Ash, who had already awakened Observation Haki, had naturally sensed Pini's presence long before the man stepped into view.
That said, Ash had other plans.
He did not interrupt his testing just because someone was watching.
More importantly, Ash had long believed that with Pini's physical conditioning and sharp instincts, his Observation Haki was already on the verge of awakening. The only thing holding him back was opportunity.
As an ordinary village hunter, Pini had never been exposed to combat pressure or systematic training. Otherwise, with just a little guidance, his perception would have crossed that threshold naturally.
Being noticed did not embarrass Pini.
He had not come to spy.
The forest fire had drawn him here.
He leapt down from the branch in a clean motion, covered the distance in a few long strides, then pointed at the scorched forest and molten rock with visible unease.
"This… was this your doing?"
"Yeah," Ash replied calmly. "I was testing a newly awakened ability."
He paused, then added casually, "Will this cause any trouble for the village?"
Pini answered without thinking.
"It's just some trees and rocks. What trouble could it cause? This area's far from the village. Aside from hunting teams, nobody comes this deep."
Then his eyes widened.
"That's not the point. What do you mean, awakened ability? Don't tell me you ate a Devil Fruit last night."
Ash nearly laughed.
He kept his expression neutral.
"Where would I get a Devil Fruit?" he replied evenly. "You walked me back to the cabin yourself. It was your place, and we were together the entire time. When exactly would I have eaten one?"
Pini frowned. "Then what do you mean by awakened?"
Ash shrugged, tone relaxed.
"In my homeland, some people are born with dormant potential. When they reach a certain age, that power can awaken naturally."
Pini's eyes went wide.
"Hold on. You're saying people just wake up with powers like this? That's insane."
"That age is usually around fifteen," Ash said smoothly. "Sometimes earlier."
Pini blinked. "You're only thirteen."
Ash smiled faintly. "Guess I'm an exception."
He continued before Pini could spiral.
"And don't misunderstand. Even at that age, most people never awaken anything. The odds are low. And even if they do, not everyone ends up strong."
Pini nodded slowly, though his expression still carried awe.
Then something clicked.
He pointed at Ash accusingly.
"Wait. You keep dodging the question. Your homeland sounds ancient, powerful, and organized. You're definitely from some noble family."
Ash laughed outright.
"There were rulers long ago, sure," he said. "But that was Millenia back. These days, status doesn't mean much anymore."
Pini muttered to himself.
"Millenia ago… the World Government hasn't even existed that long…"
Seeing Ash shut it down so decisively, Pini dropped the subject.
But in his heart, doubt lingered.
Ash watched him in silence.
Then he spoke.
"You might not be asking me for anything," Ash said calmly. "But I want to give you something."
Pini froze.
Ash understood that look perfectly.
It was desire.
Not greed, but longing.
What man did not want power?
This was intentional.
Ash had already decided.
Pini was not the only one.
Sali, Youki, Dicken, and the Daly brothers had all caught his attention.
He had been evaluating them quietly for a while now.
The Marines were never an option.
Why would he chain himself to an institution that served the Celestial Dragons?
With power, freedom was the only logical choice.
Ash had no intention of bowing to anyone.
Especially not parasites who called themselves gods.
And if he was going to live forever, then solitude would eventually become unbearable.
He needed people.
Not servants.
Not followers.
Companions he respected.
With the Devil Fruit editor in his possession, power was never a concern. Neither was longevity.
So he judged them by character instead.
The youths of Diwen Village passed easily.
They were strong, disciplined, respectful to elders, and loyal to one another. They fought to protect their home, not for glory.
That alone set them apart.
As for talent, the evidence spoke for itself.
Sali had defeated Kamberna, a Zoan Devil Fruit user. That kind of feat almost certainly meant Armament Haki had already begun to manifest, even if he could not consciously use it yet. Otherwise, killing a small Sea King in half a day would have been impossible.
Youki had traded blows with Kamberna's beast form and walked away with nothing worse than a sore jaw. That placed him right on the edge of awakening.
Pini was the same.
Dicken and the Daly brothers were slightly behind, but still exceptional by any standard. Far stronger than an average Marine warrant officer.
And every one of them was under twenty.
Dicken and Jason were nineteen.
Jella was eighteen.
Jack was only seventeen.
With foundations like that, the rest was easy.
Who said power had to come from famous names written into history?
If Ash was choosing people to walk beside him, then he would choose those he trusted.
With him leading the way, they would not remain ordinary for long.