Hinata's Point of View
My diary — today went well, much like any of my other days. We attended classes from morning until after noon, then I had piano lessons, dance practice, and kendo. I returned home at nine in the evening as usual.
When I finished writing that line I sighed, stretched my limbs, and yawned. I had finished my homework too, so I had a little free time before sleep.
I flopped onto my bed, clutching the brown teddy bear and hugging it tight to my chest. Why is my life like this? I have no time to play with my friends, and every time they ask me to go to karaoke or the cinema I have to refuse because of piano, dance, and kendo practice.
"Even though he expects nothing of me, he really tries to make my life a living hell — I mean, to make me the perfect bride. Is that how much he wants the clan's head seat?" I muttered, then sighed. What's the use of resisting now?
You might wonder where all of this began — perhaps you won't — but I'll say it anyway because I truly need to vent these feelings, or I may go mad soon.
My chain of memories begins when I was about five, maybe six. I don't recall much from then except for one memory I cannot forget — and perhaps that memory is what made me who I am.
I was playing in the courtyard as usual and ran inside to tell my father, whom I believed to be the best man in the world, that I had found a four-leaf clover.
Perhaps I was truly lucky, because I heard him say words that shattered me completely.
"If only it were born a boy."
I learned then that I was the reason my father did not become the clan's current head; because I — his eldest daughter — was born female. The inheritance passed to my cousin, who was born two years before me: Neji. He became the clan's heir, to be crowned this year when he turns eighteen. From then on my father became strict with me and began preparing me to be his perfect wife, to bear him as many grandchildren as possible — thus ensuring that my dear father's grandchildren would inherit the clan. Even if that meant sacrificing my life for it. Without asking me, he and my uncle and my grandfather Hamora decided everything.
I sighed again and felt my eyelids grow wet. Honestly, for some years I devoted myself entirely to this. I did not mind being Neji's wife — he was kind, gentle, and treated me well. Even as children he always praised me, saying I would be the most charming wife.
I believed he loved me, so I loved him too.
I loved him deeply — I adored him; my room was filled with his pictures hanging everywhere. Don't blame me for my obsession: while all my family treated me like a tool, Neji treated me like a person. For that reason, Neji was everything to me.
Yes — he was.
Then his feelings began to show themselves differently. He treated me coldly; even his words became flashy and insincere. Suddenly he pulled away from me as if we had become strangers.
I tried to find out why, and what I discovered was that he already had another woman in his life. I lied to myself many times, cared for him so much, but I could not deny what my eyes had seen: his hand holding hers like that, walking happily — all after I had helped him dress and prepared him to go to school that day. I cried until my tears dried because he went with another woman and simply forgot me.
Yes — another. I am not inventing facts or anything.
He confessed his feelings to me before — he told me he loved me and would make me happy forever, that he would be the best husband. I accepted his feelings gratefully.
But another woman stole him from me.
I clenched my teeth — angry, desperate, broken.
There was nothing I could do. Truly, I could do nothing. When I went to tell my father what had happened, he slapped me coldly, crushing whatever feelings I had left for this cursed family. He cruelly told me I had not tried hard enough to keep Neji focused on me; he even dared to tell me to seduce him and become pregnant by him — that would solve everything, and then he could secretly meet that woman while I would be his official wife.
That was obscene. My father asking me to do something so vile.
In that moment I understood everything: I was only a means to gain influence in the clan.
I hate them. I hate them all. All men are like this — liars, deceivers, after nothing but money and power, thinking that women will be happy and forgive all their deeds for that reason.
For a while I thought, why wasn't I born a boy? Why was I not born male?
By a cruel twist, fate slapped me again, mockingly: I, with all that I am, am a woman. A blond boy saved me from slipping into a pond and falling down the stairs to my death.
He grabbed me roughly, wrapping his arms around me with insolence, pressing his lips near my ear. His big arms tightened around my waist with mischief and audacity, a poisonous thrill coursed through my body like lightning. He held me, exposed my weakness, asserted his dominance over me — it shook me, left me dazed and intoxicated. It was overwhelming, humiliating, degrading — but it felt — oddly — good.
I argued with him, but he kept holding me, saying I hadn't noticed the pond beside my feet. I'm sure he only did it to get a chance to touch me that way. No man had ever touched me so close before!
I told him to let me go, but I will never forget the humiliation I felt. Why? Why, when I wanted change, did I so deeply love being a woman?
I hugged the brown bear tightly, imagining that insolent blond boy wrapping his arms around me, dominating me, making me his, protecting me from everything. I hated that blond boy — but more than that, I hated my taste for it.
I hate myself. I hate that boy. I hate Neji. I hate my father. I hate my family. I hate all men. I hate everything.
Tears flowed from my eyes. I was weak; even when I pretended not to be, I know I am weak and need help — but I cannot trust anyone anymore.
"I want to be free…"
I closed my eyes and drifted into my dream world, letting the deepest wish escape from my lips.
---
Naruto's Point of View
The next morning I woke to the sound of the maid, Mina.
My morning passed as usual: I had breakfast with my family, greeted Grandmother Mito in her room and wished her a speedy recovery, and then I set out for school.
On the way I met Kiba and Sakura, and Shino and Rock Lee suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Lately they've been sticking close to me everywhere, under the pretext of keeping me safe from any potential danger. I thought they truly were worried about me then; it's their way of showing it. It wasn't too annoying, frankly, so I didn't mind — it also gave me some protection from the Akatsuki.
