[center][h1][color=f49ac2]Asuka Koizumi[/color][/h1][/center] [color=DC143C]"The change in rules are relatively simple. There are two choices you can go for: either you attempt to fight me for the last minute and a half for the last piece of paper and for the sake of Toko here, or you stay put and let Toko be sent back to the Academy. Also, if you decide to fight me and fail to retrieve the fifth piece by the time limit, all of your are sent back to the Academy. And I mean it this time. Either you stay behind that kunai or you challenge me head on." [/color] Hearing her sensei's final words, Asuka froze. Just what was this woman thinking? First she attempted to kill them with those scarily hidden explosive tags, and now she intends on sending them back to the Academy after all the mess they had just been dragged through? Of course, this was only if they decided to actually try and defeat Fuyuko with their bare hands. Even though Asuka knew her near-zero chances of taking down this woman, even if she did battle alongside the others, she still wanted to give it her best shot at landing a hit on Fuyuko. And the fact that Toko was at stake gave her all the more reason to. [i][color=f49ac2]I don't want to sound at all negative, but... how can we possibly defeat Fuyuko-sensei in the state we are now? Even if we do all decide to go for her, will we really have enough strength to even just one hit?[/color][/i] By this time, Asuka had thrown her first impressions of Fuyuko out of the window. This wasn't the same strange and eccentric woman Asuka had thought of this woman to be. The woman that stood before her had a very serious, stone-cold expression; just like the many ninja Asuka had seen in the past. Judging by the look on Fuyuko's face, Asuka could easily tell that she was prepared for anything and everything. This was not someone she wanted to mess with. [i][color=f49ac2]It's not just her face that holds me back… I don't need to be sensory ninja to know how much chakra she has![/color][/i] Asuka glanced at Fuyuko once again. It was when the two suddenly met eyes that Asuka felt something hit her. Not physically, but rather mentally. Asuka could see the fire in the woman's steel-blue eyes. A blazing aura surrounded Fuyuko like some deadly barrier, one that Asuka dared not to pass through. What hid behind this woman's blinding smile was a match just waiting to be sparked. Even if the flame did start off small, it would gradually grow larger until it engulfed everything around it. One wrong move and the others, including Asuka herself, would be burnt to ashes. It was almost as if Fuyuko was the burning forest fire herself; waiting to cause havoc and destroying everything in its path. Instead of being burnt to the ground however, Asuka was stood frozen in her spot. [i][color=f49ac2][url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wv4Kpjzy79M]No...[/url] I can't back down now. I won't let Toko be sent back to the Academy… No, I won't let anyone be sent back to the Academy! Not after everything we've been through these past few years![/color][/i] Even so, those words weren't enough to thaw her out of her ice cage. Of course, it wasn't just Fuyuko she was supposed to be worrying about. What about Toko? What about everyone else? It was either she fought for Toko with a risk of being sent back, or she just held back and let Toko be shipped off. Was Asuka willing to 'sacrifice the mission for the sake of her comrade', or to 'sacrifice her comrade for the sake of the mission'? It wasn't just her team's decision either. It was hers as well. What did Asuka want for the team? What did she want for Toko? What did she want for herself? [i][color=f49ac2]Why can't I think straight? The answer is simple! So why am I not out there trying to take down Fuyuko-sensei? There's no way I can ever leave Toko behind… so why? Is it because I'm scared? Is it because I'm doubting my own strength? I really, really want Toko to pass as well... But, if we try to fight sensei... it's guaranteed that we're all sent away...[/color][/i] °°° [i][color=FFF0F5]"Don't worry, Toko-kun, Seichi-kun. I'll always be there to protect you two, okay? Just call my name and I'll come running for you both, no matter what."[/color][/i] [i][b]"No matter what?[/b] [color=FFF0F5]"No matter what."[/color] [/i] °°° She was going to protect him no matter what. The cage of ice Asuka had found herself in was no more now. She was going to protect Toko, fight for Toko. She [i]had[/i] to. She [i]promised[/i]. Snapping out of her childhood flashbacks, and stealing a glance at Seichi, who had just stepped forward himself, Asuka followed after her friend, fists clenched. The boy had mumbled a small apology to the others as he stepped up, picking up Fuyuko's kunai and pointing it to her face. [b]"I choose to fight, sensei!"[/b] Seichi yelled, the grip around the kunai tightening. [b]"Fight for Toko!"[/b] [i][color=f49ac2]If I can't even protect a person, then what sort of ninja am I?[/color][/i] Asuka took in a deep breath, standing side by side with Seichi. [i][color=f49ac2]If I can't even protect a friend, then what sort of friend am I?[/color][/i] [color=f49ac2]"Forgive me, sensei…"[/color] [i][color=f49ac2]If I can't even protect someone I love… …then what sort of person am I?[/color][/i] [color=f49ac2]"…but there's no way I can let a comrade of mine fall for the sake of any mission!"[/color] [color=f49ac2][i]Even if I am wrong… Even if this means I fail to become a Genin… At least I'll be going home knowing that I tried.[/i][/color]