The night was deep, past the third watch.
A full moon hung in the sky, its light weak and drowsy, as if on the verge of succumbing to sleep.
In the forest, a campfire crackled, the sound of burning wood echoing incessantly.
"I'm going to relieve myself. Anyone wanna come?" Asuma yawned, making the suggestion.
Shikaku glanced at him and teased, "You're not a girl—since when do you need company for this? How embarrassing!"
Asuma rolled his eyes. "I was just worried you guys might burst from holding it in! None of you are talking. If you're so concerned, why not go check on how Tsunade-sama is doing?"
"Enough. The mission comes first." Kakashi interjected, cutting off the banter between Shikaku and Asuma. "Asuma, go do your business. The rest of us will stay here."
"Fine, keep holding it in, then!"
Asuma chuckled before walking off toward a large tree in the distance.
The sound of running water soon followed. Kakashi's gaze flicked toward Shikaku, his eye conveying a silent question.
After a moment of thought, Shikaku shook his head slightly.
Before long, Asuma returned, adjusting his pants with a look of utter satisfaction on his face—as if he'd just done something incredibly enjoyable.
"For night watch, Shikaku and I will take the first shift. Asuma, you and Gai will take the second. Any objections?" Kakashi laid out the plan.
"Fine by me! I don't care who I'm paired with." Asuma agreed without protest, and the matter was settled.
Yet as Kakashi stared into the fire, an inexplicable unease gnawed at him.
It felt like he was missing something.
But what?
---
Monkey King Mountain, Enma's Cave.
A monkey leisurely strolled into the cave, where an aged monkey lay bound by thick chains in the center. A blood extraction device sat beside him, steadily draining his blood.
"Enma, why is there so little blood left in you?"
The newly arrived monkey glared coldly at the meager yield, a clear look of displeasure on his face.
"Cough, cough!"
Enma, lying on the ground, looked at him with complex emotions. "Asuma... don't keep making mistakes."
"Mistake? I never thought of it as one." The monkey—Asuma—jumped up in agitation, his red rear swaying as he paced. "You're the one who turned me into this! Did you really think I'd let you off so easily?"
"Never!"
"Relax, I'm not as cruel as you think. Just tell me the real way to turn back into a human, and I'll let you go. I'll even send you plenty of female monkeys. How's that sound?"
Enma responded with a mocking smile.
"Asuma, back then, you were contaminated by the 'Cursed Stone' and began mutating. That's why I taught you the Sage Art of the Monkey King. And this is how you repay me? Truly, this is retribution."
"Retribution? If retribution truly existed, my old man wouldn't have lived so long before Orochimaru killed him. If retribution were real, I wouldn't still be alive and well." Asuma scoffed, dismissing Enma's words.
All he cared about now was finding a way to regain his human form.
"Your blood temporarily restores my human body. So, wouldn't that mean... consuming your flesh could free me from this cursed form forever?"
Asuma picked up the half-filled vial of Enma's blood, popped the lid off, and dipped his furry fingers into the crimson liquid.
A miracle occurred—the fur receded, and his hand transformed back into a human's.
"Your body truly is a treasure."
With that, Asuma began smearing Enma's blood all over himself. Wherever the blood touched, his monkey form melted away, revealing human skin beneath.
Enma lay motionless, his eyes hollow as he watched Asuma's actions.
Only deep within his gaze lingered a trace of sorrow.
Soon, the blood was exhausted, and Asuma stood before him—completely human once more, stark naked.
He clenched his fist and punched the nearby stone wall.
Boom!
A massive crater formed where his fist struck.
"My strength... it's even greater now." Asuma murmured in awe before turning back to Enma. "Now, do me one last favor, will you?"
Without waiting for an answer, he bent down and sank his teeth into Enma's arm.
*Rip!*
A chunk of flesh tore free, fur and all. Asuma didn't bother cleaning it, chewing slowly as if savoring a delicacy.
The moment he swallowed, ecstasy flashed across his face.
"Just as I thought! By devouring you, my power grows even stronger. I'll become the Hokage, and you... will be my stepping stone."
"Thank you for your sacrifice."
With that, Asuma fully surrendered to his hunger, tearing into Enma's flesh with ravenous bites.
Enma lay still, staring blankly at the cave ceiling. There was no fear in his eyes—only a faint smile of relief.
But Asuma didn't notice.
He was too consumed by the euphoria of his newfound power.
His muscles grew more defined, his physique sculpted to perfection—like a statue carved by the gods themselves.
By the end, only Enma's head remained.
Yet even then, the great monkey sage hadn't fully perished.
"Thank you... Enma."
Asuma dressed himself in the clothes he'd prepared. Now, in every aspect—height, build, appearance—he was the epitome of a divine warrior.
And it was all thanks to Enma's "gift".
"Asuma... stop now. If you continue... there's no turning back." Enma pleaded weakly, though his words fell on deaf ears.
"Don't worry. After you die, I'll erect a memorial in your honor." Asuma said casually before driving his index finger into Enma's skull.
A strange, intoxicating fragrance filled the air, and Asuma's eyes glazed over with obsession.
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