Chapter 45: Seeds of the Future
Ren and Yamato entered the Shogun's castle together, their footsteps echoing lightly against the polished wooden floors. The air inside carried warmth and laughter, a sharp contrast to the battlefield steam that had blanketed Wano just the day before.
Whitebeard and his commanders were gathered in one of the grand halls, speaking with Hiyori and the retainers. The tension that once haunted Wano seemed lighter now, replaced by the rare sound of shared stories and cautious hope.
Ren raised a hand casually as he stepped inside. "Yoo, seems everyone is enjoying?" he called out with an easy grin.
Whitebeard threw his head back and laughed thunderously. "Gurarararrararrarar! You kids are really monsters!" His eyes gleamed with pride and disbelief. "Boiling seas, swallowing dragon fire… you call that a spar?"
Ren scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, it got a bit out of hand." He glanced at Yamato and smirked. "But we stopped, didn't we?"
Marco shook his head with a sigh. "You call that 'a bit'?" he muttered. "Half the sky turned white."
Yamato puffed out her chest proudly. "It was amazing!" she declared loudly. "You should've seen it from up close!"
Whitebeard chuckled again, then waved his hand dismissively. "Go on then. Enjoy your youth while you can."
Ren nodded lightly. "Well, you continue enjoying your time here." His tone softened briefly. "We've got some things to check."
After saying that, Ren and Yamato left the castle grounds, stepping back into the crisp forest air. The path ahead led into the heart of Wano's recovering wilderness, where new growth had begun reclaiming scarred land.
As they walked deeper into the forest, Ren cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, "Hey, Leo, you there?"
A cheerful voice echoed back from within the trees. "Ren-lando, we are here!"
Ren and Yamato followed the sound and soon reached a bustling clearing. There, dozens of Tontatta dwarves hurried about, carefully managing large numbers of Den Den Mushi snails arranged in neat rows under shaded wooden shelters.
The scene was lively and surprisingly organized, with small ladders, feeding stations, and record boards set up for monitoring. The snails made soft clicking sounds as they rested, their shells polished and healthy.
Yamato blinked in surprise. "You weren't exaggerating," she whispered. "That's… a lot of snails."
Ren smiled faintly. "This was my idea," he said quietly. "Selling Den Den Mushi in large quantities. Communication is power."
Leo ran forward enthusiastically, his tiny cape fluttering behind him. "Ren-lando! Yamato-lando!"
Ren crouched slightly to meet him at eye level. "Looks like it's going well?"
Leo nodded proudly. "Yes! We found a way to breed them safely and increase their numbers without harming them."
Ren let out a satisfied laugh. "That's perfect. So, Leo… what do you say? Wanna move the Tontatta tribe here?"
Leo's expression turned serious, though excitement shimmered behind his eyes. "If you can have us here, it would be our honor. But I need to talk with Chief first."
Ren nodded without hesitation. "No problem. Me and Yamato will be going to move Fish-Man Island soon. You can come with us." He smiled lightly. "Till I move Fish-Man Island, you can talk with Chief."
Leo saluted earnestly. "Understood, Ren-lando!"
Ren's expression grew slightly firmer. "By the way, make sure you check that everyone is safe. I can guarantee there aren't any bad people around here, but you can never trust someone's greed."
Leo nodded solemnly. "Understood. We will make sure everyone is safe. And if some problem comes, we will contact Shinobu-lando immediately."
"Good," Ren replied. He glanced around at the rejuvenating greenery. "Now, the forest restoration should be nearly complete, right?"
Leo beamed. "Yes! Most of the forest is recovered. The remaining areas will take time, but the soil is healthy again."
Yamato knelt beside a newly sprouted sapling, touching its leaves gently. "It feels alive again," she murmured softly.
Ren crossed his arms thoughtfully. "Alright, I have a proposal."
Leo straightened immediately. "Tell us, Ren-lando!"
