Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece.

Most of them are isolated islands in the sky, torn apart and lifted by upwelling ocean currents, eventually suspended in the sea of ​​clouds. That's why they have the same soil and similar life forms as those on Earth, only their civilizations have followed different paths in the sky.

As the words fell, the Dawnbreaker slowly sailed into the calm cloud formations surrounding Bica Island.

The island was within reach, and the trees along the shore were clearly visible. Several short-winged wild animals poked their heads out from the trees and looked at the unfamiliar ship.

The wind blew through the forest, bringing the scent of earth and grass, mixed with the crispness of the sea of ​​clouds.

Bai Yu gazed at the island that seemed to originate from the earth's surface yet float in the sky, a barely perceptible ripple appearing in his usually calm eyes.

Rising ocean currents, sky and land, fragmented civilizations—beneath this seemingly simple deduction lies the hidden geographical changes of the entire world, the secret of history being lifted into the sky along with the earth.

And Birka, the sky island that has not yet been destroyed by Enel, is now right before our eyes.

"Now that the conclusion is clear."

Bai Yu turned around, his gaze sweeping over his companions, his voice steady and firm: "Then let's go to the island."

"Let's see how much forgotten history this ancient land, which has been sent into the sky, still holds, and what we are looking for."

Chapter 129 Outsiders

The Dawn slowly sailed into Cloud Bay along the coast of Pika Island, its hull gently touching the simple dock built of marble and hardwood, and the buzzing of the wind-blown shells gradually subsided.

No longer beneath your feet is a soft sea of ​​clouds, but real, rough rocks with a damp, earthy smell, mixed with dried leaves and moss, which feel solid and reassuring underfoot.

Scattered on the dock were some old shell-keeping tools, broken shells, and half-rotten wooden boxes, indicating that people used to frequent the area, but it had long been abandoned.

The forest stretched from the depths of the island all the way to the shore, its dense foliage blocking out the sun. The wind rustled through the canopy, creating a continuous whispering sound, occasionally punctuated by the strange calls of birds. The entire island was eerily quiet, with only the sounds of nature, no human voices, no smoke from chimneys, exuding a desolate air of being forgotten by the world.

"This place... feels much quieter than Shandora."

Rangiku gripped the hilt of her sword, her eyes growing more wary: "There's not a soul in sight. Could the whole island be deserted?"

Bai Yu did not answer immediately; his Observation Haki spread out into the depths of the island like invisible ripples once again.

After a moment, he spoke: "There are too few people. They should all be concentrated on the next island."

"Okay, we'll see when we get there."

Bai Yu raised his hand to recall the puppets that were guarding the perimeter, ordering them to stand guard around the dock and ships. He then led Unohana Retsu, Robin, Rangiku, and Kanna, walking slowly along the path worn into the forest toward the neighboring island.

The trees lining the path grew increasingly dense, their trunks thick and twisted, strange vines cascading from their branches, and brightly colored wildflowers with poisonous thorns blooming on the ground. They bore a striking resemblance to the plants found in some of the dangerous waters of the Grand Line, yet possessed an added element of strangeness, adapted to the high-altitude environment.

The deeper you go, the more the air is filled with the scent of grass and trees.

Kanna instinctively moved closer to Bai Yu, gently grasping the hem of his clothes with her small hand, and whispered, "Brother Bai Yu, something feels strange here..."

Bai Yu lowered his head and gently patted the top of her head: "Strange things always happen in places where no one is in charge, don't worry."

Upon arriving at the neighboring island, Bai Yu and the others immediately discovered a cluster of buildings.

It was a complex of buildings constructed from black giant rocks, with broken stone pillars and mottled walls. In the center was a wide plaza, the ground of which was paved with huge stone slabs and engraved with ancient Sky Island script that had long since become blurred. At this moment, dozens of natives of the Sky Island of Bika were gathered in the plaza.

They resembled the Sky Islanders of Angel Island, with small white wings on their backs and simple clothing. Their eyes lacked the peace of the Angel Islanders and the fortitude of the Shandora warriors.

In the very center of the square, a boy was bound to a broken stone pillar by several rough ropes.

Although he appeared tall, he was thin, with disheveled hair, a pale complexion that was almost sickly, and his body was covered with a mix of old and new scars, whip marks, and burns. His clothes were tattered and barely covered his body.

