The next day, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino arrived at the Konoha gates on time, each with a backpack slung over their shoulders. Asuma hadn't arrived yet. Apart from the gate guards, there was no one else around, so the three of them chatted leisurely while checking their ninja tools.
But Asuma was definitely not like Kakashi. About ten minutes later, Asuma's figure appeared from down the road and strolled casually toward the gate.
He raised his right hand and suddenly called out, "Yo!" startling Ino, who was standing beside him. But he was just greeting the on-duty guard, Izumo Kamizuki. After handing over their travel pass, Asuma didn't set off right away. Instead, he lit a cigarette and started chatting with Izumo.
Asuma's conduct lacked the sharp decisiveness one usually associated with a ninja—it wasn't like Kakashi's lazy indifference either. He was just laid-back and relaxed. If Shikamaru hadn't known the canon so well, he might have questioned Asuma's qualifications. But thinking about it now, it wasn't a big deal. After all, shinobi weren't machines. Despite the dangers of the profession, the status of shinobi in this world was far better than in Shikamaru's past life. While rules and discipline remained harsh, the reduced competitive pressure allowed for some degree of personal life and leisure. Perhaps Asuma was secretly observing their patience all along.
Asuma let the trio wait while he finished his cigarette. Only then did he lead them out of the village. Although Ino was visibly impatient, she kept quiet in the presence of Izumo and Kotetsu, unsure how to interpret Asuma's behavior. Choji, as usual, took his cues from Shikamaru.
Due to the different technological systems in this world, there was no highly polluting industry. Centuries-old trees were common. Surrounding Konoha, apart from a main road, was a vast forest—some of it even said to have been created by the First Hokage's Wood Release.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled light on the ground… The peaceful scenery brought a sense of serenity to the three young genin, easing the earlier frustration from waiting.
Asuma led them along the road in a leisurely manner, like they were on a field trip. Occasionally, he glanced back at the three rookies, who hadn't had much experience outside the village. Once they were far enough from Konoha, Asuma came to a stop. The trio halted behind him, sensing that the real test was about to begin.
Asuma rubbed his chin as if in thought, then said calmly, "To gain my acknowledgment as genin, you must pass three tests."
Shikamaru and the others frowned slightly.
"Three tests?" Shikamaru sighed inwardly. Clearly, Asuma wasn't going to use the same bell test as Kakashi.
"But… Sensei, we're already genin, aren't we?" Ino asked hesitantly.
"Oh, I'm fully within my rights to revoke that status," Asuma replied nonchalantly. Judging by his tone, it was clear that failure meant they wouldn't be recognized as proper genin.
Ino and Choji looked like they wanted to say something, but Choji glanced at Shikamaru—who merely furrowed his brow without saying much. Remembering what Shikamaru had told them on the rooftop yesterday, Choji tugged at Ino and gestured subtly toward Shikamaru, signaling for her to stay calm.
"No objections then?" Asuma asked, clearly having caught Choji's gesture. His impression of Shikamaru rose again—but he didn't show it on the surface.
With a swift leap, Asuma landed on the branch of a nearby tree, arms crossed, looking down at them with the aura of a proper jōnin. "Most missions require high mobility. Whether you're pursuing or escaping, you need excellent footwork. So here's the first test—before we reach our destination, keep up with me. Fall behind, and you fail."
As soon as he finished, Asuma gave a knowing chuckle and took off deeper into the forest. The three genin immediately followed.
It was clear Asuma wasn't going all out—otherwise, this test would be meaningless. The difference between genin and jōnin was massive. If Asuma used his full speed, they wouldn't even see his shadow after a few minutes.
Still, nearly an hour of full-speed running exhausted both Ino and Choji. They had to push themselves just to keep from falling behind. Even Shikamaru, though faring better, wasn't exactly comfortable.
Eventually, Ino, who was in the lead, spotted a clearing ahead. Asuma suddenly accelerated toward it.
Shikamaru, running behind and unable to see the clearing, panicked when Asuma vanished from view. He leapt to Choji's side, panting hard.
"Choji! Grab my backpack!"
Choji hesitated but followed instructions, grabbing Shikamaru's bag as they sped up together.
