Naohiko

Naohiko never talks about how they lost the eye. Ask the other trainees, and they’ll tell you it was a daring fight with a river serpent. Ask the cooks, and they’ll swear it was a mishap with a particularly explosive berry pie. The truth is, Naohiko seems to have forgotten, too. One minute, they’re supposed to be practicing stances, the next they are teaching a chorus of frogs a new song, their good eye wide with mischief. Mokuzai watches them from the amber woods and understands. Most chimps come to the forest seeking discipline or escape. Naohiko came to learn how to play again. The frog patch isn't a badge of honor; it’s a friendly nod to their audience.