Choose your own Naruto Adventure- Go to P462
From Create Your Own Story
You stay true to your decision.
As much as you like Asuma, you are mature enough to admit how inappropriate it would be for you to continue spending all that time with him.
Instead you spend more time with his students and Asuma seems glad about the change too. You remain on friendly terms with him, but your relationship is definitely not what it once was.
Your new focus is to do everything you can to prevent Asuma from dying. You provide Tsunade with all the information you have on Kakuzu and Hidan. You pound the information into Asuma and everyone else connected to the event that was soon to come.
Then comes the day.
And you wait.
And wait.
All the while repeating a silent prayer offering that you would not even think of pursuing Asuma romantically if he returns alive.
You rush to the hokage's building the moment you hear that the team has returned.
You unceremoniously burst into the office. Shikamaru, Ino and Choji...no Asuma in sight...
"Asuma-san...is he..." You find yourself incapable of completing that sentence out of fear.
"He's at the hospital..." Shikamaru responds looking a bit worried. "In pretty bad shape but...he should make it."
You sink down onto your knees and for a sec everyone freaks out thinking you passed out, but you raise your head and smile, happy tears streaming down your face.
Sarutobi Asuma lives...
You keep good on your promise.
It seems that Asuma notices the change in your attitude and steadily the two of you rebuild and form a more solid friendship.
You find yourself getting along with Kurenai as well and are more than pleased when her and Asuma's relationship becomes public.
As time goes by, your knowledge on future events eventually runs dry and you tell Tsunade as much, but never to despair. You had after all performed a great service to the village and you are given permission to stay.
With the continued training sessions you receive from Asuma (plus Team 10 and even Kurenai) and the encouragement of the various friends you had made amongst the ninja...you are finally able to call yourself a bonafide kunoichi. And by the time two years roll by, you have attained the rank of Chuunin as well as permission to teach at the academy.
You sigh in frustration at the end of another typical day, you had just gotten through a particularly nerve-crushing lesson (it seemed like all the annoying ones had found their way into your class...oh, but you are a patient teacher and you love your students). You hurry to pack up your things and leave, eager to get out and relax. You had just left the building when a familiar voice calls out to you.
"Kimiko!"
"Hi, Ino..." You smile at the blonde.
"Whoa...get a load of those bags under your eyes..." Ino pokes your cheek.
You sigh in mild irritation, "Lookin' a little snug in that outfit aren't we, Ino?"
Ino gasps, "You've gone too far!"
You laugh, "Good to see you too, so how have you been? It's been a while since I last saw you."
Ino shrugs, "Oh, I've been doing alright...no kidding though, you do look tired..."
You groan, "Honestly...all the annoying ones find their way into my classroom."
Ino giggles, "Are they really that bad?"
You smile, "Don't get me wrong...I love those kids...even the irritating little knuckleheads...they can be a pain but at least they keep things interesting."
Ino smiles.
"So...what brings you here? I can't believe that you came all the way over here just to say I've got bags under my eyes..." You ask.
Ino's eyes light up, "Oh right!"
You roll your eyes.
"We're getting Team 10 together for a little celebration at Asuma-sensei's place!"
"What's the occasion?"
"Haven't you heard?!" Ino exclaims.
"Heard what?"
"You've got to be kidding me..." she smacks her forehead.
"Well, don't just stand there, tell me!" You demand impatiently.
"Asuma and Kurenai are going to have another baby!" Ino squeals.
"For real?" You gasp.
"Yeah!"
"That bastard!" You fume.
"What?"
"Why didn't they tell me? I see and visit them more than you guys do..." You mumble.
"Ah, well...I kinda just found out today...so chances are the news is still pretty...new?" Ino offers.
You roll your eyes, "So, when's this get together...I assume I'm invited."
Ino punches your arm playfully. "Of course you are. It's tomorrow night."
"Well, alright. I'll see you there." You smile.
Tomorrow
"Damn annoying little mouthy brats think they can just go do whatever the hell they please..." You mutter under your breath after yet another hard day of work...and classroom pranks.
You straighten yourself out in the staff restrooms as best you can before heading to Asuma's place.
Kurenai answers the door.
"Good evening, Kurenai." You smile.
"Good to see you Kimiko...what happened to your hair?" She tries to hold herself back from laughing.
