"Ah... that feels so good."
Hidan watched Asuma, who was now unable to move, and finally deactivated the ritual. His skin returned to its normal color as he wrenched the black stake from his own body.
"I'm finished here."
"I'm nearly done as well." Kakuzu's grip tightened around Kotetsu Hagane's throat; Kotetsu could feel his neck reaching its breaking point.
"You bastards!" Shikamaru roared, having lost all semblance of composure. He lunged toward Kakuzu with everything he had left.
But Shikamaru was at his absolute limit. With a casual flick of his wrist, Kakuzu hurled Kotetsu's body aside, sending him crashing directly into Shikamaru. Impacting the ground, Shikamaru found he no longer had the strength to even crawl back up.
Damn it... why am I so useless...
Right then, black crow feathers began to drift down from the sky. Aoba Yamashiro appeared on a high ledge, unleashing a swarm of crows to obscure the vision of both Kakuzu and Hidan.
"A distraction?"
Suddenly, a Special Jonin materialized in front of Kakuzu, thrusting a blade directly at his face. Kakuzu instinctively let go of his targets and leaped back to evade the strike.
In that moment, Shikamaru realized: reinforcements had arrived.
…
The Flower Realm.
Within the spatial dimension of the Flower Realm, Kanon walked across a field of equinox flowers, her expression as serene as ever.
"Kanon-chan, why didn't you just kill Asuma?" asked Konin, who was walking alongside her.
"You should know why I didn't," Kanon replied calmly.
"Is it really because of your past bond with Shikamaru?"
"Partially. But mostly because if I killed him, Hidan-nii would get angry with me."
"I see. However, your vision is starting to be affected, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Kanon murmured. "The schedule for the battle against that bastard Itachi needs to be moved up."
"Why not transplant the Eternal Mangekyō before you go to kill him?" Konin asked softly.
"I want to see Itachi's death with my own eyes."
"I understand. If you decide you want the transplant, return to the Flower Realm. I will perform the surgery for you."
"Mhm. Thank you, Konin."
"Why are you thanking me?" Konin asked with a smile.
"I'm not sure... but it felt like the thing to do."
As they spoke, Kanon and Konin reached the most sacred part of the flower field. It was a place brimming with life, where time itself seemed to stand still.
Two crystal coffins rested there, holding two cold corpses, surrounded by a vibrant sea of multicolored blossoms. These were the bodies of Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha. On the night of the massacre, Kanon had personally moved her parents to the Flower Realm. Only here did she feel they were safe; only here could they truly be laid to rest.
"Papa... Mama... your daughter has been unfilial. Back then, I couldn't do anything."
"But things are different now..."
Konin looked at the two bodies, her expression thoughtful, as if a faint echo of pain was resonating within her own heart.
"Konin, I'm going back to deposit the money."
"Go on. And remember, when you sleep at night, enter your inner world to consolidate your ninjutsu."
"I know."
…
The Hidden Rain Village.
In Amegakure, Konan looked down over the village, a small smile playing on her lips. The peaceful atmosphere was a testament to the fact that Nagato's dream was nearing fruition.
Behind her, a swirling vortex of roses appeared. Without even turning, she knew Kanon had returned.
"You're back, Kanon-chan."
"Konan-nee, looking over the village again?"
"I am. Where are Kakuzu and the other?"
"They aren't back yet. I came on ahead." Kanon hoisted a heavy iron case.
"And this is?"
"Thirty million Ryo! Plus the spoils from the last few days. I'm going to deposit it all in a bit." Kanon paused. "Of course, I need to allocate some funds to Otogakure as well."
As Kanon was calculating, Pain walked toward them.
"Deidara and Tobi have returned. We are beginning the sealing ritual for the Three-Tails immediately. Summon the others."
"Senpai!" Kanon waved at Pain.
"Welcome back, Kanon-chan."
"Mhm! Look at this!" Like a high-spirited young girl, Kanon held up the case of money.
