88: Chapter 88 Last Words in the Ashes and the Spark of RevengeCrack!
Flocks of crows blotted out the sky.
On the battlefield, which had been filled with despair, a sudden storm of black feathers arose.
Countless black beaks, like sharp arrows, pecked at Fei Duan, who was laughing wildly.
"Ouch!Ouch!What the hell is this?"
Hidan wielded his scythe, but he couldn't cut down all these annoying beasts.
Several figures landed instantly under the cover of the crows.
Raido's black blade gleamed coldly as he forced Kakuzu, who was about to step forward, back.
Yamashiro Aoba stood on the rooftop, his eyes behind his sunglasses serious, his fingers flying as he manipulated the flock of crows.
"Don't stand there!Take Asuma with you!"
They roared in unison.
Choji's massive body jolted violently, as if he had been jolted awake from a nightmare.
He hastily wiped the snot and tears from his face, rushed into the bloody mud, and hoisted Asma's already broken body onto his shoulder.
"Trying to run?"
A glint of greed flashed in Kakuzu's green eyes.
That's thirty-five million taels.
As soon as he raised his hand, the three-shaped ring on his wrist suddenly lit up.
An irresistible surge of chakra emanated from it.
That was a summons from Leader Payne.
"Tsk."
Kakuzu stopped in his tracks, his eyes sweeping over the group of Konoha ninjas with a sinister look.
"The time has come to seal the tailed beasts."
"Huh?Now?"
Hidan was still fighting the crow, looking annoyed."I haven't had enough fun yet!That bearded man isn't quite dead yet, I'm going to offer him up to."
"Shut up, I'm leaving."
Kakuzu completely ignored his partner's complaints and turned to leap into the shadows deep in the jungle.
"Hey!Wait for me, Kakuzu!You bastard!"
Hidan, cursing, shouldered his scythe, glanced one last time at Asuma, who was being carried on Choji's back, made a throat-slitting gesture, and then disappeared.
The rain was getting heavier and heavier.
The rushing water drowned out the sound of receding footsteps, but it couldn't mask the heavy stench of blood.
Under a relatively dry rock.
Choji carefully put Asuma down.
"Medical team!Ino!Quickly!"
Shikamaru knelt on the ground, pressing his hands firmly against the horrific bloody hole in Asuma's chest.
The bleeding simply wouldn't stop.
Warm liquid seeped from between his fingers, taking away the warmth of life.
Ino's hands trembled, and green medical chakra lit up in her palms.
"It must be cured.it must be."
Her tears mingled with the raindrops and dripped onto Asma's face.
"It's no use.Ino."
A rough, large hand grabbed Ino's wrist.
He has very little strength.
Ino could easily break free with just a little struggle.
But she dared not move.
Asma lay on the ground, his face ashen, only his eyes still shining with a last glimmer of light.
"Don't waste.chakra."
He coughed, and with each cough, a spurt of bloody foam appeared at the corner of his mouth."I.know best myself."
My heart has been shattered.
The only reason he could still speak was because of his unwillingness to give up.
"Liar."
Choji cried like a 200-pound child, "Teacher, you clearly said you would treat me to barbecue.all-you-can-eat kind."
Asuma forced a smile that looked more like a grimace than a cry.
"Listen."
His voice grew softer and softer, like a candle flickering in the wind.
"I have something to say to you."
The three fell silent instantly, with only suppressed sobs escaping their lips.
Asma's vision became somewhat blurry.
He first looked at the blonde girl whose makeup was ruined from crying.
"Ino.you're a good girl."
"Although you have a bit of a temper, you are very caring.You should be more attentive in the future."
"Don't lose to Sakura.whether it's ninjutsu or.romance."
Ino nodded frantically, tears streaming down her face: "I promise you.Teacher.I promise you."
Asma turned his gaze to the fat man who was still stuffing the last potato chip into his mouth.
"Choji".
"You're a gentle person.gentler than anyone else."
"Maybe I should.lose some weight."
"You're pretty cute now.but if you lose weight.you might be even more popular."
Choji, with potato chips in his mouth, almost choked on his sobs: "Ugh.ugh!I will.I'll definitely lose weight."
at last.
Asuma looked at the boy who kept his head down and bit his lip tightly.
That was his most prized disciple.
She is also the person he worries about the most.
"Shikamaru."
Asuma reached out, wanting to touch the pineapple head, but his hand drooped limply in mid-air.
Shikamaru grabbed that hand.
It's cold.
It was all blood.
"teacher..."
"You're very smart.really smart."
