Night fell.
Qifeng had spent the entire day working before finally finishing the bodies in the Morgue.
Fortunately, Shikotsumyaku had also greatly enhanced his recovery ability. While it was not enough for a complete recovery, it was still far beyond what ordinary ninja could manage.
But the mental trauma remained, so he did not intend to wait until midnight to keep looting bodies. He planned to go back to sleep and soothe his wounded soul.
He had just stepped out of the Morgue and had not even had time to lock the door when he sensed a figure emerge from the shadows in the corner.
His heart jolted.
But just as he prepared to assume a defensive stance, he saw who the figure was.
Honestly, upon seeing this person, he would rather it had been an enemy trying to steal corpses.
Orochimaru!
Orochimaru stepped out of the shadows.
As respectful as ever, Qifeng said, "Lord Orochimaru."
Orochimaru studied Qifeng with great interest for a long while before saying, "Qifeng-kun, I have always been curious. The mist ninja in the Land of Hot Water last time, and the iwa-nin in the Land of Waterfalls this time, were both Jonin. How did you survive?"
His highly penetrating snake eyes locked tightly onto Qifeng.
Although he had answered this question more than once, Orochimaru still felt that Qifeng had left something unexplained.
Qifeng gave a simple-minded grin and calmly replied, "Luck. Konoha ninja have quite a good reputation in the Shinobi World."
The corners of Orochimaru's lips curled up. "Luck?"
That meaningful gaze made Qifeng extremely uncomfortable, as though none of his secrets could remain hidden before Orochimaru.
Yet he still forced his expression to remain steady, controlling every slight change in his face and revealing as little as possible.
He had no choice. If he wanted to continue quietly hiding away in the Morgue, concealing his strength and abilities was necessary.
Otherwise, not only Orochimaru, but Danzo would also set his sights on him.
That was what Qifeng feared most right now.
Even though Orochimaru had already developed a certain degree of curiosity about him because of his explanations and experiences.
Looks like I really need to fabricate this nonexistent ninja. Qifeng felt helpless.
He already had a rough plan. At the right time, he only needed to let this fabricated ninja "make an appearance."
Orochimaru did not glean much from Qifeng's face. Or rather, perhaps Orochimaru simply did not care what Qifeng intended to convey.
With his arms folded across his chest, he spoke again. "There is one more thing I do not quite understand. Qifeng-kun, why have you been so repulsed by me from the very first moment you saw me? It is a repulsion far greater than the reverence others show."
At those words, Qifeng stiffened.
Orochimaru's powers of observation truly were meticulous. Trying to hide anything in front of him was harder than reaching the heavens.
His thoughts raced.
Fortunately, he had already prepared some explanations to deal with a situation like this.
Scratching his head awkwardly, he gave an embarrassed laugh and explained, "Actually... reverence is one part of it. More than that, I'm afraid of snakes."
Mm, afraid of snakes.
That was not a lie, especially snakes named Orochimaru.
As for whether Orochimaru believed him, that was up to him.
Orochimaru did not laugh at him. Instead, he said seriously, "Afraid of snakes? Just as expected of Qifeng-kun."
Whenever he spoke with Orochimaru, it was impossible to tell whether he truly believed something or was merely pretending to.
So Qifeng decided not to continue this topic. Instead, he proactively shifted the conversation, trying to seize the initiative.
After pondering for a moment, he asked softly, "May I ask why Lord Orochimaru has come to the Morgue so late at night? Is there something you need me to do?"
Orochimaru stared at Qifeng and licked his lips. "Yes."
He walked over to a corpse whose appearance had been neatly arranged, gently resting his fingers on it as though caressing a work of art.
Then he said without context, "Our attitudes toward corpses are astonishingly similar, Qifeng-kun."
"..."
After saying that, he returned to the main subject. "The village will hold the Chunin Exams before long."
"Hm? The Chunin Exams? At a time like this?" Qifeng was somewhat stunned.
