<h4>Chapter 93: Chapter 93: The Reappearance of Asuma</h4>


    Hoshigakure (Star Vige).


    The already sparse poption nowy sprawled across the ground, their crimson blood staining the earth and painting the surroundings into a scene of hell.


    A living hell.


    "Why can’t you just cooperate with me?" Asuma carelessly tossed a child to the ground, then stomped down hard.


    *Crunch!*


    Blood sttered.


    "Why are there so many unreasonable people in this world?"


    Tilting his head toward the zing sun, Asuma smiled faintly, then raised his hand as if to feel the scorching heat of the sky.


    "Kurenai... after you rejected me, I realized this world isn’t so bad after all!"


    "Sometimes, once a person starts indulging in their desires, they be true demons. Your choice created the monster I am now. So just wait for me in Konoha—I’ll return soon."


    "The Hokage’s seat belongs to me. No one can take it away."


    "Hmm?"


    Asuma suddenly frowned, then pulled out the Star from his pocket, examining it closely.


    "The chakra activation is even stronger now. I wonder how the Third Hoshikahe managed to control it—living over a hundred years under this intense chakra stimtion."


    "A typical shinobi living past sixty is already considered long-lived. The reason is that excessive chakra use shortens cell lifespan."


    "Normally, chakra remains in an idle state. But the chakra stimted by this Star is constantly active. Under these conditions, a shinobi would be lucky to live past thirty. So how did that old man master such a secret technique?"


    "Ah, forget it. I should just ask Enma."


    "That old monkey has lived long enough—he must know some secrets!"


    Muttering to himself, Asuma formed a single hand seal and took a deep breath.


    "Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"


    A crimson fire dragon coiled through the air before crashing down onto the vige.


    The wooden structures ignited instantly upon contact with the mes.


    Asuma stood there, watching.


    Watching the fire spread.


    Listening to the agonized screams of those not yetpletely dead within the inferno.


    A smile crept onto his face.


    "This scene is truly beautiful. If only I could bring Kurenai here to admire it with me!"


    Eventually, the raging mes reduced Hoshigakure to ashes.


    And Asuma vanished without a trace.


    ---


    Monkey King Mountain.


    Asuma greedily inhaled, sensing a different aura in the air here.


    "If I train here, I’ll definitely be stronger."


    Surrounding him was an endless peach grove, vibrant blossoms blooming alongside ripe fruit hanging from the trees. The strange harmony of flowers and fruit coexisting was both unnatural and serene.


    Beneath his feet, a clear path led straight to the mountain’s peak, ensuring he wouldn’t lose his way.


    After about ten minutes, Asuma reached the summit and spotted a cave entrance.


    "Sarutobi Asuma, requesting an audience with Monkey King!" Asuma called respectfully toward the cave.


    "So it’s you, little monkey." Enma’s voice echoed from within. "As I recall, you failed my trialst time. What brings you here now?"


    "Enma-sama, my father has passed away. I’m here to form a contract with you once more, to fight side by side and conquer the shinobi world!"


    Enma fell silent.


    After a long pause, he finally responded.


    "A bold ambition, but what does that have to do with me? Asuma, return home. I no longer wish to involve myself in the bloodshed of the human world. Go back. For the sake of the Sarutobi n’s future, you should stay in Konoha, marry, and raise children. Not seek out an old monkey like me."


    Go back?


    How could he possibly go back now?


    Asuma looked at his hands. Whether it was due to the Star or not, they were now covered in thick fur — like those of a primitive ape.


    He touched his face and felt that it, too, had begun to change.


    "Enma-sama, I need power. Please grant my request!" Asuma knelt and mmed his forehead against the ground.


    *Thud!*


    *Thud!*


    *Thud!*


    Three heavy strikester, the stone beneath him cracked—yet his forehead remained unchanged.


    No, there was a change.


    His hair had grown thicker.


    His body had be even more resilient.


    "Sigh... why must you insist on this path?"


    Enma’s voice grew closer until Asuma could clearly see his feet.


    "What is this—?!"


    Upon seeing Asuma’s transformed face, Enma gasped in rm, his voice filled with dread.


    Asuma didn’t understand the reason for his shock.


    "Enma-sama, I don’t know what’s happening to me either. All I know is my chakra is bing more active, my body is growing harder, and I’m bing more like an ape!"


    "It seems you’vee into contact with something else. Show it to me."


    After a brief hesitation, Asuma pulled out the Star from his pocket and presented it respectfully.


    "So it’s this cursed stone..." Enma’s expression twisted withplexity. Fortunately, Asuma didn’t look up—or he might have grown suspicious.


    "Cursed stone? I scoured my n’s secrets to find this. And it’s a cursed stone?" Asuma finally understood the cause of his transformation.


    "Indeed. This stone carries a great terror. You never should have sought it!" Enma shook his head before kicking the Star into a corner.


    Asuma didn’t retrieve it. His mind was still reeling.


    How could this stone be cursed?!


    "Since you’ve already be like this... I’ll teach you some staff techniques. Combined with your enhanced body, it should be enough to rival a Kage-level shinobi. How about it?"


    Asuma didn’t answer immediately. After a moment of hesitation, he asked the question weighing on his mind.


    "Enma-sama... can I still return to normal?"


    Enma paused. Just as Asuma was about to press him, he finally spoke.


    "You have two choices now."


    "First, leave immediately. Once you return to the shinobi world and distance yourself from the cursed stone, your transformation will stop—but your current appearance will remain unchanged."


    "Second, train here with me for a while. I have a method to temporarily restore your human form. Which will you choose?"


    The choices were simple.


    If he left now, his strength wouldn’t improve, and he’d likely never see Enma again. Most importantly, he’d forever resemble a monkey.


    The second option offered greater rewards—but also greater risks.


    Taking a deep breath, Asuma raised his head, his gaze resolute as he met Enma’s eyes.


    "Enma-sama... I have no way back. I choose the second path. I will train here and grow stronger!"


    Enma’s expression grew even moreplicated. Hearing Asuma’s answer, he seemed to recall something.


    Finally, he murmured a single phrase—


    "...I hope you won’t regret this."


    -----


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