I just returned to Konoha and found that all my clan members were gone.

"Where are Asuma and the others?"

Shikamaru asked breathlessly, holding his knees with both hands. In order to arrive in time, he even used the instant body movement technique.

"After hearing that there were still children in the factory who had not evacuated, the captain led his men into the fire scene!"

One member of the patrol team had an expression that was uglier than crying.

Looking at the fire growing bigger in front of him, Shikamaru thought to himself that something was wrong and his panic grew bigger and bigger.

Suddenly, a distortion appeared in the sea of ​​fire, and the flames began to rotate uncontrollably, and the range of rotation became larger and larger, and soon it would come to the front.

While others were still curious about what was going on, Shikamaru's eyes narrowed and he pushed away the ninja beside him and fell to the ground.

Finally, something broke through the sea of ​​fire. A high-speed rotating air current passed by Shikamaru, turning all the debris into powder wherever it passed.

This airflow seemed to have completed its final mission. After breaking through the sea of ​​fire, the sound of a weapon hitting a rock was heard.

Shikamaru turned around and saw that the two chakra swords nailed to the rock looked so familiar.

Shikamaru's originally worried expression gradually relaxed as he murmured.

"Asuma, you are amazing and you have a hidden trick up your sleeve."

Figures gradually appeared in the passage in the sea of ​​fire. Shikamaru walked forward to greet them, but his expression turned serious again.

"Where's Asuma?"

Shikamaru was the first to find the distraught Ino, and he held her shoulders and shook her.

"Shikamaru, don't be like this, the captain has already sacrificed himself..."

A ninja who had also been through the life and death stage said this. His words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving Shikamaru speechless.

"Teacher, teacher, he..."

Ino, who had lost her strength, supported herself on the ground with her hands. Her voice was hoarse and her tear glands seemed to be burned by flames. She could not shed a single tear and sobbed helplessly.

"No way..."

Shikamaru seemed to have not accepted the fact yet. He touched his face helplessly, trying to tell himself that this was just a dream.

Explosions were still happening in the factory, telling of the cruelty of reality and bringing Shikamaru's thoughts back.

Shikamaru's expression changed. He stood up, pulled out the chakra knife that was still nailed to the rock, turned around and was about to leave.

"Shikamaru, what are you doing?"

A ninja couldn't help but ask, knowing that the fire had not been put out yet.

Ino also looked up at her childhood friend again, and suddenly realized that she had never seen Shikamaru's expression at this moment.

Gloomy, the anger in his heart was like a volcano about to erupt, and murderous intent appeared in Shikamaru's eyes for the first time.

"Everyone evacuate the factory area and let the newcomers rebuild the firewall. The fire here cannot be extinguished."

Shikamaru left only the last instruction without even turning his head. He already knew the whole story. Even Ryosuke, who started the fire, was just a pawn in the hands of the others.

"Shika... Maru?"

No one dared to stop Shikamaru, whose eyes were full of murderous intent. Ino wanted to stop him but she was exhausted and almost fainted. She lay heavily on the ground and could only watch Shikamaru leave.

There was no trace of a single person in the originally bustling market. Everyone left immediately upon seeing the fire break out. However, there were always some fearless people who took this opportunity to steal and rob, leaving a mess behind.

Seeing the area he had built bit by bit become like this, Shikamaru felt an indescribable complex emotion in his heart.

When he arrived at Ryosuke's new residence, the person he was looking for was indeed there.

Tekuno was sorting the bodies, this was an old man, Shikamaru could see it was Hiro's mother who had gone mad, and their child.

"Shikamaru, why are you here? Come and give me a hand. This family didn't have time to escape and died like this. It's so pitiful. Tsk tsk tsk."

Tekuno looked at Shikamaru with some surprise, and after a moment of silence, he waved at Shikamaru and said.

"Ah."

Shikamaru simply agreed, walked forward and began to observe the corpses. If it were the same as before, he would definitely believe what Tekuno said.

"These are obviously wounds left by some ninja tools and traps. It must have taken a lot of effort for you to kill them by accident, Tekuno Jonin."

Shikamaru's voice had completely changed, and no emotion could be heard in his hoarseness.

Tekuno paused briefly and spoke calmly.

"What are you talking about Shikamaru? If you don't want to help I can do it alone. You should go check if the fire has spread."

"Can you tell me why? Why would they do this, just ordinary people?"

It was like talking to an old friend, at least Shikamaru didn't seem to be angry at all at the moment.

Seeing Shikamaru like this, Tekuno looked at Shikamaru again and sneered.

"Why else? In order to avoid frequent requests for processing fees, the consultants can only kill a chicken to scare the monkeys. The old guy has no choice. It had nothing to do with their family in the first place. Who let them know too much?"

"Where are those debt collectors?"

Shikamaru continued to ask.

When talking about these people, Kuno's face showed anger rarely. "These daring guys would have been killed by me a long time ago. If it weren't for them, this situation wouldn't have happened. I got scolded a lot, and now I'm still cleaning up their mess!"

"I see. It seems that this is all the consultant's plan, too?"

Under Tekuno's vigilant gaze, Shikamaru took something out of his arms.

Tekuno thought it was a weapon, but he saw the other party actually took out a pack of cigarettes.

Shikamaru skillfully pulled out two and then handed one to Tekuno.

Tekuno was also confused by Shikamaru's behavior. After taking the cigarette, Shikamaru took out a lighter and lit it for him.

At this moment, Tekuno's guard was mostly let down. He took a deep puff of his cigarette and said.

"Tsk tsk, I haven't smoked this thing for a long time. Asuma really knows how to enjoy it. Haha, you have learned all his bad habits. If Shikaku knew about this, he would definitely scold you!"

Asuma's name was mentioned again, and Shikamaru, who had an expressionless face, showed a rare fluctuation, but he quickly suppressed it.

The distance between the two seemed to be shortened, and Tekuno began to speak.

"Those two old men would never say such things directly. They are just hinting at things. Do you understand? It's up to you whether to do it or not. If you do it, you will get the benefits. If you don't do it, you will be doing nothing. Otherwise, how can I, a commoner, climb to the rank of jonin?"

"It seems you already know it well."

Shikamaru suppressed his murderous intent and continued to ask.

Tekuno showed a smug look, and his eyebrows were flying.

"That's right. Otherwise, how can commoners like us climb up? We have to run around for a long time at the leader's command. All the benefits go to them, and we can only drink some soup. Shikamaru, even though you are a ninja from the family, you really shouldn't know these things. You are still young and have a lot to learn..."

After finally finding someone to vent his anger to, Tekuno began to pour out his grievances. In his opinion, Shikamaru already understood him completely.

Plop sound

Something cold pierced into his body, and Tekuno looked at Shikamaru in disbelief, and the cigarette in his hand fell to the ground.

Shikamaru finally stopped hiding his disgusted expression and said while holding Asuma's chakra knife.

"You may have your own difficulties, but you cannot plunder the interests of others to satisfy your own selfish desires, and Asuma is already dead..."