Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece.

"For thousands of years, the Fish-Men and Merfolk have suffered from the oppression and discrimination of the Celestial Dragons. They have been sold and bullied, and countless compatriots have been displaced. I have spent my whole life pursuing the path of peaceful coexistence between Fish-Men and humans, but this path is too difficult. The indifference of the World Government, the brutality of the Celestial Dragons, and the hatred of some compatriots on Fish-Man Island are all hindering this peace."

At this point, Queen Otohime's gaze dimmed slightly, but then she looked at Shiroyu again, her eyes rekindling with hope: "And your appearance has broken this deadlock. You are the first pirate who dared to openly kill a Celestial Dragon and still remain unharmed. Your existence is the greatest resistance against the Celestial Dragons and an encouragement to all of us who pursue peace."

"???"

"I invited you here today for two reasons: first, to personally thank you, and second, to discuss the future of Fishman Island with you."

Queen Otohime's voice grew increasingly sincere: "Over the years, I've come to understand many things. Unlike powerful pirates like you, Fish-Man Island doesn't have anyone as strong as you. Therefore, we hope to live under the same sky as humans and Celestial Dragons. That's why I saved a Celestial Dragon recently. At that moment, I believed even more that people can live together peacefully!!!"

"Lord Baiyu, your strength is formidable and your will unwavering. I implore you, if you ever achieve great renown in the new world, please convey my request to everyone!!"

Queen Otohime bowed again, her tone filled with deep expectation and pleading. There was no hint of exploitation in her eyes, only love for her compatriots and a longing to reach the ground.

Inside the main hall, all the mermaid nobles watched this scene in silence. King Neptune spoke slowly, his voice deep and majestic: "Mr. Shiraha, Princess Otohime's wish is also the wish of my Dragon Palace Kingdom."

Artoria stood beside Shiraha, her eyes fixed on the devout and kind Queen Otohime before her, and a touch of emotion stirred within her. She was an idealist much like herself.

Uchiha Shiraha gazed at the queen before him, who had devoted her entire life to peace, and then at the carefree people of Fishman Island outside the main hall, his Sharingan subtly swirling in his eyes.

Then he spoke slowly, his voice clear and firm, echoing throughout the entire main hall of the Dragon Palace:

"Your Highness, rest assured, I have granted your request!"

Queen Otohime was overjoyed by Uchiha Hakuba's promise. It was truly rare for such a great pirate, whom she had only just met, to agree to her request. She felt joy, gratitude, and a sense of relief, as if she had finally found a glimmer of light in the long night.

She bowed deeply again, her long golden hair falling down and brushing against the hem of her white dress: "Baiyu-kun... thank you, thank you so much."

King Neptune leaned forward slightly, raised his hand and gently stroked the trident of Poseidon at his waist, and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Bai Yu's words are enough. Everything can change slowly."

Artoria gently raised her hand and placed it on the hilt of the holy sword at her waist. Her golden eyes gazed tenderly at Queen Otohime, her heart filled with emotion.

She had seen countless soldiers who went to the battlefield for their ideals, but she had never seen someone so gentle yet so resilient.

Queen Otohime had neither formidable strength nor ruthless methods of killing; with only a sincere heart, she paved a path of peace for her race amidst the thorns of hatred and discrimination.

This dedication and purity perfectly aligned with the principles she upheld, inspiring her sincere admiration.

"Your Highness, there's no need for such formality."

Uchiha Hakuba slightly raised his hand, his Sharingan flowing calmly in his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the Fishman Island land outside the main hall, which was shrouded in the light of the Sun Tree Eve.

Queen Otohime slowly straightened up, and a gentle yet firm smile returned to her face.

She clutched the thick petition book tightly to her chest. The cover of the book had been repeatedly rubbed until it was slightly white. Every page was densely covered with the signatures of fish-men and mermaid citizens, representing the countless compatriots' yearning for sunshine, freedom, and peace.

"Tomorrow, I will go to the Merman Square again."

Princess Otohime gently stroked the autograph book, her eyes sparkling with longing.

