Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece.

At the same time, entering the Inverted Mountain requires precisely entering the corresponding sea area's upwelling channel. Missing the ocean current cycle or choosing the wrong route can easily lead to running aground and sinking.

Secondly, the ship needs to be sturdy enough, and the crew needs to have extremely strong maneuvering skills. They need to withstand the impact of the upward-rushing currents, avoid the mountain walls and reefs on both sides, and deal with the sudden increase in turbulence and giant waves when approaching the top of the mountain.

After finally rendezvous, the ship will head straight for the Grand Line along the descent channel. During this process, it is easy to lose control due to inertia, and the rudder needs to be adjusted quickly.

As the voyage progressed, the sea gradually became restless, and a sense of unease seemed to permeate the air.

The closer you get to Upside Down Mountain, the more frequently you'll see pirate ships flying the skull and crossbones flag. They travel in twos and threes or sail alone through the seas. Most of the pirates on deck have greedy and fierce eyes.

Bai Yu and his group did not provoke any pirates; they simply steered their ship to maintain a stable course, avoiding those pirate crews that looked particularly fierce.

As long as they don't provoke him, he can't tell whether the people on the boat are good or bad, and he doesn't like to cause trouble.

One afternoon, the sky suddenly darkened, the sea breeze became violent, the waves rolled and surged, creating giant waves several meters high, and the ship was violently rocked between the crests and troughs of the waves.

Just then, a magnificent yet awe-inspiring figure appeared on the sea ahead—the Red Earth Continent!

Upside-down Mountain is only a part of its red earth continent, but its huge peaks stand like giant pillars in the middle of the sea. Between the peaks, the surging sea currents flow against the current, forming four rushing and roaring waterfalls. The white waves crash against the rocks, making a deafening roar. Water mist fills the mountains, like a fairyland, but it also hides deadly dangers.

Just as Bai Yu and his group were marveling at the wonders of nature, a pirate ship flying a black flag with a white skull and crossbones caught their attention in the distance.

The ship was somewhat dilapidated, and the deck was crowded with pirates. They were all excited and shouting loudly, seemingly unafraid of the raging waves in front of them.

A burly man who looked like the captain stood at the bow of the ship, brandishing a large sword and shouting orders: "Brothers, follow the current and charge forward! Once we cross the Reverse Mountain, we'll find the treasure and glory of the Grand Line! The Pirate King's treasure awaits us!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the pirate ship shot off like an arrow, heading towards the top of Upside-Down Mountain along a current.

At first, the ship sailed smoothly with the current, steadily climbing higher, and the pirates' cheers grew louder and louder.

However, just as the ship was halfway through its journey, the current suddenly became more turbulent, and the enormous impact caused the ship to rock violently, with the masts creaking under the strain.

Immediately afterward, an even larger wave crashed down, slamming into the middle of the ship. With a deafening crack, the ship instantly broke in two. The pirates' cheers abruptly ceased, replaced by terrified screams and howls. Some were swept away by the giant wave, while others clung to the broken planks, struggling in the turbulent waters. In the blink of an eye, the once arrogant pirate ship was reduced to fragments in the surging currents and giant waves, disappearing into the waterfall of Upside Down Mountain. Only a few floating pieces of wood remained, quickly swallowed by the roar of the rising currents.

Witnessing this horrific scene, the atmosphere on the deck instantly became heavy.

Chapter 82 The Grand Line

Rangiku abandoned her usual languidness, her brows furrowing slightly, her eyes showing a hint of seriousness: "This Upside-Down Mountain truly lives up to its reputation."

"Bai Yu, Bai Yu, I'll fly everyone over there..."

Bai Yu didn't speak, but gazed at the surging currents and majestic peaks of Upside Down Mountain: "Kanna, we're at sea. Trust our ship, it can handle it."

Taking a deep breath, Bai Yu gripped the control stick tightly. He turned to look at the crowd, a determined smile playing on his lips: "The Grand Line is never easily reached. Since we've chosen this path, there's nothing to fear."

As he spoke, he looked at the puppets controlling the sails and the ship's rudder in front of him: "Everyone, hold on tight, let's charge forward!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the puppets instantly took on their respective roles. Some tightened the sails, and under the puppets' precise control, the boat, like a nimble fish, braved the raging sea wind and surging waves, and resolutely rushed towards the current of Upside-Down Mountain.

