Shard

---

Toko and Ken Ling

How did he know? How could Ken possibly have figured it out? Toko rarely ever expressed his feelings, not even to his father, yet the man had known for probably a while. He was just waiting for Toko to feel comfortable enough to inform him of it. Wiping his tears, the boy would move back up to his feet, gripping the bokken tightly in his hands. Ken, he was one of a kind, wasn't he? Behind that rough, steel like exterior, there was a man who deeply and compassionately care for those around him. "Seichi..." A mere whisper, Toko couldn't look his father in the eyes as he spoke but rather let them fall to the grass softly swaying in the wind.

"Yes." A single word left Ken's mouth as he turned his gaze towards the tree, seeing its thick and luscious green vegetation dance in the wind. "I assumed so."

"How...?" The man was observant but this observant? Toko had never even mentioned his preferences to his father, how could he not only have figured that out but who Toko had his eyes on as well?

"The way you look at him, the longing in your eyes every time he leaves. Seichi claimed your heart some time ago I would reckon. Tell me, Toko. Why have you chosen not to tell me?" Given what had been shown, Ken probably already knew, but there was no point in knowing without Toko being able to express it himself.

"Heh...the esteemed Ken Ling has a son like...me." The boy's eyes wouldn't move from the spot, finding a safe place in between the green straws of grass.

"Like you, hm? Yes that sounds quite reasonable. My son does indeed remind me of you." A soft chuckle left his lips as Ken approached his child and gently placed his hand on Toko's head, pulling him closer and let him rest his forehead against Ken's stomach.

"You know what I mean..."

"I know that you worry far too much of things you have decided to be important. They are all based on ideologies you assume others have and as such, you've wallowed in their darkness. You're afraid of telling Seichi because of his reaction and we both know how that would go, I assume." The man had always been quite blunt but that was good, there was no need to beat around the bush, especially not now.

"He'd probably think I'm a freak...and I don't want to kill our friendship..."

"True, he might think you're a freak. Is it you who has killed your friendship then?"

Looking up at his father, Toko tilted his head a bit trying to decipher his father's words. "You're saying that if he casts me aside, he was never a true friend to begin with, right...?"

"Yes, and I am quite certain that is not in his nature. I have known Seichi for as long as you have and he is just like his father, a good man. Though, if I am going to be completely honest with you, telling him would indeed complicate matters. Why haven't you told Asuka?"

So this was it, the talk. First Ken wanted to unlock everything in Toko's heart and then he wanted to walk through the gate. Here they were, having the talk. "She's the most proper person I know. If anything, she'd slap me for breaking tradition."

"I see..." The man rubbed his chin for a moment, sighing slightly as he closed his eyes. "He'll have to figure out her feelings by himself. The boy has gotten himself mixed up in something quite dramatic...there is more pain to come, I am sure."

"I can't tell anyone else, either." Toko shook his head, still resting against his father with the man's hand softly placed on his son's head.

"The most important thing is to find peace within yourself, Toko. Whether your teammates and friends know or not isn't important. What's important is being in serenity with your spirit, otherwise your next battle will be your last." Battle was everything in the shinobi world and Ken was right. The boy's capabilities were seriously damaged due to this distraction in real combat, it would lead to only one outcome. "Always find comfort in one thing, son."

"What's that...?"

"Your old man doesn't care that you like the D." There was the playful side of the Chakra Knight.

"Dad!" The boy jumped back, holding his bokken up. Finally, his spirit had risen a bit. "That's so not like you! The D...really!?

"Eh..." The man shrugged, twirling his wooden sword in his hand. "You've always liked fencing, so it was never a surprise..." Ken winked at his boy, a soft grin stretching across his lips.

"Stop talking, dad!" The minimal smile on Toko's lips was back, an obvious improvement which was quite clear in his next strike. Charging forth, the boy struck his father with the edge of his bokken, meeting Ken's blade in a contest of strength.