"Over the years, I have traveled to every corner of Fishman Island, collecting signatures from my fellow countrymen to express their wishes. Now, we only need one last batch to gather enough signatures to make the World Government take us seriously. The Celestial Dragon I rescued earlier has already promised to speak up for Fishman Island at the World Conference. As long as we have enough signatures, we can leave this dark deep sea, truly stand in the sunlight, and live as equals with humans!"

As she spoke, her voice rose slightly, filled with the joy of about to realize her dream. Her aura of holiness grew stronger, as if even the flowing seawater in the main hall became warmer because of her anticipation.

As Artoria gazed at the light in her eyes, a gentle smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.

She could feel the joy of impending fulfillment in Queen Otohime's heart, just like when she herself had witnessed the kingdom moving towards stability—the most precious happiness for an idealist.

"We'll go with you."

Uchiha Shiraha spoke calmly, a hint of sharpness flashing in his eyes: "With us here, the Queen can be kept safe."

Queen Otohime was taken aback at first, then quickly waved her hand, her tone gentle: "Lord Shiraha, how could we trouble you like this? Besides, we are all peace-loving, no one will..."

"It's not a problem."

Artoria stepped forward, her golden eyes firm yet gentle: "Protecting those who cherish their race is our duty. We will ensure your safety on your journey to the square tomorrow."

Seeing the resolute attitude of Bai Yu and his group, Queen Yi Ji felt a surge of warmth in her heart and could no longer refuse. She thanked them repeatedly, and the hope in her eyes shone even brighter.

That night, Fishman Island was immersed in the tranquil darkness of the deep sea, and the light of the Sun Tree Eve transformed into gentle nightlights, illuminating the coral houses and streets.

Unbeknownst to anyone, in the darkest corner of Fishman Street, an undercurrent of boundless hatred is surging wildly.

Hody Jones's pale face was contorted with a ferocious rage, his shark-like teeth clenched tightly, making a crunching sound.

He gripped a deep-sea sniper rifle coated with deadly poison. The rifle was crafted using a special process, and the bullets were soaked in a poison that could instantly kill fish-men. His sinister eyes were fixed on the direction of the Dragon Palace Kingdom, and he uttered a low, crazed mutter: "Peace? Peaceful coexistence with humans? That foolish woman, Otohime, is simply a traitor to the fish-men!"

The merfolk officers behind him bowed deeply, their eyes filled with fanatical rage.

The members of the New Fishman Pirates are all thugs brainwashed by hatred. They hate humans, hate the Celestial Dragons, and hate all fishmen who advocate reconciliation with humans.

In their eyes, Queen Otohime's peace ideals were a betrayal of the fish-men's millennia of suffering, an unforgivable sin.

"Lord Hody, tomorrow that old hag Otohime will go to the Fishman Plaza to collect the last batch of autographs. That's when she's most relaxed."

A fish-man cadre reported in a low voice, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "As long as we get rid of her and frame the humans, no one on Fish-Man Island will advocate peace anymore. Then, we can raise our voices and lead all our compatriots to take revenge on the humans!"

Hody Jones jerked his head up, a bloodthirsty grin spreading across his pale face. He gently stroked the butt of his sniper rifle, his voice icy and venomous: "Well said. Tomorrow, I will show the entire Fishman Island the consequences of betraying the Fishman race and deceiving oneself into conformity with humans. I will shoot that fool, Otohime, in front of everyone, letting her blood stain Fishman Square red, awakening those ignorant masses blinded by peace! We are mortal enemies with humans!"

Meanwhile, in another abandoned shipyard on Fishman Island, Vander Decken IX's emaciated body was huddled in a dilapidated cabin. A wrinkled hand clutched a crumpled love letter, its pages covered with twisted hearts and nauseating confessions. His eyes gleamed with a morbid obsession as he stared intently in the direction of the Ryugu Kingdom, muttering to himself, "Princess Shirahoshi... my Princess Shirahoshi... tomorrow, she will appear at Fishman Plaza with Queen Otohime. This is my first chance to confess my love to her..."

Vander Decken IX is a user of the Target-Target Fruit. Anything he touches will hit its target accurately, no matter what it is thrown at.

When Queen Otohime saved the Celestial Dragons, he, as a descendant of Vander Decken, knew about the special nature of the mermaid princess Shirahoshi.

