Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece.

"Mmm! This grilled meat is delicious!"

Matsumoto Rangiku had her mouth stuffed full, and a satisfied expression on her face.

"No wonder Bai Yu recommended this place!"

"It is indeed very unique."

Nico Robin gracefully cut the steak on her plate.

"Honestly, the flavor of these spices is very unique."

Seeing the two of them so happy, Uchiha Hakuyu smiled slightly, picked up the wine glass on the table, and took a sip.

The sake in the cup had a slightly spicy taste as it went down, but it made the lively atmosphere seem even more real.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, a light drumbeat suddenly came from outside the building, followed by the sound of string and bamboo instruments, creating a playful and lively rhythm.

"Oh? Looks like the entertainment for tonight is here."

The group was quite curious, as they had never seen dancing during a meal before.

As soon as he finished speaking, several dancers dressed in colorful costumes walked in, their steps light and graceful, as if gliding on water.

The woman at the head of the group waved a feather fan in her hand, her eyes sparkling with a hint of playfulness.

Inside the restaurant, the noise seemed to be quietly soothed by the rhythm of the music, and everyone's eyes were focused on the small stage in the center.

With a rapid string of pipa plucked, as if water droplets were falling into a deep pool, the dancers' figures suddenly froze.

Immediately afterwards, the melodious sound of the flute rose up, as delicate as silk threads, and the dancers swayed gently like willow branches caressed by the spring breeze.

At first, the lead dancer walked with a limp, her back slightly hunched, her hands loosely clasped, and her eyes showing a hint of confusion and caution.

Each step she took was extremely heavy, as if she were walking on thin ice, not flat ground.

That posture perfectly captured the image of a stranger entering the world for the first time, feeling unfamiliar and fearful of everything around them.

She was imitating, mimicking the postures of the pedestrians around her, but she appeared so clumsy and ridiculous that it drew soft chuckles from some people at the table.

However, the laughter did not last long.

As the drumbeats suddenly quickened, like a sudden downpour on banana leaves, the dancers' movements abruptly changed.

The awkward, foreign feeling vanished instantly, replaced by an extremely elegant and graceful gait.

Chapter 42 Listening to Music in the Brothel

"There's even a plot involved?"

Nico Robin commented with great interest.

"How about we find a few dancers on our ship? It would make eating so much more enjoyable, wouldn't it, Connor?"

"Hmm, it looks good..."

The lead dancer lightly touched the ground with her toes, her figure swaying like a willow in the wind, her long sleeves dancing in a graceful arc, every movement exuding composure and confidence. Each turn, each glance back, was precisely timed to the rhythm of the music, so natural, so fluid.

But this is not the end.

The music suddenly shifted again, becoming urgent and unpredictable.

The dancers began to imitate each other; you copied my turn, I copied your skirt lift.

Their movements became faster and more complex.

You can clearly see the momentary hesitation and correction of one dancer when imitating another dancer's leg-lifting movement.

She first stiffly raised her leg, like a wooden stick, and then, guided by the music, the muscle lines of her leg smoothly unfolded, her knees slightly bent, her toes pointed up, instantly transforming her into a light and graceful swallow.

This instantaneous transformation was portrayed to its fullest extent, with every subtle turn.

Uchiha Shiraha's hand, holding a wine glass, hovered in mid-air, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Although he wasn't very knowledgeable about singing and dancing, he knew what looked good.

From clumsy imitation at the beginning, to losing oneself later, and finally to mastery.

After a dazzling series of spins, the lead dancer suddenly stopped all her movements.

She stood quietly in the center of the stage, her eyes closed.

At this moment, the music gradually slowed down, like flowing water returning to calm.

She took another step.

This step was neither as clumsy as it was initially, nor as deliberately elegant as it became later; rather, it was a natural return to simplicity.

It was a unique gait of hers, steady and firm, yet also agile.

At this moment, she finally forged her own path.

As the last note faded, the dancers froze in a highly expressive pose, sweat streaming down their faces, glistening under the lights.

The tavern fell into a deathly silence, as if even the air itself had been frozen by the dance.

A moment later, thunderous applause erupted.

"Those who try to imitate the way people walk in Handan will lose their own natural gait..."

A glint of light flashed in Uchiha Hakuba's eyes: "But if one learns the strengths of all schools, the step one takes will not be a departure from one's own path, but rather a unique achievement. Those top experts must be able to embrace all kinds of knowledge and integrate them into their own style."