Asuma gasped for breath, the air slowly draining from his lungs."You have the potential to become Hokage.but you're too afraid of trouble."
"Do you remember.that game of chess we played?"
"Regarding.who is the 'jade'."
Shikamaru was startled.
He brought his ear close to Asma's mouth.
Asuma spoke the answer in a voice that only the two of them could hear.
Shikamaru's pupils suddenly contracted.
The fingernails dug deep into the flesh of the palm, piercing the skin.
So that's how it is.
"alright."
Asma breathed a sigh of relief, as if a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
He trembled as he pulled a pack of cigarettes, half-soaked in blood, from his pocket.
Take one out.
It's a bit bent.
But he didn't care.
"Shikamaru.light it for me."
This was his final request.
Shikamaru took the silver metal lighter out of Asuma's pocket.
Click.
The flames flickered in the rain, stubbornly refusing to go out.
Asuma leaned closer and took a deep breath.
Red sparks flickered on the cigarette butt.
Smoke enters the lungs.
The taste of nicotine mixed with a rusty, bloody flavor spread through the mouth.
"Cough.cough cough."
The smoke was slowly exhaled, rising and then.It was later scattered by the rain.
Asma's gaze began to glaze over.
The scene before my eyes has changed.
It is no longer a cold and gloomy forest.
Instead, it was the sun-drenched streets of Konoha.
During Class 10's first get-together, Choji almost overturned the table in his quest for the last piece of meat.
Ino was pruning branches in the flower shop, sunlight shining on her profile.
Shikamaru lay on the roof watching the clouds, muttering, "What a hassle."
besides...
The woman with red eyes.
Standing by the window, I water a potted plant.
That was the scenery he most wanted to protect in his life.
"red..."
"I'm sorry.I'm going to disappoint you again."
The fingers holding the cigarette loosened weakly.
The half-smoked cigarette fell into the muddy water.
Zi.
The last spark went out.
Sarutobi Asuma, a Jonin of Konoha, son of the Third Hokage.
He died on a rainy night.
Konoha, a window sill in an apartment.
A bright red camellia in full bloom.
Snap.
A petal fell off without warning.
It swirled in the air before finally landing on the windowsill, like a drop of dried blood.
The kettle in Yuhi Kurenai's hand froze in mid-air.
Water overflowed, soaking her slippers.
She didn't wipe it.
My heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, the pain making it hard to breathe.
The image of that man, always reeking of smoke and with a stubble, flashed through my mind.
"I'll quit smoking after my next mission."
'Then.let's go see a movie.'
fraud.
It's all a lie.
Kurenai covered her mouth and slowly slid down the wall.
The rain outside the window was pouring down harder.
Naruto's apartment.
The lights were not turned on.
Only the faint blue light emanating from the system panel illuminated his expressionless face.
[Ding!A major plot character has been detected dead.]
[Received 50,000 of the ultimate [regret] from Sarutobi Asuma!]
[Received 80,000 of the ultimate [Grief] from Nara Shikamaru!]
[A total of 60,000 "Despair" have been collected from Choji Akimichi and Ino Yamanaka!]
[Received 100,000 Heartbreak Tokens from Kurenai Yuhi!]
The numbers are jumping wildly.
This is not just a case of one person dying.
This was clearly an emotional feast.
Naruto leaned back on the sofa, toying with a kunai in his hand, a cold smile on his face.
"What a.bumper harvest!"
He showed no mercy.
In this cannibalistic world, weakness is the original sin.
Asma's death was merely a pawn captured in this grand game of chess.
"System, redeem."
[Consumed 150,000 Emotion Points.]
[Exchange successful: Advanced Wind Release Nature Transformation Insight (S-rank)]
[Consumed 80,000 Emotion Points.]
[Exchange successful: Earth Grudge Fear - Heart Repair and Stealing Principles (Forbidden Technique Knowledge)]
Countless profound and mysterious pieces of knowledge flooded into my mind.
The sharpness of the wind, its cutting power, its shape.
And.how to use chakra threads to sew up blood vessels, like Kakuzu, or even prolong life by taking the heart.
Naruto closed his eyes, feeling the power within him rising.
"Not enough."
He opened his eyes and looked out at the dark rain curtain.
"This fire of hatred needs to burn even brighter."
The funeral was held three days later.
Unfortunately, the weather wasn't cooperating.
It was still raining continuously.
The memorial was crowded with people dressed in black mourning clothes.
Konohamaru, the grandson of the Third Hokage, cried his heart out, his face covered in snot and tears.
