章 60: Wano

Nami, trembling with cold but always alert to the news, quickly approached. "It's a newspaper," she said, snatching the scroll from Luffy. Her eyes widened as she read the headline. "Guys, this is urgent!"

The other Straw Hats gathered around Nami, doing their best to ignore the cold and the rocking of the ship. Nami read aloud, her voice fighting against the roar of the wind:

"The world under the yoke of a tyrant! Imu, the true ruler of the world, revealed after centuries of darkness."

A frozen silence fell over the Sunny's deck. The Straw Hats looked at each other, disbelief mixed with fear reflected on their faces. A secret ruler? Centuries of darkness? What did all this mean?

Nami continued reading, revealing the conspiracy of God Valley, the fall of Hashirama, the destruction of Marineford, and the death of Sengoku. Each word was like an icicle, piercing their hearts and freezing their hope.

Luffy, frowning, clenched his fists. "Hashirama?" he murmured. "That name... sounds familiar."

Robin, with a thoughtful expression, intervened: "Hashirama Senju... I remember reading about him in the books of Ohara. He was considered a legendary warrior, a master of ninjutsu with unparalleled power over nature. It was said he could create entire forests with his own hands. However, the records about him were scarce and contradictory. Some suggested he was betrayed, others that he sacrificed himself for the good of the world. The truth was lost in time, along with most of Ohara's records."

She paused, recalling something else. "During our time in Wano, I found some ancient texts that mentioned a warrior by that name. He was revered as a god among the inhabitants of Wano, a legendary protector with the power to control nature. The texts spoke of his mysterious disappearance, but never mentioned that he was Kaido's captain."

The others looked at Robin, surprised by her knowledge.

"Kaido's captain?" exclaimed Usopp, his eyes wide. "You mean this guy was even stronger than Kaido?"

Zoro gripped the handle of his swords. "If he was born in Wano and was Kaido's captain, then he'll surely go there to avenge his death and claim what he considers his."

Nami nodded gravely. "We have to go back to Wano. Momonosuke and the others could be in danger."

The Straw Hats sprang into action, ready to change course. But at that moment, a giant wave crashed against the Sunny, throwing Chopper overboard.

"Chopper!" yelled Luffy, diving into the icy water without hesitation.

As Luffy struggled to rescue Chopper, a familiar figure emerged from the depths. It was Jewelry Bonney, trapped in a water bubble and struggling to breathe.

Zoro, without missing a beat, unsheathed his swords and cut the bubble, freeing Bonney. The young pirate, coughing and trembling, looked at the Straw Hats with a mix of gratitude and desperation.

"I need help!" she gasped.

The sun was setting over Wano, tinting the sky with golden and scarlet hues. The celebration of freedom continued in the streets of the Flower Capital, with music, dancing, and laughter. Momonosuke, the young shogun, watched his people from the castle balcony, his heart filled with pride and hope.

Weeks had passed since the defeat of Kaido and Big Mom. Wano was finally free, and Momonosuke was determined to lead the country's reconstruction alongside his allies. But the peace and joy were interrupted by an unexpected event.

An unusually large and noisy flock of seagulls appeared in the sky. The birds circled over the city, dropping hundreds of newspapers that fluttered in the air like snowflakes.

The people of Wano, who had never seen a newspaper in their lives, looked on with curiosity and amazement. Samurai, ninjas, merchants, and peasants rushed to pick up the newspapers, their faces reflecting a mixture of confusion and excitement.

The headline, printed in bold and large letters, was impossible to ignore: "The Ninja God has returned!"

A murmur of astonishment ran through the crowd. The elders, who had heard stories of Hashirama in their youth, turned pale. The young, however, looked at each other in confusion.

"The Ninja God?" asked a young samurai apprentice to his master. "Who is that?"

The old samurai, with eyes full of tears, replied in a trembling voice: "Hashirama Senju... the protector of Wano. A legendary warrior who disappeared centuries ago. It was said he was as powerful as a god."

The pages of the newspaper revealed an incredible story: the conspiracy of God Valley, the fall of Hashirama, his resurrection, and his attack on Marineford. The inhabitants of Wano read eagerly, their hearts pounding.

The elders wept with joy, remembering the legends of Hashirama. The young, however, were skeptical.

"A man who controls nature?" asked a young ninja. "That sounds like a fairy tale."

"It's not a fairy tale!" exclaimed an old merchant. "Hashirama Senju is real! He put Wano at the top of the seas."

The news of Hashirama's resurrection divided the population of Wano. Some saw in him the hope of a better future, while others feared that his return would bring chaos and destruction.

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