Chapter 133: Owari

—The "New World," a certain island.

“Damn it…!! They’re strong…!!”

“Weren’t they supposed to be losers…?! I heard most of their subordinates and division commanders died in that war…!!”

At the island's port, scarred by the aftermath of fierce battle, the defeated pirates spat curses one after another.

The current New World is an age of turmoil. Though the overwhelming forces known as the “Four Emperors” exist, kingdoms and prominent pirates across many islands fall, and the balance of power is redrawn by the day.

For pirates who glorify violence and seek to climb the ranks, this is paradise. If things go well, they can carve out their own territory and milk the system, thriving in a world full of losers. They can trample the weak and fulfill their own desires.

The pirates who had ruled this island were no different. After a great pirate fell and the island was left unguarded, they took control and did whatever they pleased up until today.

But on this day, a group of pirates arrived flying the same flag as that fallen great pirate. They swiftly crushed the current rulers and liberated the island.

Amid scorched earth and writhing, burned pirates being tied up, the group who once protected the island now spoke with the townspeople about raising their flag here once again. An elderly man, seemingly the island’s representative, leaned on a cane and bowed his head.

“That’s more than we could ask for. Please—by all means, we beg of you…!!”

“…Yeah. But… sorry for saying this when we’re the ones asking—but are you sure? We… couldn’t protect this island before. In a way, we broke our contract. And the flag we fly doesn’t carry the same weight it did when Pops was still alive.”

The young negotiator, wearing a mask over his face, spoke with a conflicted and apologetic expression. Can you really trust us?—he seemed to ask.

After all, despite the island once being part of their protected territory, they had failed to defend it from pirates.

Normally, pirates claiming an island as their turf would collect a share of the profits in exchange for protecting it from other pirates and lawless marauders. Not all pirates followed this, but at the very least, their former captain had valued that code of honor above all and never forgave anyone who trespassed on his domain.

Up until just half a year ago, that agreement was upheld, and the island remained peaceful. But that peace collapsed when their captain died in the “Paramount War.”

Since then, pirates who knew nothing of honor and only believed in brute force took control of the island, inflicting untold pain and suffering. Half a year may seem short, but the torment they endured left deep scars that time alone cannot heal.

And even if they reclaimed the island from those pirates, the villagers had no obligation to welcome them back. It’s only natural. They were supposed to protect the island. It was the pirates who broke that promise, betraying the islanders without warning. Understanding this, the masked youth questioned their willingness to accept them.

But the elderly representative spoke, looking back fondly on the past. Watching the people rebuilding, a girl clutching a ragged stuffed animal, and the children around them, he recalled:

“…Long ago… when that man visited this island… we were suffering from a severe drought. We couldn’t produce enough crops, and we didn’t even know if we’d survive the winter.”

The elder explained that their island thrived on agriculture and paid tribute in crops like vegetables, fruits, and rice in exchange for protection. The now-deceased captain had been fond of their produce—something even the young men knew.

But one year, a terrible drought struck, and they couldn’t yield a proper harvest. It was then that he visited.

“We thought we might have to return the flag. Desperate, we explained our situation to him… But that man didn’t get angry. He didn’t demand we return the flag. He just smiled and said, ‘Next year, I’m counting on you. I like the food you grow here.’ Then he gave us enough supplies to make it through the winter.”

“…………”

Though he never said it aloud, the elder implied: without that support, many would’ve died.

Though a pirate, the man had a generous heart and understood them. He didn’t abandon the island just because they couldn’t pay tribute. He cared for it.

“True, perhaps you couldn’t uphold the agreement. You lost the war and fell into decline—that’s your situation. But… when we broke the agreement first, you forgave us… and believed in the next time.”

So, the elder bowed his head once more and asked again.

“Please—protect our island. We owe that man—and all of you—a debt we can never repay. We care about you. So even if it’s hard right now… please, protect us.”

“…Yeah… I promise. We’ll come greet you again together, with our captain. After hearing your story, he’ll definitely make that vow too.”

“We’ll be waiting.”

The young man took a breath and looked straight into the elder’s eyes, nodding. Watching a man over twice his age bow to him, he thought: the way our predecessors lived… it’s far too great to match.

“…I knew it when I decided to carry the same symbol… but man, we’ve chosen a hell of a path…”

“…Yeah. Who knows how long it’ll take to overcome it… no, to reach that same height…”

Back on the ship, when the youth relayed the events to the captain standing at the stern, he received the same answer as he had thought.

The captain, a young man around the same age, gave a slight chuckle under the weight of the coat draped over his shoulders. His face was dotted with freckles. Ever since he took over as captain, he came to truly understand the greatness of the man they once called Pops. He thought he knew—but he didn’t. Not until he stepped into the role himself.

No—maybe he still didn’t understand. At least not until he stood as his equal.

“…It’s fine for now.”

“You’re back, Marco…”

“Yeah. No stragglers left nearby. This island is fully liberated.”

Just then, a man descended gently from the sky.

Wings wreathed in blue flames carried him down. He stood at the ship’s stern, gazing at the sea, and spoke to the captain—words meant to push him forward.

“As long as you don’t stop moving… that’s enough. Where you fall short, we’ll support you. Pops wasn’t perfect from the start either.”

“…Yeah, I know. There’s no time to stand still… for now, I’ll push forward, no matter how reckless it gets.”

“Then that’s enough—Captain.”

With a smile, Marco called him not by name, but by title—as the leader of their crew. Having spent decades as the right hand of the great pirate on this very ship, Marco now swore to support this young man, nearly twenty years his junior. The other remaining crew, and those originally from the young captain’s circle, felt the same.

