"Who are you?"
Hearing this voice, Tashigi immediately looked up.
She saw a frail little girl wearing a light green, patchwork kimono in a short-skirt style, perched on a large, strange-looking dog. The girl's cautious gaze was fixed on them.
"Excuse us; we're travelers passing through," Ace said, looking at the girl with a slight smile that softened his features.
This girl was Kurozumi Tama, a Paramecia Dango Fruit user.
"Eh? Outsiders in Wano Country?" Tama exclaimed, her surprise evident as she stared at Ace and Tashigi.
At this time, Wano Country was under the oppressive rule of Kaido and Orochi. To solidify their control, Kaido had entirely isolated the nation, severing all contact with the outside world. Combined with Wano's naturally formidable geography, it was exceedingly rare for anyone to enter from beyond its borders.
"We got here by accident," Ace said with an easy grin.
Tashigi, standing to the side, couldn't help but purse her lips in slight exasperation. Who caused that accident? Don't you already know?
Ignoring his words, she glanced at Tama. There was something strange about this girl's emotions—a peculiar fluctuation that left Tashigi uncertain.
"Grr… grumble…"
A faint sound came from Tama's stomach.
"Ah!"
Tama quickly covered her stomach, her face flushing crimson.
"Are you hungry?" Ace asked gently, his expression softening before he let out a quiet chuckle.
Hunger had become a way of life for the people of Wano, thanks to Kaido's destructive factories. The pollution they caused rendered water and soil infertile, making agriculture nearly impossible. For many, survival itself was a miracle, let alone a full stomach.
Though Ace, who hailed from the modern world, had never experienced true hunger, he carried within him the deep cultural value of ensuring there was always enough to eat—something ingrained in his blood as an asian.
Faced with Wano's plight, Ace felt a heavy pang in his heart. This was why, despite admiring Kaido's resilience in battle, Ace never entertained the idea of joining him. From the very beginning, Ace's goal had been clear: to eliminate Kaido.
To him, the desecration of fertile lands and life-giving water was a crime beyond forgiveness.
"I'm not hungry! A ninja must be resilient," Tama blurted, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she clenched her tiny fists.
Ace chuckled warmly. "A ninja, huh? That's an admirable dream. But even ninjas need food, don't they? Want to eat something together?"
"Creak~"
Ace raised his hand, and an air door appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Reaching inside, he pulled out a sack of rice and smiled kindly at Tama.
Ace's Door Door Fruit ability allowed him to create dimensional gateways. These doors opened to a pocket dimension separate from the physical world, where he could hide or retrieve items at will. Unlike ordinary users of this ability, Ace's refined mastery of the Door Door Fruit let him use this space as a storage dimension, expanding its utility.
"Gulp…"
Tama couldn't help but swallow hard, her wide eyes glued to the sack of white rice.
Rice! Real, pristine rice!
In Wano, rice was an unimaginably precious commodity. Tama, who made a meager living weaving bamboo hats, could rarely afford such a luxury. She subsisted on husks and scraps, often unable to eat her fill. On rare occasions—like her birthday—she might manage to buy a small handful of rice, and even that was a treasured indulgence.
The sight of so much rice now tested her pride. Though she wanted to maintain the dignity of a ninja, the steady stream of drool at the corners of her mouth betrayed her true feelings.
Ace, using his Observation Haki, could sense Tama's emotional turmoil. Beyond that, his ability to hear the voices of all things made it impossible for her thoughts to remain hidden from him.
"Let's eat together. If you're hungry, you must eat."
Ace extended his hand toward Tama, his face lit up with a warm smile.
"Ace..."
Feeling the subtle emotional fluctuations in Tama, Tashigi's expression softened. In that moment, she seemed to understand why Ace had come here.
Tama gazed at Ace's outstretched hand and his radiant smile, momentarily lost in thought. Slowly, she reached out her small hand, almost instinctively placing it in his.
——
Humming an unfamiliar tune, Tama prepared the precious rice with delicate care. The enticing aroma wafting from the pot brought an uncontainable smile to her face—a genuine, heartfelt joy.
Ace and Tashigi stood quietly, watching her every move. They couldn't help but fall silent, each lost in their thoughts.
"It's ready!" Tama announced brightly, lifting the pot's lid.
The perfectly cooked rice was fluffy, with each grain distinct. Steam rose in fragrant waves, filling the air with the rich scent of long-missed nourishment. Taking a deep inhale, Tama's small face beamed with satisfaction.
"Ace, Tashigi, you eat first," she said, handing them two large bowls brimming with rice.
She then carefully filled a much smaller bowl—barely half-full—for herself. Holding it tightly, she smiled happily.
Through their earlier conversation, Tama had learned Ace and Tashigi's names. But due to Kaido's strict isolation of Wano, there were no Den Den Mushi, and the live broadcasts of major events across the world had never reached this land.
Completely cut off from the outside world, Tama remained unaware of Ace and Tashigi's true identities.
Tashigi's chest tightened as she watched Tama. Her beautiful eyes stung with emotion.
Even though Tama was clearly famished, desperate for a proper meal, she had offered the two largest portions to them.
Such a kind child.
"Why not take more? There's still plenty left in the pot," Ace said, glancing at the remaining rice.
"I was thinking... could I save some for my master?" Tama replied hesitantly, biting her lip.
To her, the rice belonged to Ace, and the decision to share it rested entirely with him.
"Go ahead and eat your fill—I have plenty more."
Ace smiled at her, then fell silent for a moment. He raised his hand again, activating the Door Door Fruit. Another air door appeared, and he pulled out several large sacks of rice.
"!!!"
