Asuma was accompanied by Kurenai Yuhi, along with three other jōnin: one from the Hyuga branch family, one from the Akimichi Clan, and one from the Inuzuka Clan.
Trailing behind was a white ninken, visibly anxious.
As the son of the Third Hokage, Asuma's presence emboldened the others—only with him did they dare approach the forest at such a time.
The forest was cold and damp.
Corpses lay scattered everywhere.
A heavy air of death and dread clung to the scene.
Kurenai's striking red pupils trembled violently. Her small hands clenched tightly in unease.
Trying to ease the tension, she shot Asuma a sharp glare and said coldly, "Stamp it out."
Kurenai hated that Asuma smoked.
But because his father, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was just as addicted, she found it hard to criticize him too harshly.
Asuma gave a sheepish laugh. Under the moonlight, his teeth—slightly yellowed from tobacco—glinted faintly. He reached toward Kurenai, hoping to pull her into his arms.
"Don't be mad, it'll burn out on its own."
Smack—
Kurenai slapped his hand away, her tone frosty. "Let's deal with the mission first."
"Haha, alright, alright. But love is part of my mission, too, you know," Asuma joked, hands in his pockets, playing the fool.
Kurenai sighed, choosing not to argue with his shameless antics, though she quietly followed behind the others.
She hadn't accepted him yet.
"All right, everyone. Let's get to work. If we handle this right, it'll be a huge achievement!" Asuma declared flamboyantly, snapping his fingers.
The hefty Akimichi jōnin stayed protectively close. Meanwhile, the Hyuga and Inuzuka jōnin began their investigation.
One activated the Byakugan, scanning the area.
Another released his ninken—but to his surprise, the dog bolted in the opposite direction. Perplexed, the Inuzuka jōnin chased after it.
Seeing this, Asuma's expression twitched slightly.
"There's a wounded Root member over there!" the Hyuga jōnin reported, and quickly made his way deeper into the woods.
Asuma gestured for the group to follow.
The Hyuga jōnin completed his interrogation.
The Root team captain lying on the ground was missing several fingers, his thigh pinned to the earth by a ninja blade. He groaned in agony.
"It... it was Uchiha Inzuki…"
"He killed Danzo-sama…!"
"And then… defected from the village with nine other Uchiha!"
"Uchiha Inzuki?" Asuma's brow furrowed. He turned slowly, eyes landing on the now pale and visibly shaken Kurenai.
Kurenai kept her gaze on the ground, unable to meet his questioning stare.
Moonlight illuminated her fair and beautiful face. Her slightly curled black hair failed to hide the panic written all over her features.
Kurenai wore a crimson inner layer beneath a dress-like outfit that resembled bandage wraps.
Beneath her mesh armor, her figure was accentuated—elegant curves and flawless skin barely concealed.
Below the skirt, white bandage-like fabric wrapped around her undergarments. Her legs were long and shapely, calves sleek and smooth.
Asuma, not wanting to press her further, withdrew his probing gaze. A flash of displeasure crossed his eyes.
"There's only one Uchiha named Inzuki," he muttered. "Must be that guy we went to the Academy with."
Kurenai bit her lip lightly and objected, "He's not that kind of person."
"And besides, how could Inzuki possibly be a match for Danzo?"
Kurenai, in this moment, looked like a red rose in full bloom.
Now an adult, she had learned to apply makeup and present herself with grace. Her refined appearance and composed demeanor radiated the allure of a mature woman.
"You're right, Kurenai," Asuma said. "I don't think he could've killed Danzo either."
His expression grew darker.
Back in the Academy, Uchiha Inzuki had been their classmate—gentle, kind, and always looking out for the girls.
At the time, half the girls in class liked the aloof Kakashi, while the other half gravitated toward the warm and sunny Inzuki.
He had been just as brilliant as Kakashi.
Kurenai, Shizune, and even the then-naïve Anko had all once held deep admiration for him.
Fortunately, Inzuki's excellence earned him early graduation like Kakashi, and he was dispatched the vto the Third Great Shinobi War soon after.
Only then did Asuma get a chance to be around Kurenai.
But that was all in the past.
He had no intention of digging up those memories.
Asuma took a deep breath, calming his frustration. He looked down at the Root member.
"Tell me every technique those Uchiha used."
The Root captain, still writhing in pain, clenched his teeth and forced out the words:
"Mind control… it was an irresistible ocular jutsu. Uchiha Inzuki… he's awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
The five jōnin were stunned, exchanging uneasy glances. The Inuzuka among them already wanted to retreat.
They had never faced an Uchiha with the Mangekyō before, but all had heard of the eye's legendary, terrifying power on the battlefield.
It was a symbol of death and a cursed fate.
Every pair held abilities akin to divine miracles.
"Please… take me… to Konoha… Hospital…" the Root captain pleaded weakly.
Asuma glanced down and said flatly, "Hold out for five more minutes. Someone will come for you."
With that, he and the others headed deeper into the forest.
"Asuma… maybe we should just drop this mission," the Inuzuka jōnin suggested nervously.
He was struggling to restrain his growling companion. As a dog-handler, he could feel the sheer terror in his ninken's trembling body and dilated eyes.
Asuma shook his head. "Let's press on a bit further. Gather more intel. Then we decide."
But they had barely taken a few steps when they saw it.
Before them, in a forest clearing, stood a massive pale tree.
A sword hilt was embedded in the trunk. In a dark recess above it, a lifeless, withered face drooped.
The body was swallowed by the tree.
"Shimura Danzo?!"
Bathed in moonlight, Asuma recognized the face and gasped aloud.
Kurenai and the others, upon seeing the once-mighty elder's lifeless face, were visibly shaken, their breathing shallow.
That face hung there, unmoving—quietly slumped within the tree hollow.
"Did… Inzuki really do this?" the Hyuga jōnin asked solemnly.
Shimura Danzo—the infamous "Darkness of the Shinobi."
To be slain and humiliated like this… the answer seemed obvious.
"Was it really him?" Kurenai's face flushed, emotions surging.
The boy she once admired—had he truly risen to such terrifying heights?
"This can't be…" Asuma went pale. He fumbled in his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and shoved it in his mouth. His hands trembled as he flicked his lighter.
Uchiha Inzuki had really killed Danzo?!
Click—click—click—
Sparks danced.
Asuma's eyes were hollow as he struck the lighter several times. Only when the flame finally caught did he light his cigarette and take a deep drag, trying to steady the storm in his heart.
"What now?" asked the heavyset Akimichi jōnin, turning to Asuma.
In the Akimichi Clan, their role during missions was to follow orders.
Asuma rubbed his temples, slowly regaining clarity. He looked at the sea of Root and ANBU corpses, then back at Danzo's drained corpse. His thoughts snapped into focus.
If Uchiha Inzuki had truly awakened the Mangekyō, he wouldn't have dared assassinate Danzo otherwise.
But even so…
To kill so many Root operatives, ANBU, and Danzo himself—it must have taken everything he had.
A smile crept across Asuma's lips. His cigarette had already burned out. He tapped the ash off, tossed it to the ground, and stamped it out.
"Uchiha Inzuki has murdered one of the Hokage's advisors, and countless Root and ANBU members.
He has to be running on fumes.
He's out of options—backed into a corner.
His bounty…
His status as a missing-nin…
After tonight, he'll be ranked at least as high as Orochimaru was when he defected from Konoha.
If we seize this opportunity—
If we capture him alive—
Or even bring back his corpse—
All of you…
Will become core members of your clans!
So I say—"
"Let's hunt down this rogue Uchiha!!"