Chapter 14: Trials

(1st POV)

(A year ago)

''About time I did this'' I say to myself while standing in a field

I bite my finger and go through hand signs

-Summoning jutsu-

Instead of summoning anything, I disappear

I am immediately blinded by light alongside the change in temperature

I start sweating as I wait for my eyes to get adjusted to the light, I find it hard to breathe

When I finally get my eyes open, I look around to see a desert, the sun scorching hot

But what caught my attention were the clouds in the distance, they were below me

(Am I on some mountain? A mountain desert? What...)

I start walking around

(How am I getting back if I don't find any summons...) I think grimly, seeing nothing in this desert

I walk for 30 minutes, still not finding anything, at least I got somewhat used to the oxygen level.

Just when I had begun to lose hope, I sensed a chakra signature just at the edge of my sensing

I look up and see a silhouette of a bird, diving down, and fast

(Shit, maybe they think I'm trespassing on their territory or something) I think, guessing that that bird is the summon I was sent to

I start running backward while looking at it

The closer it gets the more details I see

(Is it on fire?)

Confused, I see it land in front of me, gracefully

My mouth goes agape

(A fucking phoenix?! On fire and everything) I think as I look up at it

''How did you get here, human?'' The phoenix asks

''Do you know about the summoning technique and how if you don't have a contract, you get sent to a 'destined' summon?'' I ask

The bird nods ''I'm guessing that's how you got here'' I nod ''Then I'll have to bring you to the master'' Mr. phoenix then picks me up with his wing and puts me on his back

(The fire is strangely not burning me alive) I think as Mr. phoenix takes off

''Woah'' I say in surprise as we go pretty fast

And in just a few minutes, I see buildings surrounding an oasis

(Guess even fire birds need to drink) I think while flying past the oasis and toward a large building behind it

It looked like a giant temple, made of sandstone, and with the sun at the top of it, it looked beautiful.

We fly to the top and inside, there I see what looks like a giant nest, with a giant red bird sleeping in it.

I jump off Mr. phoenix and get a full view of the nest

(Bigger than Konoha gate) I think as I look at it

''Master, someone is here to see you'' Mr. phoenix says to the giant sleeping phoenix.

The ground shakes a little as the giant bird lifts his head, flames ignite across its whole body, but these weren't normal flames, they were blue as his skin color changes to blue also

''Oh? A human? Heh, the last time someone came here was when that purple-eyed fellow came, a millennia ago. What is your name young one?'' The phoenix says in an aged but also young voice, a confusing voice for sure

(Hagoromo came here?)

''Yuki Uzumaki, what's yours if I may ask?'' I ask the giant bird that could squash me like a bug

''I am known as Hinokami, but my name is Harue. Tell me, what brings you here?''

''Well, if I'm being honest, I used the summoning technique without a contract so I could maybe get a summoning contract, and I found myself on this desert mountain'' I reply honestly

''If our contract is what you seek, then pass the trials you must.

However, our trial is a death sentence to those whose will is weak, knowing this, do you still want to proceed?''

''Yes,'' I say without hesitation. A phoenix contract is something you just can't pass up, and I have confidence that I will beat the trial

''The trial will happen in the desert, meaning you have a time limit, the time until you either burn alive or die of dehydration. Once the trial starts, only you can help yourself'' He says, I nod

Harue looks toward Mr. phoenix ''Youta, bring Asahi'' The now identified Youta nods and flies away

''Hey, quick question, how old are you?'' I ask a random question out of the blue

''I am thousands of years old, I've been reborn many a time,'' Harue responds

''How does that rebirth ability work?''

''When we reach the end of our lifespan, our bodies combust and turn to ash, after multiple days of heat from the sun, our souls use the heat and energy collected in the ashes to rebuild our bodies and be reborn. Many of us have not been reborn because of the lack of energy to rebuild, I have been lucky and I am now the oldest phoenix alive.'' Harue replies

Youta then flies back in with another phoenix, which I guessed to be Asahi

''A human?'' Asahi says, looking at me

''Asahi, I'd like you to use your genjutsu specialty for the trial that this young one will attempt'' Harue says as Asahi nods, already knowing what this would mean

I am yet again picked up by Youta as we then fly out of the temple with Asahi

Landing on the sand of the desert, I jump off and look toward the two

''Are all of you this big?'' I ask them, but Youta shakes his head

''Let's begin with the trial, don't resist'' Asahi then cuts in as I sense him channeling chakra

-Phoenix illusion: The will of a fire-

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(A/N End, sorry about it being somewhat shorter than normal, wanted to get this out today. Word count: 974)