The serene silence of the countryside temple was shattered by chaos. Hidan's twisted laughter echoed as he stepped over the bodies of fallen monks, his scythe dripping with blood. Kakuzu stood nearby, his face impassive as he gathered the valuables from the shrine, coins clinking into his bag. Chiriku, the temple's head monk and a former member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, knelt in the center of the carnage, blood seeping from a wound on his shoulder.
"I should say you've fought well," Hidan said, twirling his scythe with a manic grin. "But your god is no match for mine. And honestly? You kinda fought like shit."
Chiriku's eyes burned with defiance, his hands forming the beginnings of a seal despite his injuries. "You'll pay for this sacrilege."
Kakuzu interrupted with a dry tone, "Enough, Hidan. We're not here to argue theology. Finish him quickly. The bounty is significant, and I have no intention of wasting time."
Hidan shrugged and stepped forward, his scythe gleaming in the sunlight. With a final swing, Chiriku collapsed, lifeless, onto the temple floor. As the last of the monks fled into the surrounding forest, Hidan knelt to perform his macabre ritual, the crimson symbol of Jashin spreading beneath him.
Hours later, the monk who had escaped staggered into Konoha, his robes torn and his face pale with exhaustion. He fell to his knees before the gates, gasping, "The temple... they've killed everyone. Chiriku is dead."
Tsunade sat at her desk, her expression grim as Shizune relayed the monk's message. She murmured a single word, her hands tightening into fists. "Akatsuki."
Shizune nodded solemnly. "What are your orders, Hokage-sama?"
"Mobilize a team," Tsunade commanded. "Send Asuma's team to intercept them. If they're targeting the Fire Temple, they'll likely head to the bounty station next."
Some time later, Asuma Sarutobi adjusted his trench knives as he, Shikamaru, Kotetsu, and Izumo departed Konoha's gates at full speed. The air was heavy with tension, each step taking them closer to danger.
"You know," Kotetsu said, trying to lighten the mood, "this is a step up from gate duty."
Izumo rolled his eyes. "Barely. If we end up fighting Akatsuki, I'm not sure I'd call it an upgrade."
Shikamaru smirked slightly but remained focused. Asuma, however, was quiet, his mind clearly elsewhere.
When they reached the ruined temple, the scene was worse than they had imagined. The once-holy ground was stained with blood, the bodies of the monks strewn across the courtyard. Asuma knelt beside Chiriku's lifeless form, his jaw tightening.
"They've taken him," Shikamaru said, scanning the area. "To the bounty station. That's their next move."
Asuma stood, his eyes shadowed. "Then we intercept them there." He turned to the monk who had stayed behind to pray. "We'll bring Chiriku back. I promise."
The monk hesitated, his voice trembling. "Be careful. These men are unlike anything you've ever faced."
Asuma's lips curled into a grim smile. "I'm worth five million more than Chiriku. Let's see if they think I'm worth the trouble."
Meanwhile, Hidan and Kakuzu arrived at a nondescript shack in the wilderness, the secret bounty station. The broker inside greeted them with nervous deference, his eyes darting between the two Akatsuki members and the lifeless body of Chiriku they carried.
"You have the bounty?" Kakuzu asked, his voice flat.
The broker nodded quickly and slid a large sack of money across the counter. Kakuzu inspected it carefully, counting each stack with meticulous precision. Satisfied, he turned back to Hidan, who was lounging against the wall, his scythe propped beside him.
"Let's move," Kakuzu said, hefting the money. "We've wasted enough time."
Hidan stretched lazily and grinned. "Fine, fine. I hope the next job's as fun as this one."
Unbeknownst to them, Asuma's team was already en route, ready to confront the killers and seek justice for their fallen comrade.
The dimly lit bounty station was tense as Kakuzu leaned against the wall, his cold, calculating gaze fixed on Zangei, who nervously counted out the ryo from the bounty on Chiriku. Hidan, meanwhile, cleaned the blood off his scythe with an air of casual menace.
"You know," Kakuzu began, his gravelly voice breaking the silence, "Hidan is the only one who can survive my attack strategies. It's the only reason I tolerate him."
Hidan let out an exaggerated sigh, smirking. "Yeah, yeah, and you're lucky you have someone as devout and immortal as me to put up with your greedy, soulless hide."
Zangei chuckled nervously, unsure if the Akatsuki duo were joking or serious. Kakuzu ignored him, collecting the money and motioning for Hidan to finish up. Before they could leave, however, a disturbance outside caught their attention.
Asuma's team had arrived, stealthily approaching the bounty station. The four ninjas stood hidden amongst the trees, preparing for their ambush.
Asuma's expression was grim as he adjusted his trench knives. "Chiriku and I were like brothers," he said softly, his voice tinged with sorrow. "Like you and Chōji, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru nodded, his face unusually serious. "Understood, Asuma-sensei."
