[attr="class","APP3"]The morning of their departure had arrived and it couldn't have been any sooner as the jounin reeled for action. Men clamored about the deck and shouted until they stirred the ire of the birds that squawked back in challenge to their boisterous and proud shouts. Many loud and cheerful of returning to the waters -- as well as returning home. There were a great many hands on deck and many of them were of varied shapes and sizes, none too unique from the other that suspicion could drawn. The boots of men hurrying on the wooden boards was a deafening stampede, a great many of them heaving massive crates in pairs as they loaded on the cargo. There was a great many things to have been brought on board, organized to the tune of a specific system that recommended that the most valuable of all be kept publicly visible, but beneath the duress and scrutiny of another series of impressive tiedowns and locks that both captain and overseer understood as diversions.
For, blended into their crews along with the rogue, scoundrels and sluggards, were two men of the second platoon in Kumogakure. They had arrived early on, their recruitment an elaborately engaged process as the two shinobi were forced to utilize their stealth as well as their acting, brought to play on the convincing role of deck hands. The owner of the vessel was privateer captain and a man who had invested a great deal into the trade and commerce. Through the morning both men were reliable in the efforts of loading the ship, bringing on crate after crate onto the cog ship as the sun rose and soon hung up high. It was a hot sun, an unforgivable one. It beat loudly on their flesh as no obstructions lofted in the daytime sky. No one complained, though, as these men had learned well that it did little well to focus on ones discomfort, especially among the company of several other men.
". . ."
The jounin, who had foregone his standard gi and pelt for something more natural to the role he explored, paused to view the ship. Despite his abnormal size, a venerable giant among these more gangly and sun burnt men, his clothing wasn't too far off as he wore a simple shirt--though more of a blanket considering its fit on him-- and straight pants that stopped half-shin on him. There was still a distinct lack of footwear as, after all, those calloused pads that were apart of every footstep were rough enough to smooth stone or sand a plank to its finer grains. They had begun to near the end of their loading, the cogship that had been fitted for this journey was middling in its length but still bore a grand load as it was responsible for the transport of both man and material to the mainland.
CLANG!!!CLANG!!!CLANG
A tocsin that they would depart soon, calling all men near the ship should have had wandered off briefly or gone below the docks to relieve themselves before surrendering themselves to the constricting, closed confines of a ships deck. "LOAD YOURSELVES ON!" Demanded a voice which screeched from the aftercastle of the ship, a bulwarked end for an added means of defense. That was their summoning bell and the pair of platoon 2 were wise to have followed that call. The ship numbered a good twenty men, many mundane in their looks and surely their intelligence by the expressions worn across faces aged rapidly by the salt-water air. None of were an impressive build, but several of the men were of a more rotund torso but advantageous height. "We're days out from the mainland. The smells in the wind tell me the route'll be clear for our travel. No worry of water being our sully."
With few words exchanged thereafter, perhaps to reduce the thought of suspicion that eventually rendered the services of to shinobi, the canvas unfurled from the mast. It flapped as it rolled down, reaching its full length in no time. It was untethered from the deck and, soon, longboats appeared beyond the aftercastle as the half-dozen boats worked tirelessly with oars. Man waged their war on physics, for that moment, as they strained themselves to budge the ship. With their perseverance she trundled forward slowly and, with a gust of wind to fill her sails, she jumped forward. The captain's focus was now out on see, finding the current he'd travel along so many times ago.
Had there been truth to the missive they took for the mission, they were bound to be waiting for hours before anything more occurred.
Now came the struggle of finding his sea legs, but his indomitable will would serve him well.
