"Toshiko? Wake up, it's time to go to the academy." Toshiko woke up in his bed to see his father shaking him. He sat up, and then started rubbing his eyes. He looked at his father, and smiled at him. "Hey Dad." "Hey Son. Come on you need to get to the academy. How are you gonna become hokage is you don't pass the academy first? Toshiko looked surprised for a bit, and then simply nodded knowing that his father was right. If he was ever going to become hokage, he'd need to be the best of the best. To do that he couldn't even miss a day of the academy. Toshiko then jumped out of bed, and got ready for school. Just as he was about to go out of the door, his mother came to greet him. "Hey Toshiko. Have a great day at the academy. Do your best. I love you." She said it as if that she was going away. Toshiko didn't understand as he was only 6 at the time, but he nodded. After that, he headed out the door and started walking towards the ninja academy. After a while, he made it to the entrance and walked out to see that his class was already out in the back in the training grounds. The instructor looked off from his training, and looked towards Toshiko. "Toshiko! You're late!" "I'm sorry bout that Kokuro Sensei!" Toshiko ran over to the rest of the class. "What do you expect to do as a ninja if you can't even come to the academy on time?" "Well.... First i want to get to get to S Rank, and then i'm gonna become the hokage." Toshiko's words were meet with nothing but laughter from his class members. "Hey! I don't see what's soo funny! I'm gonna become hokage i swear it!" After a bit of laughter and jokes, everyone got quiet. Kokuro then spoke up. "Okay then Mr Hokage. Why don't you show us your skill. We are learning the supernatural walking technique. As a shinobi and a Uzumaki, this should be easy for you." Toshiko nodded, and got in the same path of the tree. He focused more and more chakra into his feet, and then ran for the tree. He jumped up, and connected his feet with the tree stump. He didn't fall over. Toshiko smiled as everyone else stood and looked at him in disbelief. "See? What i tell ya? Next Hokage right here!" As he spoke, he lost concentration in his chakra. His feet disconnected, and he fell to the ground face first. The rest of the class laughed at him, but Kokuro sensei shut them down. "That's enough that's enough." Kokuro then walked over to Toshiko and helped him up. Toshiko wiped the dirt off his face. He was ashamed. Why? Why did they laugh at him? He didn't do anything wrong. He just had a dream. Were people really gonna shut him down because of it? It didn't feel good to go through that. Toshiko held his head down and tried not to cry. "class dismissed for today. Everyone is free to go." Toshiko didn't say anything, and slowly started his way home. He felt like there was nothing there for him. Then he remembered. His mother. She'd be there to see him. toshiko went right back to his house. He'd go to his mom, and everything would be okay. Toshiko came up to the front of his house, and knocked on the door. "Mommy? Dad? I'm home." The knob of the door turned, and Toshiko smiled. Slowly, the door creaked open. Toshiko eyes widened in disbelief at the sight he was greeted with. His mother was on the ground with a axe in her back. She looked up at her son, with a smile on her face. She was smiling. But why? She held out a hand to Toshiko, and placed it upon his cheek. "Go Toshiko. Leave from here. Run. Go fulfill your dreams. This is my end now. I love you more than i love life itself. Become hokage for me. Okay?" Toshiko didn't say anything in response, and simply stood there in shock. Toshiko then heard footsteps coming from the other side of the house. Getting closer, and closer until his very own father appeared in front of him. His father said nothing, took the axe of of his wife's back, and then pounded it into the back of her skull. She stopped moving, and then died right then and there. Toshiko was still in shock. Tears started rolling down his face and he was being filled with a great pain in his heart. He couldn't move. There was nothing that he could do. His father then ripped the axe out, took it up, and struck Toshiko with it across the cheek. Toshiko went back, colliding with the wall as a great pain was in his cheek. His father then dropped the axe, and spoke to him. "There is your mark. That is your key. That is how you remember what has happened today. When you are ready, you come and fight me. Get revenge for your mom."

Toshiko awoke from his sleep, panting heavily as tears filled his eyes. The memory was still clear in his mind, and it wasn't going away anytime soon. He looked around his apartment, and sighed. He walked over to his kitchen, and started drinking a glass of water. Then, he went on the couch, and then stared up at the ceiling.

