Chapter 12

"While you are a ward of the illustrious Hozuki clan, I will oversee your overall welfare. Food, clothing, and shelter will all be provided by me. Whatever I give you is what you shall have for the foreseeable future, you will not be able to change that until we deem you capable of handling your own money and upkeeping a full inventory."

Hanagetsuya lets her words sink in a little then continues,

"Your days will be occupied with exercises curated by me to accelerate your martial growth into an able-bodied shinobi. I recommend you approach these exercises with the utmost conviction and complete them as if your life depends on it because it –very –much -does..."

The ominous threat lingers in the air before Hanagetsuya disrupts the silence once again,

"From the first few seconds of our brief interaction, I can already tell that you will have an issue with being obedient. To avoid learning extremely painful and lasting lessons from me and others, I suggest you rid yourself of that rebelliousness with haste. I will only suffer your sour behavior so many times before I forcibly correct it myself, permanently. Be warned child, there will be nothing you can hide from me. If you have even an ounce of wit you will resign yourself to your fate being a valued shinobi of Kirigakure."

Hanagetsuya matches the fiery look of pure hatred coming from Shogo with a cold indifference. She then shakes her head and turns her back to the enraged boy before calmly walking out of the exit in front of the cave.

As the opening once again closes behind the elderly woman, leaving Shogo to bathe in complete darkness once more. Shogo lets out his explosive anger the only way he knows how,

"FUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The next week was mentally exhausting for Shogo, he was released from the slab, but he is only allowed to leave the dark cave to eat or to complete a grueling task concocted from Hozuki Matriarch's herself. She would show up every day at the same time to collect Shogo from his prison and bring him up to a training ground atop a hill in the compound to start a hellish routine.

Minutes and hours blend into each other for Shogo, the silence only served to intensify the mental duress the child is under as with every test it becomes clearer that his body has changed inexplicably.

Shogo sits with his back against the wall furthest into the cave, knees cradled to his chest. His eyes are closed as he tries to focus on his breathing and not the sound of his heart rattling against his chest.

The first night in the cave, Shogo his heartbeat had sped up to alarming levels and it never slows down. It drove him mad whenever he tried to sleep, the constant pitter patter coming from his heart could not be ignored.

Shogo's building anxiety made it impossible for him to sleep anyway, it has been days since his last bit of shut eye and that was because he was rendered unconscious.

His grip tightens on the silken sleeves currently draped over both his arms. Hanagetsuya gave him a set of fancy training clothes with what looked like an upside-down pregnant clam on the back of the long-sleeved shirt.

After putting on the new duds, Shogo realized how much fuller his body had gotten out of nowhere. Where before he was little more than a twig, he now has budding muscles all over and broader shoulders. Overall, Shogo is just wider, but he doesn't feel any heavier despite the obvious signs of added weight.

A faint tap sound interrupts Shogo's spiraling thoughts causing him to jump to his feet and stand with his arms at his side against the wall, looking at the darkness in front of him expectantly.

Sunlight floods into the cave causing Shogo's eyes to narrow, but not waver.

Light footsteps echo throughout the cave as Hanagetsuya makes her way to Shogo in the back of the cave,

The matriarch stops a few paces from the boy with an unreadable expression on her face,

"It seems you heard me coming. Quite impressive. Tell me boy, are you still not able to sleep?"

Shogo grimaces and grumbles a response,

"No..."

The old woman sighs,

"I'll have to do something about that after your exercises today, sleep deprivation is a serious ailment. While it doesn't seem to affect your physical performance for now, your cognitive abilities will begin to suffer tremendously should you go another night without rest. Follow me."