The Ruins of Oden Castle

Outside Bakura Town, Speed is still trying to insist on her pride as a Headliner: "There's no reason for me to listen to you!!" and "I'm a Headliner of the Beasts Pirates!! My name is Speed!!" Someone wonders, "Why is Speed listening to that kid...?" Luffy, already certain the kibidango has done its work, entrusts Tama to her with a grin: "I'm leaving her to you, Umami!!" The narration calls it "the true effect of the Kibi Dango." Speed accepts her role as a servant, saying, "It's only natural for a servant to protect their master!!" Tama smiles and promises Luffy, "Big bro... I will never forget the taste... of the red bean porridge and the apple I ate today!!" Luffy answers, "Tell the old man with the nose that I said hi! I'll bring this dog back to you! I promise!!" He also keeps the sword for now: "I'm gonna keep this katana for a little bit longer, as well!! Can't be a samurai without one, after all!!" Zoro protests, "But you haven't even been using it... Let me take a look at it for a second... seriously."

Tama rides away on Speed's back and waves with a bright smile. The goodbye stretches across the empty road: Luffy calls, "See you later!!" while Koma-chiyo barks, "Woof woof!!" Tama calls back, "Tama!!!" and then, from town, "Mister Luffy-taro!!" Luffy watches her leave, satisfied that she is protected, and says, "Let's go! I guess she didn't feed you the dango to make you her servant, eh?" Koma-chiyo answers with another "Woof!!" The page closes the rescue quietly after the explosive raid: Tama is safe, Speed has become her escort, and Luffy's group can finally turn toward the next mystery instead of staying in Bakura Town.

As the raiders move on, Okobore Town erupts in gratitude behind them. The people shout, "Thank you for the treasure ship!!!" and cheer over food they had almost forgotten existed. Their cries turn personal: "My child became healthy, too!!" "My grandpa is healthy again!!" "It's a gift from hell!!" "We've never seen this much food before!!" Law, watching Luffy grin as the people celebrate, mutters with disgusted disbelief, "...A benevolent pirate... how revolting..." Luffy answers simply, "I did something good~" and asks, "Didn't we steal that food...?" Meanwhile O-Kiku rides with them, and Luffy asks, "Why are you coming with us, Kiku?" She explains, "Oh, um... I've wanted to go and see Oden Castle for a long time...!" She also adds that nobody is supposed to be at the ruins, so she wonders exactly why they want to go there. Luffy reassures her, "Kiku, don't worry about it!! You're a good, strong person!!" but Law is sharper: "Luffytaro and his friends are good people, but... I definitely cannot let my guard down just yet." Zoro notices the hidden tension and thinks, "That's not it. She's hiding something from us."

The story shifts to the Flower Capital, where a teacher lectures children inside a classroom under the bright face of official Wano propaganda. She asks, "Can any of you tell me what an isolationist country is?" A child raises a hand and says, "I can, miss!" The answer is approved: "It's when a country closes its borders to the whole world, in order to protect its people!!" The teacher asks, "How about an open country?" The children beg, "Pick me!!" and the lesson turns ugly. The teacher says, "That's when a country has open borders, allowing evil people or evil ideals to flow in. It's an act of evil!" She claims there are foreign countries around the world that want what Wano has. When she asks who tried to open Wano's borders in the past, the children answer in anger: "It was Oden and his Nine Red Scabbards!!" The page shows how the next generation is being taught to despise Oden as a traitor.

The teacher continues the official version of history, saying, "As I was saying before, that occurred over 20 years ago." According to her lesson, "A hero appeared and was able to defeat those evil samurai!" When the hated name appears, the children react with fear and disgust: "Gyaaaaah, it appeared!!" and "I don't like to hear that name, after all!" The teacher calls them back to order: "Hey now, I didn't call on you guys for an answer." Then the classroom erupts in praise for the victor: "It was our Shogun, Kurozumi Orochi!!!" The students cheer "Orochi two blade style!!" and one boasts, "I got defeat-ed!!" as they play-act the false tale. The teacher concludes, "That's right. Those evil people all died 20 years ago... and that's how this country became the peaceful nation it is today." The page makes clear that Orochi's rule is protected not only by force, but by rewritten history.