Tama's mouth dropped open, her eyes widening in disbelief as she stared at the abundant supply of rice.
"It's been a long time since you've had enough to eat, hasn't it? Today, eat as much as you want, Tama," Ace said warmly.
"Really?!"
Tama nodded eagerly, her joy uncontainable. Yet, when she returned to her bowl, she added only a single spoonful of rice before stopping.
"Is that all you're going to eat? Won't it fill you up?" Tashigi asked curiously.
"It's enough," Tama replied, her voice quiet but firm. "Even though there's so much rice... I..."
She hesitated before looking up with determination in her eyes.
"I want to share it with everyone. No one in the village has had rice in so long."
Ace's expression softened as he reached out to pat Tama's head.
"Don't worry, Tama. From now on, everyone will have enough to eat."
"Really?" Tama's eyes widened with hope.
"I promise," Ace said, smiling.
Beside them, Tashigi discreetly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
At that moment, she found a deeper meaning in Ace's dream of creating "a world where everyone can eat and celebrate together."
'It's an honor to serve under you, Ace.'
She took a bite of her rice, savoring it slowly. Despite it being nothing more than plain rice with no accompanying side dishes, it felt like the most delicious food she had ever tasted.
Back aboard the Entei Pirates' ship, their cook, Raki, always prepared exquisite meals using only the finest ingredients. Her culinary skills, honed to perfection, were unparalleled on the seas.
Yet here, in this moment, this simple bowl of rice felt extraordinary.
The unique aroma of the rice evoked a sense of deep satisfaction, a beauty felt from the heart when savored with care.
"The taste of grain," Ace murmured softly.
He ate more elegantly than usual, a small smile gracing his lips.
"The flavor of food is the most captivating thing," he said, "because food symbolizes the continuation of human life."
Ace watched as Tama, her face lighting up with joy at every bite, cherished each grain of rice as though it were a treasure. A gentle smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
For humanity, as long as there is food and water, survival is possible. Even without side dishes, this simple rice carried the essence of life. Each bite resonated with the raw truth of human existence.
Cherishing food isn't just an empty ideal.
Ace, who had hosted countless banquets, had never wasted a single grain of rice. This respect for food was deeply ingrained in him, a principle etched into his very bones during his life on earth.
"Yeah," Tashigi nodded solemnly, sharing the sentiment.
"So delicious!" Tama exclaimed, finishing every grain in her bowl. She licked the corner of her lips, savoring the lingering fragrance of the rice, her face glowing with happiness.
Ace and Tashigi both chuckled at Tama's blissful expression.
Then, their attention shifted toward the sound of footsteps approaching the house.
"Tap! Tap!"
"Who are you?!"
A man with a tongue mask with a long nose, wearing wooden clogs and an eccentric outfit, stood at the entrance. His wary gaze fixed on Ace and Tashigi.
"Master! Come quickly, I saved some rice for you!" Tama called out excitedly.
"Kouzuki Sukiyaki?" Ace thought to himself as he observed the man.
This was none other than the former Shogun of Wano, Kouzuki Oden's father, now living under the alias TenguEnma Hitetsu.
Ace had come to this place for two reasons. The first was to ensure Tama had a proper meal. The second was for the legendary sword 'Enma', one of the twelve supreme-grade swords currently in Kouzuki Sukiyaki's possession.
Compared to the black blade Shusui, 'Enma' was more suited for Tashigi. After all, Shusui had already been forged into a black blade, forever carrying the mark of Ryuma.
But 'Enma' remained unrefined. If Tashigi could forge it into a black blade, it would fully realize its potential. Moreover, 'Enma's' unique ability to draw out its wielder's Haki intrigued Ace. He wondered how such power might evolve under the influence of his own field of comprehension.
For these reasons, Ace was determined to acquire 'Enma'.
---
After hearing Tama's explanation, Kouzuki Sukiyaki's wary gaze softened.
Taking the bowl of rice from Tama, he hesitated, wanting her to eat more. But he knew that if he refused, she would only worry. With gratitude, he accepted the rice and ate quietly.
"Thank you for your kindness," Sukiyaki said after finishing, bowing slightly in appreciation.
"You're welcome," Ace replied with a smile. "Tama is such a kind and sweet child. It would be heartbreaking to see her go hungry."
Ace gently patted Tama's head as she giggled.
Not long after, the little girl, full and content, dozed off, curling up on Ace's lap. Beside them, her dog also slept peacefully, equally content after eating its fill.
Ace smiled warmly as he adjusted her position, letting her rest comfortably. Watching her peaceful face and the sweet smile she wore in her sleep, he couldn't help but feel as though he were sharing in her dream.
"This country wasn't always like this," Kouzuki Sukiyaki murmured with a heavy sigh.
Ace caught the meaning behind his words but didn't press further. He understood that Sukiyaki, while grateful for their kindness, remained cautious. The state of Wano was complex and perilous.
If Ace and Tashigi were allied with Kaido and Orochi, Sukiyaki had to be vigilant. And if they were genuinely kind-hearted travelers, he couldn't risk dragging them into the harsh struggles of Wano.
The combined tyranny of Kaido and Orochi was nothing short of terrifying.
Ace, however, wasn't interested in delving into Wano's tragic history—he certainly had no intention of sitting through stories about Kouzuki Oden and his infamous antics.
"Then, we'll take our leave," Ace said with a smile, standing up.
He helped Tashigi to her feet, and as she adjusted her position, the hilt of Shusui at her waist caught Sukiyaki's attention.
"Wait!" Sukiyaki exclaimed, his eyes widening as they locked onto the sword.
His pupils shrank in shock, and his voice trembled slightly.