Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece

"Are these enough items?"

Looking at the clothes, fruit, and food carried on the backs of the five mules, Matsumoto Rangiku felt worried.

Although she was a puppet, Uchiha Shiraha's unique Mangekyou Sharingan and the miraculous combination of the Puppet Fruit made her look exactly like a real human.

Eating and drinking are no different from ordinary people.

"There's nothing we can do, Rangiku-san. Our ship's hold can only hold this much stuff. Danube is the capital city, and it doesn't produce ships. We'll have to go to our next destination to change ships."

Uchiha Hakuba shook his head helplessly. It wasn't that he didn't want to prepare more, but the conditions were simply too restrictive.

However, as long as you bring enough fresh water and about ten days' worth of dry food and supplies, you can live off the sea and not starve.

Moreover, the next destination, Char's Island, is only a seven or eight-day boat ride from here.

Many people only see the adventurous and exciting battles in the world of One Piece.

Little did they know that true seafaring often involves only solitude.

This ocean is so vast that you might not encounter another ship for ten or twenty days while adrift at sea.

"Seriously, these mules are amazing; they actually know the way back on their own?"

Matsumoto Rangiku's thoughts drifted elsewhere, and she looked directly at the mule, asking with some curiosity.

In comparison, Bai Yu didn't feel there was anything wrong with it. Matsumoto Rangiku, who had always been in Rukongai, had never been exposed to so many novel things.

That's good, much better than keeping quiet...

"There are so many amazing things in this ocean. These mules are just well-trained. If you have the chance, you will see real, amazing species."

It took the two quite a while to get back to the boat, and by the time they could see the small boat, dusk had already fallen.

At this moment, the twilight was like melting ink, slowly spreading across the surface of the West Sea.

The salty sea breeze, carrying the lingering warmth of the setting sun, brushed against Uchiha Shiroba's hair. Matsumoto Rangiku, who was walking slightly slower beside him, was still gently swaying her ample bosom, having changed into new clothes.

"Those knights were keeping a close watch!"

She turned to look at Bai Yu: "Luckily, we didn't get into any trouble, otherwise it would have delayed our trip."

Bai Yu nodded slightly, his dark eyes sweeping across the deck. Fishing nets were piled up haphazardly by the ship's side, still dripping with seawater. Two empty bowls sat on the wooden table in the center of the deck, left behind before their departure.

Everything seemed exactly the same as when he left, but his innate senses detected something amiss.

Deep within the cabin, there was a faint, restrained scent, mingled with the fishy smell of the sea and the aroma of the wooden cabin, which would almost be masked by the sea breeze if one did not look closely.

"etc."

Bai Yu suddenly stopped.

"There's someone there."

Upon hearing Uchiha Shiroha's words, Matsumoto Rangiku instantly dropped her languid demeanor, her body tensing slightly, the smile fading from her eyes, replaced by wariness: "What's wrong? Is anyone there?"

"It should be in the cabin."

Bai Yu's gaze fell on the wooden door of the cabin. The door was ajar, with a narrow crack, and a faint fragrance wafted out from the crack, carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible scent.

"The aura is very faint, it seems they're trying to conceal it, it feels like they've been hiding for a while."

Rangiku listened intently and soon caught the subtle movement. Perhaps because of her powerful spirit, even though she hadn't undergone any training, she could naturally hear extremely light breathing from the cabin. The rhythm was steady, indicating that the other person had excellent mental fortitude and did not panic even after noticing their return.

She raised an eyebrow and followed Bai Yu slowly toward the cabin: "You've got some nerve, daring to sneak onto our ship."

Bai Yu didn't speak, but gently pushed open the slightly ajar kitchen hatch.

The creaking sound of the wooden door hinges turning was particularly clear on the silent deck.

The cabin was dimly lit, making it almost impossible to distinguish other objects.

That faint aura was coming from behind the pile of wooden crates on the left.

"Come out."

Bai Yu's voice was flat, yet it carried an invisible sense of pressure. His chakra was slightly released, forming a faint aura that enveloped the entire cabin.

"I know you're there, there's no need to hide anymore."

A brief silence fell over the cabin, broken only by the splashing of seawater against the hull and the steady breathing behind the stack of wooden crates.

A moment later, a figure slowly emerged from behind the pile of wooden crates.

It was a woman, slender, wearing a dark blue long-sleeved dress, the hem of which was stained with dust and wet seawater, clearly indicating that she had traveled a long way.

Her long hair was black, softly cascading over her shoulders with slightly curled ends. Her eyes, a deep blue, were calm as the sea at night, showing no sign of panic, only a faint wariness and aloofness.

Her skin was a light white, and her eyes were alert, clearly prepared to deal with any unexpected situation at any time.

She slowly emerged from behind the pile of wooden crates, her steps light and deliberate, her gaze calmly settling on Shiraha and Rangiku.

She didn't speak, but simply lowered her eyes slightly, her lips remaining expressionless, and her aura remained restrained, without any outward expression, like a flower growing in the darkness, silent and resilient.

She knew she would be discovered sooner or later for hiding here, but she didn't expect the other party's perception to be so sharp, accurately detecting her presence in just a moment after returning.

Rangiku sized Robin up and down, a hint of inquiry in her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips, yet she remained wary: "Quite a beauty, but too bold. Tell me, why are you hiding on our ship?"

The woman raised her eyes, her gaze calmly meeting Rangiku's, then sweeping over Shiraha, who stood beside her with a cold expression: "I just want to find a boat to leave this place. I mean no harm."

She neither defended herself nor tried to please anyone; she simply stated the facts calmly, without a trace of emotion in her eyes, as if she had long been accustomed to this situation—being chased, being watched, and having no choice but to hide and find a place to temporarily settle down.

Bai Yu's gaze fell on Robin, his dark eyes scrutinizing her and sensing her presence.

The woman remained calm, neither approaching nor attempting to escape. Her sense of danger told her that the tall, handsome man before her possessed terrifying strength, and even if she wanted to flee, she might not succeed.

She simply stood there quietly, waiting for Uchiha Shiraha's decision. She felt that perhaps this ship could allow her to temporarily escape the pursuit.

Bai Yu remained silent for a moment, then withdrew his released chakra and asked, "Who are you? And why are you hiding?"

This time, the woman spoke slowly, her voice still soft, yet she clearly stated her name: "My name is Nico Robin."