The following contains spoilers for Chapters 1 and 2 of Naruto: Konoha’s Story — The Steam Ninja Scrolls: The Manga by Masashi Kishimoto, Natsuo Sai, Sho Hinata, Nathan A. Collins and Brandon Bovia, now available in English from Viz Media.
Sarutobi Asuma’s story is one of the most tragic in the Naruto franchise. Leader of Team 10, the mentor died during the Akatsuki war, losing his life to Hidan to protect Shikamaru. It was a cruel blow; not only was Asuma the son of the Third Hokage in Hiruzen, he also had a warm spot for young shinobi, ensuring — with the likes of Kakashi — the cold practices of old were scrubbed away when it came to tutelage.
He wanted to make it easier and more enjoyable for the new generation in the Hidden Leaf, which drove Shikamaru on afterward. It’s why Shikamaru eventually became Naruto’s (the Seventh Hokage) advisor, eager to ensure Konoha was protected and Asuma’s legacy honored. Well, come Naruto: Konoha’s Story — The Steam Ninja Scrolls: The Manga, fans saw Shikamaru offer up the perfect tribute to his deceased teacher.
Shikamaru Saves Mirai in Battle
When Asuma died, Shikamaru took it on his shoulders to be there as a son to the former’s wife, Kurenai, and their unborn child, Mirai. This led to Shikamaru not only training Mirai, but acting like an uncle. It nodded to Asuma’s role in his life, and how the mentor helped on S-rank missions and such.
The first chapter of Konoha’s Story actually has a similar arc when Shikamaru and Asuma teamed up against the foul-mouthed Hidan the first time. In this case, Mirai, on a mission to rescue a kitten, gets accosted by the Mezu gang. Sadly, Mirai’s too young to use her genjutsu properly and trap them in a dream state, but Shikamaru arrives to use his shadow techniques to incapacitate most of them.
He then sends the leader fleeing through the forest, where Kakashi (the Sixth Hokage) beats the thug down, which again felt apt, as Kakashi took over Team 10 to avenge Asuma’s death with Shikamaru. As Shikamaru would then tell Mirai, feeling fear as a genin was okay, as this meant she was mature and cognizant — something Asuma often preached, officially signaling the passing of the baton.
Shikamaru Teases the Shogi Lesson to Mirai in Konoha’s Story
Shikamaru often played Shogi (Japanese chess) at the dojo with Asuma. His teacher passed down a key lesson regarding pawns being sacrificed to protect the king, with Shikamaru thinking the king was the Hokage. In his dying moments, Asuma confirmed the king was the future generations to come, ergo why they — the Hokage included — were the pawns who gave everything to save them.
He asked Shikamaru to protect Mirai and all who’d come, which decades later results in Shikamaru playing the same game in Chapter 2 of Konoha’s Story. Coincidentally, when asked, Mirai also replies that the king is the Hokage, to which Shikamaru smiles. He doesn’t let her know the truth as he’s confident she will decipher the cryptic puzzle.
It’s ultimately a sentimental Easter egg and a rare moment of levity with Shikamaru, as he can see Mirai doing the same thing he did when the next batch of ninja warriors arrive in due time. To compound it all, Shikamaru gives her Asuma’s chakra blade to use in the field. This reiterates that the student has become the master, and Mirai is indeed ready to walk the same shoes as her father.
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