[attr="class","zacwords"]He still couldn’t believe it. To be saddled onto the equivalent of a potential wooden – and for the moment, floating – coffin was nothing to take comfort, especially when considering the owner of such apprehension had a natural disdain for boats, as well as being out at sea in general. Why did I agree to this...? His face, sour in expression and moist in condition as a result of all sweat such intense exposure to the hot sun yielded, remained fixated on wearing a most unwanted scowl. Then again, a quick look left and right revealed this to be the default countenance among most of the men engaging in the work of a deckhand. [break][break]
His chosen attire wasn’t much better a situation either, the typical royal white threads that had become his signature now replaced by some ode to homeless couture. Much like the others, with their motley clothing, bright, mismatched colors abound, he had a bandanna on, a long sleeved shirt with puffed, dirtied sleeves, breeches, a waist coat, tight-fitting drawers, and of course, woolen stockings. And why am I wearing...this!? More rhetorical introspection that Chinetsu knew the answers to all too well; this was the start, after all, of his indentured military service for Kumo, or as his handler like to constantly refer to, “your way of giving back!”. Yeah right... [break][break]
Seiichi seemed in better spirits than the Chuunin did, almost as if he was eager to engage in this sort of droll. And while his hulking size made him hard to miss among the swell of twenty or so men, seeing as how they were in league with some serious roughnecks, he doubted such a thing would arise any suspicion. If anything, it would most likely be viewed as favorable among the crew, if not, desirable. Pretty sure this was your idea... Chinetsu just stared blankly towards the man-bear – which was also his platoon captain, a jounin, and as such, the outranking agent amogst the two. As he was in no position to question motive, the medic did the next best thing – accept the situation and move on. The sooner he was done with this mission, the sooner he’d be back home, and back on land. [break][break]
A crabby, shaky, yet booming voice came from near the captain’s quarters, the aftercastle on this vessel typical of most galleons and caravels he had read about. Chinetsu, while by no means a fan of the sea, was certainly an avid reader and an indulger in higher education, which meant the quantity of knowledge he held regarding various topics was vast. And while such a talent was left best behind when it came to his assimilation into this most simple-minded crew, it served as a silent guide that aided his progression for his new faux career. He didn’t need to look at Seiichi to know that interrupting the speech, or even providing any form of utterance at this time, would attract the most unwanted of attention. [break][break]
“...”
[break]
With one leg hoisted against the ship’s side, anchoring his weight, he joined the others in pulling a certain arrangement of ropes that would bring mast down and let its reinforced canvas use the wind as a means of accelerating their travel. After all, anything Chinetsu could do to aid in those efforts would bring him closer to home, and that much faster. For now, it was time to work. There was still time before their objective was to be met. Until then, only the lowest of profiles were desired. Unless the man-bear updated their parameters, the medic would keep on doing his best to fit in. [break]
[attr="class","APP3"]It was then that they were pulled out to see by the longboats, the Cog they boarded assuming its senses at this point as the canvas that been unwound caught the bracings of the wind which set the fabric to billow forth. With the guiding hand of natura, thus was their mission into motion as they floated out into the sea. They were met by a crash of water as it smacked against the ships hull, the giant vessel washing out into the sea as it as rocked by the tumultuous splitting of the ocean, the great expanse burdened with the task of seeing their ship to its destination, should it make it so far. The winds were restless as the whipping of gales could be heard curling around the hull of their ship, sweeping droplets of water onto the deck that soon turned into puddles and were bound to continue in their growth unless otherwise mopped up; the mid-oceans breeze was refreshing and warm, far kinder than the tundra's of Kumo.
It was to be a potentially dangerous mission, with an unknown element to who their enemy was. It had been suggested it was shinobi of Kirigakure, Kumo and Mist having been at odds since even before the great whirlpool incident had occurred. Among the crew, however, Seiichi was not so sure of the intel as most men seemed mundane, if not incapable of anything more threatening the a punch they'd prepare by winding their hand back and letting it fly forth with no measure of caution. Still, Seiichi kept a careful eye on the details around him: what could be used as weapons, what could be used to shield himself against in order to exercise his surprisingly versed technique of stealth? There had certainly been boxes of his size around and, as far as weapons would go, hauling crates or even tearing planks of the deck up would suffice until he could close in; he had been meticulous of where to find his claws if the need should arise, a fact hidden from the crew and known by only the captain and Chinetsu. Despite his overwhelming size and the mischaracterizations that came along with it, there was a more tactical mind that brewed quietly behind a set of keen, sea-green eyes.
Seiichi walked upon the deck now, the numerous men upon the ship all set with varying tasks as they busied themselves. Some, however, played games and others danced; one was the most vigilant of them all, however, as he stood atop in the crow's nest with a keen and observing eye in an attempt to spot trouble with his looking glass that collapsed; despite its simple design, it was capable of a field of view of 1000 meters. This was his sole role and, if there had been any concern, he would notify the crew of seaborne threats, however he may find them. In time the Bear of Kumo happened upon Chinetsu, a man his senior in age. "We're vulnerable. I know some of your dossier. But we're not useless," he mentioned with that low voice of his, the words seemingly rumbled in Seiichi's chest before they were projected from him in that stentorian voice. "Make note of what tools we have here. To them, we're nothing more than crew men unless we've been betrayed from the outset." Seiichi expressed before turning away, his words meant to encourage Chinetsu to note what could supplement his jutsu with what was typically found aboard a ship. Despite their focus in other disciplines, they were still academy taught and graduated.
