The issue of identity isn't difficult to solve. For ordinary people, changing their identification takes a considerable amount of time. Even citizens of member states have to wait for a while, but Tesoro is different.
For him, getting an ID is just a matter of speaking a single word. As long as the World Government still acknowledges the existence of Hundred Beasts Fruit and has no intentions of breaking ties, it wouldn't take much time for Tesoro to issue an ID for even a wanted criminal.
As long as the person isn't one of the World Government's specially wanted individuals, Tesoro has a way to clear their identity.
Uta lived with Shanks for seven years, but Shanks never let Uta participate in any battle. The imagery remaining of Ellegia was also dealt with under Stella's watch, so Uta was just an ordinary girl.
In less than 20 minutes, they had obtained Uta's identity proof.
"Tesoro, it's about time, isn't it?"
"Hmm, her emotions have recovered well, let her understand the situation first."
They were referring to the destruction of Ellegia attributed to Red Hair, a matter published in the newspapers. They could hide the truth for a while, but not forever, unless Uta lived in a completely isolated environment. Otherwise, she would eventually find out.
It's better to explain the situation to her clearly, rather than letting her speculate on her own.
"Uta, come over here. This is the newspaper from a few days ago, you should take a look."
[Destruction of Ellegia]
[Red Hair Demon, Atrocities of a Former Crew Member of the Pirate King]
The headlines were exaggerated, accompanied by photos of Ellegia's destruction and the state of the remaining citizens. In grabbing attention, Morgans had honed it to perfection.
"Impossible, Shanks wouldn't do something like that…."
Uta's purple pupils widened; she simply couldn't believe Shanks would do such a thing.
"Don't worry, he truly didn't do it. He's just shouldering some burdens, and that's why you two had to part ways, so he could protect you better.
If you want to clear Shanks' name, you have to grow stronger first. When that day comes, you'll naturally know the truth. Until then, no matter how much you ask, Shanks won't tell you the answer, got it?"
During their time together, they realized one thing: Uta wasn't an unreasonably obstinate girl. Once they explained the core of the matter, she mostly could understand the other party's situation; at most, she'd only be upset for a few days.
"So... becoming a songstress known worldwide is what Shanks wants from me?"
"Yes, but not exactly, it's just an inevitable experience on your path to growth."
"I understand…."
After a long while, Uta gave her answer. Her dream was to change the world with her voice, to create a new era with it. Her dream didn't conflict with her path to becoming a songstress and now she had a new reason.
"I will become the world's number one songstress in the shortest time! Then I'll rejoin the Red Hair Pirates as their songstress!"
"That's the spirit, go change your clothes. Stella has arranged a meeting with Maria Napoleon for you today. She's your favorite songstress, but she has an eccentric personality. Whether she teaches you anything depends on your performance."
Since the decision was made, Tesoro intended to follow through well. He had decided to make Uta famous, and with that, he needed to prepare other things.
Ellegia was a musical holy land, but not only people from there could sing.
It's just that the environment there is suitable for overall improvement, so Tesoro organized team-building activities there. With Uta's displayed talent, Tesoro believed that even the picky lady wouldn't refuse her.
...
Aiming to be the world's number one songstress and dreaming of changing the world, creating a new era, Uta embarked on a new journey. For some, dreams had just begun, but for others, dreams had already ended.
In the East Sea, at Shimotsuki Village, a green-haired guy sat dazed by the creek as if he'd lost his life's purpose.
This was the man who aspired to be the world's greatest Sword Master - Roronoa Zoro. Not long ago, a funeral was held here, and the unfortunate deceased was his childhood friend - Kuina.
The cause of death was hard to accept. A girl who could defeat adult men by the age of ten had accidentally died while fetching a whetstone at night. Zoro didn't know more details, but by the time he heard the news, all he saw was the black-and-white photo on the gravestone.
No matter what the reality was, the small goal of his life had died, and he fell into despair.
At that moment, a peculiar man appeared across the creek, cloaked in a black robe, showing only a single blue eye.
"You've been standing there for half the day, are you asking for directions?"
"Boy, have you ever heard any stories at home about the Netherworld?"
The one searching for the Netherworld was Darkrai. The black robe was his disguise, dragging all the way to the ground, making it hard for outsiders to discern his situation.
It was his only flaw; not using his legs often frightened ordinary people, but his legs' greatest purpose was to downplay his aura, so Darkrai chose this guise.
As for why he was here, after leaving Tesoro's ship, he followed a faint trace and continued searching, winding up here.
The thing he sought was too elusive, without any clues, so all he had to rely on were legends. He often enquired about such legends from children or the elderly, but this time, the kid was somewhat different.
"Netherworld...does that place really exist?"
"Of course it exists, I've been searching for it for a long time."
Unlike most people who were shocked, this one questioned him back, sparking Darkrai's interest, so he spoke a little more.
"I'd like to show you the way, but I don't know how to get there either."
There was a flaw in what he said; to be accurate, he didn't know how the living could go to the Netherworld, let alone return. Gazing at the odd man before him, Zoro's intuition told him the other seemed to know something.
"If that place really exists, they should know the affairs of the world, right?"
"Perhaps, but since I've never been there, this is goodbye if you know nothing."
Darkrai's interest waned quickly, and he had no intention of answering the opponent's questions indefinitely, disappearing like a ghost in front of Zoro.
Watching the disappearing Darkrai, Zoro incredulously rubbed his eyes, pinched his face, and then dashed to his usual training ground to start practicing like crazy...