The ninja called Eishō looked at the medical examiner, who said calmly:
"Don't worry, the corpse has been specially treated. The virus inside has been completely eliminated—it's safe."
Eishō nodded and began carefully examining every inch of my skin.
He looked very thoroughly—truly not sparing even private areas like armpits and... well, you know.
Damn, I couldn't help wanting to curse. You big guy, why are you so perverted, staring at a grown man's... what are you even looking at!
Unfortunately, I was just a corpse with no ability to resist, so I could only let it happen.
"Mm."
Eishō finally ended his "perverted behavior."
"Aside from some hemorrhoids, no obvious external injuries. Meets requirements."
"Mm."
Kakuzu-sama nodded, gently pinching my chin with his hand. My mouth instantly opened. Kakuzu carefully observed my teeth.
"Look, there are still flaws. Knock out these two gold teeth and replace them with porcelain ones. Upper-class people—how could they possibly use such cheap stuff?"
Cheap?! Damn, those two teeth cost me five thousand ryō to fill! Was it poverty that limited my imagination?
Kakuzu-sama then picked up my arm, looking at my fingernails.
"These nails also need trimming. Since he's supposedly from the Dōhei family's young master, he couldn't possibly be this sloppy. These nails are too long, and there's dirt underneath—find someone to clean them properly."
Kakuzu-sama put down my hand and looked at my hair.
"As for the hair, just shave it all off. Our Hidden Sand Village has always had the fine tradition of leadership children charging to the front lines. Even if just for show, they'd shave their heads bald. Having such long hair clearly shows he stayed in the rear—doesn't look right."
Kakuzu-sama looked me up and down once more.
"Those are the current issues. First find someone to clean him up. Eishō, you go purchase clothing and equipment—can't use new stuff."
"Understood."
Eishō nodded and withdrew.
"What's his name?"
Kakuzu-sama asked.
"Called Kitarō, an honest and dutiful genin."
Commander Roshikuya answered.
Kakuzu-sama thought for a moment, then actually bowed to me. Commander Roshikuya followed suit.
What the! What the! How could a small fry like me deserve such formal courtesy from two commanders? Were they holding a memorial service for me? I didn't seem qualified for that either.
"Kitarō, today we must borrow your corpse to complete a great plan. If the plan succeeds, you will become a hero of Hidden Sand Village. Your name will be remembered by thousands of Hidden Sand descendants."
Oh, so that's how it is. Then this thing's worth doing—maybe I could even be enshrined in the "Imperial Ancestral Temple."
The Temple of Fire was lost by the Fire Country daimyo last month. With one command from the Kazekage, the Temple of Fire was converted into Hidden Sand Village's "Imperial Ancestral Temple." The memorial tablets of past Fire Country daimyo were moved to side halls, while the main hall was dedicated specifically to martyrs who died fighting for Hidden Sand Village throughout history—the greatest posthumous honor for any ninja.
After Kakuzu-sama finished speaking, he and Roshikuya-sama withdrew. Soon after, a whole crowd rushed in—some shaving my head, some fixing my teeth, some trimming my nails, all bustling about.
After half a day, Kakuzu-sama came again. This time Commander Roshikuya didn't follow, but that intelligence division ninja called Eishō came carrying a pile of things.
"Eighty percent new standard ninja combat uniform."
Eishō picked up a set of clothes to show Kakuzu.
Kakuzu said nothing, just nodded.
"Ninety percent new lambswool headwrap."
Hidden Sand ninja regularly executed missions in the desert—headwraps were essential, and lambswool headwraps were top-grade among headwraps.
"Mm."
Kakuzu still just nodded.
"Hourglass Group-produced Steel Heart tactical watch, also eighty percent new."
"The waterproof model?"
Kakuzu-sama asked.
"Yes."
Eishō answered.
"This is the ninja tool pouch—ten kunai, five waterproof explosive tags, four smoke bombs, one Damascus tactical ninja blade, one medical kit, one tactical face paint."
"Add two military chocolate bars."
Kakuzu supplemented.
"Good, I happen to have some."
Eishō put on gloves and pulled two bars from his own ninja tool pouch, placing them inside.
"What else?"
Kakuzu asked.
"There's also this..."
Eishō pulled out a wallet—clearly high-end goods made from desert black lizard leather, though the edges showed some wear, about eighty percent new.
Eishō opened the wallet and took out the contents one by one for introduction.
"Ninja certificate."
Kakuzu took it and looked—seventy percent new, with Kitarō's photo on it, but the name was different now: Dōhei Saburō.
"Is this from the certification center?"
"Yes, specially made. I personally aged it."
"Mm."
Kakuzu nodded.
Eishō then pulled out a stack of bills.
"How much is this?"
Kakuzu asked.
"Eighty-five thousand four hundred ryō."
"Why would a messenger carry so much money? Keep eighty thousand, just carry five thousand four hundred."
"Got it."
Eishō stuffed several large bills into his pocket.
"There's also this."
Eishō pulled out a photograph—a group photo of Kitarō with a young woman. In the photo, the two were embracing and laughing happily.
"This photo is...?"
Kakuzu asked.
"Oh, the man is me using Transformation Technique, the woman is a female ninja from our intelligence division called Yui. Her current identity is an administrative staff member at Crystal Palace."
Kakuzu thought for a moment.
"Looks quite convincing. Make sure to play out the act completely afterward, understand?"
"Don't worry about that—it's all arranged. Yui is a veteran intelligence operative."
Eishō answered.
"Anything else?"
"That's everything."
Kakuzu stroked his chin.
"I still feel like something's missing."
After thinking for a moment:
"What play is currently showing at the theater?"
Eishō thought for a moment.
"Should be A Better Tomorrow starring Brother Fa."
"Popular?"
"Pretty popular."
"Then go buy two tickets and put the stubs in the wallet."
"Your idea is brilliant."
"Details determine success or failure."
...
After all the preparations, I was dressed anew. On a dark and windy night, I was secretly transported out of the morgue, then loaded onto a boat that swayed out to sea.
I don't know how long we drifted, but I felt the boat shudder. I knew we'd hit a reef.
Then I heard a voice.
"This is far enough. The corpse should drift to Hidden Mist's side following the current. Do it!"
Several people lifted me up with much fumbling.
"One! Two! Three!"
"Splash!"
I fell into the icy seawater.
"Farewell!"
Eishō waved at me.
Farewell my ass!
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