He had been comfortable just moments ago, but suddenly he felt like he was riding the clouds. Sarutobi Asuma snapped back to reality, finding himself spinning in the air. He quickly stabilized himself and landed safely, avoiding a face-plant.
"You brat, scram. Don't forget your promise!"
Tsunade stood before the gate, arms crossed, her expression cold. She looked exactly like someone who had enjoyed all the benefits and then heartlessly abandoned their partner.
Sarutobi Asuma, however, was a bit confused.
Promise?
What promise?
What earth-shattering things did I say last night when I was drunk?
Resurrecting Dan and Nawaki?
After leaving the Senju ancestral home, Sarutobi Asuma checked his system. His Charm attribute had surprisingly increased by 2 points, reaching 58.
However, the experience points gained were pitifully small.
Thinking about the training and studying he had missed all night and the beginning of the morning, Sarutobi Asuma couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.
"As expected, women affect my sword-drawing… no, the speed of my cultivation!"
Sarutobi Asuma sighed. Smelling the alcohol on himself, he quickly leaped away, heading straight for the hot spring inn. After a refreshing bath, he finally went home.
By this time, Sarutobi Hiruzen and his older brother, Sarutobi Shinya, had already left.
Under his mother, Sarutobi Biwako's incessant questioning, Sarutobi Asuma quickly finished breakfast and then fled home in a sorry state.
He arrived at the Ninja Academy to find Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune already there.
Upon seeing Sarutobi Asuma, Kurenai and Shizune both rushed over, looking at him curiously.
Sarutobi Asuma spread his hands and gave a helpless smile. "Tsunade-nee-chan saw through my act of pretending to be drunk, and then I actually got drunk!"
"Ah?"
Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune exclaimed in unison.
Shizune's eyes widened. "You weren't drunk at the izakaya earlier!"
"Uh..."
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled awkwardly.
After all, it was Shizune who carried him back.
Just then, Mizuki approached and called out, "Asuma, do you have any inside information? How are we being divided into teams, and who are our Jonin senseis?"
Others also gathered around.
Sarutobi Asuma breathed a sigh of relief and said to everyone with a smile, "I don't know about that."
"But don't worry, we are all exceptional talents who graduated early. Our Jonin senseis will definitely be the village's elites!"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Uchiha Obito said, "I'm definitely on Rin's team!"
"Obito!"
Rin shyly tugged at Uchiha Obito, who looked so confident.
Mizuki, however, thought to himself, If I could be on Asuma's team, that would be the best.
He's the Hokage's son and the most outstanding individual.
His Jonin sensei would undoubtedly be the cream of the crop.
A group of people chattered amongst themselves, all nervously and curiously wondering who they would be on a team with.
Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune felt the same.
Sarutobi Asuma was also looking forward to it.
He didn't remember who Sarutobi Asuma was teamed up with in the original story.
However, he had, to some extent, changed history.
At least Konoha's White Fang was still alive, and Kakashi's personality was somewhat different.
So, would Uchiha Obito and Rin still be teamed up with Kakashi?
He clearly remembered.
Kakashi, due to not getting along with his teammates, had been transferred between teams successively before finally being assigned to Namikaze Minato's team, alongside Uchiha Obito and Rin, by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
At the same time, The situation in the ninja world was becoming increasingly tense, forcing Asuma's generation to start taking dangerous missions alongside Chunin and even Jonin.
The rapid promotion of Kakashi and others was greatly related to the overall backdrop of the ninja world.
Only a dozen or so people gathered in the spacious classroom. As the first Jonin sensei appeared, everyone stopped their discussions.
Then, one by one, they were led away.
Soon.
Namikaze Minato appeared, a gentle smile on his face, and said, "Uchiha Obito, Rin, come with me!"
His words faded, and he was already gone.
Uchiha Obito's face was filled with excitement, but he immediately followed with a question, "Why just the two of us?"
"We'll know when we get there," Rin replied.
Uchiha Obito nodded.
The two of them said their goodbyes to everyone else and left.
Sarutobi Asuma watched them go, unable to help but sigh inwardly.
The wheels of fate seemed to be turning back onto the right track.
Still, he could understand it.
A genius like Kakashi would definitely be assigned to an excellent mentor.
Namikaze Minato was already renowned, and his background was impeccable.
Currently, his reputation as a genius surpassed that of Sarutobi Shinya and Sarutobi Asuma himself.
"Or perhaps they're already grooming Namikaze Minato to be the Fourth Hokage?" Sarutobi Asuma mused to himself.
Soon, only three people remained in the classroom.
Sarutobi Asuma, Yūhi Kurenai, and Shizune.
It was clear that these three would form a team.
"A Genjutsu specialist, a medical ninja, and then a powerful attacker – this is a good setup."
"But who will be their team leader?" Sarutobi Asuma wondered with anticipation.
Before long, a figure appeared in the classroom.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Sarutobi Asuma and the other two exclaimed in surprise, "Teacher Sakumo!"
The person present was none other than Hatake Sakumo, who had served as their practical combat instructor, the powerful ninja known as Konoha's White Fang!
"It seems I'm the last one. I apologize for being late!" Hatake Sakumo said with a smile.
"Teacher Sakumo, the village is having you lead us!" Yūhi Kurenai sounded somewhat disbelieving.
Shizune's eyes widened as well.
Although Hatake Sakumo's reputation had declined somewhat due to an incident a few years prior, his renown still surpassed that of the Sannin!
"It seems you're pleased with me. Let's move to a different location!"
"Meet me at Training Ground Seven!"
After Hatake Sakumo finished speaking with a smile, he vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
Sarutobi Asuma and the other two exchanged glances, then simultaneously used the Body Flicker Technique to follow him.
However, as they left the Ninja Academy, Hatake Sakumo's shadow was nowhere to be seen.
"Such incredible speed!" Yūhi Kurenai exclaimed.
"Naturally, he is Konoha's White Fang!" Sarutobi Asuma chuckled.
The three of them leaped, moving like dark shadows, swiftly weaving through the tall buildings.
That Hatake Sakumo would be their team leader was something Sarutobi Asuma hadn't anticipated.
After all, based on his understanding of Konoha, Hatake Sakumo was arguably the second strongest ninja in Konoha, both openly and behind the scenes.
Second only to the Third Hokage!
To assign someone of that caliber to lead newly graduated genin seemed like a waste of talent.
"There are likely political considerations behind this."
"But it has nothing to do with me. For me, having Hatake Sakumo as our team leader is a tremendous benefit!"
In Sarutobi Asuma's eyes, Hatake Sakumo was a massive gift of experience points.
By his estimation, Hatake Sakumo's swordsmanship was at least at the Master level, equivalent to the Kage level.
He himself was only at Swordsmanship level 4.
If he could also reach the Kage level, his character level would surely increase by one or two.
Five minutes later.
Sarutobi Asuma and the other two arrived at Training Ground 7 one after another.
Hatake Sakumo was already waiting there. Seeing them arrive, he smiled and said, "Although I saw your skills during the graduation exam, as your mentor, I still need to understand you more deeply and comprehensively."
"Therefore, we're going to have a test!"
"Use all your strength to attack me, and then take this bell from me."
Hatake Sakumo said as he produced a small bell.
Kurenai and Shizune's expressions immediately became serious.
To snatch something from Konoha's White Fang, the difficulty of this task was absolutely S-rank for them!
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