Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece.

Chapter 23 Invitation

As Shanks' first mate, Ben Beckman was already used to his temperament and reluctantly but indulgently ordered the crew to pack their things.

Uchiha Shiraha and the other two exchanged a smile and did not refuse. After all, the red-haired man was not bad, so they followed Shanks and his group toward the dock.

The sea shimmered under the night sky, and the Red-Haired Pirates' ship was quietly moored on the shore. The red skull flag on the sails fluttered gently in the evening breeze. The deck was already brightly lit, and the crew was busy preparing a banquet. The aroma of roasted meat wafted in on the sea breeze, creating a lively and warm atmosphere.

For the Red-Haired Pirates, a boring sea voyage always needs a feast to liven things up.

As soon as they stepped onto the deck, crew members warmly greeted them, offering fresh fruit and drinks. Shanks pulled Shiraha along and headed straight for the long table in the center of the deck.

Soon the table was filled with a sumptuous feast: sizzling roasted whole lamb, plump roasted lobster, tender roasted fish, and various exquisite desserts and fruits and vegetables. A barrel of wine poured out amber-colored liquor, its aroma rich and lingering.

Seeing this, the happiest person was Matsumoto Rangiku. Ever since she started drinking, this woman had become a complete alcoholic.

"Please sit down, please sit down!"

Shanks shoved Shiraha into a seat, then made Rangiku and Robin sit down. He picked up the barrel and took a big gulp, the liquor dripping from his lips, but he didn't care. He wiped his mouth and laughed, "This Binks liquor is a treasure I keep. Even Beckman wouldn't let me drink much of it!"

Beckman was somewhat speechless. He picked up his glass and took a small sip, but a smile was hidden in his eyes. The other crew members also gathered around, raising their glasses and chatting, making the atmosphere on the deck even more lively.

Matsumoto Rangiku raised her glass, clinked it with the crew member beside her, and took a big gulp. The richness and spiciness of Binks' liquor spread on her tongue, and she couldn't help but squint her eyes, a joyful smile spreading across her face.

"This liquor is really strong, much better than the ones in bars!"

Robin picked up a piece of grilled fish and savored it. The fish was tender and juicy, and the taste was incredibly fresh. She exclaimed softly, "The cooking is excellent. It's even better than the food in the Sicilian restaurant."

Bai Yu held his wine glass, lightly clinked it with Shanks's, took a small sip, and glanced at the cheerful crew members on the deck. Although these people were all pirates, they had no trace of ferocity. They got along very well with tacit understanding and friendship.

Shanks leaned closer to him and asked curiously, "Hey buddy, where are you planning to go next? Are you going on a sea adventure?"

Shanks turned his gaze to Uchiha Shiraha.

Bai Yu nodded and slowly said, "I plan to cross the Western Sea to see a wider sea area, see different scenery, and if I meet compatible companions, we can set sail together."

At this moment, Shanks suddenly became serious: "But taking Nico Robin with you is a very dangerous thing. Once the World Government and the Navy find out that Nico Robin is with you, you will be in danger."

At this moment, Matsumoto Rangiku also stopped drinking and looked at Shanks.

"Don't worry, I have no interest in Nico Robin. I was a member of the Pirate King Roger's crew, and I've read all the Poneglyphs, so you don't need to worry about me harming you."

Shanks then turned his gaze to Uchiha Shiraha.

“I’m not worried because she’s my companion.”

"So you're doing something dangerous, just like we were back then."

Robin added, "Our main goal is to find ancient ruins, decipher lost texts, and explore the truth of history."

Matsumoto Rangiku then laughed and replied, "Tasting local delicacies and drinking fine wines from all over the world—that's what adventure should be like!"

Shanks' eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly: "Well said! That's what makes adventure so interesting!"

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something: "Well, Nico Robin, I've read the Poneglyphs. Do you need me to tell you what they contain?"

Nico Robin's fingers gently traced the rim of her wine glass, the moonlight casting dappled silver light into her deep brown eyes.

She had been hiding for ten years, and this was the first time she had the opportunity to fully understand the contents of the historical text.

Then, Nico Robin looked up with a calm smile on her lips: "Thank you for your kindness, Shanks, but the meaning of this journey lies in the process of uncovering the mystery together with my companions."

Matsumoto Rangiku, who was stuffing grilled squid tentacles into her mouth, mumbled in agreement, "Exactly! It's no fun knowing the answer beforehand."

The oil stains on her new dress went unnoticed; she was too busy giving the chef who brought the food a thumbs up: "Your sauce is amazing!"

Shanks paused for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

His slapping of his knees made the ice cubes in his glass clink: "An interesting answer!"

The waves gently lapped against the ship's hull, and the campfire on the deck illuminated the smiling faces.

Shanks raised his glass, the golden liquid shimmering in the firelight: "Cheers to our new friends!"

"cheers!!"

