"Leo, stop!"
The one who shouted this was a little bug… no, looking closely, it was a miniature person with the large horn of a rhinoceros beetle.
He was Kabu, captain of the Tontatta Kingdom's Aviation Squad, the [Yellow Kabu], and an eater of the Mushi Mushi no Mi, Model: Kabutomushi.
Flying beside him was his colleague, Bian, an eater of the Mushi Mushi no Mi, Model: Suzumebachi.
The miniature person called Leo was the Troop Leader of the Tontatta Tribe and a user of the Paramecia-type, Nui Nui no Mi. (T/N: Sew-Sew Fruit.)
The three of them were immune to the gas's effects due to their Devil Fruit abilities, but others in the SMILE factory weren't so lucky.
Those 'adult humans' had turned into half-human, half-snake monsters, losing their reason and fighting each other.
Fortunately, although the Tontatta Tribe was small, their strength and speed far surpassed ordinary humans.
Coupled with their agility, they could easily evade even snake-people.
Unfortunately, the experimental product developed by Orochimaru and Caesar seemed to affect the Tontatta Tribe as well.
If the pink gas could bring out the beastly side within Dellinger, then what change would the gas cause on the peace-loving, simple Tontatta Tribe?
The answer was… juvenilization.
Not just mentally, but even physically, obvious signs of 'rejuvenation' appeared.
The little people responsible for cultivating the artificial Devil Fruits showed varying degrees of physical youthfulness. In severe individual cases, they directly reverted to an infantile state.
Besides that, there was unconsciousness.
Regardless of whether their bodies changed, any Tontatta Tribe's member who wasn't a Devil Fruit user quickly fell into a deep sleep, unable to be awakened no matter how Leo and the others called them.
But this wasn't entirely bad news.
The snake-people seemed only interested in moving, living creatures.
At least in this state, those Tontatta Tribe's workers wouldn't become targets for the factory's snake-people.
But if they didn't act fast, other dangers might appear...
Just as Leo's thoughts wandered, his companion's exclamation snapped him back to reality.
But with his speed and the distance to the adult humans ahead, braking now was obviously too late.
"Move out of the way—"
Despite the Tontatta Tribe's small size, being solidly hit by one would likely injure most people.
"This is..."
Sasuke clearly saw the appearances of Leo and the other two, then casually made a few hand seals, directly casting a very small-scale [Swamp of the Underworld].
Unsurprisingly, Leo's speed drastically reduced after stepping into the mud, and he couldn't generate much impact.
Of course, the cost was that he was completely covered in mud, turning into an ugly mud figurine.
"Ah, that's great. Good thing no one was hurt."
Bian, in the hornet form, didn't mind Leo's muddy appearance. Instead, she was pleased they hadn't accidentally hurt anyone.
It must be said, the Tontatta Tribe was too kind.
From earlier intelligence, Sasuke knew this tribe was the special race being exploited by the Donquixote Family to cultivate artificial Devil Fruits.
"It's you! That weird adult human!"
At this moment, Leo, having roughly wiped the mud from his eyes, got a clear look at the two figures before him.
More accurately, he saw Baby-5.
"That's wonderful, you didn't turn into a monster either!"
"Quick, take us to Princess Mansherry! Right now, only the princess can save everyone!"
Reminded by Leo, Bian and Kabu also noticed Baby-5 and immediately became excited.
They remembered clearly: Baby-5 was from the Donquixote Family, so she must know where Princess Mansherry was.
"Oh?"
Sasuke gleaned some meaning and turned to look at Baby-5.
"Princess Mansherry?"
Baby-5 didn't have time to explain before Leo shook off the mud on him and scurried to the front of Sasuke and Baby-5.
"Please, we really need to see Princess Mansherry right now!"
Hearing the little people 'needed' her, Baby-5, who had been somewhat hesitant, was immediately moved and instinctively about to agree.
But Sasuke stopped her.
"Explain in detail."
Seeing the other adult human blocking him, Leo became agitated, about to pull out his sewing-needle-sized 'weapon', but was stopped by the more level-headed rhinoceros beetle captain, Kabu.
"Don't be rash, Leo. He means no harm."
Bian also flew over at this moment, looked at Sasuke, then at the SMILE factory still echoing with fighting sounds, and chose to explain the whole story.
…
Leo and the other two had come out this time to find the Tontatta Tribe's princess, Mansherry.
Even though Princess Mansherry had a strange illness, in the current situation, only the princess's [Chiyu Chiyu no Mi] might be able to save them. (T/N: Heal-Heal Fruit.)
—However, in reality, 'the princess is ill' was just a lie the Donquixote Family used to deceive the Tontatta Tribe.
They took advantage of the Tontatta Tribe's simple, trusting nature, using the excuse that 'Princess Mansherry has a strange illness that can only be cured with SMILE fruits' to trick the tribe into cultivating artificial Devil Fruits for them.
After all, besides using their speed and size to stealthily steal things, what the Tontatta Tribe excelled at was their miraculous cultivation skills.
They even claimed, "There is no plant in the world we cannot grow."
Precisely because of this, Baby-5 showed that hesitant expression when she heard Leo's words.
"So that's how it is..."
Sasuke gently nodded, then looked at Baby-5 beside him.
The Tontatta Tribe's members might not see it, but he could.
Baby-5 opened her mouth. Under Sasuke's gaze, she felt she couldn't lie.
"Actually—"
"Forget it, the situation is urgent now."
Sasuke interrupted her first.
"Those things can wait until after this is over. You know where their princess is, right?"
'Sasuke, you're so gentle!'
Hearing this, Baby-5 was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
Seeing this, Leo and the others also became excited, immediately gathering around.
"Good. Then I'll entrust you with taking these little ones to find their princess and save this country."
It was the first time Sasuke had spoken such a long sentence to Baby-5 and the first time he had earnestly made a request of her.
His Genjutsu could temporarily stop the snake-people from fighting each other, but it couldn't cure them.
Hearing this, Baby-5 didn't show her earlier infatuated expression. Instead, her gaze turned somewhat complicated, sweeping over the several figures, then looking at the surrounding Dressrosa, already destroyed by battle, and the severed limbs and corpses.
"... Yes, I'd be happy to serve."
Baby-5 finally showed a smile, then took Leo and the other three, running toward the rear of the Dressrosa palace.
Princess Mansherry was actually imprisoned in the chapel behind the palace, not too far from here.
And right after the group left, Sasuke turned his gaze forward.
Thud!
A tall figure leaped down from mid-air, landing in front of Sasuke.
'Strong.'
With just one look, Sasuke could sense the other party's formidable presence, a feeling no less intense than that from [The Red-Haired] Shanks or [Demon Heir] Bullet.
"Oh! So it was you just now, kid?"
Yamato was also sizing up Sasuke, full of curiosity.
In her right hand, she held a figure familiar to Sasuke… Viola, whom he had seen just once before.