The wind pulled at Shiori’s hair as the small boat bobbed on the swell. He smiled as he tacked upwind, making his way back to shore. He had been taking free time to come to the coast and sail more and more. There wasn’t much work for a young genin at the moment, and so Shiori had been focussing on developing other talents. He had been sailing before back on Moon Island, and it had been one of his loves. Leaf had little to no water for Shiori to keep up his skills, and he had only recently gained the freedom to explore. His parents didn’t care where he went as long as the money came in, so he had unique freedom.
He liked this particular spot, there were changing currents, and the large standing rocks twisted the winds and caused random swells that kept Shiori on his toes. He had to keep his eyes on the water, looking for the darker patches showing a gust. Such a thing in these swells could pitch the small boat, and may even capsize it. Shiori was prepared for such an event, but it could be troublesome with all the rocks about. The tide was on the way out, and there were certainly some rocks about. But that was the thrill! Like a fight to the death, or gambling with your life savings, it was the only way to truly feel alive, to truly put something on the line. It drew something from within a person, made them better. Shiori could only truly perform if there were some stakes.
As he was marvelling at his own skill, the boat lurched, sail luffing. The movement was accompanied by an almighty scraping noise. He looked down, and saw a gash in the hull, below the waterline. Fortunately, Shiori was close to the coast. If he kept his speed up, he should be able to make it in before he sank. The boat began to list, and pull to the port, caused by the drag. He had to tack upwind to make it in, though. Every turn slowed the boat, bringing in more water. At least on the starboard tack the port would rise out of the water, letting him speed up and drain away the water. Even though it may go under at any point, Shiori was still grinning ear to ear.
The boat made it onto the shore, and Shiori flipped it onto it’s side, the mast stopping it from rolling totally over. He sat back on his haunches, regarding the hole. Fortunately, it went from bow to stern rather than across the beam, so it would be easier to patch. He moved back around, opening a small bag he kept there. Inside was some quick-hardening paste and some rope.
Idly, he conjured a blade with his chakra, and cut the bag open, forming a rectangle slightly larger than the hole. He pierced the middle, and tied the rope through it. He picked up some driftwood, and began spreading the backside of the cloth, using it firstly as an adhesive, smoothing it to the hull. He then slathered it over the fabric, and onto the hull, smoothing it out as much as possible. It would take a while to dry, so he had nothing to do but lean against his boat and look at the sea. He grabbed some dried, shredded squid from a pouch, munching on it idly. The breeze was nice.
He liked this particular spot, there were changing currents, and the large standing rocks twisted the winds and caused random swells that kept Shiori on his toes. He had to keep his eyes on the water, looking for the darker patches showing a gust. Such a thing in these swells could pitch the small boat, and may even capsize it. Shiori was prepared for such an event, but it could be troublesome with all the rocks about. The tide was on the way out, and there were certainly some rocks about. But that was the thrill! Like a fight to the death, or gambling with your life savings, it was the only way to truly feel alive, to truly put something on the line. It drew something from within a person, made them better. Shiori could only truly perform if there were some stakes.
As he was marvelling at his own skill, the boat lurched, sail luffing. The movement was accompanied by an almighty scraping noise. He looked down, and saw a gash in the hull, below the waterline. Fortunately, Shiori was close to the coast. If he kept his speed up, he should be able to make it in before he sank. The boat began to list, and pull to the port, caused by the drag. He had to tack upwind to make it in, though. Every turn slowed the boat, bringing in more water. At least on the starboard tack the port would rise out of the water, letting him speed up and drain away the water. Even though it may go under at any point, Shiori was still grinning ear to ear.
The boat made it onto the shore, and Shiori flipped it onto it’s side, the mast stopping it from rolling totally over. He sat back on his haunches, regarding the hole. Fortunately, it went from bow to stern rather than across the beam, so it would be easier to patch. He moved back around, opening a small bag he kept there. Inside was some quick-hardening paste and some rope.
Idly, he conjured a blade with his chakra, and cut the bag open, forming a rectangle slightly larger than the hole. He pierced the middle, and tied the rope through it. He picked up some driftwood, and began spreading the backside of the cloth, using it firstly as an adhesive, smoothing it to the hull. He then slathered it over the fabric, and onto the hull, smoothing it out as much as possible. It would take a while to dry, so he had nothing to do but lean against his boat and look at the sea. He grabbed some dried, shredded squid from a pouch, munching on it idly. The breeze was nice.