So they were surprised, but said nothing more and hurried off to join the others.
Chapter 367
Most of the Twelve Rookie Genin had also come at the invitation.
To be precise, ever since they had reached this age,
they had not actually met very often in their daily lives.
And now, all the rookie genin who remained in Konoha had gathered, except for Neji Hyuga, whose status was rather sensitive.
Looking closely, none of them showed any sign of happiness.
What they carried now was the composure that came with maturity.
They could no longer, as they once had, willingly display all their emotions on their faces.
It was not that they had become hypocritical. They simply knew that meaningless emotions would only cloud their judgment.
And an error in judgment would undoubtedly add another stroke to the sorrow that had already taken shape.
But continued silence did not seem to be the purpose of gathering here.
At this time, Shikamaru Nara, the true initiator, had to be the first to speak.
If Might Guy's prized student was Rock Lee,
and Kakashi's pride was Sasuke Uchiha,
while Kurenai Yuhi cared most for Kiba Inuzuka,
then Asuma's would have to be Shikamaru Nara.
Shikamaru Nara was someone who had inherited Asuma's will—the will to protect the jewel of the future.
Only they could truly understand it, and continue passing that will on.
Perhaps Shikamaru Nara could not yet be considered a true inheritor.
He understood it, but before this, he had only wanted to forge a path of his own.
But after this incident, Shikamaru Nara had silently accepted this spiritual inheritance.
And he intended to pass it on as well. Perhaps, in his view, the one who most deserved to inherit that will was Asuma's unborn child.
Shikamaru Nara