As red flames flickered on his shoulder, the young man spoke without turning to face them. A strange unease stirred in his chest. Sensing it, the masked man—his original comrade—noticed something off.

“…? Hey, what’s wrong?”

“…Nah, it’s nothing. Let’s go. I want to pay my respects too.”

“? Alright… this way.”

“…?”

Though both the young man and Marco noticed something odd in the captain’s reaction, it didn’t seem serious enough to pursue. So they followed him off the ship.

As they walked through the port, the captain murmured quietly.

The name of the man and the pirates he now led—

“2nd Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, ‘Fire Fist Ace’ – Bounty: 1.1 Billion Berries”

“…Before I meet them again… I’ve gotta rise even higher.”

Once one of the “Four Emperors”… the Whitebeard Pirates.

More than half a year had passed since their captain, “Whitebeard” Edward Newgate, died. And now, they too had set a new course—sailing into a turbulent sea.

---

There is a country in the world today that is the safest and most peaceful of all.

This country, ruled by a great and fearsome queen, is a land of dreams and sweets. Though located in the New World, it has suffered almost no pirate attacks and continues its way of life unchanged from a year ago.

“Hey, did you hear? The daughter of the Beasts Pirates is visiting the castle!”

“Oh my, does that mean it's a honeymoon? I hear they’ve been touring various islands.”

“Sounds like a happy occasion. The Beasts Pirates have a nasty reputation, but they’re allied with this country after all…”

Sheltered under umbrellas from the sweet sugar rain, the citizens gossip. These days, the talk of the town is less about the world’s battles and bloody incidents, and more about ministerial marriages and honeymoons—gossip about alliances through marriage, and similar fare.

Though this is a country ruled by pirates, the people live in peace. The strife afflicting the distant lands aligned with the World Government seems like a faraway fantasy. Their interests are well-served by the vast lands of their own country and its allies. Even those who care to follow world affairs limit their knowledge to the Four Emperors and other pirates clashing in the New World.

Though the world has changed and become one of violence, the people of this peaceful nation have yet to feel its bite. All they can do is pray that conflict doesn’t come to them, and entrust their hopes to the ministers ruling the islands—namely, the executive officers of the pirate crew that governs the country. And the price for that peace is minimal.

──And thus, the land governed by the Yonko Big Mom Pirates, “Totto Land,” is now the happiest country in the world.

Its citizens fear nothing. The only thing they might dread is the temper tantrum of their absolute queen.

It surprises many that, despite being under the control of a Yonko and situated in pirate territory, this nation is peace itself.

“Amazing… This island is peaceful too…!!”

Someone else was astonished—watching the peaceful streets and people laughing and living normal lives through the window.

This is the capital of Totto Land, the headquarters of the Big Mom Pirates: Whole Cake Island. In its center rises the towering Whole Cake Château. Pressed against a window in one of its rooms is a guest wearing the attire of Wano Country. She’s a tall beauty nearly three meters in height, yet carries a somewhat childish air of immaturity. Sporting two distinctive horns, the woman can only gape in surprise at how this island defies everything she thought she knew.

“Even though it’s under the control of a Yonko… a pirate crew… Could it be that my homeland was the odd one out…!?”

“…That’s not really the case. All pirate territories are essentially the same. They rule over civilians with violence and fear, taking tribute. Your place just had tighter control. We lean more toward business—we honor our contracts if others do the same. The citizens of Totto Land have all agreed to that contract, which is why they can live here… because of Mama’s dream.”

“Mama’s dream?”

The response to her murmured question comes from behind, in a deep male voice. The man is even taller than the woman—over five meters tall—with a powerful, well-trained physique and a covered mouth. Seated on a couch sized for his bulk, he sits with legs crossed, perfectly composed, and speaks of his mother’s dream to the astonished woman. That is—Charlotte Linlin, also known as Big Mom, the pirate who rules this country.

“…Mama’s dream is to create a land where all races from around the world can become one family and sit at the table as equals… a utopia of that kind.”

“What a wonderful dream!! Then why form an alliance with my father…?”

“──Because the goal is the same: to rule the world through fear and violence. In order to reach Laugh Tale and obtain the One Piece, to become the Pirate King, we needed power. That’s why the Big Mom Pirates allied with the Beasts Pirates. The marriage was nothing more than a political arrangement to that end.”

“……!”

The woman’s face twists in displeasure. For a moment, she thought maybe this pirate crew was different—more reasonable—but that illusion was shattered. They’re the same as her father and his ilk. Beasts, all of them.

To her reaction, the man offers a cold reality: there is no “good” or “bad” when it comes to pirates. Though taciturn, he speaks, if only to make her give up.

“Mama doesn’t trust anyone who’s not blood. So give it up. Another escape attempt would just stress me out.”

“Ggh… You didn’t want the marriage either, did you?”

“…No. But Mama’s decisions are final. If I didn’t want to get married, my only options were to flee or accept it. And I have no intention of fleeing.”

He bore responsibility. So he gave up, accepted his fate, and married—believing it was for the sake of the Big Mom Pirates, their family, and their citizens.

He is the Minister of Flour of Wheat Island, one of Totto Land’s constituent islands. A paragon among the mighty Big Mom Pirates, the greatest creation of the Charlotte Family, and the strongest of the Sweet Four Generals. He now speaks his mind to the daughter of the Beasts Pirates—the one who is now his wife.

