Yamato raised an eyebrow as she looked at the massive black tiger. She didn't reach for her weapon; she simply narrowed her eyes and directed a sharp, heavy glare at the beast.
Whimper!
Instantly, the ferocious predator's fur bristled. The giant tiger let out a pathetic whimper of terror, its legs giving way as it collapsed onto the dirt, trembling uncontrollably under the weight of her presence.
"That's a good boy, big kitty," Yamato said playfully. She walked over and gave the terrified beast a quick pat on the head before continuing deeper into the canyon.
Haruko followed behind, casting a final glance at the shivering animal. If she had been the one leading the way, that tiger would likely be headless by now. It was fascinating how Yamato chose to handle things.
They soon reached the heart of the canyon, where the cliffs loomed over them.
"There has to be treasure here," Yamato insisted. she began pacing back and forth, her eyes darting across every rock formation and patch of moss.
Haruko stood back and watched as Yamato wandered around like a busy little bee, searching frantically for her supposed hoard. Ten minutes passed, then twenty, and soon a full half-hour had slipped away.
"Huh? Is there really nothing here? According to all the adventure stories I've read, this is exactly where the treasure should be. This is totally illogical," Yamato muttered to herself, frustrated enough to rip a small tree right out of the ground. She paused, looking thoughtful. "Is it because I'm not the protagonist of this story?"
"It's about time to give up, Young Master," Haruko said, walking toward her. "I told you this wasn't a good hiding spot. The terrain is way too obvious. No one in their right mind would leave treasure in a place like this."
Yamato held up a hand to stop her. "No, I refuse to believe it. I'll search for ten more minutes. If I still haven't found a single thing by then, I'll admit defeat and give up."
Looking at Yamato's stubborn, almost childish persistence, Haruko felt a mix of amusement and exhaustion. "Fine. Ten more minutes, then we leave."
The time ticked by quickly, and the deadline was fast approaching. Haruko checked her watch and began walking toward Yamato, who was currently elbow-deep in a narrow rock crevice, rustling around in the dark.
Just as Haruko opened her mouth to tell her that time was up, Yamato's voice cut her off with a shout of pure shock.
"Young Master, it's time to gi—"
"I found it! Haruko, I actually found something amazing! Come here, quick! Look at this!"
Haruko froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. "No way... did you actually find something?" She was certain there was nothing to find, but the excitement in Yamato's voice was unmistakable.
"Haruko, look!" Yamato grabbed Haruko's arm and pulled her over, pointing deep into the shadows of the crevice.
Haruko leaned in, squinting against the dim light. Her breath caught in her throat. "This is... a Devil Fruit!"
Hidden within the crack in the rock, a strange, greenish vine clung to the stone wall. Hanging from the center of the vine was a fruit. It was deep purple and shaped like a plantain, but its skin was covered in the unmistakable, intricate spiral patterns that marked it as one of the sea's greatest mysteries.
A genuine Devil Fruit.
"Hehe, see? I told you there was treasure here! A Devil Fruit definitely counts as treasure," Yamato laughed, her triumph echoing off the canyon walls.
Haruko looked at Yamato, truly stunned. "Young Master, your luck is absolutely terrifying."
"Right? I've always thought I had a lucky streak. Go ahead and take it down, Haruko. I can't wait to brag about this to Jack," Yamato said, beaming with pride.
"Alright, alright," Haruko nodded, carefully plucking the fruit from its vine.
Just like that, they had acquired a plantain-shaped Devil Fruit.
"Tsk tsk. A Devil Fruit has a starting value of at least 100,000,000 Berries. I can't believe I just stumbled onto another one," Yamato said, turning the fruit over in her hands. The more she looked at it, the more surreal it felt.
Her first fruit, the Dog-Dog Fruit, Mythical Zoan Type: Okuchinokami Form, had been found back in Wano Country, in the Hakumai region. It had been on the very mountain where she trained, which felt like a gift from destiny. But this second fruit was different—she had found this one through sheer, stubborn luck.
The news that one person had found two separate Devil Fruits would shock the world. Most people spent their entire lives without ever seeing one, let alone owning two, unless they were part of a massive organization like the Marines or the Donquixote Family led by Joker.
"So, Haruko? I told you there was treasure. Are you convinced yet?" Yamato teased, making sure to rub it in.
"Yes, yes, I'm convinced. You were right and I was wrong. Is that enough?" Haruko replied with a smile, playing along.
Yamato tossed the fruit back to her. "Put it in a glass box for safekeeping."
Haruko knew exactly what Yamato was planning—she was going to display it just to annoy her rivals. She shook her head but didn't say a word.
Meanwhile, the first official transaction for artificial Devil Fruits between the Beast Pirates and Joker was finally complete. A massive shipment of 6,000 artificial fruits was currently being transported back to Wano by Jack the Drought.
Buru buru buru!
"Hey, Yamato. The deal is done," Jack's voice crackled over the Transponder Snail. "We're heading back to Wano now. What about you? Are you coming home or what?"
"Let me think... How about this, Jack?" Yamato said, rolling her eyes. "If you want me to come back, I'll come back. But if you'd prefer I stay out here, then I won't. What do you say?"
"Idiot. If it were up to me, you'd never come back. Stay out there for the rest of your life," Jack grunted. He was a straightforward man, and he didn't care for mind games.
"Hey! Watch your tone, Jack! Aren't you worried I'll come back just to kick your butt?" Yamato threatened, though she was mostly joking.
"Nani? What was that? I can't... the signal is breaking up... hello?" Jack muttered poorly, feigning a bad connection before hanging up with a definitive click.
Yamato and Haruko stared at the silent Transponder Snail for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Did that simpleton actually just get clever with me?"
"It's not that surprising, Young Master. He's spent so much time being trained by you; it would be weirder if he didn't pick up a few tricks," Haruko laughed.
"So, does that mean he should be thanking me for his personal growth?" Yamato rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"Uh... I wouldn't count on that," Haruko replied. Everyone in the crew knew that Yamato and Jack were like oil and water. Getting a 'thank you' out of Jack would be a miracle on par with finding the One Piece.
"Actually, I don't really need a thank you. Since he's a Mammoth, it shouldn't be a big deal if he gave me one of his tusks, right? I could make something cool out of it," Yamato mused.
Haruko gave her a strange look. "Young Master, he's a Devil Fruit user with a Mammoth form, not a literal elephant. He doesn't just have tusks lying around. It's a transformation."
"So?"
"So, even if you managed to break one off while he was transformed, it would just disappear the moment he turned back into a human. It's part of the ability," Haruko explained patiently.
Yamato thought about it for a second and realized Haruko was right. "Oh, yeah. That makes sense. Haruko, you're really smart!"
"That's just common sense, Young Master," Haruko sighed.
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