Chapter 1

"Kouta wake up!" Screamed my little sister, Sunai, into my ear.

I woke startled, my ears still ringing. "Why do you have to yell?" I asked her. But it was to late for she was already skipping down the hallway.

Oh, in case you're wondering I'm Kouta. A 12 year old Ninja Academy student, though I just graduated. I'm about 4'10 and have light brown hair that I always wear in a messy pony-tail.

Today was the day of the graduation exams. Just the thought of them turned my stomach in knots. You see, here in Kirigakure, or the Hidden Mist Village, we have a "special" tradition to choose who graduates and moves on to become chunin. The leaders of the village put all of the graduates in 1 on 1 matches to the death. If you win you become a chunin. If you lose, well, lets just say your not coming back out of the arena.

I thought about all this as I got dressed and walked down the hallway for breakfast.

When I walked in I was surprised to see that my mom had cooked pancakes and bacon. Usually breakfast was nothing more than a bowl of cereal.

My mom smiled as I walked in, but didn't say anything, I could tell she was on the verge of tears.

"Pancakes? Sounds great!" I said cheerfully as I sat down, although I knew the only reason we were having them was because this meal might be my last.

I managed to eat half of a pancake and a piece of bacon, though the thought of the exams made me want to throw up. Finally I got up and told my mom I was full, and started toward my room.

Once inside I flopped on my bed. I wanted to cry but I managed to keep my emotions under control. After lying there for a while a knock came at the window. I smiled as I locked my bedroom door and then opened the window to let my best friend Muchi jump into the room.

Muchi was a little bit taller than me and had jet black hair. We hugged and sat on my bed.

"Are you as scarred as I am?" She asked me. "Because I am freaking out right now."

"I know, I am too." I said glad that I wasn't the only afraid.

Then there was a knock on my door. "Kouta! Mom says it time to go!" Yelled my little sister through the door.

Me and Muchi looked at each other and hugged again. "Good luck." I whispered as I helped her back out the window.

"You to." she said and the she was gone.