Charlotte Katakuri, Sweet Commander of the Big Mom Pirates (Charlotte Family’s Second Son), Bounty: 1,357,000,000 Berries

“And I don’t plan to let you escape, either. If you run, it would be a disgrace to the Big Mom Pirates and could fracture our alliance with the Beasts Pirates. I can’t let that happen… You understand, don’t you──Ya-Ma-To.”

Yamato – Daughter of Kaido (Self-proclaimed Kozuki Oden), Wife of Katakuri

“Grr…!! So you really are just like Father… Even though I became a man and took up the name Kozuki Oden… Forcing me into marriage with a man is absurd!!”

“…I’ve had enough of your insane delusions. I’ve been stuck with you for months now, enduring escape attempts and insane outbursts. Try putting yourself in my shoes.”

Katakuri runs a hand over his head as he watches his wife Yamato spew madness with all seriousness. There’s nothing left to do but hold his head in his hands.

It all began a few months ago when talks of strengthening the alliance with the Beasts Pirates began, and Katakuri was chosen as the groom. After watching his siblings argue over it, Mama made the decision. And once that happened, Katakuri had no choice. He accepted it, convincing himself it was for the good of the crew, their family, and the people.

But his bride, Yamato, though Kaido’s daughter, insists she is his son, claims to be the samurai Kozuki Oden, and continuously resists the marriage, trying to escape again and again… To put it lightly, it’s been a stressful life. He can’t even enjoy the 3 o’clock snack time—merienda—in peace. It’s enough to wear anyone down.

“Damn… I didn’t expect my spouse to be this strong. If they were weak, I could’ve made up some excuse to slip away and escape…!!”

“That’s my line. If you were weak, I wouldn’t have to waste so much of my effort.”

Katakuri has fought Yamato several times during their honeymoon, just to stop her from running. Though she can’t beat the strongest of the Sweet Commanders, she’s strong enough not to be left to the grunts. Subduing her is a hassle.

Now, Yamato has realized that escaping while Katakuri is nearby is impossible, so she’s behaving—for the moment. But unless someone trustworthy is watching her, she might act again. So Katakuri can never let his guard down. Even coming to Whole Cake Island, he couldn't afford to relax.

At one point, there was someone tasked with guarding Yamato, but they had to leave for other duties. Yamato welcomed the reprieve, but Katakuri remained a formidable obstacle. The Charlotte siblings are all eccentric—she’s met many of them already on the way here. And even now—right now—something silent attacks Yamato from the room’s entrance.

“! Hey, knock it off, Flampé!! How long are you gonna keep targeting me!? If you want a fight, I’ll give you one!!”

“Eek!? Kyaaah!? She caught me again!! Big Brother Katakuri, help me!!”

“…………”

Yamato dodges the silent blow dart shot from the entrance and glares at the girl who launched it. Floating like an inflated piece of gum and chewing on one, the girl is none other than Charlotte Flampé, the 36th daughter of the Charlotte Family.

Infatuated with Katakuri, Flampé continues to obsessively target Yamato, only to be caught each time and run crying to Katakuri for help. But Katakuri just sighs, exasperated. He speaks firmly, to both Yamato and Flampé. This is a done deal.

“…Flampé. You and Yamato both—give it up already. This is Mama’s decision. It’s necessary for both the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates to benefit.”

“Ehhh~~!! No waaaaay!! Someone else should’ve gotten married!! And to a stuck-up gorilla princess like her no less~~!!”

“…!! It’s not like I wanted to get married either!! If I could’ve refused, I would’ve!! But my little sister…”

“Huh? Sister?”

“…………”

Flampe pouted and grumbled, but Yamato reacted to the word “sister” with a complicated expression on her face. Flampe looked confused, a question mark practically floating above her head, while Katakuri remained silent. The word “sister” seemed to mean something to him, but he didn’t say anything aloud.

Yamato, too, couldn’t find anything else to say. Before the silence could stretch, someone else entered from outside the room and joined the conversation.

“──Indeed. This is something necessary for both pirate crews.”

“!! ──Joker……!! You’re already back……!!”

“……Took long enough. Thanks to that, I didn’t get a single moment of peace.”

“Oh my, I’m sorry♡ I thought I’d give you two some time alone as newlyweds… but judging by the looks of things, your relationship hasn’t progressed at all, has it?”

Click, click—the sound of heels echoed as the woman entered the room, her eyes veiled by a sheer red cloth. She was a stunning woman in a dress, and a high-ranking officer of the Beasts Pirates. This was Joker, who had taken on the role of keeping an eye on Yamato while handling other assignments. Yamato furrowed her brows at the sight of her, while Katakuri muttered a complaint. Joker offered a casual apology, but didn’t look remorseful at all. With a faint smile, she tapped her parasol against the floor and continued.

“Now that you’re married, it makes sense to get along, doesn’t it? From our side, it’s hard to watch our dear young lady already having issues with her husband right after the ceremony.”

“The marriage is purely political. There’s no need to grow closer than necessary.”

“Oh, how cold. Especially since it was your side that brought it up. We would've been content with just the alliance... It was only because Big Mom insisted that we move forward with the marriage. After we went through all that trouble convincing Kaido, who didn’t even want it, the least you could do is appreciate it.”

“……Then maybe you should’ve raised her better. So she wouldn’t keep running away or saying crazy things.”

“Fufu, I do apologize. But Big Mom specifically picked one of Kaido’s children, so we only had two options. And both are quite the handful.”

“Ugh…… I’ll never understand this…!! Father and Big Mom get along just fine without a marriage, so what’s the point……!!”

