"Tsunade-sensei, you and Rin should return to the village to call for reinforcements. I must go back to find Aomi!"
Asuma suddenly halted his steps.
Amidst the inner struggle and conflict, images of being with Aomi and precious memories kept flashing through Asuma's mind...
A rebellious teenager living alone in an environment where family and peers couldn't understand him, with no one able to comprehend his thoughts, even the girl he liked merely saw him as pretending to be deep, unable to resonate...
Until Aomi appeared.
Everything about Asuma was affirmed!
The two of them would talk freely about the future of Konoha, fantasizing that the village could one day truly embody the Will of Fire, exchanging secret techniques from their families, like real brothers sharing everything...
In that place beneath the rocky hills, the moment when Aomi gently placed the fire dragon, illuminating the valley, onto his palm, Asuma would sometimes recall it in his dreams.
It was, to date, the most beautiful day of his life...
And just now, Aomi's words seemed like last words, interweaving with this scene, stirring Asuma's heart.
"I can fight now. Although the enemy is strong, Aomi taught me some powerful Fire Release techniques that should come in handy!"
Asuma's eyes gradually took on a firm resolve: "Aomi always told me to think more!"
"On this journey, I've thought a lot and come to understand!"
"I won't be a burden to Aomi. If the enemy attacks me, that could be Aomi's opportunity to kill that monster!"
Asuma couldn't imagine, if something really happened to Aomi, how he would face Shisui when he returned to the village, and how he would confront his own heart in the dead of night...
The guilt, more terrifying than death, would utterly consume him!
Asuma, who had already harbored the resolve to die, found his heart growing lighter.
At this moment, he felt a connection with Aomi, as if they were spiritually linked...
"Aomi, although I've always been a step behind you, I will closely follow your footsteps, not falling behind!" Asuma roared fiercely, as if cheering himself on, then turned and sprinted off.
If Senju Tobirama heard his thoughts, perhaps he would give Asuma a fair assessment: Not bad for the monkey's son, stronger than that Shimura Danzo kid...
Tsunade watched Asuma's retreating back with complex emotions, each mention of "Aomi" in Asuma's words causing her heart to tremble slightly.
As a mature ninja, Tsunade rationally analyzed that returning to the battlefield now was the most foolish action...
Asuma and Nohara Rin lacked strength, and she was bound by her hemophobia—what could she do to help Aomi?
Recalling the days spent with Aomi...
The time wasn't long, but it made Tsunade feel a resurgence of inner peace.
Tsunade closed her eyes, biting her lips, murmuring to herself: "If that Aomi kid simply dies, then my whole life truly becomes a joke..."
At this moment, she was also pondering how she would face her own heart if something happened to Aomi?
Whenever Tsunade thought of the people she lost, she hated the unfairness and cruelty of fate, not giving her a single chance to save them, seeing only the cold bodies of friends and family!
No matter how strong the medical ninjutsu, they couldn't bring back the dead.
But this time, fate seemed to grant her a small opening...
Aomi wasn't dead yet!
Tsunade's mind was still filled with a crimson mist, knowing Aomi's talent—more exceptional than Orochimaru, a genius!
But even the most talented youth needs time to convert their talent into strength.
In the depths of Tsunade's heart, she didn't believe Aomi could defeat Kakuzu, so she also didn't believe Aomi could survive. Her subconscious told her—
You're about to lose another important person, another disciple who died to cover your retreat!
"Don't be ridiculous!"
Tsunade clenched her fists tightly, as if roaring at fate: "Did you think I'm afraid of death? I just resent this powerless life, not even giving me a chance to stand before my loved ones!"
At this moment, a gentle smile of Aomi handing her chicken soup appeared in her mind.
That smile, like the sun, dispelled the crimson in Tsunade's heart!
Her chaotic Chakra also began to calm down.
"Summoning Jutsu: Katsuyu of Shikkotsu Forest!" Tsunade swiftly performed hand seals, slapping her hands heavily onto the ground.
Success!
As the smoke dispersed, the enormous blue and white Katsuyu stood towering on the ground, looking at Tsunade in surprise: "Lady Tsunade, it's been a long time since we've seen each other..."
"No time for chit-chat, Katsuyu, the situation is critical now!"
Tsunade turned to look at Nohara Rin beside her, hesitated for a moment, and still asked her: "Rin, the battle ahead will be extremely dangerous, do you want to come?"
Nohara Rin nodded without hesitation.
"Alright, I got it!"
Tsunade urged the gigantic Katsuyu to advance; the slowly crawling soft-bodied creature, under the augmentation of Chakra and its massive size, burst forth with considerable marching speed!
"Asuma, kid, get on!"
A moment later, Tsunade caught up to the running Asuma, and the three stood atop Katsuyu, heading together to support Aomi!
"Asuma, I approve of your battle plan!"
Tsunade's beautiful eyes were filled with determination and ferocity: "Since I've already summoned Katsuyu, as long as you and Rin aren't killed by Kakuzu in one strike, I can save you both!"