Chapter 3: Beginning Of Changing

MIHO

"Miho, pick up your feet!" Uncle Keiji yelled from across the field as I did burpee push-ups.

Uncle Keiji would oftentimes critique me on every little mistake I made. How I carried my feet when I ran to how I held a kunai. All that I did was criticized. As I would be doing a push-up, he would tell me to straighten my back, or go down lower, or to not lift my butt up too high.

All of it was frustrating as all hell! It hurt a lot!

My Uncle came up to me, my body collapsed on the ground, shoulders heaving up and down and panting like a dog, he smiled. "Good job, now the next thing we're going to do is run a good two miles!" My eyes widened like plates from the shock I felt. "What! You're kidding me!" I cried, my voice thick in disbelief. Uncle Keiji shook his head, meaning he meant all of what he said. "No, we've only done the warm-up, kid!" He told me like a chirping bird. I almost lost it then and there.

Why did I decide to do this to myself? Why?

We began at a slow pace, simple jogging that I nearly passed out from. Then he began to speed up. "Wait, Uncle-" I coughed mid-sentence, my breath caught in my throat. "Keiji. Stop, please!"

He circled around me then grabbed my hand.

"C'mon, kiddo," he said, "You gotta toughen up!"

I was gasping for air now like a dying fish on land, my stomach burning like hell lived there; cramps began pinching at my sides and I felt like I could not breathe. I felt like utter poo. I just want a honey cake, sweet roll, dango or anything right now, because I feel like I'm dying. DYING.

Uncle Keiji let out an airily laugh. "There we go, kiddo," he said, "You're getting the hang of it!"

I began breathing properly, my legs running like magic, my body growing numb to the pain. The cool breezes in the morning air helped me calm down. When we finished, we were back to where we were. "Good job, Miho!" Uncle Keiji cheered for me. I actually collapsed into the grass. The green fur beneath me itching my back, but I didn't care. I was tired and worn out.

Uncle Keiji laughed at this. "We'll do this the next day also, even as your team trains you, you'll come here every day after at six forty- five sharp and we will train until nine at night. Okay?" I wanted to protest; however, I nodded reluctantly in response instead. 'I need this' I told myself 'I need to be in shape as a new ninja.'

"Wonderful," said Uncle Keiji, clapping his hands together with a wide smile. "When we're done with the break, we'll begin the afternoon workout and trust me, you'll love it!" I then deadpanned with a blank look on my face. Of course, I would. Because I just love dying. That's what every girl wants to feel rather than stuffing her face with a honey cake. No, dying is amazing.

Uncle Keiji tosses me a brown lunch bag, but I didn't catch it and it landed next to me. An orange rolled out from the toss, which I crawled over to grab and did. He packed me a tuna sandwich, an orange, homemade smoothie and a small sweet roll that my mother likely made. I devoured the entire lunch in practically seconds.

"Don't eat too fast," warned Uncle Keiji. "It will upset the stomach and won't help you when you're with me." I nodded and crumbled the lunch bag up into a ball. "If you're hungry, Miho," said Uncle Keiji, holding a canteen of water. "It really means you're actually thirsty sometimes. Drink water first before you go for seconds, just to make sure when you're eating at home. Okay?" A small smile reached my face.

"Okay," I replied, "Thanks, Uncle Keiji." Uncle Keiji clapped his hands, now standing up with a beaming grin. "Whelp," he said, "Time to begin afternoon work out!" I then groaned as I got up.

———

The next two miles we ran I hurled up my lunch.

Uncle Keiji kneeled beside me as I did, pulling back my short brown curls as I did. The bitter, disgusting aftertaste lingered there on my tongue for the rest of the afternoon. From planks to push-ups to stretches- my body ached from pain.

"Good work, Miho," Uncle Keiji praised me. I let out a weak laugh, my stomach feeling empty yet full at the same time. The thing was, I didn't feel hungry one bit. All the hunger had been worked out of me. "Let's get you home," he said. My legs were shaking as I nodded. Through all the pain I felt now, I also felt alive. Confident. I felt like I'm able to climb the tallest mountain and run the longest trail. I felt as though I could do anything.