Joker and Katakuri exchanged snide remarks, and Yamato interjected with a scowl. She could understand the reasoning—that forming a blood tie would strengthen the alliance—but there was no guarantee the alliance would even last. Yamato knew that for their fathers, marriage meant absolutely nothing. So she couldn’t figure out what Big Mom was really aiming for, and Joker’s response was nowhere near the answer she wanted. ──Though it did leave her with another surprise.

“Fufufu… Big Mom wants to be family with all kinds of races. Maybe she just wanted someone with horns♡”

“Plenty of people have horns!! Why me!!?”

“Who knows… But yes, I was surprised too. There was a time she considered Nue-san, you know… Honestly, these days I’d have expected her to demand King. He’s a rare race not found in Totto Land… and if that were the case, she could’ve married him off to one of the Charlotte daughters──”

“──Who cares. More importantly, don’t you have a report?”

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk to me like I’m one of your subordinates, but yes. I do have something to report. ──Though, not to you. It’s for Lady Yamato.”

“For me?”

“Yes. So would you two mind stepping out for a bit?”

“……Fine. ──Come on, Flampe.”

“Yes, Katakuri big bro♡ ──Blehhh!! Yamato, one day I will be the one to eliminate you!! Now come, my minions!!”

“H-Highness!! We are at your service, Lady Flampe!!”

“W-We’re right behind you!!”

“……?”

Joker asked Katakuri and the others to step out so she could speak with Yamato privately. Although this was the Charlotte Family’s castle, they were all guests—and Yamato was, in a way, family now. So they didn’t really have a choice. In fact, Katakuri was secretly glad to get a break. Flampe, true to form, gave a sweet response to Katakuri and threatened Yamato before leaving with her underlings.

As they exited, Yamato felt a slight sense of unease about the two supposed Big Mom Pirates flunkies following behind Flampe. But it wasn’t anything she could quite articulate. She only gave them a glance and let it go. One was a young man with pink hair and a scar on his forehead; the other was blond and wore sunglasses. Yamato didn’t recognize either of them.

“Now then… with the others out of the way, let’s get to the report.”

“……A report, but it’s clearly just an after-the-fact notice. It’s not like I have any authority… even if I’ve been named the Shogun of New Onigashima, I’m nothing more than a figurehead!!”

“Fufufufu…!! If you were just a bit more cooperative with us, maybe that wouldn't be the case. Still, yes—this one’s a post-event report. About an incident, to be precise.”

“……An incident?”

Yes, Joker nodded. Yamato had no idea what she meant, but the slight disappearance of Joker’s smile signaled that this was no ordinary report.

“……It’s much earlier than expected, but…… she’s been born. Your sister Musashi-sama’s child.”

“…………Huh!!?”

---

—New World, “Sprint Island”

The entire island was composed of a special mineral, making everything on it—from the vegetation to the creatures that fed on it—hard and tough. On this unforgiving land, six beastly individuals were undergoing training.

“Haa… haa…!!”

“BUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!”

Most of the island was covered in dense jungle. A rich, natural wilderness teeming with flora and fauna—an abundant cradle of life. Though uninhabited, anyone with proper survival knowledge and skills could manage. Even if the trees and fruits were hard, they softened a little once cooked, and with the use of Haki, breaking them wasn't impossible. For the six here to train, the island posed challenges—but that was the point.

A week had already passed since training began, and with the basics of daily life in place—Kozuki, one of the Tobi Roppo, was sprinting through the jungle in her beast form. Behind her echoed the roar of a massive creature toppling even the island’s hard trees with ease. She was running, but not merely fleeing.

“!!”

“…! Got it…!!”

“BUO!?”

Kozuki lured the beast—an elephant-like creature with a hardened hide—into a clearing, a basin nestled in the jungle. As the beast let out a low growl, sensing something wrong beneath its feet, a woman hiding among the trees smiled.

“Ufufu… too bad♡ That spot’s a trap made from my Hard Gum Thread.”

“BUOOOOOOOOON!!!”

Lowering herself on threads from her hand, having transformed her lower half into that of a spider, was Black Maria—another of the Tobi Roppo. A user of the Ancient Zoan-type Spider-Spider Fruit, she had laid an adhesive web trap using threads far stickier than any normal spider’s. Even in nature, spider silk is among the strongest adhesives. No matter how large or powerful the prey, escaping it was out of the question.

“It’s useless. Now that you’re caught, I’ll toy with you until you die. You dare destroy our home…!!”

“BUOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

“!? What the—!!”

“It’s lifting the ground itself with its legs…!?”

But the beast forcibly ripped up the earth beneath its feet, breaking through the trap with sheer strength.

It advanced again, now wearing makeshift shoes of stone. Black Maria and Kozuki were shocked. Its mobility had been reduced, but it was far from neutralized.

“Tch… not how we planned it, but… let’s go, Sis!!”

“Kyaa♡ Do your best, Pei-tan!!”

“You’re fighting too!!! We talked about this earlier!!”

“Y-O-U—!!!??”

Next to act were the sibling duo hiding nearby—Ulti and Page One, also members of the Tobi Roppo. Unleashing the power of their Ancient Zoan-type Dragon-Dragon Fruits, they attacked the beast in their hybrid forms, closing the distance and striking simultaneously.

“ORA!! Drop dead!! You’re tonight’s dinner!!!”

“Payback time for trampling our crops!!!”

“BUO…!!!”

Page One’s Haki-infused fist and Ulti’s headbutt slammed into the beast’s side. It let out a pained groan but didn’t fall. It lashed back with its long trunk.

