He had long black hair, a goatee, and wore a black tight-fitting combat suit under a green Jōnin flak jacket. The red ANBU symbol was on his shoulders and back. The crest of the Land of Fire was on the sash at his waist.
Asuma had a cigarette dangling from his mouth and was playing Shogi with Shikaku. Suddenly finding himself in an unfamiliar environment, he was instantly startled.
His hands quietly crept to his lower back, to where his famous weapons were—two Chakra Blades: Shinichimonji.
'That nervous?' Noticing Asuma's small movement, Sean pulled a pack of cigarettes from the sea of clouds, lit one for himself, and tossed another to Asuma. He blew out a light smoke ring. "I advise you not to get any funny ideas."
"Who are you?" "Pot Shadow Ninja" hadn't yet serialized the part where Kakuzu and Hidan invaded Konoha, so the current Asuma was still a living person.
"Who I am isn't important. But I know who you are." Sean looked at Asuma with a smile. "An elite Jōnin of Konoha, the Third's son, Kurenai Yuhi's fiancé, the team leader for Ino-Shika-Cho, a friend of Chiriku of the 'Twelve Guardian Ninja' of the Land of Fire, and a prodigal son earnestly searching for the 'King'..."
He laid out Asuma's entire relationship network in one breath. The elite Jōnin's expression changed again and again; it was quite a sight!
"Oh, right, I almost forgot." At the end, Sean looked at Asuma meaningfully and added, "The future deceased father of little Sarutobi."
As soon as this was said... Asuma's uncle-like face, which had a beard even thicker than Gotoh's, completely lost all color. The word "deceased father" alone nearly broke his defense. Fortunately, he was a man who could remain calm even when facing an evil god.
Asuma caught the cigarette Sean tossed him, lit it, and took a hard drag. The taste was strong and harsh; compared to Konoha's cigarettes, the kick was clearly stronger. But, a real man smokes harsh cigarettes. He held back a cough, blew out a cloud of smoke, and looked at Sean. "It seems you know me very well."
"You could say that." Sean flicked his ash and winked at Asuma. "You can also assume that I know everything about Konoha, including the past and the future."
"Oh?" Asuma's reaction was surprisingly calm. After recovering, he seemed indifferent to everything. He asked lazily, "Is Mirai Sarutobi my child?"
"To be precise, she is your currently unborn daughter." Sean stubbed out his cigarette and held up one index finger. "One question for one question."
"I've already answered one of your questions for free. If there's anything else you don't understand, you can ask now."
Then, Sean added, "I'm sure you've already discovered that this is my consciousness space. And if I can pull you here, I naturally have my reasons."
Asuma nodded. Aside from his initial panic and vigilance, he had also discovered that, in his subconscious, he was being completely obedient to this mysterious youth before him.
This was the first time in his life he had ever felt so restrained. It was a novel experience.
"Hiss... fuu..." The elite Jōnin didn't speak right away. After quietly finishing the cigarette, his pale face finally regained a trace of color.
He flicked his finger. The cigarette butt cut through the sky, leaving a faint trail, and was instantly swallowed by the sea of clouds. Only then did he smile at Sean. "Kid, I have nothing to ask. You can ask your question now."
"Oh?" Sean gave Asuma a surprised look. "You don't want to know how you die?"
"Or whether your daughter, Mirai Sarutobi, will have a good life?"
"Hehe... good question." Asuma rubbed his goatee, tilted his head back, and thought for a moment. "No one is indifferent to life and death... and no father doesn't care about his daughter."
"But..." The elite Jōnin grinned, showing Sean a handsome smile. "Everyone dies. It's just a matter of sooner or later."
"Besides," his gaze softened, "I trust Kurenai Yuhi. She will definitely take good care of my daughter."
'Dammit, you're pretty detached.' Sean pursed his lips, gave Asuma a respectful thumbs-up, and stopped pretending. "I want to ask about the nature transformation of 'Wind' style chakra."
"Haha, that question sounds a bit familiar." Asuma laughed. "Being recognized by a mysterious kid... does that mean I'm actually somewhat capable?"
"It does." Sean smiled back. "But Naruto is Naruto, and I am me. I already know about the 'thin and sharp' property. Besides that, is there anything else?"
"Then you'll have to ask the wind." Asuma's smile faded. He looked at Sean meaningfully. "Nothing knows wind better than the wind itself."
"As a parting gift... I suggest you release your chakra, think of yourself as a wisp of wind, and completely blend into it. Go listen to the wind's heart. You might get the answer you're looking for."
'Listen to the wind's heart?' Sean was pensive. When he came back to his senses, Asuma had his back to him, waving, as he plunged headfirst into the sea of clouds. "Sorry, kid. Shikaku is still waiting for me."
"As for me... I have to seize every minute and every second of the rest of my life and enjoy the moment."
"Whoosh—" The sea of clouds surged and instantly swallowed Asuma. In the sea of consciousness, only Sean was left, staring blankly, in a daze, as he turned into foam.
After a long moment, the youth shook his head and laughed, snapped his fingers, and his consciousness returned. He stepped out and jumped onto the window frame.
He closed his eyes, opened his arms, and simultaneously released his "Nen," attempting to embrace the night wind.
'Young Master... what is he doing?' Tsubone noticed Sean's strange behavior but didn't dare make a sound. The three old men behind the scenes, who were relying on her to maintain their view of Sean, frowned as they observed him. They also remained silent. It was surprisingly quiet, both in the room and behind the scenes.
It was as if only Sean's steady breathing remained, echoing powerfully between heaven and earth.
Earlier that day in Meteor City, it had rained. The night wind was unusually damp as it hit his face. The youth, wrapped in his milky-white "Nen," followed Asuma's advice. He imagined himself as a wisp of breeze and leaped alone into the embrace of his "compatriots."
Like a lost note returning to the staff... slowly... gradually... he grasped the rhythm of the wind. He rejoiced in its joy, grieved its sorrow, despaired in its despair, and raged in its anger.
Gradually, his mind drifted out with the night wind. Sean faintly heard a few insects chirping, hidden in the damp grass. He looked up and saw a few birds cut through the dark night sky, flapping their wings as they passed. Further away, in the side hall of the church—
Vague figures. The young Spiders were gathered around Chrollo, asking him this and that... completely unaware that a pair of eyes was following the wind, brushing right past their faces, taking in everything they said and saw.