She was a beautiful ship, middling in her size as far as Cog's went and built high with its defensive structures should a threat of archers reveal themselves. However, when it came to the boarding of a threat, that's where the two shinobi of Kumogakure would set in. It was required that, for now, they remain vigilant and well prepared for what was to come -- if anything. They continued forward on the vessel, rocked by the waters as the day went on. It would take sometime before they arrived.
[attr="class","zacwords"]Despite the initial resistance the rope put forth when it came to lowering the masts, tugging away at his hands, trying to yank itself free from gloved embraces, Chinetsu held strong. At some point, the anchor he created by wedging his foot to the ship’s side was no longer needed, with the thick lacing smoothly flowing through his hands, guided by the wind that now filled the sails. Not a moment longer, the desired lengths were reached; the men, almost in unison, nodded to one another that their task was now complete. I could probably eat... They were now free to relax – for now. [break][break]
Decompressed and thus a bIt more comfortable among the crewmembers, Chinetsu was appeased that their ruse worked, and as such, was no longer worried their inception into the crew would not go unnoticed. Despite the fact part of their mission preparation involved stashes of select weaponry finding its way aboard the vessel, even before its occupation, the chuunin had not perceived any real threats existing amongst them. A side-eyed glance at Seiichi revealed his senior to be browsing the crowds with skeptical eyes, though the look was admittedly typical of the giant man. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder if he too was breaking everyone down that was aboard their ship. [break][break]
“...”
[break][break]
And though Chinetsu’s eyes wandered towards the horizon, his ears did well to acknowledge Seiichi’s statements. Damn right, we ain’t useless… Aside from the man-bear’s physicality alone, various items on their vessel could be used for methods that were alternate to simple seafaring. Ropes with metal endings could easily serve as a ranged weapon, not to mention the sheer amount of multi-sized blades scattered across the ship, most reserved for the role of a tool, with some doubling as a device of violence and war. In the end, with enough creativity it seemed there would be no shortage of weaponry, that is, should a situation arise that warrants a sudden need for their existence. [break][break]
“Tch...”[break][break]
“...I’m ready for anything...”
[break]
As his voice trailed off, he would continue to observe his surroundings. Most of the men were enjoying themselves now that some of the hard work was done, or simply took to more relaxed activities while they killed time until their arrival. Chinetsu would soon follow suit, but for now, he’d let Seiichi take the lead. Now, it was time to wait.[break]
[attr="class","APP3"]Things remained placid-- as far as the word placid could be stretched along the high seas, anyhow. They had been rocked by the waters, but the clouds had remained vacant and provided no harrowing overcast and or no omen for poor weather. At this, the men were elated as they roared and hipped as their games and activities grew further into the night. They became louder, far more boisterous as they hooted, hollered and even shouted. Men had done everything from playing cards, poker, to even betting how far a loogie could be hawked off the ship. What maintenance had been required to keep Her floors polished and free of injury had been completed as the men were diligent to continue their merry spirits. What puddles appeared were eventually tended to by a man along the crew and it wasn't often to see the one who was tasked with watching from the Crow's Nest to switched out so their spirits could be refreshed and they weren't unfortunately ostracized because of the nature of their more attentive role.
Seiichi had gone on to involve himself in these activities, as doing the other would have raised suspicion. Out of all things, however, the Bear of Kumo did not drink. Despite his impressive bulk and insuperable size, he wasn't he heaviest drinker -- astonishingly lightweight, in fact. More than a few testing sips were enough to settle the man into a realm of sleep. But he danced among the crew in ways that seemed to betray that forlorn glower that was often cast out into the sea, Seiichi himself wishing to return to dryer land sooner rather than later. He played cards, albeit terribly, and what money he had brought aboard he lost -- because he was equally bad at poker. At some point he was tapped out for cash and could no longer participate, which was for the better in the long haul of it.
