Chapter 77: The Price and the Vow
"Asuma!"
Shikamaru's voice cracked with desperation. He'd already pieced together Hidan's twisted technique — the curse that made pain shared — and his shadow lashed out like a spear, racing to bind the zealot before it was too late.
If only it could reach—
Splat.
The iron spike punched through flesh with a sickening tear.
Shikamaru's pupils shrank. Just as he'd feared — the one impaled wasn't Hidan.It was Asuma.
Agony burst across the jonin's chest, his body jerking violently. He collapsed to one knee, coughing blood, crimson foam bubbling from his lips.
It was as if Hidan's stab had been mirrored straight into him.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +5,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +5,000,000!]
[Chakra (109,082,002 / 200,000,000)]
Shikamaru's glare snapped toward Hasumi Maki, who had appeared behind Hidan like a ghost. The shadow had been a fraction too slow — because of him.
Maki's smile was lazy, mocking. "Interrupting Hidan during his ritual? That's terribly rude, don't you think?"
"Asuma-sensei!" Ino screamed, frozen in disbelief as her teacher dropped to the ground. Choji's fists shook, rage trembling through him.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +3,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +3,000,000!]
[Chakra (112,082,002 / 200,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +3,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +3,000,000!]
[Chakra (115,082,002 / 200,000,000)]
"Hahaha—does it hurt?!" Hidan howled, arms outstretched, blood dripping from his spike as his body turned black with white bone markings. "The pain that tears your flesh… it's ecstasy! Through agony, I touch divinity!"
Then his laugh was cut short with a dull thud.
A silver-haired head rolled across the dirt — Hidan's, severed clean.
Asuma stood behind the twitching body, blade dripping, breath ragged. He'd used every ounce of his will to deliver that final strike. Two seconds later, his legs buckled, and he fell, vision dimming to black.
"What the—my head!" Hidan's mouth ranted from the ground, still alive and furious. "He died too damn easy! Coward!"
While Hidan screamed to be stitched back together, Maki glanced at the three stunned Leaf ninja. "Should we finish them off?"
"Pointless," Kakuzu replied flatly. "No bounty."
Maki's grin sharpened. He knelt beside Asuma, palm hovering over the man's neck.
Blue fire rippled across Asuma's body. The gaping wound sealed, burns faded, and his severed head reattached seamlessly with a wet snap. Color returned to his face. Shikamaru and Ino stared, stunned — 'was Hasumi Maki actually saving him?'
Hidan shrieked about "stealing Jashin-sama's sacrifice," but Maki only sighed and clamped a hand over the severed head. With a twist of Idle Transfiguration, Hidan's tongue blossomed into a bouquet of flowers.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +5,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +5,000!]
[Chakra (115,087,002 / 200,000,000)]
Asuma gasped awake — but their relief curdled into horror.
His cheek bulged grotesquely. His body twisted and cracked, flesh warping until the man they knew was gone — replaced by a monstrous four-legged beast that snarled and scraped the ground.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100,000!]
[Chakra (115,187,002 / 200,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100,000!]
[Chakra (115,287,002 / 200,000,000)]
Maki admired his creation with cruel satisfaction. "Come to think of it, Renji's got a similar trick, doesn't he? Pity you didn't bring him. Your precious Asuma-sensei might've stayed human."
Kakuzu's voice was dry. "How do I cash him in now?"
"Proof of death's enough," Maki said, tossing one of Asuma's Chakra Blades to him. "Try that."
He pocketed the modified Asuma and turned away. "Next time, don't rush in blind."
"HASUMI MAKI!"
Boom.
Choji's body expanded into a massive sphere, the ground cracking beneath him as he launched forward like a cannonball.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2,000!]
[Chakra (115,289,002 / 200,000,000)]
"Choji, stop!" Shikamaru shouted — but it was too late.
Maki sighed. "What a nuisance."
He raised his hand. "Domain Expansion — Self-Embodiment of Perfection."
The air warped. "Since you love being a pig," his voice echoed from all directions, "let's make it permanent."
The domain bloomed, and Choji's soul twisted like clay. In an instant, a colossal raging boar thundered where Choji once stood.
"Choji!" Ino and Shikamaru screamed as it charged toward them.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +5,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +5,000,000!]
[Chakra (120,289,002 / 200,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +3,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +3,000,000!]
[Chakra (123,289,002 / 200,000,000)]
…
A while later, Kakuzu stepped from the bounty station with a crate of cash. The boar bellowed behind him, tearing through the trees after Ino and Shikamaru. They didn't fight back — they couldn't. They just ran, leading their friend farther and farther away.
Maki watched, hands in pockets, bored. He didn't chase. He wanted them alive — they were part of the next act.
He wandered over to Hidan's flower-tongued head. "One kick?"
Kakuzu nodded.
Bang.
Hidan's head flew skyward, spinning like a ball as Maki laughed.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +3,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +3,000!]
[Chakra (123,292,002 / 200,000,000)]
...
Rain poured without mercy. One moment, the sky above Konoha was gray; the next, black clouds smothered the sun. Water flooded the streets.
Renji walked alone, sandals slapping against wet pavement, until a voice cut through the rain.
"Renji!"
