Chapter 330: The Alluring Kunoichi
"Does anyone really live here? It looks like it's been abandoned for a long time."
Several figures stood on the edge of a barren field. A few dilapidated wooden houses were sparsely located between the fields.
Nami scanned her surroundings. Near the abandoned village, there were only a few bare hills.
In this harsh environment, let alone a settlement, there wasn't even anything edible around.
There was a bamboo forest in the distance, though.
Luffy didn't speak. He raised his hand and pressed down his straw hat, his face hidden in the shadow of the brim, and strode towards the bamboo forest.
Zoro followed without hesitation.
Nami, Robin, Pudding, and Uta looked at each other and also followed.
The bamboo forest was deep and serene. A cool breeze, like an elf, shuttled through it, and the green leaves swayed, making a pleasant rustling sound.
A small wooden house sat on a small, lush green hill.
A petite young girl sat comfortably on the porch of the wooden house, weaving a straw hat with bamboo strips in her hands.
The young girl's medium-length purple hair was tied up in a bun, and her light green kimono was dotted with a pale yellow floral pattern.
Sparse sunlight pierced through the gaps in the leaves, dappling the wooden floor beside her. The chirping of birds was as crisp as a wind chime.
At a glance, it had a rather tranquil artistic conception.
It was just that her clothes had many patches, and combined with the dilapidated wooden house behind her, it was clear that the young girl's life was not as leisurely as it first appeared.
A satisfied smile was on O-Tama's face. She was still savoring the half bowl of rice she had eaten for her birthday at noon.
If I save the rest and eat it bit by bit, I can still have several more meals.
Thinking this, a bit more happiness appeared on O-Tama's face.
Suddenly, she heard voices talking in the distance.
"Is it Kaido's men again?"
O-Tama stood up warily. As if remembering something, she first rushed into the house and frantically hid a small bag of rice the size of a palm by the stove.
After confirming the safety of the rice, she quickly ran out the door. Her petite body hidden behind the wall, O-Tama carefully peeked out.
Several figures were walking on the path in the forest. Two men and four women, their clothes clearly not from Wano Country.
"Are they samurai?"
O-Tama's gaze naturally locked onto one of the men, with a head of short, choppy green hair and three swords at his waist.
Kaido's men also carried swords, but the feeling O-Tama got was clearly different.
Seeing the aura emanating from this person, anyone from Wano Country would instinctively feel that this was a samurai.
As if keenly sensing her gaze, the green-haired samurai's line of sight shifted over and instantly met hers.
Oh no!
O-Tama's heart jumped. She hurriedly covered her mouth, her body subconsciously taking two steps back to hide behind the wall.
Was I discovered!? What do I do, what do I do? What a failure as a ninja!
O-Tama was filled with regret, but after a moment of not hearing any movement, she couldn't help but peek out again.
When she looked again, the distance was empty. There was no one there.
Have they left? Was I not discovered?
"That scared me to death."
The fear on O-Tama's face had not yet dissipated. She let out a sigh of relief and almost collapsed to the ground.
She turned her head, and a large, grinning face instantly filled her vision.
"Hee hee hee, hello."
"A ghost!!!"
Bang!
O-Tama screamed, her eyes popping out, as her body slammed backward against the wall.
"Eh?"
Luffy's body was upside down under the eaves like a bat. He tilted his head, and his stretched neck snapped back with a 'pop'.
After jumping down, Luffy walked over. Zoro and the others also appeared.
"What are you doing, Luffy? You scared the little girl."
Uta, with one hand on her hip, pinched Luffy's ear with the other, not in a good mood.
"Are you alright?"
Pudding walked over to help O-Tama up, her face gentle.
O-Tama quickly jumped back a step, her hands trembling as she held a bamboo sword nervously towards the group.
"Wh-who... who are you!"
"My name is Luffy, and I'm the man who will become the Pirate King."
Luffy smiled and walked to O-Tama, squatted down, and with no self-awareness of his own actions just now, he asked:
"Are you the only one here?"
"A p-pirate?!"
The fear on O-Tama's face did not disappear. Her gaze sized up Luffy.
Looking at the gentle smile on his face, Ace's figure unconsciously appeared in her mind.
Just then, the fear in O-Tama's heart subconsciously receded a little, but she still did not let down her guard.
"What are you doing here? There's nothing left for you to rob."
"Don't worry. I'm Ace's younger brother. I'm here to visit..."
