Konoha : Life in the Leaf

The sun had barely risen over the village of Konoha, and the streets were already alive with the sounds of a bustling morning. Villagers passed by Daichi's modest workshop, going about their daily routines—some rushing, others leisurely strolling. Daichi, however, seemed perpetually in a hurry, though he had no particular place to be. His hands, calloused from years of carpentry, gripped his toolbox with a firmness that was more out of habit than necessity. He walked through the streets with the air of a man who had seen too much. He grumbled as he passed the ninja training grounds, where young shinobi were shouting in excitement, hurling kunai and performing jutsu.

He stopped briefly in his tracks, glancing up at the Hokage Monument, the proud faces of Konoha's leaders carved into stone. The morning sunlight illuminated the massive figures of past Hokages—except for one face, which had been vandalized. Bright orange paint had splashed across the stone in the shape of a mischievous grin.

"Not him again," Daichi muttered under his breath.

He wasn't the only one who noticed. Ahead of him, the familiar sight of Naruto Uzumaki sprinted past, with two Jonin hot on his heels, shouting at him in vain to stop. Naruto, painted head to toe in bright orange, was laughing as he sprinted across the village.

"I'm gonna be Hokage one day! Believe it!" he shouted, his voice full of defiance.

Daichi sighed, shaking his head in disdain. The kid was always up to something. Always in trouble. He had no respect for anything. Not even the Hokages themselves. Daichi grumbled and continued walking, muttering more to himself than anyone else.

"That kid's a nuisance," he muttered. 

He turned his attention away from the commotion and continued on his way, heading toward the cemetery. He had a stop to make—a personal one. His father's grave.

The cemetery was quiet, as it always was in the morning. A few villagers tended to graves, but it was mostly still. The towering trees cast long shadows, and Daichi walked through the narrow paths, his boots crunching against the gravel. He arrived at the plot where his father had been laid to rest—close to the memorial wall, where fallen heroes were honored.

Daichi knelt beside the grave, setting down a small wooden plaque. It had taken him hours to carve, the kanji for "Father" etched deep into the surface. He sighed deeply, his face hard, but his eyes betrayed a long-hidden pain.

"Father…" Daichi whispered, his voice catching. "It's been ten years. I still remember the sound of that night… The attack. The Kyūbi. It's been so long, but it feels like it was just yesterday."

He clenched his fists. The memories were always there, always hovering at the edge of his mind. The destruction, the chaos, the helplessness. Konoha's ninjas couldn't protect them. Couldn't protect his father.

"I would give anything… Anything just to see you again, just for a moment," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

As Daichi knelt in silence, a figure in the distance caught his eye—a masked man. The figure stood still by a nearby grave, his back to Daichi. For a moment, Daichi watched, trying to make out the man's face. The mask was too thick, the cloak too dark to discern anything.

The figure was calm, composed, and radiated a quiet sorrow. Daichi frowned. Something about the scene felt familiar, though he couldn't quite place it. His gaze lingered for a moment longer before he sighed and stood up.

Daichi didn't linger much longer, his mood growing darker by the minute. He left the cemetery and walked toward his workshop, his mind clouded with frustration. The weight of the village's reliance on ninjas, and his inability to let go of the past, hung heavy in the air around him.

The sounds of the village faded as he reached his shop, a small, cluttered space tucked away in the corner of the market street. The bell on the door jingled as he stepped inside, the familiar scent of wood and varnish greeting him. He placed his toolbox on the workbench and took a deep breath, trying to center himself before getting back to work.

It wasn't long before the bell rang again, and a customer walked in. The man was middle-aged, dressed in clothes that looked a little too worn for someone who lived in Konoha, and his face was plastered with an overly eager grin.

"Ah, Daichi! I've heard you're the best carpenter in town!" the man said, his voice overly cheerful.

Daichi looked up, half-expecting the man to ask for some impossible, intricate work. He wasn't disappointed.

The man set down a rickety wooden shelf on the counter. "This thing's been in my family for years," he said with exaggerated reverence. "Can you fix it for me?"

Daichi squinted at the shelf, inspecting it. It was a mess—a broken leg, warped planks, and what looked like a large stain. The man had clearly been using it as a footrest.

"I can fix it, but it'll cost you," Daichi said, eyeing the man warily.

The man winced at the price. "Four thousand ryō? Isn't that a little much for a shelf like this?"

