Oiled up slave boy?

Asuma barked a laugh. “That’s a new story. I’ll have to encourage it.” He drew a last breath on his cigarette and flicked the glowing butt into the river, where it hissed and drowned. “I was outta Fire Country for a couple years. Left when I was fifteen, came back when I was eighteen. Saw a pretty good chunk of the world.”

And some nasty pieces. He glanced down at the blue-steel bracelet hanging around his right wrist; plain on the outside, mantra-carved on the inside, pressing a reminder of serenity against his wrist. Om mani padme hum. Draw the benevolent attention of the bodhisattva of compassion.

For the girl in the fire, and ten out of the twelve.

He shook the thought away, hiking up towards the bridge and the promise of coffee.

“So tell me about these people you rescued. I’m guessing your boy’s one of ‘em, unless you really get around.”

Ryouma’s eyes slid away. "Kakashi was one of 'em...” he admitted. “T'other was a girl. We mostly rescued each other, though. Except I liquefied the internal organs of the guy who was about to kick her ribs in, so I got some coolness points.” He looked back, grin sharpening again. “What's your coolest jutsu?"

“Toss up,” Asuma said, swinging with the conversation change. He reached back to free one of the trench-knives he kept tucked in a sheath at the small of his back, and spun the lethal little blade by the brass-knuckles. Extended his chakra through it. A faint corona of blue haloed the edge.

Ryouma frowned slightly, watching the weapon.

Asuma drew level with the bridge and snicked off a neat corner of stone, flicking it up into the air. He caught it when it came down.

“That’s one. Useful in the field; a guy thinks he’s dodged the blade, but still gets caught by the chakra. Not as cool as rot, maybe...” He pulled his chakra back and stowed the knife, then shaped his hands through half a dozen quick seals. “Might wanna step back for the next one.”

Ryouma took a half-pace back.

Asuma grinned at him. “Haisekishou,” he said softly, and exhaled a cloud of bitter-tasting ash. It hung on the air for a moment, black and dense as a bee swarm, then enveloped an undergrown tree. Asuma clicked his teeth.

The ash exploded.