The workshop doors were already open when the first rays of sunlight reached the street.
Kamui had gotten into the habit of arriving before everyone else.
Not because anyone asked him to.
Because he liked the quiet.
There was something peaceful about an empty workshop.
No hammers.
No voices.
Just the smell of fresh wood and the faint creak of old beams as the building slowly warmed under the morning sun.
He swept the floor, arranged the tools, and filled the kettle with water.
By the time the old carpenter arrived, steam was already drifting from the small iron pot.
The old man paused.
“You boiled water.”
Kamui looked up.
“I thought tea before work would improve morale.”
“…What’s morale?”
“The thing that makes people complain less.”
“Hm.”
The old carpenter hung his coat on the wall.
“It won’t work.”
Daichi entered a moment later.
He sniffed the air.
“Tea?”
Kamui pointed proudly.
“See?
Someone appreciates culture.”
Daichi poured himself a cup.
“It’s terrible.”
Kamui took a sip.
“…You’re right.”
The old carpenter nodded.
“Throw it away.”
“I spent fifteen minutes making this.”
“Spend another fifteen learning.”
Kamui sighed dramatically.
“Tough audience.”
The morning passed quickly.
Near noon, a customer arrived to collect a dining table the workshop had finished several days earlier.
It took all three of them to load it onto the wagon.
As the customer prepared to leave, he handed the old carpenter a pouch of coins.
The old man counted them once before tossing three coins toward Kamui.
“Your share.”
Kamui caught them.
“I thought I was just helping.”
“You worked.”
“So?”
“So you get paid.”
Kamui looked at the coins for a moment.
Then quietly slipped them into his pocket.
“…Thank you.”
The old carpenter pretended not to hear.
That afternoon, Kamui decided to celebrate.
Not with anything extravagant.
Just…
A proper lunch.
His feet carried him toward the familiar ramen stand.
The curtains swayed gently in the breeze.
“Welcome!”
Teuchi looked up from behind the counter.
“Oh.”
“The carpenter.”
Kamui smiled.
“I’ve been promoted.”
“From traveler?”
“To carpenter.”
“I’d call that progress.”
“I agree.”
He sat down.
“The usual?”
Teuchi asked.
Kamui blinked.
“I have a usual already?”
“You’ve ordered the same thing three times.”
“…Have I?”
Teuchi laughed.
“I pay attention.”
Kamui rested one elbow on the counter.
“That’s either excellent service…”
“…or mildly concerning.”
“It depends who you ask.”
While Teuchi prepared the ramen, Kamui glanced around the empty shop.
“Quiet today.”
Teuchi nodded.
“Academy is still in session.”
“Makes that much difference?”
“You’d be surprised.”
Kamui smiled.
“I think I know who you’re talking about.”
Teuchi chuckled.
“The loud blond one?”
“The very same.”
“He’ll probably be here after class.”
Kamui nodded.
“He likes your ramen that much?”
Teuchi stopped stirring the broth for just a second.
“It’s not just the ramen.”
Kamui didn’t interrupt.
Some answers deserved patience.
Teuchi finally smiled.
“Everyone should have a place where they’re welcomed.”
Kamui looked at him for a long moment.
Then smiled.
“I couldn’t agree more.”
Later that afternoon…
The Academy bell rang.
Children poured through the gates like water escaping a broken dam.
Some headed home.
Others stopped to play.
One blond boy sprinted faster than all the rest.
“OLD MAN TEEEEUUUCHI!”
The curtain flew open.
Naruto stopped.
“…Huh?”
The seat nearest the counter was empty.
He scratched his head.
“I thought…”
Teuchi looked up.
“What is it?”
Naruto glanced toward the doorway.
“…Nothing.”
He shrugged.
“One miso ramen!”
“You’ve got money today?”
Naruto proudly dropped several coins onto the counter.
“I’ve been saving!”
Teuchi laughed.
“Then today’s on you.”
“Deal!”
As the ramen cooked, Naruto looked at the empty stool beside him.
“…Weird.”
Teuchi placed the bowl in front of him.
“What is?”
“That weird carpenter guy.”
“The one named Kamui?”
“Yeah.”
Naruto picked up his chopsticks.
“I thought he’d be here.”
Teuchi smiled to himself.
“You were looking for him?”
Naruto nearly dropped his chopsticks.
“W-What?!”
“I was just wondering.”
“I wasn’t!”
“You sounded disappointed.”
“I DID NOT!”
Teuchi laughed.
Naruto groaned.
“You’re impossible.”
That evening…
Iruka stopped by the ramen stand after finishing paperwork.
Naruto was already gone.
Only Teuchi remained, wiping down the counter.
“Busy day?”
Iruka asked.
“The usual.”
Teuchi poured him some tea.
“You?”
Iruka accepted it gratefully.
“The usual.”
They both laughed.
After a moment, Teuchi spoke.
“You’ve met that new carpenter, haven’t you?”
“Kamui?”
Iruka nodded.
“I have.”
“What do you think?”
Iruka thought for a while.
Finally…
“I think…”
“…he listens.”
Teuchi raised an eyebrow.
“That’s all?”
Iruka smiled.
“You’d be surprised how rare that is.”
Across the village…
Kamui sat on the roof of the workshop.
The night breeze was cool.
Above him, the stars stretched across the sky.
He wasn’t thinking about destiny.
Or the future.
Or changing the world.
He was wondering if tomorrow’s tea would taste any better.
After a few moments, he laughed quietly to himself.
“…Probably not.”
Inside the workshop, the old carpenter heard the laughter through the open window.
He shook his head.
“That boy…”
“What now?”
Daichi asked.
The old man closed the window.
“…Nothing.”
But the corner of his mouth lifted just a little.