Like many Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi began his training at a very young age when he was brought to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He was a diligent and earnest student, and yet he had not been accepted as a Jedi's Padawan by the time he turned thirteen. When Qui-Gon Jinn visited the temple, Yoda urged him to take Obi-Wan as his student, but the Jedi Master refused. With no other option, the Jedi Council assigned Obi-Wan to the Agricultural Corps in the hopes that his skills would be put to use. The decision meant that Obi-Wan would never become a Jedi.
Fortunately, fate intervened. When Obi-Wan boarded a freighter bound for the planet Badomeer, he discovered that Qui-Gon was also a passenger. The starship fell under attack and Obi-Wan exhibited great courage, but Qui-Gon still refused to take the boy as his Padawan.
On Bandomeer, Obi-Wan followed the instructions of the Jedi Council and joined the Agricultural Corps. But the insightful boy soon learned of the dangerous plots threatening the planet. Joining forces with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan aided the Jedi Master in defeating his former aprentice, Xanatos. With this feat accomplished, Qui-Gon finally agreed to train Obi-Wan.
For the next twelve years, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan undertook numerous adventures together. Finally, when Obi-Wan was twenty-five and on the verge of becoming a Jedi Knight, he was sent with his master to resolve a trade dispute in the Naboo system. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon found themselves battling the Trade Federation and, later, a mysterious Sith warrior. They also discovered Anakin Skywalker, a young boy with tremendous affinity for the Force, but whose future remained obscured.
On Naboo, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon confronted the Sith Lord Darth Maul. Despite being outnumbered, he fought savagely and gained the upper hand. The villain slew Qui-Gon and nearly killed Obi-Wan before the young Jedi called upon the Force to aid him and struck down Maul with a surprise blow. As Qui-Gon perished, Obi-Wan promised to take young Anakin Skywalker as his Padawan, regardless of the Jedi Council's reservations about the boy's future.