"This isn't the end...Toko will need to face the truth about Seichi, and he will have to wound his dear friend Asuka. Hopefully they all understand that none of them have any power in how this is playing out. For now, though Toko has taken a big step...I am proud of you my son. Always embrace the person you are, and never suppress yourself because of others." Ken quite easily won the contest and with a strong slash broke the lock their blades had on each other, pushing Toko back. It wouldn't remain for long however as the boy quickly evened the distance once more with another quick strike. Their bokken clashed in a dance of blades, the wind blowing past them through the waltz. "Dodge." Ken spoke, making his son immediately step back and focus on avoiding Ken's upcoming series of strikes. With a focused mind, Toko danced between the strikes, the smile of his face widening as the fight continued. The boy did not like unnecessary battles, but he did love sparring. "Block." Twirling to the side, Toko rose his blade and caught Ken's sword ramming down on him. "Strike." Maneuvering to the side, Toko executed a powerful swing to Ken's side, an attack the man blocked.

It would however not end there, Toko continued moving around his opponent, keeping Ken on his toes as his son's focused strikes would easily find an opening unless Ken kept his guard up. "You're fighting an opponent who's defence is strong. Break my guard." In an instant, Toko's bokken acquired an orange hue to its brown length just before the blade connected with Ken's and blew it out of the way.

"Got you..." The boy smiled, the tip of his blade pressed against his father's stomach.

"Well done. Now then, Dull." A single word which meant that much more than it would imply. Dropping his bokken, Toko reached for the sword sheathed by his waist and released it from its confines, the smile now growing into a grin. "The real hurt begins now." Ken dropped his bokken, slowly lowering his hand to the sword resting by his waist. "I love you, son. Never let anyone dampen the inferno I know resides within your soul."

---

Toko and Ken Ling

Toko couldn't help but laugh at Seichi's comical behaviour. It was part of his charm, part of who he was...part of who Toko loved. The three of them together like this made it all seem worth it, in a way. This was what Toko was fighting for, the ability to laugh and enjoy time with those closest to him. Alas, everything would have to come to an end, but they would meet again. "I promised dad I would train with him today." Ken was no slouch. If he stated a time when Toko had to be home for training, then Toko better be home at that specific time. Ken was a disciplined swordsman and he didn't joke around. Belonging to the elite of Konoha, a man known as the Chakra Knight, he had a title and reputation to uphold and while he could be considered a stiff, Ken had his softer and more lighthearted sides. Of course, he had no mercy on his son's training, and sometimes it felt like a punishment but Toko knew that in the end, it was all going to be worth it. You do not become a kenjutsu and taijutsu specialist by sitting around. Every single day he would train with his father and every single day he would struggle to get a breath out when they were done. Ken was a hard teacher to say the least, but he didn't try to kill his students like a certain someone, granted that Toko was his only student.

"I'll see you two around. Be well, okay?" Toko paid for their meals, his wallet essentially empty now. It was always worth it, if it lead to smiles, laughter and joy with his friends, it was always worth it. The boy waved to the other two and started back towards his home. "It goes so fast...I barely have time to enjoy their company..." Speaking of their company, what was with Seichi all of a sudden? The way he spoke of Asuka made him seem almost...attracted to her. Well, that was no huge surprise, was it? A lot of males would be attracted to the beautiful Asuka. Seichi wouldn't be the first to point her beauty out. "I guess it just makes everything official...there's no chance..." With a soft sigh, Toko's eyes traveled to the ground he walked on, each step bring him closer and closer to home. "I wonder what they would say if they figured out what...I am. I think it would complicate everything. What would dad say? It's not like it's considered normal..." Softly kicking a small rock aside, Toko placed his hands in his pockets and took a deep breath. Was this going to be one of those things that never stopped? Was it going to be one of those things that just kept going and going until it eventually boiled over in a climactic disaster? How bad could it be, really? At the end of the day it was just a silly crush...right? One that had been in the air for the past few years.

Placing his hand on the door, Toko gently pushed it open to step inside and saw how his dad was mediating in the yard, two bokken in front of him. His eyes were closed, his back straight and his breathing slow. Without a word, Toko slipped out of his slippers and walked onto the yard, dropping down to a seated position and closed his eyes. "I need to empty my mind." It wasn't easy, especially not with Seichi and Asuka occupying his mind. Now that Toko had left, what were they doing? The three had been friends forever, but there was no tension between them, where there? Well, Toko liked Seichi yes but did Seichi like Asuka? Did she like him? Toko's fingers tightened as they rested on his knees, his teeth clenching before he heard his father's voice.

"You're distracted."

"N-no I'm just..."

"Do not speak untrue, Toko. What is bothering you?"

The boy waited for a few moments before responding, his mind trying to find the right way to express these thoughts. "It's foolish...I apologise father, it shouldn't be bothering me..."

