Kakashi decided to wait and see how things developed, observing the situation first. After all, Asuma Sarutobi wasn't someone who would stand there without fighting back when attacked or remain silent when insulted—and his strength was no joke.
Rin Nohara agreed with Kakashi's decision to watch and wait.
Meanwhile, Obito looked on with a strange expression as Asuma Sarutobi continued grumbling.
Asuma was definitely no pushover, but that didn't necessarily mean Shindai would confront him head-on.
Shindai was famously underhanded after all.
Perched on a tree branch, watching Asuma closely, Shindai revealed a sinister smile.
After forming a hand seal, Shindai sent a clump of iron sand drifting through the air toward Asuma.
Asuma had just about finished grumbling and was preparing to head home.
As he turned around, he noticed something strange approaching—a dark mass floating his way.
"An insect?"
The black mass landed softly on Asuma's shoulder.
Frowning, Asuma rubbed some of it between his fingers. "Huh? Iron sand?"
With another sinister grin, Shindai formed a new seal.
[Magnet Release!] Iron Sand Binding Field!
The iron sand infiltrated Asuma's body, instantly paralyzing him. He slumped to the ground.
"Who—who?!"
Only now did Asuma realize he'd been ambushed.
Shindai leaped down from the branch and slowly approached Asuma.
Straining with effort, Asuma turned his head slightly and saw Shindai clearly.
"It's you again, huh!"
Smiling sweetly, Shindai said, "Yep. The guy with crippled legs found the one who's fully paralyzed—heh, what a fate we share."
Asuma grunted coldly. "Release me now!"
Shindai spoke mockingly, "Oh dear, is this how you ask for help? Besides... I haven't even touched you! I haven't done anything at all, so don't go framing me, Mr. Nice Guy."
Asuma snapped angrily, "What do you want from me then?"
Shindai squatted down in front of Asuma and tossed a coin in front of him. "Here, I felt sorry for you, so take it. Pick it up quickly."
Asuma twitched his lips.
Revenge had come swiftly indeed.
Mustering strength once more, Asuma stubbornly turned his head away, refusing to look at either Shindai or the coin lying on the ground, acting like a broken man who no longer cared.
"What? What's wrong? Don't like the coin? This was yours to begin with—you not picking it up means disrespecting me. If I'm disrespected, I can't eat or sleep properly. And if I can't eat or sleep properly, my mood gets messed up. And if my mood gets bad, I might get violent, y'know?"
Asuma sneered, "Hmph, do you really think I'm afraid of you? Go ahead, release me and let's fight properly!"
"Yo? You're actually challenging me? Fine!"
Shindai immediately released Asuma Sarutobi from his Iron Sand Binding Field. Freed from the binding's restraint, Asuma quickly stood up.
Shindai took a few steps back and provocatively beckoned at Asuma by crooking his finger. "Come on then."
Asuma twisted his neck. "Actually, I'm pretty pissed off right now too. Let me take it out on you."
Asuma charged at Shindai.
Shindai's grin stretched all the way to his ears.
Just as Asuma was about to reach Shindai, he suddenly stumbled forward and fell flat onto the ground again.
Obito, Kakashi, and Rin peeping from hiding simultaneously slapped their foreheads.
They already knew exactly how this would end up.
You know how slippery Shindai's tongue is—trusting him always leads to disaster.
"This shameless bastard!" Asuma roared in rage.
Mockingly commenting, Shindai replied, "Shameless? That's *your* word, isn't it? You challenged me to a one-on-one fight, and I accepted. So isn't using my Iron Sand technique perfectly fair? You had your chance but failed. How do you practice having such thick skin? Teach me, huh?"
"I'll give you another chance—surrender, pick up the token on the ground, and I, being magnanimous, will let you go. What do you think?"
Veins bulged on Asuma's forehead and neck. "You're dreaming!"
Shindai chuckled happily. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear! Right now we're still in the middle of our duel. If you don't admit defeat, that means the one-on-one match continues. Next, I'll welcome you properly."
[Iron Sand Body] formed a rope and hung Asuma upside down.
Asuma couldn't exert any strength throughout his body and couldn't break free. "What are you planning to do?"
"Take this!"
Shindai threw a punch straight into Asuma's left eye.
"Hmmph~"
Asuma groaned softly.
Shindai grinned brightly and asked, "This is your final chance—will you plead for mercy?"
Asuma stood firm: "Absolutely not!"
Shindai's sinister laughter echoed through the woodland. "I love your resilience! Coincidentally, I've been full of anger myself lately. I'd like to take it out on you too."
"Mmm~ Ugh~ Aaaah~ Yiyi~ Hiss~"
Shindai began mercilessly beating up Asuma in various ways.
"Should we go stop him?"
"Right now Shindai is having too much fun. If we try stopping him now, he might play dirty tricks on us and hang us up for a beating too."
"What should we do then? Just watch Asuma get beaten by Shindai? Sister Pakura specifically told us to keep an eye on things."
A mischievous glint flashed in Obito's eye. "Watch me!"
Putting on a falsetto voice, Obito called out, "The Third? What are you doing here?"
Shindai paused mid-strike upon hearing "The Third"—oh no, he was beating up the Hokage's son! If Hiruzen found out about this, he'd be in huge trouble!
Glaring fiercely at Asuma Sarutobi, Shindai spat, "You call for your father during a fight? Have you no honor?"
Without another word, Shindai fled immediately.
Obito and the other two let out sighs of relief once they saw Shindai leave.
Asuma had finally been rescued.
With Shindai gone, the Iron Sand Body bindings dissolved into loose iron sand, and Asuma fell hard to the ground.
It took Asuma quite a while to finally get back on his feet, his face bruised and swollen.
Wiping blood from his nose, Asuma stormed off—not seeking revenge against Shindai, but heading straight home to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Why would you interfere like that? Do you really think so little of me?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been sipping tea with Biwako, looked genuinely confused.
What interference had he even done?
Looking at her son's bruised and battered face with concern, Biwako asked gently, "Asuma, what happened to you?"
Still boiling with anger, Asuma snapped, "I may have gotten beaten so badly I couldn't stand, but I still don't need your help!"
Setting his teacup down calmly, Hiruzen replied solemnly, "I don't know exactly what happened, but Asuma—you're still too immature. You made yourself look terrible."
Fists clenched tightly, Asuma shot back, "Yeah, I'm immature! And I know you've always had problems with me. No matter what I do, it's never good enough for you! That's why I'm leaving Konoha—to understand the Will of Fire on my own, without your help!"
Fuming, Asuma stormed out of the house and ran toward the village gates.
As Biwako moved to chase after him, Hiruzen stopped her with a hand, saying quietly, "Maybe letting him cool off alone isn't such a bad idea."
Biwako sighed heavily. "You two are just alike—both so stubborn, never willing to speak from the heart."
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