They reached Ino moments later. Shikamaru sighed in relief when he saw Asuma standing casually in the clearing, smoking a cigarette.
Ino and Choji flopped down on the grass without hesitation. Shikamaru didn't sit, but he stretched and relaxed a bit.
Asuma checked his wristwatch and smiled faintly. "Ten-minute break."
Shikamaru exhaled and finally sat down. After a short rest, Choji pulled out a box of chocolate sticks. Just as he opened it, Asuma glanced over thoughtfully and advised, "If I were you, I wouldn't eat that right now."
Choji paused, then reluctantly put the chocolates away. He pulled out a small pouch of soldier pills from his ninja tool pouch instead. Grimacing, he ate two, then passed the pouch to Ino. She ate a few and handed it to Shikamaru.
To be honest, soldier pills were effective, but most contained ingredients like stimulants. Choji's were homemade and resembled compressed rations with fatigue-reducing medicine, but they still tasted terrible. Shikamaru frowned after chewing, handed it back, and focused on regulating his breathing. They didn't know what the next test would be, so recovering stamina was important.
Ten minutes passed quickly, but it was enough for the pills to restore some energy.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Asuma clapped to get their attention, then pulled out a cigarette box. He tapped it, let a cigarette pop up, and waved it in front of them with an uncharacteristically serious expression.
"During wartime, a single piece of intel can turn the tide of battle. Whether it reaches HQ successfully—that's the ninja's job…"
Shikamaru immediately understood what the second test was. Sure enough, Asuma continued:
"Second test—within an hour, the three of you must deliver this cigarette to Chūnin Kamizuki Izumo at the Konoha gate, while being pursued by me. I'll give you ten minutes to plan and prepare."
He handed the cigarette to Shikamaru, then grinned wickedly as the trio stared at it.
"Ready? Second test—begins now!"
The three exchanged glances, then dashed into the forest.
"What should we do, Shikamaru?" Ino asked. "Maybe we should stick together, so we can protect the—"
"No way!" Shikamaru cut her off sharply. "Even the three of us together aren't a match for Asuma. If we stay together, he'll catch us all at once. We have to split up to buy time!"
"Then who carries the real cigarette?" Choji asked, serious.
"It should be Shikamaru," Ino replied. "He's the fastest."
Shikamaru didn't respond. He was busy thinking through his plan, making sure there were no fatal flaws. After a moment, he turned to Choji. "Choji, let me see your chocolate sticks."
Though confused, Choji handed them over without hesitation.
"What do you need those for?" Ino asked, then suddenly had a revelation. "Wait—you're going to…"
"One of us will carry the real cigarette. The other two will use Transformation Jutsu to disguise chocolate sticks as decoys. As long as we can delay Asuma long enough, we win!" Shikamaru declared.
He pulled out a chocolate stick, examined its size and smell, then shook his head. "It's too long and thick, and if Asuma uses ninja hounds, the scent will give it away."
In this world, the basic Transformation Jutsu had been developed and refined over generations. The better your chakra control, the better your results. Chocolate and cigarettes weren't too different in shape, so it didn't take much chakra—but there was no reason to waste it unnecessarily.
Shikamaru plucked some twigs from a nearby tree, formed a hand seal—
Poof! A small puff of smoke appeared, and identical-looking cigarettes appeared in his hand.
"Here," he said, dropping back and handing one to Ino and one to Choji. Choji still eyed his chocolate box longingly, so Shikamaru sighed and returned it to him.
"Is yours the real one?" Ino asked, inspecting hers. Shikamaru had infused each with enough chakra to maintain the transformation for half an hour.
"No. Choji's cigarette is the real one," Shikamaru said. Ino looked confused, so he explained, "Asuma already got a read on us from the first test. He knows I'm the fastest. If I go full speed, I could probably reach the village in thirty minutes. So, he'll go after me first, to check if I've got the real cigarette."
"Then I'll be the second target?" Ino asked. Choji was the slowest—he'd need almost fifty minutes without interference.
Shikamaru nodded. Then he turned to Choji. "Choji, the two of us are best at support and disruption. Asuma will come after you last. That's why the cigarette has to stay with you. Whether we pass this test depends entirely on you!"
Choji looked uncertain, his expression wavered...