"Classroom prank...ask no further." You sigh.
"Well, come in. Everyone else is here." She ushers you indoors.
"How's the little one?" You ask referring to their first child.
"Asleep." She smiles.
"Yeah, go Asuma-sensei!" You can hear Ino cheering from one of the rooms.
You enter the room just as Shikamaru remarks with some irritation, "Ino for the last time, Shogi is not a 'cheering' game."
"Hey, guys." You say in the doorway.
Four faces turn to look at you...Asuma, Ino, Choji and Shikamaru observe you with blank expressions before they burst out into laughter.
"Oh my God!" Ino exclaims clutching her sides. "What the hell happened to your hair?!"
Your eyebrow twitches, "You know Ino laughing that hard gives you some real nasty wrinkles."
"Not as nasty as your hair!"
You sigh in defeat. "I swear I am going to give those kids hell in detention next week..."
"Oh, so it was the kids." Ino giggles.
"Want me to straighten them out for you?" Asuma offers half-heartedly.
You sigh again, "Nah...They're my kids, I can handle them....and speaking of kids..." You turn your gaze on Kurenai and Asuma. "You two are certainly getting busy..."
Your mouth twitches into a smirk when you note Kurenai's blush.
"Congratulations." You say.
"Thank you." Asuma responds.
"So...who's winning this thing? My week's salary says it's Shikamaru." You suddenly change the topic.
"Is that a serious bet?" Ino challenges.
"Oh, puh-lease. Asuma hasn't been able to beat Shikamaru once, so why should it start now?" You counter.
"Oh, I'll take you up on it...but let's make it more interesting...monetary bets are so boring." Ino grins wickedly.
"Alright..." You smirk. "If I win the bet...you scrape gum off of the classroom desks for a month."
"Eeew!" Ino exclaims before the wheels start turning in her own twisted mind. "Well...if I win the bet...then you have to..."
"Keep it clean, Ino." Shikamaru sighs.
She shoots him a dirty look.
"You have to wear the same green jumpsuits that Gai and Lee wear for a month including when you teach classes."
Silence.
"You sure can be evil, Ino." Choji remarks.
"You are so on." You say with determination.
You both now watch the game unfold between the two. Ordinarily, you are just not that interested in a game of Shogi...but there were some pretty big odds riding on this particular game.
"Come on Shikamaru win this thing!" You exclaim.
"Like I told Ino...not a cheering game." He frowns.
"Sorry..."
Another half hour passes until...
"Well...would you look at that?" Asuma remarks.
"What?!" You and Ino yell.
"It's a tie." Shikamaru shrugs. (I don't play Shogi and I don't know if that's possible, but just bear with me and pretend that it is)
"Say what?"
"A tie which means..." Asuma chuckles.
Ino starts to giggle.
"Permission to swear." You say.
"Outside." Kurenai laughs.
You stalk outside and unleash a torrent of profanity that would have had Hidan shake his head in disapproval (And that is really saying something).
Ino scrapes gum off of the classroom desks...and you wear that damnable green offence to fashion for a month. Gai and Lee wouldn't leave you alone insisting you train with them (much to Ino's amusement) and you are more than glad when that month is over and you can wear what you want again.
Months roll by and when the time comes, Kurenai gives birth to her second child, a little girl...Your heart aches when you think that this almost would not have happened.
You yourself have an active social life and you date a selection of people in the village, ranging from your co-workers to other shinobi.
No one, not even you expected to fall for a foreign ninja (meaning someone from outside the village).
You do not realize at the time that the man is only toying with you and after an ill-fated one night stand you never see him again. Ino comforts you the best way a girlfriend can with ice cream and chick flicks (never done it myself but apparently it's an effective strategy).
You just want to forget that the whole scenario even happened...unfortunately for you, that is not the case.
Two months later, you find yourself retching in the staff restroom.
You have your suspicions...the mere thought of which scares you.
As soon as your last class is over you make a dash for Asuma's hoping for a chance to speak to Kurenai, who had been just as much of a comfort to you as Ino after that bad experience.
"Kimiko?" She seems a little surprised to see you.
"Kurenai..." You start shakily.
She frowns in worry, "What is it? Did something happen?"
"Kind of..." You swallow hard. "Can I come in?"
She nods and lets you in.
"I've just put the kids down for a nap." She explains and leads you into the main room.
