Sensing that the Ino-Shika-Cho team behind him had begun to flee, Asuma smiled faintly and pulled out a lighter to light a cigarette.
I really can't compare to you... Kakashi! With that thought flashing through his mind, Asuma charged straight at Kakuzu.
Kakuzu did not care in the slightest about the fleeing Ino-Shika-Cho. Though many enemies were hunting him, the only people Kakuzu cared about were those with high bounties.
If Asuma had not had a bounty on his head, Kakuzu would probably have run off long ago rather than bother fighting him...
But unfortunately, Asuma's head was worth thirty million ryo. Even while fleeing for his life, Kakuzu could not possibly give up that money.
As he fled, Shikamaru's heart was filled with regret. At that moment, he desperately wanted to turn back and die alongside Asuma, but the last remnants of his rationality prevented him from doing so.
Tears slid down his face uncontrollably, yet what surfaced in his mind was not Asuma's face, but his own lazy self back at the Ninja Academy.
Back then, he had looked down on everyone. All he saw were the praises of others...
Gradually, he had become arrogant too. He believed nothing could go wrong, that missions were easy to complete, and that those foolish ninja could be toyed with in the palm of his hand.
The more arrogant Shikamaru had been back then, the more regretful he was now...
An enemy being pursued by Team 7 had nearly wiped out Team 10, and their teacher had even needed to stay behind to cover their retreat.
"Shikamaru, Sensei will be fine!" Choji, lying on Shikamaru's back, opened his eyes and saw the tears on his cheeks.
Shikamaru's heart was suddenly filled with mixed emotions. In a hoarse voice, he said,