Chouji sighs, shaking his head. "I wouldn't hold it against you, Shikamaru, and no one else should either."
With the mention of Edo Tensei, Chouji makes up his mind. Shikamaru would see the possibility coming, even if confirming it may be hard on him. If he knew nothing and didn't want to know, Chouji would stay silent. He could force himself to do that much. Shikamaru knows enough already that Chouji will give himself permission burden his friend with one more thing.
"You already know the big problems with Edo Tensei. How many... and who." Chouji looks pained. "I froze for too long. I could have gotten us all killed if Ino and my dad hadn't intervened. Ino took over my body, and you controlled hers. My father left his own battle to remind me of my vows." He meets Shikamaru's gaze straight on, admitting, "I kept the two of you waiting at home, too." Never for years, but they were a very long and very important few minutes. He won't let that happen again.
After a brief pause, Chouji asks his teammate, because somehow hearing it from Shikamaru will make it more real than hearing from Sakura or Lee, "Asuma-sensei... he's here? Alive?" Only a fool could miss the connection between this question and what came before it. Chouji asks for his own sake, knowing Shikamaru doesn't need help making deductions.
[Action]
With the mention of Edo Tensei, Chouji makes up his mind. Shikamaru would see the possibility coming, even if confirming it may be hard on him. If he knew nothing and didn't want to know, Chouji would stay silent. He could force himself to do that much. Shikamaru knows enough already that Chouji will give himself permission burden his friend with one more thing.
"You already know the big problems with Edo Tensei. How many... and who." Chouji looks pained. "I froze for too long. I could have gotten us all killed if Ino and my dad hadn't intervened. Ino took over my body, and you controlled hers. My father left his own battle to remind me of my vows." He meets Shikamaru's gaze straight on, admitting, "I kept the two of you waiting at home, too." Never for years, but they were a very long and very important few minutes. He won't let that happen again.
After a brief pause, Chouji asks his teammate, because somehow hearing it from Shikamaru will make it more real than hearing from Sakura or Lee, "Asuma-sensei... he's here? Alive?" Only a fool could miss the connection between this question and what came before it. Chouji asks for his own sake, knowing Shikamaru doesn't need help making deductions.