After the funeral, all of Konoha was shrouded in mourning.
Asuma was in shambles. His once-clean vest, made of thick shinobi cloth, had been torn to ribbons by brambles and branches. The rain drenched him to the bone, streaming down his face so thickly it was impossible to tell whether it was tears or just water from the storm.
He had pushed himself to the limit, traveling non-stop for two days and one night. And now, finally, he staggered up to the gates of Konoha, barely staying on his feet.
Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, stationed at the gate, squinted down the road as a lone figure approached. Their posture tightened instinctively.
The speed of the figure's approach... it was too fast.
Enemy?
"Tetsu," Izumo said quietly.
"Yeah."
Kotetsu's voice dropped low. Both men drew their weapons immediately, preparing to intercept what looked like a potential threat.
But as the drenched figure slowed, panting, Asuma caught sight of the two gatekeepers—his old classmates—and realized how different he must look now. He hadn't been back in years. His beard had grown out, his hair was longer and ragged, and exhaustion clung to him like a second skin.
He slowed down a few meters from the gate, raising both hands slowly before reaching into his flak vest.
Pulling out a familiar object, he held it forward.
"…Tetsu. Izumo. It's me—Asuma."
"…Asuma!?"
Both men froze, blinking at the disheveled man before them.
He was barely recognizable at first glance—but the voice, that tone—it was unmistakable.
"Did you get attacked?"
"What the hell happened to you?"
As they inspected his identification, Asuma shook his head, already putting the card away.
"No. I'm fine."
"Doesn't matter what happened to me… How's the old man? Is he injured?"
Kotetsu's expression darkened instantly, his mouth twitching.
He was just about to speak, to reach out and place a hand on Asuma's shoulder.
"Izumo…"
But Izumo placed a hand on his arm, stopping him silently.
Kotetsu glanced at his friend. Izumo shook his head slowly.
It wasn't the time. Let Asuma see it himself.
"…Come on. I'll take you there."
But Asuma shook his head immediately.
"You're on gate duty. Leaving your post would violate protocol. I won't have either of you getting punished on my account."
Just then, Genma Shiranui and Raido Namiashi arrived at the gate and paused when they spotted the worn figure standing nearby.
Their brows furrowed in confusion.
"Who—?"
"…Long time no see, Genma, Raido. It's me—Asuma."
Genma and Raido blinked, stunned into silence. Kotetsu and Izumo stepped around them with Asuma between them, ushering him toward the village.
"You're just in time for your shift," Kotetsu said as they passed. "We've got something to handle with Asuma."
Genma and Raido exchanged a look, eyes following Asuma's unsteady steps. Even without words, the mood around him made everything clear.
Something had happened.
And it was bad.
The three men walked in silence.
Neither Kotetsu nor Izumo said anything. They didn't need to.
Asuma, walking between them, stared at the familiar streets as the realization settled in.
The route burned into his memory.
He knew exactly where they were headed.
His heart stopped.
His vision dimmed.
The pounding of his feet vanished beneath the pounding of his heart.
The world grew eerily silent.
Soon, they stood before the cemetery gates.
Asuma took a single shaky step inside.
And there it was.
The first grave that greeted him.
[The Third Hokage's Grave — Sarutobi Hiruzen]
Asuma's eyes locked on the words carved in stone. His knees buckled instantly.
Thud!
He collapsed in front of the grave, kneeling before the marker as if his entire body had gone numb.
"Izumo… I don't think his body can take this," Kotetsu murmured. "Give him a soldier pill. Force him to take it if you have to."
But Izumo just shook his head, looking at Asuma's hollow form.
"No. Judging by the state he's in, I'd bet he's already eaten plenty just to get here."
"Let's just stay here. We'll keep watch from outside. If anything happens, we'll rush him to the hospital."
"…Yeah."
The two leaned against the cemetery wall, silent.
Asuma knelt, unmoving.
Then the memories came—flooding him.
The first time he stole a cigarette from his brother Shinnosuke's drawer.
The way the old man caught him lighting up in secret and beat the crap out of him.
The day he realized the cemetery was the one place no one would follow him. Where he learned to smoke in peace, hidden in the trees.
But now… this was no casual trip to sneak a smoke.
This was goodbye.
The bickering.
The long arguments at the dinner table.
The day he stormed out of the house.
The day he left Konoha because he couldn't stand the old man's decisions anymore.
Shinnosuke had stayed. Loyal to the end. Even when he disagreed with Hiruzen's actions, he chose to support him in silence.
But Asuma? He was the opposite. Always pointing out what was wrong. Always arguing.
But now…
He stared at the stone, lips trembling.
"…Why the hell did you rush to the battlefield at your age?"
"…Why didn't you leave it to us? We're the ones who should've protected the village."
"…If you're gone… who the hell am I supposed to argue with now!?"
His voice dropped from a shout to a broken whisper.
Tears slid down his face, mixing with the endless rain.
He reached into his pocket with shaking fingers and pulled out a single cigarette.
He hunched forward, shielding it from the rain with his body.
Then, carefully, he took out the lighter.
The one that used to belong to the old man.
He thumbed the wheel.
Click.
A spark burst from the flint, just enough to ignite—
Clatter!
The worn-out wheel snapped free and fell to the soaked ground.
Asuma stared.
Eyes wide. Lips trembling.
"…Old man…"
"…Are you… lighting it for me?"
For just a moment—brief and faint, like mist—Asuma could almost see him.
A transparent figure.
Sarutobi Hiruzen crouched in front of him with that familiar smile, gently lighting the flame.
(｡•́︿•̀｡)
-------
Send Power Stones
Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
---------------------
Join my Patreon and get access to 50+ early chapters before anyone else! 🔥
https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Your Support is Truly Appreciated 🫂