The Way of the Shinobi

Chapter 1

I never met my parents. The only thing I know about them was their names - Hikita and Kira Labash. My father died during a mission before I was born, and my mother died in childbirth. Or at least that's what they told me.

I was raised here, at The Base. Training to become a shinobi. I'm sure our headquarters have an official name, but everyone here just calls it The Base.

There are four main sites here. The first level base, the second level base, the third level base, and the fourth level base. There is also an elderly home and a nursery, but they're a little ways away from the other bases.

The first level base is mainly for getting the basic skills down, like martial arts, the katana, climbing walls, and running. Mostly younger kids are there, but sometimes when a student isn't learning well, they have to stay longer. I got moved up to the second base when I was nine, and I'm still there currently, five years later.

The second level base is almost the same as the first, except the trainer is tougher, and you start using shurikens and have to swim lengths of the lake. You also have to meditate a lot, which I personally dislike. It's so boring, just sitting there, doing nothing.

I don't know much about the third and fourth level bases, except that the fourth level base is mostly for adults that have completed the other bases.

I share a small shelter with two other kids from my level - Ashikaga and Suketomo. They both just moved up to this level a few months ago. Ashikaga is loud and annoying. He mostly concentrates on cracking dumb jokes than on his training. How he got moved up to the second level is a mystery to me.

Suketomo is very quiet and reserved. In fact, I don't think he ever said a word to me during the whole time I've known him!

The boy quarters are on the left side of the Grand Hall. There are around a dozen other huts on this side. There are many more girls than boys though. The girls have almost thirty little houses on their side!

The shelters are a creamy white with plain wood frames. Nice enough, but kind of plain for me.

We all eat meals together in the Grand Hall. There isn't usually much left over, what with all the people here.

I have eight different classes. Shuriken throwing, katana training, climbing practice, meditation, poisons, physical training, and martial arts. Of course, there are even more in the later levels.

Honestly, I don't understand why I haven't moved up to the next level yet. I've been here almost five whole years. I guess the leader of this level, Akihiko, just doesn't think I'm ready yet.

I train hard every day, hoping I'll get moved up to the next level, but nothing has happened yet.

Every day is pretty much the same. Get up, eat breakfast, do classes, eat lunch, do more classes, eat dinner, and go to sleep. It's getting rather boring. At least in base level three you get missions. Which is mostly why I want to move up.

I must be doing something right though, because I have the best marks in base level two. My best subject is shuriken throwing, and I find it very enjoyable.

Right now, I am in martial arts training. The instructor, Edo, is dividing the students into pairs to practice fighting. He is tall, and very strong, probably because he's been a fully trained shinobi most of his life.

Only me and one other kid haven't been paired up yet. He must be new, because I've never seen him before. Edo comes over to me.

"You're with him, Kuma," he says, gesturing to the other student. As if it wasn't obvious - we're the only ones left!