Finding Tama

Kaido’s oppression and exploitation of Wano Country were indeed severe, but the one who could truly be called Wano Country’s scourge was still Kurozumi Orochi.

After all, Wano Country was Kaido’s base of operations. Though the quotas he imposed were harsh, he certainly did not want to work this golden goose to death.

Only Kurozumi Orochi truly deserved to be called both stupid and evil. He had no talent for governing and was filled with hatred for the people of Wano Country.

"Let’s go. We’ll find Amigasa Village first and gather some information," Ace said, glancing at the filthy, smoke-choked surroundings.

This was not Ace and Yota’s first time in Wano Country, and Yamato had grown up here as a child. After getting their bearings, the three headed toward Amigasa Village.

"What? Tama left here and went to the Flower Capital?"

Ace scratched his head, utterly bewildered. "But she’s just a child!"

Standing across from Ace’s group was a strange fellow wearing a tengu mask. Yota remembered that this man was supposed to be a famous swordsmith, though he had no idea why he was here.

Only after they spoke did they learn that this man, Tenguyama Hitetsu, had actually taken Tama as his apprentice.

Yota vaguely remembered something like that, but back then, it seemed that only the swordsmith and Tama had remained in Amigasa Village.

Though Amigasa Village was still poor now, there were quite a few villagers, and they seemed to be living somewhat better than before.

Hearing Ace’s question, Tenguyama Hitetsu sighed. "There was no choice… Only Tama could find a way to get food from the Flower Capital. We adults are simply too useless."

Yota’s eyes shifted. "Tama mastered the Transformation Technique!"

Tenguyama Hitetsu was not surprised. After all, Yota had been the one to teach Tama ninjutsu. "That’s right. And not only that, Tama was quite lucky. She even obtained a Devil Fruit."

Yota paused slightly, immediately thinking of that rather remarkable Millet-Millet Fruit.

Though that Paramecia Devil Fruit was not a powerful combat-oriented fruit, its supportive effects were absolutely terrifying.

Devil Fruits, especially Paramecia Devil Fruits, were practically unbeatable within their own fields. The Millet-Millet Fruit could forcibly make any animal fight to the death for Tama, even including certain artificial Zoan-type Devil Fruit users.

If Kaido, the zoo director, learned about this ability, then if Tama dared refuse to join the Beasts Pirates, he would probably imprison her for life!

In truth, directly controlling fierce animals in battle was merely the Millet-Millet Fruit’s most basic use. Other methods, such as controlling birds or rats, could be used for scouting or theft. It all depended on the user’s intentions.

With that ability, along with the Transformation Technique, Tama really could fish in troubled waters in the Flower Capital and obtain some food.

"If that’s the case, then let’s go to the Flower Capital too!" Yota said directly. "We’ll find Tama first, then see if we can get the chance to kill Kurozumi Orochi!"

Ace was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Yota, who had never cared much about Wano Country’s affairs before, to become so proactive this time.

Well, Yota simply wanted to collect the Eight-Headed Serpent Fruit. Setting everything else aside, Yamata no Orochi was one of the very best Mythical Zoan-type fruits.

Yota also wanted to see whether he could extract the Devil Fruit from Kurozumi Orochi without any loss!

Even if the experiment he was preparing failed, he would not give up that Devil Fruit—if he did not use it himself, could he not save it for one of his subordinates in the future?

Besides, Yamata no Orochi’s eight lives were simply perfect for certain ninjutsu, such as the Eight Gates or Reincarnation Jutsu.

If there had been no benefit in it, Yota would at most help out the people he knew. He would not truly concern himself with whether Wano Country lived or died.

"Kill Kurozumi Orochi? Great, great! I’ve wanted to kill that sinister, cunning bastard for ages!" Yamato’s face lit up with joy, and she swung the club in her hand like a windmill.

"Wait, you should hold on a moment," Tenguyama Hitetsu hurriedly stopped them. Unlike the village chief from before, he did not say that Wano Country could not be without a shogun. Instead, he earnestly tried to persuade them.

"Back then, Lady Toki left behind a prophecy. To defeat Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido, you must wait until twenty years later, when the Nine Red Scabbards return. There are still three years until the foretold time… Going now would be far too reckless!"

"Lady Kozuki’s prophecy? I have heard of it," Yamato said with a frown. "I read about it in Lord Oden’s journal. Lady Kozuki was an extremely rare Time-Time Fruit user, so her prophecy should be quite accurate!"

Ace curled his lip. He had never cared much for prophecies or fate. "If prophecies were really useful, then what are we even doing here?"

"Exactly. If prophecies were truly useful, would everyone just do nothing and wait for Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi to die on their own twenty years later? In the end, it still depends on everyone’s efforts," Yota said directly.

After hearing that, Yamato had nothing more to say. Besides, she was not the sort to follow rules in the first place. If this prophecy had not come from Kozuki Oden’s wife, Yamato probably would not have cared at all.

Tilting her head, Yamato immediately said in a bright voice, "That’s true! To hell with prophecies. I’ll kill Kurozumi Orochi first! Then I’ll beat my Pops flying and make him get out of Wano Country!"

"Your Pops? Who’s that?" Tenguyama Hitetsu asked, completely baffled.

"Kaido!"

Tenguyama Hitetsu: "…"

In the end, the old man could only sigh. People really did see everything if they lived long enough.

"Tama has already been in the Flower Capital for several months. Every month, she sends us quite a lot of food. According to her letters, she is currently working with a righteous thief called Ushimitsu Kozo, robbing the rich and helping the poor in the Flower Capital."

"If you go to the Flower Capital, perhaps you can search in that direction… Since it needs to be kept secret, Tama did not tell us much more in her letters."

Yota felt that he had heard the name Ushimitsu Kozo before… Unfortunately, too much time had passed, and he could not remember clearly.

When he had first transmigrated to the Naruto World, he had done plenty of research, so he remembered the timeline and specific figures rather clearly. His memories of the One Piece side, however, were not nearly as deep.

Ushimitsu Kozo seems to have another identity… Forget it. Let’s go to the Flower Capital first. Once we’re there, I’ll probably remember more.