Clang!
Before Luffy could finish, a cold blade light flashed across his face.
Luffy's heart sensed it, and his line of sight shifted over.
A figure with a red tengu mask and a pair of white wings on its back was flying towards him with a sword.
"Get away from O-Tama!"
Tenguyama Hitetsu roared angrily, dragging his sword and slashing diagonally upwards from below.
Clang!!
A spark flew. A longsword was held vertically, blocking the attack.
Zoro held Wado Ichimonji in a reverse grip and stood beside Luffy. With a casual exertion of force, he flicked his sword and sent the other flying.
"Your sword is not bad."
"That sword is...!"
The two spoke at the same time.
Zoro looked at the sword in the other's hand with great interest.
Tenguyama Hitetsu was grave and shocked. He quickly recognized the sword in Zoro's hand.
"Wado Ichimonji?!"
"How is it in your hands!"
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Zoro frowned.
Since he had set out to sea, the only ones who had recognized this sword in his hand were the female Marine swordswoman beside Smoker, and this man before him.
But...
The meaning of the other's words was not just as simple as recognizing 'Wado Ichimonji'. He seemed very surprised that he possessed this sword.
Zoro turned around, his gaze serious as he looked at the other.
"Do you know its origin?"
"This is a famous sword forged by the Shimotsuki family of Wano Country. This old one naturally recognizes it. How did it come into your hands?"
Tenguyama Hitetsu's tone was low, his gaze sizing up Zoro.
The Shimotsuki family? As in Shimotsuki Kozaburo?
A famous family of Wano Country?
This short sentence made Zoro's brain almost unable to react. He stared blankly at the sword in his hand.
Two figures appeared in his mind. That always patient and gentle master, and...
...Kuina.
Zoro looked deeply at Wado Ichimonji, tightened his grip on the hilt, and said in a low voice:
"This sword, I asked my master to pass it..."
"The black blade, Shusui!!"
A sudden explosive roar interrupted him. Zoro was stunned and looked up.
He saw Tenguyama Hitetsu's pupils constrict in anger, his teeth gritted.
Seeing 'Shusui' hanging at Zoro's waist, and then looking at 'Wado Ichimonji', it was as if the whole truth had come to light!
The anger in Tenguyama Hitetsu's heart could no longer be suppressed. He raised his sword and rushed up!
"You shameless sword thief!"
"Huh?"
Clang!
Zoro raised his sword horizontally to block, his face strange and his heart a little annoyed.
"What sword thief? You, at least let me finish speaking first."
"What else is there to explain!"
"Wado Ichimonji is one thing! Several people from the Shimotsuki family did leave Wano Country decades ago! But Shusui is also in your hands!"
"Are you going to say this is a coincidence!!"
Tenguyama Hitetsu roared through gritted teeth.
Never mind him, the former ruler of the country. Anyone from Wano Country who saw this sword would be unable to remain rational.
The theft of the black blade Shusui...!
Even the hero who had single-handedly protected the country hundreds of years ago, the Sword God Ryuma, had his grave robbed and his corpse stolen!
This was a shame that Wano Country could never get over!!
"It's not something I can explain in one or two sentences. In short, this sword was not stolen."
Clang!
Zoro's arm exerted force, sending both the man and his sword flying back. He gritted his teeth and warned:
"If you continue to be unreasonable, even if Luffy wants to visit, I'll have to knock you out first."
Speaking of this, O-Tama remembered what Luffy had said and hurriedly spoke up to Tenguyama Hitetsu:
"W-wait a minute, master! They seem to know Ace!"
"Ah. My name is Luffy. I'm Ace's younger brother. Hello, uncle."
Luffy stood up and said with a light smile:
"Although Zoro really likes swords, he would never do the kind of thing you're talking about. There must be some misunderstanding."
"Ace's younger brother..."
Hearing this name, although the anger on Tenguyama Hitetsu's face did not fade, he had finally calmed down a little.
"Hmph!"
Sheathing his sword, Hitetsu looked at Zoro again and said with a cold snort:
"You'd better be able to give a decent reason. Otherwise, even if I don't make a move, the samurai of Wano Country will not let you leave easily."
"Ah. As long as you can listen to reason."
Zoro calmly sheathed his sword.
If it weren't for the fact that Luffy had come here with the purpose of visiting, the other would probably have been cut down by him the second time he had drawn his sword.
