Summary:
As he is being crucified, Yasuie reveals that he lied about being Ushimitsu Kozo and impersonated him to get this public platform. He then lies that he created the Kozuki family’s secret message as a prank out of frustration after being defeated by Orochi and Kaida 20 years ago, and that the crescent moon symbol was an unrelated fashion design. This creates considerable doubt among the forces guarding those imprisoned for having the crescent symbol, and Yasu is proud of his efforts to help the rise of the Kozuki family when he is shot and killed by Orochi and his troops.
Arriving at the location, Zoro is confused to see the townspeople of Ebisu laughing hysterically. Hiyori then reveals to him that they were deprived of the ability to do anything else due to Kaidou bringing SMILE to this country.
More than 25 years ago, Shimotsuki Yasuie ordered his samurai to closely guard Hakumai, the only legal port to the outside world in the land of Wano. Kozuki Oden commented that he had impressed the samurai, and Yasui was annoyed that he was still hanging around and not acting like the shogun’s son. Oden replied that he was not interested in his relationship with Sukiyaki’s father now that he was exiled, and that Yasuie was more likely to inherit the position of Shogun than he was. Yasuie was having none of it and hit Oden saying that he is the only one who can lead the Kozuki family in the future and must take Sukiyaki’s banishment as a challenge. Oden refused, wanting to go to sea and escape this isolationist country, and Yasuie continued to beat him as he demanded that Oden first become a capable samurai.
In the present, the citizens of Wan express their relief to see Yasuie alive, but Orochi’s forces mock the former daimyo’s current state of life and declare that they will join Komurasaki in death for stealing from the Flower Capital and leading a rebellion against Orochi. However, Yasuie then reveals that he lied about being Ushimitsu Kozo so that his capture could attract everyone’s attention, and Orochi’s forces are shocked before realizing that they apprehended him earlier than when Ushimitsu Kozo normally committed robberies. As Drake and Hawkins oversee the execution and the massive turnout, a samurai informs them that the citizens of Ebisu City have invaded the Flower Capital. The citizens rush through the front gate and past the guards, needing to rescue Yasu to ensure their continued survival. As Toko’s group races from the North Graveyard to the capital, Drake tells his men to watch out for rioters, saying that Orochi’s decision to broadcast the execution may end up backfiring.
Yasuie then addresses the crowd gathered around him. He tells them to look around the Flower Capital, saying that its beauty was created by their ancestors and the Kozuki family, and Orochi did nothing but tarnish them during his reign. Orochi, who is brought in for execution on a stretcher, is enraged to hear this, while the citizens fear for Yasu’s fate. Yasuie then apologizes to the crowd for the Kozuki family’s message, lying that he made it as a prank. 20 years ago, after Oden’s death, Orochi approached him and three other daimyo to give them a chance to serve him. They refused and were defeated by Kaida, and Yasu escaped and went into hiding; he claims he created the message childishly to save him the tedium of hiding it. While talking, Shutenmaru and Mt. The Atama Thieves reached Bakura City without being seen by the Beast Pirates, but Shutenmaru held his men back when he noticed Kin’emon and Inuarashi behind them; both are shocked to see Yasui again.
Yasuie then lies that Orochi’s arrest of anyone with a crescent moon symbol on their ankles was nothing more than baseless paranoia, claiming that the crescent moon is just a popular suggestion from the long past. The guards are horrified to hear this and wonder what they should do with all the people they have imprisoned. Orochi’s convoy then arrives at Rasetsu City, and Orochi asks if Yasuie has any last words as he pulls out his rifle while standing on a stretcher. Yasuie responds by reciting a curse that binds the Shogun’s heart, then laughs as he is proud of his efforts to help Momonosuke and the Nine Red Sheaths’ plan to go back to the beginning by giving the prisoners of Rasetsu City a new place to meet and looks forward to seeing the Kozuki family to take revenge in the next life. As the prison guards quietly comment on Orochi’s cowardice, the Shogun and his forces shoot Yasuie several times and he falls to the ground dead. Toko and the citizens of Ebisu town laugh profusely in agony at the sight of him dying, and Zoro is horrified to see them laughing, but Hiyori holds him back. They reveal that they were robbed of the ability to do anything but smile thanks to Kaidou and Orochi bringing the SMILE fruit to the land.