"Have more drinks!"

Amidst laughter, the atmosphere of the banquet became increasingly harmonious, and Bai Yu would occasionally discuss swordsmanship and the cultivation of Haki with Shanks.

Shanks shared his knowledge and stories of the New World without holding back, Rangiku competed with the crew in drinking, and Robin patiently answered the crew's questions about history and geography. The three people from different worlds got along very well with the Red-Haired Pirates without any barriers.

As night deepened, buckets of alcohol were drunk and waves of barbecue were eaten, and the laughter on the deck never stopped.

Shanks looked at the three people in front of him, Bai Yu, with admiration in his eyes. Bai Yu was calm and reserved, and his words revealed that he was skilled in swordsmanship and valued loyalty.

Matsumoto Rangiku is cheerful and straightforward; she may appear drunk and smelly, but she is kind at heart.

Nicole Robin is gentle, intelligent, knowledgeable, calm, and reliable. These three are exactly the kind of companions he wants to get along with.

He put down the barrel of sake in his hand, his playful expression vanishing, replaced by a rare seriousness. His gaze slowly swept over the three of them, and he said sincerely, "Shiraha, Rangiku, Robin, I've truly enjoyed the few hours I've spent with you. I admire your personalities, your strength, and your passion for adventure. My crew has reliable companions like Beckman and Lucky Roux, but I always feel that having more companions like you would make the adventure even more interesting. So, I formally invite you to join my Red-Haired Pirates and sail with us to witness the magnificent New World. What do you say?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the deck fell silent for a moment. The crew members all looked at Bai Yu and his two companions with anticipation in their eyes. Beckman nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with Shanks' invitation. After all, no one would refuse such an excellent companion.

Chapter 24 Sleeping Together

However, the three declined Shanks' invitation. Shanks didn't say much, only expressing his hope that they could come to him in the future, and that he would welcome them to become his crew at any time.

Even as night deepened, the deck of the Red-Haired Pirates' ship still retained the warmth of the banquet. Wine barrels lay askew to one side, and the aroma of roasted meat gradually dissipated in the cool sea breeze.

Uchiha Shiraha, Matsumoto Rangiku, and Nico Robin had all drunk quite a bit, their cheeks flushed slightly, and their steps were a little unsteady. The dizziness from the alcohol made the three of them less reserved than when they were sober.

Shanks was already fast asleep, slumped over the table, completely drunk. Ben Beckman reluctantly instructed the crew to clean up the mess, then turned to the three of them and said with a hint of apology, "There aren't many cabins on the ship to begin with, and we really can't spare any extra rooms tonight. Please excuse us, the three of you will have to squeeze into one room for the time being. The bedding has been prepared."

Uchiha Shiraha and the other two didn't have many requests to begin with, so they nodded in agreement and followed the crew toward their cabins.

The guest room wasn't spacious, but it was clean and tidy. A large solid wood bed was placed against the wall, covered with soft bedding. There was also a simple wooden table by the window, and the scent of pine resin dispelled some of the smell of alcohol.

As soon as she entered the room, Matsumoto Rangiku stumbled and collapsed onto the bed. The soft bedding instantly relaxed her. She lay on her side, squinting her drunken eyes at Shiraha, a lazy smile playing on her lips: "I'm exhausted. This bed is so comfortable."

Nico Robin slowly walked to the bedside and sat down, her fingertips gently stroking the soft bedding. The alcohol made her cheeks blush with a touch of naivety, and her eyes softened considerably. She turned to look at Bai Yu, who was about to spread the bedding on the floor, and said softly, "Bai Yu-kun, the floor is too cold, and there aren't enough blankets. Let's sleep on the bed together. The bed is so big, it's no problem for us to squeeze in."

Uchiha Shiraha paused in his actions. He had thought that men and women should be separate, and that it would be fine for him to sleep on the ground. However, seeing the two of them in a drunken stupor, their eyes full of sincere invitation, he swallowed back the words of refusal that were on the tip of his tongue.

Seeing this, Matsumoto Rangiku reached out and beckoned to Shiraha, her tone slightly coquettish: "Come on, you've drunk so much, you'll catch a cold sleeping on the ground. Are you afraid we'll eat you?"

Since things had come to this point, Bai Yu no longer refused. He put down the bedding in his hands, took off his coat and draped it over the back of the chair, then lay down in the middle of the bed, keeping a certain distance from the two of them.

The effects of the alcohol hit me as soon as I lay down. My head was spinning, my consciousness gradually blurred, and I soon fell into a deep sleep.

In the stillness of the night, only the even breathing of the three people could be heard in the guest room.

In his sleep, Bai Yu's consciousness was hazy and unclear. He only felt that the surroundings were warm and cozy, and his body involuntarily moved towards the warmer direction.

His arm reached out unconsciously and landed on Matsumoto Rangiku's waist. His fingertips touched the soft fabric, which was slightly warm, but he was completely unaware and continued to sleep soundly.

