The battlefield was quiet.
In front of Asuma's lifeless body, Naruto Uzumaki stood with a solemn expression. He pressed his hands together, quickly forming a sequence of hand seals, before kneeling down and placing both palms directly in front of Asuma's chest.
"Seal—release!"
With a sharp whoosh, the restrictive talisman covering the bandages that bound the corpse dissolved into faint streams of chakra, vanishing into the air. The oppressive weight of the sealing jutsu lifted. Naruto straightened his back, exhaling slowly, before taking two careful steps backward.
For several tense seconds, nothing happened.
Then—Asuma Sarutobi's eyelids flickered. His body trembled faintly, and he drew in a deep, raspy breath as life surged back into him. Confused and disoriented, Asuma felt the stiff wrapping constricting his body. He struggled, twisting from side to side.
Seeing this, Shikamaru Nara immediately stepped forward, drawing the trench knife from his waist. With a swift motion, he cut away the remaining binding.
"Asuma-sensei, it's me—Shikamaru!"
Asuma sat up abruptly, his eyes wide. He stared at Shikamaru in disbelief.
"Shikamaru…?! I remember fighting, then being sealed. Why… why am I here again? Why am I alive?"
Shikamaru took a breath, then explained patiently. He told Asuma everything: the Fourth Shinobi World War, how Edo Tensei had enslaved the dead, how the Allied Shinobi Forces had fought desperately to break free, and how, after the war ended, some souls were given one last chance to return.
Asuma listened quietly, his eyes softening as realization dawned. Finally, he let out a deep sigh, his voice carrying both pride and relief.
"So… the war is truly over. And I won't be a puppet anymore." He smiled faintly, his rough features relaxing. "Well done, Shikamaru. You've protected the village… protected the future. Just like I hoped."
Shikamaru's throat tightened at his teacher's words. He handed Asuma his familiar trench knife, the one he had carried in remembrance all these years.
"Here, sensei… your knife."
Asuma accepted it with reverence, running his fingers along the blade. His hands trembled slightly.
"I never thought… I'd get to touch this again," he murmured, his voice heavy with emotion.
Looking past Shikamaru, his eyes fell on Naruto standing quietly behind him. Asuma's tone turned firm.
"Thank you, Naruto."
Naruto gave a small grin, his voice steady. "Of course I should. After all, you're my military strategist's teacher. Helping you… is the least I can do for Shikamaru."
Shikamaru's heart swelled with gratitude. He glanced back at Naruto, nodding silently. Then, placing a steadying hand on Asuma's shoulder, Shikamaru urged:
"Sensei… come home with me. Let's go see Kurenai-sensei together."
At the mention of her name, Asuma froze. His heart skipped a beat.
"Ku… Kurenai…" he whispered, almost as though afraid the name itself might shatter this fragile reality. His eyes grew misty. Then he clenched his jaw and nodded firmly. "Yes. Let's go."
Shikamaru smiled faintly, though his own emotions threatened to overwhelm him. He said his goodbyes to Naruto, and together, he and Asuma began the walk back to the village.
To avoid startling the villagers with his sudden reappearance, Asuma pressed his hands together and performed the Transformation Technique, altering his appearance into that of an ordinary middle-aged man. Even disguised, his eagerness betrayed him as he jogged alongside Shikamaru.
"Teacher, there's no need to be in such a rush," Shikamaru said with a small smirk, trying to lighten the mood.
Asuma simply chuckled, not denying it.
After several minutes of near silence, they arrived at a modest house. The moment Asuma laid eyes on the familiar doorway, he froze. His chest tightened, memories flooding his mind like a storm.
Kurenai.
Her gentle smile. The warmth of her voice. The life they were supposed to share… cut short.
Asuma swallowed hard. He could scarcely imagine what she must have endured after his death.
Shikamaru's voice cut through his daze.
"Sensei… I should tell you something. The child you and Kurenai-sensei were expecting… she's already been born."