“You might be the toughest of the beasts on this island… but I’ve got confidence in my toughness too…!!!”

“Bu, o…!!!”

At that moment, another dinosaur charged in and caught the elephant’s trunk head-on—engaging it in a raw test of strength. It was Sasaki, another Tobi Roppo, already in his triceratops beast form. He clashed with the beast’s tusks and trunk, finally halting its advance.

“Hold it right there… guys…!!!”

This beast also possessed speed and agility. A giant feline—an extinct predator. Leaping at the beast next was the final Tobi Roppo member, Who’s-Who, in the form of a saber-toothed tiger.

“You don’t look like the taming type… so I’ll rip your throat out and finish this…!!!”

“BUOOOOOOOOOO…!!!”

Who’s-Who sank his long fangs into the beast—but they didn’t pierce deeply.

Though his fangs were clad in Haki, their Armament Haki had yet to reach the highest level.

Thus, even with their combined strength, breaking through the beast’s hide wasn’t easy. Still, their raw power was formidable. As long as they kept attacking with Haki, they could slowly chip away at it.

Shifting between beast, human, and hybrid forms as needed, their coordination wasn’t perfect—but they maintained basic cooperation. As Zoan users with beast traits and leadership over their own squads, they understood the fundamentals of group combat.

They took some hits too, but each of them ranked in the top ten for endurance even within the Beasts Pirates. Few in the New World had stamina like theirs. No one here was weak. Against a single creature, taking it down wouldn’t have been an issue—but…

“GYAAAAAAOOOOOOO!!!”

“!? Hey, there’s a second one!!?”

“Ghh… Damn beast…!!”

“This one’s fast!!?”

“How annoying de gonsu!!”

This jungle, home to countless beasts, wouldn’t spare humans. One creature was never the end. A second one now leapt from tree to tree, using the branches as footholds, and lunged swiftly at Who’s-Who. This one, too, resembled a ferocious tiger with sharp fangs.

Now the Tobi Roppo had to face two monsters at once.

Yet these beasts weren’t allies. In this lawless jungle, only the strong survived. Lose, and you die. If your territory is overrun, you starve. Fighting was inevitable.

The Tobi Roppo had to dominate these powerful beasts—to prove their dominance and secure their turf.

“Haa… You really gave us a hard time…”

“Finally took it down…!!”

“Alright… let’s haul it back before more show up. We’ll bleed it, skin it, and make use of every part for our survival…!!”

“Yeah… Hey, Kozuki. You carry it.”

“Haa… haa… Understood…”

“Time to feast de gonsu!!”

Having brought the beast down, they now turned it into sustenance. Fighting was vital—but so was food and materials. This hunt was part of their training, too.

Back near their base, they could let their guard down a little. Another beast might still attack—but that too was training. If they detected an ambush, they’d just kill again. Such was the path to becoming stronger.

“…By the way… did you hear? That brat Musashi was apparently born.”

“Huh!? Is that true, de-gonsu!?”

“Yeah, I heard about it while giving some orders to my subordinates about our operations…”

“That Musashi’s kid… gives me a bad feeling.”

“Apparently, the name’s Owari.”

Amid all this, even the Tobiroppo occasionally have conversations. On this island—where only six people reside—the only other individuals present are a few subordinates stationed at the beach house for surveillance and communication. With so little activity, boredom is inevitable. Small talk isn’t unusual. Today’s topic was about the newborn child of Musashi and the potential repercussions it might bring.

“Let’s just hope nothing bad comes of it…”

“If a fight breaks out, will they come to this island, de-gonsu?”

“Hey! Don’t jinx it, sis!!”

“If a fight breaks out, won’t they blow another hole right through the middle of the island again?”

“…With the size of that hole, next time the whole island might split in two…”

Among all possible consequences, what the Tobiroppo fear most is a fight between Kaido and Nue breaking out for any reason. In the Beasts Pirates, it happens from time to time—natural disaster-level brawls that force everyone into emergency evacuation. More than once, their territories have been left in ruins.

Sprint Island is practically the designated battleground for Kaido and Nue’s spats. If a clash were to occur, they’d likely head here again. Technically, they say the island won’t break, but anyone who’s seen the massive crater at its center—where there clearly used to be a mountain—would find that hard to believe. Getting caught in one of those fights would mean certain death, no matter who or where you are.

The Tobiroppo couldn’t help but worry that something related to the grandchild might spark another such chain reaction… Yet, among them, only Komurasaki harbored entirely different thoughts.

“Musashi’s child… huh…”

She whispered to herself, just loud enough that no one could hear. The child of her enemy’s child. And then she thought—

—Even if the child is innocent, they won’t stand in the way of revenge. If necessary, I’ll take them down too. That’s the level of resolve I need to have.

“All right… First, we’re cooking up these beasts…!!”

“!? Hey! The cutting board went missing during that beast fiasco!! Make a new one, quick!! Black Maria!!”

“Oh no… That is a problem… But we should fix the destroyed house first…”

“Then let’s just use one of the planks from this busted-up house!! It just so happens to be miraculously shaped like a cutting board!!”

“As expected of Pētan!! That solves the cooking problem, de-gonsu!!”

“…All this fuss over a cutting board…”

“Aaah~~!? You little—Komurasaki!! You mocking the cutting board, you ultra dumbass!?”

“To make fun of the cutting board… a disgrace to the Tobiroppo.”

