[Failure!]
[Success! Obtained: Standard Kunai ×1]
[Success! Obtained: Explosive Tag ×1]
[Success! Obtained: Three Military Rations Pills]
[Failure!]
[Success! Obtained: Random +1 Stat Boost Card]
Maruyama Shin had used up the remaining six corpse-looting attempts for the day.
He had to admit, while white corpses offered a high success rate, the rewards were mostly mediocre.
Six tries, and all he got of real value was a single Random +1 Stat Boost Card.
Better than nothing.
Without hesitation, he used it.
The system's familiar hexagonal roulette spun and eventually landed on "Mind," slightly increasing his chakra reserves.
With all his daily attempts spent, Shin gave the morgue a quick cleanup, locked the doors, and set off for the Ninja Academy.
He was going there for the earrings, he needed to deliver them to the little sister. Even if the gift would ultimately bring grief rather than joy, it was a promise that needed keeping.
As for the intelligence he got from the ANBU forehead protector, about the Iwa-nin lurking in the shadows and the impending Third Great Ninja War, he had no intention of reporting it to the higher-ups.
Not because he didn't care, but because he didn't have the right.
First off, there was no clean way to explain where the intel came from. The corpse had been processed by ANBU—surely they had checked it thoroughly. If he discovered something they didn't, they would absolutely demand an explanation, and ANBU wasn't a group you could fool with half-baked excuses.
Second, if an ANBU operative had managed to eavesdrop on an Iwa-nin conversation, then their presence in that area wasn't by accident. It was likely the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had already suspected something and sent them to investigate.
"I'm just a lowly genin who collects corpses. Protecting the village... that's a job for the big trees of Konoha."
He comforted himself with that thought as he stepped onto the familiar streets of the village.
Konoha was truly the richest hidden village in the shinobi world. The streets bustled with stores of every kind, and the people walking them wore smiles filled with peace and contentment.
Despite the looming dread in his heart, the atmosphere here helped ease the weight on his mind.
He arrived at the Ninja Academy.
It had been one of Konoha's strongest foundations. Shin had studied here for six years, though his graduation results were far from stellar. Still, the gatekeeper recognized him immediately.
"Ah, it's Shin."
Shin gave a sheepish grin and scratched the back of his head. "Uncle Tanpo, you're still as spry as ever."
"Hahaha, of course! What brings you here today, kid?"
"I wanted to ask Teacher Fukuda a few questions," Shin said with a hint of embarrassment.
Fukuda had been his homeroom teacher back in the day.
"I see. Go on in, but he might still be in class, don't disturb him, alright?" Tanpo nodded knowingly, giving a friendly reminder.
It wasn't common for Academy graduates to return and consult their old teachers, but it wasn't unheard of either.
Normally, after graduating from the Academy, each student would be assigned a jōnin instructor.
That instructor might be a seasoned chūnin, a special jōnin, or even a full jōnin. They were responsible for mentoring a squad of three for a year—the adaptation period.
Once the adaptation period ended, students could either continue working under the instructor or choose to leave the team.
Maruyama Shin, whose talent was average at best, chose to leave, he didn't want to drag the others down.
With his instructor's help, he found a relatively stable job. That job was what he did now: collecting corpses.
The pay wasn't great, but it was enough to live on.
And it was safe, especially in peacetime.
Students who stayed with their teams could ask their instructors for guidance. For someone like Shin, returning to ask his old teacher for advice was a reasonable alternative.
"Got it. Thanks." Shin nodded, then stepped into the campus, vibrant with youthful energy.
Tanpo watched him go and clicked his tongue thoughtfully. "Good kid… they're all good kids."
Following the memories from the earrings, Shin found the classroom where Kanae studied.
But the room was empty.
They must be out for outdoor training.
"Good, that'll spare us the awkwardness. I wouldn't even know what to say." Shin muttered.
He glanced at the seating chart taped to the door and located Kanae's desk.
The surface was clean and orderly, but in the corner of the desk, his eyes caught something—and he fell silent.
There were small, shallow marks. Faint, but clear. The number of marks matched exactly the number of days her sister had been away on missions.
Each one stood for her longing, her silent prayers, her hope that her sister would return safely...
He sighed quietly.
"This is what it means to be a ninja."
He pulled out the beautifully wrapped box and placed it gently on her desk before turning to leave the room.
But he didn't leave the school. He leaned against the hallway wall.
It was a simple story. Honest emotions.
In his previous life, if he had read something like this, he might've sighed at most—then moved on without a ripple in his heart.
