A Tribulation After Asuma's Death

"In my time, there weren't that many Bonds Ninja in the Shinobi World, but after I was Impure World Reincarnation, the Shinobi World became so different that I almost didn't recognize it anymore."

Based on what Maki and the others have told me these past few days, as well as the information I've gathered myself, all these changes stem from that person named Shirozumi.

Do you think it's possible that he deliberately steered the Shinobi World towards a world of Bonds Ninja, so that he would have no rivals for beautiful female ninjas?

Pakura, looking conflicted, voiced her guess.

As a war hero who was killed by Rasa's conspiracy, it's already quite remarkable that Pakura didn't turn evil after her resurrection. This is thanks to the fact that she saw her disciple Maki as soon as she came out, and also learned that her enemy Rasa was dead.

Even so, Pakura can't go back anymore. She can't suppress her wariness of others and her conspiracy theories; they just keep popping out.

"Well, it's not impossible."

Maki gave his master's approval with great respect.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible."

Temari rejected Pakura's guess without hesitation.

"Temari, I know I have a grudge against your father, but it was your father who killed me, not me."

I have no problem with you or the current Kazekage, so why are you suddenly opposing me without any reason?

Pakura frowned, and his words, once again reeking of conspiracy theories, began.

Temari was speechless upon hearing this, but as Pakura said, it was her father Rasa, who killed Pakura, so Temari could understand Pakura's current state of mind.

This is not something that can be reversed overnight.

For many evil people, it is possible that their words become good as they approach death, and that death will bring them enlightenment. After Impure World Reincarnation, they will understand many things.

Take Uchiha Itachi, for example. He only understood the importance of trusting in the power of others after dying once.

Similarly, for good people, death can also cast a shadow of darkness into their otherwise innocent hearts, as was the case with Pakura.

But that doesn't mean Pakura can slander others at will.

"Completely unreasonable? Pakura, you think that it's a good thing for Shirozumi if male ninjas become Bonds Ninja, because he has no competitors and he's the beneficiary."

The problem is that those who become Bonds Ninja are no match for him to begin with.

Furthermore, after those male ninjas become Bonds Ninja, is it possible that Shirozumi might actually become a delicacy in the eyes of those Bonds Ninja?

Temari her case forcefully and presented her arguments with irrefutable evidence.

"It's not impossible."

Maki nodded and continued playing the straight man.

She wasn't just playing the straight man; she represented the opinions of the gossip trio, and she genuinely listened and agreed with them.

"..."

Upon hearing Temari's words, Pakura was momentarily speechless.

She had never actually thought about the problem from this perspective.

Temari said that, she thought about it again and realized that it did seem to be true.

Moreover, the phrase "a delicious treat" may seem ordinary, but after repeating it to himself twice, Pakura felt goosebumps all over his body.

"It's true, Master. It's said that the Third Hokage's son, Asuma Sarutobi, the guy with the beard, was spotted by a local Bonds Ninja when he went on a mission to the Land of Hot Water."

It seems that in the eyes of the local Bonds Ninja, even Asuma Sarutobi could be considered a loli.

Master, think about it, if Asuma Sarutobi is so popular, then if a Bonds Ninja saw Shirozumi, wouldn't he be a "delicious treat"?

Maki earnestly persuaded his master, word by word.

"No, where did you get this information from?"

Pakura looked at Maki with disbelief.

She didn't doubt the veracity of what Maki said; she was simply shocked by Maki's source of information.

"I heard that."

Maki wore an expression that seemed completely matter-of-fact.

As a gossip group, finding this kind of information is just basic stuff, isn't it?

"Because Asuma Sarutobi was assassinated in the Land of Hot Water and died there, the Konoha Anbu sent people to investigate afterwards."

Two bond -Bonds Ninja as bathhouse attendants were captured.

It's said that the bath gel they used on Asuma wasn't actually shower gel; it even contained some special drugs. They planned to raid Asuma's room at night.

That very night, just as they were preparing to act and keeping watch, they saw another dark figure sneak into Asuma's room.

They assumed that someone else had gotten there first and thought it was a pity. They were wondering whether to follow and see if they could join in when they heard Asuma's screams after taking only two steps.

At first, they thought Asuma's wisdom window had been punctured, but they quickly realized that the scream struck the soul; it was the scream of someone on the verge of death.

They assumed that the person who broke into Asuma's room was not only one of their own, Bonds Ninja, but also had a peculiar fetish for death, so they fearfully retreated back into the house.

When the Konoha Anbu interrogated these individuals, as ninjas from another country who had entered the Land of Hot Water, the interrogation was conducted under the supervision of local officials in the Land of Hot Water.

The Hidden Konoha Anbu wouldn't leak this information, but the people of the Land of Hot Water would be different.

The economy of Land of Hot Water relies entirely on hot spring tourism, and they absolutely cannot tolerate a tarnished reputation.

So they secretly sent someone to reveal the truth about the incident.

Asuma overplayed his hand with the Bonds Ninja and accidentally killed himself.

Please don't worry, the Land of Hot Water is not dangerous. Just don't overdo it.

"... The Land of Hot Water has some nerve! Didn't the Konoha send anyone to explain? Are they just going to tolerate the people of the Land of Hot Water secretly ruining their village's ninja reputation, or even the reputation of the Third Hokage's son?"

Pakura was puzzled.

"Konoha certainly wanted to send someone to strongly condemn the Land of Hot Water, but then something happened, and the matter was dropped."

The Land of Hot Water sent people to attend Asuma Sarutobi's funeral, and even offered a full range of funeral services.

As a result, when they were preparing Asuma's body for her funeral, they were surprised to find that Asuma had a strange smell and marks on her body.

And it's even on the back.

If Asuma had simply learned the Sage Mode training method beforehand and accidentally got it dirty while training indoors, it wouldn't have been possible for him to get his back dirty.

Therefore, there is only one possibility: Asuma really did have a connection with Bonds Ninja.

After discovering this, the Konoha Ninja were too embarrassed to continue condemning and denouncing the Land of Hot Water; they hadn't realized that Asuma was inherently corrupt.

The matter was eventually dropped.

"So that's how it is..."

Pakura's expression was somewhat blank.

What a thoroughly enjoyable spectacle!

No wonder the three little ones love gossip so much; it turns out chatting about gossip is such a pleasant thing.