For Sasuke, besides Baby-5, who had been sticking to him, Yamato left a deeper impression on him than Viola.
After all, in this man's eyes, strength was far more important than appearance or personality.
At least from Sasuke's perspective, Viola couldn't beat Baby-5.
Yes, that's the plain and simple way of assessing.
Especially when seeing Yamato truly act.
"Non-Samurai Ice Fang!"
Still starting with a breath attack, freezing air swept across the field, directly turning a one-kilometer radius into a world of ice crystals.
Within the range covered by this breath, regardless of whether they were snake-people, any living creature would be frozen.
Seeming to notice Sasuke's gaze, Yamato, after reverting to human form, waved her hand to explain.
"Don't worry. They're only temporarily frozen. It's fine to thaw them once you have a treatment method."
Yamato had a good grasp of her freezing breath's power.
When holding back, the Okuchi no Makami's freezing breath could freeze without harming.
She had done this often in Wano Country.
Those who committed minor crimes, not deserving death, were punished by being turned into ice statues as a penalty.
After the ice melted, these people were still lively, at most with some cold symptoms.
Although Yamato seemed ready to fight at the slightest disagreement, she actually pondered each time in her heart.
Even if Sasuke hadn't intervened earlier, the kanabo wouldn't have struck Viola.
"Huh? Come to think of it, where's that woman?"
Only then did Yamato belatedly realize Viola, who had been following them, was gone.
"Fallen behind, probably."
To be honest, Sasuke hadn't paid much attention either.
"Is that so?"
Yamato nodded.
Along the way, almost all snake-people were either frozen by her or trapped in Genjutsu. At least for Viola, there shouldn't be much danger.
Then, she looked at the nearby castle.
"A pity. I wanted her to point us a shortcut."
The castle originally belonged to the Donquixote Family, built nine hundred years ago, not the work of the Riku Family.
Whether it was deliberately imitating the [Red Line], [Mary Geoise], or just pure coincidence, this castle was built on extremely high terrain.
Long bridges extended from both sides of the castle, with hills like towering pillars below. Structurally, it bore some resemblance to Mary Geoise.
The person seated atop that castle could freely overlook this nation.
Its owner before last was King Riku, the last was Doflamingo. As for now—
"Kukuku... they're coming, aren't they?"
Orochimaru's face showed not a trace of nervousness.
He slowly walked into a certain secret room, looking at Sugar, who was controlled by Monet and Diamante.
"Your task is complete. Whether you want to stay or leave is up to you."
As Orochimaru's words fell, Diamante and Monet voluntarily moved away from Sugar.
Orochimaru also stepped aside from the doorway, leaving a path. Sugar only needed to walk out to regain her freedom.
However, Sugar just stared at Orochimaru with hatred, not making any move.
After all, Monet was still in Orochimaru's hands.
"Is that so?"
Orochimaru seemed not at all surprised by the situation. He turned to Monet.
"Then you accompany your younger sister."
Saying this, he suddenly turned his head, twisting at an impossible angle to stare at Sugar.
"But you better not move around freely from now on—this is also for your own safety."
After speaking, Orochimaru's neck slowly returned to normal.
Sugar's gaze toward Orochimaru now held a bit more horror.
In that brief moment of eye contact just now, she clearly saw Orochimaru's face, which had begun completely transforming into a snake's.
Just like those snake-people, even the shape of his bones had changed.
…
"Hey! So sneaky!"
Yamato shouted as she watched Sasuke riding a flame cloud into the air.
From their brief earlier exchange, she had some speculations about Sasuke's Devil Fruit ability.
Judging from the appearance of that hand, it should be a Zoan-type fruit like hers.
As expected, when Sasuke fully transformed into the beast form of [Huodou], Yamato's guess was confirmed.
In fact, it wasn't just both being Zoan-type fruit users.
Sasuke and Yamato were both Mythical Zoan types of the Inu Inu no Mi. One could exhale freezing breath, the other could consume flames. In a way, they were not only similar but even quite 'symmetrical'.
They had both even reached the [Awakening] level, each with a flame cloud cape behind them.
It's just that Sasuke's flame cloud was bluish-black, while Yamato's was white with a hint of light blue.
Seeing Yamato, like a child, waving her kanabo wildly on the ground, shouting things like 'sneaky', black lines also appeared on Sasuke's forehead.
'This guy... would probably get along well with Naruto and Konohamaru.'
Whoosh!
Yamato also transformed into her beast form, directly leaped onto a protruding rock wall, then used the force to jump again, reaching Sasuke's height.
Seeing this, Sasuke just shook his head.
"... I'm going up first."
After saying this, he decisively rode the flame cloud, flying higher.
Although Sasuke's flying speed couldn't compare to Karin's, it was still faster than pure jumping.
At least, with Yamato currently alternating left and right using the rock walls for leverage, she couldn't catch up to his ascent speed, only watching Sasuke's figure grow smaller.
"Ahhhh!"
Yamato's four paws were almost spinning into smoke, yet she still lagged behind Sasuke by a distance.
Seeming to hear Yamato's shouts, Sasuke, floating in the sky, glanced back but said nothing, maintaining his original speed upward.
"Dammit!"
Yamato had a competitive nature, just like Naruto in the past… easily provoked and liked competing in various trivial matters.
Suddenly, an idea flashed in this Beasts Pirates' Young Master's mind.
'Since this guy's ability is so similar to mine, is it possible... I can fly too?'
Originally, in Yamato's worldview, someone like her old man Kaido, a 'dragon', flying was natural. For her own ground-based Mythical Zoan not to fly also made sense.
But now, seeing another Inu Inu no Mi user, Sasuke, also able to fly, there was no reason she couldn't!
Thinking of it, she acted. Yamato imitated Sasuke, controlling the flame cloud behind her, gathering it into a mass under her feet, then gripping it tightly with her four paws.
Sure enough, those flame clouds had substance. Yamato usually never paid attention, purely treating them as decorations.
But this was, after all, her first time 'riding clouds', so her proficiency was far too lacking.
Yamato's entire giant dog body was rigid, not daring to make any unnecessary movements.
And the flame cloud, under her control, began to slowly rise.
'Yes! I can fly too!'
Yamato controlled the flame cloud, flying faster and faster, soon approaching Sasuke's height.
It had to be admitted that, if comparing pure physical attributes, Yamato was still miles ahead of the current Sasuke.
Her physical endurance and vitality were stronger than Sasuke, a minor.
Similarly, after mastering cloud-riding technique, Yamato could exert more power, so surpassing Sasuke in speed wasn't strange.
"Hmph hmph!"
As Yamato slowly surpassed Sasuke, the corners of her mouth almost reached her ears.
Although she said nothing, the show-off meaning wasn't hidden at all.
"... How childish."
Sasuke really felt somewhat at a loss.
"Hmph hmph hmph... I'm faster than you."
Yamato's response was simple. She still showed that somewhat smug smile while saying this.
Growing more and more like a certain someone in Sasuke's memory.