Therefore, he had long regarded the mermaid princess Shirahoshi as his own possession, and at this moment his heart was filled with obsessive possessiveness. He was just waiting for Shirahoshi to appear tomorrow so that he could accurately throw the love letter in his hand at the legendary mermaid princess.

The next morning, warm golden light poured down from the roots of the Sun Tree Eve, illuminating the entire Merman Square.

The plaza was paved with colorful corals, with a huge seashell statue standing in the center. Glowing sea flowers swayed in the wind all around. Countless fish-men and mermaids had gathered here early, holding pens for signing autographs and wearing expectant smiles, waiting for Queen Otohime's arrival.

Queen Otohime, dressed in an even more pristine white gown and clutching the petition book that was about to be completed, walked slowly into the square accompanied by King Neptune.

Behind her followed three mermaid princes, while Princess Shirahoshi, who had not appeared in public for a long time, timidly followed behind the group.

Shirahoshi has long, soft pink hair, a large figure, and an absolutely beautiful face. Her pink fishtail sways gently, like the most precious pearl in the deep sea.

She is the legendary ancient weapon, the Sea King, but she is timid and cowardly by nature. At this moment, she is hiding behind Queen Otohime, her watery eyes looking at the people in the square with curiosity and shyness, her cheeks flushed.

Uchiha Shiraha walked side by side with Artoria beside the group. Shiraha was dressed in a black robe and exuded a faint sense of oppression. Artoria, Robin, and the others guarded Shirahoshi and Queen Otohime, guarding against any potential dangers.

Queen Otohime walked to the high platform in the center of the square, picked up the microphone, and her gentle voice, amplified by the megaphone, resounded throughout the entire square: "Fellow countrymen, thank you for your continued support! Our petition is almost complete, just one last signature is needed to let the world hear the voice of Fishman Island! We yearn for sunshine, we yearn for freedom, we yearn for peaceful coexistence with humans. This is not wishful thinking, it is our right!"

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous cheers erupted in the square. Countless people raised their arms, shouting their hopes for peace, and rushed forward to sign their names in the petition book.

Chapter 160 Deadly Drug

The rustling sound of pens gliding across paper mingled with the cheers of the crowd, creating the warmest melody on Fishman Island.

Artoria stood below the platform, gazing at the scene before her, her golden eyes filled with relief and joy.

Watching Princess Otohime busily taking autographs from everyone, and seeing the genuine smile on her face—a smile that seemed to signify the imminent fulfillment of her dream—she felt genuinely happy for this determined princess. She whispered to Shiraha beside her, "Her perseverance is finally about to bear fruit. Such beauty should not be tarnished by any evil."

Uchiha Hakuba nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the shadows surrounding the plaza.

Meanwhile, atop an abandoned sailboat on the outskirts of the square, Van der Deiken IX poked his withered head out. When he saw the stunningly beautiful pink figure below the platform, a morbid infatuation instantly flashed in his eyes.

He reached out his trembling hand, his fingertips gently pointing at Princess Shirahoshi, and uttered a hoarse murmur: "Target-Target Fruit, lock on..."

The next second, he suddenly grabbed a huge iron anchor next to him and clutched the crumpled love letter in his hand. A crazy light flashed in his eyes. As long as he let go, the anchor and the love letter would overcome all obstacles and hit Bai Xing accurately!

Queen Otohime, still immersed in the joy of collecting signatures on the high platform, looked at the growing number of names in the petition book, and tears welled up in her eyes again. She knew that her lifelong dream was about to come true.

At that moment, in the shadows, Hody Jones had already set up his poisoned sniper rifle, the dark muzzle precisely aimed at the unsuspecting Queen Otohime on the high platform.

His eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty light as his finger slowly pulled the trigger, a cruel smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Beneath the light of the deep sea, a deadly arrow is poised to strike, and a tragedy that could shatter the peaceful dreams of Fishman Island is about to unfold.

Uchiha Hakuba's Sharingan suddenly contracted, instantly sensing the killing intent!

The air pressure around him suddenly dropped.

"Is the rat hiding in the shadows finally going to show itself?"

