On the day of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's funeral, a crisp autumn breeze stirred the falling yellow leaves.
A black-and-white portrait stood atop the Hokage Building, with the stone faces of past Hokage carved into the cliff visible behind it.
Asuma didn't smoke. Dressed in black mourning clothes, he stood at the front of the Sarutobi Clan's main family and bowed to every villager who came to pay their respects.
Konohamaru kept wiping away his tears.
He remembered how, when Iruka Sensei taught them, his grandfather had stood here with a pipe in his mouth and said that every ninja had someone they loved and wanted to protect. The person he loved most was his grandson, Konohamaru.
People streamed in from one side and out the other, an endless procession of ninja and ordinary villagers, all wearing mournful expressions.
After the funeral came the banquet.
Canopies had been set up in the courtyard below, where tables filled the space. People sat by clan, with each family at its own table.
At the very front was the smallest table, with only five people: Jiraiya, Tsunade, Naruto, Shizune, and Sasuke.
As Third Hokage's students, the two were legendary ninja forged on the battlefield, their fame renowned throughout the world.
Three days ago, Jiraiya had made a powerful move, proving his strength far surpassed everyone present.
Nor could his student, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Naruto, be underestimated.
The chatter rose and fell.
Then an unwelcome guest arrived.
Two black-clad ninja leaped into the middle of the banquet, each holding a portrait of Mitokado Homura or Utatane Koharu.
"Everyone! The two advisors devoted their entire lives to Konoha, yet in their old age they were slaughtered in public and met such a terrible end. Can you really stay silent?"
Choza Akimichi: "Who are they?"
Shikamaru