But now, having lived it, everything felt different. Clearer. Deeper.
And he knew this kind of story of sisters, brothers, fathers, children, was happening all over Konoha.
This was only the tip of the iceberg. Yet from this sliver, you could glimpse the heaviness buried beneath it all. Beneath the towering weight of that invisible mountain were countless eyes full of longing, countless ordinary lives holding it up.
Soon, the students returned from outdoor class.
Among them was a frail-looking girl with plain clothes and a tired face. She didn't quite blend in with the others.
She took her seat and noticed the gift box on her desk.
Then she saw the card.
"Kanae, belated happy birthday. I'm sorry."
She froze.
Then, tears spilled from her eyes. Her lips trembled. Her hands clutched the box, shaking.
She didn't say a word.
But grief filled the entire room.
Some classmates who were close to her came forward, trying to comfort and support her.
Shin just stood quietly outside, leaning against the wall, watching the scene unfold.
He patted his pocket and realized—he didn't have a cigarette.
He had no intention of stepping inside.
She had probably known all along. All she had been waiting for was confirmation. What she needed now was to let it all out, to grieve. To place her sister in her heart and live on—study hard, and avoid following the same path.
Comfort was for civilians.
Ninjas didn't get that luxury.
It sounded cruel. But truthfully, more than half of all Konoha students had likely lived through the same thing.
Even someone as exceptional as Kakashi had watched his hero father die when he was just five.
The shinobi world was a twisted place, stitched together by sorrow and loss.
"Hey, is that you, Shin-senpai?"
A surprised voice broke the silence.
He looked up to see a boy with goggles and an overly dramatic demeanor.
Shin blinked. "Obito? Is this your class?"
Uchiha Obito. The man who would one day plunge the world into chaos and start the Fourth Great Ninja War… was now just a goofy underachiever.
Seeing him reminded Shin—wasn't Obito's fall into darkness also caused by the death of his teammate, Nohara Rin?
Tragedy happened every day.
Some people were born to walk into it.
"Yeah. Is something up with Kanae?" Obito asked cheerfully, slinging an arm over his shoulder like an old friend.
Shin just shook his head without answering.
Other students returned to class. Some greeted Shin politely, others gave a nod out of respect.
"Shin-senpai." Another voice called out.
This time, Shin moved.
He grabbed the speaker by the collar, startling him.
"Asuma, cigarettes. And a light."
Sarutobi Asuma froze, eyes flicking toward a red-eyed girl nearby. With a forced chuckle, he said, "Uh... c-come on, Shin-senpai. Stop messing around. I don't smoke!"
Yeah right.
Shin remembered all too well back in school, the kid once tried to mimic his old man, Hiruzen Sarutobi, smoking in the woods behind the building. Choked so hard he nearly passed out.
After that, he practically lived back there, leaving cigarette butts everywhere. Poor Tanpo had to sweep them up daily.
Sure enough, Shin reached into Asuma's pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and some matches.
He flicked one out, struck a match with practiced ease, and lit up.
The glowing ember, the first deep inhale—then a slow exhale. It carried out the weight in his chest.
Relief.
But Asuma looked like he'd just seen a ghost.
He could feel it, that familiar, ominous gaze behind him.
Obito made it worse by yelling, "Ohhh! Asuma, you're smoking? At your age?!"
If Obito knew, the whole class would know. No, the entire school.
Asuma's mind filled with one thought, if Dad finds out, I'm dead.
"Shin?"
The teacher arrived.
Shin tossed the cigarette and subtly stepped on it, then turned. "Teacher Fukuda."
Fukuda had taught both Shin and his current students like Asuma and Obito. Though not exactly close, they all knew each other.
Fukuda glanced at the still-smoking cigarette butt, then narrowed his eyes at the sheepish Asuma. But he smiled.
"Since you're here, why not share a few words about your experience as a ninja? Let these kids know what it really means."
Shin's gaze drifted toward Kanae, who was still hunched over her desk, her shoulders trembling.
He tightened his lips and shook his head.
"I think... they already know."
Fukuda followed his gaze. He saw Kanae. Given his years of experience, he quickly pieced the situation together.
He placed a hand on Shin's shoulder and said softly, "Ease up on the smoking."
Becoming a ninja meant learning to carry your own burdens. Though Shin was still young, Fukuda didn't scold him.
"Yeah," Shin replied quietly.
After exchanging a few words with Fukuda, he took his leave.
Only Asuma was left behind in a daze, stunned.
He'd gotten busted for smoking and lost his entire pack in the process!
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 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!