Even a Genin who collected corpses like him knew how tense the situation in the Shinobi World was right now. Holding the Chunin Exams at a time like this—were they not afraid that people from other villages would come cause trouble?
Then he quickly asked, "Lord Orochimaru, you do not intend to make me take the Chunin Exams, do you?"
Orochimaru kept his lips curled but did not answer. He merely looked at him with a smiling expression.
It was chilling.
Qifeng quietly swallowed. "...That won't be necessary, right? Being a Genin is quite good. Besides, I'm alone and do not even have a Genin team. I shouldn't go and inconvenience others."
"Do not worry. With your strength, Qifeng-kun, you will not need to take the so-called Chunin Exams."
Hearing that, Qifeng breathed a sigh of relief.
But Orochimaru's next words left him bewildered.
"I am having you serve as an examiner."
"An examiner? Me? A Genin?" Qifeng pointed at himself, unable to believe it.
What kind of joke was this? What right did a Genin like him have to become an examiner for the Chunin Exams?
"Of course not as a Genin." Orochimaru walked around the corpse and stopped before Qifeng, slowly bending down until his pale face filled Qifeng's vision.
"The mission in the Land of Hot Water and the mission in the Land of Waterfalls were ultimately rated as a-rank missions. Whether you completed them through luck or something else, the fact that you completed them proves that you should be able to shoulder greater responsibility.
"Therefore, I specifically applied to Teacher Sarutobi to have your ninja rank promoted to Chunin."
After saying that, he narrowed his eyes and silently waited for Qifeng's reaction.
Qifeng lowered his head, not daring to meet Orochimaru's eyes. After a long silence, he finally looked up. "Chunin... Does the pay increase?"
"...It does." Orochimaru was not quite sure what to make of his train of thought.
Qifeng gave an embarrassed laugh and asked curiously, "But doesn't a Genin have to pass the Chunin Exams to be promoted? Unless..."
"Unless they are Anbu, or wartime regulations have been activated," Orochimaru added.
He reached out and gently patted Qifeng on the shoulder. "Do you think it is too early to activate wartime regulations now?"
Too early?
Perhaps it would have been a little early before, but having personally taken part in the mission at Tori Mori Outpost, Qifeng felt it was not early at all.
Since he knew war was about to break out, it was better to prepare in advance than to have no preparations whatsoever.
He pursed his lips and shook his head.
But he still asked unwillingly, "Can I refuse?"
What was so good about being an examiner for the Chunin Exams? It was far more comfortable and safe to stay in the Morgue and loot bodies.
The significance of these Chunin Exams was clearly far from ordinary. Ninja from the various Great Hidden Villages would all come.
Exposing himself to their eyes and attracting unnecessary attention was not what he wanted.
To his surprise, Orochimaru nodded. "You can!"
But then he added, "Become my subordinate, and you will not have to participate."
"..."
After all that circling around, they were back here again.
Qifeng rubbed his nose awkwardly. "Uh... actually, participating in the Chunin Exams is not such a bad thing. I can make more friends. Of course I want to become Lord Orochimaru's subordinate, but I think my abilities are still lacking. I need more training."
Orochimaru smiled noncommittally, as though Qifeng's answer had not surprised him at all.
"In one week, Kumo-nin, mist ninja, and suna-nin will arrive one after another. Go report to Nara Shikaku beforehand. He will assign you a task."
After saying that, Orochimaru's body began to collapse like soft mud. In the end, he sank into the ground, leaving behind only a small snake that slithered leisurely out of the Morgue.
There was also a palm-sized black booklet: a Ninja ID.
Watching the little snake leave, Qifeng shoved his fingers into his hair and rubbed hard.
He picked up the Ninja ID and stared at the glaringly offensive word "Chunin."
"What the hell is this..."
More importantly, could they really hold the Chunin Exams at this point in time? Did they actually dare to?
It was just like organizing the Olympics on the eve of World War II in his previous life.
In his previous life, it had been Berlin, Germany. Here, it was Konoha Village in the Land of Fire...
Tsk.
Before you continue