Asuma glanced at the cigarette tucked behind his ear and decided against lighting it. "No distractions this time. Let's go."
With that, they launched their attack.
The door to the bounty station exploded inward as Izumo and Kotetsu led the charge, their large kunai gleaming in the dim light. Without hesitation, they stabbed Hidan in the chest. The Akatsuki member staggered slightly but looked more annoyed than injured.
Hidan glanced down at the kunai embedded in his torso and grinned, his sharp teeth glinting. "Seriously? That's it? You call that an attack?" He yanked the kunai free and threw them to the side.
Asuma rushed forward, his trench knives crackling with chakra as he engaged Hidan in close combat. The two clashed fiercely, the sparks from Asuma's chakra-forged blades illuminating the darkened room. Hidan was relentless, his scythe spinning with deadly precision as he forced Asuma on the defensive.
Suddenly, Hidan's scythe nicked Asuma's cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. Hidan's eyes lit up with excitement as he licked the blood from the blade, his grin widening. "Now the fun begins."
Before Asuma could react, Hidan drew a circle on the ground with blood and stepped into it. Asuma launched a fire jutsu, engulfing Hidan in flames. For a moment, it seemed like the fight was over—until the flames dissipated, revealing Hidan completely unharmed. Instead, Asuma cried out, clutching his arm as it burned with the injury meant for Hidan.
Hidan's appearance had changed. His skin turned black with white skeletal markings, making him resemble a Grim Reaper. He laughed maniacally, holding his scythe to his chest. "This is my ritual. Any pain I feel is reflected back on you. And since I can't die, well..." He pressed the blade closer to his heart, a sadistic glint in his eyes. "This will be the end for you."
Asuma fell to one knee, his burned arm hanging limp at his side. Shikamaru acted quickly, casting his Shadow Bind technique. Hidan froze mid-motion, a look of surprise on his face.
"Not so fast," Shikamaru said, sweat dripping down his brow as he focused on holding the shadow. "You're not finishing this ritual."
Kakuzu stepped forward, his green eyes narrowing. "Need a hand, Hidan?"
"Stay out of this, Kakuzu!" Hidan barked, his body trembling as he strained against Shikamaru's jutsu. "I've got this! Just wait."
Shikamaru's sharp mind pieced together the ritual's mechanics. "I see how it works now. First, you need your opponent's blood. Then you step into your little ritual circle. Move you out of it, and your ability is useless." He turned to Kotetsu and Izumo. "Help me push him out."
Hidan growled, his feet digging into the ground as the three shinobi worked together to move him. "You think you've figured me out? Don't underestimate Jashin-sama!"
Despite Hidan's resistance, Asuma's team inched him closer to the edge of the circle. The fight was far from over, but they had their plan—and now it was a battle of wits and strength to see who would come out alive.
Hidan sneered, standing rigidly where had had been snared in Shikamaru's Shadow Sewing technique. His arms were pinned to his sides, and he could only wiggle in frustration. "This is starting to piss me off! Kakuzu, help me out here!"
Kakuzu, leaning against a nearby tree, barely glanced at his partner. "I told you to be careful, Hidan. This is your mess. Clean it up."
"Fine. I'll do it myself!" But before he could think of a plan, Asuma darted forward, his trench knives glowing with chakra. In one swift motion, Asuma severed Hidan's head from his body. The Akatsuki member's head rolled across the ground and came to a stop at Kakuzu's feet.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, Hidan's decapitated head sputtered and shouted, "Damn it, Kakuzu! Why didn't you stop him? Now look at me!"
Asuma, Kotetsu, and Izumo stood frozen, disbelief etched on their faces. Shikamaru, still catching his breath, muttered, "This guy just doesn't die, does he?"
Kakuzu sighed, grabbing Hidan's head by the hair. "You're always causing trouble. Your head's lighter than your whole body anyway."
Hidan scowled, though his expression bordered on comical due to his current predicament. "Just get me back together already, you idiot!"
While Kakuzu retrieved Hidan's body and began reattaching his head using the black threads extending from his arms, Shikamaru's Shadow Sewing faltered, the strain finally catching up to him. He fell to one knee, exhausted. "This... isn't over yet," he panted.
As Hidan's head snapped back into place, he rotated his neck with a series of unsettling cracks. "You're all gonna pay for that. Especially you, monk-boy," he hissed, glaring at Asuma. "Time to finish this."
Before anyone could react, Kakuzu extended his arms, the threads in his forearms elongating like tendrils. They wrapped around Kotetsu and Izumo's necks, lifting them off the ground. Both men struggled, but the grip was unrelenting.
Asuma tried to intervene, but Hidan leapt back into his blood-soaked ritual circle. With a sadistic grin, he plunged his spear into his own chest. Asuma staggered backward, clutching his chest in agony.
