Asuma

Whoosh, whoosh!

Clang!

In the forest, shuriken and kunai clashed.

Pfft, pfft!

Several figures were locked in combat. Two of them were Asuma and Chiriku.

Chiriku, Asuma Sarutobi.

"I take it these enemies were drawn here by you?" Asuma asked Chiriku behind him as he used his chakra blades to deflect the shuriken.

Clang, clang!

A relentless barrage of attacks came from all directions, leaving them hard-pressed to keep up.

Chiriku transformed his chakra into a Thousand-Armed Kannon, blocking each successive attack. "Sorry, I forgot to mention it. As a monk from the Fire Temple sent to the capital as a Guardian Shinobi, I tend to become a target for all sorts of factions,

"Whether they want to ambush and kill me, impersonate me to assassinate the Daimyo, or have some other scheme in mind, this trip was never going to go smoothly."

Fire Style: Ash Pile Burning.

Facing the enemy onslaught, Asuma formed hand seals and spewed out a vast cloud of ash that swept toward the enemy like a tidal wave.

The ninja from the unknown faction turned pale with terror under the attack, their eyes filled with dread.

Boom!

An explosion followed the cloud of ash.

"Argh—"

The screams of several men caused the other attackers to hesitate briefly. Seizing the chance, Asuma went all out with Chiriku and dealt with the remaining enemies.

"Looks like being one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja isn't easy," Asuma said, wiping away a cold sweat.

"Thank you. Sorry for dragging you into this."

Chiriku smiled amiably.

"Who were those people?" Asuma looked at the corpses on the ground. He inspected them himself but found no useful information.

Other than standard ninja tools, there was nothing that could reveal their identities.

"If they dared to assassinate someone from the Fire Temple, they naturally wouldn't leave behind any evidence," Chiriku said.

"Not necessarily."

Suddenly—

A voice rang out. The two men's expressions instantly grew grave as they entered battle stances, their gazes following the source of the voice.

Four figures appeared before them. The leader had bandages wrapped around his face, and all four wore Konoha forehead protectors.

Asuma's expression darkened when he saw them. That damned old man still wanted to control me?

"Hey, long time no see. Don't tell me you don't recognize me, Asuma?" Tobitake Tonbo said with a smile, waving his hand.

Only then did Asuma focus on him. The tall figure, the bandages wrapped around his head... he searched his memories hard.

After some effort, he finally recalled an inconspicuous classmate from before he had graduated at age nine.

"Tobitake Tonbo?" he asked uncertainly.

Listening to their conversation from the side, Chiriku realized they knew each other and relaxed inwardly.

Tobitake Tonbo clutched his chest in mock hurt. "My God, we were classmates for three years. I even gave you a hint, and you still weren't sure? That really breaks my heart."

Then he turned to the three little ones. "Don't be anything like him. Forgetting even your companions' names is terribly rude."

The three little ones did not dare take it lightly upon hearing that. Asuma-senpai was right in front of them. Was it really okay to tease him like that?

"Hey, what are you doing here? Did that old Third send you to find me?"

Though Asuma was a little embarrassed, he still asked what truly concerned him.

Tobitake Tonbo said, "Hey, hey, that's rude. He's your dad. How could you call him an old man?"

After teasing him, he turned serious. "That's right. The Third Hokage sent us to see what you've been doing out here. If possible, come back with us."

"If you want to take me back, you'll have to break all four of my limbs and drag me there."

Asuma took up a fighting stance, his full attention fixed on the four of them as he prepared to fight at any moment.

Chiriku was loyal enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

"Although I don't know what happened, if there's going to be a fight, count me in."

Seeing the two of them poised to throw down, Tobitake Tonbo was helpless.

The three little ones also looked at him, waiting to see what their captain would do.

Tobitake Tonbo spread his hands in exasperation. "See that? This is what someone without the Will of Fire is like. He actually wants to attack his village comrades. Don't you three learn from him.

This is the Hokage's fault. When you become captains in the future, make sure you educate your subordinates properly!"

The three little ones thought it over seriously, then nodded in agreement. As expected of their captain—he upheld the Will of Fire at every moment.

Asuma frowned deeply.

What did that mean?

Was he saying his old man had failed at raising him?

Although he had conflicts with his old man, he would not allow anyone else to speak of him that way.

"Hmph. You're just a captain. What right do you have to criticize the Hokage?" Asuma snorted and demanded.

The corner of Tobitake Tonbo's mouth twitched. "Your existence alone gives me that right, Asuma. Rude and willful—you gave me the qualification."

"Damn it!"

Asuma was so angry smoke nearly came out of his ears.

Young and hot-blooded, he stopped caring about anything else. Right now, he only wanted to teach the guy in front of him a lesson.

Whoosh!

"You three, move aside and watch. Let your captain give you a combat lesson. Oh, and move those bodies farther away. They'll be useful later."

Tobitake Tonbo spoke unhurriedly to the three little ones.

Only then did he look at the charging Asuma.

Clang!

Kunai and chakra blades collided as the two faced each other at close range.

"Yo, as expected of the Hokage's son. Your Wind Nature Transformation has already reached this level?"

Watching the sharp chakra in Asuma's hand slowly slice apart his kunai, Tobitake Tonbo teased him.

Konoha Single-Rising Dragon.

In a flash, his right foot shot out. Asuma reacted vigilantly and threw his head back with all his strength, allowing Tobitake Tonbo's foot to graze past his chin.

Konoha Downward Strike.

With a second shift in movement, Asuma abandoned the idea of cutting through his weapon and raised both arms to block Tobitake Tonbo's leg.

"Damn it, this guy's Taijutsu is actually this good."

The more Asuma fought, the more alarmed he became. Every move Tobitake Tonbo used was common Konoha Taijutsu, yet every strike was as elusive as an antelope hanging its horns, impossible to predict.

The Taijutsu he had taken pride in was utterly useless before Tobitake Tonbo.

Meanwhile, after hearing Tobitake Tonbo's instructions, the three little ones carried the corpses outside the battlefield under Chiriku's puzzled gaze.

Watching both sides fight, and seeing their captain completely suppress Asuma-senpai with Taijutsu alone, the three of them had mouths hanging open in O-shapes.

Chiriku's heart tightened as well. What terrifying Taijutsu.

He had actually suppressed the powerful Asuma to such an extent using Taijutsu alone.

After spending the past few days together and facing the occasional enemy assassination attempt, Chiriku had come to recognize Asuma's strength.

Especially his Taijutsu.

"Just who is he?"

Fire Style: Ash Pile Burning.

Seeing that Taijutsu was not working, Asuma used several shuriken to restrain Tobitake Tonbo before spewing out a mouthful of old smoke.

He was getting desperate.

This was the first time he had been suppressed so badly by someone his own age.

Yet Tobitake Tonbo remained completely at ease. He was enjoying this fight too, as though every muscle and bone in his body had loosened up.

Facing the Fire Release attack, he formed hand seals with both hands.

Water Release: Water Wall.

He did not forget to explain to the three little ones, "Watch carefully. When facing a Fire Release attack, using Water Release to counter it is the best possible response."

Boom!

Asuma's Ash Pile Burning had no effect whatsoever on the Water Wall. Tobitake Tonbo blocked it with ease.

Hearing his words only made Asuma even angrier. His youthful pride made his face flush red.