White Tiger

Kimimaro took a deep sigh of relief, he finally could catch some breath after gruelling session of bargains against the notorious Big Mom Pirates. 

His eyes shone with blue light as white lotus pattern replacing his usual irides. soon, he closed his eyes for a while before he reopen them only for his eyes to transformed back to gentle emerald color he normally have.

Thankfully, everything went well in the end. however, 

*Cough, cough, cough! 

*Spluuurt! 

Kimimaro suddenly vomitting lots of blood! it painting his surrounding giving it horrible color! 

*Wheeezeee..

Trying to ease his discomfort, Kimimaro ignore the blood as he whispered, "cough*, cough*, damn it!" 

After regained his clarity and feeling his body eased, he began contemplating.

when he demands Mermaid Island from Whitebeard, he was sure that the latter will not comply. 

However, even if Whitebeard doesn't want to wage a war against the Marine, it doesn't mean he wouldn't do anything. 

Kimimaro had a hunch that those pirates will send their men toward Mermaid Island after Whitebeard heard about his demand. 

The importance of Mermaid Island was Kimimaro's top priority, it's location which far under the sea could give him advantage on what he wanted to do in future. 

And so, to prevent the Whitebeard to increase their influence in the Island, Kimimaro need an assurance before his real target had been achieved! 

Whitebeard despite known as notorious Pirate, has clear distinction between grudge and gratitude. That was why Kimimaro doesn't gone too far to arrest Marco cs, and only using Vista as a threat. 

What Kimimaro wanted to do was to invoke Whitebeard gratitude towards him, how? By letting the latter know about the fate of his little brother Kozuki Oden and his wife Kozuki Toki at Wano which The Beast Pirate and some rebels had overthrown.

At this point, Kimimaro knew that Oden was still being humilliated in Wano, and once Whitebeard knew about the truth. The former was sure that Whitebeard will immediately go to war against Kaido! 

As for the results? Kimimaro doesn't care. but one thing he knew would happen, Oden and his family will undoubtedly getting rescued from Kaido and his goon by Whitebeard. And Kimimaro will have Whitebeard Gratitude or at least from Oden himself, Due to his leaked news.

At that time, asking Mermaid island with a promise from Kimimaro to protect it from slave traders and poachers, will be quite easy. 

The reason why Whitebeard went as far and claimed Mermaid Island as his teritory even with threat from Marine from the HQ above it, was only because King Neptune was his close friend akin to brother.

As for Whitebeard himself wanted to protect the fishmen race? That was debatable. 

And the reason why Kimimaro need to keep Whitebeard pirates from entering the Mermaid Island? It was to reduce the Mermaid Island existence as one of the Whitebeard teritory!. 

Once the truth has been revealed, Whitebeard will gather his subordinate and going against Kaido, however, if until then the Mermaid Island was still under Whitebeard flag or at least known by Kaido and his goon as one of Whitebeard teritory, Kaido will surely retaliate in future! 

At that point, No matter how powerful Kimimaro was, Mermaid Island will be devastated, and Kimimaro's plan would be jeopardized! 

Finaly, Here comes the Big Mom pirates, using Charlotte siblings as bargaining chips, Kimimaro wanted the former to obstruct Whitebeard pirates entry until the truth about Oden had been known by their captain.

5 months were enough for Whitebeard to know the truth and consequently relaxed his attention towards Mermaid island. This was always Kimimaro's target since the beginning.

