A Fox of a Single Disguise

A colorful splash page features Monkey D. Luffy in his straw hat and blue outfit with a large backpack, standing on a tiger-striped creature and pointing excitedly forward with a grin. Beside him stands Nico Robin in a pink hooded outfit with fur trim, smiling and raising one arm. In the background, a lush jungle with a sparkling waterfall, hanging vines, and sunlight rays frames several other figures climbing and exploring. Overlaid text reads 'ONE PIECE CREATED BY EIICHIRO ODA AND PRESENTED BY mangastream.com' along with credits for cleaning, redrawing, typesetting, translation, and providing. A black notice box states 'NOTICE: You can read this chapter and more at the source in its original high quality: www.mangastream.com DO NOT REHOST THIS CHAPTER. PLEASE DON'T SUPPORT WEBSITES THAT DO. CONSIDER BUYING THE OFFICIAL VOLUMES WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN YOUR REGION.'

A close-up shows a sweating face with wide eyes and an open mouth reacting in shock as a hand holds up a letter reading 'To Kawamatsu Thank you for everything. I am safe. Hiyori'. Large sound effects burst around it. The scene shifts to a dramatic landscape at sunset with a massive castle silhouette, pagodas, and a smoking mountain. Multiple voices cry out 'MY LADY!', 'PRINCESS!', and 'PRINCESS HIYORI!' as a fish-like humanoid shouts in alarm. Further panels show exhausted figures wheezing on the ground with 'WHEEZE' effects, a group of small samurai-like warriors running through a ruined town with 'かゃ' and 'ぶわ' sounds, and townspeople reacting with surprise as they spot someone. The narration box reads 'A LETTER TELLS ALL...'.

The page opens with a panel labeled 'PRESENT DAY RINGO' showing a snowy, ruined landscape with a figure in heavy armor and a helmet carrying a massive load of weapons on their back, running with 'HAA' sound effects and motion lines. Below, two men in winter clothing discuss: one says 'WHERE THE HECK EVEN ARE WEI' while the other replies 'YOU WOULDN'T THINK HE'S CARRYING A TRUCK-LOAD OF WEAPONS WITH HIM...' and notes 'THE WAY HE'S RUNNING,'. A close-up reveals a stern man with spiky hair and a scar, looking surprised as he says 'HUHI'. He continues, 'WELL, I JUST HAVE TO FOLLOW THE BLOOD, AND...' while gripping a cloth bundle. Snow falls heavily throughout the icy, mountainous terrain filled with debris and broken structures.

At the bandit bridge, bodies of defeated foes litter the snowy ground amid scattered weapons. A voice reflects, "TO THINK YOU WERE JUST PICKING OFF STRAGGLERS THIS WHOLE TIME... BY THE WAY, WHO WAS THAT LARGE WARRIOR MONKI" Another replies, "LET US LEAVE THIS PLACE." The young woman with pigtails and a flower in her hair snaps, "I'M NOT A CHILD," as someone calls out "HEY!" and she answers "KAWA-MATSU." The straw-hatted figure adjusts footing on the slope, muttering, "WELL, MY FOOTING HERE ISN'T THE BEST. MUST FOCUS ON—" The masked bandaged figure demands, "HOW DID YOU END UP HEREI THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I WANT TO ASK YOU." The straw-hatted one retorts, "I KNOW OF NO ADULT THAT PUFFS UP LIKE A BLOWFISH LIKE THAT!" The masked figure shouts, "KAPPAPPA! IS THAT SOI!" while the other grunts "HMPH!"