“—Komurasaki. You clearly have no idea how amazing cutting boards are. To a chef, a cutting board is like a sword to a swordsman. It’s absolutely essential for hygiene, and in Wano, it’s so revered it’s the origin of the very word for cook. Obviously, I always carry my own personal board with me…”

“!!? (King!? What the hell is he doing here all of a sudden…!?)”

…But the road ahead was long and rough. Training was grueling, and once again today, while forging tools from jungle-sourced materials, Komurasaki found herself relentlessly scolded by both her fellow Tobiroppo and, before she knew it, King—who had somehow shown up at their base.

---

——“New Onigashima.”

At the center of the massive pirate empire that proclaimed dominion over the New World stood a fortress-like island that had become a paradise for pirates—and it was abuzz with noise. The area once known as the Flower Capital, once a prosperous city enriching Orochi, had transformed into the capital of New Onigashima, now dubbed “Hell Town.” Pirates drank every night, slaves labored without rest, and the red-light district thrived with courtesans.

“Gya-hahaha! This country’s insane!!”

“Hell yeah, brother! Joining the Beasts Pirates was the right call!!”

“Damn right! Let’s rack up some achievements and rise through the ranks together!!”

Throughout the city, the number of Beasts Pirates had only grown over the past six months. The low-ranking members laughed with their arms slung around each other, guzzling booze, celebrating their fortune, and voicing their ambitions. The new Waiters eagerly waited for their chance to eat a SMILE, an artificial Devil Fruit, dreaming of becoming Gifters if they survived the process. Those who failed became Pleasures—but even that counted as landing on the winning side.

“…The newbies sure are carefree, huh…”

“Yeah. It’s good to be happy and all, but who knows what’s gonna happen? Seriously.”

“Petty stuff can turn into fights here… and if it’s family matters, even more so…”

Meanwhile, the more experienced Gifters and other ability users—especially the elite officers recognized for their strength, the Shinuchi—drank to celebrate while quietly growing uneasy inside the castle. The longer one had been with the Beasts Pirates, the clearer it was that they were nearing a turning point.

“Let’s hope nothing happens before the next ‘Golden Kagura’… the ‘Beast Cup.’”

“If we get caught up in something, there won’t be time for promotion battles!!”

“It all depends on that kid… and Lady Musashi…”

“As long as they’re not more of a wild child than Lady Yamato or Lady Musashi…”

“Even if they are, that’s a ways off, right? The kid’s not even a month old yet!”

“You sure? That bloodline’s monstrous even by our standards! Wouldn’t be surprising if a total freak was born…!!”

“Just what kind of kid are we talking about here…”

As they drank in the banquet hall, the Shinuchi glanced up—toward the upper floors beyond the ceiling—hoping nothing would happen. What truly piqued their interest was what kind of child had been born… and whether that would spark conflict among their bosses.

—Their unease, however, was not entirely unfounded.

Upper floor of Kaido’s residence, New Onigashima. In a spacious tatami room, a group of assigned wet nurses cautiously approached the cradle.

“Hiiiii~ there♡ Lord Owari~~♡ Here’s your new pacifier♡”

“Aah-ooh!”

“That’s right, be a good little baby and suck on this for now~~♡”

“Buuu!!”

“Ah!!? P-Please wait!!”

The assigned wet nurse, a stunning woman who usually served under Black Maria and worked in the pleasure district, reached out gently in baby talk. But the infant in the cradle—Lord Owari—suddenly sprang up, crawling rapidly across the tatami mats. The startled nurses cried out, calling to the guard at the room entrance—a Waiter.

“Catch Lord Owari!!”

“Whoa!? How’s that baby crawling so fast!? Is she the reincarnation of a cheetah or something!?”

“Not the time for jokes!! Alright… let’s catch her…!! —Gotcha!!”

“!?”

Two rough-looking pirates lunged for the crawling infant, Owari, whose speed was unbelievable for a baby. One of them managed to catch her. Fast or not, she was still a baby. There was no way she could outpace fully grown pirates—even low-ranking soldiers of the dreaded Beasts Pirates.

“Auu~!!”

“Gahaha!! Give it up!! Babies should act like babies and stay put in their cradles!!”

“Buuu… aah—oo—!!!”

“Eh!!? —Guhbff!!?”

But the baby had a move of her own. Letting out a dissatisfied cry at the idiot’s laughter, she suddenly grabbed the man’s finger, twisted her little body around, slipped free from the pirate’s arm, spun once in midair—and slammed the man into the tatami. The nurses and the other pirates stared in disbelief.

“H-He got thrown…!!?”

“Hey hey… what kind of baby is this!!? I’ve never heard of a baby throwing an adult!!?”

“M-Maybe she’s a sumo wrestler’s reincarnation…?”

“Not the time for jokes!!!”

“She’s heading into the hallway!! Hurry up and catch her!!”

“Aaah—oooh!!!”

The pirates scrambled in confusion. Just one infant—not even a month old—was running circles around them. They couldn’t get rough, and they’d underestimated her because she was a baby. But even with that excuse, she was far beyond what anyone would consider “normal.”

She bolted into the hallway, dashing at lightning speed—then came to a sudden stop. She had found her target.

“Aaah—aaah!!”

"Hm? ──Oh, Owari!! Hahaha, what are you doing here? Don’t tell me you came to greet your mother?"

"Auu!!"

"I see, I see! You came to greet me!! I get it now… Did you sense me coming beforehand? Was it Observation Haki from birth, or did you somehow pick up on your mother’s presence as an infant? Who knows… Either way, you’re amazing!!"

"Au~!!"

