Minato's Daughter

Chapter 28 - Asuma Sarutobi

Miyuki

"Ichiraku ramen."

Kakashi looked annoyed while Yamato was trying to stifle his laugh. I smiled in amusement as well. Naruto had been training hard and had even gone on a mission over the last few days. It was no wonder that he was exhausted. Kakashi mumbled something under his breath before he went to give Naruto a piggy back ride. Yamato stayed next to me.

"So, I wanted to ask you something," he said.

"What's up?" I asked, curious.

"Are you and Kakashi senpai seeing each other?"

I felt flustered and immediately opened my mouth to respond, however, Yamato held up a hand.

"That's the only response I need," he told me, amused.

"How'd you figure it out?" I asked him.

"I noticed you and Kakashi coming out of his house together," he replied simply.

"Were you the one who's been watching me?" 

Yamato cocked his head in confusion. "What do you mean? I only saw because I passed by. Is there something going on?"

I shook my head, there was no reason to worry someone who wasn't even involved. 

"Ramen," Naruto groaned as Kakashi walked over to us.

"Are you coming with us?" Yamato asked me, concern still written on his face.

"No, I'm going to go see Kurenai," I replied as I waved both men and hungry boy goodbye.

I was wondering how Kurenai was doing lately after she and Asuma had told me the news of the two expecting a child together. I stopped by a fruit vendor and bought some apples before heading to Kurenai's house.

"Miyuki?" She asked as she opened the door.

"I bring a gift," I replied, smiling and holding up the bag.

She returned my smile before letting me in. I saw the flowers blooming by her window and watched as a strong wind blew away one of the petals. For some reason, I had an uneasy feeling at the pit of my stomach.

"Where's Asuma?" I asked as I handed her the bag of apples. 

"He and a few others are out on a mission. They're trying to track down the Akatsuki, remember?" She replied as she placed the fruits carefully in the fruit basket on her kitchen counter.

"I wonder what their motive could be for hunting down jinchuriki," I stated, looking out her window again. 

"Who knows. It's better that we track them down though, before they attack the village. If they do, there'll be a lot of victims," Kurenai said, sitting down on the couch and motioning for me to sit as well.

I took a seat across from her, still feeling uneasy. Was it the mention of the Akatsuki and the fact that Naruto was one of their targets or was I on edge from feeling like someone was watching me?

"Are you alright?" She asked, trying to read my expression.

"Of course," I replied simply.

"I guess I can understand what you're going through," Kurenai said with a shrug.

"What I'm going through?" I questioned.

"You're worried about Naruto, aren't you? The fact that the Akatsuki are in the Land of Fire must mean they're after him," She explained.

I scoffed. "I'm not worried about him."

"Are you sure? I've noticed that you've been around Naruto a lot more lately," she said, raising one of her eyebrows.

"That's because Kakashi is training him," I muttered as she laughed.

We continued to discuss other trivial matters around the village and then talked about our relationships. When the sky began to darken and rain clouds formed, I decided to bid Kurenai a farewell and head back to the training grounds. I was sure that Naruto was back after eating at that point. On my way there, I noticed a group of shinobi coming back from a mission. It was Asuma's students, Izumo, Kotetsu, Raido, and Aoba. I frowned, stopping in my tracks. Where was Asuma? The group slowed when they saw me and I noticed that Izumo, Kotetsu, Raido, and Aoba couldn't meet my eyes while Asuma's students were crying. The dark skies and rain made it hard to tell what each of their expressions were.

"Where's Asuma?" I asked, fearing the answer.

One of his students, Shikamaru, looked at me. He turned his head and I followed his gaze and saw a figure of a body underneath a black cloth in Aoba's arms.

"He didn't make it," Raido told me.

I walked over to Aoba and slowly pulled back the cloak that was covering his face. I saw the burn marks covering half of his face and the dried blood that had come out of his mouth.

"Asuma," I whispered, shaking him by the shoulder. "Come on, get up."

It was silent as I continued to shake him. At one point, I felt myself slap him across the face, hoping that this was nothing but a cruel joke. He didn't move.

"We need to report this to the Hokage," Raido said gently as Aoba covered Asuma's face.

I stood there, standing still as the group walked past me. I felt my tears mix with the rain. How many more friends would I lose in my lifetime? I thought of Kurenai and their unborn child, feeling a weight on my chest.

"Damn it, Asuma," I sobbed. "Damn you."

I wasn't sure how long I stood there for until Raido came back. I never thought I would be reunited with him after another person we both new died. He had been one of the three that Minato as Hokage had taught Hiraijin no Jutsu, the Flying Thunder Formation Technique. The last time I had seen him was after both of my parents had died.

"We're spreading word of the funeral," Raido said gently. "Can you tell Kakashi, Yamato, and Naruto?"

"Someone needs to tell Kurenai," I told him.

He reached out and wiped the tears from my eyes. Raido and I had been close after Minato had appointed him, Genma, and Iwashi to the Hokage Guard Platoon and I, the captain of Team Ro.

"Shikamaru is doing it. I need you to go tell Kakashi, Yamato, and Naruto though," Raido said again.

He grabbed my shoulders, tightly, almost shaking me. "Miyuki, you need to go tell them now."

I knew what he was doing. He was telling me to do something because he was afraid that I would run and leave the village for years again, or do something incredibly stupid. I nodded and his shoulders appeared to relax. He gave me a slight push out of the village and I began to walk towards the training area the three were. I didn't realize I was crying as it was raining until I felt the warmth of my tears on my face. Asuma, what happened to you? I reached the training field and saw Naruto and Kakashi talking with Yamato standing next to Kakashi, listening. Yamato noticed me first and upon seeing my expression, he ran over while Kakashi and Naruto continued their training discussion.

"Miyuki? What happened?" Yamato asked, concerned.

I stood there, getting drenched in the rain as the tears continued to flow. This was a terrible dream, maybe even a genjutsu.

"Miyuki?" Yamato asked again. "What happened? Are you injured?"

Kakashi and Naruto must have heard Yamato's words as I saw Kakashi and Naruto coming over, Kakashi basically running to my side.

"Miyuki, what's going on?" He asked, his voice laced with worry. "Come on, talk to me. What's wrong?"

"Kakashi..." I whispered as I fell into him.

He immediately caught me, pulling me into a tight hug.

"What's going on?" He asked, his voice low.

"Miyuki sensei?" Naruto questioned.

"Asuma," I said, my voice low.

I pulled away from Kakashi, taking a step back from the group. I tried to keep my voice from shaking but I failed.

"Asuma Sarutobi is dead."