Amidst Despair…

Summary
Asuma collapses while his team watches helplessly. Kakuzu prepares to finish off Shikamaru, Izumo, and Kotetsu, but is stopped by Aoba Yamashiro and Raidō Namiashi. Chōji gets Asuma to safety while Ino checks on Shikamaru. Shikamaru immediately goes to Asuma's side and, finding that he is still alive, has Ino perform emergency first aid. Kakuzu, wishing to collect the bounty on Asuma's head, tries to take him back, but he is interrupted by the summons of the Akatsuki leader.