Naruto: Chosen

That corner of the garden was my secret refuge. A swing for two people, hidden behind a high hedge, covered in pearl-white roses. It was far enough away from the house that I could talk freely. Sasuke sat on the swing.

- Please don't call me beautiful. First my mother, then Konan, and now you.

He frowned, confused.

- But I always say you're beautiful.

His legs were wide apart. Without much thought, I settled between them, like a child seeking comfort. He kissed my nose, and for a brief moment, everything seemed lighter.

- Sorry, I'm not in the best mood today. It's just... we got that stupid notice in the mail.

Sasuke sighed.

- Ah, yes. The letter. We got the one from Izumi.

Of course. Miss Izumi, with her long brown hair and eyes as black as night, was still only twenty years old.

- She's going on a hunger strike so she won't sign up," Sasuke continued, with a mischievous grin. - Something about loving Itachi and blah, blah, blah.

I slapped him on the shoulder.

- You don't have a shred of romanticism.

- And you have the weakest slaps in the whole province.

That was enough. His lips touched mine, and suddenly nothing else mattered. There was no Selection, no poor family, no Fire Country. There was only Sasuke. His warm hands on my back, his lips brushing my neck, the whole world dissipating between us.

- I didn't even use one percent of my strength," I muttered, pulling away with my face on fire. Two years, and he still managed to make me blush.

Sasuke was the most handsome boy in town. Of all the castes. Pale, intense black eyes, even darker hair and a smile that always seemed to hide something. Tall, slim, strong. The pale moonlight highlighted his dark circles - he'd probably spent the whole week at the police base with his father.

His white cotton T-shirt was impeccable, and the jeans he wore must have been worth more than my TV. And yet all I wanted to do was lie next to him, massage his tired shoulders, talk him out of working late and cook something for him.

I didn't want to be the princess of the Land of Fire.

I wanted to be Sasuke's princess.

Being away from him hurt. All it took was a few days and I'd go crazy wondering what he was doing. When I couldn't stand it any longer, I took refuge in Katsuyu. Mr. Inoichi should thank Sasuke for taking such good care of his prize mare.

He drove me crazy.

And that was dangerous.

Sasuke was a Two. The Uchiha were a traditional and prestigious family, known for their loyalty to the royal family. His brother, Itachi, commanded Queen Tsunade's personal guard, one of the most important positions in the kingdom.

I was intelligent and beautiful, but I was unlikely to be accepted into such an influential family. Of course, Mrs. Mikoto adored me, and Izumi treated me like her little doll, always making me up and dressing me up when I visited. But things were much more complicated than a simple weekly visit.

Because I loved Sasuke. I had loved him for almost two years. And he loved me.

With him there, sitting next to me, smoothing my hair, the idea of taking part in the Selection seemed impossible. I was already in love.

- And what do you think of that? I mean, the national team? - I asked.

Sasuke shrugged.

- I think it's normal. The poor guy needs to find a girlfriend somehow. Itachi said that the prince's only female companion is Princess Karin.

I could sense the sarcasm in his voice.

- Sasuke...

- She's unbearable, really. If they managed to get that prince Suigetsu for Princess Karin, why not get a princess for the prince? - He sighed. - But on the other hand, it's kind of a good idea. It's exciting. He'll fall in love in front of everyone. Anyone could be the next queen.

- So, you're encouraging Izumi to take part? - I asked.

He let out a short laugh.

- As if you didn't know her best friend. Izumi only has eyes for Itachi. He promised to marry her when we were, I don't know, twelve. And she's still waiting for him to come back from Konoha to keep his promise.

- I think that's romantic," I muttered.

- It's bullshit! My father is certainly looking for an advantageous marriage for Izumi. And Itachi... will probably be promised to one of the prince's rejects.

- Someone popular enough to boost the Uchiha's morale, right? - I got up from his lap, taking a few steps away. - It's all nonsense to you. Izumi and Itachi. Konan and Pain.

My gaze met his.

- Me and you.

The silence that followed was suffocating.

- This isn't about us, Sakura," he said, his voice tired.

The minutes dragged on like centuries for the low-caste girl in love with a Two.

- Sakura?

- Sakura? - I whispered.

- Are you going to enter the Selection?

- No! Of course not! - I answered immediately. - I don't want anyone to think that I even considered the idea of marrying a stranger. You're the one I love.

Sasuke kept his gaze fixed on me, without looking away.

- It would be perfect, Sakura. If you were selected, even for a single day, you would become a Three. My father couldn't object if I married a Three.

- Have you gone mad? - I got up from the swing, but before I could move away, he grabbed my hands.

- Promise me you'll do it. Promise you'll do it for me.

I shook my head in disbelief.

- This is absurd. The Tea Village has two vacancies, and there are thousands of girls here.

- So why bother?

- Sasuke...

- In the worst case, we'll just have to face my father.

Anguish caught in my throat.

- I don't want to be a princess; I just want to be with you! - My voice came out choked.

Sasuke pulled me into an embrace, pressing his lips against my forehead.

- And you will. But if we can do this without breaking up my family, why not try?

He knew exactly how to disarm me. When he set himself up as a victim, I couldn't say no. And in the end, he was right: the chances of me being chosen were non-existent. All I had to do was follow the process and please everyone.

- Please? - His whisper in my ear made my whole-body shiver.

I let out a defeated sigh.

- Right, bossy! - I replied, smiling.

In an instant, Sasuke lifted me into the air, laughing as he covered my face with kisses.

He had to leave minutes later. The black Lamborghini sped off, disappearing down the dirt road before the 00:45 patrol showed up.