Three-Year Plan, Savior!

Late at night.

At his desk.

Asuma was intently drafting his own three-year plan.

He had originally wanted to make it a five-year plan, but considering the outbreak of the Third Great Ninja War and the possibility that Yūhi Kurenai and the others might graduate early, as the Hokage's son, it would be difficult for him to keep lying low at the Ninja Academy if he wanted to maintain his image and charm.

So he shortened the plan.

Three years was a long time, yet also a short one.

Because Asuma had far too much to learn.

In particular, he also had to consider how to rapidly accumulate Experience Points.

Things like the Three Basic Ninjutsu and Genjutsu would inevitably hit a bottleneck once he learned them to a certain degree, making it difficult to gain large amounts of Experience Points afterward.

That meant he would need to open up new areas of study.

But the more varied his studies became, the more likely he was to become a jack of all trades and master of none.

This meant Asuma had to weigh things carefully.

"I absolutely can't practice too many ninjutsu over these three years. Aside from the Three Basic Ninjutsu, focusing on one each year should be enough."

"The Shadow Clone Technique, one Fire Style technique, and one Wind Style technique."

"To grind Experience Points, I can put off learning ninjutsu for now, but I can start with the theory."

"The theories of the five Chakra Nature Transformations, Fūinjutsu theory... That way, my character's leveling speed won't drop too much."

"I can't skip my daily internal training—before school in the morning and after school in the afternoon."

"And agility training needs to progress step by step."

"For Chakra Control, I've already completed water walking in a barrel. The next step is a slow-moving river, then a rapid river pool, and then carrying stones..."

"And tree climbing—first simple tree climbing, then climbing cliffs, and then climbing cliffs while carrying huge rocks..."

He listed them one by one until his mother, Sarutobi Biwako, urged him to stop. Only then did Asuma finish, turn off the lights, and begin practicing Hand Seals.

The next day.

Asuma began studying and training according to his plan.

He got up in the morning for Morning Training to improve his Constitution.

He studied theory in class during the morning to improve his Intelligence.

After lunch, he continued studying theory or practiced the Three Basic Ninjutsu with Kurenai, Kakashi, and the others.

After class in the afternoon, he trained his agility and physical fitness.

At night, he studied theory and practiced Hand Seals.

Such daily training, repeated day after day, was exceedingly tedious.

But with the little girl Yūhi Kurenai keeping him company, along with the cool little Kakashi, the goofy Uchiha Obito, and Might Guy to liven things up, he found plenty of enjoyment in it.

During breaks, he spent money to hire private tutors for taijutsu training and combat drills, including but not limited to sparring, trap-setting, and more.

He also practiced tree climbing and Water Walking Training.

When the Clone Technique reached Level 4, he began training in the Shadow Clone Technique.

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, it was the spring of Konoha Year 39, Asuma's second year at the Ninja Academy.

Weekend.

Asuma had arranged to train at the cliff waterfall with Kurenai, Kakashi, Might Guy, and the others.

But as he walked down the bustling streets and listened to the discussions around him, he could not help frowning.

The Hatake Sakumo incident had erupted!

The public backlash spread this quickly...

Asuma thought of the conspiracy theories he had seen in his previous life.

Whether as Kakashi's friend, the Hokage's son, a member of Konoha, or the future Strongest Hokage, I can't just stand by and watch a powerhouse like Hatake Sakumo wither away through suicide!

With that thought, Asuma immediately formed Hand Seals and created a Shadow Clone.

In front of the Hokage Building.

Asuma halted.

To be honest, this was his first time coming here since transmigrating over a year ago.

Taking a deep breath, Asuma stepped inside and made his way unimpeded to the Hokage Office.

"Asuma, what is it?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked curiously at his son as he entered.

Over the past year, he had witnessed the changes in his once mischievous son. Though they had not spoken much, he was pleased and gratified.

Meeting Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze, Asuma stood across from the desk and got straight to the point. "Father, I've heard many rumors about Senior White Fang."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned slightly but said nothing, merely continuing to look at Asuma.

Asuma did not avert his gaze. It was frank and clear. "Father, I may not understand much, but what the academy has taught me, as well as your teachings, tell me that Senior White Fang has not betrayed the Will of Fire. He is a faithful practitioner of the Will of Fire."

"Moreover, with Senior White Fang's strength, if he withers away like this, it will be an enormous loss for Konoha!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his eyebrows slightly. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Then what do you think should be done?"

"Merits are merits, and faults are faults!"

Asuma was simple and direct. "Senior White Fang should be punished for failing the mission, but saving his comrades is equally worthy of praise and promotion!"

Papering things over?

No, the best of both worlds!

A trace of delight surfaced in Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart, though none showed on his face. He nodded. "Asuma, you've spoken well. I will consider this matter."

Asuma nodded and said no more. With a poof, his body burst into a cloud of smoke.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared, slightly stunned.

He truly had not noticed that his second son was a Shadow Clone.

"They've already grown up!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, but a smile appeared on his face.

Then, after pondering for a moment, he summoned an Anbu ninja and began issuing orders.

Very soon.

The tide of opinion within Konoha began to shift.

The Anbu also delivered Sakumo's punishment order: he was removed from his current position and reassigned to the Ninja Academy as a practical combat instructor.

Even Hatake Sakumo was utterly stunned by this order.

The Anbu ninja who had come to deliver it said, "Lord Sakumo, Asuma said that the village's losses caused by the mission failure were your fault, but as someone who follows the Will of Fire passed down by our predecessors, you should not be treated so cruelly by those rumors either. Merits are merits, and faults are faults!"

"Lord Hokage had no choice but to punish you because of the rules governing ninja, but he hopes you can pass on the Will of Fire you uphold to future generations!"

Hatake Sakumo froze. "Asuma..."

Of course, he knew the Third Hokage's second son.

This boy was also his son Kakashi's friend, and a good friend who could help Kakashi grow.

"I understand!"

Hatake Sakumo quietly took a breath, steadied himself, and said solemnly, "Please report to the Third Hokage that I will report to the Ninja Academy tomorrow. I will not disappoint Lord Hokage's expectations!"

The Anbu ninja nodded, and his figure vanished.

Root.

Danzo's expression darkened when he received the news. He snorted coldly. "How softhearted!"

Elsewhere.

When Asuma's Shadow Clone heard that public opinion had swiftly changed, it was relieved and dispelled itself.

The rest was no longer something he could interfere with.

He could not be sure whether he could truly save Hatake Sakumo.

But at least he had no regrets!

On a rapid river.

Asuma, who was conducting Water Walking Training, quietly breathed a sigh of relief after receiving the information returned by his Shadow Clone. Just as he was about to continue training, a system notification sounded in his mind.

Congratulations on obtaining the Savior achievement. You have received 1 Attribute Point, 1 Skill Point, an additional 1000 Experience Points, and 1 Skill Pack.

The sudden achievement caught Asuma off guard. With a splash, he lost focus and fell straight into the river.