The straw-hatted figure declares, "THIS IS THE PLACE TO DO IT! IF SOMETHING EVER HAPPENS TO THE PRINCESS, AND I MUST END MY OWN LIFE," while recalling, "MY FEET EVENTUALLY CARRIED ME HERE. AFTER YOU LEFT, I DRIFTED, DOING THIS AND THAT." A map panel labels "RINGO" and "HAKUMAI." The figure explains, "RULED BY THE FIERCE AND POWERFUL SHIMOTSUKI CLAN. THESE FROSTY NORTHERN REACHES OF WANO - RINGO AND THE NEIGHBORING HAKUMAI - WERE ONCE BOTH... UNFORTUNATELY, RINGO TOO WAS TURNED INTO A WASTELAND BY THE WRATH OF KAIDO. THE DAIMYO OF THE CLAN WAS A MAN NAMED USHIMARU SHIMOTSUKI, A MASTER SWORDSMAN, WHO WAS ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS PET FOX." The young woman reacts, "FOXI"

The young woman notes, "INDEED, AND THE MARKERS USED FOR THESE ETERNAL GRAVES ARE SWORDS. KATANAS." The straw-hatted figure asks about "THE RINGO CUSTOM KNOWN AS THE ETERNAL BURIALI" and adds, "I HAVE HEARD... IT IS SO COLD HERE THAT BODIES LEFT OUT IN COFFINS WILL STAY PRESERVED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS." A wolf-like bark echoes "BARK BAAARK!" The straw-hatted one continues, "SUCH IS RINGO, THE LAND UPON WHICH WE NOW STAND. THESE GRAVES WERE CONSTANTLY LOOTED! SOME OF THEM WERE FAMED MEITOU." A large wolf creature growls "GRRR! BARK BARK!" while the straw-hatted figure warns, "HE'S GOING TO BITE US TO DEATH!" as the young woman exclaims "HMI WHAT IS ITI WON'T YOU EVEN LET ME DIE IN PEACEI YOU'RE..." amid the chaos of "UWAAAGH!"

A massive lion-fox beast rears up with fiery mane, barking "BARK! BARK!" and growling "GRRRR!" as the straw-hatted figure cries "ONIMARUI!" Narration states, "THE BELOVED COMPANION OF THE LATE DAIMYO OF RINGO, USHIMARU SHIMOTSUKI. THAT LIONFOX'S NAME WAS ONIMARU." The creature lunges with impact lines and "!!!" The straw-hatted figure recognizes it with "HMI" and "ONI-MARU!" while smaller panels show the beast's fierce eyes and the young woman's startled reaction. The straw-hatted figure concludes, "I... I HAVE MET YOU ONCE BEFORE."

In the ruined graveyard of Ringo, swords stand planted among the graves like silent sentinels. A small fox-like figure in a straw hat and tattered robes stands amid the chaos as narration explains: "FOR THE FIVE YEARS THAT HAD PASSED SINCE RINGO FELL, ONIMARU HAD FOUGHT, ALONE, AGAINST THE EVILS OF GRAVE ROBBERS." A large speech bubble demands, "BY YOUR-SELFI!" while another voice cries, "DON'T TELL ME... YOU PROTECTED ALL THIS." Lower panels show the fox creature seated before a small meal. A voice urges, "YOU MUST EAT TO HEAL." Another offers, "HERE! EAT UP." Narration notes the local custom: "ON THE DAY OF THEIR BIRTH, THE PEOPLE OF RINGO WOULD GIVE THEIR CHILDREN SWORDS. THESE SWORDS WOULD ACCOMPANY THEM THROUGH THEIR LIVES, AND ONE DAY SERVE TO MARK THEIR GRAVES." A small panel reveals the creature's true fox face with the note, "A FOX'S FAVORITE FOOD IS FRIED TOFU, RIGHTI" and a TL note on Japanese folk legend.

The fox-like Onimaru, now appearing as a small dog-like creature with a headband, reacts with surprise as "#" sound effects and question marks appear. Nearby, a larger fox form scrapes at the ground with repeated "SCRAPE" effects while exploring the ruined temple grounds. In a heated sequence, Onimaru in straw-hat disguise growls and barks furiously: "BARK! BARK! GRRR!" A desperate voice pleads, "FORGIVE ME! I KNOW!" while the fox continues barking. Another figure commands, "HUSH." The fox roars back with "BARK! BARK!" and a final "GRRR!" as motion lines and impact effects fill the panels.

