It Has Nothing to Do with You

After Asuma returned to the clan, he first got a grasp of the situation.

He discovered that the Sarutobi Clan's current debts were roughly equal to Kushina Uzumaki's inheritance.

This was clearly using Orochimaru's hand to make the Sarutobi Clan spit out everything they had swallowed.

Asuma immediately went to request an audience with Orochimaru.

But Orochimaru was busy conducting experiments and did not receive him at all.

He had no choice but to request an audience with the Fourth Hokage. Minato did see him.

"Oh, Asuma, did your mission go well?"

Minato greeted Asuma as though nothing were amiss.

Asuma looked somewhat exhausted.

"Lord Fourth Hokage, I want to know what will happen to the Sarutobi Clan?"

Minato shook his head, his expression exceptionally kind.

"Asuma, what are you talking about? I merely reclaimed Kushina's property. I have not pursued the matter of your father's embezzlement."

"The other measures were all ordered by Lord Orochimaru."

Asuma opened his mouth, but did not know what to say. His old man truly had been awful.

The Fourth Hokage and his wife had died in battle for Konoha, yet their son could not even afford a full meal.

Now that the reckoning had begun, the Fourth Hokage had not even taken his anger out on him.

That was already more than generous enough.

"I understand. Thank you, Lord Fourth Hokage. These are the two weapons the old man bought for me back then. I am returning them to you, Lord Hokage."

Asuma placed his two Chakra Blades on the desk.

Asuma was not a particularly diligent person, let alone before he joined the Guardian Shinobi Twelve, when he had been nothing more than a street punk.

There was no way he could have afforded those two blades.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had given them