Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Shinobi graduation at 16 in this story

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Takainin was walking in front of them. They all smelled, but who could blame them with that, they did live in cages and were crammed in as it was. He needed some talent, the last bunch lasted less than two years. He stopped in front of a brown haired boy. He grabbed the kid's arms to see the muscles. He tested the legs and feet next. He opened the kid's mouth and stopped. This child had horrible teeth. This would not do, bad teeth meant he couldn't eat certain foods needed to bulk up. He left the child and moved on.

When he was leaving he had eleven children between four and six fit for his main purpose. He had an additional twelve for his secondary. He wished he could get one more for his main batch but had not found any that met his requirements.

As he went up to pay he noticed a child he had not seen before. This child was in a stockade and was very thin. But what caught his attention was the fact that the whip marks on his back were slowly fusing together and not even leaving a scar.

"How much for that child in the stockade in addition to the ones I already have?"

The pay man looked at the child in question before speaking. "That kid there is half price, he is too stubborn and keeps running away but if you want him I'll hook him up for you."

Now Takainin was happy. He could go back to his boss with twelve trainees and twelve attendants. This was just what his boss wanted and what he could now deliver. Today was a good day in Mugi (Wheat) no Kuni.

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Few days later

The group had made it to the walled estate the night before. The twelve boys were separated from the girls and kept in outside cages. The next morning they were lined up opposite older men who were led by Takainin.

"Welcome to the Hitosaki School of Combat. You will be instructed in how to fight in arena matches in Mugi no Kuni. You will be given to an older fighter and his attendant. They will care for you and teach you everything you need. You will be trained but remember you are still the property of Master Hitosaki and will be until he frees you or sells you. Now you will be taken to train by your instructors," called Takainin as he himself came over to the last child in line. This was the child who had been in the stockade. He looked the child over once more, taking in the blonde hair and blue eyes and generally dirty appearance.

"Child, I will train you and my attendant Misiki will care for you. What is your name?"

The child just looked at him but did not answer.

"Fine, you will be Fusokubun (short) until you speak," said Takainin, hoping to get a reaction from the kid but got nothing.

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3 years later

"Fusokubun you need to be faster," yelled his instructor from the other side of the training square. "Swing faster and use some muscle to shove and push back. I may have more weight on you but you have a lower center, use it."

Fusokubun as he was called just corrected his stance a little, he had never done well as a heavy; he just did not have the muscles. Medium and light were his classes. But instructor Takainin had decided that he may need heavy training as it was the class hardest to produce, they just took so much food and time to get use to the weight of armor.

"Fusokubun you will be joining the youth league in a month. You will be in the special category we talked about, so go do your exercises in control until Misiki calls for dinner," said Takainin as he went to speak to Master Hitosaki, who was on the porch of his villa across the plaza.

"So, how is he coming along," asked Hitosaki.

"Very well, he has a large amount of chakra and because we started with control so soon he has that decently high for his level of chakra. He still has not talked but that is not a problem as far as I can tell, he understands and obeys well enough after that one attempt to escape. I still don't know about that weird tattoo he has but I don't think it matters really. I believe that he will be ready to go up in level in six years, when he is about thirteen, he should also get an attendant about then," said Takainin.

"So soon, most don't go up in level until they are fifteen and don't get an attendant until they are sixteen. Why so early?" asked Hitosaki.

"He takes to the training well enough, he has near mastery of the light styles I know and he is proficient in the Heavy ones. His medium styles are between the other two. As he grows he will do better in those two areas, he just needs to be larger. He has a large amount of stamina and he spends a large amount of it training but I believe he will hit puberty a little early because of it and he may get frustrated without an attendant and attendants do make one not run away. Plus, if any of his abilities are inheritable it would be profitable to have him start producing earlier."

"Hmmm, we will see how he fairs in the youth league first but I believe you are right, plus there are so few chakra fighters anymore and therefore are worth more. He will be good breeding stock if nothing more. By the way, what is he aligned with," replied Hitosaki.

"He has a very large futon alignment. He has a minor secondary for doton. He has completed, but not mastered, most of the exercises to control both. Since hand seals are not allowed in the fight we are just working on his manipulation of the elements," said Takainin.

"Good, keep me informed," said Hitosaki as he went into his main house.

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He was ranked as special chakra user and therefore had fewer and much deadlier matches than most of the other fighters. It also isolated him from the other trainees. Using his chakra he could defend himself well enough if they bothered him, but he could not leave permanent injury on the master's property. But today none of that mattered as today was his first fight in the youth league.

He had been directed to bring his gear to the local arena. He had brought his light fighter suit and weapons and waited until he was called. He had dressed with his arm-braces and his shin-guards over some simple sandals. His loin cloth was held up with a belt that had a dagger on it. His only other equipment was a trident and a net.

He was called to enter the arena floor. He looked up at the stands of the crowded people and felt a little anxious. He walked to the center and bowed to the noble's box followed by each side of the arena. He finally bowed to his opponent, who he realized was about two years older and dressed for being a heavy class. This would be a dangerous match up he realized. If he was put into a corner or was slowed by anything he would be dead and his opponent had more experience. . But he had an advantage in maneuverability; he would have to use that to his advantage in every way.

The match was called and the older boy jumped towards him, hoping to get an early hit to cripple him. He blocked the short sword with the handle of his trident. He jumped back and away from the shield thrust. He readied the net in his left hand as he adjusted his grip on the trident in his right. He watched the older boy's eyes through the slits in the boy's helmet. The boy started to channel some raiton chakra in his sword, which extended the blade and caused a slight screech to be heard. Fusokubun quickly countered with fuuton chakra in his spear.

The older boy kept on pressing his attack. All he needed to do was land one hit and the small kid would go down from being paralyzed. But the damn trident was everywhere. He just couldn't get through. It was with this frustration that he over extended his reach which allowed the younger boy to get the net wrapped around his legs and trip him. As soon as he was on the ground it was over. He couldn't move fast enough on the ground with all his armor. A dagger was quickly placed at his throat.

Fusokubun got himself in position for the blow and looked toward the noble box. The crowd was divided on what the outcome should be. Some loved the fight and hoped for the young fighter to be spared. Others thought the battled showed very little skill on the older boy's part and wanted his career to end that day. It was left to the nobles to decide but they were also split and so it came down to the two school owners. Hitosaki turned to his compatriot in the games and talked.

"My fighter needs to be bloodied, I'll pay quarter price for the other boys life."

"Agreed, you have a very talented student. I wish I could produce ones of his caliber," said the other man as he counted the money.

Fusokubun saw the command and delivered the blow. He saw the last breath of his opponent and saw the light leave his eyes as the blood sprayed onto his face. At seven years of age he had killed his first opponent. A boy barely older than himself and he had done it without thought other than he was ordered to. He quickly picked up his gear and headed back to his waiting area to see if he would fight again or if he would head back to the school.

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AN: What do you think?