Onimaru lunges forward in a fierce close-up, teeth bared, shouting "URGH!" and "GRRRRR!" as impact lines explode around the fox's transformed face. Narration states: "BUT... THIRTEEN YEARS FROM TODAY A BATTLE WILL BE FOUGHT!" A cloaked figure replies, "I DO NOT WISH TO DISTURB THE SLUMBER OF THE DEAD ANY MORE THAN YOU!" while another begs, "HOW AM I TO EXPLAIN THIS TO YOUI! FORGIVE ME!" The fox stands dramatically with swirling effects and "Tiviviviviv!!" sounds. The sequence ends with a powerful declaration: "AND ON THAT DAY, THEY MUST BE ARMED! THEY WILL NEED COUNTLESS SWORDS! THE DAY WILL COME THAT THE SAMURAI OF THIS NATION WILL RAISE THEIR BOWED HEADS IN UNISON!"

Onimaru's fierce fox face fills the panel as it growls "GRRRRRR!" Narration proclaims, "A BATTLE STILL RAGES HERE! THE SOULS THAT LIVE ON IN THESE BLADES WILL STEEL THEIR HEARTS, AND ENABLE THEM TO VANQUISH THEIR ENEMIES! ON THAT BATTLEFIELD, THEY WILL ADVANCE WITH THE SWORDS OF THEIR FALLEN COMRADES IN HAND!" The fox continues, "AND THE PEOPLE OF WANO! THESE BLADES MUST NOT YET BE PUT TO REST! GRRRRR! THE WAR BETWEEN THE HUNDRED BEAST PIRATES..." In the final panels the determined fox declares, "I HAVE DECIDED THAT THIS, AT LEAST, IS A TASK TO WHICH I CAN BIND MYSELF... I WILL COLLECT THEM ALL AND HIDE THEM AWAY! YET I CANNOT AFFORD FOR THEM TO BE PILFERED BY CROOKS BEFORE THAT FATED DAY COMES!" while scraping sounds and more growls punctuate the scene.

A desperate masked figure with a wide hat grits his teeth, sweat flying as he declares, "THIS, AT LEAST, I CAN DO... I MUST DO!" and "AS SOMEONE THAT FAILED TO EVEN PROTECT PRINCESS HIYORI..." Below, the same figure struggles violently with a snarling beast, shouting "JUST BITE OFF THIS ARM AND BE DONE WITH IT!" while the creature growls "GRRRRR!" Other voices cry, "IF YOU ARE THAT STARVED FOR FOOD," "I REFUSE TO STOP DEFILING THESE GRAVES! I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE!" and "IF I DO NOT KEEP THESE HANDS BUSY, THE GUILT WILL CONSUME ME!" The beast clamps down hard amid swirling debris and impact lines as the masked man continues to wrestle it in the graveyard setting.

The masked figure scrapes repeatedly at the ground with blades while a small fox-like creature watches. "SCRAPE" sounds echo across panels. The figure says, "WE WILL HIDE THE BLADES UNDERGROUND." A voice wonders, "HAS HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT I MEANTI" and another exclaims, "WHAT STRANGE WINDFALL IS THISI!" Later scenes show the group near ruined buildings; the masked man offers, "HERE, I BROUGHT SOME FOOD I MANAGED TO 'BORROW.'" Replies include "I'M STARVING... MAYBE IF I SOLD ONE OR TWO IN THE CAPITAL WE COULD—", "IT'S SO COLD TODAY I THINK I MIGHT FREEZE SOLID!" and "ALRIGHT! TIME TO GO LOOT SOME MORE GRAVES!" The fox barks "WOOF!" and growls "GRRRRR!" repeatedly.