As Uncle Keiji walked me home, I could tell many women were swooning head over heels for him just by watching them stare at him. "I'm going to be sailing for Kūgakūre in two weeks," he told me while taking out a canteen of water. His long dark brown hair swaying mid-back as he walked. "If you were in Kūgakūre right now, Miho... you'd not be able to afford a meal for how much the Elemental Nations are taxing and stealing from us. Just understand that the life you have here is a privilege your Ma and Pa wanted for you, not a gift." I lowered my head.

"Yeah," I replied, nodding. Uncle Keiji ruffles my dark hair with a slight smile playing at his lips. "You have a three-man team to be assigned tomorrow," he told me, his dark hazel eyes flickering into mine before he redirected them ahead. "So you'll need a good amount of sleep. If you get assigned the Sensei I am thinking of, then you will definitely need it." For some reason, he seemed to be holding back a shiver in his spine. I honestly felt a tad bit nervous from it.

I hope I don't get this Sensei he's talking about.

When I arrived home, I saw my mother slumped on the couch while my father made supper for the family. Kou wasn't here yet, so he's probably on a mission for a while. "Ma," I asked, "Where's Kou?" I just wanted to make sure I was right about my guess. My mother groaned, her hair sprawled out everywhere with dark rings under her eyes. "Out. On a mission for a week or so, honey." I nodded in response. My father set out warmed up leftovers and boiled some rose petal vanilla tea shipped from the East in Kūgakūre. It was my favorite kind of tea. It was subtle yet strong at once. The floral taste made it delicious.

My mother was passed out on the couch, which my father noticed and picked her up like a bride on her wedding day, her body hanging limply in his arms. "Make sure to eat before you head to bed, pumpkin. I'm gonna go to sleep with your mother. Goodnight, Miho," father said. I waved.

"Goodnight, Pa," I replied. My father carried her away and I was left alone at the dinner table. My Uncle's words lingered in my head. I ate a couple of makizushi before drinking a full glass of water. I suddenly felt full and unable to eat any more of my leftovers. I put it back in the fridge.

I took a warm shower, went to the bathroom before I trudged my feet to the bed. My dreams went back to the firebird. Its presence was not as scary as before. 'You return' it growls, it's sharp talons digging into the earth beneath its claws.

The air was thick, warm and heavy to breathe, but I've already grown used to it. "Yeah," I replied a little more confidently than when I first met this creature. "You said you'd train me. So I'm here to accept." The firebird leans forward, its golden eyes gleaming in interest. 'Are you, now?' It's low and intrigued voice made me shrink under its gaze, all of my confidence draining out of my body. "Yeah, I am," I replied, backing up.

'Yet you still fear me.' I averted my eyes away from the firebird, but turned back when it backed away from me. 'I will train you as I said, but,' I gulped at what he was going to say. 'You will be here for what feels like three months all in one night. Will you be ready for three months of hell?' I thought I went into musing. Worse than Uncle Keiji's training- hell? Am I ready for it? No, I can't like this. I want to change. There will be a pain in changing for the better. I need to understand that. Of course, it is not going to be easy- this isn't easy. No, nothing will ever be easy.

The firebird sits in waiting, his golden eyes now narrowed at me. That is until I spoke. "I'll do it, but can I at least know your name?" I asked him.

'I am Enjū. I am the phoenix that your clan treasures!'

I gave the creature- Enjū- a small smile. "As you probably know, I'm Miho Kojima. It's nice to meet you, Enjū." The bird of flames scoffed but did not respond for a minute. 'We shall start tomorrow night, Miho. I will give you no mercy or pity. So be prepared for what I have in store for you.' I gave him a short nod in response before I'd woken up.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

Yeah, sorry it's a lil short. I know, go ahead, ya'll. You may roast me to bits and pieces in the comments. I deserve it.

So, why do you think Kūgakūre is taxed a lot?

What would it be like for Miho in Kūgakūre? If she did head back home, how would she react?

Who will her teammates and new Sensei be?

What will happen to Miho next?

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