Legendary Hour

The Legendary Hour is the name given to the execution of Kozuki Oden. It is the catalyst of the apparent eradication of the Kozuki Family.

Background
Until the "Legendary Hour", an event passed down to future generations has come, please do not avert your eyes!!!



After traveling the outside world, Kozuki Oden returned to Wano Country and learned about Kurozumi Orochi's actions as the "interim" shogun that "his father" appointed in his absence. Oden tried to strike him down, but Orochi was well protected and backed up by Kaidou. Orochi and Kaidou offered Oden a deal, if Oden made a fool of himself by dancing naked in front of the palace once a week, then the people of Wano would be spared and they would leave Wano in five years time, and Oden agreed.

After the five years past, Oden met with Orochi and learned that the latter never intended to fulfill his part of the deal. Angered, he gathered his men to battle Kaidou.

Due to their image of walking past the setting sun on their way to face Kaidou, Oden's retainers were named the Nine Red Scabbards (赤鞘九人男).

On their way to Onigashima, they were intercepted by Kaidou and the Beasts Pirates in Udon, who had been tipped off by their spy in Oden's ranks, Kurozumi Kanjuro. A massive battle broke out, in which Oden inflicted Kaidou with a permanent injury on his torso, though the battle ultimately resulted in Oden's defeat and imprisonment.

Overview
Kaidou: They will speak of you for years to come saying that you died a spectacular death. Oden: They can forget me, for all I care. My soul will live on!!

For their crimes against the shogunate, Oden and his men were sentenced to be executed by being boiled alive. At the time of the execution, a crowd gathered around the execution site where a large pot filled with boiling oil was placed. After being escorted to the pot, Oden then stopped and turned to face Orochi and Kaidou, who sat in a nearby stage. He asked to have a time limit, after which those who survive can walk free. Belittling that chance, Kaidou agreed and gave the men one hour. Oden then entered the pot, and as his men rushed to join him, he held up a platform and ordered them to stand on it, saving them from entering the boiling oil.



Mere minutes after the execution started, the crowd began to complain about Oden taking too long to die, causing Shinobu to lash out at them, revealing the truth behind Oden's deal with Orochi, and the shogun's corrupted goals. As the people listen in disbelief, Fukurokuju arrested Shinobu, before some of the watchers asked Orochi to stop the execution, but were shot with arrows. Realizing they were surrounded by Orochi's men, they kept silent for the reminder of the execution, but they spread the story to the rest of Wano afterwards.

As the hour continued, Oden was encouraged by the citizens, and talked to his retainers about his wish to open Wano to the rest of the world, knowing that this was his last day, leaving the task to them.

After an hour of torture, the people cheered for Oden's triumph, although their celebration was cut short when a firing squad was assembled and aimed their guns toward Oden and his men, still in the boiling pot.

Aftermath
For I... am a story to accompany your drinks... '''I am Oden!! And I was born... ...to boil!!!!'''



Orochi then revealed he changed the sentence a minute prior, and a person was gunned down when trying to object. Oden threw his men away from the execution site and told them to run and survive to fulfill his wish. With the firing squad chasing the retainers, Kaidou drew his own pistol and had final words with Oden before executing him with a shot to the head, and as the great samurai's body sank into the boiling oil, a smile on his face, the crowd cried for Oden.

Kaidou then went to Oden Castle in Kuri to kill Oden's family, and his crew set the castle on fire. After escaping the execution, some of the retainers fled back to Oden Castle in Kuri only to find the place aflame. Inside, they found Kozuki Toki holding her children. Toki then ordered Kin'emon to take care of Momonosuke as she sent them and few other retainers to the future, as she was asked to do so by Oden. Toki then had Kawamatsu take care of Hiyori, and the two escaped the castle as it was surrounded by enemy forces. Toki herself stayed to deliver a prophecy about the family returning in 20 years time.

Yamato, who witnessed the execution, developed a strong admiration for Oden and aimed to open Wano's borders. He also acquired his journal and kept it to himself.

Twenty years after the Legendary Hour, Orochi the tyrant shogun of Wano who was responsible for the boiling execution of Oden would face a similar fate of being burned alive by Kanjuro's kazenbo before being beheaded by Denjiro a survivor of the Legendary Hour in retribution for Oden's death.

Trivia

 * This event might be a reference to one version of the execution of Ishikawa Goemon, who was also sentenced to death by boiling, that says that he was boiled alive in an iron cauldron along with his son, whom he held above his head. However, neither survived.
 * In Chapter 973, a waning crescent moon was shown, implying that Oden's death occurred at the end of the month.

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