The surrounding Bika people stood in a circle, some spitting insults, some throwing stones and dry branches, while others watched indifferently, their eyes filled with disgust and hatred, devoid of any pity.

"monster!"

"Stay away from our divine pillar!"

"An outcast like you shouldn't even be in Bika!"

"Kill him! It'll save us from disaster!"

Insults and shouts rose and fell, and stones were constantly thrown at the boy. He just gritted his teeth and remained silent. His body trembled slightly from the pain, but he never begged for mercy or resisted. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he simply didn't have the strength to resist. He could barely stand.

Robin frowned as he watched this scene, a hint of pity and anger flashing in his eyes: "They... how could they treat a teenager like this?"

Rangiku gripped the hilt of her sword tightly: "Even if they are outcasts, they don't deserve to be treated like this, do they? These guys are worse than the thugs of Rukongai."

Bai Yu stood at the edge of the forest, quietly watching the humble, disheveled boy in the center of the square who was still stubbornly refusing to fall. His calm face showed little emotion.

You can tell from his appearance that this is Enel.

The man of the future who calls himself a god, controls the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, sweeps across Sky Island, and wants to use it to travel to the Infinite Land.

Now, he is just a young man without power or background, regarded as an outsider by his own people, suffering abuse, and struggling to survive.

To survive, he could endure insults, beatings, and all kinds of humiliation, humbling himself to the dust, not daring to show even the slightest courage to resist. It was not cowardice, but extreme forbearance and the will to survive.

With such flexibility and adaptability, it's no wonder that once he gains power, he will be so crazy, so obsessive, and so eager to stand above all things.

"enough."

A calm yet undeniably powerful voice slowly rose, not loud, but clearly overwhelming all the insults and clamor in the square.

All the Bika people paused, turned their heads sharply, and looked in the direction from which the sound came.

Bai Yu slowly walked out of the forest, his blue-green robe fluttering slightly in the wind. He stood tall and straight, his eyes calm and undisturbed, yet he exuded a chilling sense of oppression.

Robin, Rangiku, Retsu Unohana, and Kanna followed behind him in turn. Each of them had a different temperament, but without exception, they all carried the distinct air of outsiders.

"Who are you?!" A Bika man who seemed to be the leader stepped forward, his expression wary and fierce: "This is Bika territory, outsiders are not allowed to approach!"

"Outsiders are a scourge! Get out!"

"Don't even think about bringing the monster's misfortune here!"

The Bika people shouted and yelled, their eyes filled with hostility, but no one dared to rush forward first. The calm yet powerful aura emanating from Bai Yu made them instinctively feel fear.

Bai Yu ignored the shouts of these people and focused his gaze directly on Enel, who was tied to the stone pillar. He said calmly, "Release him."

"What did you say?!"

The leader glared angrily: "We are the outcasts of our Bika, monsters! Why should we listen to you?"

"You are not qualified to decide his life or death."

The moment Bai Yu finished speaking, an invisible Observation Haki and spiritual power spread out simultaneously, like an invisible giant wave, crashing down on all the Bika people present.

There were no earth-shattering phenomena, but all the Bika people instantly turned pale, their legs went weak, their weapons clattered to the ground, and they fell unconscious.

It was a sense of oppression that came from the depths of one's soul, as if facing a superior being, one didn't even have the courage to look up.

Rangiku's lips twitched slightly as she watched, secretly marveling at how oppressive this aura was whenever Shiraha was too lazy to fight. It was even more frightening than a direct confrontation.

Chapter 130 Enel

Bai Yu stopped looking at the Bika people, walked slowly to the stone pillar, raised his hand and gently waved it, and the invisible chakra instantly cut the rough ropes binding Enel.

Freed from his restraints, Enel's body went limp and he fell straight forward.

Then Enel slowly raised his head, finally revealing his pale, young face. His eyes were cloudy, tired, and filled with humiliation and wariness, but the moment he saw Bai Yu, he instinctively lowered his head, bowed slightly, and adopted an extremely humble and submissive posture. His voice was hoarse and dry, carrying a cautious attempt to please.

"Thank you so much, sir... thank you so much for saving my life..."

There was no resentment, no roar, no bitterness, only extreme humility and obedience, as if they were willing to do anything just to survive.

Bai Yu looked at him like this and sighed inwardly once again.

Such flexibility and forbearance, the ability to humble himself so much when he had no power to rely on, and not even daring to show the slightest thought of resistance—this temperament is completely different from when he obtained the Thunder Fruit.

