First Encounter with Akatsuki!

It was raining!

Asuma, who was hurrying along, looked up, then continued pursuing while eating Ration Pills to replenish his body's energy.

Ten minutes later.

Asuma came to a stop, staring ahead with a strange expression.

A three-way standoff!

Kurenai and the others, their pursuers, and another group led by three people he knew well.

Looking at those three, who were only a few years older than himself, Asuma had never imagined he would meet the Akatsuki trio under such circumstances.

That was right. The third party was none other than Akatsuki, led by Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan!

They were caught right in the middle.

"Everyone, please believe us. We have no intention of interfering in your battle!"

"We only hope to resolve your conflict. After all, war cannot solve problems; it only brings death and pain!"

"Please stop fighting!"

Yahiko spoke repeatedly.

Listening to him, Asuma nearly raised a hand to his forehead.

Interfering in a slaughter like this? Did they have a death wish?

At that moment, a tall man among the pursuers shouted, "As long as they hand over the person they abducted, we'll leave immediately!"

"Kill them all."

The Anbu ninja wearing a dog mask spoke coldly.

Although the other side still held an overwhelming advantage in numbers.

Compared to the previous thirty people, though, there were far fewer now.

Besides, this group that had suddenly appeared was probably some small ninja organization from the Land of Rain. Nothing to fear!

Not to mention them.

Even if Hanzō of Amegakure showed up, they would still have to fight!

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Sweat beaded on the faces of the Akatsuki members. Nagato said in a low voice, "Yahiko, they're from Konoha!"

Yahiko swept his gaze over Asuma and the others. He saw no markings identifying a ninja faction, but he trusted Nagato's judgment.

"You'd better not interfere with us. We're only passing through the Land of Rain to rescue someone!"

Asuma suddenly spoke. "You leave, we'll deal with these enemies, and then we'll leave immediately as well. We won't cause the Land of Rain any losses."

"Are you really going to sacrifice your companions to help a group of people you don't even know?"

As he spoke, clusters of flames emerged around Asuma's body, and he radiated an extremely dangerous aura.

He had become increasingly adept at controlling the Fire Chakra Cloak.

Yahiko looked at Asuma, alarm flashing through his heart. This guy is strong!

Someone behind him said, "There's no way we can stop this battle. This place is far from any residential areas. Give it up!"

Yahiko was unwilling, but he was not someone incapable of adapting. He nodded. "Retreat!"

Whoosh!

The Akatsuki members vanished in an instant.

Boom!

The ground cracked and split apart, and thick earthen spikes erupted from it.

The battle broke out instantly.

Asuma first created a gale that swept in every direction, then vanished along with the wind.

The next instant, a flash of blue light appeared, and one enemy was cut down.

Wind Body Flicker Technique + Wind Style Sword Technique!

For Asuma, this was the best method for close combat.

While Asuma flickered about, Hatake Sakumo turned into a streak of white light, like white lightning weaving across the battlefield as he cut down enemy after enemy.

Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune were responsible for protecting the intelligence personnel and did not join the fight. The battlefield was six against eight, yet after Asuma had only taken down two enemies, the battle was already over.

"Retreat!"

Hatake Sakumo gave the order.

Everyone nodded and immediately withdrew.

Before leaving, however, Asuma set a fire and ignited every corpse on the ground.

Five minutes later.

Yahiko and the others appeared, silently watching the bodies that were still burning.

"They should have been Konoha Anbu, right?"

Konan broke the silence.

Yahiko nodded. "With that kind of strength and such decisive methods, most likely."

He raised his head and looked in the direction Asuma and the others had retreated. "The ninja world has been getting more chaotic lately. There are also more and more ninja within the Land of Rain."

Someone suggested, "I think we should pull back our forces and focus on protecting the towns and villages!"

Konan and Nagato both looked toward Yahiko.

Yahiko withdrew his gaze. "We need to strengthen ourselves, drive out those wandering ninja and bandits, and show Lord Hanzō and the nations our strength. Only after gaining their recognition can we make them resolve disputes peacefully."

"I have a feeling war is coming!"

Only after rushing all the way back into the Land of Fire did Asuma and the others stop and let out sighs of relief.

After changing back into their original disguises and resting for half an hour, they set out once more, traveling through the night to avoid further complications.

Though they were within the Land of Fire, that did not mean they were completely safe.

So throughout the journey, Asuma and Kurenai guarded the flanks, their nerves taut at all times.

Like this, the group returned to Konoha at daybreak.

Less than a full day had passed from departure to return.

In the end, Asuma personally escorted both Kurenai and Shizune home.

The two were exhausted. The moment they returned to Konoha, they collapsed from fatigue.

After seeing them off, Asuma went home as well.

After washing up, he lay down on his bed, but his thoughts inevitably drifted to the Akatsuki Organization.

The current Akatsuki was undoubtedly still a very pure peace-seeking ninja organization.

Unfortunately, Uchiha Madara was watching them.

The reason he had spoken up and persuaded Yahiko's group to leave earlier was because he did not want to fight them to the death.

It was not because he had any fondness for Yahiko and the others.

It was because he feared that Nagato, the wielder of the Rinnegan, might suddenly explode in power and wipe them all out!

"Still not strong enough!"

"The Rinnegan is right there, yet I don't even dare set my sights on it!"

Asuma sighed, then reconsidered. Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan is a hot potato. Unless I have enough strength, taking it would only bring endless trouble. And if I have enough strength to protect myself, there'd be no need to take back a pair of eyes whose full power I can't even use!

If I Add Points and level up several ninjutsu to level ten or even higher, then raise my Constitution above 100, would I really be inferior to the Rinnegan?

I have a cheat too!

With that thought, Asuma felt at peace and soon fell asleep.

Nine in the morning.

After finishing his morning training, Asuma brought some food to the Senju Ancestral Home. Seeing Tsunade drinking alcohol, he was left speechless.

She was drinking this early in the morning.

Tsunade was stunned when she saw Asuma. "Eh? Didn't you say you were going on a mission?"

"It's already over!"

Asuma placed the food on the table, then took away the alcohol. "Alcohol slows a person's reactions. As one of the Sannin, Sister Tsunade, you can't keep setting such bad examples for the younger generation!"

"This brat sure meddles a lot..."

Tsunade pouted and muttered, then grabbed the breakfast Asuma had bought and viciously took a bite, as if she were biting Asuma himself.

Asuma pretended not to see it. As he organized the scrolls, he checked on Tsunade's progress.

"Eh?"

"Sister Tsunade, you've already named this technique."

On one scroll, Asuma saw the words "Hundred Healings Technique."

Without even raising her head, Tsunade said, "This technique is finished!"

Asuma was delighted to hear that. "As expected of one of the Sannin!"

The Yin Seal was complete, and so was the Hundred Healings Technique. All that remained was Creation Rebirth.

However, developing that technique would likely be far more difficult than the Hundred Healings Technique.

But this was Tsunade's true specialty!

Moreover, there were records left behind by the Senju Clan regarding Creation Rebirth, so it might not be too difficult for Tsunade to develop.

There were even records passed down of the First Hokage's ability to regenerate his body without Hand Seals.