As soon as they entered the current, the ship was swept upwards by a tremendous force at an astonishing speed. The crew could only hear the wind howling in their ears and the deafening sound of the waves crashing against the hull. The ship rocked more and more violently, as if it would be torn apart by the current at any moment.

Kanna clung tightly to Retsu Unohana's arm, Rangiku abandoned all her nonchalance, gripping the railing tightly with both hands, her golden hair disheveled by the wind, yet she still stared intently at the mountain path ahead; Robin leaned against the ship's railing, her hands gripping the handrail tightly.

Waves kept crashing in from both sides, hitting the deck and splashing up a cloud of water that soaked everyone's clothes, with cold seawater dripping down their hair.

Robin kept a close eye on the ever-changing currents and reefs ahead, reporting the situation to Bai Yu with his exceptional reaction speed.

The puppet's precise sail control and the finances' steering skillfully steered the ship, repeatedly avoiding fatal dangers. Facing the ever-protruding giant rocks, they sometimes adjusted their course, weaving through the gaps in the ocean currents, and sometimes withstood the impact of giant waves to stabilize the hull.

The ship climbed higher and higher in the ocean current, getting closer and closer to the mountaintop, while the current grew increasingly turbulent, as if it would swallow everything up.

Just then, an even larger wave crashed down from the front, like a wall of water, with a destructive force, crushing towards the ship.

"Watch out!" Rangiku shouted.

Bai Yu's eyes narrowed, and without the slightest hesitation, he immediately ordered all the puppets to do their best to protect the unfurled sails. At the same time, he manipulated the rudder to tilt the ship slightly, allowing it to glide along the edge of the giant waves.

Giant waves crashed against the side of the ship, causing it to rock violently. The tables and chairs on the deck were overturned, and the puppets, under his control, did their best to stabilize the ship. The sails hummed slightly due to excessive tension.

Clinging tightly to everything around them amidst the turbulence, their bodies rocking violently with the ship, finally, after countless jolts and dangers, the ship, propelled by immense inertia, surged to the summit of Upside-Down Mountain! From the top, overlooking the surging currents and the vast ocean below, an unprecedented sense of accomplishment welled up within them.

However, the journey was not over.

The ship had just stabilized in the confluence channel at the top of Upside Down Mountain when it was suddenly grabbed by an even more powerful downward current. The force seemed to be even faster and more tyrannical than when it was rising, as if an invisible giant hand was throwing the entire ship down into the sea below.

Bai Yu's hands were firmly on the rudder, each turn precise to the millimeter. The puppets were rolling up the sails, leaving only a narrow sail to control the direction with the wind. The metal pulleys made a sharp creaking sound due to the high speed of rotation, which, mixed with the roar of the waves, created a deafening sound in the mountains.

The ship plunged downwards at a near-vertical angle, the deck becoming a sloping wave channel. Cold seawater poured in from the bow, forming a rapid current on the deck, and gushing down to the bottom of the ship through the gaps.

Kanna nestled close to Retsu Unohana, her round eyes wide open; the feeling was simply wonderful for her.

Unohana held her protectively in her arms, remaining incredibly steady.

Rangiku's golden hair was torn apart by the gale, flying wildly in the air, with a few strands sticking to her cheeks that were wet from the seawater: "There's turbulence on the left, Shiraha!"

Before the words were even finished, a swirling whirlpool crashed into the left side of the ship. The puppets immediately exerted all their strength to control the sails, while Bai Yu swung the rudder sharply to the right. The ship slid past the edge of the whirlpool, and the hull crashed against the water, creating a shower of white, shattered waves that splashed all of them with a chill.

Robin leaned against the railing at the stern, her wet hair plastered to her neck, outlining its slender lines. Her gaze remained calm; she even raised her hand to brush aside the strands of hair obscuring her eyes as she scanned the ever-changing currents and reefs ahead. She reported to Bai Yu in rapid succession: "The waterway narrows thirty meters ahead, there are falling rocks on the right-hand cliff, and the current speed has increased by another thirty percent!"

Her abilities quietly unfolded, and several pitch-black arms emerged from both sides of the ship, using the reaction force to stabilize the ship and allow Bai Yu to more easily control the rudder. The pitch-black arms made a piercing sound as they rubbed against the rocks, but they managed to stabilize the rocking ship for a moment.