Pain looked confused, but after Konan explained the situation, he let out a rare, soft chuckle.
"Well done, Kanon-chan. However, we have more urgent matters now. Go deposit the money, then we must contact the others."
"Right! I'm off!"
As Konan watched Kanon head toward the Akatsuki treasury, she smiled. "It's nice to be young."
"Yes... though you weren't quite that energetic when you were her age, Konan."
"The most energetic one among us was Yahiko, wasn't he?"
"Mhm."
Pain sat down and sent out the mental signal to all members of the Akatsuki.
"Sealing the Three-Tails. Move out immediately. There is no time to lose."
…
The sky was smothered by heavy, dark clouds, like a massive black shroud draped over the world.
Streetlights cast dim, yellow halos that stood in stark contrast to the surrounding gloom. In the distance, the low rumble of thunder heralded an approaching storm.
In his final moments, Asuma told the three students gathered around him that he had one last set of instructions. He told Choji and Ino to take care of themselves and become even greater shinobi. He told Ino not to lose to Sakura, neither in ninjutsu nor in love. He told Choji to perhaps lose a little weight. These were simple, ordinary wishes, carrying the weight of a teacher's final hopes for his disciples.
Finally, he told Shikamaru the true meaning of the "King."
"Asuma, so you..."
"I'm leaving it to you, Shikamaru..." Asuma's voice was fading. "It should be okay now... the cigarettes I was supposed to quit are in my pocket. Let me have just one more..."
With trembling hands, Shikamaru took out a cigarette and placed it between Asuma's lips. He struck the lighter, and in that flickering flame, a flood of memories from Team 10 seemed to rush forth.
Shikamaru's tears finally spilled over; beside him, Ino and Choji wept openly.
At last, Shikamaru lit that final cigarette for his master.
Another memory surfaced, the day Team 10 first met. Asuma had started smoking, and the fumes had made all three of them choke until tears ran down their faces. Now, just like then, his three students were crying, their bodies shaking with bitter sobs.
Not long ago, all three had successfully become Chunin and officially graduated from Asuma's tutelage. As a graduation gift, he had given each of them a pair of earrings, congratulating them on their growth and urging them never to forget their bond.
Finally, Asuma's strength failed. The last images in his mind were of the children of Team 10 and Kurenai Yuhi. With tears in his eyes and the half-finished cigarette still between his lips, his breathing stopped.
The glowing ember took with it the life of the teacher of Team 10 and the son of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. But it could not take away the Will of Fire to protect the "King," nor the resolve of Team 10.
Rain began to fall silently; fine, cold droplets that tapped against the ground. The drizzle quickly intensified into a downpour, as if the floodgates of heaven had been wrenched open.
The rain lashed the earth with a rhythmic roar, a wordless dirge for the cruelty and indifference of nature. The remaining Jonin lowered their heads in silence. The bodies of Izumo Kamizuki and Asuma Sarutobi lay side by side, a grim testament to the brutality of the battle.
The wind joined the rain, howling through the streets and alleys, whipping up debris and fallen leaves. Trees swayed violently, their branches lashing the air like whips in protest against the storm. The rain blurred the world into a colorless, indistinct painting.
This storm was more than just weather; it was as if the sky itself was weeping, mourning for the two who had passed, or perhaps for the loneliness and despair of the world.
Seeing that Asuma was gone, Shikamaru stood up. He tried to light a cigarette just as Asuma would, but the smoke stung his eyes so badly he couldn't keep them open.
Tears of grief, tears from the smoke, and the falling rain all merged on his face. The rain grew heavier until, finally, the cherry of Shikamaru's cigarette was mercilessly extinguished.
The mission to capture the Akatsuki had failed. Asuma Sarutobi and Izumo Kamizuki had fallen, one to Hidan, and the other to Kanon Uchiha.
Shikamaru's body trembled as he felt the world around him. The sound of the wind and rain wove together into a dark elegy, adding a final layer of heavy sorrow to the moment.