"Y-you're actually Ace's little brother?!"
The Tengu Samurai was so shocked that even his mask slipped askew.
With the revelation of this unexpected connection, the misunderstanding that had brought them to the brink of a fight vanished completely.
The atmosphere inside the thatched hut finally warmed, and everyone sat on the floor around the hearth.
"So Ace came to the Land of Wano before and ate your food, too."
Sitting cross-legged, Luffy recalled Ace's face, his own expression full of longing.
Then he turned toward the still-masked Tengu Samurai and asked curiously:
"By the way, mister, who are you, anyway? Why are you wearing such a weird mask?"
The Tengu Samurai took a deep breath to calm his excitement.
He straightened up in his cross-legged seat, an air of solemn dignity settling over him, and introduced himself in a deep voice:
"My name is Hitetsu. Tenguyama Hitetsu, in full! I make my living forging weapons-a swordsmith!"
"A swordsmith?!"
Zoro's eyes flashed brightly. As a swordsman, he had an instinctive interest in and respect for those who forged blades.
Luffy paid no attention to those details. Looking at the weakened Tama, he frowned slightly and went straight to the point:
"Since Ace is an Emperor now, those guys fighting over territory are bound to keep him busy for a while. There's no way he can come to the Land of Wano."
"Hey, mister, you should take Tama somewhere better, where there's clean water to drink! You can't let her keep drinking poisoned water!"
"No! I'm not leaving!"
Before Hitetsu could answer, Tama shook her head desperately, clutching the edge of the tatami with both hands as she shouted stubbornly:
"I'm staying here! This is where we made our promise!"
"What if Ace comes back and can't find me because I left?"