"Well," Ren began, "I was hoping you could start bee farming, medicine farming, and fruit farming in the forest." He gestured around them. "Since you want to live here, you'll need money. You can earn it by selling those products."
He smiled warmly. "And those kinds of work are something you guys enjoy doing, right?"
Leo's eyes sparkled brightly. "Yes! That's a great idea!"
Other dwarves chimed in excitedly, already whispering about honey production and rare medicinal herbs.
"Perfect," Ren said. "Then I'll try to get seeds for medicine and fruit trees. Some rare ones."
"Thank you for your help, Ren-lando!" Leo said sincerely, bowing deeply.
Ren waved his hand casually. "No problem. I'll call you when we're leaving."
After ensuring everything was stable and speaking with a few more dwarves about logistics, Ren and Yamato returned to the capital. That evening, they ate heartily with the others, laughter filling the halls once more before exhaustion finally claimed them.
The next morning, they headed toward the port. A medium-sized ship waited at the docks, freshly repaired and coated for long travel. Leo stood nearby, ready with supplies.
Yamato's eyes sparkled as she stared at the open sea. "So our first adventure starts here?" she asked excitedly.
Ren chuckled softly. "Yap." He placed an arm around her shoulders, steady and reassuring. "Fish-Man Island awaits."
Whitebeard and his crew remained behind for a few more days, wanting to spend time with Hiyori. Ren had no objections. Family deserved time.
Ren, Yamato, and Leo set sail, their ship cutting cleanly through the calm waters. The journey began peacefully, but the sea rarely allowed monotony for long.
Three days into their voyage, a pirate ship emerged from the mist, cannons aimed boldly. The captain sneered from his deck. "Hand over your supplies and your ship!"
Yamato cracked her knuckles excitedly. "Can I handle this?" she asked eagerly.
Ren leaned against the mast lazily. "All yours."
The pirate captain laughed arrogantly. "You're sending a girl?"
Yamato grinned fiercely. "You'll regret that."
She leapt across the gap between ships in a single bound, her kanabo slamming down and shattering the enemy's deck. Pirates rushed her, blades drawn, but she met them head-on with laughter.
"Too slow!" she shouted mid-swing, knocking three men overboard. "Is that all you've got?"
The captain lunged at her from behind. "Die!"
Yamato twisted midair and blocked effortlessly. "Predictable!" she declared, striking him squarely and sending him crashing into his own mast.
From their ship, Leo cheered. "Yamato-lando is amazing!"
Ren smiled faintly, watching calmly. "She's enjoying herself."
Within minutes, the pirate crew surrendered, trembling and battered. Yamato returned with a triumphant grin. "That was fun!"
Ren nodded approvingly. "Good control. You didn't destroy the ship."
They continued their journey, and after a week of travel, Dressrosa's distant silhouette appeared on the horizon. Ren created a hair clone, its form identical and steady.
"This clone will take you to Green Bit," Ren explained to Leo. "Meet your people. Prepare them."
Leo nodded gratefully. "We will be ready."
The clone lifted Leo gently and departed toward the small island where the Tontatta tribe once lived. Ren and Yamato turned their ship toward the deep sea, preparing for the descent.
After coating the ship in a protective bubble, they began sinking beneath the surface. The ocean transformed into a vast, glowing world of coral and light.
Yamato bounced excitedly on deck, eyes wide with wonder. "This is amazing!" she exclaimed. "The bubble coating… the underwater view… everything feels like a dream!"
Ren watched her quietly, amused by her childlike excitement. Schools of luminous fish swam past, and giant sea creatures drifted gracefully in the distance.
"This is just the beginning," Ren said softly. "Fish-Man Island is unlike anything you've seen."
Yamato pressed her face closer to the bubble barrier, staring at the glowing reefs below. "The world is so big," she whispered in awe.
Ren's expression grew thoughtful as the ocean darkened around them. "Yes," he said quietly. "And we're about to move one of its greatest kingdoms."