Leaving Wano Country

At dawn, Yota slowly opened his eyes. Looking at Kozuki Hiyori in his arms, he immediately felt that he really was unable to resist temptation.

He did not think of himself as someone with extraordinary charm. As for personal charisma, both Ace and Yamato were actually far stronger than the rational-minded him. The reason Kozuki Hiyori had given herself to him clearly had little to do with affection. More likely, she wanted to repay his kindness, perhaps mixed with certain other considerations of benefit.

However, Yota was not the sort to put on airs. Back in the Naruto World, when he had subdued Kirigakure, he had accepted Mei Terumī’s offering of herself. Compared to that, the emotional foundation between him and Kozuki Hiyori was far stronger than what he had shared with Mei Terumī.

Besides, as the shogun of Wano Country, Kozuki Hiyori’s personal character was far superior to that of Kirigakure’s Mizukage.

People in the Pirate World were clear about love and hate. Perhaps they did not understand all the convoluted notions of righteousness and collectives, but they were also very clear about personal good and evil.

People in the Naruto World, on the other hand, often placed more importance on personal positions and collective interests. Personal morality existed too, but it would give way to the interests of the collective. Yota was practically sick of hearing things like doing it for the ninja village or for peace.

Every kind of monster and demon spoke of the virtues of peace, yet the mountains and rivers of old had turned into a surging sea of blood. In Yota’s view, if there had not been so many lunatics chasing after peace, perhaps the Naruto World really would have known peace.

Just as Yota was wondering when he should visit the Naruto World, he felt something stir against his chest. Kozuki Hiyori had awakened.

Seeing Kozuki Hiyori’s bashful expression, Yota did not say much. No matter what, and regardless of whether she had selfish motives, she had given herself to him. At the same time, he believed that Kozuki Hiyori had no intention of harming him. That was enough.

Whether she wanted to make use of his reputation, fly his banner, or find Wano Country a protector, Yota had no objections. It was not as though it would cost him anything.

Once that barrier between a man and a woman had been crossed, their relationship often progressed at a startling pace. Over the next few months, Yota and Kozuki Hiyori sorted through Wano Country’s various affairs while traveling its scenic lands.

Although Yota had roughly dealt with Wano Country’s severe pollution from the beginning, he had not put nearly as much care into it then as he did now. If he had merely restored Wano Country to its original state before, then now he had made its natural environment several times better than it had been at the start.

Flower Capital.

Yota was softly telling Kozuki Hiyori about his days sailing at sea. With her bright eyes wide open, Kozuki Hiyori listened as he spoke of the dangers and amusing incidents of his voyages. Her eyes curved into crescents.

At last, Kozuki Hiyori looked at Yota and softly asked, "Yota, are you going back out to sea?"

Yota scratched his head. "Yeah. Looks like I still couldn’t hide it from you. I’ve stayed in Wano Country long enough, and Wano Country no longer needs my help now."

His expression was somewhat awkward. After all, this was different from the purely transactional relationship he had had with Mei Terumī. There were genuine feelings between Kozuki Hiyori and him, especially after they had laid everything bare. Their relationship had warmed rapidly during this time.

That was why this parting left even Yota, who had always spoken only of desire and never of love, feeling at a loss. For no apparent reason, he felt like some scumbag.

However, Kozuki Hiyori merely straightened Yota’s collar slightly and said nothing. In the One Piece World, men leaving their wives and children behind to head out to sea was simply too common. Kozuki Hiyori had actually been prepared for it long ago.

Moreover, Kozuki Hiyori herself could be considered a heroine among women. If not for Wano Country’s affairs, she might have gone out to sea with Yota by now.

Before leaving, Yota also modified Kozuki Hiyori’s body. Although he did not give her the ability to consume multiple Devil Fruits, he raised her potential in one stroke to a level surpassing that of ordinary Sea Emperors.

Even without any training, Kozuki Hiyori could now defeat an ordinary Vice Admiral. If she trained a little more, perhaps in seven or eight years, she would possess strength comparable to Kozuki Oden’s.

Most tragedies on the sea were caused by insufficient strength. To prevent trouble before it arose, Yota naturally had to find a way to improve Kozuki Hiyori’s combat power.

In fact, Yota was beginning to regret letting Kaido go.

When he discovered that he could extract Devil Fruits intact from Devil Fruit ability users, Yota had thought of quite a few bizarre tricks.

For example, by using the Eight-Headed Serpent Fruit to exploit the loopholes of the Op-Op Fruit and Reincarnation Jutsu, things like resurrection and immortality would be effortless.

After the Eight-Headed Serpent Fruit took a death in his place, he could extract the Devil Fruit ability and use it again, immediately restoring his eight lives.

And after replacing Kaido’s Azure Dragon Fruit with an Artificial Azure Dragon Fruit, he could feed him a millet dumpling created by the Millet-Millet Fruit and easily subdue this Four Emperor.

Yota had already used some of these methods, such as repeatedly using the Eight-Headed Serpent Fruit. Others, he was preparing to test on someone, such as exploiting the loopholes between the Eight-Headed Serpent Fruit, the Rinnegan, and the Op-Op Fruit. Still others had merely flashed through his mind, and he had never acted on them.

After all, Yota was neither a Millet-Millet Fruit ability user nor someone from Wano Country. Taming Kaido had nothing to do with him and brought him little benefit, so naturally he had not cared much about it.

But now… it was related to him.

If I get the chance, I have to capture Kaido and feed him an Artificial Azure Dragon Fruit… Right, I’ll first get a millet dumpling from that bargain-bin disciple of mine, then find that Artificial Azure Dragon Fruit… and feed them both to him!

Wasn’t this guy once Wano Country’s Guardian Deity King? Then I’ll make him live up to the title!

As he thought of the wicked plan that would make Kaido shudder, Yota regretted that Kaido had already left Wano Country. Finding him would not be easy, so the matter could only be discussed later.

Several days later, Yota finally left Wano Country. He had arrived aboard Ace’s Flame Ship, but his departure was much simpler.

Yota switched from the Eight-Headed Serpent Fruit to the Azure Dragon Fruit. With a movement of his body, he transformed directly into an azure dragon and flew away from Wano Country.

Azure dragons possessed the ability to manipulate the weather. Even amid the New World’s bizarre and brutally harsh climate, they could still discern and control meteorological conditions. This was also why Kaido could travel alone.