Growing Old, Leaving It to the Young

Asuma stretched languidly.

He came out of the room where he had slept last night and called out to the Sandaime, who was sitting in the living room smoking.

"Old man, I'm heading out."

The Sandaime waved a hand.

Asuma clicked his tongue, turned his head away, and started walking.

"Won't you have breakfast before you go?" Nonō came out of the kitchen and asked.

Asuma raised a hand and scratched his cheek.

"No, I've got something urgent to take care of."

"That's a real shame."

Asuma gave a dry laugh. Though others saw him as a delinquent, he was not the sort of person who failed to appreciate it when others treated him well.

After watching Nonō return to the kitchen, he hurried out through the door of his old man's new home.

Once outside, he looked at the bright, clear morning scenery and sighed.

He had always been at odds with the old man, but after last night, he suddenly felt that the old man did not seem so bad.

Even though the old man already had a new woman.

But Nonō truly was a good person—gentle, considerate, and kind. The fact that she was willing to adopt and care for so many orphans said it all.

If such a good woman became his stepmother—

Honestly, it would be hard to object.

It was just a pity she had ended up with the old man.

"Are you leaving?" a voice called out.

Asuma turned to look. It was that little Wood Release ninja. Asuma still vividly remembered the conversation he had had with the old man last night.

That was why he had a favorable impression of the little ninja as well.

So Asuma smiled and said, "Yeah, I'm leaving now."

"Then please take this with you."

Yamato eagerly held out a fruit basket.

Asuma accepted it and looked at the colorful, succulent-looking fruit inside, which seemed delicious at a glance.

"This is?"

"I grew it."

Yamato continued to look at Asuma expectantly.

After pondering for a moment, Asuma smiled. "Thanks."

Yamato smiled shyly.

And so, with a somewhat unsettled feeling, Asuma left his old father's new home.

"..."

Although he was rather disdainful of his old father taking up with a new woman—

He had to admit that both the old man's new woman and the children here seemed like good people.

Fortunately, he had not caused trouble here yesterday. That would have been far too embarrassing.

But now that he had left the old man's place, what was he supposed to do next?

For a moment, Asuma felt lost.

"Isn't this Asuma?"

A voice spoke.

Asuma stopped walking.

He turned around and looked at the figure wearing a Hokage Hat.

"Lord Fifth?"

Why was Fifth Hokage Orochimaru here?

Right, was he visiting the old man too?

After all, the old man had just moved. As his disciple, it was not strange for him to make time to offer congratulations.

"You went to see my teacher?" Orochimaru asked with a smile.

After a moment's hesitation, Asuma nodded.

Orochimaru then said,

"Could you chat with me for a while?"

"What did you want to talk about, Lord Fifth?"

"Some matters concerning my teacher."

"...Sorry, Lord Fifth, but I'm afraid there's nothing much to talk about." Asuma scratched his head. "My old man and I rarely interact. I only went to see him yesterday."

"I know. Asuma, you have always held a great deal of resentment toward my teacher. At the same time, you are also lost."

"..."

Asuma lowered his head.

Orochimaru's eyes, as though they could see straight into his heart, made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Perhaps realizing he was making Asuma uneasy, Orochimaru smiled and narrowed his eyes, making himself appear gentler.

He continued, "Asuma, I can tell you something."

"Please do."

"You know about the Joint Security Company that has been eagerly discussed throughout the village lately, don't you?"

"I do. It was a plan you proposed, Lord Fifth. Some of my classmates were very excited when they heard about it. They said it embodied the Will of Fire."

Asuma was young, and naturally, so were his classmates.

Young people were full of energy and hopes for the future. They were vibrant, more willing to view the world with kindness.

Though they might be somewhat naïve, they were also the most driven, the most willing to act for their dreams, and the most easily persuaded by righteousness.

In truth, Asuma was still young as well.

He also admired Lord Orochimaru's Joint Security Company plan.

What kind of courage did it take to push forward a plan that went against the traditions of the ninja world?

Sure enough, a Hokage like Lord Orochimaru was a true Hokage.

The old man? He was ultimately already old and decrepit. Compared to Fifth Hokage Orochimaru...

"The Joint Security Company plan was actually proposed by my teacher."

"..."

What?

Seeing the stunned disbelief on Asuma's face, Orochimaru smiled and continued, "My teacher was the one who convinced me to push this plan forward. He had considered it deeply for a long time. And without his support, I, a Hokage who had only just taken office, could not have pushed it through."

"...But why?"

"Because my teacher has grown old."

"Was he running away?"

"Of course not."

Orochimaru raised a hand, placed it on Asuma's shoulder, and gave it a slight squeeze.

"When you grow old, you leave opportunities and honor to the young. I think that was what my teacher had in mind. He left all this to me, allowing me to create the new situation he had hoped for."

"..."

"And I believe the people he hopes for are not just me. They also include every person in Konoha who longs for and looks forward to the future."

"..."

"Asuma, you are my teacher's son. He must be looking forward to you as well, hoping that you will have a part in this new situation too."

"Did the old man really think that? Then why did he—"

"Fathers are always silent."

"..."

Asuma silently turned around.

Orochimaru withdrew his hand as well.

He watched Asuma walk around him, silently heading in the direction he had been leaving.

He looked somewhat dazed, as if his thoughts were in disarray, as if he had become even more lost.

Yet amid that confusion, he seemed to feel that he had grasped something.

At last, he quickened his pace...

Orochimaru withdrew his gaze.

This time, he had simply seen a lost young man and lent him a hand while he was at it.

He had also slightly resolved an issue in his teacher's household.

He hoped his teacher would not blame him for meddling.

Not long afterward, Orochimaru arrived at his teacher, the Sandaime's, new home.

After entering,

the Sandaime, smoking a cigarette, looked at him and said, "You're here, Orochimaru."

"I'm here."

Orochimaru replied with a soft chuckle, "Teacher."

Orochimaru sat down on the sofa opposite the Sandaime.

Nonō served Orochimaru a cup of hot tea.

And Orochimaru began looking over his teacher's new home.