"The true name of the Devil Fruit… is actually the Freedom Fruit."
The moment those words settled in the air, everyone present froze in shock once again.
"..."
Above Shirogai, hidden among the branches of a tall tree, a small ear twitched slightly, turning faintly red.
"Freedom Fruit… I feel like I've seen that name somewhere before…"
Deep within the forest, a graceful figure sat beneath a tree, her body trembling faintly as countless thoughts raced through her mind.
Fragments of ancient texts surfaced one after another.
Then it clicked.
"So that was the name… the one erased from history…"
"Fruit of Freedom…"
Even Red-Haired Shanks, a Yonko who had traveled the world and uncovered countless secrets, could not hide the flicker of surprise in his eyes.
As for Usopp, who knew little of the world's hidden truths, the impact hit him even harder.
"F-Free… Freedom Fruit?!"
His long nose twitched wildly as he flailed his arms in disbelief before dropping flat onto the ground with a loud thud.
"Hold on! Shirogai, this is too much! You're telling me the name 'Devil Fruit' is wrong?!!!"
He scrambled back to his feet, clutching his face.
"Is that even real? Who would do something like that?! Changing a name like 'Freedom Fruit,' which actually sounds hopeful, into something as creepy as 'Devil Fruit'?!"
Usopp did not doubt Shirogai for even a second.
If this had been the past, he would have clung to the idea that Devil Fruits were cursed, possessed by demons that granted strange powers.
Even the swirling patterns on the fruits seemed to support that belief.
But now, Shirogai's words had cracked that assumption completely.
So the truth was the opposite.
What people feared as something demonic was originally meant to represent freedom and hope.
"The difference between the two names… it's way too big…"
Usopp muttered, still stunned.
While he struggled to process everything, Yasopp had already reached the heart of the matter.
"Hmph."
A cold smirk formed on his face.
"Changing a name across history, from something positive to something feared, isn't something ordinary people can do."
His tone sharpened.
"That kind of influence requires overwhelming power, resources, and control. The ability to silence opposition and rewrite what people believe."
He folded his arms.
"There's only one force capable of that."
His eyes gleamed.
"The World Government."
"That's right."
Shirogai nodded with a faint smile.
"The ones behind it are the highest authorities of the World Government, the Celestial Dragons."
At the mention of them, Shanks' expression shifted slightly, though he remained silent.
Yasopp let out a quiet scoff.
"As expected."
Usopp, on the other hand, looked like his brain had stopped working.
"C-Celestial Dragons? Those World Nobles?"
He scratched his head frantically.
"This is getting way too weird! Why would they even bother doing something like this? Just to make the name sound scarier?"
Shirogai shook his head.
"It's not that simple."
His voice lowered slightly.
"The Celestial Dragons the world sees, arrogant and reckless, are just a surface layer. The true rulers behind them operate from the shadows. Calculating, patient, and careful not to reveal themselves."
He paused briefly.
"The reason they changed the name was to erase its meaning."
"To make people forget what 'Freedom' once stood for, and where it came from."
Usopp grimaced, tugging at his hair.
"The more you explain, the less I understand!"
Shirogai's gaze shifted toward the forest behind them.
"And more importantly…"
"The timing of this change aligns perfectly with the Void Century."
At those words, the atmosphere turned heavy.
"The very period of history the World Government has forbidden anyone from uncovering."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"In other words, during that lost century, the name 'Freedom Fruit' was deliberately erased and replaced with 'Devil Fruit,' a name meant to instill fear and rejection."
Rustle… rustle…
The sound of movement came from the trees.
A tall, beautiful woman with black hair stepped out from the forest.
"Hmm?"
Everyone turned toward her.
It was Nico Robin, now in a giant form.
Shanks, Yasopp, and Shirogai had already sensed her presence.
Only Usopp reacted with surprise.
"Robin!"
He waved excitedly.
"Shirogai's talking about something insane! It's about history, you'll love this!"
Robin ignored him, her eyes fixed entirely on Shirogai.
Her expression was serious.
"Shirogai… if that's true…"
Her voice was steady, yet carried a hint of tension.
"The renaming of the Freedom Fruit nine hundred years ago, around the time of the Void Century… that can't be a coincidence."
"It must be directly connected to that erased history."
Shirogai simply smiled, offering no immediate answer.
Robin took a slow breath, her thoughts aligning.
"Then… before the Void Century…"
Her voice softened, but her words carried weight.
"The people who first named it 'Freedom Fruit'… did so for a reason."
Her gaze sharpened.
"The 'freedom' it represents… was likely tied to those who resisted the rule of the Celestial Dragons."
"To break their oppression… and return freedom to those who had been enslaved."
___
Happy New Month