Last Words

Just as Hidan and Kakuzu move to finish Shikamaru, Kotetsu, and Izumo, help arrives in the form of Aoba, Raido, Choji, and Ino. The latter pair carry the wounded Asuma up to the safety of a rooftop alongside Shikamaru, while Aoba and Raido brace to hold off the Akatsuki. Before the fight can escalate, the organisation's leader reaches Hidan and Kakuzu by telepathy and orders them to fall back, since sealing the Two-Tails takes precedence. The two withdraw, though Hidan vows he will be back soon.

Atop the roof, Ino tries to mend Asuma with medical ninjutsu but finds the damage beyond her reach, as four of his vital points have been pierced. Aware his death is near, Asuma turns to leaving each of his students something to carry forward. He tells Ino that for all her bossiness she has real warmth in her, and asks her to watch over Shikamaru and Choji while never falling behind Sakura in skill or in love. He assures Choji that his kind heart could make him the strongest of shinobi with more effort, and gently suggests he shed a few pounds.

For Shikamaru, Asuma finally names the identity of Konoha's king, murmuring the answer into his ear as his parting words. As Team 10 sinks into memories of their teacher, Asuma passes away and rain begins to fall. Ino and Choji weep over his body, and Shikamaru takes up Asuma's lighter, insisting he can still feel the sting of his mentor's cigarette smoke in his eyes before he too breaks down in tears.

This is the eightieth episode of Naruto Shippuden and belongs to the Akatsuki Suppression Mission arc, adapting chapters 327 and 328. It first aired in Japan on 16 October 2008 and reached English audiences on 14 May 2011. The opening theme is Closer and the ending is Long Kiss Goodbye. This instalment reintroduced the Rinnegan with a revised look, since its coloured manga design had not existed during its earlier appearance in the Kazekage Rescue Mission arc.