Grateful for the space, Chouji chooses not to elaborate. However many times he loses Asuma (this is the third), it never gets easier. And it shouldn't. He doesn't want to talk about it though. Sharing pain with his teammates is fine. They all know without explanations. It's the explanations he doesn't want to make.

He moves back to lighter topics with a smile to mark the shift in focus. "I don't mind. It still feels a little strange to say my own name, but I didn't mind being part of your family for a few days." It felt like longer. "And farming's pretty appropriate, given how much appreciation my clan has for food."