Impersonating Tenguyama Hitetsu

"Really?"

Seeing this unfamiliar big brother's warm smile and hearing his gentle voice, Tama happily asked again.

She had just lost her mother and father, and now a kind big brother had come to take care of her and would not let her go hungry.

It was like a dream.

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

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

The rivers here were heavily polluted, and even clean, healthy freshwater had to be rationed collectively.

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

Luo Ji gently patted Tama's little head. The young Komainu did not dare bare its fangs at Luo Ji and even wore a fawning grin.

As long as someone bore no ill will toward its master, that person was its provider.

"Thank you, big brother!"

Tama looked at the gently smiling big brother with tearful eyes, feeling as though she were completely safe.

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

"Here, have an apple. It doesn't have a real taste, but it can still fill your stomach and replenish your calories."

Luo Ji activated the Fude Fude no Mi ability, drew an apple on his hand, and directly created one.

This ability was practically on par with Streusen's Supa Supa no Mi ability.

The directions in which Devil Fruit abilities could be developed truly were endless.

The sight made Tama's eyes widen.

"Brother Luo Ji, I can make millet dumplings too, but if I eat them myself, they don't fill me up, and they drain a lot of my strength.

Will making this apple tire you out?"

Tama looked at Luo Ji with some concern. She knew that this kind of sorcery that created things out of thin air had to come at a price.

"Don't worry. I have plenty of stamina. I can make sure both you and this Komainu eat their fill."

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

It was equivalent to turning Luo Ji's stamina into food to feed Tama.

"It's delicious!"

Though it had little flavor, Tama happily bit into the apple.

"Before long, you'll be able to eat real fruit and meat."

Luo Ji smiled faintly. Amigasa Village being barren did not mean the other districts were barren. The Flower Capital, for example, was practically swimming in wealth.

Once the Beasts Pirates began their grand expedition and did not return for a month or two, he would wreak havoc across Wano Country.

He would abduct Yamato, seize the Sea-Prism Stone Mine, loot the Flower Capital, take away the Road Poneglyph, and perhaps even set his sights on the Pluton Battleship.

After making her final farewells at the graves of Tama's parents, Luo Ji took Tama into Amigasa Village.

He even used the Fuku Fuku no Mi ability to change Tama into a clean princess dress, making her happy for half the day.

From now on, Tama would sever all ties with Wano Country. She could not even wear Wano-style clothing anymore.

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

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

These impoverished commoners did not want to provoke someone like him.

"Brother Luo Ji, the village swordsmith lives in the giant tree house on the back mountain of Amigasa Village."

Reborn with hope, Tama cheerfully led Luo Ji to find Tenguyama Hitetsu, the village's renowned swordsmith.

Aside from working for the Beasts Pirates' Weapon Factory, most of Amigasa Village's residents made a living weaving straw hats.

Swordsmiths like Tenguyama Hitetsu, who possessed some degree of wealth, were rare.

After all, iron was not cheap.

Inside the giant tree house on the back mountain, Tenguyama Hitetsu saw the unfamiliar young man enter the village with that Kurozumi orphan.

It gave Tenguyama Hitetsu an ominous feeling.

He was already considering packing up and leaving!

Since what Luo Ji was about to do was not suitable for public knowledge, he did not intend to let Tama know.

Using an excuse to go to the bathroom, he drew a clone.

He had the clone tell Tama to lead him back to her shabby old house.

Meanwhile, Luo Ji's real body swiftly rode the Flying Crane to the giant tree house on Amigasa Village's back mountain.

Tenguyama Hitetsu, who was hurriedly packing his things, 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 famed blade with a hand-fan-shaped guard. Though it could not compare to the Great Grade Blade Ame no Habakiri and Sandai Kitetsu he had forged in the past,

it was still an exceptionally fine sword.

"Kin'emon?"

Tenguyama Hitetsu cried out in shock. He had thought it would be the unfamiliar young man from earlier, but it turned out to be his son's retainer.

Kin'emon, one of the Nine Red Scabbards.

When Oden governed the Kuri region, Kozuki Sukiyaki had come to know Oden's new retainers.

After Oden secretly sailed out to sea, Kin'emon, Denjiro, and the others had continued managing Kuri.

He greatly admired those retainers, but he had never expected Kurozumi Orochi to usurp his position as shogun.

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

We have special methods for tracking these two swords. Hand them over now!"

[Kin'emon] stiffened with killing intent, drew his blade, and pointed it at Tenguyama Hitetsu, looking ready to fight at any moment.

Kikunojo's figure also appeared behind him.

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

Were the Nine Red Scabbards he had waited for so desperately finally returning ahead of time?!

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 alive!

"I can also sense the aura of a cursed blade. You despicable thief, you even stole Nidai Kitetsu!"

[Kin'emon] glared at the Nidai Kitetsu hanging on the wall of the giant tree house and angrily berated Tenguyama Hitetsu.

As he spoke, [Kin'emon] used Oden's Two-Sword Style and slashed at Tenguyama Hitetsu.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Hitetsu hastily defended himself. Yet his combat strength had never been impressive, and he was already old, so he could not withstand Luo Ji's all-out strike.

After just one exchange, Tenguyama Hitetsu's sword was knocked from his hand, and even his mask was split in two, revealing his true face.

"Lord Shogun?"

[Kin'emon] was stunned and cried out. Kikunojo's expression also stiffened.

"How could it be you?! Lord Shogun!"

[Kin'emon] hurried over to help Kozuki Sukiyaki up, his face full of guilt and regret.

"Sigh, so I was exposed after all. Still, seeing you appear again brings this old man great comfort."

Kozuki Sukiyaki coughed several times and waved his hand, unconcerned about Kin'emon's attack.

After all, he had been the one hiding his identity.

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

[Kin'emon] put on his best performance. If his Xingshang cheat had not disappeared, he would have killed Kozuki Sukiyaki long ago, obtained this man's energy card, and spared himself this act.

On the way from the ruins of Oden Castle in Kuri to Amigasa Village, Luo Ji had already confirmed through testing that his cheat had indeed vanished and could no longer plunder skills.

His cheat seemed to have perished together with the time-space of Kozuki Toki's Toki Toki no Mi, allowing Luo Ji to successfully enter the One Piece World.