Chapter 13

Asuma was walking down the busy streets of Konoha, not looking forward to the day ahead. Classes at the Academy were starting up again, and if there was one thing he hated it was school.

Everyday his father would make sure to wake him up promptly at 4am, before beginning his Hokage duties the two of them would hold a quick sparring match and a little chakra control exercises. After they were done Hiruzen and Asuma would head inside for a light breakfast that Asuma's mother would put together. It would usually be toast and some juice. The two male Sarutobi's would then leave at exactly 7am to be sure Asuma wasn't late.

So, here he was now walking side by side with his father and loathing every second of it. He just had to keep reminding himself it was the last year of the academy, and then he could be a real shinobi. The thought brought a smile to his face. He only hoped that he would be in a genin group with Kurenei.

He always dreamed that Kurenei, Tenzen and himself would be in the same genin team. But, he hadn't seen his friend since he left to go train with Minato almost six years ago. He would be lying to himself if he said he didn't miss his friend dearly. He was even more upset when Minato came home, but Tenzen didn't.

Flashback

Asuma had just received word from his father that Minato and Kushina had come back Konoha. Without even a second thought he raced towards the front gate hoping to meet up with his friend while he headed towards the Hokage tower.

He saw the two Jonin walking with a somewhat nostalgic look on there face, no doubt because it had been two years since they stepped foot inside their home village.

Kushina had her arms interlocked with Minato as they looked around to take in their home. Minato finally noticed Asuma approaching and a somber look fell upon his face.

"Minato-san, Kushina-chan it's good to see you again!" Asuma exclaimed as he practically hopped up and down from excitement. This only made Minato's expression grimmer.

"It's good to see you too Asuma. Look how much you've grown." Kushina said putting a hand atop his head and messing up his hair.

"Mhm, I start at the academy tomorrow." Asuma said looking around for his long departed best friend. "So, where's Tenzen?" the young Sarutobi finally asked still looking around.

Minato and Kushina both took a more apathetic look. They supposed there was no lying to the boy.

"Tenzen stayed behind to get more training with Jiraiya-sensei." Minato finally said hoping the boy wouldn't be too upset. Asuma stopped bouncing with excitement and his face took a more concerned look.

"W-What? But we are supposed to start at the academy tomorrow." Asuma said as his dream to be with his friend was dashed away.

"Yes, we know. But, Tenzen needed more training. Since we had to return after two years, Jiraiya-sensei took over." Kushina said trying to explain the reason for why his best friend wasn't coming home. Asuma looked as though he was about to cry. He balled up his fist in an attempt to hold back his tears.

"Oh." Was all the son of the Hokage could muster.

"But don't worry I'm sure Tenzen won't be gone for too long. Jiraiya-sensei is the best teacher. And when we left Tenzen was already super strong." Minato said coming down to the young boys level so he could look him in the eye. The boy just slowly nodded in understanding.

"Okay, then I have to train even harder so that dork doesn't get the better than me." Asuma said putting his chin up high in determination. He then stomped off with a new goal and to wait for his friends return.

End Flashback

That was four years ago, and Minato doesn't even know when Tenzen will return. He just keeps saying, 'To be honest I have no idea,' whenever Asuma asks about Tenzen coming home. Perhaps he should just give up on his childish dream of being on the same genin squad with his best friend. He would just have to pray he would still be on the same squad as Kurunei.

When he finally got to school he said good-bye to his father and headed to his new classroom. He was told that all of his friends were in his class and that there teacher was Sumato-sensei. He was a brand new instructor; but from what his father told him, he was a very intelligent man who knew what it truly meant to have to 'will of fire', What ever that meant. He was never interested enough to have his father elaborate.

When entering the classroom he saw Obito, Kakashi, Rin, Gai, Anko, and Kurunei. He thanked the heavens that all his closest friends (except Tenzen) were in his class again. It was nice to have so many familiar faces in such an awful place. Taking a seat next to Obito, who was fast asleep with his head on the desk. Asuma quickly looked over his sleeping friend to Kakashi trying to spark up a conversation.

"Hey Kakashi did your dad tell you anything about this new teacher?" Asuma asked trying to take his mind off his best friend and to reality.

"Not really, all he said was that he was new." Kakashi replied sounding uninterested as ever.

"Orochimaru-sensei told me he is an ex-ANBU." Anko adding her two sense to the conversation.

"Really?! Why would he become a teacher?" Rin exclaimed

"He said something about wanting something more stable for his family." Anko said putting her pointer finger to her chin. "He then said something about him being weak. But, I usually drown him out when he goes on rants about people being weak."

"Well Orochimaru-sama was right about the later. But, I don't find weakness in being there for my children." The dark haired man in the doorway said. He wore the standard Jonin uniform with a black short sleeve shirt and black shinobi pants. His almost black hair was hung down into his face, his skin quite tan with several scars on his arms, and one big scar on his right cheek. He moved across the room to stand behind his desk. "Now children take your seats so we may begin."

All of the students scurried to their seats and opened up their notebooks, except Obito who just continued snoozing. Sumato-sensei ruffled through his papers for a bit before pulling a particular piece of paper. He put it on to his clipboard and came to the middle of the classroom to address his students.

"Hello, as many of you might know I am Sugoku Sumato, and I will be taking over room 5 for this year due to Furui-sensei retiring." Sumato said looking over every single student analyzing everything carefully and making a first impression. "Now I am going to do role call. So please, when your name is call say 'present'."

Sumato-sensei went through the list slowly making sure to remember all of children's names. He took into account their given name for what it was, and of course their surname. He analyzed each of them taking into account their families fighting style and if they had kekkei genkai. But, he now reached two that really caught his attention.

"Sarutobi Asuma." Sumato said with authority to be sure that said person would here and understand.

"Present." Asuma said raising his hand half-assed while supporting his head with a well placed hand under his chin.

"Very good." Sumato said letting the student know he has acknowledged that they are here and awake.

Asuma could already tell his teacher was strict. Just by the way he did roll call let the young Sarutobi know just how far up his ass this guy had a stick. He didn't smile once since he had walked in the room, he walked with his hand behind his back, to be sure that his posture was correct. Either he was wiped into shape by a good sensei, or a terrifying wife. He went and crossed off Asuma's name because he was there and continued with the list.

"Seishin Tenzen." Sumato said authority once again. "Is there a Seishin Tenzen present."

Asuma's head immediately left the comfort of his hand to look around the room. It would be just like his friend to walk in and not say a word to anyone. Asuma wondered if he would even recognize his friend. It had been 6 years since they had seen each other. He could tell that everyone else was looking around just as confused as him.

"Last call for Seishin Tenzen." Sumato said looking around the room just as the children did. But, his expression was anything but pleased. He hated unpunctuality and could never understand people who didn't come to their obligations, especially the first day.

Suddenly it sounded as though their was a herd of raging buffalo in the hall. In continued to get louder and louder and louder. Everyone, even Suamto, was curious. The prim and proper sensei walked over to the sliding door to see what the commotion was and put a stop to it.

He began to ease the door open when BAM! Something or someone or rather two people came bursting through the door and tackled Suamto to the ground. All the children perked up in their seat trying to see who it was that just came barreling through the door way. Their curiosity was sated when a arm was thrown up into the air and a huge smile crossed the persons face.

"Seishin Tenzen is present and accounted for!"

End Chapter 13

So here we are after six years of training Tenzen is finally back in Konoha. What has he learned? Why did it take him so long? Will he be able to graduate with his friends? Who knows… well me. But, you don't so stay tuned for a new update, and let me know what you think of this chapter with a review. Unless you didn't like it.