"Since the misunderstanding has been cleared up, how about we go inside and talk?"
Nami timely spoke up and suggested.
Soon, under O-Tama's lead, the group walked into the wooden house.
Looking at Luffy's back, Nami's face was gratified.
She didn't know if it was an illusion, but since the Uta incident, she vaguely felt that Luffy had grown a lot.
As if he were hoping to quickly become someone.
A floor that creaked with every move, a wooden table riddled with wormholes, yellowed door and window paper, and cracked beams...
The dilapidated condition of the house was beyond imagination, looking as if it would collapse at any moment.
In the desolate and cold living room, the group sat around the table on the floor.
After learning about the relationship between Luffy and Ace and Luffy's purpose in coming, Tenguyama Hitetsu was no longer as angry as before.
And after hearing the process of how Zoro had obtained these two swords, he was deeply filled with admiration.
Especially the inheritance of Wado Ichimonji, which carried the promise with a deceased friend.
As a samurai, and also a swordsmith like Shimotsuki Kozaburo, Hitetsu couldn't help but be glad that this sword had found a good master.
The misunderstanding about the black blade Shusui was also cleared up in their conversation.
"I was truly rude just now. Please forgive me."
Hitetsu prostrated himself on the floor, doing a dogeza to apologize to Zoro.
Zoro also laughed it off.
"Well, it's fine. This sword is very important to you, after all. It's only natural to get emotional."
A national treasure was stolen, and a national hero's grave was robbed and his corpse stolen.
And then one day, to see an outsider swaggering around with the national treasure... anyone would have been impulsive in that situation.
With a few simple words, the two of them had buried the hatchet.
"Big brother, big sister, the food is ready."
O-Tama walked out of the kitchen, holding a platter.
On the platter were seven small, chipped bowls. Each bowl was filled with only a small half of white rice, and a few small pieces of pickles.
She presented the bowls to Luffy's group of six respectively. O-Tama's face was ashamed as she said weakly:
"Um... I'm sorry. This is all the rice we have at home."
"It's fine, O-Tama! Thank you!"
Luffy smiled, picked up the bowl, opened his mouth, poured it in, and put the bowl down.
Time taken: one second.
"So fast!!"
O-Tama's eyes widened. She hadn't even seen him chew.
When she ate that half bowl of rice at noon, she had eaten it grain by grain, savoring it with emotion, and it had taken her a good while.
O-Tama then took another bowl and placed it in front of her master, Hitetsu, before sitting down beside him.
"I'm not hungry. You eat, O-Tama."
Hitetsu pushed the bowl to O-Tama. O-Tama quickly pushed it back.
"How can I do that? O-Tama already ate at noon. You eat, master."
"Master is a samurai! How can I fight with my disciple over a mouthful of rice?"
"I'm going to be an alluring kunoichi! How can I possibly be hungry!"
Looking at the master and disciple pushing the half bowl of rice back and forth, the group at the side was silent. They silently pushed their own portions over.
This life was beyond what could be described as poor. It was simply on the verge of starvation.
"Actually, we've already eaten on the way here."
"Well, our captain is not someone who can cross the whole of Kuri on an empty stomach."
"Mm-hmm. O-Tama and uncle, you can eat."
The group all spoke up.
But O-Tama and Hitetsu were very stubborn.
"How can we do that!" ×2
"A benefactor's younger brother has come to visit. To not even be able to entertain a guest... it's a disgrace to my samurai spirit!"
"A disgrace to my nin-do!"
Hitetsu and O-Tama said with a firm tone.
Seeing this, Nami held her forehead and sighed.
"In that case, I'll have Reiner get some food over."
She could fly back to the ship very quickly, but it would be a bit troublesome to bring so much food over.
As expected, Reiner's undead are convenient for everything.
Taking out a Den Den Mushi from her 'Nami Valley', she quickly dialed Reiner's side.
The other side seemed to be having fun. The Den Den Mushi mimicked a smile, and from time to time, the sound of girls' laughter could be heard.
"What's up, Nami?"
"Food. Amigasa Village. Ten minutes."
"Amigasa Village? Hey, Nami, ten minutes is a bit too much for me..."
"Then just die outside and don't come back."
Nami's face was grim. Her words were short, and her tone was even colder.
Beside her, Uta and Pudding's backs went cold, and they couldn't help but shiver.
The smile on the Den Den Mushi's face instantly disappeared, and then a panicked roar came from the other end.
