By the time Maruyama Shin returned to Konoha, it was already noon the next day.
Using his injuries as an excuse, he wrapped up the mission with minimal effort. He handed over the corpses of three Konoha shinobi to the Intelligence Division, then left.
After all, the Intelligence Division would extract information from the bodies first, and in the end, the corpses would be returned to him. No need to rush.
As for Yūhi Shinku and Sarutobi Hiruzen's inquiries about the powerful Earth Release user who killed Kaguya Chihaya, he simply claimed ignorance, saying he had blacked out and knew nothing.
Watching Shin's back as he walked away, Hiruzen took a deep puff from his pipe, the smoke curling up beside a visibly restless Shinku.
"Shinku."
"Hmm?" Shinku blinked in surprise.
"It really wasn't him?"
Shinku smiled faintly. "Shin's a good kid, no doubt, but there's no way he could pull something like that off. The Chūnin from the Mist? Maybe. But Kaguya Chihaya…"
He shook his head.
Hiruzen chuckled lightly. "True. Age makes one prone to wishful thinking. How I wish Konoha had another genius like that right now."
It was a troubled time.
The major hidden villages were growing increasingly restless. The Mist's brazen provocation this time was clearly a test, meant to gauge Konoha's strength.
Thinking of powerful shinobi inevitably brought to mind the late "White Fang of the Leaf," Sakumo Hatake.
If Sakumo were still alive, his presence alone could deter an entire village. Konoha wouldn't be in such a precarious state.
Although his three disciples—Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade—had all grown into formidable shinobi capable of leading forces, none could quite match Sakumo's overwhelming presence.
If only Konoha could produce a few more shinobi of that caliber, things would be much easier.
Shinku was well aware of the anxiety weighing on Hiruzen's heart. He, too, had long harbored a certain idea, one that he had been suppressing. Now seemed like the perfect time.
"Lord Hokage, I've thought this through. I've decided to withdraw from the ANBU. I hope you'll approve."
"Why?" Hiruzen was a bit taken aback.
Shinku was highly capable, with a strong record of mission success. He was one of the few ANBU Hiruzen could still rely on.
Shinku pressed his lips together. "I feel the oppressive nature of the ANBU isn't quite right for me. Maybe… I'm better suited to teaching. Training a new generation of Konoha shinobi, passing on my experience so they can grow into powerful warriors in their own right."
"Oh? That's your thinking?"
Shinku nodded.
"But assigning you to the Ninja Academy feels like a waste of your talents. Here's an idea—why don't we establish a combat training camp? You'll serve as its instructor, specializing in battlefield survival and tactics for Genin and Chūnin. Help reduce unnecessary casualties."
Hiruzen immediately envisioned a more fitting use for Shinku's strength.
A seasoned, powerful shinobi like him could make a real difference in helping Konoha's young ninjas survive.
With war on the horizon, the timing was perfect.
"Yes, sir!" Shinku responded firmly.
Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Lord Hokage, for the training camp to run smoothly, I'd like to request someone."
"Who? Maruyama Shin?"
"That's right."
…
"What? A training camp? No. Nope. Not going."
Shin, lounging in a rocking chair and still nursing his injuries, quickly fired off three refusals the moment Shinku brought it up.
Was this a joke?
He was supposed to go collect corpses for Genin and Chūnin trainees?
Sure, that didn't sound too bad, but more likely, once he spent time with those campers, he'd start forming bonds. Then, in the heat of battle, his compassion would kick in and he'd rush in to save them.
And then? No more corpses to collect.
Shin knew himself well—he wasn't the type to watch someone die and do nothing.
He just wanted to be a heartless corpse collector.
Heartless. Corpse collector. Two simple descriptors. That's all he needed.
In theory, the more people died in Konoha, the happier he should be.
"Think it over. I can pass on a lot of real shinobi experience. Might keep you safer down the line," Shinku said, sitting beside him and offering a cigarette.
Shin glanced at him.
A single cigarette to buy him off?
Who did this guy think he was dealing with?
Besides, experience?
After using the Jōnin-level experience card from Miura Ichigo and the quasi-Kage-level one from Akagi Tsukasa, he honestly didn't think Shinku had much to teach him.
"No thanks," Shin said, taking a long drag with a look that screamed, "I'm a burnout. Don't bother me."
I'm just a salted fish.
And I enjoy the salted fish lifestyle.
He shifted his position for maximum comfort, reclining like a slacker in a lazy afternoon pose. Curiously, he asked, "Why me? Konoha's got tons of capable Genin and Chūnin. Kakashi's a solid choice."
Shinku gritted his teeth at Shin's relaxed attitude.
How could a civilian-born shinobi turn down such a golden opportunity?
He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the urge to punch him.
If this were his own kid, acting so aimless, he'd have smacked him long ago.
"I feel like you and I have a connection."
"…Really?"
Shin rolled his eyes.
"I'll tell you a secret, but in exchange, please stop pestering me, Shinku-senpai. I just want to quietly take care of corpses. Some jobs, someone has to do."
"Let's hear it."
Shinku felt a headache coming on. This kid was impossible to persuade.
"Asuma's chasing your daughter," Shin said bluntly.
Boom.
Shinku shot to his feet, eyes wide, muttering, "I knew it… I knew it…"
Without another word, he vanished.
Shin shrugged. Since he had already dragged Asuma into trouble once, Shinku would figure it out eventually anyway. Might as well go all in.
He silently observed a moment of mourning for Asuma.
Kids in the shinobi world really did mature early—falling into love and heartbreak way too young.
Take Uchiha Obito, for instance. Still barely grown, but the moment Nohara Rin died, he went full-on dark mode.
Totally unhealthy. Their minds weren't even fully formed. That kind of love was just blind infatuation.
"I'm doing this for your own good, Asuma."
Yup. For your own good.
The salted fish rolled over, continuing to enjoy the quiet, peaceful afternoon sunlight.
"Feels like I forgot something… Like there was something I didn't finish… Whatever. I'll nap for a bit. So tired."
Outside the Land of Hot Water, Kakashi was supporting a barely conscious Itō Ki as they slowly made their way toward the Land of Fire…
…
Night fell.
The cool breeze that followed the sunset swept across Shin's body, making him shiver and wake up.
Anyone who's tried it knows—after baking in the sun all afternoon, the evening air feels bone-chillingly cold.
Shin staggered to his feet from the rocking chair, pulled his clothes tighter, and shivered again.
His body felt cold, but inside, a fire was burning bright.
He rubbed his hands together.
It was time for the thrilling part—the draw.
In the deep silence of night, it was the perfect time to commune with the dead.
He returned to the morgue and laid out the corpses of Kaguya Chihaya and Kurisame Yamato.
"No way I'll break even on this, but maybe I can recover a little. Otherwise, this whole thing's a loss. I won't be taking risks like that again."
Without a trump card, his heart just didn't feel at ease.
As always, before looting, he prepared the corpses.
Enemy or not, whatever harm they had caused him in life no longer mattered now that they were dead.
The dead deserved respect, and Shin carefully gave them a proper final touch.
Kaguya Chihaya's body… well, it was in rough shape. He did his best.
With everything set, and the clock nearing midnight, Shin finally began the draw.
[Yellow-tier corpse. Success rate: 30%. Attempt? (3/3 for this corpse, 9/9 for today)]
He hadn't drawn anything yesterday, so the count had reset. Perfect.
[Confirm: Yes!]
************************
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 450 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!