In the Flower Capital, the story of the dead Kozuki family is repeated in darker form among adults. People drink and laugh around the mansion of the Kurozumi family's money exchange, while someone slurs, "Lord Orochi is such a cautious man!!" Another scolds him, "You're being too loud!" and "Shut yuuuuur wiiigout!!!" The money changer Kyoshiro, introduced as "Kurozumi Family Purveyor - Money Exchange House - Inemuri Kyoshiro," warns, "Don't be such a coward. Even if they hear me, I've only spoken the truth!!" He recounts the prophecy: "It is said that... 20 years ago, Oden's wife stood in front of the burning castle, and said this..." Toki's words appear over the flames: "You are like the moon who knows not of the dawn. If there's one ardent wish that can be fulfilled... then it shall be the one where nine shadows are cast, woven together through 20 years of moonlit nights. Only then, shall you know the radiance of dawn."

Kyoshiro explains how Orochi interpreted the prophecy. A listener laughs, "Haha!! That was just a curse made in desperation!" but Kyoshiro says, "...But Shogun Orochi deciphered it as...!!" Orochi's terrified vision fills the page: "In 20 years, on a moonlit night... vengeance will come. Nine samurai will appear... they will kill you!!" and the prophecy continues, "And open up this country's borders!!!" Kyoshiro declares, "...We are now in the prophesied 20th year!" The room laughs at the idea that dead people could harm the shogun. One man asks, "What could dead people possibly do to him?" Another says, "The samurai of the Kozuki family died 20 years ago!! They were all driven into the castle... and burnt alive!!! Hahahaha..." Yet Kyoshiro concludes that this is exactly why Orochi is frightened: "Thinking that the ghost spirits of the Kozuki family will come to kill him!!"

At last, Luffy's group reaches the destination: "Wano Country - Kuri - The Ruins of Oden Castle." The castle is gone, replaced by broken stone, trees, graves, and an eerie silence. Someone says, "We're here." Luffy complains, "There's no castle here!!" and Law answers, "We told you that these were the ruins of a castle..." Luffy calls the place creepy, and another voice explains, "That's because this place has been abandoned for 20 years." Then Luffy notices the graves. "Graves?" he asks, and the names on the markers shock him: Kanjuro, Kin'emon, Momonosuke, and Raizo stand among the dead. Luffy blurts out, "Huh!? What the hell are these?!" then asks the impossible question: "Why are their names on these graves?! Did they die?!" He remembers that it has been a while since they talked, and the confusion deepens when O-Kiku quietly slips away. Luffy asks, "Huh... hey, Kiku!!" and "Where's she going?"

At the graves, Luffy demands an explanation. He asks, "Where's Kin'emon?!" and snaps, "He was supposed to wait here for us!!" Law says, "He isn't here... and hasn't been here for a while now." Luffy panics: "He's not hereeeee?!" Law adds that Kin'emon was last seen there the previous night, "and every other night as well," then estimates, "Chances are, he'll be here tonight." Luffy is still stuck on the grave markers: "Why are you talking like he's a ghost...!? Why are their names on graves?!" He yells, "Tell me the full story! Did something happen that you don't wanna talk about?!" Law refuses to explain it himself: "It's not my place to tell you." He also admits, "Oh no, no, no... I'm done for... I don't think I'll be able to come out of the bathroom until late at night again..." Luffy finally asks the obvious: "So are they actually alive, then?!"

Kin'emon appears at last, staggering out in person and shouting, "Heeeeeey!! Luffy-dono!! I'm relieved that you made it here safely!!" He apologizes with dramatic formality: "My apologies for not being able to come and welcome you personally...!!" then explains the absurd reason: "Due to a certain blunder, I am currently experiencing intense diarrhea." Luffy is overcome with relief and yells, "Thank goodness!!" then calls, "Kiiiiin!!!!" Law cuts through the misunderstanding: "Tra-guy, you liar!! They are alive!" and asks, "When did I say that they were dead?" Kin'emon adds, "I was trying to tell you that he'll probably come out of the bathroom tonight." Luffy, irritated and embarrassed by the scare, snaps, "Don't be so misleading!!" The mystery of the graves remains, but the immediate terror is settled: Kin'emon is alive.

