244 244. Hope

Leo picked up the peculiar devil fruit and observed it. I don't know which one this is.

"It looks like the fruit I ate before."

Tama was looking curiously at the fruit in Leo's hand.

Leo smiled, he patted her head and explained, "This is called a devil fruit. It can give people different abilities, like your ability to create kibi dangos and control animals."

Tama nodded like she understood.

"Let's go back. I need to ask Hitetsu some stuff."

He picked up Tama and went back to the house. By chance they saw Hitetsu returning with a bundle of twigs.

Hitestsu noticed the fruit in Leo's hand and paused, "Where did you get that?"

Leo pointed at the shrine's location and said, "From the shrine. It was inside the buddha statue."

Hitetsu's eyes slightly narrowed as he asked, "You destroyed the buddha statue?"

Leo nodded. It was over and done, so there was no point in denying.

After a while Hitetsu sighed, "So which one is it?"

Leo shook his head, "I don't know. Maybe Flare does."

Once they got inside the house Leo called Flare.

"Sir."

Flare spoke from the other side.

"Flare, I got a devil fruit here. I don't know which one."

"What does it look like?"

Leo turned the fruit over and explained it's characteristics.

"Hm... sir, I think we might have lucked out."

Hm?

Leo asked curiously, "How so?"

"That might be the Harvest-Harvest fruit. It's offensive abilities are close to none, but it's a very practical fruit. Whoever eats it will get the ability to purify anything and greatly reduce the time for crops to mature."

When he heard Flare a peculiar glow flashed in his eyes. He looked at Hitetsu and asked.

"What kind of shrine was it? I mean, what kind of powers was it believed to have?"

Hitestsu replied, "We pray there for an abundant harvest and make offerings once the harvest period is over."

Leo nodded. The conditions tally, which means this really is the Harvest-Harvest fruit!

"Sir, with this fruit the poisoned land of Wano is no longer a problem."

On the other side Flare said with excitement. The others overheard what he was speaking and held their breaths. This was too sudden.

Inuarashi looked at Momonosuke and Hiyori and spoke with emotion, "The heavens haven't completely turned their back on us!"

By now Momonosuke had recovered. That naivty he had hadn't completely disappeared, but he was different from before.

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi nodded with satisfaction. Though Leo's words were harsh and insulting it did have a good effect on their young lord.

"Flare, who do you think should eat it? That brat Momonosuke has already eaten one."

Leo words rang from the speaker.

All of them looked at each other before Inuarashi spoke, "I think Hiyori-sama should have it. Leo, what do you think?"

Leo paused for a second and said, "Her character is good, I'm good with it."

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi let out a breath of relief. They were afraid Leo would be biased towards the Kozuki clan. It seems they thought too much.

"How's Yasuei and Toko?"

Leo asked.

Chopper replied, "Yasuei-san woke up once. But he was too tired and is resting now. He is recovering well. As for Toko, she is exhausted, but she is fine."

"That's good. Zoro, bring Hiyori to Amigasa village. By the way, someone who knows the way bring them here. Zoro is not fit as a guide."

Leo said.

Zoro's face twitched when he heard that.

Hiyori spoke, "I know the way. I'll be there as soon as possible."

"Alright."

...

After hanging up Leo smiled at Tama and said, "Wait a while, I got a big surprise for you."

"Really?"

"Really."

Yay! Tama giggled and happily munched on a piece of fruit.

They waited for Zoro and Hiyori. They waited till the sun was setting before they saw the both of them in the distance.

"You are late."

Leo said.

Hiyori's face turned red. She looked at Zoro and pouted. Zoro showed no signs of being flustered and stood like a rock.

Leo looked at him for a while and said, "You never change."

He shook his head and invited them in. After they were seated he handed the Harvest-Harvest fruit to Hiyori.

Hiyori bowed to express her gratitude. She looked at the strange fruit for a while and took a bite.

Immediately her face distorted into an ugly expression. She struggled for a second and forcefully swallowed the bit in her mouth.

Immediately she started to bawl her guts out. Though nothing came out, from how her face was one would know how disgusting it was.

After she calmed down she felt a strange force spreading throughout her body. She could feel a strange connection with the very ground she stood. It was amazing.

"What do you feel?"

Leo asked curiously.

Hiyori didn't immediately reply. She gathered her thoughts and said, "It's like I can control and change a lot of elements around me."

Leo nodded. He stood up and took out a bunch of seeds left behind by the fruits they ate before.

"Let's go outside. I want to test something."

Everyone walked out except Zoro. He was looking at the sword that was hung up on the wall.

Leo didn't bother with him and walked out with the rest.

With Hitetsu's help they found a small vacant space.

Leo straightened his index and middle finger and stabbed down. The ground trembled before it was uprooted and crushed into soft particles.

"Can you increase the fertility of this part?"

Hiyori nodded. She bent down and placed both her palms above the ground. A soft light spread out from her palms and sunk into the soil.

Leo's spiritual sense was actively analysing what was happening. In his eyes the ground didn't move one bit, but the life energy contained in that portion below her palm increased tremendously.

Beads of sweat collected on Hiyori's forehead. After a couple of minutes she took back her palm and let out a breath.

"That's all I can do."

Leo nodded, "It's fine. I am surprised you can do so much right after getting the ability."

He walked forward and made a small pit on before burying a seed. He then carefully covered it with soil and poured some water he brought with him.

From his spiritual sense he could see the seed absorbing the water, and the life energy in the soil seeped into the seeds at a terrifying rate.

"Tama, come close and water it."

He called over Tama and gave her the bag of water.

Tama poured the water slowly.

1 second, 2 second... a minute later the soil started to wiggle and a green sprout grew out.

"Uwaa! Big brother, look! Look!"

Tama excitedly pointed at the green shoot growing at a visible rate.

Hitetsu's eyes shrunk when he saw this.

Hiyori covered her lips and exclaimed.