Chapter 145 - The heir of Kozuki Oden

Inuarashi had been watching on the reunion of the straw-hats with a calm smile on his face.

But then he turned to the side and was shocked.

As soon as Inuarashi saw the cat Nekomamushi jump up in front of them, he flared up in anger. This was not the time for the cat to be here after all.

He was the ruler of the day and it was currently daytime.

He had all forgotten that he was told that samurais had reached the country earlier in his anger. He had even forgotten that Ian was next to him.

"Why are you here? You monster cat? Can't you see that it's still daytime?" he spoke up angrily as he started walking towards him, with his musketeers trying to stop him as they too had noticed Nekomamushi.

Meanwhile, the so-called cat monster turned towards him too and finally noticed him which made his eyes widen. Still, he just snorted at him in response.

"In the first place, this country doesn't need two rulers and that stupid day-night ruling time!" Since it was indeed his fault for coming at daytime which was not in their agreement, this was all he could say in retaliation to the dog's words. His guardian's trying to stop him couldn't even slow him down when he too started to walk towards the dog.

Also forgetting about everything around them just like Inuarashi.

By now even the straw-hats were paying attention to this and had stopped their reunion short.

Inuarashi gave a nod showing he agreed with the cat viper.

"Indeed! How about we fix that short problem right now?" He told him as he unsheathed his sword.

And the cat viper replied yes as he twirled his spear around his hands.

Then both of them jumped up at each other and met in the sky their weapons clashing and electricity flying around, which had, in the end, resulted in a shockwave that threw their people around and raised a cloud of dust.

The straw-hats were shocked at this display of strength.

Then a sudden yell had managed to make them both stop momentarily.

"Please stop fighting!" Kin'emon yelled as he said.

And then he had started walking towards them with his friend Kanjuro next to him.

The straw-hats who had been hiding Momo all this time tried to do the same towards Kin'emon but it was too late. They knew that the country was attacked by samurais, and Kin'emon was one. They could not see how this would go on any other way than them fighting.

The two rulers were surprised for a bit before they recognized that this person was a samurai which jolted their memory about why they were both here in the first place.

And then they too started walking closer to them with their people following behind them.

"People from the country of Zou! I am a retainer of the Kozuki clan from the land of Wano, named Kin'emon!" Kin'emon introduced himself.

"I'm here to look for my comrade, Raizo, who is a warrior from the same country. Has he been here?!" He finally asked this question.

The two rulers had finally stopped walking and sat on the ground in front of them.

Then, after a bit of silence, they proudly and with smiles spoke up in unison.

"We have been expecting you! Raizo is safe!" they said. Emotions laying heavily in their voices.

And then all people there opened their eyes widely in shock. Including the straw-hats.

Kin'emon shared a look with his friend Kanjuro and his lord Momo.

They were all smiling there.

Before he turned toward the two rulers and happily replied.

"Oh! He's safe? I'm relieved!" He told them with a smile.

Since he had just gotten here he didn't know that Jack had attacked them and that Ian had saved them.

As such Inuarashi proceeded to explain.

"We had been under attack by Jack who was searching for him, however, that attack failed, thanks to Emperor Ian!" He told them.

At that both Kanjuro and Kin'emon who had not known this like the straw-hats who had spent a few days here, widened their eyes, before looking at Ian.

They both bowed towards him.

"I'm deeply grateful to you!��� He spoke up towards Ian who only waved his hands in response, and then they turned towards the two rulers and bowed again.

Next to speak was surprisingly Nekomamushi.

"Captain Ian, I'm sorry for keeping this a secret from you! But the land of Wano's Kozuki's family and we have been like family since way back! No matter what happens we'll never betray our friends!" He too bowed his head along with Inuarashi.

Ian's response this time was a shake of his head as he said.

"It's nothing, don't mention it!" He told them.

He was not bothered at the least. After all, it was their secret, not his. But since the minks were loyal beyond doubt, they were feeling quite torn at hiding this from an ally and friend.

"Let me say this again! I'm deeply grateful to you all!" Kin'emon was touched by what they said so he bowed to them again.

The two rulers smiled at him.

Then as he saw this he too shared a smile with them before he turned around and dropped his kimono to the waist.

"Now as proof, I offer you this!" He spoke up.

And this managed to surprise them all, except the two rulers.

Then the two casually started to speak with each other, before Ian was joined with Luffy and co.

"Ian it's been a long time!" Luffy said in greeting as he shook hands with him.

Ian too said.

"Indeed it has! I heard that you have gotten stronger, and managed to beat up Doflamingo! That's quite amazing!" Ian told him.

And Luffy laughed happily as he scratched the back of his head.

"Yes, I did!" He laughed.

Ian greeted Zoro, Franky, and Usopp who were smiling at them.

After that Luffy suddenly started speaking.

"I heard that you have helped my crew. Although I still don't know what you did exactly, I can only say I'm deeply grateful!" Luffy said towards him with a serious look.

Nami and Sanji nodded their heads, as Sanji spoke up.

"He really did save our asses!" He told them emotionally. While promising to explain later.

"Don't mention it. What are friends for?" Ian gently laughed as he said.

"Oh by the way, when things are explained to you all, I would like to talk to you about what to do from there!" Ian told them.

And they gave nods.

Then all of a sudden yelling started to draw their attention.

When they turned their eyes to the side they were met with the two rulers on the brink of a fight and Momo the little guy admonishing them about their fighting. Stating that it would make his father sad and that they used to be good friends.

This perplexed them as Kin'emon was just there at the side.

Then under the astonished eyes of the straw-hats, the two rulers kneeled on the ground asking for forgiveness.

Then Kanjuro and Kin'emon each took a side to Momo and stood there.

Kin'emon proceeded to explain to the straw hats that he was in fact not the father of Momonosuke.

He then loudly announced.

"This child here, is the heir to Lord Kozuki Oden, daimyo of Kuri in Wano country! His name is… Lord Kozuki Momonosuke! That means to us he is our Lord!" He said.

And then silence permeated the surroundings at this!