Team 10 (Asuma)


 * Name: Team Asuma (aka: Team 10)
 * Leader: Formerly Asuma Sarutobi, Kakashi Hatake
 * Members: Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka
 * Affiliation: Konohagakure

Team Asuma, also known as Team 10 and the second generation of Ino-Shika-Cho Trio (as each of their fathers were on the same team), was led by Asuma Sarutobi before his death. Though their constant bickering makes it seem that their teamwork would be horrible, out of all the rest of Rookie Nine, Team Asuma had the best teamwork of them all. Based on what seen, this team's main focus is slowing down, and disabling the enemy's movements therefore rendering them at a disadvantage. Asuma himself is strong in ninjutsu and taijutsu with his trench knives. With Ino being skilled in ninjutsu arts as well as medical ninjutsu, Choji's brute strength and Shikamaru's brains, as well as excellent teamwork, they can prove to be a team to be reckoned with. Their fathers (who also have "Ino", "Shika" and "Cho" as the first particles of their names) are also a ninja team and created the original and somewhat famous "Ino-Shika-Cho" formation. This familial connection is probably one source of their excellent teamwork, with Asuma's work being another.

Chunin Exam arc
This is the first time that Team 10 is introduced in the Manga. Team 10 has a fairly easy time in the first exam, as Ino uses her Mind Body Switch Technique to cheat off of the intelligent Sakura, and then to transfer the answers to Shikamaru and Choji. The second exam is significantly more difficult, as the team believes that it is one of the weakest in contention; Shikamaru suggests that only Naruto's team is weaker, angering Ino because he was indirectly insulting Sasuke. The team fights against the Sound Genin to protect Team 7, but ultimately ends up outmatched, and is saved when Sasuke awakens with the curse seal active and defeats the enemy. At some point after that, Team 10 manages to obtain a scroll.

During the third exam, only Shikamaru advanced to the finals by defeating Kin. Ino's match with Sakura ended in a tie and both failed. Choji was easily defeated by Dosu's sound wave ability. Shikamaru forfeited the match against Temari because of having too little chakra to win after capturing her with his shadow, but was promoted to Chunin level for his tactical skills and willingness to surrender in a hopeless battle.

Sasuke Retrieval arc
Shikamaru and Choji were also part of the squad sent to search for Sasuke, with Choji facing against Jirobo and Shikamaru facing Tayuya.

Mizuki Strikes Back arc
Team 10 is deployed to use their restraining techniques to capture some of the prisoners that had escaped due to Mizuki's efforts. They end up saving Naruto from the Legendary Stupid Brothers, but are barely able to restrain them until Tsunade arrives.

Hidan and Kakuzu arc
When Asuma died in a fight with the Akatsuki, the three swore revenge and stayed together under the name "Team 10", albeit without a Jonin leader. However, Tsunade objected to this development, and so Kakashi Hatake stepped forward to take charge of the squad. The team's revenge was consummated with the defeat of Hidan and Kakuzu.

Invasion of Pain Arc
Team 10 was present at several different points in the battle. Choji fought with his father Choza Akimichi and Kakashi against the Deva path and Asura path. While the team managed to disable the Asura path, the Deva path managed to defeat nearly all of them with Shinra Tensei. Kakashi told Choji, the only one still able to move, to report to Tsunade, and he managed to escape. Ino arrived to warn her father about the invasion, and after Shizune arrived with information about the transmitters, she, Ino and Inoichi ran to Tsunade. Unfortunately, Human path intercepted them and stole Shizune's soul. Shikamaru worked with Sakura to find out what Jiraiya's last clue about Pain's identity meant. When Pain destroyed the village, he broke his leg. Shikamaru, Ino and their fathers look for Pain's real body.