The Asura's True Identity Is

A faint sandalwood incense curled through the reception room of the Hokage Office Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back, looking out at the bustling streets of Konoha.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast his shadow across the wooden floor, stretching it long.

He was already sixty-seven. For a shinobi, that was an advanced age, to say nothing of having to handle a village's government affairs and deal with the turbulent undercurrents moving through the shinobi world.

Today, this was the third group of representatives from another village he had received.

The door was gently pushed open, and a young assistant wearing glasses walked in, bowing respectfully. "Lord Hokage, the representatives from Kirigakure have been seen off."

"Mm." Hiruzen Sarutobi did not turn around, only answering softly.

The assistant hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Jonin Ao... specifically mentioned intelligence-sharing regarding the Akatsuki before he left. He said Kirigakure has also been investigating this organization recently and hopes Konoha can provide more information."

"I understand." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice sounded somewhat tired. "Reply to him tomorrow. Konoha will consider sharing intelligence. For now... focus on the Chunin Exams first."

"Yes." The assistant bowed again and was just about to withdraw when an Anbu shinobi appeared at the doorway with a Body Flicker, kneeling on one knee.

"Lord Hokage, the representatives from Iwagakure have arrived."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around. The wrinkles on his face seemed even deeper in the light of the setting sun, and those eyes that had once been sharp as a hawk were now veiled with weariness.

He reached out and pinched some shredded tobacco from the pouch on the table, packed it into a brass pipe, lit it with a fire striker, and took a deep draw.

Smoke slowly left his