Daichi narrowed his eyes. "That's the price. If you want it done right, you'll pay it."

The man grinned nervously. "Well, how about three thousand? I'm a regular customer, you know…"

Daichi slammed his hand down on the counter, startling the man.

"You want a deal?" Daichi snapped. "I'll give you a deal. I'll take this shelf, break it into pieces, and you'll pay double for me to fix it!"

The man recoiled, his face turning pale. He quickly muttered, "Fine, fine! Four thousand, just don't break it!"

Daichi gave him a look that was as cold as the winter air and pushed the shelf toward him. "Good. Come back in two days."

The man scurried out of the shop, muttering apologies under his breath. Daichi leaned back against the counter, taking a moment to breathe before returning to his work.

"Some people…" Daichi muttered, shaking his head. "They think they can haggle with me like I'm some street vendor."

In the cozy, dimly lit Maya Tea House, the scent of fresh green tea mingled with the faint aroma of incense. Daichi sat across from Genji, a retired ninja whose stern demeanor seemed etched into his weathered face. They shared a small table by the window, the morning sun filtering through paper screens, casting soft shadows.

"Genji-sama," Daichi began, his voice tinged with exasperation as he poured himself a cup of tea. "Did you see what that kid did today?"

Genji raised an eyebrow, his expression one of mild curiosity. "What did he do this time?"

Daichi leaned forward, his frustration evident. "He destroyed the Hokage Monument. Splattered paint all over it. Can you believe it?"

Genji let out a low, weary sigh and shook his head. "Again? That kid has no respect, not even for the Hokage. I don't understand why Sarutobi keeps letting him run wild."

Daichi's voice hardened, his fingers tightening around his tea cup. "If it were up to me, that eyesore would be locked up in prison where he belongs."

Maya, the tea house's owner and a woman with a serene presence, approached their table with a tray. Setting down a fresh pot of tea, she gave Daichi a pointed look. "Just leave him alone," she said calmly. "The boy just wants attention."

"That is the same mindset that produces brats like him," Daichi retorted, his tone sharp and dismissive.

Before anyone could respond, the tea house door swung open with a loud creak. In walked a young man with spiky hair and an overconfident grin plastered across his face. "Hello, hello, everyone! My name is Keronu," he announced, his voice booming as he strode in. "I want to take a moment of your time to show you something you simply can't resist!"

Maya, ever curious, leaned forward, her eyes lighting up. "What is it? What is it?"

Keronu reached into his bag with dramatic flair and pulled out a small, shiny pendant dangling from a cord. "This," he declared, holding it up for all to see, "is a lucky pendant infused with a unique luck ninjutsu!"

Maya gasped, her hands clasped together. "Really?"

Genji, unimpressed, scoffed. "There's no such thing as luck ninjutsu."

"Yeah," Daichi added, crossing his arms. "Scram, you scammer."

Keronu, undeterred, flashed a toothy grin. "I assure you, nee-san, I am no scammer. This pendant will improve your fortune in every way—wealth, health, even luck with the ladies!"

Maya burst into giggles, quickly covering her mouth with her hands to hide her amusement.

Daichi's eyebrow twitched. "What do you know about my luck with the ladies?"

Keronu tilted his head, his grin widening. "You just look like someone without any."

This time, Genji couldn't hold back his laughter, a rare moment of amusement lighting up his usually stern face.

Daichi shot up from his seat, his chair scraping against the wooden floor. "That does it!" he growled, reaching out to grab Keronu by the collar. The two men scuffled briefly, their movements clumsy and chaotic, until Genji finally stood and placed a firm hand on Daichi's shoulder.

"That's enough," Genji said, his voice steady but commanding. "Sit down."

Daichi relented, letting go of Keronu with a frustrated huff. Keronu straightened his shirt, grinning smugly as he backed away.

Before the tension could escalate further, the tea house door opened again. A man in a simple uniform stepped inside, his expression serious. "I'm looking for Daichi-san," he announced, scanning the room.

Daichi turned to face him, his irritation giving way to cautious curiosity. "Yeah, that's me. Who's asking?"

The man nodded respectfully. "The Hokage's office sent me. They need your help with a door that's been broken into or something."

Daichi's expression softened slightly, the prospect of work calming him. "Oh, okay. I'm coming," he said, grabbing his coat as he prepared to leave.