Word Count: 1005

After a while of staring at the ceiling, pondering about his life, Toshiko decided he was going to do something. His past was a clear ticket to either success, or failure. He could make it his excuse, or he could make it his story. Ti was up to him, and no one but him to determine his very own future. HE wasn't ever going to honor his mom by becoming hokage, or find his dad if he sat on his ass all day. He needed to get ready. Toshiko jumped up from the couch, and went towards his bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror for a while. Mainly focusing on the scar that had been planted upon his left cheek. It sent memories flooding back through his skull of that very day. His father's face. He didn't look sincere nor sinister. It was a strange, emotionless state. Why? Why did he do it? And why didn't he kill Toshiko? And what was that.... That glare in his eyes? Toshiko could remember the horrid glance of his father's eyes. They were completely red, and had been bleeding furiously. There was a strange embedding in them, the straight lines connecting together at his pupil. To this day Toshiko had no clue what it was. Toshiko disregarded the thought, and washed up. After doing so, he cleaned up his house, grabbed his ninja clothes, and left the house. Toshiko made his way to the gates, to see his friend Antanas at the top. Toshiko smiled when he saw him, and jumped up to a building. Toshiko then jumped once more, reaching the top of the gate. He smiled at his friend. "Hey there Anta. What's up?"

Word Count: 294

With his back resting on the roof of the gates, Antanas is finally at peace. Glancing up at the early morning sky, he sighs. Why did family have to be so much trouble? Why couldn't his father have just stayed here. Antanas was dozing back to sleep when he hears someone coming through the gate. Looking down over the gate, he sees his friend Toshiko smiling up at him. "Hey there Anta. What's up?" Antanas can't help but smile as well. Even on the gloomiest days, Toshiko always seemed to be in a pleasant mood. This was the perfect way to cheer him up, and take his mind off of his father's betrayal. "Hey Tosh-san" Antanas grins as he swings his legs and hops down from Konoha's tall entrance gates. "What brings you here?" Antanas said to him, spinning his kunai by the ring in the back. 'I wonder why he is out here this early?' shrugging off questions and doubts, Antanas puts his kunai back into the holster. Antanas looks at Toshiko, intent on listening to what he has to tell him today.

[1345 Words Total]

"Hey Tosh-san" "What brings you here?" Did Toshiko really want to say? He thought of Anta as a friend, and a close one at that. But he never really shared his past with anyone regardless of who it was. He was there so he could clear his mind, and to think. he didn't want to think of his past, and he damn sure didn't want to tell anyone else about it. He didn't want to lie, but he didn't want to tell the truth either. "I.........I came out here to.........To think about my dad." There. He got it out of him. He didn't have to go into detail about it just yet, but Anta knew his reasoning. Toshiko didn't really know where to begin with his actual emotions. He was distressed, mad, sad, agitated, confused. he didn't know where to begin on the subject. He wanted to tell someone. He wanted to get it off of his chest so badly. But how would they react? Would they treat him the same? Toshiko didn't know, and he didn't think it was worth the risk either.

Word Count: 199

After asking Toshiko why he came to the bridge, Antanas waits for his response. His friend looked nervous, and finally told Antanas,  "I.........I came out here to.........To think about my dad." Nodding, Antanas motions for him to sit down, as he was sitting as well. "I've been thinking about my dad a lot as well." He looks at the sky, lost in thoughts. So many questions were in his head. Why would his dad leave? Why would he kill fellow ninja of all things? Worst of all, he left Konoha behind for the slums of Kiragakure. Perhaps he was offered a higher rank. Whatever the reason, Antanas was mad at his father. Antanas then noticed Toshiko staring at him. Snapping his attention back to Toshiko, he asks, "Why have you found yourself thinking about your father? Did something happen when you were young?" Turning his head a bit he then added, "If you don't mind that is." Antanas crosses his arms, waiting for the heart-breaking story he knows that will follow after this private question.

[1525 Words Total]

Toshiko managed to get out his words, and Anta gestured for him to sit down. Toshiko complied and sat down right next to him. ll. "I've been thinking about my dad a lot as well." Toshiko stared at Anta. What did he go through with his father? Was his past similar to Toshiko's? In the midst of his thought, Antanas asked him a question. "Why have you found yourself thinking about your father? Did something happen when you were young?" Toshiko looked at him and was about to speak, but caught himself and put his head down. He sighed, and stared kicking his legs as he sat on the gate. He ran his hand up and down the large scar on his cheek, and started to speak. "You see........My father......killed my mother when i was 6 years old. I came home, and went to my door only to see her on the ground slowly dying. My father came in, and finished her off. he slashed me on my face, giving me that scar. And Then he just left......I can still see it. The evil in his eyes. They were pure red, and had a strange triangular black symbol in them. I don't know what it was. Then he just left. He ran away as if it was nothing. I don't know why he did it.............. But i have to find out. I have to go find him. I need to know why he did what he did. Then.... I am gonna make him realize. Realize what he's done to me. I'll make sure he is never capable of doing that to anyone ever again.' Toshiko stood up, and stood over the edge of the gate analyzing the forest and the outskirts of the village. He was going to find his dad even if it was the last thing he ever did. Toshiko then sighed, and turned his attention to Antanas. "why are you thinking your dad?"

