Modified Hell Viewing Technique

"Don't underestimate me, bastard."

Asuma was thoroughly enraged by Tobitake Tonbo's disdainful battlefield commentary.

He retreated slightly, pulled out a Fuma Shuriken from his ninja tool pouch, and formed hand seals the instant he threw it.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique."

An overwhelming mass of giant shuriken came crashing down upon Tobitake Tonbo.

Yet the instant he unleashed the ninjutsu, he regretted it.

Tobitake Tonbo was from the village, not an enemy. This was a little excessive.

Just as he hoped Tobitake Tonbo wasn't too weak and wouldn't get himself killed—

Suddenly.

He saw Tobitake Tonbo smile at him.

That made him freeze. With an attack like this coming at him, he still had the mood to smile?

Asuma was furious. How could the old man have let someone like this lead a team?

Bang!

Just as he questioned the Third Hokage's judgment, a massive pangolin burst from the ground. Facing the many Fuma Shuriken, it used its entire body to shield Tobitake Tonbo.

Pfft, pfft, pfft!

Bzzz, bzzz!

The pangolin was pierced through by the Fuma Shuriken, while the following shuriken continued their assault.

"Asuma, worthy of being Lord Third Hokage's son. It seems you're merely rude, but you do have some skill!"

Tobitake Tonbo's laughter rang out as he rode a dragonfly into the air from behind the pangolin.

He had dodged the attack.

And even praised him while doing so.

"Tch, a summoned beast? No, that's not it..."

Asuma's pupils contracted at first, but then he realized the pangolin had left no corpse behind.

With his sharp eyes, he also spotted the pangolin figurine that had fallen to the ground.

"This is... a Secret Technique?"

"Don't lose focus in battle. I'm coming."

Tobitake Tonbo called out loudly.

Asuma looked up at his words, only to see a watch swaying from side to side in someone's hand.

In an instant.

He felt his head spin, and found himself in a world filled with asparagus.

And he uncontrollably stuffed it into his mouth.

"So disgusting."

Asuma immediately realized he had been caught in a Genjutsu.

I want to puke!

Release!

He immediately stopped molding chakra, then, the moment it had completely ceased, erupted with chakra and washed away the foreign chakra disrupting his body.

When he opened his eyes again.

He was already being held in the hand of a giant dragonfly.

Tobitake Tonbo wore a smile. They were both Special Jonin, but Asuma was still far too lacking!

He had dealt with him that easily.

Though that was partly because he had information beforehand.

"Iruka, Shiso, Mibu Shinobu, remember this: enemies will not warn you before attacking. So when you encounter a situation like this, quickly determine what type of ninja your opponent is and make a judgment on how to respond."

He continued instructing the three children.

Asuma's face darkened with anger. He had only been away from Konoha for a few days, and he was already going to be dragged back?

Suddenly.

He felt the hand holding him loosen, and his entire body fell downward.

Bleurgh!

The moment he landed, the taste of asparagus flooded his mouth again, making him want to vomit.

"Damn it, didn't I break the Genjutsu?"

He hated the taste of asparagus more than anything.

And why had Tobitake Tonbo let him go?

A question rose in Asuma's heart.

"Well? My Modified Hell Viewing Technique makes enemies eat the food they hate most. Unlike the original Genjutsu, which only draws out frightening images, this new version focuses solely on food. Its scope may be narrower, but it's still quite effective."

Tobitake Tonbo undid the Secret Technique on the dragonfly, put away the dragonfly figurine, and asked Asuma.

"So amazing, Captain."

Iruka and the other two came to his side, filled with admiration for his methods.

This was the first time they had seen their captain fight.

And his opponent had been a senior like Asuma, yet he had defeated him overwhelmingly.

Asuma's expression was complicated. This guy had graduated even later than he had—how had he lost so easily?

"Why did you let me go? Aren't you afraid I'll run? Though you're strong enough, if I want to leave, you can't stop me."

Chiriku also quietly came to his side. If Asuma did not want to go with the people from Konoha, he could help stall them for a while.

Since they were all organizations of the Land of Fire, the other side probably would not make things difficult for him.

Tobitake Tonbo smiled at that. "Haha, who do you think you are? You're just a rebellious teenager. What good would capturing you and bringing you back to Konoha do for Konoha? Besides, my mission is only to take your information back. Lord Third Hokage never said to capture you and bring you home. He only said it would be best if I could persuade you."

Asuma was angry at first, then fell silent, and finally his gaze turned resolute.

"Fine, fine. I won't try to persuade you anymore. I can tell from your eyes that it's impossible. But I will still report your information truthfully to Lord Hokage."

Seeing the look in his eyes, Tobitake Tonbo, who had never intended to change Asuma's fate anyway, now had an excuse.

He was merely an employee. Helping the Third Hokage educate his son was not part of his mission.

Asuma froze and gave him a long, deep look.

"I see. Then there is no need for us to fight." Chiriku stepped in to smooth things over.

Bleurgh!

Asuma gagged again and looked at Tobitake Tonbo. "Hurry up and remove this Genjutsu."

This taste was unbearable.

Tobitake Tonbo spread his hands. "Sorry, that's only the lingering effect of the Genjutsu. As long as you were caught by it for even a moment, that taste will linger in your mouth for a long time. This Genjutsu is like feeding you the most disgusting food. Releasing it is only like swallowing that food. The taste will still remain in your mouth until your body digests it."

As he spoke, he smiled as well. He really could not undo it. The only way would be to suppress or remove Asuma's sense of taste.

Asuma's eyes widened.

It... couldn't... be removed?

How long would he have to endure this taste?

He suddenly felt like dying.

"You're good. I'll remember you. The next time I see you, I'll make you regret this." Asuma gave him a deep look, memorizing every detail of today's battle.

He only needed an opportunity to teach him a lesson.

"Heh heh, you're going with this master from the Fire Temple? Then I'll give you both one more hand."

Tobitake Tonbo said to the two of them.

Then he walked over to the bodies of those enemies and formed hand seals.

He pressed his fingers against the neural center at his temples.

The long-missed sensation of memory traversal entered Tobitake Tonbo's mind once again.

Asuma and Chiriku, standing nearby, had no idea what he was doing. They looked toward the three children. "What is he doing?"

Iruka answered proudly, "Captain is an elite of the Analysis Division, so he's using the Mind Reading Technique."

Teksen Shiso said, "Captain said that a qualified ninja should hide every piece of information as thoroughly as possible. You just revealed the captain's information like that. You're in trouble now."

Mibu Shinobu guessed, "The technique Captain just developed seems to be meant not for enemies, but for allies. Maybe he'll use it on you."

"..."

Iruka recalled what his captain had said. That Genjutsu would make him eat the food he disliked most, the most disgusting food imaginable.

A bead of cold sweat rolled down his forehead.

No way... right?

He looked at Asuma and immediately shut his mouth.

Because Asuma still looked sick, meaning that horrible taste was surely still lingering in his mouth.

He had no desire to test his captain's abilities.