Background
Age:: 30
Rank:: Jonin (Deceased)
Asuma Sarutobi (猿飛アスマ) is the son of the Third Hokage and the leader of Team 10, consisting of Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka. After having a falling out with his father during his younger years Asuma left Konoha to pursue his personal interests and became one of the 12 Guard Ninjas of Fire who protected the Land of Fire's daimyo. Prior to returning to Konoha to resume active military duty, he accumulated a bounty of 35 million ryō, something he seems to be particularly proud of. Once getting back he began a long-standing relationship with Kurenai Yuhi, whom he frequently appears with. While the two deny being an item and try to write off the amount of time they spend together, the revelation that Kurenai is pregnant with Asuma's child in Part II makes their relationship clear.
Asuma is typically a laid-back individual, and does not get himself involved in things unless necessary. He is often seen smoking a cigarette, and smokes about two packs of cigarettes a day. Despite this, he will break the habit when something is bothering him, such as when the Third Hokage died. Asuma has a very close relationship with his team, even though he believes it to consist of a "glutton" (Choji), a "loud mouth" (Ino), and a "slacker" (Shikamaru). To help them overcome their underachieving natures, he attempts to use bribery and outright trickery to manipulate them into doing what he wants. Of his students, Shikamaru seems to spend the most time with Asuma and the two play Shogi or Go in their free time, though Asuma has never been able to beat Shikamaru.
In battle, Asuma uses trench knives (brass knuckles with a blade on one end) that are capable of being infused with chakra. Once infused with his wind-based chakra, Asuma can use the blades to easily pierce through rock. With his Flying Swallow (飛燕, Hien), he can extend the blades with his chakra to injure an enemy several feet out of the physical blade's range. In addition to his blades Asuma can use Fire Release: Ash Product Burning (火遁・灰積焼, Katon: Haisekishō) to breathe out a cloud of superheated ash capable of causing third-degree burns. Because it is ash and not flame, the attack remains in the air around the target, and therefore remains potent for a longer period of time. Asuma uses both of these abilities in his fight with Akatsuki member Hidan, though Hidan's immortality makes the attacks useless. By consuming some of Asuma's blood Hidan is able to form a "link" between the two, causing any damage done to Hidan to also be done to Asuma. Although Shikamaru is briefly able to prevent Hidan from using this link to kill Asuma, Hidan is ultimately able to stab himself in the stomach, fatally wounding Asuma. Although Ino tries to heal his wounds, Asuma knows he can't be healed and leaves his young students some parting words before dying.
