Playing Tenguyama Hitetsu

"Really?"

Watching the warm smile of this unfamiliar big brother and hearing his gentle voice, Tama happily asked again.

She had just lost her parents, yet a gentle big brother had come to look after her and would not let her go hungry.

It was practically like a dream.

After all, going hungry was the norm in Amigasa Village.

Ever since Tama could remember, she had never eaten her fill. She could not even drink as much water as she wanted.

After all, the rivers here were severely polluted, and even clean, healthy freshwater had to be carefully rationed among everyone.

"You heard me right. Once you come with me, I won't let you go hungry again."

Luo Ji gently stroked Tama's little head. This young Komainu did not dare bare its teeth at Luo Ji—in fact, it even gave him an ingratiating smile.

Anyone who bore no ill will toward its master was its provider of food and clothing.

"Thank you, big brother!"

Tama gazed at the gentle-smiling big brother through tear-filled eyes, seemingly filled with a sense of security.

"My name is Luo Ji. From now on, just call me Brother Luo Ji!"

"Here, have an apple. It doesn't have any real flavor, but it can still fill your stomach and replenish your energy."

Luo Ji activated the Fude Fude no Mi's ability and drew an apple on his hand, directly turning it into a real apple.

This ability was practically comparable to Streusen's Supa Supa no Mi ability.

The possible paths for developing Devil Fruit abilities were truly endless.

The sight made Tama's eyes widen.

"Brother Luo Ji, I can also knead dumplings, but eating them myself won't fill my stomach. It also consumes a lot of my strength.

"Will turning this apple into existence make you tired?"

Tama looked at Luo Ji with some concern. She knew that this kind of sorcery, which created things from thin air, must come at a certain cost.

"Don't worry. I have plenty of stamina—enough to fill both you and this Komainu."

Luo Ji drew some more fruit, and even some meat.

It was essentially using Luo Ji's stamina to turn into food and feed Tama.

"It's delicious!"

Although it had barely any flavor, Tama happily gnawed on the apple.

"You'll be able to eat real fruit and meat soon."

Luo Ji smiled faintly. The fact that Amigasa Village was impoverished did not mean the other districts were, too. A place like the Flower Capital was practically rolling in wealth.

Once the Beasts Pirates embarked on their grand expedition and stayed away for a month or two, he would cause a huge commotion in Wano Country.

He would spirit Yamato away, seize the Seastone mines, take the Flower Capital, carry off the Road Poneglyph, and even covet the Pluton battleship.

After Tama had said her final farewells at her parents' graves, Luo Ji led her into Amigasa Village.

He also used the Fuku Fuku no Mi's ability to change Tama into a clean princess dress, making her happy for most of the day.

From now on, Tama would have to sever her ties with Wano Country. She could not even continue wearing Wano Country's clothes.

As Luo Ji and Tama entered the village, the residents hurriedly closed their doors and hid.

Luo Ji's clothing and hairstyle were completely inconsistent with Wano Country's traditions. At a glance, he was clearly an outsider.

These impoverished commoners had no desire to provoke someone like that.

"Brother Luo Ji, the village swordsmith lives in the big treehouse on the mountain behind Amigasa Village."

Having been given a new lease on life, Tama happily led Luo Ji to find the renowned Tenguyama Hitetsu.

Apart from working at the Beasts Pirates' weapons factory, most of Amigasa Village's residents made a living weaving straw hats.

Swordsmiths with a certain amount of wealth, like Tenguyama Hitetsu, were quite rare.

After all, iron was not cheap.

In the big treehouse behind the village, Tenguyama Hitetsu saw that unfamiliar young man entering the village with the orphan of the Kurozumi clan.

This gave Tenguyama Hitetsu an ominous feeling.

He was already considering packing his belongings and leaving!

Considering what he was about to do, Luo Ji knew it would be inappropriate to spread the matter around, so he did not intend to let Tama know.

He found an excuse to use the bathroom and drew a clone.

He had the clone tell Tama to take him back to her dilapidated old house.

Meanwhile, Luo Ji's real body quickly mounted a paper crane and flew toward the big treehouse on the mountain behind Amigasa Village.

At that moment, Tenguyama Hitetsu was hurriedly packing when he suddenly saw a dark figure at the door.

He immediately drew the Ryo Wazamono: Tedzurikutteru he had forged in recent years and pointed it at the figure.

It was a famous sword with a sword guard shaped like a straw fan. Although it could not compare with the O Wazamono: Ame no Habakiri and Sandai Kitetsu he had forged in the past,

it was still an exceptional blade.

"Kin'emon?"

Tenguyama Hitetsu shouted in shock. He had thought it would be the unfamiliar young man who had appeared earlier, but he had never expected it to be his son's retainer.

Kin'emon, one of the Nine Red Scabbards.

When Oden governed the Kuri region, Kozuki Sukiyaki had already come to know the new retainers serving under Oden.

After Oden secretly left to sail the seas, Kin'emon, Denjiro, and the others continued managing Kuri.

He greatly admired these retainers, but he had never imagined that Kurozumi Orochi would usurp his position as shogun.

"You know me? Who are you? Why did you steal my lord's swords?

"We have a special way of tracking down those two blades. Hand them over at once!"

Kin'emon's expression turned stern. He drew his sword and pointed it at Tenguyama Hitetsu, looking ready to begin a battle at any moment.

Kikunojo's figure also appeared behind him.

Looking at these two young retainers, Tenguyama Hitetsu felt tears well up in his eyes.

Had the Nine Red Scabbards he had waited for so bitterly returned ahead of schedule?

Oden's prophecy and the Toki Toki no Mi ability activated by his daughter-in-law Kozuki Toki had finally sent Wano Country's hope back.

Oden's son, Momonosuke, and these retainers were all still alive!

"I can also sense the aura of a cursed blade. You despicable thief—you even managed to steal the Nidai Kitetsu!"

Kin'emon angrily scolded Tenguyama Hitetsu as he looked at the Nidai Kitetsu hanging on the wall of the treehouse.

As he spoke, Kin'emon unleashed Oden Two-Sword Style and slashed at Tenguyama Hitetsu.

Overcome with emotion, Hitetsu hurriedly raised his weapon to meet the attack. But his combat strength had never been impressive, and he was already old. He could not possibly block Luo Ji's full-powered strike.

After just one exchange, Tenguyama Hitetsu was knocked into the air, his weapon sent flying, and even his mask was split in two, revealing his true face.

"Shogun?"

Kin'emon cried out in shock, and Kikunojo's expression also stiffened.

"How could it be you?! Shogun!"

Kin'emon hurried over and helped Kozuki Sukiyaki up, his face filled with guilt and regret.

"Alas, my disguise has been seen through. But seeing you return once more brings this old man great comfort."

Kozuki Sukiyaki coughed a few times and waved his hand, unconcerned by Kin'emon's attack.

After all, he had been the one to conceal his identity first.

"Shogun, we thought Kurozumi Orochi had already..."

Kin'emon put every effort into his performance. If his Xingshang cheat had not disappeared, he would have killed Kozuki Sukiyaki long ago, popped out this man's energy card, and had no need to put on this act now.

On the journey from the ruins of Oden Castle in Kuri to Amigasa Village, Luo Ji had already confirmed through experiments that his cheat really had vanished. He could no longer plunder skills.

His cheat seemed to have perished together with Kozuki Toki's Toki Toki no Mi space, and that was what had successfully sent Luo Ji into the One Piece World.