So, Kimimaro meticulously put his chess pieces one by one and prepare for the future. From now on, with his identities as a Marine and Broker. Kimimaro will enter a long and long game against the world to achieve what he desired! 

~~~~~

Wanokuni, Flower Capital...

"ODEN-SAMA, PLEASE WHY DID YOU DO THIS?!" 

"ODEN-SAMA! PLEASE STOP DANCING!" 

At the middle of the street filled with people wearing traditional clothes, cries and pleas could be heard echoing throughout the entire block. 

In the middle of a commotion, there was a man with towering height. He had long, wild hair of black color that was notably gathered into a large, flat, circular plane at the top and triangular sideburns. 

His usual sharp black eyes were nowhere to be seen, while his face looked like enjoying his shameless act of dancing while being naked in the middle of Flower city! 

Among those who plead for him to stop, there were more mocking tones from afar, some mother would cover their children eyes and took them inside the house while the men laughed, spiting and insulting the once high and mighty Daimyo of Wanokuni! 

"Mama, why's that man dancing buck naked?" 

"Stop looking! You will become crazy like him!"

"Hahahhaa! Is this our high and mighty daimyo? pathetic!" 

"How shameless! thankfully our current Shogun is much more honorable, let's go!" 

Amidst the pleas and mockery, Kozuki Oden wasn't bothered by how his own people thrown insults and mockery towards him. He just dance and dance while buck naked! 

At the inconspicuos side of the street, a man with samurai atire were fuming madly, alas, thankfully his friends managed held him back and preventing the former to do something they will regret in future. 

"Those people! How dare you ignorant plebians to insults our master! DAMN IT KANJURO, RAIZO! LET GO OF ME!" The Samurai were about to jump while holding his Katana, however, much to his dismay, the other two Samurai with him managed to held him down.

"Kin'emon! Stop it!" Yelled Raizo.

The other man who had a name Kanjuro was also tried to reasoned with the brash Kin'emon, "Kin'emon! Do you want to jeopardize our lord big sacrifice?! Stop this!" 

"But...But, How dare they! To insults and cursed at our beloved lord! Do they know how much our lord had sacrificed for the country? Do they know that....Sob*." 

At the end of his sentence, Kin'emon choked as he finally broke down, weeping heavily as tears flowing down his cheeks. 

Raizo could only patted his back to console him while Kanjuro shook his head. 

After a whole day passed, Oden took his leave from Flower Capital. he went toward the daimyo castle and went inside the gate, after passing a coblestone path, he was about to enter the main entrance. 

Oden gritted his teeth as unwillingness plastered on his face. Soon he tried to regain his spirit and yet, 

"Husband? You're back?" The castle sliding door suddenly opened revealing a beautiful figure of young woman with worried face.

Oden was surprised, however he smiled soon towards the green haired woman. 

"I'm back, Toki..." Replied Oden trying to hide his sadness. 

Noticing her husband tone, Kozuki Toki immediately went forward and covered his muscular body who still buck naked with a haori after a whole day of dancing in Flower Capital.

The couple doesn't say a words when they enter the castle, seeing his empty daimyo castle which only has miniscule of servants and his beloved wife, Oden smiled. 

"How's the kid?" Asked Oden slowly while he took a seat on the tatami.

Toki fetch a clay mug with water and served her husband. Soon, she took a seat besides him and answered, "They're fine, only Momonosuke threw a tantrum this morning..." 

Oden took a sip from the clay mug, "Tantrum?" 

Toki sighed, "Aperantly he knew about your dancing and asked me about it." 

"Did you tell him?" 

Toki could only shook her head gently and kept silence, 

Oden pulled her delicate body to his embrace, and gently stroke her green hair. 

"I'm sorry..." 

"It's okay, the kid also need to know about your heroic deed...." Toki sniffed when she thought on how big her husband sacrifice are.

After silent moment, Oden suddenly noticed on something at the corner. 

"Whats that?" pointed Oden. 

Toki quivered for a bit before she stood and took a newspaper from the corner. However, Oden could see his wife hesitation as she awkwardly clutched the newspaper in her hand. 

Noticing his wife awkward behavior, Oden stood up and pulled Toki into his chest as he stroke her back in reassurance. 

"It's okay, what could get wrong? Believe me." soothed Oden. 

Toki finally relented as she hand the newspaper toward her husband. 

Gently, Oden took the newspaper, just when he saw a huge bold newspaper headline, he inadvertently clutched the newspaper side, his face grim. 

"ONE PIECE!!!" were written in red while the familiar man photograph pasted under it. 

Oden saw a photo of his former captain and friend Gol D.Roger! In photo, Roger was being handcuffed, kneeling and being flanked by two Marines on top of the execution platform! 

However, despite his haggard appearance, unkempt hair and his ruined captain cape he always wore. He was seen grinning from ear to ear as if mocking the whole world! 

Oden couldn't help but dropping a few tears on his cheek seeing his captain photo. he choked as he murmured, 

"Captain....." 

In no time, Oden read the articles regarding the execution of the infamous 'King of Pirate', his deed and his last words. 

"...My wealth and treasure? It can be yours if you want it! Search for it! I left everything in that one place. One Piece..!" 

The words which had been said to ignite the age of pirates and boil everybodies blood to search for The Pirate King final treasure! 

In between his read, Oden could be seen laughing, crying, cursing, back to laughing. He was almost deranged.

if not for Toki embracing him from behind, he was sure that he will vent his anger outside and garnered an unnecessary attention from his enemies.