Cigarette smoke filled the bar. The bartender quietly wiped the glasses that past customers drank from. All that was left was this guy. Sarutobi Asuma took chugged down another drink. It was three in the morning and Asuma had been there all night. There would be now way anyone would not notice the stench of alcohol leaking out of his mouth.

It had been a long A rank mission. Tsunade was worse than the Sandaime. Asuma put his glass down. The Sandaime. He had sacrificed his life to protect Konohagakure from Orochimaru. That idiot. No he was the idiot. Asuma could only see the dead body. He could not stop Orochimaru. Asuma sighed and turned around. He leaned back against the counter and looked up to the sky.

The crescent moon was particularly bright tonight. Asuma traced it glow to the Hokage Monument. The moonlight shone on the Sandaime. Was someone pulling his leg? He rubbed his head. He just drank too much. He groaned as he began to feel nostalgic. Asuma reached into his back pouch and pulled out one of his knuckle knives.

It was a gift. Both of them. He received them when he became a chuunin. That was so long ago. Asuma removed his headband and held it in his other hand. The Sandaime wore this symbol because he wanted to. Asuma only wore it because it was his job. His arms went limp, and the knife and the headband fell to the ground. He stared at the mountain. The geezer's face seemed to look displeased at him. Asuma's eyes started to water. He did not notice. He was trapped within his memories. Back when everyone and everything was happy.

"Asuma. Congratulations on passing the Chuunin Exam."

"Piece of cake! That's what they get when they mess with the Sarutobi clan!"

Asuma happily wore his new Chuunin vest. Back then, in place of his cigarette was a toothpick. The new vest was not closed all the way, and a bright emblem of fire was stamped on the front of Asuma's shirt for all to see. He smiled proudly at the man standing in front of him. A gentle hand ruffled his hair and behind the hat of the Hokage was the Sandaime.

"I have a gift for you."

"Really? I thought passing the test was good enough!"

"So you don't want your present? I guess I can give it to your brother..."

"No! Wait, that came out wrong! I do want it!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Heh."

The Sandaime laughed and handed Asuma a box from behind his back. Asuma quickly grabbed it and opened it with delight. Within it lay two, brand-new, hand made knuckle knives. Asuma took both of them out and put them on his hands. They fitted perfectly.

"Thanks a bunch!"

"Wait a moment. There's something special about those knives."

"What?"

"Concentrate your charkra into them. You'll see."

Asuma closed his eyes and focused himself. Soon his charkra flowed out of the blades, adding an extra reach. His smile grew larger and Asuma waved his new gift around. The Sandaime frantically waved his hands around. He shouted that Asuma might hurt himself if he foolishly waved around the knives like that.

"Asuma..."

"What is it now?"

"You're going to be a great ninja."

"I think you've had too much prune juice old man. I am a great ninja!"

"Yes. You are. That's why I want you to protect this."

"What? What the hell are you pointing at. You're becoming senile again. Kuso-jiji..."

"Protect my treasure Asuma. Protect Konohagakure."

"HUH!"

"Never you mind."

"Wait! Why did you say that? Answer me you shitty geezer!"

Asuma waved his fist in the air as he ran down the streets of Konoha chasing the Sandaime. Everyone stared as Asuma ran past, coughing insults under their breath. The Sandaime chuckled under the shadow of his hat. Right at the Hokage's heels, Asuma did the same.

"Old man... Dammit."

Asuma paid the bill and walked out of the bar, almost tripping over himself. He definitely had too much to drink. He placed his hand over his face and leaned against a wall. Asuma rubbed his face. He saw the moonlight shining on the Hokage Monument. It was no longer on the Sandaime's noble face. It was moving towards the Yondaime.

Asuma continued to try to walk home. He stared at the face carved onto the stone. There was only one mar, a crack across the nose. A chill ran down Asuma's spine. For what reason he did not know. I could be from the cold wind, or perhaps just fear of death. Death, Asuma thought to himself. Why do I fear death? Everyone dies. I will to, someday.

"Asuma?"

He spun his head around. A certain Yuuhi Kurenai stood behind him. Asuma stood up as tall and straight as he could to hid the fact that soberness was long gone.

"Kurenai! Uhh... W-why are you here?"

"I was on my way back to my place from a mission. Why are you here? Are you all right? I saw you earlier. Is everything fine?"

"Yeah, yeah. No worries...I hope."

"Did you just...?"

"I what?"

"Never mind."

Kurenai stepped up beside Asuma and suddenly turned away blushing. Asuma gazed down to his hand and he too turned away. The silence seemed to go on forever. Neither said a word to each other and both continued to blush. Asuma finally gathered up the courage to say something.

"Uhh... So, eh heh, cough. Why are you?"

"You're not gonna make it back to you apartment like that."

"Yeah, but that still doesn't... Whatever. I-it's just that... you're... And."

"C'mon Asuma. You're acting like a two-year-old."

Asuma managed to smile a bit. They walked together back to Asuma's apartment and for once, things were happy, even if it was just one night.

If you don't understand what Kurenai just did. And you're thinking what I think you're thinking, you are sick. Just kidding. If you really don't understand what they did it's simple. Kurenai grabbed Asuma's hand and led him home. Sorry. I've been busy with summer school. I had to come up with an ending fast.