Kaido couldn't help but complain, "Damn, there's actually a Devil Fruit with such exaggerated abilities? I feel like all my years of hard training have been meaningless."
Newgate took a gulp of sake and said casually, "It's alright. It just creates fragile puppets that can be broken with one hit. Fine for dealing with rookies, but useless against top-tier fighters."
Although what Newgate said was reasonable, it was tempting enough for female players with inherently lower potential like Miku and Komachi.
They didn't need to defeat top-tier fighters.
Just being able to help, just being able not to hold the others back, would be enough.
However—
Makoto then also stated the risk.
"The problem now is, I don't know if this is an ordinary Tanuki Fruit or the Mythical Zoan Bake-Danuki Fruit."
At these words, the female players whose eyes had been shining calmed down.
This was a huge gamble.
If they won the gamble, they could immediately become a top-tier support.
If they lost, they would have eaten a useless fruit and would never be able to get stronger by eating a Devil Fruit again.
The scene fell silent once more.
Many remembered the precedent of the dead Hayato.
That simp had eaten the equally useless [Human-Human Fruit], gained no abilities, and instead acquired the weaknesses of fearing seawater and Seastone.
No one wanted to follow in his footsteps.
Nino, who really wanted to become stronger to protect her sisters and also hoped to attract Makoto's attention, tried to stand up several times, but ultimately remained seated.
She was afraid.
Afraid of eating a useless fruit and losing the chance to become stronger forever.
Ichika lowered her head, her face full of conflict.
Itsuki also put down the meat bun in her hand and fell into thought.
Although the members of the MILF Group were also tempted, they likewise didn't dare to act rashly.
Just as everyone was hesitating—
A voice spoke up.
"I... I want to try."
Everyone was stunned.
They saw Miku stand up.
Immediately, the other four sisters looked in shock at their usually most introverted sister.
"Miku?"
Nino's eyes widened.
The other three sisters had similar expressions.
Makoto looked at Miku and asked, "Are you sure, Miku?"
Miku showed a determined expression and nodded.
Although Makoto had encouraged her before, saying that if she went to the Naruto World, she would surely accomplish something and become a Kunoichi as skilled as Tsunade…
But leaving the One Piece World would take at least thirty more years.
How could she wait that long?
And—
Since that hug last time, Miku kept dreaming of Makoto's face.
She wanted to try…
She wanted to become his support sooner.
"I'm very weak anyway," Miku's voice was soft but unusually firm.
"It doesn't matter if I eat a useless Devil Fruit."
The unspoken second half of her sentence was, 'But if I win the gamble, I can help you.'
Makoto looked at her, was silent for a moment, then smiled.
"Alright."
Makoto picked up the Devil Fruit whose peel resembled tanuki fur.
"Eat it."
Miku took a deep breath and took the fruit with both hands.
The texture of the fruit was somewhat rough. The pair of semicircles on its sides, resembling bear ears, looked particularly conspicuous at that moment.
Miku opened her mouth and took a small bite.
"Ugh—"
The indescribably disgusting taste exploded in her mouth. All Devil Fruits were equally unpalatable.
Miku's cute face scrunched up and turned pale from the disgusting taste.
But she managed to swallow it.
The next second—
A soft 'poof' sound.
A pair of furry brown ears sprouted from the top of Miku's head.
The ears were semicircular, with white fur on the inside and short light brown hair on the outside, and they trembled slightly.
Then, from behind her—
A fluffy brown tail emerged from beneath her skirt, furry, with a white tip.
Tanuki ears.
A tanuki tail.
"Kyaa—!"
Seeing the tanuki tail behind her, Miku's face turned bright red.
She reached up to touch the ears on her head, then the tail behind her. Her face flushed red from the base of her neck to the tips of her ears.
"W-well..."
Miku stammered, unable to speak.
She felt this appearance was too embarrassing.
"Wow! So cute!"
Yotsuba was the first to pounce, reaching out to touch Miku's tanuki ears.
"Wow! They're so fluffy!"
Ichika also came over, her eyes sparkling.
"Super cute!"
Miku's face was as red as if it would bleed, but her ears twitched involuntarily under Yotsuba's touch.
Nino looked at Miku, her feelings complex.
She had tried to stand up several times just now, but ultimately remained seated.
Makoto looked at Miku's blushing face, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned.
He suddenly felt that even if Miku had eaten the ordinary tanuki fruit, it wouldn't be a loss.
After all, it gives her the allure of animal ears.
Makoto spoke, "Miku, try to feel the new power within you, and bring it out."
Miku looked up at Makoto.
She saw a conviction in his eyes that said, 'I believe in you.'.
As young girls often do, she tended to imagine things based on her feelings.
Miku took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
She tried to focus her attention and channel that power to her palm.
The dining room quieted down.
Everyone held their breath.
The remnants of the Rocks Pirates put down their drinking cups.
The female pirates of the Kuja Pirates stared intently at this little girl who usually had little presence.
The girls gathered around Miku, their eyes fixed on her palm without blinking.
Bang—!
A soft sound.
White smoke emanated from Miku's palm.
After the smoke cleared—
A large-sized poplar leaf lay quietly in her palm.
A Transformation Leaf.
The atmosphere in the dining room exploded at that moment.
"This is... a Transformation Leaf?"
Ichika was the first to react.
"Miku won the gamble!"
Yotsuba was genuinely happy for her sister.
"It's the Mythical Zoan Bake-Danuki Form!"
As she spoke, Yotsuba hugged Miku and shook her vigorously.
"I knew you could do it!"
Ichika was stunned for a few seconds, then smiled wryly and shook her head.
Itsuki stared blankly at her third sister for a few seconds, then twitched the corner of her mouth and lightly applauded.
Nino remained frozen in place, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
Many people looked at the Transformation Leaf in Miku's hand, their eyes full of envy.
The members of the MILF Group also offered their congratulations.
"Congratulations, Miku," Yukiko said with a smile.
"From now on, we'll rely on you to protect us."
Eri pushed up her glasses and, for once, showed a smile.
Although Miku usually had little presence, she was a quiet child, quite likable to her elders.
Newgate put down his sake bowl and said, "Luck is also a part of strength."
The others remained silent.
'Damn, why did it feel like all the good things were being scooped up by Makoto's people?'
Miku looked at the Transformation Leaf in her palm, then at Makoto, her eyes reddening.
"Makoto-kun... I... I succeeded..."
Makoto stepped forward and reached out to ruffle the tanuki ears on top of her head.
"Yeah, well done."
Miku's ears twitched violently at his touch, and her face turned red again.
But she didn't pull away.
A few seconds later, Miku lowered her head, looked at the Transformation Leaf in her palm, and her smile grew brighter.
"Now... I can help you, no, everyone."