At one point he would approach Chinetsu, standing besides him if he weren't already occupied with something else. "I've lost all my money. Win it back and keep it." He suggested if, somehow, Chinetsu hadn't already considered doing it himself. They would have to act as any crew member would, to the very best of their abilities. Despite their thuggish looks and uninspiring faces, anyone one of these men could have been the suspected threat that had been aboard the ship. It was unfortunate that most seafaring man were branded with a specific class of features, their brows beaten dark by the overcast of a brutish sun, their frames particularly powerful looking in the torso and arms but far more lacking the legs and an uncertainty in their eyes on whether or not they'd live through the voyage itself, no guarantee of their return to live or love so long as they were rocked by waters stirred easily by the wind.
The sun was soon setting and men had begun to play music. Other men had begun to sing. It was a surprising cast of wonderfully intune voices, as most sailors often possessed a gift when it came to belting notes. It betrayed their grim demeanors, but in a fine way as they sang through it all: the joys of drinking, the joys of love, the sorrow of lost love and finally odes to the fallen. There seemed to be a specific group of men that would focus on the music, their instruments bright and lively or mournful and somber when it was required. Of these same men, came more of the most talented voices. Activities continued on and, at some point, Seiichi could be found lightly boxing and wrestling with the other men as he held back his punches. Despite specializing as a grappler. the Jounin had to meter his strength less he strived for sinking their ship.
The two shinobi would be best reminded that they remain alert. It wasn't so impossible that these rogues that infiltrated the ship were waiting for nightfall to act.
[attr="class","zacwords"]Time’s progression, Chitnetsu guessed, appeared differently to the various denizens aboard the ship. For those happily married to either the bottle or their games, this moment of reprieve from all the hard work they are usually assigned may feel like its passing was measured with the blink of an eye. However, for the newly reformed – and sober – Chuunin, things would appear a bit more redundant, and thus, make this temporary stay sailing the seas feel like a permanent one. Alcohol, gambling, and music, huh…? Such temptations were no longer objects of his folly, a refocused mind instead now at the service of the Hidden Village in the Clouds. Simply put, he could no longer afford to lead such a life; he was a changed man, you see. [break][break]
But Chinetsu also knew that appearing brackish might also tempt some of the more observant participants in this voyage to question his intentions. After all, while the crews often changed for these jobs, there seemed to be a certain air about these men, a consistent theme in which they could easily identify one another from the largest of crowds, merely by body language. Where was this gig a few weeks ago, when I was still a drunk…? So, while he no longer indulged in such sin, he still knew all too well how to act like a man that lived for it. And while he wouldn’t go over the top, a bit of subtlety would go a long way. [break][break]
“Nice moves…” [break][break]
A lazy but truthful smile creeped across his face as he let his left hand temporarily rest a top the shoulder of a nearby random crewmember, whose body was enthralled in a most intricate set of gyrations and movements. And while they were far from blessed with rhythm, Chinetsu would tap along a bit as well, if anything, as a show of good faith; the men around him, drunk and smiling, were quick to acknowledge his arrival into their dance circle. Looks like Seiichi had the same idea… Out of the corner of his sharp eye, he would spot his captain. He was in an entirely different element the medic had never witnessed the man exist in before. It was fascinating. [break][break]
“ …” [break][break]
And while Chinetsu said nothing, he lent a small nod of approval his superior’s way. While it was best to blend in on their own, there was nothing out of the ordinary that the two men have their own exchanges as well. And so, after their brief stints with gavotting, bopping, and overall just strutting their stuff, it was time to move on to other activities. Poker, huh…? It seemed the man bear had lost a small bit of fortune over cards, and whether it was done on purpose or not would not matter; he now had yet another chance to blend in. Although, strictly speaking, he was hoping to stay away from the debauchery least he fall back on old, bad habits. [break][break]
“I was gonna hit up the nest…” [break][break]
“…but I suppose I could give it a try…” [break][break]
He pointed at the lookout in the sky as he spoke softly, emphasizing that he wished to be in a secure and observant position, to maximize their knowledge and control over the situation. However, Chinetsu noted it was not quite time for the current lookout to retire. Maybe I can get some of his money back, after all… And so, after letting his crewmember in charge of watch schedules know he’d like to try his hand sooner than later, he would seek out Seiichi’s cursed card game. The large man had decided to engage in what most men his size would do, a series of pugilistic physical exercises with his fellow burly brothers to pass the time. Chinetsu, on the other hand, would exercise a bit of his mind. He wasn’t the best at poker, but he was able to count cards. [break][break]