"That dance was well done."

Bai Yu put down his wine glass, nodded slightly towards the stage, and looked at it with a hint of appreciation.

Matsumoto Rangiku was already dumbfounded. After regaining her senses, she couldn't help but give a thumbs up: "Shiraha-kun, this dancer's figure and skills are absolutely amazing! I didn't even see how she turned those few times!"

The dancers held their poses for a moment, then bowed to each other in unison, like a hundred flowers blooming.

Amidst the lingering applause and cheers, the other dancers retreated backstage like fish, leaving only the lead dancer behind.

She shed her exaggerated expressions from her performances and returned to her original gentleness and poise.

She then picked up a glass of sake that had been prepared beforehand, her gaze sweeping across the room before she slowly moved through the crowd. At each table, she would bow slightly and raise her glass in greeting, her movements as graceful as a butterfly flitting among flowers.

Gradually, she stopped walking.

Her gaze swept over several tables of noisy guests and finally landed on Uchiha Hakuba's table.

Seeing this combination of a handsome man, a beautiful woman, and a cute little girl, the lead dancer lifted her skirt and moved gracefully to Bai Yu's table.

"Distinguished guests."

Her voice was clear and melodious, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue, yet she still maintained a professional smile.

"I wonder if you all enjoyed my humble work just now?"

Uchiha Hakuba slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on the woman.

Fine beads of sweat still clung to her forehead, clearly indicating that the performance had taken a toll on her mental energy.

"The phrase 'my humble work' is far too modest."

Uchiha Shiraha spoke softly, his voice not loud, but it clearly reached the woman's ears.

"To perform this dance so vividly, and even incorporate your own understanding into it, Miss's dancing skills deserve to be called superb."

As the saying goes, "Many hands make light work," and Uchiha Hakuba was in a good mood at the moment, so he didn't mind saying some nice things.

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in the woman's eyes.

She had assumed these distinguished guests would only exchange a few polite words, but she never expected that this dark-haired young man could see through the deeper meaning hidden in her dance.

"You flatter me, sir." She bowed again, her tone now more sincere.

"My name is Bao'er. In the dance just now, I tried to find my own rhythm based on imitation, but I don't know if it was a bit superfluous. I hope you all will forgive me?"

"Oh, not at all! Miss Bao'er's last step was simply a stroke of genius! That feeling of moving from imitation to self-awakening was so amazing!"

Nico Robin was somewhat reluctant to let this woman get close; based on her intuition, she felt that this woman's initiative to approach her was not a good thing.

Upon hearing this, Bao'er's face lit up with an even brighter smile. She raised her wine glass and said, "Since you all like it, it is Ling'er's greatest honor. This glass is a toast to you all, to thank you for your appreciation and understanding."

Bai Yu also raised his glass and gently clinked it against Bao'er's.

The crisp "ding" sounded particularly clear in the noisy tavern.

"No problem."

Uchiha Hakuba nodded slightly: "Your dance is worthy of this cup of wine."

The group tilted their heads back at the same time and drank the wine in their glasses in one gulp.

Bao'er put down her wine glass, her eyes filled with anticipation: "Do you gentlemen have any suggestions on how to handle the dance just now? I feel that some of the transitions were a little lacking."

Uchiha Hakuba didn't speak; he had already said everything he could think of.

Nico Robin, however, looked at her with a slight upturn of her lips, revealing a meaningful smile.

Seeing that none of them spoke, Bao'er didn't say much either, but simply cupped her hands and said, "If you are still interested in Bao'er's dance, please come back to watch it again in seven days."

Having said that, she didn't linger and turned to leave.

"What does she want to do?"

Nico Robin asked with some curiosity.

"I don't know, but I'm a little curious."

Uchiha Shiraha shook his head. They had only been in Balaiwood for a short time and had no idea why they were being targeted.

Chapter 43 A good dog doesn't block the way

After leaving the tavern, it was already late at night.

The nights in Balleywood are not quiet; instead, they possess a more enchanting and bustling atmosphere that is absent during the day.

Colorful lanterns were hung on both sides of the street, illuminating the stone pavement in a dreamlike way.

"Alright, since that girl named Bao'er is keeping us in suspense, let's come back in seven days."

Uchiha Hakuba stretched and yawned, his tone relaxed.

"Our priority now is to find a comfortable place to get some sleep, and then head to the capital of Balewood tomorrow."