Chapter 149: Finding Tama

In truth, Kaido's oppression and exploitation of Wano are harsh, yet the true scourge of Wano Country is still the Kurozumi Orochi.

For Kaido, Wano Country serves as his base. Although he places heavy demands on it, he certainly doesn't wish to exhaust the very source of his wealth. Kurozumi Orochi, however, embodies a mix of stupidity and cruelty. He possesses no talent for governance and harbors a deep hatred for the people of Wano.

"Let's head to Amigasa Village and gather information first," Ace suggested, surveying the polluted surroundings.

It wasn't Ace's or Shin's first time in Wano. Both had spent part of their youth there. After identifying their direction, the trio began walking towards Amigasa Village.

"What? Tama has left here and gone to the Flower Capital?" Ace scratched his head, puzzled. "She's just a child!"

Opposite the trio stood a peculiar figure wearing a tengu mask. Shin recognized him as a swordsman of some repute, though he hadn't expected to find him here. Through conversation, they discovered that Tenguyama Hitetsu had taken Tama under his wing as his disciple.

Shin vaguely remembered that only Hitetsu and Tama had remained in Amigasa Village at one point, yet the village appeared slightly improved since he had last seen it.

Hearing Ace's question, Hitetsu sighed. "There was no other choice. Only Tama managed to find a way to obtain food from the Flower Capital. We adults are truly helpless."

Shin's gaze sharpened. "Tama learned the transformation technique?"

Hitetsu nodded, unfazed, since it was Shin who had taught Tama ninjutsu. "Yes, and not only that—Tama even acquired a Devil Fruit."

Shin raised an eyebrow, quickly recalling the unusual Dango-Dango Fruit (Millet-Millet Fruit). While it wasn't particularly powerful in combat, its auxiliary effect was undeniably formidable.

Devil Fruits, especially Paramecia-type ones, often possess unique and nearly unparalleled abilities. The Dango-Dango Fruit can force any animal to serve Tama, even artificial Zoan-type Devil Fruits users.

If Kaido, the so-called "Zoo Director," learned of this power, he'd likely imprison Tama for life if she refused to join the Beast Pirates.

Direct combat isn't the only use of the Dango-Dango Fruit. With it, Tama can control birds, mice, and other creatures for reconnaissance or theft, depending on her intent. Alongside her transformation technique, Tama could indeed navigate the Flower Capital undetected and obtain supplies.

"In that case, let's head to the Flower Capital," Shin declared. "We'll find Tama first, then seek an opportunity to take down the Kurozumi Orochi."

Ace was somewhat surprised, as he hadn't expected Shin, who was previously indifferent to Wano's plight, to be so proactive.

Truthfully, Shin's primary motivation was the Orochi's Devil Fruit. The Yamata-no-Orochi Fruit was a top-tier Mythical Zoan, and he wanted to see if he could extract it from the Kurozumi Orochi without killing him.

Even if this experiment failed, Shin wouldn't let go of such a powerful Devil Fruit—it could always be used by someone else later on. Additionally, the fruit's bestowal of multiple lives also made it suitable for certain jutsu, like the Eight Gates.

In any case, Shin wasn't deeply invested in Wano's fate. He would only go out of his way to assist an acquaintance or, in this case, his disciple.

"Taking down the Kurozumi Orochi sounds great!" Yamato cheered, her joy evident as she swung her club energetically. "I've wanted to take out that deceitful villain for a long time!"

"Hold on a moment!" Hitetsu intervened, not to argue that Wano couldn't be without a shogun, but to reason with them. "Lady Toki left a prophecy. To defeat the Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido, one must wait until twenty years have passed when the Nine Red Scabbards return. Three more years remain until that prophecy… Going now is too dangerous!"

"Toki's prophecy? I've heard of it," Yamato said thoughtfully. "It was mentioned in Oden's journal. Lady Toki had the rare Time-Time Fruit ability, so her prediction must be accurate!"

Ace scoffed, unimpressed with prophecies and destiny. "If a prophecy were all it took, then why are we even here?"

"Exactly. If prophecy truly dictated everything, wouldn't everyone just wait and watch as Kaido and Orochi inevitably fell after twenty years?" Shin reasoned. "Ultimately, it's up to us to take action."

Yamato nodded, bolstered by their words. With her fiery spirit, she wasn't one to follow the rules blindly. "That's right! Prophecy or not, I'll kill the Kurozumi Orochi myself! And then, I'll beat my father and force him out of Wano!"

"Your father? Who are you talking about?" Hitetsu asked, confused.

"Kaido!"

Hitetsu: "..."

All he could do was sigh. After a lifetime of experiences, he thought he had seen everything.

"Tama has been in the Flower Capital for months, sending us food every month. According to her letters, she's working with a righteous thief called Ushimitsu Kozo. Together, they steal from the rich to aid the poor," Hitetsu explained.

"If you go to the Flower Capital, you might start by looking for them… For safety reasons, Tama kept her activities vague, so she didn't reveal much in her letters."

Shin felt the name "Ushimitsu Kozo" was oddly familiar. He tried to recall but struggled to remember specific details.

Back in the Naruto World, he'd done extensive research shortly after arriving, so he had a clearer memory of its timelines and key figures. His knowledge of the One Piece world was comparatively unclear.

"This Ushimitsu Kozo seems to have another identity… Well, no matter. We'll head to the Flower Capital, and I'm sure the rest will come back to me once we're there." 

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