Collecting Corpses (Seeking Collection, Recommendations, Monthly Votes)

All the way, he silently led the Mist Ninja squad, including Kisame Hoshigaki, toward the designated entrance.

Every moment, every second, he felt a prickling sensation on his back, like a thorn digging in.

As if a shark had locked onto him by the scent of blood.

That feeling was extremely unpleasant, giving Qifeng the urge to turn around right then and there and smash every last tooth out of that shark's mouth.

But his position prevented him from doing so.

He could only pull out a cigarette and light it, smoking to himself.

Soon.

They arrived at the designated entrance.

"It's here."

He stepped aside, leaving the entrance open for them.

The three Mist Ninja gave him a long, hard look. The last one, Kisame Hoshigaki, bared his sharp shark teeth and grinned at him.

Qifeng's heart tightened slightly, but he said nothing.

Not until the three figures had completely vanished into the dark cave.

"Kisame Hoshigaki's corpse... that's a bit tempting," Qifeng murmured to himself.

Right now, Kisame Hoshigaki was still young. He hadn't become one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, nor had he obtained the boost of Samehada.

Kisame Hoshigaki with Samehada was the true Tailed Beast Without a Tail. Their combination was arguably the most fitting among all the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

But that didn't stop Qifeng from coveting his body. His corpse.

The reason Kisame Hoshigaki could snatch Samehada from Suikazan Fuguki wasn't just because of his strength or Uchiha Obito's help—it was also because, to Samehada, his chakra tasted better.

Kisame Hoshigaki's appearance was unsettling, but in return, heaven had gifted him a rather special trait.

He could store an immense amount of chakra, and after spending a long time with Samehada, he had also mastered a certain ability to absorb chakra.

If he could get his corpse, maybe he could get a handle on that special constitution.

Rubbing his chin, "A body like that should interest Orochimaru. Should I tell him?"

He thought about it. Better not.

"Forget it. I'll just play it safe. Bite off more than you can chew, and you choke. It's good enough if I can thoroughly figure out Shikotsumyaku and the Sharingan."

Don't go provoking Orochimaru.

He was scared.

He pulled out another cigarette and strolled slowly toward the Morgue.

His second-round task was corpse collection, but he didn't have to wait around at the Terrifying Cave every day. Coming once every other day to collect a batch was enough. Right now, he wanted to go back and get a good nap.

It had been a long time since he'd woken up this early.

For Qifeng as he was now, nothing was more comfortable than waking up at noon, taking a shower, and sitting in his favorite sunny spot to bask in the warmth.

A box of pungent herbal cigarettes.

A clumsy, rough novel from the ninja world.

Watching the bustling crowd outside that had fully stirred to life since dawn, people coming and going, struggling for a living—while he, separated by just one district, stole a half-day's leisure.

This, perhaps, was the true taste of life.

To carve out such a quiet corner in the ninja world was no easy feat.

So Qifeng treasured his current job.

"If no one bothered me, it'd be even more comfortable."

He glanced at Might Guy, who was frantically cleaning the Morgue, and felt a bit helpless.

He shifted into a Ge You Lie.

"If only there were no wars. The ninja world wouldn't be a bad place to retire."

Retiring in the ninja world—probably only he could come up with that.

Leisurely time always passed so quickly.

Evening.

He arrived at the central monitoring room of the Terrifying Cave.

Inside were not only the higher-ups of Konoha but also the leading Jonin from various Great Hidden Villages—every one of them a powerhouse renowned across the ninja world.

Qifeng's arrival was utterly insignificant, drawing little attention.

Only Nara Chuichi noticed him and waved him over.

Qifeng walked up to him and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

The atmosphere in this monitoring room was terrifyingly oppressive. Compared to it, the horror in the Terrifying Cave was nothing at all.

Nara Chuichi gave a bitter smile. "Things aren't looking good. Konoha's Genin are being targeted."

Wasn't this to be expected?

Qifeng didn't find it surprising at all.

Right now, the entire ninja world's situation was simply that the major hidden villages were eyeing Konoha with restless intent. The reason they'd agreed to participate in this Chunin Exams was only because no village was willing to be the first to stick its neck out, suffer Konoha's frenzied counterattack, or worse, pave the way for others.

Of course, the lack of mutual trust among the major hidden villages was also a major factor.

Otherwise, Konoha would have been destroyed long ago.

Still, Qifeng thought Konoha's decision to hold these Chunin Exams before war broke out was a good move.

It could both probe the intentions of other villages and showcase Konoha's strength to deter them. Even if it couldn't prevent war, delaying it a bit to give Konoha more breathing room would be excellent.

The plan was sound, but it meant Konoha's Genin would inevitably face vicious attacks.

Because the other villages were all the more eager to probe Konoha's depths.

So, since that was the plan, the severity of the situation was inevitable.

But he couldn't let his expression show anything too out of place, and continued asking, "That tough?"

Nara Chuichi nodded. "Kisame Hoshigaki of the Mist, Baki of the Sand, and Darui of the Cloud—they're all strong, definitely Chunin-level or higher. The villages came well-prepared."

"Didn't Konoha?" Qifeng was a bit surprised.

Shouldn't it?

This was Konoha. How could they not have prepared at all?

Not to mention Hiruzen Sarutobi, that old schemer Danzō would definitely stop at nothing to protect Konoha's face.

At that, Nara Chuichi's expression brightened slightly. "Elder Danzō sent people."

That settled it.

Danzō wouldn't sit by and let ninja from other villages run rampant in Konoha. He definitely had that much capability. He might not be good at open, aboveboard tactics, but underhanded schemes and dirty tricks? He was a master.

"But Konoha's already lost fifteen Genin." Nara Chuichi said regretfully.

"That many?"

No wonder the atmosphere in the monitoring room was so cold.

"Then why are they wearing such bitter, resentful expressions too?" Qifeng jerked his chin.

He pointed at the Mist's leading Jonin, Suikazan Fuguki, the Cloud's leading Jonin, Dodai, and the Sand's leading Jonin, Rasa.

"Because they've started fighting each other too." Nara Chuichi shrugged.

Qifeng raised an eyebrow. "Good riddance."

Things weren't as troublesome as he'd imagined.

Ninja—killing was just part of the job.

He even thought the first and third rounds of the Chunin Exams were unnecessary. Just go straight to the second round and fight to the death.

War was coming anyway, why bother with all this extra nonsense?

But that was for the big shots to worry about. Right now, he had his own task.

"I'll head out, then?"

Nara Chuichi nodded. "Be careful."

"Of course."

He valued his own life more than anyone else here, but he didn't believe any of these Genin would lay a hand on him, a Chunin Examiner.

No need for that, and no benefit in it.

Leaving the oppressive monitoring room, he entered the Terrifying Cave through the downstairs entrance. With a detailed map in hand, the locations of the bodies were clearly marked.

Corpse Collector, online and collecting corpses.

First up was a group of Konoha Genin. Their deaths were clean—all killed with a single slash to the throat. Probably the work of either Mist or Cloud ninja.

He silently mourned them for three minutes.

Stowing the bodies, he immediately moved to the next area.

So many dead in just half a day—his workload was heavy.