Asuma's eyes widened, his entire body trembling. His last memory before death had been entrusting Shikamaru with Kurenai and the unborn baby.
"You mean… my child…?" His voice cracked.
Shikamaru nodded softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Her name is Sarutobi Mirai. She's nearly four years old now… full of energy. You'd be proud."
Tears welled in Asuma's eyes as he gripped Shikamaru's arm. "Really…? She's alive… and well?"
"Of course," Shikamaru replied firmly.
Then, raising his hand, Shikamaru knocked gently on the door.
After a few moments, the door creaked open—and a small, spirited voice rang out.
"Hey! It's Shikamaru-nii!"
Shikamaru crouched down with a chuckle. "Haha, I knew it. Your mom's not here, right? You must've jumped up and unlocked the door yourself, Mirai."
The little girl, Sarutobi Mirai, crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks proudly. "That's right! I'm amazing, huh? One day, I'll be someone important—someone who stands beside the Hokage!"
Shikamaru laughed, ruffling her dark hair. "Heh. Just like your uncle Naruto. That's a great dream."
He turned his head, calling softly to Asuma, who still lingered at a distance.
"Sensei… come on. Why don't you say hello?"
But Asuma stood frozen, his Transformation Technique still concealing his true form. His breath caught in his throat as he stared at his daughter for the first time. Finally, unable to resist, he walked forward, crouching down beside her.
"Your name… is Mirai, right?" he asked gently, his voice thick with emotion.
The little girl blinked, tilting her head. "Who are you?"
Shikamaru smirked. "Why don't you guess, Mirai? This person is someone very close to you."
Mirai frowned, deep in thought, but shook her head. The man before her didn't resemble anyone she knew. Her mother had never spoken of her father in detail, only that he was gone.
Asuma chuckled softly, scooping her into his arms despite her confusion.
"Don't worry about guessing. You'll understand soon enough."
Though Mirai thought about resisting—after all, her mother always warned her about strangers—she didn't feel any fear. Somehow, the man's embrace felt warm… familiar.
Asuma carried her inside, his eyes scanning the house. The furniture. The decorations. Almost everything was just as he remembered, though a few details had changed. On the balcony, he spotted several pots of flowers in bloom.
The same flowers he had once given Kurenai.
He remembered how she had loved raising plants, though her busy life often kept her from tending to them properly. At the time, Ino had advised him to give her a hardy plant that wouldn't wither easily. Kurenai had cherished it ever since. Even after his death… she had kept them alive.
Mirai noticed him staring at the flowers. "Mom always looks after those pots. Sometimes, I think she takes care of them better than she takes care of me!"
Asuma laughed softly, pinching her nose affectionately. His chest tightened.
Then—click.
The sound of a key turning in the lock.
The front door opened, and Kurenai Yuhi stepped inside, balancing a bag of groceries in her arms. She blinked in surprise at the unlocked door.
"Strange… I thought I locked it," she muttered, slipping off her sandals. She spotted Shikamaru in the living room.
"Oh, Shikamaru. I thought it was Mirai sneaking out again."
"Mom, I didn't!" Mirai called out indignantly, still in Asuma's arms.
Kurenai's eyes moved to the unfamiliar man holding her daughter. Her breath hitched, unease rising.
"Who… are you?"
Asuma set Mirai down gently, his gaze fixed on Kurenai, filled with unspoken longing.
Shikamaru crouched to Mirai's level. "Mirai, come here. Let's go outside for a while, okay?"
Though confused, Mirai obeyed, letting Shikamaru lift her into his arms. At the doorway, Shikamaru looked back at Kurenai. Their eyes met, and in that instant, she realized. Shikamaru gave a solemn nod, then stepped outside with Mirai, closing the door behind him.
The bag slipped from Kurenai's hands, vegetables scattering across the floor. Her heart pounded. She already knew. She had known from the way he looked at her.
With a soft poof, Asuma released the Transformation Technique. Smoke dispersed, revealing his true form.
His lips trembled as he forced a wry smile, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"Kurenai… it's been a long time."
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