A chilling killing intent lurked in the shadows of the coral reefs on the east side of the square.

That was Hody Jones's sniper rifle, its dark muzzle fixed on the unsuspecting Princess Otohime on the high platform. The moment his fingertip pulled the trigger, Shiraha's chakra suddenly erupted, and he appeared at the edge of the platform as if by teleportation, blocking Princess Otohime's path.

"call out--!"

The poisoned bullet, accompanied by a sharp whooshing sound, carried a deadly poison that could instantly kill a fishman, and shot straight toward Bai Yu's chest.

The bullet was made of a special deep-sea metal, its surface gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light. Bai Yu's eyes remained unchanged as his Sharingan precisely tracked the bullet's trajectory. He casually raised his right hand, joined two fingers together, and gathered a wisp of Armament Haki at his fingertips.

With a crisp "ding," it accurately caught the oncoming bullet.

The impact of the bullet made his arm go slightly numb. The dark blue venom slowly spread along the skin of his fingertips, but it was instantly repelled and dissipated by the chakra in his body, leaving not even a trace.

At the very instant Bai Yu blocked the sniper shot, Vander Decken's massive iron anchor, accompanied by a howling wind and carrying the crumpled love letter, hurtled towards Princess Bai Xing like a meteor.

The power of the Target-Target Fruit has taken effect. No matter what obstacles there are in the way, the anchor will hit Shirahoshi precisely. Perhaps with just this one blow, Shirahoshi will be seriously injured.

Seeing the anchor heading towards her, Shirahoshi trembled with fear. Her long pink hair tightened instantly, and her watery eyes were filled with terror. She couldn't even scream.

King Neptune's expression changed drastically. He instinctively tried to shield his daughter, but he was too late.

At this critical moment, a golden figure leaped into the air. Artoria raised her hand and pressed the hilt of the holy sword at her waist. With a clear "clang," the holy sword Excalibur was instantly drawn. Golden sword energy swirled around the blade as if it were tangible, radiating a vast and sacred power.

With a slight tremor of her wrist, the holy sword drew a sharp arc, and golden sword energy roared out, striking the anchor's chains precisely.

"Bang!"

With a deafening roar, the thick chain was instantly severed by the sword energy. The massive iron anchor, now without traction, crashed heavily onto the coral-covered ground of the plaza, creating a deep crater. Debris and coral fragments flew everywhere, and the crumpled love letter fell into the crater, buried by the rubble.

Artoria landed steadily, her golden eyes sweeping coldly towards the abandoned sailboat. Her holy sword pointed diagonally at the ground, and the holy aura around her grew stronger. Her powerful Observation Haki had already locked onto Vander Decken IX, who was extremely far away: "A fellow without chivalry."

Meanwhile, Bai Yu tightened his grip on the bullet, instantly crushing it into powder, the pale blue dust slowly dissipating in the seawater. He looked up, his Sharingan's gaze piercing through the shadows of the coral reef, precisely locking onto the figure with the sniper rifle at the ready to turn and flee—Hody Jones.

Hody's ferocity had not yet faded. Seeing that his sniping was blocked and that the strange anchor attack had also failed, he knew that something was wrong. He immediately put away his sniper rifle, turned around and tried to disappear into the shadows of the deep sea to escape back to the lair of Fishman Street.

"Want to run?"

Bai Yu's voice was devoid of warmth, and his chakra erupted once more, moving at incredible speed, leaving only a black afterimage. Almost the instant Hody turned around, he had already blocked Hody's path.

Bai Yu reached out and gripped Hody Jones's neck tightly, lifting him high into the air.

Hody struggled violently, his shark-like teeth snapping shut, his hands gripping Bai Yu's wrists tightly, trying to break free. But Bai Yu's hands were like iron clamps, unmoving. The immense force made it hard for him to breathe, his face turning from pale to bluish-purple, his eyes filled with terror and resentment.

"Let me go! Uchiha Hakuba! You lowly human!"

Hody roared, his voice hoarse, filled with violence and resentment.

"You actually helped that woman who betrayed the fish-men race. You are my enemy, just like her."

Upon hearing Hody's roar, Queen Otohime's joy vanished instantly, replaced by deep heartache and sorrow.