He ducked under the eaves of an apartment building. Kurenai Yūhi leaned from a second-floor window, her black hair clinging to her cheeks, worry softening her crimson eyes. "Get up here — before you catch a cold!"
He climbed the narrow stairs, stepping into the glow of her doorway. Kurenai pressed a towel into his hands. "Dry off. Come in."
"Thank you, Kurenai-san."
He wiped himself dry before sitting on the sofa. Watching his careful, quiet manner, Kurenai felt her chest unclench slightly. She offered him a steaming cup. "Drink. It'll warm you up."
As she sat across from him, Renji noticed a thin cut on her fingertip. "Here." Green light flared in his palm; the wound sealed instantly. She smiled, grateful and embarrassed.
He caught the tremor in her eyes. "You're worried about Asuma-san."
Color rose to her cheeks. Renji's tone stayed gentle. "He's strong. Shikamaru and the others are with him. They'll return."
The reassurance settled around her like a warm blanket. Kurenai turned toward the rain-lashed window. "The rain might last all day," she murmured. "Stay for dinner, Renji. Keep me company." The plea was quiet but clear.
Renji rubbed his neck. "I wouldn't want to intrude—"
The doorbell rang.
Kurenai froze. Dread coiled tight. She opened the door — and there stood Shikamaru, soaked, eyes hollow.
Kurenai's world tilted.
"Asuma…"
Just one word.
Her knees buckled.
"Kurenai-san!" Renji caught her, fingers steady on her pulse. He glanced at Shikamaru. "She fainted from shock. She'll be fine." A pause. Then, softly: "She's pregnant."
Shikamaru's eyes widened.
Renji lifted her gently. "Umbrella, Shikamaru. Hospital. Now!"
...
Konoha Hospital
Kurenai slept peacefully. Outside, Renji and Shikamaru stood in the dim corridor.
Renji's gaze stayed ahead. "Akatsuki this time… was Hasumi Maki there?"
Shikamaru froze. His throat tightened, words locked.
"I'm sorry, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru couldn't look at him. The same face that had killed his teacher — it hurt too much. Logic said Renji wasn't Maki, but grief had no logic.
He glanced sideways anyway. Renji's blue hair clung to his face, a single tear tracing his chin.
Renji was crying.
Shikamaru's chest burned. "Renji… this isn't your fault."
The dam broke. Tears spilled.
"Shikamaru…" Renji pulled him into a hug.
Shikamaru shook, sobbing into his shoulder. Renji's hand patted his back, a faint, sorrowful smile on his lips.
Asuma's death — and the whispers that Choji was gone too — rippled through Konoha. The village mourned, then carried on. Names faded; missions resumed. Only families, teammates, and lovers carried the scars.
Time would heal them.
Renji planned to rip those scars open again — right when they thought they'd closed.
...
3:00 a.m.
Konoha slept under mist. At the main gate, Shikamaru and Ino stood ready, packs slung tight. A familiar figure leaned against the archway.
"Renji?" Ino whispered.
Shikamaru sighed. "You knew."
Ino lifted her chin. "You can't stop us."
"I know it's reckless," she said quietly. "But staying here, pretending they're gone — it hurts too much."
"I'm coming," Renji said flatly.
Shikamaru scoffed. He'd expected it. Bringing Renji meant bringing danger.
"No," Ino argued. "This is our fight—"
"Hasumi Maki is my brother," Renji cut in, voice calm and cold. "If I don't go, neither do you."
They exchanged a glance. They couldn't stop him. Alerting Tsunade would only lock them in.
"Fine," Shikamaru muttered.
"Then let's—"
"Where do you think you're going?"
Tsunade's voice cracked like thunder behind them. Arms crossed, eyes blazing.
"Answer me."
Shikamaru had never seen her this angry.
"To continue the mission," he said evenly. "New team. Same goal."
Tsunade's presence pressed down like a storm. "Denied. You will not act alone. Shikamaru — you're assigned to my command. We move when I say."
"Send reinforcements later," Shikamaru countered. "We're ready now."
"Enough!" Tsunade's roar echoed. "Asuma and Choji are dead. Three against Akatsuki? That's suicide!"
Shikamaru flicked open Asuma's lighter; the small flame burned steady. "If we keep running from this pain… then we're already dead."
"Grow up!" Tsunade snapped. "Loss is part of a shinobi's life. Let it crush you, and you'll never move again." Her gaze softened slightly as she turned to Renji. "You know that better than anyone."
Renji nodded. "That's why I won't let Hasumi Maki take another comrade from me."
Tsunade exhaled slowly. "Three isn't enough."
"Four, then?"
Kakashi stepped from the shadows, hands in pockets. "I'll lead Team Ten as captain. Sound good, Lady Hokage?"
Tsunade turned sharply. "Kakashi—"
He shrugged. "You can try to stop them, but you know they'll go. At least with me, they'll stand a chance."
Tsunade sighed. "Fine. Do it your way."
"Yes!" Ino grinned through tears.
"Thank you, Kakashi-san," Shikamaru murmured.
Kakashi nodded. "Choji was your teammate. Asuma was my friend." His tone stayed steady, but the pain beneath it lingered.
He placed a hand on Renji's shoulder. "Don't carry his sins, Renji. You are you. Hasumi Maki is Hasumi Maki."
Renji's smile was soft, grateful.
Perfect. His performance was flawless.