You can say that about anything." Ken opened his eyes, a pair of serious orbs staring back at Toko, demanding authority. "Any problem that hurts your focus is dangerous if left unchecked, foolish or not." Ascending to his feet, Ken grabbed his bokken and held it with the tip in front of his son. "So let us see what hides within that heart of yours, shall we?" Despite his stiff and sometimes merciless attitude, Ken was incredibly caring of his son and always wanted to be there for him. According to Ken however, talking things out had its place but a battle would truly show what hid within the heart of someone. Having reached thirty two years of age, Ken still possessed quite a young frame. One could easily mistake him for a man in his twenties and while Toko and Ken looked similar, one would easily mistake them for brothers.

Toko equipped his sword and stepped back, preparing for the battle to come. Sparring with his father was always fun, hard but fun. "I am prepared, father..." The boy's words were quiet like always, but is was easy to spot the melancholy in their tone.

"Very well then. Focus." In an instant, Ken appeared mere inches from his son with a powerful swing with his bokken. Toko quickly ducked out of the way to deliver a fast cut to Ken's stomach but it was easily blocked by the experienced swordsman. "Sloppy, Toko. You are doubting yourself."

He could establish that from a single attack? Jumping back, Toko allowed for some distance before he charged forth and delivered a series of precise strikes, each connecting with Ken's bokken as they were blocked with little effort. "Careless. You're desperate." Manouvering around his father, Toko continued to strike, his attacks having little effect. Once Ken retaliated, their bokken clashed and forced Toko closer to the large tree in their yard. "Fragile. You are easily thrown to your knees, son." Clenching his teeth, Toko gracefully backflipped onto the tree trunk, launching himself forward to deliver a powerful slash towards his father with the acceleration of the jump. "Predictable. Your sight is narrow." Catching Toko's bokken on the edge of his own, the man allowed it slide off his blade and spun around, grabbing Toko by the shoulder and placed his sword against his child's throat. "You are much better than this, Toko. You keep me on my toes more often than I would like, but your distractions are destroying you."

"I'm sorry...dad..." The boy responded, looking down with his hand shaking slightly. Ken was right, if Toko was this distracted on the battlefield, he would die. His skills had essentially been cut in less than half.

"Do not apologise." Ken removed the bokken from Toko's throat and stepped back, twirling the blade in his hand before he rested to tip against the ground. "Who is it?"

"Wh-what...?"

"The person who has claimed your heart. The person who clouds your every strike, the person who will one day get you killed unless you sort this out." Toko's eyes widened at his father's words. Get him killed? What was he talking about? "Truly, love is a wonderful feeling, but a dangerous one. Unless you get this under control Toko, the love in your heart will only cloud it. Those distractions will be an open way to defeat, and in turn, death."

"I...I don't know...I..." Feeling his hands shake even more, Toko's fingers around the bokken tightened to stifle it.

"You've never admitted it to anyone, have?" No, Ken could not read minds, but he was incredibly intuitive. He could see through people like open books, and always acted upon it. This was highly frustrating most of the time.

"No..." Toko responded, clenching his teeth as his heartbeat accelerated.

"Then step out of the clouds. Speak the name." The man looked at his son with eyes that could pierce through plate.

"I...I can't..."

"Are you afraid?"

"Yes..."

"Of me, of yourself? Of the truth? Your fears are irrelevant, Toko. Your reality will not bend to them. Either surpass them or let them control you."

Falling down to his knees, Toko couldn't prevent the tears now streaming down his cheeks, his entire body tensing. "D-dad I don't...I don't know what to do..."

"Speak his name, and let the weights on your soul be lifted. Do not dwell in darkness, Toko. Speak his name." Looking up with teary, shocked eyes. Toko gazed at his father with a trembling body, nearly out of breath at what the man had said. He said his.

