Naruto Shippuden & Bleach ™

 Sarutobi Asuma

   In the following years he would proudly congratulate Ino and Chouji as they became Chuunin as well and he gave them earrings as a gift. He then wished them well as they would now start leading their own teams. During this time Asuma also began to evaluate his place in Konoha and decided he was merely a sacrificial pawn on the Shougi board of life. He explained his thoughts to Shikamaru saying he was a Pawn and Shikamaru was a Knight. He asked Shikamaru if he knew who the "King" was. The young man had no answer and Asuma said it would come to him in time.

     When Naruto returned to Konoha after his training with Jiraiya, he came to Asuma seeking assistance developing his Wind Element jutsu. Asuma explained how he used the element in his own techniques and gave the young man pointers on getting started. This assistance helped Naruto quickly finish his own Wind element training.

     When Akatsuki began moving through the Fire Country, Tsunade dispatched numerous teams to stop them. One such team was made up of Asuma, Shikamaru, Kotetsu and Izumo. Asuma made a quick stop to look at Kurenai in her apartment and then the team headed for the Fire Temple which Akatsuki had recently attacked. There they learned the duo had taken Chiriku the monk, a former Elite Guardian like Asuma to a bounty station to cash in. The Leaf ninja followed in pursuit and met Hidan and Kakuzu there. They quickly attacked Hidan but learned he apparently could not be killed, as he shrugged off anything they threw at him.

     Hidan revealed he practiced a cult called Jashin which allowed him to take damage and transfer it back to the one who was attacking, just by ingesting their blood. Unfortunately Asuma fought Hidan and had some of his blood ingested. The Leaf did their best to stop Hidan, but they could not prevent him from striking a fatal blow to his own heart, which in turned was fatal to Asuma. Help soon arrived including Chouji and Ino and Akatsuki fled. Ino tried to use a medical jutsu but the wound was critical. Asuma accepted his fate and asked his former Genin to come close to hear his final words.

     Asuma stated he finally understood why his father did the things he did and why he sacrificed himself. Asuma told Ino to look after Shikamaru and Chouji, and not lose to Sakura in Ninjutsu or love. He told Chouji to always believe in himself and try to diet. Finally he told Shikamaru he had the ability to become Hokage one day, even though he may consider it a pain. He then whispered to Shikamaru who the "King" was to Shikamaru's surprise. He took one final cigarette drag and we flashback to him telling his students to never forget they were Team 10. He then passed away. Shikamaru then picked up Asuma's lighter and smoked a cigarette in his honor.

     Team 10 returned to Konoha with Asuma's body. Shikamaru told Kurenai the bad news and she broke down crying. Asuma was laid to rest with honor and Konohamaru mourned his fallen uncle. Shikamaru became focused on revenge and wanted to give some meaning to Asuma's death. He studied hard and learned how to imbue his shadow chakra into Asuma's knives and he discovered how Hidan’s jutsu worked. Shikamaru then carried Asuma's cigarettes and lighter with him, as he would smoke until his revenge was complete. Soon Team 10 was finally ready to set out and get their revenge against Hidan. With the help of Kakashi, Team 10 tracked down Hidan and Kakuzu. Shikamaru led Hidan away from the others. There he carefully played out his trap, using all the knowledge he gained from Asuma's battle to ensure he didn't share the same fate.

     Ignoring Hidan's boasts, Shikamaru managed to bind Hidan and cover him in explosive tags. Then using Asuma's lighter and cigarette's he lit one. Shikamaru then imagined the smoke coalescing into Asuma, who congratulated him and passed his Will of Fire on to the young man. Shikamaru coldly stated that Hidan dug his own grave when he killed his sensei. He then flicked the lit cigarette which struck the explosive tags, blowing Hidan to pieces. Shikamaru returned to Konoha and spoke with Kurenai, telling her how Asuma was always there for him, like he would be there for her baby. The pregnant Kurenai thanked him, revealing her wedding ring for the first time. Kurenai had lost her husband, but Shikamaru would make sure her baby was looked after like he was.

Akimicho Chouji

 In part 2 of the manga, Chouji was seen with an all-new look, ditching the unusual forehead protector and growing a wild red mane of hair as well as now bearing samurai-like plates of armor. He was also now capable of increasing the size of his fists upon will. However, he arrived much later on as backup to stop two of Akatsuki’s invaders, but too late to stop them killing his teacher, Asuma. Swearing revenge, he chases after Hidan and Kakuzu, showcasing how hard he had been working by now refining his techniques and replacing the kunai with his own rock-hard spiked hair.

