Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece

The warm sunlight poured onto the deck of the new ship, and the sea breeze, carrying a salty and damp scent, swept across the hull, causing the edges of the sails to sway slightly.

Uchiha Hakuha leaned back in a recliner beside the mast, twirling a kunai casually between his fingers.

"As long as you have the ability, sailing in pursuit of freedom is truly a delightful thing."

Uchiha Hakuba sighed, then turned his gaze to the other side.

At this moment, Matsumoto Rangiku was sitting cross-legged on the deck covered with soft cushions, with a sake bottle casually placed aside, and was playing with a bunch of colorful seashells with Kanna.

The little one, wearing a loose cotton dress, squatted on the ground, picked up a spiral-patterned seashell with her chubby little hands, tiptoed and held it out to Rangiku, saying in a childish voice, "Rangiku-neechan, this seashell is like a little conch's home, just like this Starfield ship."

Rangiku bent down and gently stroked Kanna's nose with her fingertips, her eyes full of laughter: "Of course, this is our home."

As Matsumoto Rangiku spoke, she deliberately reached out to tease Kanna's chin, making the little one giggle and roll around on the deck with the seashell in her arms.

Nico Robin sat on a bench nearby, a thick ancient book spread out on her lap—a book she had bought on the island.

Although she cultivates every day, reading is still an essential part of her life.

Nico Robin's gaze would occasionally drift from the pages of her book to the two playful figures, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Her hands turned the pages of the book, and listening to Kanna's cheerful laughter, she couldn't help but feel relaxed. How long could these days last...?

Suddenly, Kanna seemed to have thought of something fun. Her eyes darted around, and she secretly glanced at Shiraha, who was leaning back on the deck chair, and then at Rangiku, who was searching for seashells. She tiptoed to the side of the ship, grabbed a handful of dried seaweed, and quietly went around to Rangiku's back.

Rangiku Matsumoto was focused on picking out a pink-patterned seashell for Connor, completely unaware of the little commotion behind her.

Kanna tiptoed and gently scratched Ranju's neck with seaweed.

"Ugh..." Rangiku froze for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh. She turned around abruptly, pulled Kanna into her arms, and tickled her.

"You little rascal, how dare you ambush your older sister!"

Kanna laughed until tears streamed down her face as she was tickled. She slapped Rangiku's arm wildly with her little hands, crying out, "Ooh...it tickles so much!"

Bai Yu couldn't help but chuckle. He sat up from the recliner, picked up a piece of fruit candy from beside him, and waved it at Kanna: "Kanna, want to come over here? I have some yummy food here."

Kanna's eyes lit up, and she immediately broke free from Rangiku's embrace, toddling over to Shiraha with her short legs, looking up at the candy in his hand with longing eyes.

Bai Yu smiled as she unwrapped the candy and flicked it casually.

Connor lunged forward, and the candy went straight into her mouth.

Seeing this, Uchiha Hakuha flicked several candies in a row.

Similarly, Connor reacted quickly and ate it all.

"Bai Yu, I want to play with you too."

Kanna spoke indistinctly, her mouth full of candy.

"Okay, what do you want to play?"

Uchiha Shiraha reached out and ruffled her soft hair. Kids are just so much fun.

Kanna tilted her head and thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up again.

She grabbed Shiraha's sleeve and pulled him to the bench where Robin was sitting, then ran to Rangiku and pulled them both over.

"Let's play hide-and-seek!"

She opened her arms wide and announced loudly, "I'll hide, you come and find me!"

"Okay." Rangiku was the first to agree, and she ruffled Kanna's hair.

"Then you'd better hide well, or we'll find you very soon."

Robin closed his book, stood up, and nodded with a smile: "Okay, Connor, go hide."

Bai Yu looked at the three people in front of him, and the smile on his lips deepened.

The sun was shining brightly, and the sea breeze was cool; such a pleasant moment was one that one didn't want to break.

"However, if we find out, you'll be punished."

Kanna giggled, nodded vigorously, and then, like a nimble little rabbit, turned and ran towards the cabin.

"Remember to count to one hundred before you look!"

Her voice came from the corridor, filled with excitement.

Rangiku laughed and called after her retreating figure, "Okay, I know! Good luck hiding!"

"Connor is so funny, it's like raising a little girl..."

When Nico Robin counted to one hundred, the three split into three groups and began searching for Kanna on the ship.

In such cases, there's no need to use your abilities; sometimes, companionship is just as important.

Especially for lonely children like Connor.

"We're starting to look for you, Connor-chan."

Rangiku searched around behind the barrels on the deck and then crawled into the storage room, only to find piles of ropes and canvas.

Robin strolled leisurely down the ship's corridor, his gaze sweeping over every possible hiding spot, a faint smile always playing on his lips.

Bai Yu walked towards the stern of the ship. He remembered that there was a small storage compartment there, filled with miscellaneous items, which was a good place to hide people.

"Oh dear, he's so hard to find! Connor is hiding really well."

Immediately after, Uchiha Finance reached the door of the storage compartment and heard a suppressed laugh coming from inside.

Bai Yu deliberately moved quietly, slowly pushed open the door, and then suddenly bent down: "Found you!"

Inside the storage compartment, Kanna was huddled in a pile of old canvas. Hearing Bai Yu's voice, she shuddered in fright, then burst into a cheerful laugh.

She crawled out from under the canvas, jumped into Bai Yu's arms, and looked up at him with her little face, saying, "Bai Yu is so amazing."

The emotional value they provide is truly befitting of the ship's adorable creatures...

Uchiha Hakuha hugged her and playfully flicked her nose with a smile: "It was Kanna who suddenly smiled that made me find it."

As they were talking, Rangiku and Robin came over and couldn't help but laugh when they saw Kanna being held in Shiraha's arms.

"Well, you've actually been hiding here."

Rangiku Matsumoto reached out and pinched Kanna's cheek.

"Bai Yu beat me to it."

Robin chuckled softly at her smug expression. "So, shouldn't it be our turn to hide now?"

Kanna's eyes lit up, and she immediately jumped down from Bai Yu's arms, nodding vigorously, "Okay! I'll count! You guys go hide!"

She turned her back, covered her eyes with her little hands, and began to count aloud.

Shiraha and Rangiku exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh.

The game continued until sunset, when the sea was dyed a warm orange-red.

When the last game ended, Kanna was so tired that she could barely keep her eyes open. She leaned against Bai Yu's chest, her little head nodding, and she was about to fall asleep.

Rangiku looked at her tired appearance and couldn't help but chuckle, "This little one, she must be tired after playing for so long."

Robin took out a thin blanket and gently covered Kanna with it, saying softly, "Let her sleep for a while, and she can have dinner when she wakes up."

A gentle sea breeze blew by, lifting a corner of the sail, and the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the three people and one child in a warm golden glow.

They really seem like a family...