No wonder Enel destroyed Birka in the end; it must have been a nightmare for him.

The future "god" is, at this moment, just a person who will do anything to survive.

"It seems you're not from around here."

Bai Yu spoke calmly, his voice devoid of emotion, yet it caused Enel to pause slightly: "However, being called an outcast is never a reason to be subjected to violence."

After saying that, Bai Yu turned to look at Unohana Retsu: "We need to get Hua-jie to treat his wounds."

Retsu Unohana nodded gently and stepped forward. Her gentle healing spiritual power covered Enel's body, and the painful wounds, bruises, and burns healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. Enel felt the pain quickly dissipate, and his weak body gradually regained some strength.

Enel was stunned, feeling the long-lost comfort and warmth in his body. He looked at the gentle smile of Retsu Unohana in front of him, and then at the calmly standing person to the side. For the first time, a trace of confusion and helplessness flashed in his eyes.

From childhood to adulthood, all he heard when he came to Bika was insults, beatings, and being driven away. This was the first time someone had saved him and the first time someone had healed his wounds.

Robin walked to Bai Yu's side and said softly, "These Bica people seem to have a deep prejudice against him, simply because he is not one of their kind."

Unlike the Sky Islanders with their small wings, Enel is completely different from them.

Bai Yu nodded slightly: "Sky Island is inherently closed off, and xenophobia and exclusion are the norm. He is different from others, and once he encounters any natural or man-made disasters, he becomes a calamity and a monster in their eyes."

He looked at Enel, who was still bowing and dared not raise his head, and said calmly, "Don't worry too much, they shouldn't dare to touch you now."

Enel's body trembled violently. He looked up sharply at Bai Yu, then quickly lowered his head again, his tone even more respectful: "Thank you!"

Their posture was extremely humble, lacking any of the arrogance and madness of the future Sky Island claiming to be gods, only showing cautious flattery and a desire to survive.

Bai Yu didn't say anything more, but turned to look at the Bika people who were still kneeling on the ground, trembling, and said calmly: "You, just mind your own business."

All the Bika people didn't dare to breathe loudly, nodding frantically and repeatedly saying yes, no longer daring to show the slightest hostility.

Having resolved the immediate issue, Bai Yu didn't dwell on the narrow-minded and ignorant Bika people. Instead, he led his companions, along with Enel, who followed behind like a humble little tail, and strolled slowly around Bika Sky Island, exploring the surroundings.

Enel followed at the very back of the group, always keeping a step's distance, neither daring to get too close nor too far away. His posture was extremely respectful. From time to time, he would secretly glance at Bai Yu and his group, his eyes filled with curiosity and awe. These outsiders were powerful and gentle, completely different from the people of Bika.

Bai Yu led the group on a stroll through the forests of Bika.

Although this floating island is desolate, it has its own unique beauty.

The ancient black rock ruins bear the marks of time, with mottled walls inscribed with not-so-ancient characters, similar to those in Qinghai, but more primitive and rugged, recording the ancient history of Bika.

Deep within the island lies a crystal-clear cloud lake, its waters formed from the condensation of a sea of ​​clouds. So clear that the blue sky and white clouds are reflected in its depths. Large patches of colorful wildflowers grow along the lake's edge, their petals undulating in the breeze, creating a serene and healing beauty. Small waterfalls also cascade down the mountainside, their waters plunging over the rock walls and splashing into the pools below, creating delicate sprays. The crisp sound of the water mingles with the birdsong, creating a particularly melodious symphony.

As Robin walked along, he carefully observed the text and murals on the walls, occasionally taking out his notebook to record them.

Rangiku relaxed considerably, no longer on guard, and strolled along, enjoying the unique scenery of Bika.

Bai Yu walked at the front, his blue-green robe fluttering in the wind. His Observation Haki quietly spread out as he sensed the aura of this ancient sky island, searching for faint clues about the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, but he was not in a hurry.

At this moment, he seemed to be enjoying this leisure and peace.

Enel followed at the back of the group, walking cautiously, his gaze constantly shifting between Bai Yu and his companions.

He looked at the calm and composed young man who seemed to have everything under control, at the gentle and healing Retsu Unohana, at the learned and quiet Robin, at the cheerful and easygoing Rangiku, at the pure and kind Kanna... and for the first time, a strange feeling arose in his heart.

Warmth, peace of mind, and... a longing he himself was unaware of.