An Honoured Shinobi

by: Alfred Juumonji

Disclaimer: I don't own these works.

I've received a request to make the chapters longer, and I want to thank them for their suggestion. Unfortunately, I don't get the computer very often even though it may seem as if I update all the time. So I usually do these chapters in 1-2 hours without getting up. Though my goal is always to make them as long as possible, my time frame doesn't always allow it. I'll try today though, just for you Xx-Yaoi-Ninja-xX!

Chapter 6: There will be no explanations?

Sirius sat there for a long minute, his jaw hanging in astonishment and his confused eyes focused on the grown man sitting across from him. Minerva was watching in amusement, glad that her former student wasn't going into some sort of rage… yet. Asuma merely waited for the man to come back to himself, fingers deftly lighting a cigarette. He figured it was acceptable due to the half full ashtray on the coffee table. The small flame created by his lighter seemed to have been the catalyst for something, because as soon as the device had been put back into his pocket, Sirius pointed an accusing finger straight between his eyes.

"This can't be Harry! He's a damn liar!" Asuma stayed calm even as the harsh words were directed to McGonagall. "Minerva, what the hell has he done to make you go along with this?!" Minerva gained an exasperated expression.

"Sirius…" But the longhaired man cut her off, eyes whipping back to Asuma, who he was still pointing at.

"It was Imperius wasn't it? Obviously you're some sort of Death Eater!" Asuma glanced at his guide to see that she had begun to rub her temples. "Release her this instant! I may not have a wand but that doesn't mean a thing in my own house!" Sirius looked ready to punch Asuma in the face, but Minerva spoke up on his behalf.

"Sirius, it's no Imperius, this is just how it is. I even triple checked with a 'point me' just in case." Sirius sputtered that he still couldn't trust her word, and so Asuma grinned at him.

"Is there a reason I can't be Harry Potter?" Sirius went red.

"Harry should be 15!"

"Anything else?" Asuma shot back. "According to McGonagall-san, I have Lily's eye shape, if a darker colour, as well as James's hair colour, nose and eyebrows. Harry Potter disappeared from his home on October 31st, and my father told me that I was on his doorstep the morning of November 1st, though admittedly, my birthdate is listed as October 18th." Sirius was struggling for a come back, so Asuma continued. "McGonagall-san performed some sort of family tree spell before coming to Konoha, and then the point me spell right in front of my village's leader, who also ordered a DNA test done*. Everything points to the conclusion that, as impossible as it may be, I am in fact a 28 year old Harry Potter."

Sirius deflated, sinking back into his seat cushion as if it was the only thing holding him up. He looked from Asuma to Minerva a few times before offering a weak rebuttal.

"Veritaserum?"

-line-

Half a drop of Veritaserum later, Sirius had asked Asuma 3 questions; one was about his trustworthiness, whereas the other two had been about his parentage and his loyalties (Sarutobi Hiruzen and Biwako and to the Hokage and Konohagakure, respectively). Sirius put away the small vial of potion fairly slowly, having now been faced with his own proof that this man (a mere 6 years his junior) was in fact his godson. Once Minerva had been assured that Sirius wouldn't be attacking Asuma, she had bade them farewell and good luck, and had left the two men to their own devises, promising to be there the next day with the rest of the order.

And this is where they were now. Sirius was coming back from his potions cabinet, still shaken, and Asuma was well into his second cigarette of the evening. As his godfather approached the table, Asuma offered what he hoped was a reassuring smile. Sirius smiled back weakly, but veered to another cabinet and produced a bottle of alcohol, placing it on the table along with two tumblers.

"Feel like chatting, do you?" Asuma asked, extinguishing the now useless cigarette butt in the nearby ashtray. He briefly wondered who smoked in the house, as there wasn't any lingering smell or even another person. Sirius nodded in agreement and poured them both a starter. To tell the truth, he would rather have Remus here, he was just as much invested in this as Sirius, but the other would be here tomorrow, and a selfish part of the ex-con couldn't help but want this time alone with the man his godson had become. Remus would forgive him.

"Indeed, we're practically related anyhow, we might as well get to know each other." Asuma tilted his head and took a small sip of the amber liquid, pleased with the taste and the low alcohol content. He technically wasn't supposed to be drinking on a mission, but he was going to be here a long time, at the very least he could allow himself one drink with… well, with family.

