Chapter 969

Just as Oden moves to slay Orochi, the elderly Kurozumi Semimaru shields the shogun with barrier powers, and the failed strike brings reprisals down on the citizens outside. Cornered, Oden takes to dancing naked through the capital, a degrading act he keeps up for five years. A year in, he reads of Roger's execution. Two decades before the present, he learns Kaidou has seized Hyougoro on Orochi's command, butchering the yakuza boss's wife along with sixteen of his men. The cruelty finally pushes Oden to gather his retainers and ride against Kaidou.

An invisible wall keeps deflecting Oden's blade, and Semimaru reveals it as the Barrier Barrier Arts. Kurozumi Higurashi then uses her copying fruit to impersonate Sukiyaki, exposing how Orochi's claim to power rested on forgery rather than any true decree. When poison arrows scatter the cheering crowd and Kaidou looms over the capital, Oden chooses humiliation over open war. Week after week he begs for coins in the streets while children pelt him and samurai brand him a coward. His family, retainers, and old friends like Yasuie and Hyougoro keep their faith. During these years, the Beasts Pirates clash with Gecko Moria's crew in Ringo, and Ryuma's grave is robbed.

The turning point comes when Orochi visits Kuri, grinding his sandal into Oden's bowed face while demanding help building weapon factories. He coldly recounts handing Hyougoro to Kaidou and gunning down Taka, then jokes about the killings. Sobbing, Oden confirms the burden his loved ones long suspected he carried. To his vassals' delight he declares the moment to fell Kaidou has come. Marching at sunset with his nine retainers, their bodies and blades stained crimson by the dying light, the group earns the name the Nine Red Scabbards. Semimaru and Higurashi are confirmed as Kurozumi, and Shinobu is shown spying on the earlier confrontation.