Chapter 20: The State of Wano – Five Years Later

Five years had passed since the night Oden fell. Five years since Kaido and Orochi seized full control of Wano. Five years since my mother sent me away, leaving my sister, Hiyori, behind in a land ruled by tyrants.

Though I had been training, fighting, and growing stronger in the outside world, Wano remained shackled under oppression.

But what had changed in these five years?

Hiyori: The Lost Princess in Hiding

At just 11 years old, my sister Hiyori had learned to survive in a world that wanted her dead.

She had abandoned her real name, now living in hiding under the protection of Denjiro and those still loyal to the Kozuki.

She stayed disguised, moving between different villages and safe houses, protected by those who still remembered Oden's name.She learned patience, control, and caution. She had to become silent, blending into Wano's broken society.Denjiro ensured she was never discovered, feeding Orochi false rumors about her whereabouts while keeping her far from danger.

But no matter how well she hid, she never forgot what had been taken from her.

She hated Orochi.

She hated Kaido.

And she waited for the day when she could reclaim what was rightfully ours.

Denjiro: The Demon in Disguise

Denjiro, once a proud retainer of Oden, had changed beyond recognition.

His grief, his rage, his loss—they had reshaped him, twisted even his face.

The man he once was no longer existed.

Now, he was Kyoshiro—the leader of the Yakuza in the Flower Capital.

To the world, he was a ruthless gangster, loyal only to himself and Orochi.He controlled the criminal underworld, enforcing Orochi's rule while secretly shielding Kozuki loyalists.He played the role of Orochi's ally, all while waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

If Orochi ever discovered the truth, Denjiro's life would be over.

But he didn't care.

For the sake of Wano, he would endure.

The Samurai: A Nation Broken, A Spirit Unshaken

The once-mighty samurai of Wano had been shattered under Kaido's rule.

Some had been hunted down and executed.Others were forced into hiding, living like exiles in their own land.Many had fallen into despair, believing the Kozuki line was truly gone.

But even after five years of suffering, not all had given up.

Some warriors still trained in secret, waiting for the right moment to strike.Others spread whispers of rebellion, reminding the people that the Kozuki had not been erased.A few had even infiltrated Orochi's own forces, biding their time.

Wano's spirit was not dead.

It was waiting.

Kaido: The Ruler of Wano, Unchallenged and Unstoppable

Kaido, the Strongest Creature in the World, sat unshaken upon his throne.

The Skull Dome of Onigashima was his lair, where he and his Beast Pirates feasted, drank, and prepared for war.

His army grew stronger, bolstered by pirates seeking his protection and strength.He forced Wano's people into hard labor, mining and crafting weapons for his conquests.He drank and laughed, ruling without fear.

To Kaido, Wano was already his.

No one could challenge him.

And yet… deep inside, he felt uneasy.

Somewhere, the Kozuki bloodline still existed.

Somewhere, a threat was waiting to rise.

And so, he ordered his men to tighten their grip on Wano.

There would be no rebellion.

Not while he was still alive.

Orochi: The Paranoid Puppet Shogun

Shogun Kurozumi Orochi, though still the official ruler of Wano, was nothing more than Kaido's plaything.

He bathed in luxury, indulging in gold, women, and alcohol, thinking himself invincible under Kaido's protection.He continued his paranoid rule, executing anyone who dared to speak the name "Kozuki."He used spies, informants, and assassins, ensuring no rebellion could rise against him.

Though he ruled in name, he knew the truth.

Without Kaido, he was nothing.

And he feared the day when his protection would be stripped away.

The Current State of Wano

The people still suffered under Kaido's rule, their land ravaged by forced labor and pollution.Orochi's grip on the capital remained firm, but the spirit of rebellion had not been extinguished.The samurai who remained loyal to Oden still waited in the shadows, training and preparing for the right moment.Denjiro, Hiyori, and other hidden loyalists maintained their disguises, waiting for a savior.

Wano was still a land in chains.

But its people had not given up.