In a secluded corner of Wufang City, Asuma and Chiriku retreated from the battlefield, cautiously erasing their tracks before opening a small gap in the barrier that concealed their hideout. After ensuring no one had followed them, they quickly slipped inside.
The demons infesting the city lacked the ability to use chakra, which was why Asuma and the others had remained hidden for so long. The entrance to their barrier was tucked away in a shadowed alley, disguised by a massive trash bin. It wasn't an elaborate hiding method, but it was effective.
Once inside, Asuma and Chiriku vanished into the darkness of the passage.
Beneath the surface lay a vast underground structure. Among the remaining members of the Guardian Twelve Ninja, some specialized in Earth Release, making the construction of an underground shelter a simple task for a jōnin skilled in that element.
It was thanks to this secret underground refuge and the protective barrier that the survivors had managed to hold out for so long.
As Asuma and Chiriku made their way down the long corridor leading to the underground stronghold, candles lining the walls suddenly flickered to life. The flames burned steadily as the two passed but extinguished as soon as they moved forward.
Soon, they arrived in a spacious chamber.
At the far end of the room, a thin middle-aged man anxiously peered toward the corridor's entrance, his expression filled with nervous anticipation.
Behind him stood two muscular young warriors, each wearing a white sash embroidered with the kanji for "fire" around their waists.
The moment the middle-aged man spotted Asuma and Chiriku, his anxious expression gave way to relief. Without waiting for them to approach, he loudly called out:
"Well? Did it work?"
This man—the current Daimyō of the Land of Fire—had been waiting for their return.
"No success."
Asuma remained silent for a moment before slowly shaking his head.
"We tried everything, but conventional jutsu are ineffective. We have no idea how to kill them."
"Right now, our only option is to find a way to escape and request reinforcements from Konoha."
"If Lord Hokage can send stronger forces, we can wipe those monsters out for good."
The Daimyō had anticipated this answer, yet when he heard it spoken aloud, disappointment clouded his face.
He had endured these dark days for far too long. His patience, once vast, had nearly reached its limit.
As for Asuma's talk of escape, he knew better than to believe such optimism. If there were any real way to leave Wufang City, they wouldn't still be trapped here.
The curse that had engulfed the city extended not only above ground but also below.
They had attempted to tunnel their way out before, but every effort had ended in failure.
"I see..."
The Daimyō sighed deeply, forcing a tired smile as he tried to mask his despair.
"Get some rest. We'll think of something else."
He then turned and silently made his way toward his quarters.
His guards hesitated, wanting to offer words of reassurance, but sensing his mood, the Daimyō raised a hand to dismiss them, signaling that he wished to be left alone.
As soon as he was gone, one of the young warriors turned toward Asuma.
"What exactly happened out there?"
The man was a strong fighter, a master of kenjutsu, and a devoted guardian of the Daimyō. But against demons, even the sharpest sword was useless.
"Did your jutsu even make contact with the target?"
"Fire Release was confirmed to have hit," Asuma said grimly, rubbing his temples.
"But Tunggu didn't seem affected at all. Ordinary ninjutsu won't work against them."
A heavy silence filled the chamber.
"If only Atian were still alive…" Asuma muttered bitterly.
Atian, the team's sealing expert, had been their best hope. If he had survived, they might have had a way to stop these demons. But now…
The other warrior, deep in thought, shifted his attention to Chiriku.
"What about Kuroma? Did you notice anything new?"
Chiriku frowned.
"Kuroma's strength has increased."
"Last time, I couldn't even defend myself against him. But now, I can at least fight back."
"His physical abilities have grown significantly, and he seems to have gained partial control over wind manipulation."
"His Wind Release techniques are now on par with standard B-rank ninjutsu."
"If this continues, I don't know if I'll be able to restrain him for much longer."
Chiriku's concern was warranted.
Kuroma had once been one of them, a proud member of the Guardian Twelve Ninja. But he had abandoned his comrades, seduced by Tunggu's promise of eternal life and power.
In terms of physical strength, Kuroma was nothing special. He was no match for a true taijutsu master like Chiriku.
But that didn't matter.
His undead nature made him a nightmare to fight. Even if one could overpower him, he wouldn't die.
And if the battle dragged on long enough… exhaustion would seal their fate instead.
This was why everyone had been desperately searching for a way to kill demons permanently.
"So... the longer this drags on, the worse it is for us."
The young warrior sighed heavily.
"Has Konoha not noticed anything strange about Wufang City? Have they sent no one to investigate?"
He then turned to Asuma.
"Asuma, is there really no way for you to contact your father?"
"Right now, we desperately need Konoha's help."
Asuma exhaled sharply.
"I… I don't."
He shook his head, frustration evident in his voice.
After his older brother, Shinnosuke Sarutobi, died on the battlefield, Asuma had run away from home.
For years, he avoided Konoha.
His father, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had never reached out to reconcile. Instead, the old man had spent his days looking after his grandson, Konohamaru, hoping Asuma would one day return on his own.
As a result, there was no special communication method between them.
"Huh?"
Just as Asuma spoke, an unfamiliar sensation washed over him.
A split second later—
"BOOM!"
A sudden cloud of white smoke erupted beside him, startling everyone.
In an instant, four weapons were drawn, the tension in the air thick with alarm.
But as the smoke cleared, a deep voice rumbled through the chamber.
"Asuma… long time no see."
The figure emerging from the smoke was massive, towering over everyone present.
Standing there, in all his majestic and battle-hardened glory, was a white-haired, ape-like giant.
A moment of stunned silence passed before Asuma's eyes widened in shock and recognition.
"Monkey King…?!"
His voice trembled slightly with disbelief.
"You're my father's partner—Monkey King?!"
Indeed, the figure before them was none other than Enma, the legendary summoning beast of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
One of the few summons in all of Konoha capable of acting on its own.
For the first time in years, light flickered in Asuma's eyes.
If Monkey King had come, then that could only mean one thing—
Hope had arrived.
(End of Chapter)