know what to do to atone for his sinful ways...

Present

Sukiyaki summoned himself via a paper doll-based summoning circle to lunge the cloaked KATANA agents with tears in his eyes.

"For our freedom from the chains of blood!," he cried before he was stabbed callously by one of them as Momonosuke looked with intense sadness.

Next Chapter: Oni Prince
Author Notes: This chapter gives context to a very controversial figure in the fanbase by making him a complicated man.