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 329
Main
MenuCHAPTER 330 - Sad News
 Days later in Konoha,
Shikamaru and the remnants
of the team stand inside Tsunade’s office to deliver the sad
news. Kotetsu brings up the point about who should deliver
the news to Kurenai. Tsuande begins to say that she will do
it when Shikmaru interrupts and insists that he should do it.
Apparently, Asuma also left with Shikamaru a message for Kurenai. At the training grounds, the landscape is littered with craters as a result of Naruto’s vigorous training. Working with two other clones, Naruto forms a Rasengan sphere and claims he is finally getting the hang of inserting wind chakra into the Rasengan. Naruto learned the original Rasengan technique by dividing the tasks. While the real Naruto emits the chakra, a clone manipulates and moulds  it into
shape. During his last talk with Kakashi, Naruto complained
that developing the new jutsu was impossible because he needs to form,
manipulate and insert wind chakra at the same time. But it
seems the solution is simple, all Naruto needed was a third clone to
handle the wind chakra insertion. Although Naruto makes it
seem simple, Kakashi notes that Naruto is likely
the only person with
the chakra and cloning technique suitable to perform the jutsu using
this method. He admits that even the Yondaime (Fourth Hokage) would not
have been able to complete the jutsu this way. Kakashi is
impressed and tells Naruto he is really starting to like him.
Kakashi’s sudden display of affections ends shivers down
Naruto’s back, making him lose control of the
Rasengan. Naruto falls to the ground from the chakra
explosion. He tells Kakashi not to say something sick like
that again because it’ll make him lose
concentration. At that moment, Izumo arrives at the training
site and tells Kakashi and the others they need to return to Konoha
straight away. Everyone is shocked to hear that Asuma has
died. In a poignant but silent scene, Shikamaru delivers the dreadful news to Kurenai outside her apartment. Kurenai loses strength in her legs, falls to her knees and begins to weep. Days later, a funeral is held for Asuma that is attended by many of the Konoha shinobi. Ino observes that, strangely, Shikamaru is not present, but when  she went to his house
earlier his mother had said Shikamaru had left already. In a
grassy hill nearby, Shikamaru is stretched out on the ground and stares
at the sky while a casually smoking a cigarette. Later that
night, Shikamaru sits at home  alone
in front of the Shogi board he and
Asuma always used to play on. He sets out the playing pieces,
laying down last the ‘knight’ piece, which Asuma
had said resembled
Shikamaru’s character the most.
In front the ‘knight’ on either side are the rook
(called ‘hii’ and symbolizes Hidan) and bishop
(called ‘kaku’ and symbolizes Kakuzu). In
his next move, the ‘knight’ can take out either the
rook or bishop, but it would be a sacrificial move because the knight
would be killed by one of the other pieces afterwards. But finding the solution to what appears to be a hopeless situation is what Shikamaru does best. The very next day, he is at the Konoha library researching through piles of books and scrolls. His purpose becomes clear later when Shikamaru practices his newly learned technique outside. Shikamaru holds one of Asuma’s trench knives in one hand and with hard concentration, is able to channel his shadow jutsu into the blade. With his preparations complete, Shikamaru sets out to the main gate of Konoha where Choji and Ino are already waiting for him. Together, the remaining three-man cell of Team Asuma prepares to set out and find the Akatsuki members who murdered their sensei.
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Naruto Hurricane - Naruto manga volume 37 chapter 330 |