---

Toko Ling and Seichi Hino

Leaning against the tile wall, Toko breathed out as a stream of warm water softly covered his skin on its way to the drenched floor beneath his feet. "They really managed..." He would be lying if he said that he never doubted them. They were after all going up against a jounin and that could have gone either way, though luckily they made enough smart decisions to eventually win the battle. "They're all so colourful, heh...almost makes me feel dull." With a soft, minimal smile, the boy's eyes traveled down, now hidden beneath his wet bangs. After a moment in silent thoughts, he slid to the floor and hugged himself softly, pulling his knees closer to his chest as his teeth clenched. "Why were they so quick to fight for me...? They could all have been destroyed but yet..." As an immediate response to the images circling the boy's head, a scene where Seichi nearly blew himself to pieces would play itself out over and over again as if a looped movie. Nearly digging his fingers into his skin, Toko's embrace tightened as his eyes shut. "A ninja needs to keep his emotions in check...If you can't do that, you need to get off the battlefield..." Speaking to himself beneath a stream of water did little to rebuild his devastated spirit. Asuka and Seichi, they were essentially his life. Throughout his childhood and the academy, throughout his training and even the everyday walks back and from school he would always see those two next to him. After seeing Seichi staring death in the face like that, the boy was unable to stop the trembling throughout his frame. No one was watching now, he didn't need to keep it all inside anymore.

Parting his lips for a brief moment merely to take a breath, he found himself crying out as the water soon mixed with his tears. "So fucking pathetic..." Always calm, always collected, always smiling and barely ever rocked off of his feet, Toko's spirit had been shattered more than once and he needed to get it out somewhere. He couldn't handle the thought of losing Seichi, nor Asuka, especially not to a fate like that. What about Reiji? He seemed like the first guy to abandon his allies if it meant the success of a mission. "If those two ever face death because of him, I'll rip him the fuck apart..." The pain aching through his skin in response to his fingertips pushing themselves against his biceps was enough to finally snap him out of the darkness as Toko slowly stood back up and washed his face. This was enough, if he was going to stay beneath the stream any longer he'd end up as a raisin.

He finished and reached for a towel before drying up and slipped into a new pair of clothes he'd consider more suitable for the life he was going to meet soon. One could call it a complete overhaul, in fact. He slid into a pair of black cargo pants reaching down to his ankles where they hugged his skin softly with stretch bands. Pockets were easily seen stretched out across their length but they didn't seem to be in use. A simple t-shirt found home on his torso along with a pair of fingerless leather gloves reaching unto his forearm where he wore a pair of thin protectors fitting his small frame. Attaching a belt to his pants, he continued with another which held his elegant sword and finally finished up by putting on his ninja slippers. Wearing all black wasn't exactly considered creative but he enjoyed black, it was simple and it simply worked. "I'm leaving, father." The boy would exit his room and looked towards the yard where Ken was practicing his sword swings.

"Be well, son. Aborting his training session, the man would approach his son and gave him a soft hug. "You've made me incredibly proud, Toko. Your mother is surely smiling on you from the beyond."

"Thank you." The young swordsman would offer his father a smile followed by a soft nod and returned the hug. It was time to go and meet up with Seichi and the others. If he was late, their incredibly unstable and insane sensei would probably have his head. She hadn't even seen him do anything yet so she probably thought him useless as it was already. He couldn't really afford to slack off.

With a quick farewell, the boy left the Ling household. He was going to meet up with Seichi, and it was nice with some rest and relaxation before their first mission eventually started in two days.

Seichi would sit on the edge of his bed, shaking off his wet hair from his shower. He'd get up and slip on his fishnet shirt. He would take a minute and glance over to his scorched jacket which had been damaged in the explosion. "Aww...man." Seichi would say in disappointment as he tossed the battle-damaged jacket into a nearby trash bucket. He would run into parent's room, specfically searching in his father's closet for a jacket. He found a dark-blue jacket similar to his, the sleeves and length although being sligthly larger than him. The boy would adjust the sleves to see his burned right hand. Luckily, upon the explosion Seichi acted quick enough to cover himself from most of the explosion's heat, he still altough had to sarafice something for it. Boy! did that hurt. The scene would run through his mind again. Seichi was confident enough to know his plan had a high success rate. Even so he knew his action were rash and dangerous, his burn being the outcome. He would later disengaing in the though, proceed to put on his pants and slippers, lastly wrapping his hand in bandages down to his wrists then finish by tying his headband to his left arm.

Fortunately for him, The boy's parents were still sleeping allowing him to grab his equipment and head out quickly.

He would later running through the village as usual catch up to Toko, greeting him with his smile. "Good afternoon!" He would say walking backwards keeping up with Toko's pace.

