One Piece: I Became Kizaru… But With Rinnegan?! Chapter 170 170: The Annihilation of the Kozuki Clan

The group walked slowly along the street, their gazes sweeping over the sights around them.

Hashirama could not help but exclaim, "This place truly is remarkable, to have been ruled by Kaido for so many years and yet still maintain such prosperity."

Tobirama saw through the surface.

"It is nothing more than surface prosperity, the people here have long since grown accustod to a life under oppression, they dare not resist and dare not dream of freedom."

Sasuke offered no opinion and simply followed quietly behind the group.

Orochimaru, anwhile, observed the surroundings with an expression of keen interest, as though genuinely fascinated by the culture and customs of Wano Country.

After they had walked for a stretch, Hashirama finally could not hold back the question.

"Tobirama, weren't we here to carry out a decapitation strike against Kaido, so why have we co to the Flower Capital, it is quite a distance from Onigashima."

The corner of Tobirama's mouth curved into a confident smile.

"Before that, there is one more thing we need to do, and that is to thoroughly destroy the reputation of the Oden family."

As he spoke, he reached back and yanked forward a small boy who had been bound up tight.

It was Kozuki Momonosuke, heir to the Oden family.

Momonosuke's face was pale and his eyes were filled with fear, but he could not make a sound.

Hashirama frowned, his tone carrying a faint note of disapproval.

"Tobirama, he is still just a child, isn't this going a bit too far?"

Tobirama countered, "Too far? The Oden family is utterly incompetent, Kozuki Oden had every opportunity to overthrow Kaido back then, yet because of his own naivety and foolishness he plunged Wano Country into even deeper suffering."

"His descendants are nothing but a pack of useless failures, and we need to make the people of Wano Country see clearly that the Oden family is not worth their loyalty."

Senju Hashirama let out a sigh and said in a low voice, "Tobirama, your thods are still as drastic as ever, but since the decision has already been made, let us proceed with your plan."

Tobirama gave a single nod.

He led Sasuke, Hashirama, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Orochimaru straight toward the heart of the Flower Capital.

That was where the crowds were densest and where the plan was best suited to be carried out.

Before long, the group arrived at the center of the plaza.

Tobirama did not hesitate for a single mont and shoved Momonosuke out in front of the crowd.

Momonosuke was untied and instantly made to bolt.

The commotion drew the attention of many onlookers nearby, and people stopped one after another, their gazes turning toward Momonosuke.

At first, many of them simply looked at the child who had been pushed to the front with curiosity, but as a few sharp-eyed people recognized his identity, low gasps began to ripple through the crowd.

The murmuring rose and fell in waves, and the stir within the crowd grew larger and larger.

Before long, the news reached the ears of Kurozumi Orochi.

Kurozumi Orochi was seated in the lavish chambers of the Shogun's residence, a cup of sake in hand and a smug smile on his face.

When he heard his subordinates report that Kozuki Momonosuke had appeared in the Flower Capital plaza, his smile froze in an instant and then transford into wild elation.

"Ha ha ha, of all things, it turns out there really is soone left alive from the Kozuki clan!"

Kurozumi Orochi roared with laughter, and the sake cup in his hand was crushed to pieces.

"Soone co here, go and bring that little brat to at once, I want him to understand that the Kozuki clan should have disappeared from this world long ago!"

Within just half a day, Momonosuke was successfully captured by Kurozumi Orochi's subordinates.

"Tomorrow, I will publicly execute Kozuki Momonosuke in the Flower Capital plaza!"

This was Kurozumi Orochi's public declaration.

The news spread swiftly across the entirety of Wano Country.

The supporters of the Kozuki clan were seized with furious despair.

And those remnants of the Kozuki faction hiding in the shadows, such as Kanjuro and Denjiro, were consud with anxiety and began secretly planning a rescue operation.

At the sa ti, Senju Tobirama and the others simply watched quietly as the situation unfolded.

Orochimaru licked his lips, his gaze playful, and said in a low voice, "It seems, Tobirama-sama, that you intend for the Kozuki remnants to be completely wiped out."

Tobirama nodded.

"The Kozuki clan has been far too much of a failure."

"This Momonosuke, aside from being Oden's son, amounts to nothing, yet that very identity alone would be enough to make him the Shogun of Wano Country."

"A system built purely on bloodline is utterly absurd."

In Tobirama's view, the leader of a nation should be asured by ability and character, not by bloodline alone.

Just as he and Hashirama, though the leaders of the Senju clan, had willingly passed the title of Third Hokage to Sarutobi Hiruzen without reservation.

"The system in Wano Country must be abolished," Tobirama said coldly, "only by thoroughly destroying the Kozuki clan's prestige can this country welco true change."

Sasuke stood to one side, turning the matter over quietly in his mind.

The next day ca quickly.

The plaza of the Flower Capital was already packed with crowds.

Kurozumi Orochi stood on the high platform, a cruel smile on his face, and at his side Momonosuke was bound to the execution stand, his face deathly pale and his eyes filled with fear, yet he clenched his teeth and did not utter a single plea for rcy.

"People of Wano!" Kurozumi Orochi called out in a loud voice.

"Today, I will publicly execute Kozuki Momonosuke right here, the Kozuki clan has long since crumbled to dust in the pages of history, and anyone who dares to defy will et the sa end as him!"

Among the crowd, the Kozuki remnants concealed themselves in the shadows, gripping their weapons tightly and ready to charge forward at any mont to rescue Momonosuke.

Yet they did not know that all of this had already been accounted for in Tobirama's plan.

The failure of the Kozuki clan had been sealed long ago.

Momonosuke, this son of Oden upon whom so many hopes had been placed, amounted to nothing beyond the halo of his father's na.

He had no courage, no wisdom, and not even the most basic sense of responsibility.

He had placed the hope of restoring the nation entirely in the hands of others, directing his loyal retainers to walk through fire and flood for his sake, while he himself had never truly stepped forward to shoulder any responsibility.

What right did such a person have to speak of restoring the nation, and what right did he have to be called the hope of Wano Country?

Sure enough, after Kurozumi Orochi announced the public execution of Momonosuke, the Kozuki remnants could no longer contain themselves and rushed toward the execution platform.

They cried out the slogan of "For the Kozuki clan," brandishing their weapons and attempting to wrest Momonosuke from Kurozumi Orochi's grasp.

Yet all of this had already fallen into the trap Kurozumi Orochi had laid.

"Ha ha ha, just as I expected!" Kurozumi Orochi stood on the high platform, watching the Kozuki remnants charging toward him, and a savage grin spread across his face.

He waved his hand, and the soldiers who had been lying in ambush all around instantly surged forward, surrounding the Kozuki remnants on all sides.

In a flash of blades, the Kozuki remnants fell one after another, and blood dyed the ground of the execution platform red.

Momonosuke was bound to the execution stand, forced to witness everything, his face as white as paper.

His body trembled and his eyes were filled with terror and despair.

Kurozumi Orochi walked up before him, sneering as he spoke.

"Momonosuke, as long as you repent and acknowledge the Kozuki clan's wrongdoings, I can spare your life, so what do you say?"

---