Kurenai Yuhi stood at the very front.
She didn't cry.
But those red eyes had lost all their luster, like a dry well.
She stroked her slightly protruding belly, exuding a suffocating stillness.
Naruto stood at the very back of the crowd.
He held up a black umbrella, half of his face hidden in the shadows.
Looking at those grief-stricken faces, and listening to those suppressed sobs.
[Ding!Continuing to harvest the entire village's [Sorrow] emotion points.]
A beautiful piece of music.
"Naruto-kun."
Beside him, Hinata held his arm, her eyes red-rimmed, "Asuma-sensei."
"Everyone will die eventually."
Naruto interrupted her sentimentality, "Instead of crying here, think about how to make the murderer pay the price."
Hinata paused for a moment, then looked up at Naruto's profile.
Cold, hard, and sharp.
Yet it also makes people feel incredibly.reliable.
It's late at night.
The ancestral home of the Nara clan.
The lights were off in Shikamaru's room.
He had been sitting in front of the chessboard for three days and three nights.
He didn't eat a single bite of food or drink a single drop of water.
He had grown stubble, his eyes were sunken, and he looked much thinner.
The chess pieces on the board are scattered.
He was reviewing the situation.
I've simulated that battle in my mind countless times.
If I had more chakra back then.
If only I had discovered Hidan's curse mechanic sooner.
If I hadn't let the teacher rush up alone.
Regret was like a venomous snake, gnawing at his heart.
"Haven't you cried enough yet?"
A slightly mocking voice broke the silence.
Squeak.
The door was pushed open.
The moonlight streamed in, casting a long shadow on the floor.
Shikamaru did not turn around.
He doesn't want to see anyone right now.
"Get out."
His voice was so hoarse, as if he had swallowed a handful of sand.
"Is this what Konoha's top strategist looks like now?"
Naruto walked in, his footsteps very light, yet each step felt like it was treading on Shikamaru's nerves.
He walked to the other side of the chessboard and sat down cross-legged.
Those deep blue eyes shone frighteningly in the darkness, staring intently at Shikamaru's empty, lifeless eyes.
Do you want to die here?
"none of your business."
Shikamaru grabbed a chess piece and slammed it hard at Naruto.
*Smack*
Naruto raised his hand and caught it.
It is a "Guangxi Horse".
Asma was to protect"I died protecting you bunch of trash."
Naruto toyed with the chess piece, his tone vicious and precise, "So you're going to sit here on a hunger strike?Torture yourself?Waiting for someone to pity you?"
"Shut up!"
Shikamaru suddenly stood up and overturned the chessboard.
The chess pieces scattered all over the ground with a clatter.
He rushed forward and grabbed Naruto by the collar, his eyes bloodshot, like an enraged beast.
"What do you know?You don't know anything at all!"
"That feeling of helplessness, watching your teacher die right in front of you.that."
"I understand."
Naruto did not resist and let him grab him.
Those two words, however, were so calm they were unsettling.
Shikamaru was stunned.
He looked into Naruto's eyes.
There was no mockery there, only a bottomless darkness.
That's the look in someone who has experienced deeper despair.
Naruto reached out and slowly pried open Shikamaru's fingers.
Then.
He took something out of his pocket.
He picked it up from the scene.
A silver lighter, covered in dirt and with a trace of dried blood.
Clang.
The lighter was tossed onto the scattered chessboard, making a crisp sound.
"This is his stuff, isn't it?"
Naruto stood up and straightened his collar.
"That immortal duo is still out there having a good time."
"They will continue to kill, continue to make money, and continue to mock Konoha's weakness."
Naruto walked to the door, turned his back to Shikamaru, and stopped.
"To rot here like a coward."
"Let's pick up this lighter and burn those two bastards to ashes."
"You choose."
After saying that, Naruto walked away without looking back.
The room fell silent once more.
Only that silver lighter lay quietly in the moonlight.
Shikamaru was panting heavily, his chest heaving violently.
One minute.
Two minutes.
He slowly knelt down.
A trembling hand reached for the lighter.
The cool metallic touch reminded him of the warmth of Asma's hand at the end.
Click.
Press down firmly with your thumb.
A cluster of orange flames shot up.
Faint, yet scalding hot.
The firelight reflected in Shikamaru's pupils.
The initial emptiness and confusion gradually faded away.
Instead.
It was a raging fire called "revenge" that seemed capable of spreading like wildfire.
"This is so troublesome."
Shikamaru stared at the ball of fire, a final tear sliding down his cheek.
"Then.let's kill them all."
Prev Next