Chapter 68: Them Again!

“Hurry, hurry, move everything out—don’t leave a single kunai behind!”

“First, tie them up—tight, now. If they wake, it’s all over.”

“Idiot! Why are you taking off his pants? What? You like the pants? Just carry him back and strip him later!”

“Fool! How much are canned goods worth? A single captive could feed you canned food for a lifetime.”

“Don’t be picky. There are so many explosive tags stuffed into his crotch—aren’t you worried about blowing yourself up?”

“These ballistae are valuable too. Dismantle everything and take them!”

“Lie, stop grabbing loot and slap explosive tags all over the tower!”

…

Baimu barked orders at the group, determined to strip the watchtower bare.

As expected of the Leaf Village, the entire tower was packed with supplies like a battlefield warehouse: crates upon crates piled high with bolts and explosive tags, and plenty of high-quality nutrient pills to ensure the scouts had enough chakra. The canned food wasn’t even worth mentioning—no one bothered with it anymore.

“Hurry, grab the valuables! We evacuate in ten minutes!” Baimu fretted about Leaf reinforcements arriving.

The rogue ninja, usually lazier than dogs and always reluctant to do anything, were now as excited as newlyweds entering the bridal chamber. They carried captives on their left shoulders, boxes on their right, stuffed their clothes with kunai, shuriken, and explosive tags—ignoring their injuries—with mouths full of nutrient pills and healing medicine, faces flushed from the excess.

“You can’t just eat like that! You’re wasting them!” Pharmacist Ryo stamped his feet, clutching several medical kits.

One fool had even found a box of three-colored pills on an Akimichi, picked his favorite green one, swallowed it, and immediately turned as red as if his skin were on fire. He kicked aside the pack mule and hauled the goods three miles himself.

“Boss, look, there’s another kid here! He’s super cute!” Sanji excitedly carried over a Hyuga ninja clad in white robes.

Baimu lifted his forehead protector—sure enough, it bore the teal Caged Bird seal. He shook his head. “Too bad he’s not from the main family.”

“Not worth much, huh…” Sanji said, disappointed.

Like locusts sweeping through, in less than half an hour, the entire watchtower was stripped bare—even rats would leave in tears.

Baimu gazed at the tower, now plastered with a dense web of explosive tags, all connected by fuses—just a spark of fire chakra would blow the whole place sky-high.

“System, record this scene for me. Someday, I’ll make a poster and hang it above my bed.”

He stood alone before the tower, straightened his cloak, spat into his palm and slicked back his bangs, then struck his most dashing pose.

“Let your art explode!”

“Let devastation reign in this chaotic world!”

He struck his lighter, flicked his long hair, turned his back to the tower, and tossed the lighter over his shoulder, striding away without looking back.

But a long moment passed—no explosion.

“Damn! I missed!” Baimu hurriedly turned back to retrieve the lighter.

He spun around—only to find three unexpected figures.

Hayate Moonlight, Yugao Uzuki, and an elderly, hunched man carrying a black iron pot.

The lighter was now in Hayate's palm.

“Oh-ho! Our friends have arrived!” Afei whistled gleefully.

“We came as fast as we could… Is it really lost already…?” The old man with the iron pot stared in agony at the tower covered in explosive tags, but no one bothered to answer.

“Baimu… Why is it you?” Yugao’s voice trembled.

“Heh… I find it strange too—life is so unpredictable. How is it I always run into you two?” Baimu eyed them with interest, surprised by the recurring encounters.

“Why did you join Stone? Did you never consider us? We were friends…” Hayate’s grip tightened on his sword.

“Friends… Ha, ha, ha… Friends? You were nothing more than stepping stones for me to get into Leaf. Ha, ha, ha… Too bad your damned commander was too smart.” Baimu’s laughter was manic, then instantly twisted with resentment.

“Don’t you… don’t you have any bonds left?” Yugao’s eyes reddened.

“Bonds… what do they mean? Can you eat them?” Baimu snapped his own finger with a crack, pain twisting his face into madness.

They wouldn’t allow him time to recover, and this fight needed to end quickly—Leaf would never send just one squad.

“Comrades slaying each other, a great sword plunging sorrowfully into a friend, blood splattering—truly the most beautiful tragedy in the world! How thrilling!” Afei, a villain himself, transformed into white venom and wrapped around Baimu.

“No more talking. End him now. There are no bodies in the tower—we can still catch up and rescue the hostages!” The old man had already checked inside.

“Being teammates with these two is a real misfortune—two dead in a single month.” Baimu eyed the weathered old man, feeling he looked familiar.

“I may be a lifelong genin, but I’m not so easy to kill,” the old man said, resolute. He didn’t know Baimu and had no intention of showing mercy.

“What… a lifelong genin…” Baimu’s eyes widened, fear creeping in.

The terror of Leaf lay not with the Hokage, but with those mysterious, eternal genin—each capable of earth-shattering power.

“May I ask which ‘lifelong genin’ you are?”

“No need for honorifics. I am Marusei Kosuke.” The old man spoke calmly, not expecting anyone to recognize his name.

In the original story, his presence was fleeting, easily forgotten without a name. But once named, all the intelligence came rushing back.

As a youth, Marusei Kosuke had made a fatal mistake in command during a mission, resulting in the deaths of his two partners. In penitence, he swore to the Second Hokage never to advance beyond genin.

Yet his strength had long since reached jonin level. Many renowned ninja had taken missions with him, learned from him. Even at sixty-something, no longer at his peak, his abilities remained formidable.

Leaf’s choice was meticulous—Marusei Kosuke was a considerate senior, gentle and attentive, his cooking and survival skills surpassing even his swordsmanship. Entrusting him with a frail child was the perfect decision.

He was also a personal guard to the Second Hokage, trained in the Leaf Style Willow Mirage Sword, able to teach it to two children learning Leaf Style swordsmanship.

“But since you’re not a monster like Might Duy, let’s fight!” Baimu beckoned at the three, his gesture light and mocking.