Because Tsunade had already left the village, these matters were naturally discussed and handled jointly by her and the clan heads of the three great Ino-Shika-Cho families.
They took this news quite seriously and spared no effort in searching for Asuma.
But after some time, the search seemed to end without results.
In this chaotic ninja world, what it meant for someone to go missing was already self-evident.
Then, after the fruitless search, they learned of Asuma's whereabouts through a covert intelligence channel.
And the result was naturally an indisputable fact that had long since been set in stone.
It was said that someone had claimed Asuma's bounty.
The two responsible were Kakuzu, a Rogue Ninja from Takigakure, and Hidan from Yugakure.
Both were S-rank Rogue Ninjas. Only people like them had the qualifications to pull off something like this.
Once it was finally confirmed, everyone was undoubtedly furious. Through Jiraiya's intelligence, they had also learned detailed information about the Akatsuki Organization.
Naturally, the intelligence had mentioned these public members of Akatsuki.
But with Naruto gone from the village, everyone was somewhat leaderless.
Although Naruto had left instructions, this was the kind of major matter that involved—
Akatsuki, the common enemy of every ninja village in the ninja world. They could only helplessly suppress the matter for now.
But this news could not possibly remain hidden.
Those who had the right to know about it would all learn the truth.
For example, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka.
As the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho, they had been Asuma's students.
Though in Shikamaru Nara's eyes, Asuma had often been a sloppy, troublesome, ugly, excessively hairy Guiding Jonin who was at least somewhat strong and imposing.
But for such a Guiding Jonin to be gone just like that left the three