Yoshi: The Sakura Ninja

By Michael Hayes

Yoshi is an exciting young adult fantasy novel about a young woman who has spent her life training to become a Sakura Ninja. On the day of her transition from tribal member to full-fledged ninja, Yoshi is forced to part ways with her best friend from training, Yakishu, who is leaving on a secret mission. Their parting is a bitter one, as Yoshi is hurt that Yakishu has kept a secret from her. Yoshi is soon sent out on her own mission to find a ninja known as the Black Dragon, and this journey leads her down a dark path that will reunite her with Yakishu in a way she could have never foreseen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665571807

Michael Hayes

Michael Hayes is an administrator at the University of Central England and is the author of The Infinite Harmony and The Hermetic Code in DNA. He first recognized a common link between all major religions and esoteric doctrines--and later that this symmetry exists among the fundamental sciences--while working in post-revolutionary Iran, where he was able to observe all the major religions practiced side by side. He lives with his wife and family in Birmingham, England.

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© 2022 Michael Hayes. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 09/22/2022

ISBN: 978-1-6655-7181-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-7180-7 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Synopsis

Acknowledgment

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

SYNOPSIS

Yoshi of the Yumemigasu people was sent to The Temple at age five to train to become a Sakura Ninja. By age twenty she completes her training and must go on a mission to find the one called The Black Dragon. Her best friend Yekishu from The Temple learns of her mission, and disappears into the Carpathian Mountains where Yoshi must go to seek out this Black Ninja, while on her mission Yoshi runs into Yakishu. Yoshi struggles with growing up still wanting to be a little girl, must face reality when she discovers Yakishu’s dark secret.

Yoshi Must make the choice of doing what’s best for the Yumemigasu people or pretect her best friend’s secret. What will she choose? I invite you to find out. Enjoy this wonderful story of secrets, Betrayal, Friendship, spiritual enrichment, and Death.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I would first like to thank you the reader for choosing to read my work. Its my hope that my work will inspire you to use your imagination as you take the journey into the world of Yoshi The Sakura Ninja. To my friend Aurelia Snow for her helpful input on the culture of Japan. My good friend Luie for his wonderful wisdom that he’s given me to keep plugging away at type writer to get this story that I have passion to write to the world. To Dr. Alfred Brooks, for having the faith in me to be the best person that I can be. My brother Shon for supporting me in writing this book and not turning his back on me when I needed him most. To Damian Rayes for doing such beautiful Illustrations for this book. Lisa Briggs for being such a loving friend. My mother Joyce for being a loving mother to me. Love You Mom.

CHAPTER ONE

YOSHI

Today is the beginning of my new life. I have spent my childhood here at the temple learning the arts of Sakura ninjitsu. It runs in my blood. Dynasties of my family have all been called to become Sakura Ninjas, but only the firstborn child is worthy to train to become a Sakura Ninja. And that happened to be me this time around. When the time comes for me to have children, my firstborn child will have to leave home by age five and spend fifteen years training to become a Sakura Ninja. My name is Yoshi of the Yumemigasu tribe. We are a very mystic people. We are a people of apothecary. In other words, we are a people of healers. God has chosen our tribe to be healers of humanity. We have the healing powers within us, and we are often call to help those who are injured or sick. I can touch a person and deliver a surge of my energy to kill whatever evil spirit is attacking the body.

The outsiders don’t understand Yumemigasu ways. They call us witches, sinners against God, because we don’t depend on some person in a lab coat to give us toxins to make us feel better, then have to take additional toxins for what they call side effects. Yumemigasu people use what God has provided for us from the earth. We understand that living beings are connected to the earth. Each step we take with our bare feet absorbs the earth’s energy. And it’s stored within us. The outsiders don’t understand that they, too, possess the power to heal themselves. They chose to rely on their religion to help them through. The outsiders would try to bring in missionaries to teach us their ways. But it is just one of their ploys to force their way of life on us. When that doesn’t work, they try to use force. And that’s when the Sakura Ninjas go to work. The word sakura is Japanese for cherry blossom. Our cherry blossoms here have special powers only our tribe can handle; no outsider is ever allowed to handle them. They can be very toxic to the touch if an outsider ever got their hands on them. As Sakura Ninjas, we were trained on the way to grind the cherry blossom into a fine powder to make poisonous darts or even use it to spike an outsider’s drink. But we only do this if we know that person will be a threat to our way of life.

Well, today is my transition ceremony. I will no longer be looked upon as a regular tribal member but as a member of an elite group of assassins. One day I could be called to duty to travel anywhere in the world to cancel those who try to come against us. I look at my best friend, Yakishu. We entered the temple together as children. We’ve become like sisters. I have nothing but love for her. She returns my gaze and smiles back at me. We sit through all the long chants and the beating of the drums. When the ceremony is over, I quickly hug my father and mother and my two younger brothers. My brother Nikko smirks at me. He has a look like he wants to say something stupid to me, so I wait to see what he’s going to say.

I bet you think you can whoop some serious ass now, huh? Since you’ve been gone, Papa has been teaching me how to wield a katana.

I roll my eyes at my brother. And what the hell’s that supposed to mean to me, Nikko?

It means you’re not the only one around here who knows some shit.

Oh, really. Are you challenging me? Because if you are, I have no problem putting you in your place.

Yeah, you can try.

OK, Nikko, anytime, anywhere. You just let me know when you have the balls.

Nikko walks up to me. I take my stance, ready for what he might attempt to do to me. Nikko tries to push me down, but I don’t budge. He reaches for my ponytail, but before he can grab it, I grab him by the arm and throw him down. Nikko gets angry and quickly gets up and runs toward me. I cup my hand, and like a fool he runs up into my grip, and I have him by the jugular.

This grip is called the cha’ē. The purpose of this grip is to render you unconscious. Now are you done messing around with me, or do you want to play some more? Answer quickly because you’re going to pass out any second.

Nikko taps my arm to concede, and I release him. My teachers and the other families are looking at me in disapproval. As Sakura Ninjas, we’re not supposed to fight undisciplined people over foolish pride. Our skills are only to be used when warranted or by permission from the Yumemigasu tribal council. I still need to work on my temper. My papa snatches my arm and pulls me around the corner.

What the hell’s wrong with you? Are you seriously trying to dishonor this family?

No, Papa, I just reacted without thinking. It won’t happened again.

See that it doesn’t. This temper of yours is going to get you killed. Now watch yourself.

I bow low before my