Cradling the baby who had just appeared before her, the woman smiled. She was the baby’s mother, out on an errand, and none other than the Vice-General of the famed New Onigashima. She’d grown noticeably in the past six months—taller, more developed—and as the daughter of the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates, her child naturally came from prestigious blood.

‘Vice-General of New Onigashima (Kaido’s Daughter) Musashi’

"Still, this situation… Hmph, as expected of my child!!"

‘Musashi’s Daughter (Kaido’s Grandchild) Owari’

"Dauw!!"

"Indeed. But when you throw people, you need to choose your target and the right place. Otherwise, they might accidentally die!!"

"Au!!"

"That’s not the part you should be correcting her on!!!"

The subordinates promptly chimed in with a retort to the baby. Despite her status, they couldn’t let something so off-kilter slide. Musashi didn’t mind—she understood they served not her, but her father. She carried Owari back into the room. Following her were two female attendants—one a grown woman with pink hair, the other a young girl.

"Now then… time to get dinner ready. ──Beni, Otama."

"…Yes."

"Y-Yes, ma’am!!"

"Auu~"

Musashi handed Owari to her two attendants and moved to prepare the baby’s meal.

However, Musashi was still unfamiliar with many of these tasks. She pulled out a memo from her chest and began checking off items one by one as she tried to proceed.

"Owari’s quite the little glutton… I’ll need more than milk—some baby food too… Um… How do I make it again…"

"──My, my… Struggling quite a bit, aren’t you?"

"!"

Just as she was about to start, a voice called out from the opposite entrance. Everyone in the room stiffened. The newcomers were a small girl with strange wings and a large man with horns similar to Musashi’s. These were the top two powers of the Beasts Pirates—Kaido and Nue.

"Want me to teach you? I’m used to babysitting. I took care of Linlin’s kids… and you and Yamato too♡"

"…! That won’t be necessary. I can do it myself. I’ve already looked up how. More importantly, what are you here for?"

"That’s a cold way to talk to a parent just coming to see their kid. I just wanted to check in—is that so bad?"

"A drunken old man and a middle-aged idol aren’t exactly the best influences for a child."

"Huh? What? I can’t hear you. Nue-chan is eternally fifteen years old~~~~♡"

"The way you flirt is painful. You might look young, but you can’t lie about your age. Face reality."

"──You’re worse at hiding it than you used to be, Nue."

"Shut it, you dumb Musashi and dumb Kaido!! I’ll beat the snot out of you!! I’m an eternal idol, got it!? Right, Owari-chan♡?"

"Babuu!!"

"See!? She said yes!! Even a pure baby gets it!!"

"She doesn’t understand words."

"…………"

A flurry of banter as soon as they arrived. Nue struck an idol pose toward Owari, who found it genuinely amusing. Musashi said nothing, understanding words were pointless here—but that silence only made Nue suspicious.

"Huh? I totally thought you’d say something using Owari as an excuse… Don’t tell me—you finally admit it? That I’m an eternal idol?"

"…Not exactly. I just think it’s wrong to use a child for your own petty jabs… so I stopped."

"! Hmph? Talking like some kind of decent human being now… You sure that won’t get in the way of your goals?"

"Hmph… You know full well it won’t. Now then, what business do you have?"

"Haha, fair enough. You are a beast—I trust you’ll handle things as needed!! ──Now, about our business… Some decisions have been made, and we figured we’d let you know first… Right, Kaido?"

"Yeah… Nue and I have been talking for a while, and it’s settled. We’re sending Joker to fetch Yamato, but we’re telling you first, Musashi."

"Auu~?"

Nue’s earlier comment, laced with slight Haki in her gaze, had been half-jest. She never seriously expected Musashi to accept her idol claim. With the teasing over, they got to the point. Mention of Yamato made it clear—it was a family matter. Owari, though likely unaware, still reacted. To distract her, Nue summoned one of her powers.

"──‘Ventler’."

"! A~~~~u~~~!!"

"Wow, she’s just a baby and already chasing after it. Linlin’s sons couldn’t catch it at all. I wonder how old Owari-chan will be when she finally does?"

"…So what is it you came to tell me?"

"It’s about Owari—her father won’t be made public. He won’t be acknowledged. As far as anyone’s concerned… he. doesn’t. exist."

"!!"

Musashi’s face changed in shock. Her father—everyone among the higher ranks knew. She and Yamato, Kaido and Nue, the executives—they all knew about the new taboo that had arisen in the Beasts Pirates six months ago. Kaido had just declared the official stance.

But the shock didn’t last. Musashi had half expected it. Her attendants and the lower-ranking pirates all froze, sensing they’d just overheard something dangerous—and knowing they must never comment on it. Amid that tension, Musashi spoke without naming the father.

"…You really can’t stand that guy, huh?"

"That’s part of it. But if the world or our own crew found out, it’d be a damn mess… It’d cause chaos!!"

"Well, we’re going to kill him eventually anyway. If he joined our ranks, that’d be different, but that’s not gonna happen."

"Hey, Nue!! That’s not the point!!! I’m not recognizing him under any circumstances!!! That brat is mine to kill!!!"

"Aw, I wouldn’t mind acknowledging him if he joined our crew. If he found out, maybe he’d feel guilty and raise his chances from zero to, like, one percent? Like, ‘I’ve got a daughter now, so take responsibility~’—a nice appeal to his sense of duty."

"You don't want to handle things that way either, do you?! It'll only complicate things!!"

"Well, yeah, that's true. If they gave up, I wouldn't mind making them a subordinate, but honestly, I’d rather crush them head-on while they’re still fired up—so with that said, Musashi!! Talking about your father is off-limits!!"

