First Manga Appearance: Chapter 34
First Anime Appearance: Episode 20
Name Meaing: Sarutobi=Flying Monkey [Also a legendary ninja], Asuma=Normal Name
Hidden Village: Leaf Village
Rank: Jounin
Age: 30
Notable Features: Wields trench knives, Son of Sandaime Hokage
Notable Quotes: I guess we were bound to meet in the future. Now I have the task of taking you on!
Special Abilities: Hien, Wind Element user
Stats:
(Pre-timeskip 10 Point Scale)
Ninjutsu: 9
Genjutsu: 7
Taijutsu: 9
Intelligence: 9
Power: 8
Speed: 9
Stamina: 7
Seal Knowledge: 7
History:
Sarutobi Asuma was born into the Sarutobi clan to Sandaime Hokage. At the age of nine he graduated from the Ninja Academy and at 12 he passed the Chuunin Exam. Earlier in his life Asuma was apparently one of the Twelve Elite Guardians of the Fire Country Daimyou. He left Konoha 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 eventually became a Jounin and was assigned Team 10 (Nara Shikamaru, Yamaka Ino, and Akimichi Chouji). Asuma maintains a relatively relaxed demeanor, and is almost always seen smoking. When battle erupts though, Asuma can quickly dispatch his foes with his Wind Element enhanced knives.
Asuma was apparently on testy terms with his father but came to understand his place in the village and his clan several years after his father's death. Asuma's relationship to Konohamaru is unknown. Asuma tries to look out for the best interests of his Genin team. He pressed Chouji to train more and frequently played Shougi with Shikamaru.
Asuma later assisted Kakashi alongside Yuuhi Kurenai when Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame came to Konoha. Asuma spends a lot of his free time alongside Kurenai, possibly hinting at some romantic connection. When Naruto came to Asuma seeking assistance developing his Wind Element jutsu, Asuma helped him. He explained how he used the element in his own techniques and gave the young man pointers on getting started. Asuma views himself as merely a sacrificial pawn on the Shougi board of life. He will have his own part to play with Akatsuki's new movements towards Konoha.
*Leafninja