The masked man dramatically announces, "I'M GYUKIMARU! OF BANDIT BRIDGE!" with a large "KAPPAPPA!" sound effect. Grave robbers react in shock: "YOU BASTARD! WHO THE HELL ARE YOUI!" and "OI! HALT, YOU ACTUAL GRAVE ROBBERS!" Gyukimaru orders, "LEAVE YOUR WEAPONS HERE AND BEGONE!" A voice warns, "BEYOND HERE LIES THE HEARTLAND OF RINGO! YOU SHALL NOT HAVE THE TREASURES OF THESE TOMBS!" The small fox barks "WOOF!" In later panels Gyukimaru reflects, "WE'VE CAUGHT THE FRIED TOFU THIEF!" and "HOW CARELESS OF ME." Another speaker explains, "AND CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES PREVENTED ME FROM RETURNING TO RINGO." Gyukimaru notes, "YOU CALLED YOURSELF GYUKIMARUI A COINCIDENCE, I GUESS... INTERESTING..."

Gyukimaru continues, "IF THE SWORDS WE MANAGED TO HIDE TOGETHER REMAIN HIDDEN, THEY WILL BE ENOUGH TO OUTFIT HUNDREDS OF SOLDIERS, BUT..." He adds, "AFTER ALL, IT HAS BEEN 13 YEARS... I DOUBT HE'S AROUND AT ALL." A woman with braided hair asks, "ARE YOU HERE TO SEE THAT FOX, THENI" and Gyukimaru replies, "I DO NOT THINK ONIMARU WILL RETURN. HE'S PROBABLY RUN OUT OF PATIENCE WITH ME." Elsewhere, a blond man notes, "HE LEFT THIS DOOR OPEN AND JUST RAN OFF." and "THAT BIG GUY'S GONE." Zoro appears and is called "ZOROJURO!" Underground, scraping sounds "PRRRR!" echo as Gyukimaru states, "THIS IS THE PASSAGEWAY TO THAT UNDERGROUND CHAMBER." The group debates, "WELL, SHALL WE PURSUE HIM OR ENTER HEREI" and "HOW STRANGE..."

Kin'emon and his allies assess their dire situation. "INDEED! WELL SPOTTED! WE'RE IN A BIND." "BUT YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING ENOUGH WEAPONS, AM I RIGHTI" "WHAT HAPPENED AT UDON PROBABLY SWELLED OUR RANKS QUITE CONSIDERABLY." "KAWAMATSU! I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE STILL ALIVE!" "GACHA!" Kin'emon exclaims, "THAT BAS-TARD OROCHI... OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS HE'S CONFISCATED ALL THE SWORDS IN THE COUNTRY!" A massive "ベベベン!" sound effect erupts as the group stands before a grand, heavily guarded gate adorned with ropes and lanterns. "EACH OF THEM SHALL BE OUTFITTED WITH A BLADE!" "ARE YOU SERIOUSI!" "SEND MEN TO THE PLACE I WILL NOW DESCRIBE TO YOU." "DO NOT WORRY. NO MATTER HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF MEN JOIN US..." In a close-up, Kin'emon reacts with shock: "ONIMARUI WAS THIS YOUI NO, THIS IS A MAN'S WORK..." "HAA" "HOW IN THE WORLD ARE THERE SO MANYI!"

Heavy breathing fills the panels as a fox-like creature and others gasp for air: "HAA" "HAA" "HAA". A small panel shows Luffy smiling with the chapter title "ONE PIECE CH. 953 / END". The scene shifts to a tense exchange. A man shouts, "LIKE I'VE SAID, IT'S MINE!" "PLEASE, RETURN IT TO WANO!" "REALLY IS THE ONE KNOWN AS SHUSUI." "ZOROJURO...IF YOUR SWORD" TL NOTE: ENMA IS THE JAPANESE NAME FOR THE GOD OF THE UNDERWORLD. A woman with a flower in her hair declares, "THE MEITOU ENMA!" "THE LEGENDARY SWORD SAID TO BE THE ONLY BLADE THAT HAS EVER INJURED KAIDO!" "I SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER IN RETURN!" "A SWORD MY LATE FATHER GAVE TO ME." She reacts with surprise, "!I"

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