Bansai (板斎) is an elder ninja monk in the Fire Temple and one of only three known survivors of the Akatsuki attack on the temple. When Asuma Sarutobi and his team went to the temple to gather information on Akatsuki, Bansai, worried about Asuma and his team's well-being, said a prayer. This made Asuma go into a trance and see the spirit of his dead comrade Chiriku. Bansai is currently retired.

(Source: Narutopedia)