"Tell me...what's wrong?"
You inhale deeply, "Remember when I was with...that guy?"
"He isn't back, is he?"
"No..." You shake your head. "But...I mean..."
Ino knew how far you had gone with him...however, you had left that detail out when you'd told Kurenai.
"He and I...we..." You stammer and look into your friend's eyes hoping to God that she'll be able to understand without you having to say it.
"Oh no..." Kurenai sighs. "You slept with him."
You nod, "But that's not the worst of it..." You bite your lower lip.
"I think I'm pregnant...and...I don't know what to do..."
Kurenai gives you a reassuring hug.
"Are you sure? Did you take a test or see the doctor?"
"Not yet..."
"We'll go see one tomorrow then." She smiles warmly.
"Kurenai...thank you." You sniffle.
The next day you see the doctor with Kurenai and Ino for moral support. Admittedly, it took a while to get the blonde to calm down after you told her.
The doctor confirms your suspicions and you leave the clinic feeling dejected, however your two friends swear that they will do all they can to support you...Asuma (once he finds out) proclaims that he'll keep an eye out for the guy and 'mutilate his...(let's leave that part censored shall we?).
Barely 20 years old and unmarried, juggling your job and the oncoming arrival of your child would have been a lot harder if not for all the support from your friends.
Choji had taken it upon himself to deliver you 'big healthy' lunches at work. Ino was dropping by your place daily to help you with any household chores. Kurenai and Asuma were trying to teach you all there was to know about parenting (they meant well but were unintentionally freaking you out more). Shikamaru had even offered to cover some of your classes (he does teach some) which you accepted from time to time. Heck, it even seemed like your students (even the troublemakers) were better behaved...especially when your stomach started to noticeably expand...
It is once again Kurenai and Ino who go with you when the time comes...your water broke a week ahead of your due date...in the middle of class...
Currently you're in the hospital too overcome with the pain of your contractions (this goes to all mothers out there...I have a deep deep DEEP respect for you) to think of much.
After hours and hours of labour, you give birth to a son.
Kurenai and Ino are cooing and awe-ing all over him and you can do little but stare at the newborn nestled securely in your arms.
It seems so hard to imagine that this is what you had been lugging around inside of you for the past nine months or so.
"Kiyoshi..." You say quietly. "I name you Kiyoshi..."
After the birth of your son, you put your social life on hold (the dating aspect at least) as you focus your energy on raising your son and working. Asuma and Kurenai are happy to baby-sit when you're at work.
Once you do get back into the dating scene, you quickly learn that being a single mother makes you a little less appealing and not only that, you need to consider your son in all of this as well...
You eventually end up dating your co-worker Iruka.
True, he is 7 years older than you...but he is kind, caring and...would be a good potential father to Kiyoshi.
Eventually, you bring your friends together to tell them the truth about where you had come from...admittedly they have a hard time believing you at first...until you get both Naruto and Tsunade to back up your claims.
Your friends accept it faster than Iruka does...but after Asuma gives him a stern talking to (he had grown very protective over you...kind of like an older brother) you kiss and make up (You and Iruka that is).
You are currently discussing plans about moving in together. You've had your ups and downs in life but you can still safely say that you're happy.
Elsewhere
In a hospital room.
An older woman sits by a young woman's side.
Two nurses watch her.
"It's so sad..." One of them says. "Her daughter has been in a coma for more than three years now...
The woman turns to look at them, "I...don't feel as bad about it as some of you might think..."
The nurses hastily apologize.
"She's been smiling a lot lately." The woman continues smiling tenderly at the young woman in the bed. "So...at the very least...I am glad that wherever she is...she's found happiness..."
Ending: 8
(A/N: A couple of people wanted something 'different'...Well, I hope it's different enough because it took me a long time to write. I mean, I like Asuma...(not romantically, I just think he's a cool character) so I just had to have an ending where he lives, you know. I don't care if you don't like Iruka, I had to pair you up with someone who wasn't too old or too young and could be a good father to your baby! What's wrong with Iruka? Nothing, he's a real sweet guy and I personally think that it'd be hard NOT to get along with him. Age-wise...I could probably date him...if I was in the Naruto world or if he were here that is...(yes...I am old...) Asuma, you rock! May you rest in peace. Thank you for reading!)
Pick another adventure?
