Arata Kangatari

Every 30 years, a princess from the Hime family is chosen to serve the Hayagami. This time, the only girl born in years of missing records is 15-year-old Arata—but Arata is actually a boy, forced to disguise himself as a princess candidate until a suitable replacement can be found. At the festival, Arata witnesses the current princess, Kokuri-hime, being murdered by her personal guard, the 12 Shinshou. His life is also in danger, and as he flees, Kannagi convinces the court that Arata killed the princess. Now the entire Imperial Court is hunting him.