Asuma Sarutobi's home.
"You're back," Hiruzen Sarutobi said to Asuma.
There was no disappointment or praise in his eyes, only calmness.
After many years of training, he believed Asuma must have gained a different understanding.
What is the "king"?
Asuma sat cross-legged on the ground: "Well, it's been a long time since I've been back, and the house is still the same!"
His mind was also filled with myriad thoughts; four years of training had given him a direction, but he still wasn't sure what the "king" truly was.
However, life still had to go on, which also proved that his training was not yet enough.
He still needed to continue working hard.
Wah-ee~~
A baby's cry rang out, and a stream of water shot up, splashing between the two of them.
Splash!
"Hey, Konohamaru, you little brat! The moment I wasn't paying attention, you did this to me..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi had just felt relieved that his son was doing better when his grandson's actions immediately made him uncomfortable.
Normally, when he came home from work, he would take over the nanny's job himself to spend time with his young grandson.
He had just changed Konohamaru's diaper, and Asuma came back before he had a chance to clean up, and now Konohamaru was causing trouble again.
He could only wait for Konohamaru to finish peeing before taking out the things to clean him up.
"Darn it, doesn't that guy's kid have this problem?" His mind kept flashing back to Satoru talking about his children, that relaxed look on his face.
"Is this Big Brother's son, Konohamaru?"
Asuma also gave an awkward laugh, having just returned, Did he need such a welcome?
After the Guardian Shinobi stabilised, he would occasionally contact Konoha over the past two years and knew that his Big Brother had a son named Konohamaru.
"Yes, you wait a bit, I'll take care of this first." Hiruzen Sarutobi was flustered.
Asuma watched silently, his eyes suddenly touched.
Perhaps, this was the "King"?
He wasn't sure, but a seed had been planted in his heart.
...
Beyond the back mountain.
In a plain in Konoha.
The wind whistled past, making the green grass bow its head.
And in this atmosphere, a team of people stood with their heads held high, waiting for the training to begin.
In front of them were the instructors for this training: Kurenai Yuhi, Kurama Murakumo, and Asuma Sarutobi, the Guardian Shinobi, standing to the side.
Asuma lit a cigarette: "Yuhi, time's almost up Why isn't that guy here yet?"
Looking at Satoru, who hadn't appeared yet, he felt dissatisfied.
This was too perfunctory for a mission arranged by the Hokage of Konoha, making them wait.
After staying for a few days, and with the treatment of his team members, he knew that one of the instructors for this training was Satoru, whom he had met before.
That time, although Satoru helped him, he still felt indignant.
Only because at that time he felt like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, and he wasn't taken back only because of his identity as the son of the Third Hokage.
Now he had grown, experienced countless assassinations, and eliminated numerous enemies, and he was confident that he could defeat Satoru without wasting time.
Kurenai Yuhi heard him and said: "He should be handling the work of the Analysis Team and the Barrier Team!"
"What?" Asuma was puzzled.
Kurama Murakumo laughed: "He's a genius, just like Kakashi. He's already a Jonin of Konoha and serves as the head of the Analysis Team and the captain of the Barrier Development Squad, bearing important responsibilities for Konoha!"
Although he hadn't interacted with Satoru, he knew that Konoha had such a person.
A very remarkable Genjutsu Ninja.
"...?"
Asuma was full of questions upon hearing this.
What virtue and ability did he have to bear such heavy responsibilities?
"Captain, why isn't there still one person here? Why don't we start first?"
"Yeah, he's just a commoner, yet he's so arrogant. I think he knows he's not capable, so he doesn't dare to come be an instructor, right?"
"Captain, we still need to report this when we go back. At the very least, we should cut his salary."
"Hmph, when he comes, we'll make him look bad."
The members of the Imperial Guard were extremely impatient at this moment and spoke up one after another.
Although they also used Chakra, their mode of operation was not that of a Ninja, but of an army.
They were full of anger towards someone who made them wait like this.
They were members of the Imperial Guard, the organisation responsible for protecting the Daimyo's mansion.
When had they ever been treated like this?
Kurenai Yuhi looked at Asuma: "Asuma-kun, it seems your subordinates are a bit difficult to get along with!"
Asuma scratched his head. Originally, he also thought Satoru was like his subordinates said, but when Kurenai Yuhi spoke, the words in his mouth got stuck.
He put away his cigarette and turned to the team: "Quiet down, you're here to learn, not to cause trouble. If you talk nonsense again, I'll beat you."
After Asuma finished speaking, he looked awkwardly at Kurenai Yuhi and received a smile in return.
Thump thump!
He suddenly felt his heart beating a little fast.
Oh no, it was the sound of a beating heart.
And when the Imperial Guard saw their captain's warning, they could only suppress their dissatisfied voices.
But their eyes still held dissatisfaction.
And one of the team members' eyeballs rolled.
Satoru?
He didn't expect that he would learn from his opponent's body just by trying to find a better method to dispel Genjutsu.
This was great.
"I'm not late, isn't it bad to say that about me?"
Boom!
Just as Zetsu felt his luck was extremely good, a voice sounded, echoing in the air.
He turned his head to look, and at the same time, a sense of oppression weighed on his mind and body.
Not only he, but everyone who heard the voice and looked at the approaching person felt the same way.
Thump thump!
Their hearts beat rapidly under this pressure.
Satoru's figure appeared.
Wearing a Ninja vest,
Hands in pockets,
Cherry blossoms fluttered around his body,
Every step he took,
Seemed to step on their hearts,
Tap, tap,
One step, two steps, three steps...
Asuma Sarutobi looked at his arm, and goosebumps had appeared on it.
Looking at that familiar bandage-wrapped head, he felt extremely shocked.
At the same time, a thought arose: "This guy, isn't he trying to act cool and attract Yuhi's attention because he knows she's here?"
Looking at Kurenai Yuhi again, he saw her eyes trembling, seemingly attracted by Satoru.
A strange impulse arose in his heart, wanting to beat Satoru down.
"Who is it?"
The Imperial Guard members were on high alert, but they felt their bodies suppressed, only able to move their lips.
Kurama Murakumo's lips moved slightly: "Genjutsu."
Kurenai Yuhi: "Genjutsu?"
"What?"
Asuma was astonished to hear this, feeling his suppressed body, and Satoru approaching step by step with cherry blossoms. Was his Genjutsu actually that powerful?
"Release."
Kurama Murakumo and Kurenai Yuhi were the first to release the Genjutsu.
Then Kurenai Yuhi placed her hand on Asuma's shoulder, injecting Chakra to release his Genjutsu.
At this moment, Asuma's vision finally returned to normal.
There were no cherry blossoms around Satoru, no oppressive feeling on his body, only a young man with a bandage-wrapped head and a smile on his lips.
However, Asuma was, after all, a pure young man, and now he wished time would slow down a little.
Kurenai Yuhi took her hand away, and Asuma's face was still slightly red.
As the Imperial Guard watched Satoru approach, their bodies were still uncontrollable, and they were on high alert.
Cold sweat dripped.
Drip!