Arceus's Pirate Journey

”Whoever is dissatisfied, we can have a try. The winner becomes the new leader of the Imperial Court Guards.”

As a parachute leader, Greninja sought to establish authority, and for such a scenario, making an example is always a good choice. Just the day before, the Beasts Pirates had summarily executed the leaders of the rebellion for the same reason.

But Greninja underestimated these ninjas’ patience; they truly excelled in endurance. Faced with his provocation, not a single ninja stepped forward, immediately adhering to his arrangement.

This completely surprised Greninja as he didn’t expect not a single troublemaker among these ninjas.

This was also due to the political environment of Wano Kuni; the Imperial Court Guards were the General’s personal guard, and throughout Wano Kuni’s history, only the Kurozumi Family attempted usurpation, yet that was after the vacating of the General’s position.

Before Kurozumi Orochi, no one had actively plotted against the General. Hence, the Imperial Court Guards had more ceremonial roles, with diminishing real combat experience.

Moreover, their principle was to protect the General, regardless of who the General was, a logic that made them maintain their positions across three generations—from Kozuki Sukiyaki, to Kurozumi Orochi, to the current Kozuki Hiyori.

Without an appointed leader, they contested power, but when confronted with a superior threat, they outright abnegated resistance.

Hence, Arceus merely used them as a ceremonial guard to uphold the nominal General’s status of Wano Kuni; in truth, they held no real power.

Nevertheless, Greninja’s plan proceeded successfully. Though no members of the Imperial Court Guards resisted, there were still those aspiring to the leadership.

On the eve of the General’s inheritance ceremony, a woman arrived as a former member of the Imperial Court Guards.

Kuronuma, a Paramecia-type: Ripe-Ripe Fruit Ability User, was originally a member of the Imperial Court Guards serving the Kozuki Clan. After Kurozumi Orochi’s coup, the defection of the Imperial Court Guards led her to leave.

She is arguably the only one among the Imperial Court Guards truly loyal to the Kozuki family. Her return was prompted by the news of Kozuki Hiyori’s ascendancy, prompting her to come back again.