"No need... I'm already... done for... This... I understand... the best..."
"Now... I finally understand... what the Third Hokage did... entrusted hope... to the next generation, Shikamaru, this is what I call the [Seed], the future of Konoha..."
"In my... pocket... there's still... a pack of cigarettes... Let me have one last... smoke!"
Asuma spoke his dying words intermittently, bidding farewell to his three students. As the cigarette in his mouth burned out, Asuma gradually closed his eyes. At the same time, a torrential rain began to fall from the sky. Thus, Sarutobi Asuma, passed away.
Ino's eyes were filled with tears. Throughout Asuma's speech, Ino's Palm Ninja Art had not stopped. Yet, even so, Asuma, whose heart had been pierced, still passed away. The moment Asuma lost his life force, Ino could no longer hold back her grief and threw herself onto Asuma's body, crying out in pain.
"Teacher!"
...
In the Land of Wind, Ryo and Karin also received orders from Heavenly Pain. They then used the Clone Body Technique together, appearing in a sealed space.
The present were still Kakuzu and Hidan, absent as usual. Only after hearing Heavenly Pain's urging did Kakuzu and Hidan arrive late.
"Kakuzu, Hidan, does it take you two this long to capture a tailed beast? I'm busy too. I'm always waiting for you two. Can you have some concept of time?"
This time, Ryo couldn't help but complain about the immortal duo. It was a real waste of time. They still needed to rush their research on Edo Tensei.
"What did you say? You bastard! Don't think you can lecture us just because you captured two tailed beasts. We're late because Kakuzu was chasing bounties. This time he even went to the Land of Fire, which resulted in me getting my neck cut off!" Hidan immediately retorted. Even though Ryo was stronger than him, Hidan wouldn't back down. After all, in Hidan's mind, no one in this world could kill him.
"Land of Fire? Got your neck cut off?" Ryo thought about the original plot. Wasn't this the scene where Asuma died? Even though he had already taken over the jobs of capturing the Two-Tails and Seven-Tails, Kakuzu and Hidan still went to the Land of Fire. He was truly resigned to these two.
"Sorry, leader, Konan. This time, let Yugito substitute for me. She can be trusted. Karin has the Ring of Void, so we have enough members. I suddenly remembered I have an urgent matter to attend to." After speaking, Ryo deactivated the Clone Body Technique, not giving Heavenly Pain a chance to lecture him.
Ryo opened his eyes and handed his ring to Yugito, then taught her how to use it, as well as the Clone Body Technique and the Phantom Dragons Nine Seals.
Yugito's mind and body were now entirely Ryo's reflection. Naturally, she agreed to whatever Ryo said without any suspicion. She readily agreed and sat next to Karin to perform the Clone Body Technique.
...
"Yomi-Nuri-Bansho!"
Ryo stepped through the arbitrary door and, in the blink of an eye, appeared in the Land of Fire. He performed Yomi-Nuri-Bansho again, and Ryo appeared at the Fire Temple. With his senses, Ryo instantly arrived at Asuma's death location and looked down to see Ino weeping sadly.
Without much thought, Ryo performed a transformation jutsu, changing into Ryo'un's appearance, and descended not far from Ino.
"Little girl, now is not the time for crying. You still have a heavily injured companion by your side." Ryo slowly walked into their view. Using his Blood Line Limit, he made it so that no one else could see him.
"How tragic! This must have been someone very important to you, right? But the person is already dead and shouldn't be left out in the rain here. The living shouldn't dwell in sorrow. You should look forward. Life's path is full of unknowns, and that's the greatest joy of being alive. If you don't look forward when you walk, you're bound to stumble!"
Ryo approached Shikamaru and lightly touched him. Shikamaru immediately felt incredibly comfortable, but he couldn't be happy at all.
Ino stared blankly at Ryo'un, "Miss Ryo'un... why are you here? Right, can you save Teacher Asuma? Please, Miss Ryo'un, save my teacher!"
However, in Shikamaru and the others' eyes, Ino was still crying, and no one could perceive Ryo and Ino's conversation.
"Ryo'un? Who is that? My name is Ya'un, little girl. You've mistaken me for someone else. But I'm very sorry, I can't save this person. He is already dead. I just came to see you. I hope you won't be too sad. Your family must also hope to see you with a beautiful smile, right?"
Ryo almost forgot that Ino had met Ryo'un before. His disguise was too sloppy. As he spoke, Ryo secretly collected a drop of Asuma's blood. This was good stuff. Blood was the most useful, and it could be used in batches for Edo Tensei.
With the goods in hand, Ryo prepared to leave. Parting is a hurdle everyone must experience. Ryo believed Ino would get through it and didn't need too much comfort. Moreover, the Ino in the original story was very calm.
"Goodbye, little girl. I hope the next time I see you, your face will be full of smiles."
"Wait! Are you Stars? This data eye can see any data I want to see, but there's one exception, Stars. I can't see his data, and now I can't see your data either. So, are you Stars?" Ino grabbed Ryo's hand, her expression cold.
Ryo didn't know what the data eye's function was, as given by Ryo'un. It seemed similar to when he analyzed Shinobu Kocho before. Ryo was the data-formed Heavenly Dao, so it was normal for the data eye to not be able to see him.
Having his identity guessed by Ino, Ryo no longer concealed it and immediately deactivated his transformation jutsu.
Seeing Ryo's face, Ino's heart was filled with mixed emotions. She didn't know how to face Ryo. Someone from Ryo's organization had killed her teacher. Now, seeing the red cloud robe, Ino could no longer view the situation optimistically.
"Your companion killed my teacher. Although it has nothing to do with you, I still feel uncomfortable. Stars, I won't make things difficult for you, but I beg you, please tell me the abilities of the person who killed Teacher Asuma. I want to avenge Teacher Asuma!"
At this moment, a scale appeared before Ryo. Ino and Kakuzu and Hidan were on opposite sides of the scale. However, the scale undoubtedly tilted towards Ino's side. Compared to Ino, Kakuzu and Hidan were practically insignificant.
"Yes. Shikamaru likely already knows about Hidan. The important thing is the other one, Kakuzu. He possesses five hearts. Only when all five hearts are destroyed will Kakuzu truly die. He can separate his hearts from his body and perform different Ninjutsu attacks. Other than that, there's basically nothing else. I've only seen him once."
A flicker of joy suddenly appeared in Ino's heart. She was indeed right to choose to believe in Ryo. Jasmine's heart is the beacon that guides the way.
"Thank you, Stars. I need to go back. Please release the genjutsu for them. I won't mention today's events."
Ryo smiled, then stepped forward and gently kissed Ino's forehead. The moment he touched Ino, Ryo's figure turned into cherry blossoms and disappeared from Ino's sight.
When she came back to her senses, Ino only saw Shikamaru calling her name, asking why she had suddenly become still. Ryo had used genjutsu to disguise himself, clearly not wanting others to know about this matter. Therefore, Ino could only say that she was fine...