The Worse the Madness

Asuma Sarutobi went to the Command Center to find his teacher, Nara Shikaie, and spotted Iwashi Tatami standing alone some distance away.

"Hey, Iwashi Tatami! What are you doing out here by yourself?"

Iwashi Tatami usually wore a headscarf, but now it sat crooked on his head. His eyes were empty, and he looked utterly defeated.

"Oh, Asuma. I'm waiting to be assigned to a new squad."

"A new squad? What happened to your old one?"

Iwashi Tatami's throat felt painfully dry. After coughing several times, he said, "My captain and teammates were killed. My teacher died. Yuanji and Yitai died too."

For a moment, Asuma Sarutobi had no idea how to comfort him.

Yuanji and Yitai had been their classmates. After years together, they knew each other well, and news of their deaths caught Asuma completely off guard.

Just as Nara Saku's death had weighed on him for a long time, the loss of two more classmates left Asuma deeply shaken.

So the death toll at the front is that high... A ninja from the Nara Clan walked over and motioned for Iwashi Tatami to come with him.

Asuma Sarutobi hurried into the Command Center tent. He wanted to get Iwashi Tatami assigned to a strong squad.

Inside, his teacher, Nara Shikaie, and Deputy Commander Nara Shikaku stood before a map, studying something.

"Teacher, could I speak to you alone for a moment?"

Nara Shikaie led Asuma out of the tent.

"Teacher, Iwashi Tatami is the only one left from his squad. Could you assign him to a really strong new one?"

Nara Shikaie had thought Asuma had come to discuss Wind Release. He had found Asuma a Wind Release instructor, Hayama Shirakumo, a jonin from the village. Instead, Asuma was asking about a genin's new squad.

Nara Shikaie