Naruto Vol. 36

Naruto progresses from cutting leaves with Wind chakra to splitting a waterfall, then begins incorporating the element into his Rasengan. Elsewhere, Asuma’s squad locates Hidan and Kakuzu at a bounty exchange station.

Although Asuma decapitates Hidan, the Akatsuki member survives and performs a ritual after consuming Asuma’s blood. Any injury Hidan inflicts upon himself is transferred to Asuma. Shikamaru analyzes the ritual and temporarily forces Hidan outside its boundary, but Kakuzu intervenes and restores his partner’s access to Asuma’s blood.

Hidan drives a weapon through his own heart, mortally wounding Asuma. Reinforcements force the Akatsuki pair to withdraw before they can finish the remaining Leaf shinobi. Asuma shares final words with his students and identifies the village’s children as the “king” they must protect. Following his death, the grieving members of Team 10 prepare to continue his will.