19 19. Raid on Udon.

War.

Conflict.

Bloodshed.

Strife.

Struggle.

At this point, Wano's standing on the brink of war. All out war. No tricks. No lies. Just kill.

Or be killed.

I met up with the Akazaya. They're all prepared for war. Oden... Where is he? He's our leader. We can't go without him. I can of course but I won't. It's risky fighting without a plan. Would've worked if I wasn't a kid. But not right now. We need a plan. And a leader who can charge ahead giving us hope against that snake and his huge army.

Awesome as I am, I'm not a good leader. Neither now, nor when I was a full grown man.

So right now I'll have to do my best not to steal everyone's spotlight.

"THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE COMING!"

"I HAVE TO! YOU CAN'T WIN WITHOUT ME! I, YAMI, AM YOUR ONLY HOPE OTHER THAN THE BIG OAF!"

"KID DID YOU JUST CALL OUR ARMY USELESS?!? AND HOW DARE YOU REFER TO LORD ODEN AS, AS, AN OAF OF ALL THINGS?!?"

"Face it Kin'emon, I'm a crucial part of the fighting force here. I'm even stronger than most samurai here. I have to go!"

"There's no way I'm allowing a kid into a battle like this! Stop being selfish Yami! Do you know what we would feel if something happened to you?? Why won't you understand?? You aren't just some kid to us! You're our precious comrade. You're one of us Akazaya. You're one of Lord Oden's retainers. But this is not the age where you witness such mindless bloodshed. Udon won't be a normal place once this war begins. It'll be a complete slaughterhouse with blood and corpses decorating every corner! This is no place for you!"

"... Kin'emon... I..."

I've witnessed enough bloodshed.

"I have a duty... "

I'm lying again. It's not about that.

"I'm one of you guys, I'm a -" Captain "- Samurai".

No. I... Who am I...

"You have yet to recognize yourself Yami," Kin'emon said. Of all people, to think I'd be exposed by him. He said it.

Oh god. Oh god. I'm having an identity crisis this far down the road.

Let's sort this out first.

I'm not Captain Yami or Samurai Yami or that kinda bullshit. I'm Yami. Captain and retainer are just positions. In the end I'm still the badass I've always been.

Well that was surprisingly fast.

"Kin'emon. I'm done recognizing myself".

"WHAT?! NO NO NO YAMI YOU DON'T JUST RECOGNIZE YOURSELF THAT EASILY IT TAKES YEARS TO UNDERSTAND YOURSELF AND GAIN ENLIGHTENMENT AND KNOWLE- "

"That's for the other trash protagonists, I'm not one of those dime a dozen bastards. I'm Yami. Karasawa Yami. And I have what it takes to stay alive. Take me with you old man".

"..."

"..."

"... Sigh... Don't die. Stick close to us retainers".

"Hmm? I thought you'd say something like stay on the back and run when things get dangerous, not complaining though".

"I considered that but the back is as just as dangerous as the front. There's no safezone. Plus. Doing that would be belittling your resolve to help us. Yami. Please. Please don't die".

"Don't worry old man, I won't die. *not again anyway*. I'm stronger than you so better worry more about yourself. Also if I get injured or something mom might just beat you to an inch of your life for involvement".

"WAIT WHAT??! HOW IS- WHY IS- WHY DO I GET BEATEN?!? SHOULDN'T IT BE YOU?? YOU'RE COMING WITH US ON YOUR OWN VOLITION KID!!!"

"Why would I get beaten when we have you? You've always been a good punching bag anyway since you're weaker than me".

"I'M NOT WEAKER THAN YOU! I AM LORD ODEN'S STRONGEST RETAINER FOXFIRE KIN'EMON! MY SKILLS ARE BEYOND YOUR COMPREHENSION!!"

"Didn't I beat you already?"

"I WAS HOLDING BACK YOU DAMN BRAT! I DIDN'T SHOW YOU HALF OF MY SKILLS LET ALONE FOXFIRE STYLE!"

"I was holding back more though".

"NO YOU WEREN'T, YOU EVEN USED YOUR MAGIC!"

"If you have clothes, you wear em. If you got food, you eat it. Just like that, if you got magic, you use it to kick butt".

"... THAT'S... IT'S... AHGHHH YOU WASTED SO MUCH OF MY ENERGY".

"First of all calm down you're arguing with a kid. Second, when do we head out?"

"We await Lord Oden. He has something to do".

"He's running late. It's almost night".

"It's part of the strategy. Only a few people will fight all out in the open, including Lord Oden and us Akazaya. The rest will use the cover of night to instigate guerilla warfare on the enemy".

"Sounds plan enough I guess. I'd never really thought we'd need it though. I used to think everything was peaceful. But now, all hell's gonna break loose".

"... We all hoped for peace. But that is simply an idealistic thought. Where there is light, there will always be shadows. It is inevitable. This 'Raid on Udon' will be our last chance to take back Wano. I can't fail. We can't fail. Failure is simply not an option. You've always been a bit too smart for your age so I'm assuming you knew that didn't you?"

"I had a feeling, yes. But I never thought it'd come true. Everything seemed so bright at some point that I forgot darkness existed. I feel pathetic for being that idealistic".

"No man can live without ideals Yami. I hope you understand that too Kin'emon".

Ah. He's here.

"Lord Oden, we are ready," Ashura said.

"Good. Then we will proceed with the plan. Yami, you're prepared for what comes next right? There's no time to catch your breath. And the moment you lose your calm you will die. The moment you stop fighting you'll die. I'll ask again".

There was a pressure coming off of Oden. Not bloodlust but something more. Like an imposing aura. Like an emperor. Guess he wasn't revered just for being strong.

"Are you prepared Yami?"

"I am".

"Then that settles everything. LET US MARCH MY SAMURAI!! LET THE WAR FOR OUR LAND...

... BEGIN!"

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Gimmw your power stones people 😎