Turning to look at Seichi's bright smile and jolly greetings, Toko couldn't help but chuckle and gladely returned the smile. "After all that...he's still so positive...I'm glad. Giving Seichi a gentle pat to his arm, Toko continued to walk towards the meeting place alongside his friend. "You were great yesterday, Seichi. How are you feeling?" If it wasn't for Seichi's explosive decision, the rest of the group would never have been given a chance to deliver the finishing blow. They all worked so well together. Hopefully Toko would be able to add to that, somehow. He didn't possess any flashy moves, but he was good at what he did. "I am certain Sensei and the others are incredibly satesfied with you."

"Waaayyy better!" He would say jokingly lifting and revealing his bandaged arm. "Also you know you helped too. I wouldn't have thought of a plan if you didn't give that hint." The genin would add before giving Toko a wink. "I can't wait for our first mission though" Seichi would say excitedly rubbing Toko's hair. "Our team is gonna be unstoppable!"

"Heh, I'm happy you caught the hint..." If he hadn't, things could have ended very differently. They were all doing well enough but that explosion was rather effective. "According to what Sensei keeps saying..." Toko thought it over for a moment, his hands finding home in his pockets as they walked. ...we're cut from sturdier cloth the most genin but...there will always be people stronger than us." The gentle smile on his lips never wavered, and as he looked up at Seichi, it would only grow brighter. "We've got each other's backs though, right?" There was no question about it. Dicipline, professionalism, the mission, the reward...none of it mattered when it came to being there for his friends. A ninja would call it a weakness, an enemy would try to exploit it...a comrade would cherish it. "Let's go and get some ramen. I'm starving..."

@SayZun

---

I was wondering if I can join this rp? I see that you've already started, so if I can't that's fine.

@l0ck0n

I am afraid the RP is full at the moment. However, I am going to talk with the rest about how we handle the story after the first real mission begins.

---

Toko Ling

"I choose to fight, Sensei!" Seichi would scream then pause gripping the Kunai still in his hand tighter. "Fight for Toko!" Always...together. Seichi's incredible determination forced tears up Toko's throat, though the boy managed not to let them out just yet. Seichi was prepared to sacrifice himself in a moment's notice for Toko and that was a trait anyone would value in a comrade. Toko however, he didn't only value it, he adored it. Throughout his childhood, Asuka, Seichi and his long lost friend Jin had all been the three parts of life that made his heart beat. Feeling his frame shiver slightly from the tears trying to make their way down his cheeks, Toko clenched his teeth and attempted to keep them at bay. He couldn't cry here, not now, not in front of everyone. He was the burden, wasn't he? He was the one who they had to fight for if they wanted to continue with him in the group. Seichi didn't even need a moment to think it over, he didn't need a single second to consider it, Seichi had already made the choice years ago when he called Toko his friend for the first time.

"S-Seichi...why?" While his decision was heartwarming to say the least, this could all have been a mistake. Seichi might as well have signed a death warrant because there was no way he could beat their sensei on his own. If the others joined, they might have had a chance after figuring out a decent enough tactical manoeuvre but they had a single minute to fight her. One minute was all their Sensei needed to beat the squad down to their knees several times over, but there was no chance in hell for them to defeat her in that amount of time. This was a sink hole that Seichi had stepped into willingly. Either he moved on with Toko, or they would sink together.

"Please, drop the kunai...step behind it, please! Seichi don't do this for me!" 'Hard work beats talent', that was Seichi's tagline. It was something he had been telling himself and everyone else since day one and he believed in it in every single way, something he very much should have. What would all that hard work have amounted to if he was just sent back to stage one again because of Toko? "I'll never be able to live with myself if you all get sent back because of me. Seichi...Step away and move on, it's okay...I'll be fine!" Not a single word could leave the boy's lips but he hoped that his thoughts were loud enough. The expression on his face was quite clearly now that of sadness, a melancholy glare because his friend had just given up everything. 'Always together', it was what drove him. It was what drove all three of them, Toko, Jin and Seichi, maybe Asuka as well. 'Always together', they all held it up as if a shield in the face of hardships followed by always sticking together...this was no different, this was only on the peak of that scale.

Seichi wasn't going to cower in front of this. "Seichi..." Toko would find himself repeating his friend's name over and over again as a tear finally managed to force its way down his cheek. "Thank you..."

---

Toko Ling

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. 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... 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. 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...

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. Damn it, just move on without me...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 only thing he had managed to become.

Clenching his fist, Toko closed his eyes and sighed out. Don't be idiots for my sake... 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 all 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.

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! 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. Please...please just move on. Don't risk this...I'm not worth your future as ninja... 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 lying 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. Please...just leave me. Seichi, I love you...and I am not going to stand in your way of becoming a ninja...

