"Anyone else can go, but you are forbidden!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's words were firm and resolute. Asuma Sarutobi's expression changed abruptly, and he couldn't help asking:
"Why?!"
"Is it because it's dangerous? I'm not afraid of danger!"
"Father, I don't want to keep sitting around in the village doing nothing, like I am now."
"Many of my classmates are already Jonin, but I'm the only one who's still just a Chunin."
"I don't want to be left so far behind them. Father, I'm your son. Am I really supposed to spend my whole life as a Chunin?!"
Asuma Sarutobi was getting worked up. Deep down, he understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's reasons: Hiruzen didn't want his only son to die on the battlefield like his older brother had.
Asuma understood, but he wasn't willing to accept it. He didn't want to spend the rest of his life carrying the title of Chunin. He was the Hokage's son, after all, and becoming a Chunin wasn't what he aspired to.
"Asuma, you still haven't grasped the heart of the matter!"
"You haven't even seen through this, and you still want to throw yourself into the middle of it?"
"Asuma, this is far beyond what you can imagine. You could lose your life!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Asuma with a grave expression. His eyes held not only worry, but also a trace of disappointment.
Why had the Daimyo of the Land of Fire suddenly started recruiting so many ninja to form a Guard Corps? Until now, the Daimyo's protection had always been handled by Konoha's ninja. So why did this particular Daimyo want to recruit his own ninja to guard him?
The whole situation sent a clear message: the Daimyo didn't want Konoha to hold a monopoly on power. He wanted to control some power of