In the southwest corner of Konoha, the bustling workshop had shut down. Even the plumes of black smoke drifting skyward had grown much thinner.
Inside, workers stood shoulder to shoulder, not minding the dust on one another's clothes. All eyes were fixed on the special tea kettle resting on the table after being quenched and cooled.
"It's finished."
Kohei, whom everyone had been eagerly waiting on, carefully turned the kettle over in his hands, then exhaled a cloud of smoke and gave his verdict.
Excitement didn't erupt into cheers. Some of the more sentimental, bare-chested men even couldn't help stifling quiet sobs.
Making a ninja tool to seal a Tailed Beast sounded simple, but no one in the Shinobi World had ever done it before.
Every member of the Takumi Clan had tasted the hardship and bitterness of the research and production process.
Although Konoha had supplied them with materials without pause, their initial failure rate had reached a staggering ninety percent.
That had made them doubt the forging techniques they'd always prided themselves on. Fortunately, time had helped them regain their confidence, and they had completed Konoha's commission admirably.
At last, they could set down the burden they'd carried and relax. After all, they'd seen with their own eyes just how prosperous Konoha was.
Kohei turned his pipe downward and shook out the burning tobacco. Then, with a sudden leap, he landed on the table.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
The sound of his pipe striking the tabletop rang through the workshop. He put on a stern face and warned them, "Don't go into Konoha and pay back all the commission money you've earned over the past two years. And don't cause trouble when you drink. If the Police Force arrests you, I won't swallow my pride and go bail you