"...Understood."

It seemed that Kaido and Nue had some differing opinions, but in the end, they shared the same conclusion. Since the two of them had spoken, Musashi could only nod in agreement. Fortunately, the other side didn’t know about the child. And unless they brought it up themselves, there was no way for them to find out, nor would they be burdened with unnecessary responsibility. The other side was already under pressure from choosing a new path.

"That all you had to say?"

"Pretty much… oh, and Yamato and Katakuri’s honeymoon isn’t going so well, I guess? Would’ve been nice if they’d had another kid while they were at it♡ Then Owari-chan would’ve had a little sister or brother!!"

"If another one is going to be born, I’d prefer a son..."

"And look at that—Kaido, who’s always been surrounded by daughters, says as much. Maybe I should tell Linlin and Katakuri. I’m meeting Linlin soon to talk about the 'Elbaf' matter anyway."

"Yamato is technically your 'son' too, isn’t she? Be satisfied with that, Father."

"Shut up…!! I never asked for that, but since she insists she’s my son, it’s been hell trying to explain it to Linlin… She really needs to move on from that whole ‘Oden cosplay’ phase already…"

"Maybe Owari-chan will grow up weird again this time… Should we just raise her as a boy? Maybe she’ll aim to be a pirate this time? Or wait—would she claim to be Pirate King instead…?"

"Shut up!! Cut it out!!"

"What a pathetic squabble. There’s no way Owari will lose her mind—she’s my child, after all."

"Which is exactly why I’m worried!!!"

"My head's starting to ache…!!"

"Auu~~!! Auu~~!!"

Kaido barked out in frustration at Nue’s joke, likely conjuring up some unpleasant images. Then, Nue responded to Musashi’s remark with a jab of her own, and Kaido sighed and cradled his head. Naturally, the infant Owari paid no mind to any of it, gleefully chasing the three small, colorful UFOs that Nue had conjured. It was a method she’d used since long ago when babysitting. The vividly colored, erratically floating UFOs were always a hit with kids.

That said, it was clearly abnormal for a baby not even a month old to be crawling so energetically after the UFOs. Not only was she growing quickly, but her innate physical ability was far too high. Tossing adults around at the age of zero—that was something only someone like Yamato’s idol or Linlin herself would be capable of. It was possible this child might rival—or even surpass—them one day. Watching Owari continue her attempts to catch the UFOs, Nue smiled.

"Well, in any case, it’s good that she seems strong and healthy. I’ve got to get ready soon… And I still have to help supervise the Flying Six’s training later… Oh, right, Musashi."

"? There’s more?"

"Not a big deal. I’m signing you up as a guest participant for the next ‘Hundred Beasts Cup’ at the upcoming ‘Golden Kagura.’ So, yeah, be ready."

"...If I fight my way up… will I get to face you all?"

"Getting ahead of yourself. But hey, if you get strong enough to beat a Lead Performer, maybe I’ll give you a little match♡ Whether you win or not is another matter, but it might be fun♪"

"…You can keep playing it cool. But while you're all basking in that arrogance, I—no, we—might grow strong enough to reach you."

Musashi, now a mother, continued training in secret, aiming to sink her fangs into the apex of the beasts from the inside, hoping that might also help her former comrades. That statement of hers was brazen, yet at the same time, it expressed her faith in the enemies of the beasts—somewhere out there in the world.

But Nue paused slightly at those words, her beast-like eyes gleaming. She left her response to her companion first.

"...Arrogance, huh… What do you think, Kaido?"

"Worororo… It ain’t arrogance. It’s confidence. Musashi… whether it’s you or anyone else… no matter how hard you train for a few years, you ain't gonna reach us…!!!"

"No one knows the future—not even the most skilled in Observation Haki."

"Ahahaha… well, I guess we’re both making baseless claims then. Musashi. Just focus on raising Owari-chan well. That kid’s got potential… Though, let me say one thing—"

Kaido flashed a fearless grin. Nue matched it, and Musashi responded in kind, though a bead of sweat ran down her temple. The gap in power between them remained vast. Musashi wasn’t so weak that she couldn’t recognize her parents’ strength. In fact, it was because she had grown that she now understood just how far off the summit was.

Kaido and Nue also understood that gap. But unlike Musashi, they could more precisely estimate both the current disparity and how much it might be closed in the future. And that was why Nue spoke—while leaving the room with Kaido, her back turned—

"──Growth isn’t a privilege exclusive to the young and the newborn…!!!"

"──I look forward to seeing even just one person rise who can take us on…!!! Worororo…!!!"

"……!!"

And with that, Nue and Kaido departed.

At that moment, Musashi sensed the surge of Haki rising from their bodies with her Observation Haki—and realized something. It had grown stronger than before. Even though they hadn’t actively unleashed their Conqueror’s Haki, it was obvious.

"...This is going to be more than just a struggle… I’ll have to steel myself further…"

"A-Are you gonna be… o-okay…?"

"…Yes, I will. You lot shouldn’t push yourselves. Just standing near my father’s Haki must make it hard to even breathe, right?"

She murmured this in caution to her small subordinates—because if not careful, they might end up completely devoured, flesh and bones and all.

"Auu~~…!!"

"! Owari… Haha… you’re still full of energy, huh. Even though this situation is anything but simple for you…"

Yet even now, watching Owari pout at failing to catch the UFOs and continue playing, Musashi couldn’t help but smile wryly—and made a firm vow. She would not drag this child into it. This was her fight.

No matter how it ended—she would at least ensure that this child could live a life of freedom.