The Battle for the Golden Egg
Read The Battle for the Golden Egg Online
Authors: Nick Falk
Get ready for the greatest battle of all time!
In the Edo Period of Japan, two teams fight for supremacy â the serious samurai and the scheming ninja. To determine who is the best, a deadly contest is held. The prize is the Golden Egg, the most magnificent treasure in all of Japan. But when the ninja cheat, the samurai will stop at nothing to get revenge.
Tighten your topknot and sharpen your sword â the Samurai vs Ninja battle is about to begin!
For Samurai Carmen and the two little ninjas. I love you more than there are fleas on Charlie.
â Nick Falk
For my ninja family: Ceri, Josh and Tallis. Thanks for putting up with me and all of my drawing mess.
â Tony Flowers
In the deepest depths of Japan, high in the hills of Hokkaido, were two mighty mountains.
The Mountain of the Tiger's Claw was steep and stony, covered in rocky ridges and crumbling cliffs.
The Mountain of the Dragon's Tooth was tall and twisty, filled with tangled trees and craggy caves.
In the Edo Period, when the shÅgun ruled Japan, these were the mountains of BushidÅ, home of the ninja and the samurai.
Tucked on the tip of the Tiger's Claw was a castle. The castle of Kemushi (the hairy caterpillar), home of the samurai.
The samurai were very serious.
Their kamishimo were smooth and straight. Their topknots were tied tight.
They never smiled, they never joked, and they never wiped their noses on their sleeves.
The samurai practised the ancient art of Nodo no Kingyo â the Way of the Thirsty Goldfish.
Perched on the peak of the Dragon's Tooth was another castle. The castle of Baka Tori (the idiot chicken), home of the ninja.
The ninja were very silly.
Their shinobi shÅzoku were ripped and wrinkled. Their obi were looped and loose.
They always giggled, they always played tricks, and they ALWAYS wiped their noses on their sleeves.
The ninja practised the ancient art of Mink-u-i Buta â the Way of the Ugly Pig.
Kingyo-Sama, esteemed Master Goldfish, was the leader of the samurai. He was tall and thin. His fingers were long and bony. His nose was pointier than a pickled parsnip.
Buta-Sama, foolish Master Pig, was the leader of the ninja. He was small and sneaky. His fingers were short and stubby. His nose was squishier than a squelchy squash.
Kingyo-Sama and Buta-Sama were brothers. They had been fighting each other their entire lives.
They fought in their cots.
They fought in their classroom.
They fought in their cousin's kitchen.
They were not always polite to each other when they met.