This is Nico Robin who has already mastered Armament Haki.

Robin with Armament Haki is incredibly powerful...

The speed of the dive increased, and the sound of the wind in our ears became a howling thunder. The mountains of the red earth continent rushed past on both sides, and the water mist was so thick that it was like an impenetrable cloud. It condensed into tiny water droplets on our eyelashes, making our vision blurry.

Just as the ship was about to break through the waterway of the Red Earth Continent and plunge into the vast sea below, a deafening roar suddenly came from the sea to the left. The roar was deep and heavy, as if it were surging up from the deepest part of the sea, making the ship hum and tremble. Even the ocean currents seemed to be briefly disturbed by the roar.

Bai Yu suddenly looked up and, through the misty water, saw a colossal figure blotting out the sky on the sea ahead, crashing repeatedly against the rocky walls of the Red Line. It was a whale, its size comparable to several giant pirate ships. Its black skin gleamed wetly in the mist, and its broad tail fin slapped the surface of the sea, creating waves tens of meters high. Its head slammed heavily against the hard rock walls of the Red Line, producing dull, resounding "thud—thud—". With each impact, pebbles tumbled off the rock walls and plunged into the sea, splashing up huge sprays of water. The whale's forehead was already covered with wounds of varying depths, yet it continued to crash tirelessly, as if stubbornly waiting for something.

This is a huge whale that seems to understand human nature.

Chapter 83 Island Whale Labu

The ship was swept out of the waterway by the ocean current and crashed heavily onto the sea, creating huge waves. The entire ship rocked violently for a few moments. Bai Yu immediately manipulated the puppets to stabilize the rudder and adjust the sails, allowing the ship to slowly come to a stop on the turbulent sea, just a short distance from Labu.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the enormous whale. Kanna peeked out from Unohana's arms, her round eyes full of curiosity. She had never seen such a large whale in the West Sea.

Rangiku raised an eyebrow, her tense expression easing, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She raised a hand to brush aside the wet hair obscuring her vision: "There are whales this big in this world..."

"They're coming from the Western Sea..."

The ship slowly steadied itself on the surface of the Twin Gorges. The sea breeze, carrying a faint salty dampness and water mist, swept across the deck. The raging waves that had just surged forward gradually receded, leaving only the low sobs of the lap and the muffled thuds of the waves crashing against the rock walls, echoing repeatedly in the fjord.

An aged yet resonant voice came from the direction of the lighthouse on the left shore, piercing through the thin mist and the sound of waves: "What an extraordinary young man, to be able to navigate the descent channel of Upside Down Mountain so smoothly, that's quite rare."

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw an old man with a strange hairstyle standing under the lighthouse on the banks of Twin Gorges.

This guy is Crocus, the former doctor of the Roger Pirates, and now the lighthouse keeper at Twin Capes.

He can be considered one of the world's best doctors, with exceptional skills in both pharmacology and surgery.

In addition, this strange old man possesses Observation Haki, extremely strong physical endurance, and excellent hunting skills, and is very adept at using a whale harpoon.

He was leisurely leaning back in his recliner, his gaze fixed on Bai Yu and his group with a hint of curiosity.

Bai Yu wiped the seawater off his face, his gaze falling on the old man. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and was about to speak when Crocus took a step forward and walked straight to the side of the gradually calming whale.

It seems this whale isn't as outrageous as it was when it met Straw Hat Boy ten years later...

Crocus gently stroked the whale's scarred forehead with an incredibly tender touch. The whale, which had been whimpering softly, gradually slowed its movements, its huge eyes drooping as it nuzzled Crocus's hand, its eyes brimming with grievance and longing.

"Sorry, the tranquilizer is taking a little long to work. This child's name is Labu, and he's a lonely whale. Would you like to hear his story?"

For some reason, Crocus immediately wanted to tell Laboon's story to a stranger like Shiraha.

Crocus sighed, tilted his head back and took a sip of wine from the flask. The wine slid down his chin, but he didn't care. His gaze fell on the cratered rock walls of the Red Line, and his voice gradually lowered as he began to recount that long-forgotten past.

Laboon is a giant island whale.

