Kawaki Aoba had been prepared. Seeing Asuma charge at him, he immediately sidestepped and formed hand seals at lightning speed. "Sacrifice: Chilling Blade!"
As his words fell, the Chakra in his hand instantly condensed into a pitch-black short blade. The blade radiated a frigid aura as it slashed toward Asuma's wrist.
Asuma's gaze sharpened. He hadn't expected Kawaki Aoba to truly have cultivated such a bizarre ninjutsu—and its power was even greater than he had imagined.
He immediately pulled back his fist and twisted his wrist slightly, evading Kawaki Aoba's short blade. Disappointment and anger colored his voice. "Kawaki! You really did cultivate this kind of bizarre ninjutsu! This technique is cold and sinister, nothing like Konoha's orthodox ninjutsu. Where did you learn it?"
Kawaki Aoba did not answer. Instead, he gripped the Chilling Blade in his hand and charged at Asuma again, his voice ice-cold. "Asuma-sensei, since you refuse to let me go, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
The immaturity and pretense in his eyes had vanished, leaving only greed and ruthlessness—today, he would either defeat Asuma or be subdued by him. There was no third path.
Watching Kawaki Aoba rush toward him, Asuma's heart filled with disappointment. He had never expected the disciple he had taught all this time to embark on such a crooked path.
He took a deep breath and suppressed his anger. With a flash, he evaded Kawaki Aoba's attack once more and said, "Kawaki, stop! This bizarre ninjutsu will only harm you. Give it up now and come back with me. I'll help you correct your mistakes, and I won't tell the Hokage about this."
"Give it up?"
Kawaki Aoba sneered, swinging the Chilling Blade toward Asuma's chest again. "Asuma-sensei, you don't understand at all! Why should I give it up? Because