     Chouji’s best friend is undoubtedly Shikamaru, who accepted him for what he is early on in life. Not an immensely popular character, Chouji is often the butt of jokes for the style in which his first forehead protector was shaped, often referred to as the panty-head.

Yamanaka Ino 

    Ino reappeared in the second part of the manga, now with an outfit change and new hairstyle. Though brief, her spotlight would return later when it was revealed she had been trained in medical skills, the same as Sakura but most likely to a lesser degree, seeing Sakura’s tutor was one of the best medics in Konoha’s history. However, she was devastated to find that her former team leader, Asuma, had been fatally wounded by Akatsuki’s zealot, Hidan. His last words to her were for her to never give up and lose to Sakura. Ino and her teammates would then set out to hunt down Hidan. The team along with Hatake Kakashi located Hidan and Ino did her part to help combat Hidan's partner Kakuzu while Shikamaru fought Hidan one on one. Shikamaru eventually succeeded in taking out Hidan and soon Kakuzu was brought down, bringing some measure of revenge for her former sensei.

     Undoubtedly, Ino’s greatest tie to any character is Sakura, considered her rival for Sasuke’s affections, despite the fact that revenge is all he lives for. Some people have paired her with Shikamaru and later Chouji upon Shikamaru’s stronger link with Temari. A few even think there may be something between Ino and Sai, though this is most likely due to Sai's strange approach at offering pleasantries, choosing to say the exact opposite of what he really feels. Sadly, like most of the females in the series, Ino suffers a lack of exposure and character development.

Nara Shikamaru

     Shikamaru was shown very early in Part 2 of the manga, now given an official position as a Chuunin Examiner. He was also to meet with Temari, who was eventually given the counterpart of his position in her own village, meaning the two met for official business while arranging the new Chuunin Exam. When Naruto was being "attacked" by Sai, Shikamaru displayed a new offensive skill, allowing him to raise his shadow from the ground as a solid object and use it as a fast-moving piercing tentacle.

      Shikamaru next battled Akatsuki’s team of Hidan and Kakuzu, two people that boasted near-immortality, yet he came to understand the weaknesses of Hidan and exploit them multiple times. However, he could not stop Hidan from using his divine curse to kill his team leader Sarutobi Asuma. Shikamaru began smoking to honor his fallen sensei and planned to not give it up until he was avenged. He also took ownership of Asuma's chakra absorbing knives. These knives allowed Shikamaru to imbue his shadow chakra into a "pin" which could stick into his opponent's shadow and bind them. He used these new skills and other preparations alongside his teammates when they sought revenge again Hidan and Kakuzu. After tracking them down, Shikamaru himself would get his chance, going one on one with the skilled Hidan in a rematch.

     Shikamaru led Hidan away from the others. There he carefully played out his trap, using all the knowledge he gained from Asuma's battle to ensure he didn't share the same fate. Ignoring Hidan's boasts, Shikamaru managed to bind Hidan and cover him in explosive tags. Then using Asuma's lighter and cigarette's he lit one. Shikamaru then imagined the smoke coalescing into Asuma, who congratulated him and passed his Will of Fire on to the young man. Shikamaru coldly stated that Hidan dug his own grave when he killed his sensei. He then flicked the lit cigarette which struck the explosive tags, blowing Hidan to pieces. Shikamaru returned to Konoha and spoke with Kurenai, telling her how Asuma was always there for him, like he would be there for her baby. The pregnant Kurenai thanked him, as she and Asuma were married. Shikamaru would make sure her baby was looked after like Asuma watched over him.

     Shikamaru relates heavily with Chouji, to the point that the two can be considered the best of friends after Shikamaru overlooked Chouji’s weight as a child. While Shikamaru initially dislikes women, mostly thanks to the bossy and bratty attitude that Ino shows and the petty squabbles Sakura gets into (alongside his mother’s temper), he is gradually dropping his prejudices after a word from his father and his mutual respect for Temari. Temari is also paired with him frequently by fans, citing their shared analytical skills and respect, now strengthened by their frequent liaisons on official business. However, the two have rarely shown any intimacy towards each other and are, as far as Kishimoto has drawn, little more than mutual admirers of one another. Shikamaru’s popularity among fans is also immense ranking high in many polls.