"Let's go, Chōji, Ino!" Shikamaru shouted.
The three launched their coordinated attack. Chōji and Ino flanked from both sides, hurling kunai, which Asuma parried with ease. Shikamaru came in from the front, prompting Asuma to instantly dodge.
"Close the gap in one move!" Shikamaru ordered.
As the team pressed forward, a wooden log with an explosive tag suddenly appeared at the center.
"Oh no, close-quarters trap—dodge!"
They quickly jumped back. Boom! The explosion went off, and Chōji, slower to retreat, was caught in the blast and fell to the ground.
"Chōji, get it together! You're too slow!" Shikamaru barked.
Amid the smoke, Asuma emerged, already on the offensive.
"Shikamaru, use Shadow Imitation to extend the net! Pull him toward Chōji!"
"Already on it!" Shikamaru clasped his hands together.
The Shadow Imitation Technique spread across the ground. Asuma leapt into the air to avoid it.
From above, Ino had been lying in wait, her Mind Body Switch Technique prepared. Her plan was to strike if Asuma couldn't dodge. The only exposed weak point was Chōji's location.
As expected, Asuma launched an attack at Chōji.
"Partial Multi-Size Technique!" Chōji called out.
His arm grew massively and swung toward Asuma—but halted just before making contact.
Shikamaru's eyes widened. "Chōji, what are you doing?!"
Chōji groaned, clearly in emotional pain. "I just... I can't hit sensei! I can't hurt him!"
Asuma yelled, "Chōji! I'm your enemy now. Don't be a coward!"
Dodging the halted punch, Asuma landed a kick on Chōji and began weaving hand signs.
"Get out of there, Chōji!" Shikamaru shouted. "That's Wind Style!"
Asuma inhaled deeply. "Wind Style: Dust Storm Technique!"
Shikamaru tried to stop him with Shadow Imitation, but Asuma had already leapt again.
"Damn it, missed again!"
Just as the jutsu was about to connect, Naruto arrived in a flash and snatched Chōji away to safety.
Chōji blinked in disbelief. "Naruto?!"
Naruto looked down at him sternly. "At a time like this, Chōji? Really?"
Chōji looked devastated. "I didn't want this, Naruto! I just... I can't bring myself to fight him!"
Ino rushed over, kneeling beside Chōji. "Pull yourself together!"
From the other side, Asuma noticed the new arrival. "Naruto? Is that you?"
Naruto nodded. "It's me, Asuma-sensei."
Asuma squinted. "Your eyes..."
Naruto grinned faintly. "Long story. But it's good to see you again. Right, Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru remained silent, tense.
Naruto suddenly slapped Chōji across the face.
Even Asuma looked stunned.
Chōji held his cheek, shocked. "You... you hit me? I even gave you my last potato chip!"
Naruto scowled. "As the future head of the Akimichi Clan, you act like this?!"
This Chōji wasn't the one from the future Naruto knew. In his original timeline, Chōji had awakened during the battle with Asuma. Right now, Naruto was furious that Chōji hadn't yet found that inner strength. So, he smacked his best friend.
Chōji looked up at Asuma, then began to move forward again.
Shikamaru and Ino regrouped.
Naruto pointed at Asuma. "He's your teacher. Do you think he wants to be killing comrades right now? As his student, you're hesitant to fight him—that's compassion. But are you okay watching him slaughter allies while you do nothing?!"
The words struck Chōji hard.
Asuma surged forward again. "Fire Style: Burning Ash Pile!"
Naruto raised a hand to counter with Shinra Tensei, but a massive figure leapt in first, shielding everyone with his body.
"Dingza?!" Asuma gasped.
"Dad!" Shikamaru cried.
Dingza Akimichi stood firm despite the burning pain. "Chōji! Open your damn eyes! Look at the comrades around you! The battlefield is full of people risking their lives!"
Chōji stared wide-eyed as he scanned the chaos.
"You're not a child anymore! You're the Sixth Head of the Akimichi Clan!" Dingza roared.
Chōji's eyes trembled.
Shikamaru yelled, "Wake up, Chōji! We're no longer little kids being protected. We're the protectors now. Grow up! If you stay like this, I won't even consider you a friend!"
"Shikamaru, you..."
A shinobi called for Dingza's support. He looked back one last time.
Don't let me down, son.
Asuma gritted his teeth. "You big idiot. Do you really want to stay useless? Just a fat man who can't do anything?"
Chōji's face shifted.
"What did you just call me?"
Naruto blinked. That insult hit a nerve. He had never seen that expression on Chōji before.
Shikamaru and Ino exchanged glances. Asuma-sensei really went there...
Asuma roared, "Yeah, you heard me! You're pathetic! Cowardly! You look nothing like the next head of the Akimichi Clan. You're just a damn fatso!"
Chōji clenched his fists.
"I don't allow anyone to call me FAT!!!"
BOOM!
Chōji's chakra exploded. Butterfly wings of pure energy unfurled behind him.
A mighty wind swept through the battlefield. Shinobi from all around turned to look.
Asuma smiled. "If you want to prove otherwise, come stop me!"
Shikamaru shouted, "He didn't even take the Three-Color Pills! This is pure chakra output! Chōji, are you alright?!"
Ino gasped, "He's... he's gotten thinner."
Chōji stepped forward, eyes fierce. "Asuma-sensei! I will stop you! I will protect everyone!"
Asuma grinned. "That's what I wanted to see. Bring it on, Chōji!"
Naruto smirked. So fatty was the trigger word.
Shikamaru formed a seal. "Alright, Chōji, time to make it count. Don't drop the ball again."
Shadow Imitation Technique crept across the ground.
Ino prepared another Mind Transfer Jutsu. Naruto stepped forward. "I'll take the lead!"
Asuma braced himself, smiling. "Naruto... you've come a long way."
"Thanks, Asuma-sensei."
CLANG CLANG!
Kunai clashed as Shikamaru's shadow chased across the terrain. Asuma jumped high to avoid it. At that point, he had no escape route.
Chōji's massive fist came down.
"AHHHHHH!!!"
With a thunderous crash, Chōji slammed Asuma into the cliff wall.
Shikamaru followed up, locking him in place with shadow possession.
The sealing team arrived instantly and began restraining Asuma with fūninjutsu.
Shikamaru walked over and picked up Asuma's trench knives.
He raised one, ready to throw it away, but Naruto grabbed his arm.
"I made you a promise, remember? He'll come back. Let him use these again."
Shikamaru's eyes widened.
"What...?!"
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