TEAM 10

SARUTOBI ASUMA

First Manga Appearance: Chapter 34
First Anime Appearance: Naruto Episode 20
Name Meaning: Sarutobi=Flying Monkey [Also a legendary ninja]; Asuma=A name
Hidden Village: Leaf Village
Rank: Jounin
Age: 31
Notable Features: Always seen smoking a cigarette
Notable Quotes: "I guess we were bound to meet in the future. Now I have the task of taking you on!"
See also: Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Chouji

HISTORY:

A Jounin master, he is the leader of Team 10 (Nara Shikamaru, Yamaka Ino, Akimichi Chouji). Although normally seen smoking, Asuma can quickly dispatch his foes with his knives when the situation warrants.Earlier in his life Asuma was one of the Twelve Elite Guardians of the Fire Country Daimyou. He left Konoha and his father Sandaime Hokage behind to seek his own path but returned at some point before the series start. He still wears the "Fire" loincloth of this elite group.

Asuma tries to look out for the best interests of his Genin team, though Chouji largely seems to ignore his pleas to train more. After the invasion of Konoha, Asuma was able to appear at the last instant to save Shikamaru after he was acting as a road block to nine Sound ninjas. He later assisted assisted Kakashi alongside Kurenai when Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame came to Konoha. Over the next few years, Asuma would form a bond with Kurenai and they would develop a relationship. When Konoha sought to hunt down Akatsuki, Asuma and his team found Hidan and Kakuzu. Asuma was killed in battle. Afterwards Team 10 sought the Akatsuki duo. Shikamaru faced off against Hidan and used his battle planning to blow up Hidan and neutralize him. Shikamaru imagined Asuma passing on his Will of Fire to him and accomplished his task. Later Shikamaru set out to look out for the next generation, by promising to look out for Kurenai and the child she and Asuma had.