Matsumoto Rangiku was slightly disturbed in her sleep by the touch, but she did not wake up. Instead, she subconsciously leaned closer to Shiraha, pressing her body tightly against his arm, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder, and unconsciously curving a faint smile at the corner of her mouth.

At the same time, he unintentionally pushed Uchiha Hakuba towards Nico Robin.

On the other side, Nicole Robin gradually fell asleep. The alcohol had relaxed her body considerably. She turned slightly to the side, her head unconsciously resting against Bai Yu's back. Strands of her hair gently brushed against his clothes, and her warm breath fell on his back.

They had maintained a certain distance during the day, but gradually disappeared during sleep.

In the middle of the night, Bai Yu turned over in his sleep, and with a little force, pulled Matsumoto Rangiku closer to him. His hand inadvertently slid from her waist to her shoulder, and his fingertips gently caressed her skin, which was still warm from the alcohol.

Matsumoto Rangiku whimpered, still not waking up. She subconsciously raised her hand and grabbed Shiraha's wrist, pressing his hand to her shoulder, also craving this warmth.

As Bai Yu turned over, Nicole Robin's head moved even closer, her cheek almost touching his back. Her fingertips twitched slightly, unconsciously gripping the hem of Bai Yu's clothes, as if she had grasped something reassuring.

Uchiha Hakuba felt an exceptionally warm and comfortable sensation all over his body, as if he were basking in the warm spring sun or nestled on soft clouds. He was so comfortable that he couldn't help but smile, completely immersed in this ultimate pleasure, unconsciously wanting to hold onto this warmth.

Meanwhile, the effects of the alcohol made Rangiku and Robin feel unbearably hot all over. In their sleep, their brows furrowed slightly, and their bodies involuntarily twisted a few times.

Both of them subconsciously raised their hands, lifted the blankets covering them, and gently tugged at their clothes. The loose hems of their skirts slipped down slightly, and the fabric on their shoulders also slipped down a little, revealing their delicate, fair skin. The heat dissipated a bit, and the two of them fell asleep again.

Bai Yu, still savoring the ultimate comfort in her sleep, felt herself touching something exceptionally soft in her hazy consciousness.

It was delicate and warm, unlike the fluffy bedding, and carried a fresh warmth. He subconsciously rubbed against it gently, and the soft touch from his fingertips was particularly clear.

This intensified the pleasure in his dream, making the smile on his lips even more pronounced. His arm unconsciously wrapped around Rangiku's shoulder, and his fingertips inadvertently touched her bare skin, the warm and delicate touch spreading from his fingertips.

Her other hand unconsciously rose up and landed right on Robin's waist, her fingertips touching the delicate skin beneath her slipped clothes.

He then gently moved upwards along his waist, touching a soft and full texture, different from the delicate feel of his shoulders, with a certain plump elasticity, which made him unable to resist gently pinching it in his dream.

Undisturbed by the touch, the two unconsciously rubbed against Bai Yu, their bodies pressed tightly against his arm, their cheeks brushing against his chest, and their clothes slipping down a little further.

The sensation of Bai Yu's palm became clearer, and the soft, warm feeling lingered on her fingertips.

Robin also moved slightly from the touch, her fingertips unconsciously gripping the hem of Bai Yu's clothes, her body curling up slightly, which only made Bai Yu's hand press even tighter, making the full, soft touch even more real.

As dawn approached, Nico Robin was the first to wake up. Opening her sleepy eyes, she blinked and suddenly realized something was wrong. She felt a warm and strong touch on her waist.

She looked down and her fair cheeks flushed crimson.

Chapter 25 Dawn

At this moment, Uchiha Hakuha's arms were wrapped around her waist, and his slender fingers even slipped inside her clothes.

What made her heart race even faster was that she could clearly feel the man's even breathing behind her, spraying onto the back of her neck.

"Well..."

On the other side, Matsumoto Rangiku let out a muffled murmur in her sleep. One of her legs had somehow become draped over Shiraha's body, and the neckline of her nightgown was wide open, revealing a patch of snow-white skin.

Robin tried to pull away cautiously, but found that Bai Yu's arms were holding her even tighter.

The man's hand unconsciously caressed her waist, his rough fingertips brushing against her sensitive skin, causing her to involuntarily hold her breath.

"Um..."

Matsumoto Rangiku suddenly rolled over, her entire body almost pressed against Shiraha's back.

In a daze, she reached out and hugged Bai Yu's neck, her burning cheeks pressed against his back.

"Just...sleep a little longer..."

Nico Robin felt the man behind her move, his strong body pressing closer to her.

She could clearly feel the warmth of Uchiha Shiroha's chest seeping through the thin fabric of his clothes, and his heart beating strongly.

A captivating masculine scent lingered around her nose, making her head spin slightly.