"Ask whatever you want. I can't reveal classified information, but anything else is fair game. Then I'll ask a few." Sirius could understand this, so he leaned forward and began.

"What is your job, exactly? All Dumbledore would say was that you were part of some organization."

"I'm a shinobi, or a ninja. My village has a large military force made up of shinobi, and I'm one of the higher ranks, a jonin. Shinobi are hired out for various jobs and missions, which is why I'm here now. We also have to be able to fight in a wide range of ways, though a lot of shinobi nowadays specialize." Sirius looked interested.

"How do you fight? You made it sound like you don't 'specialize'." Asuma laughed and took one of his chakra blades out of his pocket, showing it to Sirius briefly before putting it back. He decide to not mention his jutsu just yet, you never knew when an ace was needed.

"Nah, I specialize just as much as any other shinobi, though maybe not as much." He thought of Hayate's sword arts and how the sickly man barely knew any jutsu other than the standard ones. " This is a chakra blade. I channel my chakra into it to make it sharper, and so I can induce chakra poisoning if I want." Seeing Sirius's confused look, Asuma explained chakra to him, which derailed the questioning for a bit when Sirius had to explain magic and they started comparing the two.

Sirius then asked about Konoha. "Oh, Konoha's great." Asuma said, wanting to brag a bit but unsure of how to go about it. "It's really the only place I feel comfortable, and growing up there was more than I could have asked for." Had he been found in 'the bloody mist' Kirigakure… "It's located in Fire country, and is one of the stronger hidden vilages. We have an alliance with Suna, and that helped usher in the peace we're seeing right now." Asuma continued in this vein for a few minutes, with Sirius asking him to elaborate every so often, which eventually lead to Asuma talking about his family.

"My old man was the 3rd Hokage, the village leader. He died last year, but I still think he's watching over Konoha, the workaholic." Sirius could tell that there were some things being left out, but didn't pry, much to Asuma's gratitude. "My mother, Biwako, died when I was 13, but she was a good mother, if a bit harsh at times. I also have a younger brother, Suujin, and a nephew, Konohamaru. I have a lot of cousins in the Sarutobi clan, but I'm not really close with any of them."

"Really, you're from a clan?" Sirius asked, visibly startled. Asuma quirked an eyebrow and Sirius looked away. "Ah, the Blacks used to be a noble family, so are a lot of wizarding families, and we didn't really get along."

"The Sarutobi are my family, and while they may not be perfect, they're good people." Asuma stated with an air of finality. "I never really connected with any of my cousins during my younger years because of the war, and bonds are hard to start once a war's done it's damage. But I talk sometimes with Kunio and Sumita, so it isn't like I'm a shut in. Oh, I also have three genin."

"Genin?" Asuma smiled.

"Graduated academy students in three man teams, underneath a jonin instructor. Mine were Shikamaru, Ino and Choji, and I probably shouldn't call them genin anymore. All three are chunin now. They're good kids, if a bit unmotivated sometimes." Sirius grinned suddenly.

"Speaking of kids?" Asuma didn't blush, but he did avert his eyes.

"No kids for me, that would've been mentioned. So, you said something about being a part of a noble family?"

Sirius was a little put out at Asuma's blatant redirect, but he'd find out sooner or later. So, figuring he'd asked enough questions tonight, he refilled his own glass, leaving Asuma's empty at his request, and passed the conversation's reins to the other. Asuma mostly asked about the societal structure of the wizarding world, the war they were having right now, more about Hogwarts and Sirius's own experiences there, and even a bit about his parents, before asking if Sirius could show him to his sleeping quarters.

"Just to warn you, tomorrow's the day to sleep in, cause after tomorrow you'll never get a chance. The order'll be here after lunch, along with the Weasley's, they'll be staying until the end of the summer." Asuma acknowledged the man's words, and as soon as the door was closed and a few safety checks were done, Asuma was out like a light.

-line-

Whew, the longest chapter yet! Hope it was good!

*Minerva could summon something of Lily or James's or something, don't dwell on it too much :)

Next up, Asuma meets the order, and encounters more doubt about his identity.