"What did you say?" Kakashi looked at the Konoha chunin before him, disbelief in his voice. "The head priest of the Fire Temple is dead? Are you sure?"
"Lord Hokage, the intelligence is absolutely reliable! It came from the Fire Temple! Two hours ago, two figures wearing cloud-patterned cloaks attacked the Fire Temple. They wounded and killed many monks, killed Head Priest Chiriku, and even took his body away!" the chunin reported respectfully.
"Impossible! This can't be!" Asuma, who had been reporting the results of his mission to Kakashi, widened his eyes. Veins bulged on his face as he instinctively began to lose control of his emotions.
Chiriku had been Asuma's closest friend and most intimate comrade. Back then, because of certain reasons, he had fallen out with the Third Hokage and left Konoha to join the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
Whether in ideals or personality, Chiriku and Asuma had much in common.
Even after Chiriku left the Twelve Guardian Ninja and went to the Fire Temple while Asuma returned to Konoha, their friendship had not faded. Instead, like fine wine, it had grown more fragrant and mellow with time.
It could even be said that, in terms of certain beliefs, Chiriku had been Asuma's only friend who could support him spiritually.
But now, he had suddenly been told that such a dear friend was dead? Death had come so abruptly. Asuma had once thought that, as a Konoha ninja, he might die at any given moment. If that happened, what would it mean for his father, his lover, his friends, and his students?
Yet reality had played a cruel joke on Asuma. His father, the Hokage of Konoha, had ultimately died as a ninja should—on the battlefield, while protecting Konoha. And his dear friend Chiriku, the head priest of the