Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece.

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, now dressed in new clothes.

"Those knights were keeping a close watch just now!"

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.

"and many more."

Bai Yu suddenly stopped.

"Someone."

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 like the surface of 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 looked Robin up and down, a hint of inquiry in her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips, yet she remained wary: "She's quite a beauty, but she's 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 ship 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."

Chapter 10 Hairpin

As dusk began to fall over the sea, Uchiha Shiraha's small boat lay moored in the stillness of the rocky bay.

The location was safe and secluded enough. The ship's deck was gently rocking from the waves, and the soft sound of water, carried by the evening breeze, seeped into the open cabin.

The woman named Nico Robin had her eyes downcast. She had expected to be driven away or scolded, but the two people in front of her just smiled and handed her the wine jug.

"Come on, have a drink. This is the first time I've experienced the effects of alcohol."

In fact, during the precarious days in Rukongai, Matsumoto Rangiku never had the chance to drink sake.

During this shopping trip, Uchiha Hakuha bought some alcohol, but unexpectedly, Matsumoto Rangiku fell in love with the feeling of drinking after only taking a small sip.

"I am a wanted criminal."

Matsumoto Rangiku quietly approached her and patted her on the back: "Wanted? What's the reason?"

Nicole Robin slowly raised her eyes, a faint glimmer of moisture appearing in them, but no tears fell. She calmly recounted those unbearable past events, as if telling someone else's story.

“I have no family since I was a child. My hometown was destroyed by war, and my only relative left when I was very young.”

"Because of my Devil Fruit ability, the world regards me as a monster and an ominous person."

“They are afraid of my abilities, they reject me, drive me away, and some even want to capture me and exploit my abilities.”

Nico Robin paused, her fingertips gently stroking the hem of her skirt, as if touching the scars of the past.

"I could only keep running, from one island to another, from the pursuit of one group to the vigilance of another."

"Without a fixed place to live, without anyone to trust, sometimes we could only hide in the cabins of ships or caves, and rely on wild fruits and dry food to fill our stomachs."

She looked up at the sea outside the cabin; the twilight was deep, much like those dark and hopeless days of escape.

"This time was no different. I ran into the people who were trying to arrest me again, and I had no choice but to run away for my life, which is why I was in such a sorry state just now."

She spoke calmly, but the deep-seated loneliness and helplessness clearly permeated the cramped cabin.

There were no hysterical accusations, no tearful complaints, only a calm acceptance that comes with experience, which is all the more heartbreaking.

Rangiku listened quietly, her languid expression gradually fading, her eyes filled with heartache.

She raised her hand and gently stroked Nico Robin's hair, her voice incredibly soft: "What a pitiful girl, she looks only a little younger than me, yet she's been through so much."

Bai Yu remained standing at the hatch, silent. He already knew who this woman, who looked to be seventeen or eighteen, was, and he also knew that she didn't trust either of them and that what she said was only half true.

However, Uchiha Hakuba didn't care at all. She was Nico Robin, a key figure in the world, and her personality and character were very suitable to be a companion.

"Come and have something to eat together in the cabin."

Uchiha Hakuba smiled and said to the two of them.

Nico Robin held the flask, the warmth from her fingertips spreading through her heart.

In fact, she had never told strangers about these past events, not even these half-true and half-false ones. But now, facing two complete strangers and this strange trust, she suddenly felt that those heavy pains seemed to have lessened a bit.

"My name is Matsumoto Rangiku."

Ranju waved her hand and pointed at Bai Yu.

"He is Uchiha Baiyu, a very reserved and eccentric captain."

Bai Yu nodded slightly, his eyes now transformed into rotating Sharingan.

As a member of the Uchiha clan, Bai Yu had long since used genjutsu and Sharingan genjutsu as if they were second nature.

From the very first moment of contact, the Sharingan's genjutsu had already been used on Nico Robin, though it was just a simple hint.

Its effect is nothing more than a simple suggestion that makes others feel that they can be trusted.

"I don't recall ever seeing these eyes in any historical documents I've read before?"

Looking at Uchiha Shiraha's unique tomoe eyes, Nico Robin wondered if she had forgotten something; such special bloodlines should be recorded.

"As you can see, I possess a special bloodline and the power of a Devil Fruit. Therefore, I am currently unknown, but sooner or later I will become a thorn in the side of the World Government."

Nico Robin nodded silently. Having grown up in Ohara, she knew from the age of eight what kind of indescribable entity the World Government truly was.

Ten years have passed, and she still says she lives in that fear.

The next half hour became a rare moment of leisure for Nico Robin.

Matsumoto Rangiku leaned back in her deck chair, drinking as Robin recounted the ruins and ancient texts from various places, occasionally interjecting with a few strange tales from her time in Rukongai.

Bai Yu sat silently to the side, holding a piece of wood in his hand, skillfully polishing it with his fingertips. Suddenly, he felt that he couldn't be so lazy; it was time to prepare the next puppet.

"Tsk, the sake is all gone." Rangiku shook the empty sake bottle, somewhat annoyed.

"I should have bought more wine on the island earlier. If I had known the wine was so good, I wouldn't have let you buy so little."

Matsumoto Rangiku scratched her head in annoyance, then moved closer to Uchiha Shiraha and said in a coquettish tone, "Shiraha, Shiraha, go get the sake, I don't want to move right now."

This alcoholic is hopeless. Uchiha Hakuba was speechless. He knew this woman loved to drink, but he didn't expect her to become so addicted after only one drink.

"So lazy, don't you see the storage room is just steps away from here?"

"I won't leave, I won't leave..."

Matsumoto Rangiku started acting cute again, making Shiraha exclaim that he couldn't handle it.

Robin's eyes suddenly lit up. He raised his hand and gently tapped the deck, whispering, "Perhaps I can be of help."

As soon as he finished speaking, several slender arms extended from the deck and headed towards the storage room one by one.

“This is…” Rangiku raised an eyebrow, looking at the extra arms that had been extended with great interest.

"Is this your Devil Fruit ability? That's interesting."

Robin smiled a little embarrassedly: "The Flower-Flower Fruit allows me to grow arms anywhere."

"Flower-Flower Fruit? It looks more like Hand-Hand Fruit to me."

At this moment, Matsumoto Rangiku wished she also had the power of a Devil Fruit.

Bai Yu glanced at Robin. From the anime he had watched in his previous life, he knew the advantages of Robin's abilities, and she was also a very reliable person in the entire pirate crew.

He didn't speak, but simply handed over the polished wooden hairpin. The wood was polished smooth and shiny, with simple vine patterns carved on the edges, which perfectly echoed the patterns on Robin's skirt.

"Here you go. I happen to have some extra material left over from carving the doll. Rangiku has short hair, so she doesn't need a hairpin yet."