Yuba is an oasis town that has grown up in the vast desert over the past decade. It served as a bridge between Rain Base and Alubarna, a haven for caravans carrying their goods across the sands.
But times had changed. Life in Yuba declined. Rain hadn't fallen for a year, the oasis had begun to dry up, and the sands were advancing, threatening to engulf the city. Homeless people fleeing the drought flocked to Yuba, depleting its meager water supplies. The city, once a symbol of prosperity, was sinking into despair.
Yuba was founded by Toto, the father of the future leader of the rebel army. His son, Koza, believed in King Cobra, but after the revelation of the Dancing Powder scandal, he decided to join the rebels to fight for a people deserving of a better life.
At that moment, Rodney, a traveler seeking his way, arrived in Yuba. The once-glorious city seemed withered. The people were thirsty, caravans passed less frequently, and life in Yuba was dying out.
Ancient trees, resilient to heat and drought, offered no shade from the scorching sun. Even a gust of wind brought sand, covering their mouths and eyes.
"…" Rodney whispered, feeling the sandstorm approaching.
In the distance, like an ominous omen, yellow sand rose. The wind carried the dust into the sky, obscuring everything around. It looked like a monster ready to devour Yuba.
At that moment, as everyone was preparing to take cover, a crowd of people rushed out into the street. An old man stood at their head, clutching a shovel tightly, a fire of determination burning in his eyes.
"Forward, everyone! Yuba will never succumb to the sandstorms! We will restore Yuba to its former glory!" he shouted, inspiring the people.
A group of young, strong men, picking up shovels, shouted and rushed toward the water channel, preventing the sand from swallowing them up. This was Yuba's last hope.
Rodney watched the scene unfold, sighed, and decided to join them. He felt a little uneasy, but he couldn't leave them in trouble.
He bought a windproof veil from the shopping center, made in the Hidden Village of Sand. It protected him from the sand without interfering with his breathing.
The sandstorm was rapidly gathering strength, and Rodney entered its heart just as visibility was becoming zero. He arrived just as people surrounded the waterway, desperately pushing back the sand.
But human strength was no match for the power of nature, especially when certain humans made the situation worse. Rodney appeared from the side, splitting into clones.
His sudden appearance surprised everyone, including Toto, the founder of Yuba.
"Who are you?" Toto asked, stepping forward.
Rodney didn't answer; his clones spread out to either side of the channel, mimicking each other's movements. They spoke in unison:
— Earth Release: Earth Wall!
Earthen walls rose from the ground, seamlessly joining to form a long barrier against the sand. The clones continued their synchronized movements, maintaining the sand barrier.
When the sandstorm subsided, Rodney's exhausted clones disappeared. Toto, Koza, and the others found him sitting on a large, lifeless purple scorpion.
"My dear guest, may I know your name?" Toto was extremely polite to Rodney, as was his son, Koza. They understood the importance of this enigmatic figure.
The construction of a sand wall significantly reduced their daily load and protected the water channel, saving the lives of city residents.
"I'm Rodney. You can call me that," he replied, rising to his feet.
His chakra reserves were significantly depleted. Ever since he learned Creation Revival, he'd been pouring a small amount of chakra into his forehead every day, but the Seal still hadn't manifested.
He had no intention of using it now. He didn't want to deplete his reserves before the critical moment arrived.
Smiling, he said:
"Uncle, I'm planning to stay here for a few days. Perhaps you could waive my living expenses?"
Toto turned to him and replied:
"Of course, we'll definitely give them up. You've done so much to protect this place—the lifeblood of our city. I'll do everything I can to fulfill your wishes. I'm the mayor of the city, Toto, and this is my son, Goat."
Though Koza remained silent, his eyes held both respect and caution as he looked at Rodney. He'd seen Devil Fruit users before, but their abilities weren't as remarkable as Rodney's.
"Thank you, Uncle," Rodney smiled, pulling away the scorpion that had attacked him during the construction of the Earthen Style Wall. Considering its size, it certainly had delicious taste.
At first, everyone wanted to help him drag the scorpion away, but they soon realized it was difficult for a group of people to do. However, in Rodney's hands, it felt as light as paper.
Having settled into the best hotel room provided by Toto, Rodney sighed deeply. Water was scarce, making swimming a chore. Fortunately, he was proficient in watersports, but he preferred to swim at night to avoid misunderstandings with the locals.
"Knock-knock!" came a knock at the door.
- Please come in.
The Goat entered:
- Excuse me, my father sent me to inquire about your needs, Mr. Rodney.
"Oh, it's okay. I'm quite comfortable here. By the way, what happened to the scorpion I killed?" Rodney asked.
"They put him in the back of the hotel. May I ask why?" Koza replied.
"I'm going to eat it," Rodney said calmly. Goat was taken aback, as it had never occurred to them that such a creature could be eaten.
- Such a big scorpion?
- Certainly.
"By the way, I'd appreciate it if you could get an iron stove, some stones, some firewood, and some seasonings ready. I'll make teppanyaki," Rodney paused, "scorpion teppanyaki, to be precise."
"Very good," said Koza, without taking his eyes off Rodney.
Despite a slight hesitation, Koza decided to fulfill Rodney's request. Soon, everything needed for teppanyaki was delivered. As evening fell, the sky darkened, as if shrouded in a velvet blanket.
Rodney lit a fire, deftly dismembered the scorpion, discarded the inedible parts, and removed the shell, revealing tender white meat. It resembled the succulent flesh of a crab claw, sizzling on the hot iron plate, emitting a tempting aroma. The children sitting nearby watched anxiously, their eyes filling with tears.
"Come on, let's eat together!" Rodney exclaimed, and, forgetting their fears, the children happily joined in the festive dinner around the fire.
The celebration continued until late at night, and finally, tired, everyone went home to rest.
Later, after showering and wrapping himself in a robe, Rodney climbed up to the hotel rooftop. The starry sky, strewn with millions of diamonds, was mesmerizing in its beauty.
Suddenly he noticed someone waving at him. It was Toto. Jumping down, Rodney approached him with a smile:
"What's the matter, Uncle Toto? Staying up late is bad for an old man like you."
Toto shook his head with a smile:
— It's okay. I'm used to it. I wake up late in the mornings. And you? Couldn't sleep?
"No, I'm just curious where the water in Yuba comes from." Rodney created earthen streams on both sides of the water channel today, but he still hasn't found the source.
Toto did not hide the information:
"It's groundwater. It rises from the depths and supports the city."
"I see. Can we dig a well here?" Rodney paused. Given Yuba's location in the heart of the desert, their water supply depended on groundwater and rainwater.
"Digging wells proved difficult, but we persistently tried," Toto admitted. He wasn't about to give up on the idea, as he understood how important wells were to Yuba. However, despite numerous attempts, they were unable to find water.
Nevertheless, Toto faced the sandstorms with unwavering determination. As an old man of strong character, he did not lose heart in the face of such trials and continued to fight for Yuba.
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