Chapter Nineteen: Asuma, awake
Asuma seemed like he was gathering information, but was actually picking the pockets of his sleeping comrades. He took a coupon to buy sake from Tsunade, and a blank scroll from Kurenai. From Shikamaru, he took a free kunai, and he took some marshmallows from Shizune. Asuma found a dog biscuit with Kakashi, and took that too.
After picking every pocket in Tsunade's office, Asuma left to the larger and crueler world outside. He decided to go to Naruto's team's training area, and found Gaara there. Gaara looked like he was just leaving.
Asuma took the cigarette out of his mouth and threw it on the floor, stepping on it so that it burned out. "Sabaku no Gaara." he said.
"Yes. And you are?" asked Gaara.
"Asuma, a jounin." answered Asuma. "Do you have any thought on this situation?
"Actually, I do. We have to gather everyone that we care about to this location. They're all stuck in the same dream. When we finish doing that, we get to throw water on them." said Gaara.
"Why don't we throw water on them individually?" asked Asuma.
"Because that would be too easy." said Gaara simply.
Asuma nodded, and the two split up. Asuma decided to find Gai while he was at it, and tell him to look too.