"Food!"
"Pack up all the cooked food in the shop!"
"Hurry up! If you're a minute late, I'll...!"
Click.
Ignoring the noisy sound from the other end, Nami hung up the Den Den Mushi. Before the panicked, green faces of the group, she looked up and smiled faintly:
"Just wait a little longer, O-Tama. There will be food soon."
"...O-okay."
O-Tama's neck was stiff. She nodded tremblingly, her gaze fixed on the large weapon into which Nami had put the Den Den Mushi.
So strong... what a terrifying aura. Could this be...
...an alluring kunoichi!!
While waiting for Reiner, the group also began to chat.
O-Tama kept asking about Ace's news during this period, and Luffy also told her about his several encounters with Ace.
The Whitebeard Pirates had a high reputation on the sea, but because of Wano Country's isolation, outside news basically couldn't get in.
Even the sensational Summit War two years ago, O-Tama didn't know about.
Hitetsu and O-Tama also told Luffy in detail how they had met Ace.
A few years ago, Amigasa Village was already almost deserted. Everyone was starving, but there were still a few villagers left.
Ace and his crew had been washed ashore, unconscious. The villagers who found them tied them up and ate all their food.
How could ropes bind a Logia-type? But Ace had just watched quietly after he woke up, and only after everyone had finished eating did he break free from the ropes himself.
Not only did he not attack them, but he also risked danger to steal food from Kaido's men for them.
Later, Ace stayed in the village for a few more weeks and spent a lot of time with O-Tama.
He would often help them find food and also learned how to weave straw hats here...
"By the way, didn't Ace and his crew come to Wano Country again before?"
"I remember their new second division commander, Yamato, joined at that time."
Robin suddenly thought of this and was puzzled.
"Didn't they come to see you at that time?"
"N-no..."
O-Tama slowly lowered her head, a faint hint of disappointment in her eyes that was hard to detect.
"It's probably because I haven't become an alluring kunoichi yet."
"Ace said before he left that when I become an alluring kunoichi, he will come and take me out to sea with him."
O-Tama looked up again and explained with a forced smile.
She had heard about Ace's battle with Kaido on Onigashima. But...
The disappointment hidden deep in her heart still surfaced at this moment.
Even if he couldn't take her out to sea, he could at least come and see her.
Could it be that Ace has already forgotten...
Could it be that what he said before was just a spur-of-the-moment thing?
O-Tama didn't dare to think about it, nor could she believe it. Ace was clearly so gentle.
"Ace told me that he was worried about involving you guys. After all, this is Kaido's territory."
Luffy smiled and shrugged, spreading his hands.
"That guy is always smarter than me. Considering that, he asked me to pay you a visit if I came to Wano Country."
"So that's how it is..."
O-Tama propped herself up on the table and smiled, a glimmer of light in her light purple eyes.
A cool breeze passed through the hall. The bamboo shadows outside the door swayed gently, and the green leaves rustled, bringing a sense of peace that cleared one's heart.
If it weren't for a figure who had broken in at an inopportune moment.
Bang!!
Reiner crashed through the ceiling from above. His entire person was paralyzed and fell in a deep pit on the ground, a mountain-like cloth bag pressing on his body.
Time taken for the mission: two and a half... two and a half minutes.
Reward: Successfully saved little Reiner's life.
"Yo, that was pretty fast. What were you busy with just now?"
Nami's expression was teasing as she grabbed a handful of golden hair and lifted his face.
"Nothing. Just watching people sing and dance. After all,"
Reiner pulled the cloth bag away and struggled out, chuckling.
"With six people, five of whom are your spies, what do you think I can do?"
The little spy Chopper was just a sacrifice. How could Reiner not know?
Nami held Reiner's face in her palm, her bright eyes narrowed like a crescent moon.
"Why are you so smart?"
"Thank you for the compliment."
Reiner said with a pout, then turned his head to look at Pudding.
"By the way, Pudding, Sanji ordered ten geishas."
"Mm. I know."
Pudding nodded with a half-smile.
Sorry, Sanji. I'm a spy too.
Reiner brushed his chest and stood up, then with a casual pull...
With the rope on the bag's mouth slipping, all sorts of delicacies came 'clattering!' out, scattering all over the floor.
"S-so much food!"
O-Tama couldn't help but stand up, her eyes shining with starlight in disbelief.
Today was the best, the very best birthday.
(End of chapter)
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