---

Jumping along the forest, Toko would eventually hear footsteps and stopped dead in his tracks. Perking up at the sound, he would proceed with looking around and saw some of the others a distance into the forest's thicket. A soft smile would cross his lips as he heard them speak, they had all found pieces. That's great...none of them will go home. He was happy for his teammates, they had all done a great job in finding what they were assigned to locate. It was really a shame that Toko couldn't live up to it but it was what it was. You couldn't win them all. He'd go back to the academy which would be a bit of a hassle and he'd have to struggle through it all again but maybe it would develop him into a good ninja, this time. Perhaps Toko was going to be the first Ling to ever manage ninjutsu! The thought made him chuckle a bit. He knew it was completely absurd but hiding sorrow and disappointment behind smiles and laughter was what he did. Ironically, some people could always tell when he was sad and when he wasn't. They'd say that there was a big difference between his actual smile and a fake one.

"The only way to melt away, Humans cannot freeze time, But time can freeze us...with fire." What the hell was that supposed to mean? Repeating the words over and over again in his mind, Toko tried to put it all together. He leaned back against the tree and looked down at the ground below the branch he was standing on. Let's see... Perhaps he could at the very least puzzle this together. Asuka appeared to be freaked out over the fact that Toko hadn't arrived yet but he only needed a second for this and they probably sensed his chakra already. He wasn't actually trying to hide, but rather tried to find the meaning to this riddle they had been given. If anyone looked in his direction, they would see him in deep thought, standing against the trunk of a tree with his arms crossed.

A short moment passed before he made his way to the others and landed next to them. "Humans cannot freeze time, but time can freeze us, the only way to melt away...with fire." He rubbed his chin for a moment, looking up at the rest of them. "There is a piece missing."

---

@Jay Kalton
@Vongola_Hasayo
@Yaira

Good post, but Toko already met up with Asuka and gang in my latest post.

Also, I am afraid all the spots are taken Yaira

-----

Edit - I made the edits so our posts should work together now.

---

- double

---

Toko Ling

Six more explosive tags, three more wires of death, two drop holes, one shuriken trap and one...something. Toko could barely make out what it was but staying away was the only option. He was starting to feel himself get rather fatigued. He had been running about and around for quite a while now without any proper success and it was starting to get a bit frustrating. Dropping down on a large branch, Toko decided to take a breather and attempted to relax his mind. I'm no use to anyone if I'm freaking out. I need to collect my thoughts. Rubbing his face, Toko looked down at his softly swaying feet and managed a heavy sigh. Why was this going so badly? Was a piece of paper really going to be the end of him? That's it? Pack up, bye bye, it's time to go home? After having struggled through the academy and barely scraped by because of his limitations, losing to this was just sad.

Lowering his hand to the blade resting by his waist, Toko pulled the sword out and rested it on his thighs. Gently wrapping his fingers around the blade he could see his reflection upon its dark surface, his large brown eyes looking back at him. Heh...I'm not smiling. Of course you'd be the one to show me... Toko's sword was still nameless and had been given to him just after graduating from the academy. Ken made sure that it's length, width and weight were perfect for the boy. His sword was supposed to be as much a part of him as his own beating heart. Despite having gotten Taijutsu beaten into him just as much as Kenjutsu skills, holding a sword felt so much more natural for him.

I promise I'll find you a name... He hadn't had the sword for long and it had already saved his life once. Otherwise he'd have been crushed beneath the weight of falling wood. Returning the sword to its sheath, Toko dropped down to the ground, landing on his feet. How much more time do we have? It was hard to tell. At this point he had lost track of time and it was hard to get it back.

Had everyone else found their pieces? Hopefully that was the case. Toko continued to move around the forest and managed to dodge the traps coming his way. Honestly, at this point he was more interesting in not triggering a trap than he was in getting his paper piece. Any more traps triggered and everyone would have to go back to the academy but if only he didn't find what they came here to search for, only he would fail. Yes, he could accept that. If he couldn't even find a piece of paper in the forest, maybe he wasn't cut out for this. He could fight well but being a ninja was so much more than that. He didn't seem to fit all of the criteria and he understood the decision to fail him. If he would ever be hired for a job, the client would want someone good at what they're doing. Toko didn't want to pass only to offer subpar skills to Konoha's clients.