29: Does Sarutobi Asuma Really Deserve to Be Hokage?

Fourth Raikage: "Hey! I've seen Uchiha Sasuke's talent before, but this is on another level—it's terrifying!"

The Lightning Style stimulation technique... it's almost like he's developed a prototype of our Lightning Style armor from Cloud Village!

"In all of Cloud Village's history, no one has ever mastered the Lightning Style stimulation technique in just one day!"

Darui: "It took me over a month just to barely master it..."

Fourth Raikage: "If only Uchiha Sasuke were from Cloud Village. I'd make him the next Raikage without hesitation!"

Wow!

Everyone is shocked.

For a village's shadow to value Sasuke's Lightning Style talent so highly, even offering him the Raikage position by default, that's saying something.

But when you think about Sasuke's talent, it makes sense. Even the ninja from Cloud Village have to admit it.

Ohnoki: "Sasuke's growth is unbelievable! He's getting stronger and stronger at such an alarming pace."

Just after graduating, he could go toe-to-toe with Kakashi!

Now, under Kakashi's guidance, his improvement is rapid!

Terumi Mei: "At this rate, within a few years, he'll be as strong as any of the Five Kage."

Zabuza: "..."

No... I'm starting to feel guilty.

In the original world, it was hard enough to fight Hatake Kakashi.

Now there's this Uchiha Sasuke, who's improving so quickly.

I can't let him defeat me in a solo battle—that'd be too humiliating!

---

[Nighttime]

[Sasuke treats Team 7 to a meal.]

[Coincidentally, they run into Sarutobi Asuma's team and Kurenai Yuhi's team, who are also dining there.]

[Sarutobi Asuma decides to pay for both teams' meals.]

[Seeing the four members of Kakashi's team, Asuma waves and generously declares that he'll cover the cost of the entire dinner.]

[Twelve ninjas from three teams sit together.]

[Hinata sits to Sasuke's left.]

[Ino takes the seat to Sasuke's right, using the excuse that Sakura gets to be with Sasuke every day.]

[Sakura is forced to sit a bit farther to the right.]

[Despite this, the four of them seem to get along quite harmoniously.]

[Naruto and the others across the table feel a twinge of envy.]

[Inuzuka Kiba grinds his teeth jealously.]

[Meanwhile, Sarutobi Asuma, casting glances at Kurenai Yuhi, sighs internally. Chasing after a girl is so difficult!]

[Sasuke skillfully grills the meat and serves it to the three girls.]

[Ino and Sakura eat about the same amount.]

[Hinata… her cheeks slightly flushed, quietly accepts Sasuke's offerings without a word.]

[Sasuke, now familiar with Hinata's appetite, wonders if she has some hidden bloodline from the Akimichi clan—her stomach seems like a bottomless pit!]

[But at least the food is worth it, as Hinata's strength seems to increase in line with her appetite.]

[Meanwhile, Asuma, trying to impress Kurenai, awkwardly starts talking about their students.]

["So, Kurenai, how are your students doing? With your guidance, they must be improving quickly, right?" Asuma asks.]

[Kurenai sighs, feeling a bit insecure.]

["Well, each of them has their clan's secret techniques, so there's not much I can really guide them on. I can only help them gain combat experience."]

[She feels a bit inadequate as a team leader.]

[After all, she's just recently become a Jōnin, and Kakashi's reputation as an effective teacher only emphasizes her insecurity.]

[Even though Kakashi is constantly exhausted, it just proves that his students need his guidance.]

[But with her team...]

[The Gentle Fist of the Hyuga clan, the ninja dogs of the Inuzuka clan, and the insect techniques of the Aburame clan—how could she teach those?]

[She silently wonders why the Third Hokage chose her for this role.]

[Across the table, Sasuke listens to their conversation, his eyes narrowing slightly as he starts piecing things together.]

[Hinata once mentioned that Kurenai only became a Jōnin this year.]

[But she's already been assigned to lead the heirs of some of Konoha's most prestigious clans—Hinata from the Hyuga clan, Kiba from the Inuzuka clan, and Shino from the Aburame clan.]

[Sasuke glances around at the others, and it hits him.]

[Sarutobi Asuma is the son of the Third Hokage, and he leads the next generation of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio.]

[Kurenai, who Asuma is pursuing, leads the heirs of other significant Konoha clans.]

[Could this all be just a coincidence?]

---

Orochimaru: "Coincidence? Hah! Sarutobi has everything perfectly planned out!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Orochimaru, you're just making baseless accusations again!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen, fuming at Orochimaru's smug tone, feels his blood boil.

If it weren't for his need to maintain composure, he would've lunged at Orochimaru right then and there.

Ohnoki: "Sarutobi, your arrangement is impressive! You've got your son and his future wife leading Konoha's next generation. Quite the family legacy!"

Fourth Raikage: "After a few more years, when the Third Hokage can't hold on any longer, is he planning to pass the Hokage title to his son?"

Rasa: "That'd make Konoha the laughing stock of the ninja world—led by its weakest Hokage ever!"

Ohnoki: "Haha! Exactly, Kazekage! Sarutobi, pass the Hokage mantle to your son!"

Fourth Raikage: "Indeed. Even though Cloud Village's next generation has some shortcomings, it wouldn't be hard to surpass Sarutobi Asuma."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Stop slandering me!"

Ohnoki: "Slandering? I'm just stating facts, Sarutobi. Wanting your son to be Hokage is fine, but for the sake of the village, think about it—does he really deserve it?"

Fourth Raikage: "Exactly! My father was the Third Raikage, and I inherited the full Lightning Style armor technique, so no one questioned my becoming Raikage."

Ohnoki: "It's the same in Iwagakure. My son isn't Tsuchikage because he doesn't have the strength or a kekkei genkai, even though he's almost forty!"

Kurotsuchi: "Dad, don't embarrass me any further…"

Ohnoki: "Every time I think about it, I get more frustrated! And that brat Deidara has vanished without a trace!"

Deidara: "Relax, old man! I'm just out here enjoying myself. Don't miss me too much."

Ohnoki: "Deidara! Where the hell are you?!"

Sasori: "Deidara, be careful with your words. You know the consequences."

Earlier, Pain had warned the Akatsuki members to watch what they said and not to reveal anything about their organization.

If Deidara kept running his mouth, he'd soon find himself facing Rinnegan.

Deidara: "Don't worry, Scorpion, I know when to stop."

Chiyo: "Sasori?!"