Chapter 970

He further chastises Oden for choosing the peaceful option to save lives, remarking that Roger and Whitebeard also had soft spots for civilians despite their fearsome reputations as pirates. Kaidou finishes by mocking Oden for his dancing – claiming that he has none of the dignity of his predecessors, to which Oden retorts that he stands by his decision. Oden effortlessly charges through the first wave of Kaidou’s forces, with the rest of the scabbards backing him up into battle. The opposing forces are taken aback by how strong samurai actually are, but nonetheless feel confident in their superior numbers. As the battle begins in earnest, Yasuie arrives at Oden castle and reveals that Oden has sent him a message that his family would be in danger.

He warns Toki that they need to be prepared for the worst, as if Oden loses this battle, then the entire country is lost as well. On the battlefield, a Beast Pirate takes aim at Oden with his rifle but is struck down with a kunai knife from an unknown assailant. Spotting someone moving through the trees above, Oden asks who did it, to which Shinobu reveals herself. She asks to join him in battle, and Oden recognizes her from her youth in serving his father as Shogun. She states that she stayed at the castle hoping to eventually serve the Kouzuki Clan and Oden once again, but the Oniwabanshu eventually switched their allegiance over to Orochi.

She is saddened when Oden doesn’t blame her for losing faith in a “fool of a lord”, but nonetheless reaffirms her desire to help the scabbards in battle. With Shinobu joining the fight, it became eleven samurai against one thousand pirates. Despite this, the battle lasted much longer than expected, as Oden proved stronger than the enemy could have ever fathomed. Kaidou unleashes a massive fire blast, but Oden recovers from this and manages to slice his neck with Oden Nitōryū: Tougen Totsuka. The blow sends Kaidou crashing to the ground, much to the disbelief of his subordinates.

As Oden moves in for the finishing blow, he suddenly hears Momonosuke call out to him, which distracts him as he looks over to see his son being held captive by a Beast Pirate. Taking advantage of the opening, Kaidou reverts to his human form and smashes Oden across the face with his mace, incapacitating him. “Momonosuke” reveals himself to actually be Kurozumi Higurashi using her Mane Mane abilities, and the distraction leads to Ashura Doji being stabbed in the back as the rest of the scabbards are overwhelmed. The fighting was so intense that it caused wildfires in Udon’s forests that did not subside until it rained five days later. Oden and the nine scabbards were ultimately imprisoned in the Flower Capital, Shinobu having been released after Oden claimed to have no connection to her. She is pensive as she walks through the streets of the capital, listening to the cold reactions of the townspeople to Oden’s defeat. She stops as the sentence for Oden and his retainers is officially announced. Momonosuke and Hiyori inquire about their father’s return, and Toki doesn’t give a direct answer. Tsuru is seen musing over an origami crane, while Yasuie sits in the rain on the steps of his home. It is announced that in three days time, Oden and his nine retainers will be boiled to death in the public square of the capital.