Chapter 2: Remembering Asuma
"Looking onto the future, it's hard to dwell on the past."
"Heh, looks like the knucklehead finally got what he wanted," a man says with a smirk.
With food in his mouth, "Mhmm," says another.
"Gooo Naruto!" yells the third person, a girl.
Amongst the celebration of the villagers stand fellow ninja and friends. Three of which are quite familiar to Naruto, Team 10.
Ino continues on, "Can you believe it? That kid goes on from being the annoying brat that everyone avoided to becoming the Hokage."
Aside to himself, "Yupp. Who would've guessed.." Shikamaru added. After taking a moment, "Come on, guys. First, we gotta visit Asuma before we can celebrate."
Today was also the anniversary of Asuma's death at the hands of the Akatsuki. Ever year since his death, Team 10 goes to visit their sensei's grave to honor him and to have "conversations" with him.
As they push through the crowd of villagers, they notice Kurenai-sensei walking in the same direction as they were headed. Kurenai-sensei, holding the hand of her 4 year old son Asumaru, solemnly walks in the direction of her husband's grave.
"Kurenai-sensei! Wait for us!" Ino yells.
Kurenai, shocked at first, realizes that it's none other than Asuma's old team. So, Kurenai waits and gives them a warm smile, "What are you guys up to? Shouldn't you be in the village celebrating with Naruto? I heard he was just inducted."
A bit insulted that Kurenai would think that they'd be celebrating rather than visiting Asuma, Shikamaru responded, "Nah. It was getting kind of loud anyway. But since we're walking in the same direction, let's visit Asuma-sensei together."
After an exchange of smiles, they continued to walk. On their way, Asumaru continues to jump around begging for Shikamaru to play with him. Ever since Asumaru's birth, Shikamaru had helped Kurenai raise him. Asumaru now looks up to Shikamaru as an older brother.
"Shikamaru..," Asumaru asks.
"Yeah?" Shikamaru says while still looking up at the sky.
"Do you think I'll grow up to be like my daddy?"
Caught off guard by this question, Shikamaru stops walking and looks down at the small boy. He croushes down to face him at eye level and says, "I have no doubt in my mind." Shikamaru then gives him a smile, and pats him on the head.
On the side, Ino begins to whisper to Choji, "This is so weird. Isn't it? I've never seen Shikamaru like this, all smiley and whatnot."
Choji, now finished with his bag of chips, responds,"Yupp. But at long as he's happy I'm happy."
Ino sighs, "Yeah, I guess. It's still weird though."
After a few minutes, they reach Asuma's grave. It's easy to recognize because it's a big larger than the other ones around it. It is also much cleaner than the others due to the constant visits by Kurenai and Shikamaru. By the head of the grave, is a vase of dead flowers. Kurenai goes to replace them with the new daisies she had brought. One by one, each member of Team 10 goes to chat with Asuma. First, it's Ino.
Ino, still her loud self, hasn't changed much personality wise, but has grown tremendously in her skills as a kunoichi. Ever since the war, she came to the realization that her expertise in her clan's jutsu was far too important to let go unnoticed. Although she once thought that her only use was as a medical ninja, Ino decided to follow in her father's footsteps as an Interrogator and Infiltration ninja. Ino is now the head of that department, gaining information from prisoners and infiltrating top secret facilities.
Ino gently kneels in front of the grave, folding her hands on her knees, "Hey Asuma, hope you're doing well. I miss you. Today, Naruto became the Hokage. I bet you'd be proud of him. But.. I hope you're still up there watching over us," Ino begins to tear realizing how much she misses her sensei. Trying to think of something else to say, she quickly adds, "Oh! And one more thing. I guess I should let you know that I'm head of the Interrogation and Infiltration Department. You told me that I'd find my calling as a ninja soon or later, and I guess you were right.. So, thanks Asuma-sensei." Ino gets up and bows at the grave. She turns around and Choji takes her spot.
Choji Akamichi has developed into a very well respected ninja. Choji is still the fun-loving, big-boned person that he always was. He still has kept a lot of his personality traits such as getting extremely angry when someone calls him fat. He has honed a lot of his skills and his eating habits. He eats much healthier, but he occassionally likes to pig out. He is now the head of the Health Department of the village, creating different food pills in order to provide energy for ninja on missions.
Choji sits and smiles at the grave, "Hey Asuma-sensei. I guess I should start of by saying that I'm eating healthier now. I was told that eating healthy would make me live longer. Who would've guessed? I miss you buying food for us. You were and you still are pretty cool. But I still feel kind of bad for making you spend all that money mostly on me. Heh," Choji starts to laugh, but soon they turn into tears.
Shikamaru, noticing that his best friend is crying, decides to walk up to the grave and palce his hand on his shoulder.
Choji looks up and wipes his face, "Heh, didn't think I was gona cry." As they laugh, Choji stomach grumbles, "Didn't think I was gonna get that hungry that soon either."
"You guys go on ahead ot the restaurant. I'll be quick," Shikamaru tells them.
As they proceed to leave, Shikamaru is now left alone with Asuma.
Shikamaru, now a jonin, is in charge of overseeing the Chunin exams. He is still lazy as ever, but shows more of a compassionate side to those he cares about. He is now in a relationship with Temari, a thought that had never seemed possible. Ever since the war had ended, Shikamaru has promised to watch over the village and more importantly the Will of Fire, the lesson that Shikamaru will always keep in his heart. Because.. well.. He learned it from Asuma.
"I'm gonna keep this short, old man. Everything is going well in the village. We got a new Hokage. Kurenai seems happier, especially with Asumaru around. Your kid actually asked me if he'd be like you someday, and I told him I had no doubt. To be honest, he already reminds me a lot of you. He's already annoying and bothersome like you were. That's all. I'll see you around then, old man," Shikamaru says as he waves a good-bye to Asuma.