This whale comes from the Western Sea and is a species unique to the Western Sea. When it grows to adulthood, it is huge, like a small island, and its eyes are several times larger than those of an ordinary ship.

Overall, Laboon is a sentient whale that can understand human speech and sense human emotions; it is a large, friendly animal.

Decades ago, Laboon, who was one year old at the time, got separated from a group of whales and followed the Rumbar Pirates, becoming one of their crew members.

Later, when the Rumbar Pirates passed through Twin Capes, fearing that their journey along the Grand Line would harm the island whale, Captain Rumbar entrusted Laboon to Crocus's care before departing. Laboon made a promise that they would circle the Grand Line once and then return to Twin Capes to meet it, leaving Laboon to wait for them there.

Labu believed it and stayed in Twin Gorges, gazing at the direction of Upside-Down Mountain every day. But this wait lasted for decades.

Crocus knew the dangers of the Grand Line, and he knew that none of the crew members had returned. It was certain that the Rumbar Pirates had perished during their adventures on the Grand Line. Laboon, unaware of the truth, believed only that his companions would return. Day after day, year after year, he remained in this sea, his longing turning into illness. He began to ram his body against the Red Line, trying to break through this barrier to find his friends, never giving up even when he was battered and bruised.

Crocus said that he stayed here for two reasons: first, to protect the lighthouse and guide passing ships; second, to keep an eye on Laboon in case it had a moment of despair and smashed its head; and third, to keep the unfulfilled promise for the Rumbar Pirates.

His voice was calm, yet every word conveyed endless regret and helplessness.

Robin leaned against the ship's railing, listening quietly. Her wet hair still clung to her neck, but she didn't raise her hand to brush it away. Her gaze fell on Laboon's scarred forehead and Crocus's gentle movements.

Throughout her life, she had witnessed betrayal and separation, tasted loneliness and wandering, and understood best this kind of persistent waiting and endless longing. The promise between the Rumbar Pirates and Laboon, though simple, weighed a ton, reminding her of her past.

Thinking of those who had accompanied me but were eventually lost, an indescribable feeling welled up in my heart. Fortunately, I now have everyone on the ship.

Rangiku concealed her surprise, her golden hair gently swaying in the sea breeze. She leaned against the railing, the sake gourd in her hand to her lips, but she didn't drink, a hint of melancholy flashing in her eyes.

Her time in Rukongai had given her a deep understanding of loneliness, and she naturally understood Laboon's torment.

Kanna listened, seemingly understanding but not quite, clutching Unohana's kimono with her little hands. Looking at Laboon's aggrieved expression, she softly said, "Laboon, so pitiful."

Just then, as if remembering his companions, Labu's massive body trembled violently. He raised his head again, intending to crash into the rock wall of the Red Earth Continent with even greater force than before. Clearly, he was caught in the extreme longing and pain, and blood began to seep from the fresh wound on his forehead once more.

"Don't do anything foolish."

Bai Yu's voice suddenly rang out, not loud, but carrying an undeniable power that pierced through the sound of the waves on the sea surface.

He took a step forward and stood at the bow of the ship. His aura suddenly changed, and an invisible pressure burst forth from him. It was the power of Conqueror's Haki, vast and heavy, like a sleeping dragon suddenly awakening, sweeping towards Laboon.

This Conqueror's Haki was far more powerful than ordinary Conqueror's Haki, carrying Bai Yu's will and power, and directly enveloped Laboon's huge body.

Labu, who was about to crash into the rock wall, froze instantly. His huge body trembled violently, and the grievance and rage in his eyes were suppressed.

At the same time, even the seawater rippled due to this domineering pressure, and even Crocus subconsciously gripped the wine jug in his hand, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes.

Chapter 84: Zanpakuto Shizuku

As Raab fell into a coma, no one spoke; they simply waited quietly for Raab to wake up.

After a long while, seeing that Laboon had woken up, Bai Yu spoke again...

“Your companions would not want to see you degrade yourself like this. The agreement they made with you was for you to live well and wait for them to return, not for you to use your life to smash through this rock wall.”

He paused, then continued, "The Grand Line is dangerous. They haven't returned yet, it must be because of that danger. Today, I'll make a new agreement with you. I will circle the Grand Line once, and I will find your companions or bring back news of them. Until then, you must live well, stay here at Twin Capes, and don't hurt yourself again until I return."