Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece.

As for Hawkeye Mihawk, the situation was completely different when Bai Yu met him.

The sea breeze blew in from the southeast, carrying a salty, fishy smell.

The Dawn continued forward, and the outlines of the two ships became increasingly clear.

Bai Yu turned around and shouted towards the deck, "It's someone I know!"

The atmosphere on deck immediately relaxed.

Rangiku sat up from the recliner, stretched out a big yawn, her long golden hair shimmering in the sunlight. The hem of her shirt was pulled up a little, revealing a section of her flat stomach and navel, but she didn't care. She just stretched casually and then rubbed her eyes.

"An acquaintance? Which acquaintance?"

"Redhead and Hawkeye."

Rangiku blinked, then gave a bright smile.

"Oh, that red-haired weirdo who bought us drinks has now become a one-armed old man."

"...He'll be hurt if you call him 'uncle'."

"He looks like an old man."

Rangiku said confidently, then jumped off the deck chair, ran barefoot to the bow of the ship, and stood on tiptoe to look into the distance.

Her hair was blown about by the sea breeze, and a few strands stuck to her lips, but she didn't care and just squinted at them for a while.

"It really is them! This is truly a wonderful coincidence."

Robin emerged from the shadows, still holding the book about Wano Country in her hand, but she had already closed it and tucked it under her arm.

Her long black hair fluttered in the wind, and a quiet, gentle smile played on her lips.

"The Red-Haired Pirates... It's quite a coincidence that we've met them twice at sea."

"It's fate."

Violet stood behind Bai Yu, her voice soft yet firm.

Bai Yu glanced at her.

Violet's eyes reflected the two ships in the distance.

"What's wrong?" Bai Yu asked.

"nothing."

Violet shook her head, then a mysterious, slightly sly smile appeared on her lips: "I just think... something very interesting is going to happen today."

Before Bai Yu could ask any further questions, Artoria came out of the cabin.

She changed into clean clothes: a white shirt and black trousers, the shirt tucked into the waistband, the belt cinching her waist in a sharp line. Her blonde hair was tied in a high ponytail, revealing a glimpse of her fair nape and well-defined jawline.

She walked to Bai Yu's side, her gaze falling on the two ships in the distance, her brows furrowing slightly.

"That one-armed man... has a very powerful aura."

Her voice was calm, but there was a subtle hint of wariness in her tone.

"Ah."

Bai Yu nodded.

"And that man carrying the black knife, his aura is also quite impressive."

"Ah."

Bai Yu nodded again.

Artoria remained silent for a moment.

"We also have swordsmen on our ship."

Rangiku leaned on the railing at the bow of the ship, turned her head, and her golden eyes darted back and forth between Artoria and Shiraha twice before she gave a meaningful smile.

"You two seem to have become very compatible lately."

Artoria's ears turned slightly red.

"We've always had a great understanding."

"is it?"

Rangiku's smile deepened: "Then explain what's going on with that red mark on your neck?"

Artoria almost instinctively raised her hand to cover her neck.

Then she realized she had been tricked again.

Because there was nothing left on her neck.

She was wearing a high-necked shirt today, with the top button fastened tightly.

Rangiku laughed out loud, her laughter as clear and crisp as a wind chime swaying in the wind.

Robin smiled too, a subtle and elegant smile, but the joy in his eyes was impossible to hide.

Violet didn't speak, but the corners of her mouth curved up a little wider.

Artoria took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and suppressed her urge to draw her sword in a manner akin to cultivating her mind.

Then she opened her eyes, looked at Rangiku, and said, word by word, "Rangiku, don't sleep too soundly tonight."

Rangiku's laughter stopped abruptly.

"Wait, these are two different things—"

"They are two different things."

After Artoria finished speaking, she turned around, her ponytail swinging in the air in a beautiful arc.

Rangiku stood there, blinked, and then turned to look at Shiraha.

"Oh no, have I offended Saber again?"

Bai Yu thought for a moment and then shook his head.

"You two have a really good relationship."

Rangiku blinked again, then smiled.

"So that's how you understand it."

The two ships are getting closer and closer.

Bai Yu could see the people on Shanks' ship. There were more than a dozen crew members standing on the deck, dressed in various styles of clothing, holding wine glasses, meat legs, and musical instruments. Some were dancing, while others were lying on the deck sunbathing. The whole deck didn't look like a ship of powerful people, but more like a mobile sea tavern.

A person was standing at the bow of the ship.

He was wearing a white shirt, the buttons undone, revealing his muscular chest.

His left arm was severed at the shoulder, and the cuff was tied in a knot, hanging empty at his side.

He held a wine jug in his right hand and was pouring wine into his mouth. After taking a big gulp, he put down the jug, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and then squinted at the direction of the Dawn.

Her red hair fluttered in the sea breeze.

Red-haired Shanks.

He looked at it for three seconds, then flashed a smile so bright it could outshine the sun.

"Hey--"

He raised the wine jug and shouted towards the direction of the Dawnbreaker, his voice booming as if he were using a megaphone: "Bai Yu—! Long time no see—!"

Bai Yu smiled too.

He also raised his hand and waved at Shanks.

"Shanks! You still owe me three bottles of wine!"

Shanks paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, the sound echoing across the sea and startling several seabirds flying in the distance.

"I remember—! We'll pay it back together today—!"

The two ships began to slow down, and the crew busied themselves preparing to dock.

The small black boat slowly approached from the other side, moving at a pace so slow it was like taking a stroll.

The cross at the stern cast a long shadow in the sunlight, the tip of which just touched the gunwale of the Dawn.

Hawkeye Mihawk stood at the bow of the ship, holding neither a bottle of wine nor a knife.

He simply stood there, his golden eyes gazing at the deck of the Dawn, his gaze as calm as a stagnant pool.

But after his gaze swept across the deck of the Dawn, it stopped in one spot.

Bai Yu followed his gaze.

Retsu Unohana sat in the shadows by the cabin door, holding Kanna in her arms. Kanna was eating a candy, her mouth covered in candy stains.

Unohana Retsu lowered her head and carefully wiped Kanna's mouth with a handkerchief, her movements gentle and patient.

She didn't look at Hawkeye.

It was as if they hadn't noticed his presence at all.

But Bai Yu noticed that her hand wiping Kanna's mouth paused for less than half a second.

That half-second pause was like the instant a knife is about to be drawn from its sheath.

……

The two large ships have come ashore.

The planks were laid between the gunwales of the boat, making a dull thud.

Shanks was the first to jump over; his movements were agile and light, not at all like someone who was missing an arm.

His foot landed on the deck of the Dawn with a "thud," then he straightened up, looked around the deck, and wore a smile like a child entering a candy store.

"Great ship!"

He said.

"Great ship!"

He repeated himself, then turned to look at Bai Yu and opened his right arm.