Konoha woke early.
Before the Academy bell.
Before the mission desk opened.
Before most shinobi had finished breakfast.
The workshop was already alive.
The old carpenter believed that daylight should never be wasted.
Kamui had discovered this on his second day.
He was still discovering it every morning.
A rooster crowed somewhere beyond the rooftops.
Kamui yawned as he lifted the workshop’s wooden shutters.
Fresh morning air drifted inside, carrying the scent of damp earth from last night’s rain.
For a brief moment, the shop was completely silent.
Then came the familiar voice behind him.
“You’re late.”
Kamui looked at the sky.
“The sun isn’t even fully up.”
“It beat you.”
“…You’re measuring my punctuality against the sun?”
The old carpenter walked past him carrying a toolbox.
“The sun has a better record.”
Kamui sighed.
“I’ve lost before breakfast.”
Daichi, already sweeping the floor, laughed into the broom.
The morning’s first customer arrived while the village was still stretching awake.
An elderly woman entered carrying a wooden basket.
One of its handles had snapped clean off.
“I know it’s small,” she said apologetically, “but I use this every day.”
The old carpenter examined the basket for only a few seconds before handing it to Kamui.
“You do it.”
Kamui blinked.
“Me?”
“You heard me.”
The old man disappeared toward the back of the workshop without another word.
Kamui turned the basket over in his hands.
The break was clean.
Simple.
Still…
It was the first time a real customer’s belongings had been entrusted entirely to him.
He inhaled quietly and got to work.
The handle itself wasn’t difficult.
Matching the color of the old wood was.
Twice he sanded too much.
Once he cut the replacement slightly too thin.
Each mistake meant starting again.
The old carpenter never interrupted.
He simply continued working nearby, pretending not to watch.
Almost an hour later, Kamui rubbed a final coat of oil into the repaired handle.
The basket looked…
Whole again.
Not new.
Just cared for.
The old woman tested the handle carefully.
She lifted the basket.
Set it down.
Lifted it again.
Then smiled.
“It feels stronger than before.”
Kamui scratched his cheek.
“I hope so.”
She bowed politely before leaving.
When the door closed behind her, the workshop fell quiet again.
The old carpenter walked over.
He picked up one of the discarded practice handles lying beside the bench.
“Three.”
Kamui nodded.
“I ruined three.”
“You learned three.”
The old man tossed the scraps into the firewood pile.
“Tomorrow you’ll ruin fewer.”
That was all.
But somehow…
It was enough.
Near midday, Daichi wheeled a cart toward the market with a fresh delivery of shelves.
Kamui followed behind carrying a toolbox.
The streets were busier now.
Children hurried toward the Academy.
Merchants argued over deliveries.
A pair of shinobi leapt across the rooftops overhead.
Life moved in every direction at once.
As they passed the flower shop, the owner waved.
“Morning!”
Daichi waved back.
Kamui did the same.
A few steps later, the owner of the hardware store called out.
“Don’t forget those hinges tomorrow!”
“I won’t!”
Kamui answered.
Daichi smiled without looking at him.
“You’re getting recognized.”
“I think people just remember who owes them work.”
“That’s still being recognized.”
When they reached the market square, they found the shelves already waiting to be installed.
As Kamui unpacked his tools, he noticed someone watching from across the street.
Kakashi.
The jonin stood beside a fruit stall with his usual relaxed posture, one hand tucked into his pocket.
Their eyes met briefly.
Kamui raised a hand in greeting.
Kakashi returned the gesture with a lazy wave before continuing on his way.
Nothing more.
No conversation.
No mysterious feeling.
Just two people acknowledging each other.
Kamui returned to tightening the last bolt.
The Academy bell rang in the distance.
Soon children began pouring into the streets.
Among them was Naruto.
He spotted the cart immediately.
“Hey!”
Kamui looked up from beneath the shelf he was securing.
“Afternoon.”
Naruto walked closer, then noticed Kamui was still working.
He didn’t interrupt.
Instead, he wandered over to Daichi.
“Need help?”
Daichi looked at the heavy crate beside him.
“You think you can carry that?”
Naruto grabbed both handles confidently.
“I’ve got it.”
He lifted.
The crate didn’t move.
Naruto pulled harder.
His face turned bright red.
Still nothing.
Daichi watched for another few seconds before quietly lifting the other side.
Together, they carried it the remaining few meters.
Naruto dropped his end and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“…I was helping.”
“You were.”
Daichi nodded seriously.
“I couldn’t have done your half.”
Naruto grinned, completely missing the joke.
“I know.”
Kamui laughed so hard he had to steady himself against the shelf.
By the time the work was finished, the afternoon sun had begun to sink.
The market looked exactly as it had that morning.
Only now…
One more set of shelves stood against the wall.
Customers were already placing goods on them.
Nobody paid much attention to who had built them.
And somehow…
Kamui liked that.
He watched for a moment before picking up the empty toolbox.
“Ready?”
Daichi nodded.
“Let’s go home.”
The two carpenters pushed the cart back through the streets of Konoha while the village settled into another ordinary evening.
Behind them, life continued without pause.
Exactly as it should.