"Asuma-sensei!" Shikamaru shouted, forcing himself to his feet despite his exhaustion.
Asuma fell to his knees, blood staining his shirt. His breaths were ragged, and his face paled with each passing moment. Hidan reverted to his normal form, his grin triumphant. "That's what happens when you mess with Jashin-sama."
Kakuzu, meanwhile, released Kotetsu and Izumo, sending them tumbling to the ground. He turned his attention back to Asuma, ready to finish the job. "This one's worth a lot of money. Let's wrap this up."
Before Kakuzu could strike, a sudden flurry of crows obscured his vision. The sound of reinforcements arriving broke the tense silence as Raidō Namiashi and Aoba Yamashiro appeared, their weapons drawn. Ino and Chōji weren't far behind, rushing to their team's aid.
"Ino! Chōji! Get Asuma and Shikamaru out of here!" Raidō commanded as he and Aoba stepped forward to confront the Akatsuki.
Ino knelt beside Asuma, her hands glowing with healing chakra. Tears streamed down her face as she worked to stabilize him. "Asuma-sensei, hold on! We're getting you back to Konoha."
Shikamaru, barely able to stand, placed his fingers on Asuma's neck, searching for a pulse. "He's still alive... but we have to move now."
Chōji gently lifted Shikamaru over his shoulder, while Ino and another medic worked to carry Asuma. Kakuzu's eyes narrowed. "You think you can just take my bounty and leave?"
Hidan gripped his scythe, ready to attack. "They're not getting away! I'm gonna—"
Before he could finish, the voice of the Akatsuki leader echoed in their minds, commanding them telepathically. "Return immediately. The Three-Tails must be sealed without delay."
Kakuzu clicked his tongue in irritation. "Looks like you live for now," he muttered, turning to leave.
Hidan growled but obeyed. "You're lucky, you bastards. But next time, you won't be so lucky."
As the Akatsuki retreated, Ino, Chōji, and the others worked quickly to evacuate. Asuma's breathing stopped. Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji made eye contact. Collectively the color drained from their faces Any one of them might have spoken, "No…"
After mission debrief, Shikamaru sat alone under a large oak tree near the outskirts of the village, staring blankly at the shogi board in front of him. The pieces were still in the exact positions they'd been in during his last game with Asuma. His cigarette pouch sat beside him, unopened, a small reminder of the habit he swore never to take up despite Asuma's teasing. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the board, mirroring the heaviness in Shikamaru's chest.
The sound of approaching footsteps broke him from his thoughts. Shikamaru didn't need to look up to know who it was. "Naruto," he said flatly, still staring at the board. "What are you doing here?"
Naruto stood a few feet away, hands stuffed into his pockets, his face uncharacteristically solemn. "I… I just wanted to check on you."
Shikamaru sighed, his sharp gaze finally lifting to meet Naruto's. "I'm fine," he said, though his voice betrayed the effort it took to say it.
Naruto hesitated, then took a few steps closer. "Look, I... I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.
"For everything." Naruto's fists clenched at his sides. "Those guys are only around here because of me. I have been so busy training. I should've been there. Maybe I could've helped."
Shikamaru stared at Naruto, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he closed his eyes and leaned back against the tree. "You're an idiot, you know that?"
"What?"
Shikamaru opened his eyes, his gaze hard but not unkind. "You think everything revolves around you? That you can carry the weight of every battle, every loss, on your shoulders? That's not how this works, Naruto." He gestured to the shogi board in front of him. "Sometimes, no matter how smart your moves are, you lose pieces. Asuma… he was our king piece. He knew the risks going out there. We all do. Don't you dare insult his sacrifice by blaming yourself."
Naruto was silent for a moment, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I just feel like I should've done more," he muttered.
"Then do more. Train. Get stronger. Master that damn jutsu you've been working on. Because when we go after Hidan and Kakuzu, I'm not holding back. And neither should you."
Naruto looked up, his eyes meeting Shikamaru's determined gaze. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Naruto nodded, his resolve hardening. "You're right. I'll master it. I'll make sure those guys pay for what they did to Asuma."
Shikamaru gave a small nod, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Good. Because we're going to need everything you've got." He turned his attention back to the shogi board, picking up a piece and moving it into position. "Asuma wouldn't want us to waste time mourning. He'd want us to finish the game."
Naruto watched him for a moment longer before turning to leave. As he walked away, Shikamaru called after him. "Naruto."
He stopped and glanced back. "Yeah?"
Shikamaru's voice was softer now. "Thanks for coming by. You're troublesome, but you're a good friend."
Naruto grinned, a flicker of his usual energy returning. "You can count on me."
As Naruto headed back toward the village, Shikamaru picked up the king piece from the shogi board, rolling it between his fingers.
"Don't worry, Asuma," he murmured. "We'll finish what you started."