One Piece: Start by Rebuilding Kuri

Higurashi refers to the Flower Capital, the most prosperous city in the country. It is also the residence of the country's rulers—the Kozuki clan.

Indeed, that place boasts the most magnificent palace in the entire nation.

Upon hearing this, Kurozumi Orochi couldn't help but laugh.

Although Dan's Serpent Marks had controlled their minds, turning them into his servants, it hadn't completely erased their will. At this moment, Kurozumi Orochi was still the same Kurozumi Orochi, but his desire to destroy the country had slightly shifted.

His new goal was to seize the country by any means necessary, eliminate the Kozuki clan, and make Dan the true ruler of the nation!

To achieve this goal, the first step was to steal the country!

Stealing a country was not an uncommon occurrence in the world of pirates. In fact, the seeds of such schemes had already appeared in the East Blue. The cunning Klahadore, who disguised himself as a butler, had attempted to use such methods to seize Kaya's family fortune. However, his vision and strength were both lacking.

In the Grand Line, such schemes were even more prevalent.

And this was originally part of Kurozumi Higurashi's plan.

Although Orochi hadn't eaten a Devil Fruit yet, that didn't matter much. After all, Higurashi hadn't intended to make Orochi an effective combatant. In fact, the only reason for giving him the fruit was to provide him with an additional means of survival.

They couldn't afford to have him die before the plan to steal the country was complete.

As for how to begin the plan, Kurozumi Higurashi already had a strategy in mind. Her target was the daimyo of Hakumai—Shimotsuki Yasuie.

Stealing a country was no simple task, even with the power of the Clone-Clone Fruit at their disposal. They would have to proceed carefully. However, the first step was to get Kurozumi Orochi close to Kozuki Sukiyaki, and the key to that was Shimotsuki Yasuie.

"Orochi, from now on, the hatred of the Kurozumi clan will no longer be our top priority. Do you understand?" Kurozumi Higurashi couldn't help but say as she looked at the grotesquely large-headed child before her.

"Of course, I understand. For the sake of that great man, everything else is insignificant!" Kurozumi Orochi's eyes gleamed with madness. He hadn't forgotten the past grievances, but compared to Dan, they had become secondary.

"Good, you understand. Originally, I didn't have high expectations for you. As long as the plan to steal the country succeeded, it didn't matter whether you indulged in depravity or not. As long as the country was destroyed, that was enough." Kurozumi Higurashi's face, as fierce as a demon's, grew serious. "But now, you must become stronger. Only then can you better offer your life when the great man needs you!"

To this, Orochi had no objections. In fact, he had already been thinking along these lines.

Regardless of how far he could go, he needed to make himself valuable in the eyes of the great man!

"Good..." Kurozumi Higurashi nodded. "In that case, first disguise yourself as a servant and infiltrate the Shimotsuki family. Among the daimyo, Shimotsuki Yasuie is the most likely to take you in."

The Shimotsuki clan of Hakumai was a branch of the Shimotsuki family, and the daimyo of Ringo also bore the Shimotsuki name. However, compared to the other daimyo, Shimotsuki Yasuie was the easiest to approach.

"As for the Devil Fruit, we will find a new one for you. While you're hiding in the Shimotsuki family, you must accumulate wealth for the great man." Kurozumi Higurashi briefly outlined the plan. Soon, both sides began to take action.

At the same time, Kozuki Oden, who had been exiled from the Flower Capital, began traveling across the country.

Kurozumi Orochi, under a false identity, became a servant in the Shimotsuki household, while Kurozumi Higurashi worked to establish connections with overseas forces. During this time, Orochi also managed to place Kanjuro by Kozuki Oden's side, planting a spy.

A year passed in the blink of an eye.

Dan had finally fully absorbed the demon within the Yamata no Orochi Devil Fruit.

"Finally, success." Dan was no longer in his fruit form but had taken on a semi-beastly appearance, resembling the eight-headed serpent deity from the game Onmyoji.

His long black hair cascaded down his back, and his handsome yet cold demeanor gave no hint of his serpentine nature. However, having just transformed from the fruit, Dan was still unclothed, his body shrouded in dark clouds.

Kurozumi Semimaru, who had been guarding him, opened his eyes in shock. Trembling, he could no longer maintain his usual composure and prostrated himself before Dan.

"My lord, you..."

"It's you. First, bring me some clothes." Dan recognized him. He had some questions for the old man, but he needed to put on some pants first. Standing naked before this old man was something even Dan found distasteful.

"Yes!" Kurozumi Semimaru knelt and slowly backed out of the room.

Meanwhile, Dan surveyed the room. Compared to the dilapidated shrine from before, this place was much more comfortable.

"However, now that the crisis of survival has been resolved, what should I do next?" Dan pondered for a moment. He had been locked in a struggle with the consciousness within the Devil Fruit, and if he had failed, his own consciousness would have been assimilated.

Faced with such a threat, Dan hadn't had the luxury of thinking about anything else.

"Become the Pirate King? No need..." Dan shook his head. He wasn't particularly interested in becoming the Pirate King. In the past, he might have found the idea appealing, but now it held little allure.

"Never mind, I'll see the current era later."

Soon, Kurozumi Semimaru returned with a maid. Standing at the door, he addressed the maid, who was holding a set of clothes, "Go in and help the great man dress!"

"Yes."

The maid bowed her head in acknowledgment, then entered the room with the clothes, closing the sliding door behind her.

Seeing Dan standing amidst the dark clouds, the maid couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.

His handsome appearance, combined with the eerie clouds, made him look like a demon from legends who feasted on maidens. Despite her fear, she had no choice but to cautiously approach Dan, her hands trembling as she reached out.

'M-my lord... let me help you dress...'

Dan found her timid demeanor amusing. He spread his arms, allowing her to drape the garments over him.

Truth be told, he wouldn't have known how to wear these clothes even if he tried. And even if he did, there was no reason to refuse her assistance.