Chapter 58: Wano’s Dawn – The People Rejoice

The sun had never felt warmer.

As I stood atop the castle ruins, gazing over the vast expanse of Wano, I could hear it—the sound of celebration. Cheers erupted from the streets, laughter echoed through the capital, and for the first time in seven long years, the people of Wano felt free.

Word had spread swiftly—Kaido was dead. The unbreakable monster who had ruled this land with an iron grip, the so-called strongest creature in the world, had fallen.

And I, Kozuki Momonosuke, had returned.

The People Rejoice – Wano is Free

The people of Wano, who had spent years in suffering, gathered in the streets of the Flower Capital, their faces etched with joy, disbelief, and overwhelming relief.

"Kaido is dead?"

"Is this real?"

"The Kozuki Clan has returned! Momonosuke-sama is alive!"

The moment they saw Denjiro, Hiyori, and Yamato walking through the city, confirming the truth, their cheers grew louder. Women clutched their children, crying tears of happiness. Men raised their weapons in triumph, roaring in celebration. The elderly, who had lived through both Oden's death and Orochi's rule, collapsed to their knees, sobbing into the dirt.

"Wano is free!"

Chant after chant rang through the capital, and soon, the celebrations began. People opened barrels of sake, offering drinks to every warrior who had fought in the battle. Fires were lit, food was shared, and for the first time in years, Wano was truly alive.

Meanwhile, Orochi's remaining men were rounded up. Those who had abandoned their Shogun and tried to flee into hiding were dragged out by the citizens themselves. Some had surrendered willingly, realizing they had no future under a defeated tyrant. Others tried to resist—only to be struck down by Denjiro and his samurai.

As for Orochi himself, he was bound in thick chains, sitting on his knees before the castle ruins, his face a twisted mix of rage and terror. He had lost everything.

A Promise to the Whitebeard Pirates

Away from the celebration, I stood facing Marco and the Whitebeard Pirates, the ones who had fought beside me in this war. Without their help, this battle would have been far more difficult. I owed them more than I could ever repay.

Marco crossed his arms, studying me. "So, what now, Momo? You've taken back your land. What's next?"

I exhaled, glancing toward the cheering citizens. "First, we rebuild. But Wano is not ready to open its borders yet. Before I make any decisions for the future, I need to understand the true state of my country."

Marco nodded approvingly. "Smart. Rushing things could cause more problems than Kaido ever did."

I turned to face the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates. "I want to thank all of you. Without your help, Wano may have never been freed. This is your victory as much as it is ours."

Vista grinned, tipping his hat. "Heh, it was a hell of a fight. I haven't seen a battle like that in years."

Jozu cracked his knuckles. "You've got some serious strength, kid. I can see why Whitebeard was interested in you."

I placed my hand on my chest, bowing slightly. "If, in the future, any of you ever need me—I will come."

The Whitebeard Pirates exchanged glances before Marco chuckled. "That's a big promise. But we'll hold you to it."

The crew laughed, and with that, our alliance was sealed in trust.

A Leader's Burden – Meeting with the Samurai and Yamato

As the celebrations raged on, I knew I couldn't spend the entire night drinking and rejoicing. There was still work to do.

I gathered Denjiro, Hiyori, Yamato, and the remaining loyal samurai within the castle's remains. A large wooden table was set before us, candles flickering as we sat in silence for a moment, letting the reality of everything settle in.

Denjiro was the first to speak. "Momonosuke-sama, we have won the battle. But now, we must win the war for Wano's future."

I nodded, already understanding his concern. "What is the situation of the country?"

Denjiro leaned forward, his expression serious. "Wano is in ruins. The people are celebrating now, but tomorrow, reality will hit them. The farms are destroyed, the factories have poisoned the rivers, and the land is barely livable in some regions."

One of the older samurai, Kawamatsu, sighed. "We cannot simply open Wano's borders immediately. If we do, we risk exposing a weakened nation to foreign enemies."

Hiyori looked at me with concern. "Brother, the people need leadership. They need you."

Yamato, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up. "Kaido's rule broke this country, but we can't let his shadow linger over Wano. If we're going to rebuild, we need to do it our way."

I glanced at her. "And what do you suggest?"

Yamato exhaled. "The people need a sign that things will truly change. We have to tear down everything Kaido built. His fortresses, his weapons factories… they all need to be destroyed."

Denjiro nodded. "That will take time, but I agree. If we leave those buildings standing, it will always be a reminder of the past."

I clenched my fists. "I will not abandon them. But first, we must understand everything that Kaido has done to this land. We must uncover every hidden threat, every surviving enemy. We cannot rebuild blindly."

Denjiro nodded. "Then we begin tomorrow. We will gather scouts and survey the entire country."

I looked around the table, my voice firm. "We fought to reclaim Wano. Now, we must fight to restore it."

The samurai and Yamato nodded, determination lighting their faces.

Tomorrow, the true battle began.

The Night Before the Storm

The night wore on, and the celebration continued. The people of Wano danced in the streets, children laughed, and for once, there was peace.

As the meeting ended, I found myself walking through the castle ruins, my thoughts heavy.

Yamato approached, standing beside me.

"You did it," she said softly. "Kaido is gone."

I looked at her, seeing the mix of emotions in her eyes.

"Are you staying in Wano?" I asked.

She hesitated, looking out over the city. "I… don't know. My father is gone, but I don't know what comes next for me."

I placed a hand on her shoulder. "You fought for this country as much as anyone. Stay as long as you need."

She smiled slightly. "Thanks, Momo."

I turned back to the sky, the clouds parting to reveal the bright blue heavens.

I had won the battle. But the war for Wano's future had only just begun.

Tomorrow, we would begin rebuilding.Tomorrow, we would face the consequences of seven years of suffering.Tomorrow, I would begin my next chapter—not as a warrior, but as a leader.

The dawn of Wano's future was on the horizon.