Word Count: 341

Toshiko sat on the fence with Antanas. He then began to tell the story of his father. He told Antanas that his mother was killed when he was six. Explaining how he came home, and saw her slowly dying. His father came in and killed her, and sliced Toshiko on the face. He then went into detail telling about how his fathers eyes had a black symbol in them, saying he didn't know what it was. Toshiko said his father ran away. Also explaining that he had to make his dad realize what the consequences of such actions were. Wrapping up his story, Antanas' dear friend finished with "I'll make sure he is never capable of doing that to anyone ever again." Antanas nods, taking in every bit of the story. Toshiko asks him why he is thinking of his dad. "Well I guess it is time for me to tell you a story." Antanas sarcastically smiles and begins to fill Toshiko in on the details. "You see, When I was 7, my father was sent on a mission to the hidden mist village." Antanas nods, then begins to tell the complete story. "A week later, I come home to my mother crying and a bloodied ninja in my home. There was a note on the counter that had said 'We are sorry for your loss' with the initials IK on it, which was my dad's initials." Antanas feels a tear come to his eye, and continues talking. "You see, before the ninja had completely died he said the words 'It was a surprise attack from...' and never finished. I always figured that it was from the mist ninjas." Antanas lets out a loud sigh. "Everyone would yell at me that my father had killed these men. Eventually I found out it was the truth. So now, I want to find my dad." Antanas looks out beyond the gate, like he was seeing his father at this moment. "I'm going to find him and make him explain himself. And if he doesn't..." Antanas pulls out a kunai and motions it slitting his throat "Then bye-bye daddy..." Antanas trails off. "Fathers can be pretty damn awful if you ask me."

[1900 Words]

Antanas told his story about his father. Antanas's mother found a bloodied ninja in there home, and a note that said "We are sorry for your loss" With his father's initials in it. The ninja said it was a sneak attack, and couldn't finish as he tried to say who it was from. Antanas would then be told that his father did the job, and he found out that the accusations were true. He then said that he wanted to find his dad and tell him to explain himself. "And if he doesn't..." Antanas pulled out his kunai, and then motioned it as if he was cutting his throat. "Then bye-bye daddy..." Toshiko stared at him observing him for a few more moments. his story wasn't that much different from Toshiko's but Anta was prepared to kill the man that he called his dad. Was Toshiko ready to do that? He didn't know. He really really didn't want to. But he might have to when the time came. "Fathers can be pretty damn awful if you ask me." Toshiko sighed, and nodded. He and Antanas felt the same pain, but with different goals. "Anta. Are you sure you are ready to kill your father?" Toshiko looked back over at the outskirts of town, and started speaking again. "I get how you feel. Angry. Saddened. These are all emotions that i too am experiencing as we speak. I'm going to hunt down my father, but only for two things. To ask him why he's done what he did, and then make sure he never harms anyone else again. That doesn't mean i'm going to kill him. I know that that doesn't have to be the case. What is that going to resolve Anta? Not only are you gonna take away life from the man who helped give you yours, but....." Toshiko had tears streaming down his cheeks. He slowly turned around so he was facing Anta, and put his hand over his heart. "You'll have a pain right here for the rest of your life. Anta, i know you. I know that you know that doing that isn't going to solve anything at all. I'm not even sure that you should go out to find your dad just because he did that. but i get you. Don't go until your ready. Make sure that you are ready. my dad is a S Rank ninja, so i'm gonna have to train as hard as i can. You need to do the same." Toshiko then turned around, and walked in a straight line upon the large circular wall that expanded the entire area of the village. He held one hand up, and waved to Antanas as he walked away from the area.

Word Count: 496

Left Thread

Total Word Count: 2335

After telling his story, Antanas hears Toshiko say, "Anta. Are you sure you are ready to kill your father?" Damn right he was. He would have to, if his dad was as vicious as everyone had said. "I get how you feel. Angry. Saddened. These are all emotions that i too am experiencing as we speak. I'm going to hunt down my father, but only for two things. To ask him why he's done what he did, and then make sure he never harms anyone else again. That doesn't mean i'm going to kill him." Looking at Toshiko, Antanas knew that he had no idea how he felt. It wasn't anger dislike toward his father, it was pure hatred. His father had abandoned the village to join another one, and made everyone think he was dead. He killed two men, and Antanas had been blamed for their deaths his entire life. Toshiko then got up, and left. "Goodbye!" Antanas called to him, watching him fade away. "I need to go home..." Antanas sighs, getting down from the wall. Slowly walking towards his home, he thinks of what he is actually going to do about his father. What if he is too strong? He would save those questions for later. Right now, he had to sleep.

Mud Wolves - (1000/1000)
Hiding Like Mole - (1000/1000)
120 Words Remaining

[2120 Words Total]