It was impossible not to feel a touch of pride at being called the strongest, but now was no kind of time to celebrate. He nodded curtly. "Okay."

Kuromaru was already streaking away, a black shadow low to the ground, almost lost in smoke. Asuma cast a last glance at Tsume; the burning breeze whipped around, flattening her dress against that slender body. Small and whipcord-lean, dolled up in paints and pretty finery, ready to fling herself alone into the flames. He'd been right to call her a warrior, even if she was a chuunin.

He bolted after Kuromaru, fingers flying through seals. Three clones exploded to life and sprinted back to Tsume -- brave as she was, she needed some kind of back up -- then Kuromaru's coughing howl brought Asuma straight to the first house. The roof was on fire, two of the walls already engulfed. Frantic, unformed chakra patterns flickered inside. Kuromaru had already vanished through the door.

Asuma found him on the second floor, yanking two terrified children out of a closet by their clothes. He grabbed both kids, slinging them under one arm, and tried not to inhale as Kuromaru burst into the next room. Thin screaming caught his attention.

An elderly grandmother, trapped in bed. Flames crawled up the walls.

Asuma tossed one kid back to Kuromaru, who caught the boy in his teeth and crashed through window. Hot air rushed in, feeding the fire. Asuma forced it back with his own hasty wind-jutsu, yanked the terrified woman out of bed by her nightdress, threw her over his shoulder, and leapt after Kuromaru.

He landed next to the dog and his boy; Kuromaru hacked around a mouthful of child, smoke rolling away from black fur. Asuma gasped and grinned at him. "Nicely done."

One yellow eye glinted. Then the grandmother clubbed Asuma solidly over the back of the head. "Put me down!"

"Ouch! Jeez, lady!"

Rescuers were already running forward. Gratefully, Asuma handed both kids and their kicking relative over, and turned around to find Kuromaru already dashing for the next house. He swore, grabbed the first ninja-like rescuer he could find by the collar, and pointed at the house he'd just escaped from.

"That one's empty. Flatten it and get the fire out."

"Uh, right!"

The rescuer leapt into action. Asuma shook his head and took off after Kuromaru.