[h1][center][color=39b54a]Toko Ling[/color][/center][/h1]

So this was what it all boiled down to. Toko's facial expression didn't remain a smile, however he didn't seem too shocked either. He was expecting something like this to come up as not a single ninja test ended in an easy result. He wasn't allowed to express his own opinion on this as to influence the others, it was nothing he had the power to do. This was supposed to simulate him having been captured, right? He had no say in this, the rest would have to think out a solution on their own and think about what they thought Toko wanted them to do. [i][color=00a651]Please...don't do anything stupid. I'll gladly go back if the rest of you can proceed. Don't do something you'll regret...[/color][/i] Sensei was however very keen on telling the bunch that they had no chance in hell to beat her. That in itself made Toko think this was a trap and was all about facing danger without cowering before it. They were facing a stronger enemy but maybe Toko wasn't the main issue here, but only a facade that Sensei had put up. [i][color=39b54a]Perhaps choosing to sacrifice me leads to them failing because they decide to cower and run...but you can't win every fight. Sometimes you need to retreat and I would give my life for my comrades in a second but...[/color][/i] 

Leaving Toko to manage the mission was essentially the ninja way on paper, but saving him would be what most people would have done. This was a hard test to see through because it was so much deeper than it appeared. Their choices didn't simply reflect what they were going to do, but also what kind of people they were. The main purpose of this was to see exactly what they would do in a pressured situation and in Sensei's eyes, there was a probably a right answer. [i][color=39b54a]Damn it, just move on without me...[/color][/i]The suspension in the air was excruciating. They were actually thinking this through? There was nothing to think through! They just needed to go on, this is what Toko would have wanted. He would never want to be a burden and this way, that was the [i]only[/i] thing he had managed to become.

Clenching his fist, Toko closed his eyes and sighed out. [i][color=39b54a]Don't be idiots for my sake...[/color][/i] His eyes would specifically turn to Seichi and Asuka. The two of them would only choose one outcome and that was to fight for Toko. In their case, he would have done the same without a single thought, but now that he was the captive, he didn't want them to risk themselves for him. They would [i]all[/i] go home if they failed. Sensei had put it up so that this was supposed to be the outcome. One person was going home all along, after all. So this was what it settled on, wasn't it? Calling it an easy little test was laying it on rather thick. 

[color=39b54a][i]If I say something, Sensei might punish us somehow...she said that I have no say in any of this so I can't express my thoughts but...I don't want them to sacrifice themselves for me![/i][/color] Clenching his teeth, Toko would visibly tense up, turning to look at their Sensei for a moment before his eyes traveled to the group again. [color=39b54a][i]Please...please just move on. Don't risk this...I'm not worth your future as ninja...[/i][/color] This was what they had all been dreaming about, what they had all been looking forward to. Now, Toko was going to get in the way of everything. He had his doubts about this test but sacrificing Toko could not possibly make them fail, could it? She wasn't [i]lying[/i] to them, was she? No, she didn't appear to be the kind of person who hid 'friendship' and 'loyalty' in a test like this. She said she was serious. They could either give up Toko or fight her. It was one or the other, plain and simple. 

Toko wanted to scream out, to tell them all that he'd personally slap them across the face if they gave up on their dreams like this. He couldn't, he didn't have a voice in this but perhaps that was for the best. The thought of seeing the others fight for him...it was heartwarming in a way he could never truly describe. It was heartwarming and would bring a tear to his eyes, but it wasn't worth it. [color=39b54a][i]Please...just leave me. Seichi, I love you...and I am not going to stand in your way of becoming a ninja...[/i][/color]