The reunion quickly becomes louder. A woman bursts in and embraces Kin'emon, crying, "Maaaaaaaaster Kin~~~" and "You've finally returned!!" She says, "I've been waiting to meet up with you for so long! I've been shaking in anticipation of your return!!" Luffy turns to O-Kiku and demands, "Kiku!! Why are you with them?!" Kin'emon asks the same: "Why didn't you tell me that you were coming back?! Even though I've been so worried about you! That's so cold of you!!" He also asks, "Is Lord Momonosuke safe as well?!" Law studies the situation and says, "What, so she's an acquaintance of his? It looks like she's more than that..." Tama cheerfully calls, "Hey, Luffy!! So you were able to make it here safely?!" Kin'emon then tries to explain the larger matter: "In any case, Kiku!! These people are the powerful outside force we've been waiting on!!" Luffy, still overwhelmed, asks, "Yeah... I'm not sure where to begin, but... does that mean that these people are...?! Huh!? Master Kin!!"

More allies spill into view, and the reunion turns into a celebration. Momonosuke is practicing with a sword and shouts, "Look!! I've been practicing with this sword!!" Luffy greets him roughly: "Oh, Momo!! So you're here too. Is the old dog guy here as well?" O-Kiku is startled by the lack of manners and cries, "Huh!? Momo!? Wait a minute, Luffytaro-- that's rude!! He's the..." Momonosuke answers proudly, "Lord Momonosuke!! I'm glad to see that you're safe!!" and O-Kiku relaxes: "Ah, it's fine, Kiku!!" The rest of the group appears: Nami calls, "Luuuuuuffy!!!" Sanji says, "Well, if it isn't Luffy...!!" Chopper shouts, "I'm so glad that you're all right...!!" Brook greets, "Oh, hey, everyone!!!" Carrot calls, "O-Nami--" and Sanji, seeing her, beams, "Well, well, it looks like you guys were able to retrieve Sanji-dono!!"

Nami and the others explain the anxious search that followed the separation. Nami scolds, "You guys are super late!!" and says, "We searched all over for you!! We even went to the bottom of the ocean to look for you!!!" Luffy answers, "We were able to find your vivre card, so we knew that you were alive, but..." The reunion is affectionate anyway, with Carrot launching herself at him and crying, "Luuuuuffy!! Garchu!!" Law interrupts the emotions with priorities: "Now, first things first. Let's head inside to talk. There's safe food in there straight from the farm that we stole from." O-Kiku realizes, "So it was you!! The thief that they were talking about!!" Inside the ruined house, someone laughs, "Ahahahaha!! What a dirty house!!" Kin'emon apologizes: "My apologies, but these ruins will have to be our base of operations for the time being...!! Thank you all for taking the time to come here!!" He begins the serious explanation: "First of all... in regards to Lord Momonosuke, there is one thing that we have been keeping from you that I should tell you before we proceed."

Luffy has had enough of secrets and complains, "You guys have way too many secrets." Chopper presses Kin'emon from the side: "Hurry up and spill it!! You're holding back too much!!" Kin'emon begins carefully: "Well, that's because... I'm so sorry! But even if I tell you, I don't think you're going to believe me...!!" The others stare, waiting. Then he gives the plainest version possible: "I'll put it bluntly. We have come from the past...!!" He clarifies who is included: "...There's Kanjuro and Raizo, whom you are all familiar with. In addition to the three of us that are here, we add up to a total of 5 people!!" The final reveal lands with force: "The truth is...!! We came from the Wano Country of 20 years ago... by travelling forward in time!!!" The page ends on the shock of that statement, with Luffy's reaction exploding as "Whaaaaaat!!?"

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