Leaves of Trees: Konoha Stories

Grandfather

A young Konohamaru talks with his uncle about the third Hokage.

I'll show him, he thought as he slowly got up, dusted off his shorts, and then rubbed the bruise already forming on his butt.

"Old Man!" he yelled at the image on the Hokage Rock as he raised a fist and shook it. "I'll show you, Gramps! I'm going to be the Fifth Hokage! Just you wait!"

He just needed to get around that barrier that always kicked him out whenever he tried to launch an ambush on his grandfather while he was working.

He heard the deep drag on a cigarette first, then the slow puff of air, before he heard the gravelly voice say, "Konohamaru, what the hell are you doing, boy?"

He turned away from the Hokage rock and looked up to see his uncle Asuma.

One day, Konoharmaru thought, when he was much older, when his hair was that darker Sarutobi shade, he would style his hair the way his uncle did, into that spike that looked so cool above his forehead protector.

He just had to wait until his hair cooperated enough. Right now, his mom said it was still too soft, too delicate, and too unaffected—whatever that meant. It sounded like she was still calling him...childish, but he wasn't a baby. He was already eight!

Asuma took another drag from his cigarette and gazed at him silently while Konohamaru continued to admire his uncle's hair. Konohamaru hated his hair. It just refused to do what he wanted, which was why he'd resorted to wearing this soft helmet to help him tame it.

"Well?" Asuma asked. "What did you do this time to get yourself kicked out of the Hokage's office?"

Konohamaru looked down at the ground and kicked at the dirt. "One of these days, he's going to lower his guard and I'm going to get him."

Asuma laughed. "Sure, kid."

Konohamaru stomped his foot. "I will!"

"You know he's busy, right? He's got no time to waste playing around with your childish pranks."

And that's exactly the problem, Konohamaru thought, refusing to acknowledge the quiver of his jaw as he looked down once more and refused to meet his uncle's eyes.

He missed his grandfather.

When he'd been younger, Gramps always had time to spare. He would always stop by the house in the evenings and talk to his parents while Konohamaru sat on his lap and watched the ashes from his pipe fall on his Hokage cloak. He often wondered how Grandpa never lit on fire.

And Konohamaru loved it when Gramps would miraculously do a little magic trick and produce some kind of treat out of nothing. Gramps would wink at him and then they would share the wagashi filled with anko together.

Or, there'd be days when Gramps would suddenly show up in the morning and take Konohamaru fishing, to that spot by the stream where the trout would gather and they'd catch so much fish his mother would complain about the amount of fish they brought home.

Since he was the only grandchild, Gramps made sure to never miss his birthdays, but last year, something had happened that prevented him from attending. And Konohamaru had stared at his cake in resentful silence because he knew that it would probably happen again.

These days, he had to resort to those pranks and ambushes just to get his grandfather's attention.

"Konohamaru."

And then he felt a heavy hand pat him on the head.

Uncle Asuma, cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth, was suddenly kneeling down and looking him in the eye, his smile filled with understanding and sympathy.

"You know he often said the whole village is family, right?" Uncle Asuma's hand patted him on the shoulder. "I know it's rough, kid, but he's everyone's grandfather, so we just have to learn to share him with the rest of Konoha."

"He was ours first."

Uncle Asuma's grin widened. "Yeah, and don't you forget that. That's something special only you and I can experience."

Konohamaru nodded. They were Sarutobis. Nothing would erase that.

"And I'm still going to be the Fifth Hokage, to show him that I'm strong enough!"

Uncle Asuma laughed. He took another puff of his cigarette. "Okay, kid. I've got some time right now. How about you show me what you've been doing to become the next Hokage then?"

Konohamaru's eyes widened in surprise. "Right now?"

Uncle Asuma nodded. "Yeah. Come on, then. Let's go before Ebisu finds you."

Konohamaru smiled. "Okay!"

Asuma stubbed his cigarette on the ground, stood up, and flicked it into the nearest trash can.

He reached out a hand to his nephew.

Konohamaru eagerly grasped his uncle's hand, and together, the two of them walked to the closest training field.

***

From his office, Hiruzen waved his hand over the crystal ball and sighed.

He looked at the clock and then made a decision. There was still some time left. After work, he would go to the store and buy some sweets for Konohamaru and then stop at his son's house to say hello.