Chapter 61: Sabo
At the Shogun's residence, perched high in the Capital of Flowers, a tense silence filled the main room. Momonosuke, clutching the crumpled newspaper in his hands, stared fixedly at the floor, his face pale and his breathing labored. Beside him, his sister Hiyori clung to his arm, her eyes brimming with tears.
Kozuki Sukiyaki, Momonosuke's grandfather and former shogun of Wano, sat in the center of the room, his face marked by years and concern. The surviving Red Scabbards—Kinemon, Denjiro, Kawamatsu, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi—surrounded him, their expressions reflecting a mix of astonishment and fear. Yamato, Kaido's daughter but loyal to Wano, stood by the window, her gaze lost in the distance.
Outside, atop the majestic building, the Straw Hat Pirates' flag waved proudly in the wind.
"Hashirama... has returned," murmured Momonosuke, his voice barely audible.
Sukiyaki nodded gravely. "Yes, my young shogun. He has returned from the shadows."
"What does this mean for Wano?" asked Hiyori, her voice trembling. "Will he come to avenge Kaido's death?"
Sukiyaki looked at his granddaughter with sadness. "I don't know, Hiyori. But we must prepare for the worst. Hashirama Senju was a man of immense power and ambition. If he returns, he will claim what he believes is his, and no one will be able to stop him."
A chill ran down the spines of those present. They had heard the legends of Hashirama, the invincible warrior who had unified Wano in just a few days. But they had never imagined he would come back to life.
"We must fight," said Kinemon, clenching his fists. "We cannot allow Hashirama to enslave Wano again."
"Kinemon is right," added Inuarashi. "We have fought too hard for our freedom to give up now."
Sukiyaki raised a hand, asking for silence. He looked at Momonosuke with a mixture of love and determination. "Momonosuke, listen to me carefully. You are the rightful shogun of Wano, and your duty is to protect your people above all else. If that means fleeing, then you must do so. You cannot sacrifice your subjects for misunderstood pride. You must live to lead Wano to a future of peace and prosperity."
Momonosuke lifted his head, his gaze firm and resolute, fixed on the flag waving above them. "No, grandfather. I will not abandon Wano. This land has always belonged to the Kozuki family, and I will not let anyone take it from us. If Hashirama comes to claim it, we will face him with all our strength. I trust that together, and with the help of Luffy and his crew, we can stop him."
Yamato, hearing Momonosuke's words, felt a surge of pride. A smile spread across her face as she thought, "Oden would be proud of you, Momonosuke."
Sukiyaki looked at his grandson with a mixture of pride and worry. He knew that Momonosuke had the heart of a true shogun, but he also feared for his safety and that of his people.
"Momonosuke..." he began to say, but the young shogun interrupted him.
"Don't worry, grandfather. I've learned a lot from Luffy and his friends. I know we can overcome any challenge if we fight together. I won't let fear paralyze us. I will protect Wano, no matter the cost."
—
(POV Sabo)
Cold sweat drenched my forehead as I dialed the number on the Den Den Mushi. Each ring echoed in my ears like a hammer blow, amplifying my anxiety. Finally, the line opened.
"Dragon-san!" I shouted, my voice hoarse with desperation. "I'm sorry... for all the trouble I've caused."
Guilt weighed heavily on my chest. The images of the destruction and chaos I had inadvertently unleashed in Mary Geoise haunted me relentlessly.
"Sabo, I'm glad you're safe!" Dragon's voice was a balm for my tormented soul. A small ray of hope in the midst of the darkness surrounding me.
But the hope vanished as quickly as it had come. The signal began to fail, Dragon's voice distorted, becoming a distant echo.
"Dragon, I wasn't the one who killed King Cobra!" I shouted, struggling to make myself heard over the static.
"Of course not, Sabo! We always trust you!" responded Dragon, his voice barely audible.
"When I was in Mary Geoise... I saw something terrible!" I continued, my heart pounding. "In the Empty Throne... those elders and there was someone else... they... they weren't human..."
The static intensified, drowning out my words. A bad feeling washed over me. I looked up at the sky, seeking answers in the vast blue canvas.
And then I saw it. An ominous shadow descending from the heights, growing with each passing second. A chill ran down my spine, a silent scream trapped in my throat. Instinct urged me to run, to find shelter, but it was too late.
The world turned white.
—
Atop a glass skyscraper on a bustling commercial island in Paradise, Hashirama, the man everyone was talking about, reclined in a leather chair, observing the city's hustle and bustle through the panoramic windows. The evening light bathed the room in warm tones, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and luxury.
In his hands, he held a copy of the World Economy News. His dark, deep eyes scanned the pages with a slight smile on his lips.
"So, it has finally been revealed," he murmured to himself, his voice deep and resonant. "After all these years of absence, the world will finally know the truth."
His gaze settled on a photograph of Marineford's destruction, now a lush forest. A flicker of satisfaction shone in his eyes. "Sengoku... old friend, I hope you've found peace in the other world."
He set the newspaper aside and, with a fluid motion, pulled a small scroll from his pocket. Placing his hand over the scroll, he channeled his pulsing chakra, causing the scroll to vibrate and glow.
With a burst of smoke, the scroll revealed five Devil Fruits of different appearances and colors. One was a deep red, another a deep blue, a third a bright yellow, a fourth an emerald green, and the last a dark purple.
Hashirama contemplated the fruits with a smile. Then, directing his thoughts to the system residing in his mind, he asked, "How much can I unlock from the Homelander template if I absorb these fruits?"
[Ding... by absorbing these five Devil Fruits, you will unlock an additional 5% of the Homelander template.]
'Excellent,' Hashirama responded mentally. 'Proceed with the absorption.'
[Ding... Absorbing Devil Fruits... Unlocking Homelander template in progress...]
As the fruits vanished in a mist of energy, Hashirama felt a tingling sensation course through his body. Intense heat radiated from his skin, and his muscles contracted and expanded as if coming to life. A faint greenish glow began to surround him, and his eyes shone with a supernatural intensity.
[Ding... Absorption complete. Homelander template unlocked up to 8%.]
"Eight percent?" Hashirama asked, surprised. "Wasn't it supposed to be five percent?"
[Ding... Due to your identity being revealed to the world, you've generated a lot of attention and anticipation. This has accelerated your progress in unlocking the Homelander template. As a reward, you have been granted an additional 3%.]
Hashirama smiled, feeling Homelander's power coursing through his veins with renewed strength. His senses sharpened, his vision became clearer, and his hearing more acute.
He stood up, stretching his long arms and feeling his muscles tense beneath his skin. He walked to the window and gazed at the city below, feeling the energy flow through his veins.
"System, show me my attributes!" In a firm voice, Hashirama invoked the properties panel.
[Ding... generating properties panel...]
[Ding... properties panel generated]
[-
Host: Hashirama
Age: 18 years
Chakra attributes: fire, wind, thunder, earth, water, yin, yang
Skills:
First Hokage template: Senju Hashirama [Unlocked at 100%]
Rokushiki [Grandmaster]
Observation Haki [Advanced]
Armament Haki [Advanced]
Homelander template [Unlocked at 60%]
-]
________
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