Uta's Idol.

Uta's Training and the Section Leader's Recruitment Strategy.

Welcome to a new chapter of Uta's Idol! This chapter will be split between the beginning of Uta's training and what the Section Leaders are up to. Look forward to see how Uta will do as her training begins and we'll get a little peek of what her friends are doing meanwhile. I hope you all enjoy the chapter!  I don't own One Piece.

After their private discussion inside the Nasamune family shrine, Uta and Denjiro walked back to the mansion and with a new goal in mind, were mentally preparing themselves for the week ahead.

"Uta, I want you to leave Knave to me." Denjiro said to Uta as they were about to enter the mansion. "Don't tell Knave about my identity or the plan. Just follow my lead, got it?"

"Yeah, I got it." Uta answered. "I'll let you start the conversation."

"I'm home." Denjiro calls out as he opens the door to his house. "Anyone still up?"

"Welcome home, dear." Knave said as she peeked her head out from a corner. "Suji went to bed after eating dinner. She was pretty tired after playing with Pitch and Uta."

"Is that so?" Denjiro asked, a bit surprised. "She normally doesn't get tired until nine."

"Well, when children her age let loose, they tend to get tired afterwards." Knave said. "You were young once, you know what it's like."

"Oh, I know exactly what you're talking about." Uta said, recalling how tired she would get after playing around for hours on end. "I used to be so tired after playing a bunch when I was her age."

"Really? When I was her age, I just swindled people." Denjiro said, shrugging his shoulders making Uta question what sort of childhood this man had. "Since you were kind enough to entertain my daughter, how about we thank you for your hospitality with some late dinner?"

"That sounds like a great idea!" Knave said happily. "I can get started now, but it seems like Pitch isn't here yet. Is she still outside?"

"Unfortunately, she had to leave." Uta answered. "She wanted me to pass on her farewell to you."

"Is that so?" Knave said, her tone dropping slightly. "Well, it can't be helped. I'll go ahead and get started on making your food."

"Here, I'll help you too." Denjiro said as he walked alongside his wife to the kitchen. "Uta, you can sit down in the living room for now."

Uta nods and sits on the couch. In the back of her mind, Uta couldn't shake off the feeling that Knave looked a bit worried. Uta thought that given Pitch's reaction and their previous banter, they had a fight, but wonders if she read the room wrong.

I hope that everything is alright between them. Uta thought worriedly. I wonder if Denjiro is explaining the situation to Knave right now.

"Momma, you didn't read me a bedtime story. I want a bedtime story."

Uta turned her head around to see Suji slowly walking down the stairs, holding onto her stuffed samurai toy. Even though Knave said Suji went to bed, it seems like she didn't fall asleep. Uta figured that she must've gotten fidgety from not getting a bedtime story and came down to find her mother. When Suji saw Uta, her eyes lit up and trotted over to her excitedly.

"Uta! You're still here!" Suji exclaimed happily. "I thought you would be gone!"

"And I thought you were asleep." Uta responded, as Suji sat next to her. "What're you doing up? Isn't it bedtime for you?"

"I told Mommy that I was tired, but it turns out I wasn't." Suji said as she happily kicked her legs in the air. "She usually would tell me a bedtime story, but she didn't this time."