Naruto: Chosen

Relax your muscles so that your measurements are perfect.

Let's go over the safety procedures.

Keep still.

Answer the questions.

Smile for the camera.

Eat well.

Don't be bossy.

Don't be grumpy.

Be a bit more like a Two, and everyone will like you.

How can you be less of a Four?

All the movement in my house was making me dizzy. The phone kept ringing and Moegi had been promoted to family secretary. She was sitting on the sofa next to the machine, with a huge bowl of cookies on her lap, while her dark eyes remained glued to the morning's drawings.

- She's a cutie," commented Kakashi Hatake, my stylist.

Kakashi was beautiful. Absolutely and completely beautiful. After spending the morning surrounded by serious faces, his simple smile coming through the door was like a breath of relief.

My mother and Konan had left to sort out my college paperwork, Pain had taken over my duties with the horses, and my father was in the garden. My family would receive a good sum of money for every month I stayed in the Squad - more money than we'd ever had in our hands at one time. But if the prince didn't like me and sent me back, I'd still have our little garden to start again.

- You'll look stunning, Miss Sakura.

Kakashi was kind, and I was more than happy to know that he would be accompanying me to Konoha Palace. Ino's stylist, on the other hand, seemed much grumpier.

The phone rang again. Moegi, her fingers smeared with chocolate, quickly picked up the handset.

- Hello? - she said, pausing to listen to the other line. - My grandfather isn't in, and the soldier said that my aunt can't take any calls.

And then he slammed the phone down, immediately returning to his cookies.

- Wow, she's tough! - laughed Kakashi.

I was in the dining room... or what was left of it. The eight-seater table had been removed to make room for a square shelf and four clothes racks. A lively conversation was coming from the kitchen, and outside, a dozen uniformed guards from the capital stood by.

- You can come down, Sakura.

I stepped down from the stand, my body aching after almost two hours of measurements, fabrics being compared to my face and minute adjustments.

- Iced tea? - Kakashi offered.

I nodded and he disappeared among the racks of clothes, heading for the kitchen. I stretched my arms and took advantage of the short break.

That's when I heard a knock on the door.

Moegi was too busy drawing to notice, and at that moment I thought my little secretary deserved a break. I walked to the entrance and, when I opened the door, I was greeted by a beautiful bouquet of pink roses.

But what really caught my attention was who was holding them.

Fully uniformed, with his hair cut shorter than usual, a faraway look in his eyes and a slight redness in his cheeks-Sasuke Uchiha was a long way from home.

- Sas...

- They're Izumi's. - His voice came out irritated.

He approached and held out the flowers. They were Izumi's, not his.

- But that's too kind! - exclaimed Kakashi, coming up behind me with two glasses of iced tea. He handed me one and took a sip from the other. - We have the Tea Village's favorite; I guarantee that even Miss Ino doesn't get that many flowers.

- Sasuke, how nice of you to come. - I tried to sound nonchalant. - Colonel Uchiha sent you, right? Do you need to search my room?

Kakashi watched Sasuke carefully.

- Just standard procedure, miss. We don't want our chosen one to be at risk.

If Kakashi suspected anything, he didn't show it. He just gave way to Sasuke, and I guided him to my room. On the way, I thought about how many times I had wished for exactly that: Sasuke to walk through the door and into my room. But could the circumstances be any worse?

I opened the door. He went in first, I followed. As soon as I closed it, I locked it.

- Did a dog make a mess? - He smiled, looking over his shoulder at me.

I remained silent. My eyes watered and a lump formed in my throat. The urge to throw myself into his arms was almost unbearable. He was so beautiful. My God, it must have been a sin to be so beautiful.

Sasuke turned to me, our gazes meeting.

- You... - He began, hesitantly. - You were very beautiful in the photo.

It hurt to hear him say that. It wasn't fair. Not after everything.

- It was for you," I whispered, when I finally found my voice.

- "What?

I swallowed.

- It's just... I thought you were going to propose soon...

My voice came out choked. Sasuke stayed quiet, shoving his hands in his pockets.

- But it was never possible... - I let out a bitter laugh, and tears ran hot down my cheeks. What a pathetic scene. - Not with so many Castes Two girls for you to put your arm around.

He looked away.

- I thought about it. I waited to pass the academy, then to be recruited to a good post, I wanted to leave home... I waited too long for the "after". I thought we deserved comfort, since we'd be facing the world together.

My small pink suitcase rested on the messy bed.

- It's not much. - He commented.

- I never needed much to be happy. I thought you knew that.

Sasuke closed his eyes, exhausted.

- That's enough, Sakura.

Anger exploded inside me. I lunged at him.

- That's enough, Sasuke Uchiha! You made me believe that we would work out. You made me love you. Then you convinced me to enter this damn contest. Now I'm going to be the prince's plaything and you don't even care!

Before I could get any closer, Sasuke grabbed my wrists, stopping me.

- He'll like you, Sakura. That's what's best for you. And if he doesn't like you that much, when you come back...

That was enough. I let go of one of his hands and slapped him across the face.

- You idiot! - I whispered forcefully, my voice hoarse, my face wet with tears. - I hate the prince! I loved you! I wanted you! All I ever wanted was you!

His eyes watered, but I didn't care. Sasuke had already hurt me enough. Now it was my turn.

- I have to go," he said, letting go of me and heading for the door.

- Wait a minute!