You're Surrounded by Me!

After resting at the outpost for an hour, Asuma and the other three left the outpost and moved through the forest under cover of night.

Their first task was to inspect the traps left behind by the previous guard squad according to the handover records.

They had to become thoroughly familiar with them and check whether they were still intact.

After familiarizing themselves with the patrol area, the squad returned to the outpost, where Sakumo assigned patrol routes.

Asuma and Yūhi Kurenai formed one group, while Sakumo and Shizune formed another. The two groups took turns patrolling.

Their patrol zone covered a six-li stretch of border.

Other squads were stationed to either side of this area.

If they came under attack, reinforcements from either side could arrive quickly.

If there were no enemies, this mission could be considered easy but tedious.

After two days of adjusting, Asuma and the other two gradually resumed their training.

Asuma mainly trained Shadow Clone, Wind Style, taijutsu, Swordsmanship, and Lightning Style Chakra Nature Transformation.

Yūhi Kurenai trained taijutsu and Genjutsu.

Shizune trained taijutsu and Medical Ninjutsu.

Asuma was also responsible for catching various small animals for Shizune to use as test subjects.

In a clearing several hundred meters from the outpost.

Pale blue Chakra gathered and spun in Asuma's hand, gradually forming a sphere of Chakra.

Rasengan!

With level 10 Chakra Control, as well as a clear understanding of the jutsu's principles and even its training process, mastering it was not difficult for Asuma.

At first, however, he had needed both hands to perform the jutsu.

Not until today had he finally managed to create the Rasengan with one hand.

He glanced at the skill column on the system panel.

The Rasengan had already reached level 5.

Over half a month, it had gone from nothing to level 5, earning him a total of 50,000 Experience Points.

Unfortunately, he had not received an achievement for creating a jutsu.

"Either this doesn't count as an achievement, or Namikaze Minato has already developed the Rasengan first."

Asuma thought to himself, but he was not disappointed.

He had long been prepared for that possibility.

Besides, the Rasengan was not his goal.

To him, the Rasengan was less useful than Wind Style Swordsmanship.

His goal was the complete ultimate technique: Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!

Did he need to master senjutsu before he could throw Wind Style: Rasenshuriken?

Asuma refused to accept that!

With level 10 Chakra Control, he wanted to give it a try.

If level 10 was not enough, then he would Add Points!

Lowering his head to look at the Rasengan in his hand, Asuma tried to infuse it with Wind Release Chakra.

But at that moment, an explosive sound came from the sky.

Asuma looked up, his heart jolting. "A distress signal!"

He dispersed the Rasengan and vanished from where he stood.

Outside the outpost.

By the time Asuma returned, the others were already there.

Sakumo said solemnly, "I'll go provide support. Asuma, as the temporary captain, stay on high alert in case someone tries to break through our line!"

"Yes, Teacher Sakumo!"

Asuma nodded at once.

He knew Sakumo was considering the possibility that the enemy was using a feint.

After giving his orders, Sakumo vanished with a swish.

"Spread out one li apart. If anything happens, blow your whistles!"

Asuma made the arrangements.

Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune nodded solemnly. Then all three immediately used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared.

Between two traps, a green snake hung from a tree.

A moment later.

Three figures, two in front and one behind, leaped through the forest.

Beep!

Beep beep!

Whistles sounded.

"We've been discovered. Pick up the pace and rush through!"

"Understood!"

The three rushing figures sped up, avoiding the traps as they advanced quickly.

After they passed, the green snake hanging from the tree released its tail from the branch and fell straight down.

Boom!

The green snake transformed into Asuma. He opened his mouth and spat out an orange Fire Bullet that blasted forth with a roar.

This Fire Bullet was not particularly large, roughly the size of a human body.

But its orange flames were far hotter than the ones Asuma had used in the past, already exceeding a thousand degrees.

The terrifying heat not only distorted the air and light, but also caused nearby leaves to rapidly wither and turn yellow.

The three ninja trying to cross the defensive line were all startled. They had not sensed anyone lying in ambush just now.

"Watch out!"

A shout rang out.

The three figures stopped at once, then turned and began forming Hand Seals.

"Too fast, there's no time!"

The lead ninja's expression changed drastically. "Scatter!"

The three immediately split apart.

Boom!

The Fire Bullet exploded.

Scorching waves of heat rolled out. The two who had been slightly slower were swept by the flames, and their clothes immediately caught fire.

The two hurriedly dropped from the air and rolled across the ground, finally putting out the flames on their bodies.

Even so, the burned areas of their flesh had already been charred. The intense pain twisted their faces as cold sweat poured down.

It was their first time encountering such terrifying Fire Style.

Then, at that moment, a scream rang out from above.

The two looked up and saw a flash of blue light. Their captain, along with his sword, had been split in two at the waist.

"What?"

"Captain!"

"How is that possible?"

"Genjutsu?"

The two could hardly believe it.

Their Jōnin captain had been taken out in a single move.

Before the corpse could hit the ground.

Two Asumas descended and stood on branches, staring coldly at the two injured ninja.

"You're already surrounded by me. Drop your weapons and surrender!"

"Just a brat?"

"Damn it!"

"How is that possible?"

The two ninja cried out in alarm, then exchanged a glance and shouted together, "Kill him!"

With a swish, the two ninja leaped into the air.

At almost the same time, the two Asumas disappeared from the branches.

As blue light burst forth, four figures collided in midair.

Clang!

The four figures crossed paths.

Asuma landed steadily on the ground.

The other two ninja, however, had their heads separated from their bodies in midair. Blood sprayed out in pillars and splashed everywhere.

After dismissing the Shadow Clone, Asuma turned to look at the falling corpses and shook his head. "I told you that you were surrounded, yet you still dared to resist!"

"Asuma!"

Along with the call, Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune appeared together.

They had actually arrived when Asuma had tried to persuade the enemies to surrender, but they had remained hidden in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to act.

They had never expected that they would not get even the slightest chance to make a move.

At that moment, a tremendous rumbling came from the right.

Asuma and the other two immediately flashed to the treetops and looked in the direction of the sound.

In the distance, clouds of dust billowed. The battle was clearly extremely fierce.

"Asuma, should we go help Teacher Sakumo?"

Yūhi Kurenai asked.

Asuma frowned and shook his head. "Teacher Sakumo hasn't sent a signal, which means the situation isn't that urgent. We should hold this position so no one takes the opportunity to infiltrate."

Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune nodded. Then, together with Asuma, they carefully collected the three corpses before returning to their respective positions.

After hiding himself, part of Asuma's attention shifted to the system panel.

There had been a notification just now. He had completed the First Kill achievement and received a reward.

"I'll look at it when we rest."

Suppressing his curiosity, Asuma closed the system and continued lying in ambush.

Half an hour later, Sakumo returned.

At the same time, it was announced that the battle had temporarily ended.

After hearing Asuma recount the battle, Sakumo immediately looked full of praise.

Taking out three enemies alone, even from an ambush, was very impressive.

After all, this had been Asuma's first real battle, and one of the enemies had even been a Jōnin.

"Teacher Sakumo, those three ninja seemed very familiar with the traps. They didn't hesitate at all along the way and completely avoided them."

Asuma said.

Sakumo nodded. "I'll report this matter to the Third Hokage. You three, immediately reset the traps!"

"Yes, Teacher Sakumo!"

Asuma and the other two immediately got to work.