"Are you really going to set sail? The sea isn't as beautiful as it seems. I've sailed before and later realized that the simple life in Cliffwest Village suits me better."
The Old Village Chief sat on the cliff edge, puffing on his large pipe as he gazed with mixed emotions at the distant blue sea. Waves crashed against the rocks, churning up fine white foam.
Uchiha Bai Yu stood at the cliff's edge, the sea breeze tousling his bangs to reveal the peerless beauty characteristic of the Uchiha clan. "A simple life is good," he murmured, his fingertips tracing the patterns on his Kusanagi Blade's hilt, savoring the texture. "But I'd rather roam freely across this vast ocean, feel the sea winds, and witness the world's expansiveness."
"Then you better not become a pirate! As a Marine, I'd have to arrest you!" A blue-haired young man in Marine uniform playfully punched Bai Yu's chest while laughing.
"Who knows what the future holds? Life often forces us into situations beyond our control."
Light footsteps approached from behind as Toby Toby came running with an oil-paper package, his small face flushed red from the sea wind. "Brother Bai Yu! My mother made this dried sturgeon!"
As the paper wrapping was partially opened, the aroma of roasted fish mingled with sea salt filled the air. "Thank you, Toby!" Bai Yu ruffled Toby Toby's hair and accepted the dried sturgeon with a smile.
"So, Bai Yu, are you planning to take a merchant ship?" The Old Village Chief exhaled smoke rings, his graying eyebrows knitted together. "Very few merchant ships come through here. Basically just the Red Coral that comes once a month. By the schedule, you'd have to wait at least half a month."
"No need to worry. My puppets are building a sailboat." Bai Yu distributed the dried sturgeon among everyone before presenting his ship design plans. "Look - I designed this single-masted schooner myself. Given the limited conditions, I'm starting with a simple sailboat that I can operate alone."
"I want to see! Grandpa Chief and Brother Feng, let's all go see Brother Bai Yu's boat!" Toby excitedly took the design plans and eagerly led the group toward the shipbuilding site.
Bai Yu's fingers lightly traced the wood grain, his fingertips picking up the fresh scent of pine resin. "Fortunately, the wood called Bru here is perfect for shipbuilding. Otherwise, I really would have to wait for a merchant ship."
Crack—
A piece of Bru wood split cleanly under puppet Xiao Huang's saw, the cut surface remarkably smooth... Xiao Bai crouched nearby holding the plans, occasionally tilting his head to check measurements. Uchiha Bai Yu's puppets now possessed basic intelligence, no longer complete artificial idiots.
"Two centimeters more to the left." Bai Yu tapped the wood with his knuckles. "The curve here needs to be more rounded."
The sea breeze carried kitchen aromas from the distance as Toby's mother approached carrying several clay bowls, soup sloshing gently against the rims. "Toby, Bai Yu, Chief, and young Feng, I made some soup for you to try."
Floating in the milky white broth were green wild vegetables and several translucent pieces of fish maw. "Be careful, it's hot."
At that moment, Toby stood on tiptoe observing the half-finished ship hull.
"So this is what a ship's skeleton looks like!"
The Old Village Chief's clouded eyes suddenly brightened.
"Is this the mortise and tenon structure you mentioned... some technique from the East?"
His rough fingers traced the perfectly interlocking concave and convex joints.
"Brilliant!"
Bai Yu blew steam away from his noodle soup, a subtle curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
The scene of seven puppets working simultaneously was quite spectacular - some were planing the deck smooth, others were weaving ropes. Xiao Huang was sanding the ship's wheel, the wood grain gradually gaining luster under repeated friction.
"If we work quickly, we can conduct the water test tomorrow," Bai Yu suddenly remarked.
"Oh, right. I found a nautical chart in the library showing many nearby islands. It should be helpful for you..."
After everyone had taken their soup away, Toby's mother produced a nautical chart.
Bai Yu accepted the chart, which showed several islands marked with crooked annotations and some dangerous whirlpools.
"Interesting. Thank you, Aunt Li."
The next afternoon, the scorching sun baked the beach, with fine white sand reflecting blinding light.
Uchiha Bai Yu walked barefoot on the burning sand, the soles of his feet slightly reddened from the heat.
Sweat trickled down his jawline.
"Tighten it another three degrees."
Squinting against the stinging sunlight, he directed the puppets to adjust the main mast's angle.
The dull creaking of wood rubbing against wood mixed with the cries of seagulls.
Toby Toby came running with a bundle of coir rope, his little face sunburned red: "Brother Bai Yu, the ropes have all been soaked in seawater!"
"Set them over there to dry first."
Uchiha Bai Yu continued carving the rudder without looking up, wood shavings fluttering down around his feet.
A puppet immediately approached carrying new timber - there was plenty of excess wood to create storage spaces and furniture.
On the distant horizon, dark clouds were gathering. The Old Village Chief leaned on his cane as he gazed at the sky, his goatee fluttering wildly in the sea breeze: "Judging by the distance and cloud formation, the weather's about to change, son. Though there's no strong wind, the rain won't be light."
Bai Yu straightened up, the contours of his back muscles visible through his sweat-soaked clothing.
"You all head back first. I'll sleep on the boat tonight to check its watertight integrity."
After everyone had returned, Uchiha Bai Yu promptly entered the cabin, enjoying his private space.
The ship designed by Uchiha Bai Yu wasn't large - a twelve-meter single-masted sloop, quite small indeed.
To draw a comparison, it was similar to Captain Peter's vessel.
But small size had its advantages. Bending through the deck opening and passing the square hatch embedded in the central deck boards, then closing the entrance, one could enter Bai Yu's single-person cabin.
Descending to the bottom of the ladder led to the main cabin, the core activity area of the entire ship. Approximately three meters wide and over six meters long, it was the most spacious part of the cabin.
Apart from the bottom space, Uchiha Bai Yu's cabin interior was designed with numerous storage compartments.
There weren't many items inside yet, but Bai Yu would certainly fill these spaces before setting sail.
Actually, Uchiha Bai Yu had sent everyone away and remained alone on the ship for a reason.
Because he needed to combine his Mangekyo Sharingan with his Devil Fruit powers.
Because he wanted to combine the power of his Mangekyo Sharingan with that of the Devil Fruit.
If possible, Uchiha Bai Yu would create real life from a puppet body.
Using the power of Amenominaka from his left Mangekyo Sharingan eye and the power of Kamimusubi from his right eye!
Although this would consume a great deal of his energy.