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 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. However, they have a much tougher time in the second exam, and indeed barely manage to drag themselves through it, even going on a mission to save Team 7 from Team Dosu. Finally in the third exam, despite showing tough abilities, only Shikamaru advances to the final round and ends up becoming the exam's only ninja to be promoted to Chunin.

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 consumed with the defeat of Hidan and Kakuzu.