Sasuke and Ino went off in a separate direction — Sasuke and Sakura's relationship wasn't great anymore since Sasuke got involved with Ino.
When we reached the school, the first thing I did was pull Karin up to the roof because there was a favor I needed from her that no one else could fulfill.
So now we stand facing each other while Karin places a hand on her hip and tilts her head slightly, asking with a certain coldness, "You're not trying to confess your love to me, are you? Let me be clear: you're not my type, and I don't care about you even a little. You're like an ant to me…"
"Hey — I haven't said anything yet and you're already insulting me? Where's your goodwill? What about friendship? And calling me an ant — is that all I mean to you?"
"Do you want an honest answer?"
"No, please — don't answer. Just listen to what I want to say…" I replied, refusing to suffer a more painful emotional blow.
"All right, but be quick — unlike you, I don't have much free time."
I rolled my eyes; she's scary. I don't even want to argue with her. I cleared my throat, sighed, and looked at Karin seriously. "I want to join the basketball club."
My words evidently surprised Karin — she opened her mouth slightly — but before she could say anything clear she muttered to herself, placing a hand over her mouth as if performing a complex calculation.
"Frankly, given your build and your exceptional physical ability, you'd be a tremendous addition to the team. You're a beginner and don't know much about basketball yet, but if we build you for next season's league, we'll almost certainly win the championship…"
She lifted her head and stared at me quietly. "I don't care about your reasons, but I'll do my best to convince the coach to accept you on the team. He'll be pleased to know your potential. Also, we were in need of a playmaker since Suigetsu hasn't returned and has taken a long-term leave."
I smiled happily at Karin. "Thank you, Karin. I won't forget this."
"No need. I was only thinking about the team's future. Honestly, you should be the one thanking me for caring about joining our team…"
"No — it's something I've wanted to do for a long time, but a lot has happened up to today."
"If that's all, then I must go. You can start coming to club practice from tomorrow. I'll explain everything to the team today… get yourself ready to join."
"I understand…"
Karin turned and left the roof, and I tightened my grip on my fist. This was something I had to do. Sasuke had been distant from us, and I thought that if I joined the basketball club I could somehow reconnect with him — I was sure we could return to how we were when we were children.
A little while later I climbed down from the roof and began walking back to class.
In the corridor I met a red-haired boy walking slowly toward me, hands in his pockets, wearing his usual provocative smile. I rolled my eyes and heard him say, "Well hello, hello to the new Red Devil. How does it feel to have stolen my title? You know, I don't feel good about it; I feel as if my existence has been erased. Will people start calling me… Lucian?"
The former Red Devil, Lucian, said with a small smile, though his tone showed a bit of annoyance.
"Are you blaming me? You shouldn't have taken Jin's side and protected him like an obedient dog. Look what happened to you."
"Okay, but Jin's actions looked fun at the time…"
"Do you call attempting to assault an innocent girl 'fun'?"
Lucian faltered and looked aside, guilt forming strangely in his eyes. "I didn't think he'd go that far…"
I sighed, placed my hand on my hip, and said to him, "If you want to blame someone, blame Shino for that. Frankly, I didn't want to get dragged into all this. All I wanted was to live a normal school life. Just normal."
"What's the fun in living a boring school life? It's one life — if you don't enjoy your youth to the fullest, you'll regret it…"
I couldn't help but burst into laughter, remembering my former self who once said such things.
"Hey, bastard — what's so funny about what I just said?" Lucian snapped, glaring at me. I wiped my tears quickly and replied so he wouldn't misunderstand me, "I'm not mocking you — you just said words of someone I knew long ago…" (Of course I won't tell him that those were my words in a previous world when I was a genin.)
"Say whatever you want. I've had enough of you, so I'll leave. Make sure to call me if anything happens — it's essential the executives be present before a mission begins."
"Executives? Hey, what are you saying?!" I asked.
"What? Didn't you know? Lili decided to step down from her position and announced the merger of her forces with the Kaseron. Now, Naruto — you control all the gangs in the high school. All the big names in the school are your executives now. This happened some time ago." Lucian finished, staring at me.
I opened my eyes in shock and screamed at him so loudly his ears must have rang, "What are you saying?!!!"
. . .
"Thank you for granting my request…"
Somewhere in the school, in a back alley where darkness shrouded everything, footsteps sounded coldly toward that gloom.
With his spiky black hair and cold black eyes, Sasuke stood in the alley with both hands in his pockets, his face wearing a somewhat dangerous expression.
"It doesn't matter. Just get to your point… Shion."
"Oh — you already know me? What — are you interested in me?"
A blonde girl with violet eyes stepped out of the darkness, smiling playfully with a dangerous laugh. Sasuke did not flinch and kept his expression cold.
"You're famous enough to expect to be known. Stop acting mysterious — it disgusts me. Get to the point quickly; I don't have time for people like you."
Shion's playful face turned slightly angry as she stepped closer to Sasuke. She moved her hands to his shirt collar, grabbed his tie, and yanked him toward her with some force. Their faces came dangerously close, and Shion hissed more dangerously, "Mind your words, you mischievous Uchiha… people like you should be beneath my feet when you speak to me."
She let go of his tie and turned, revealing a well-kept body — a dangerous bomb of femininity — but Sasuke did not waver under the temptation and looked away coldly.
"As I told you before… I want you to ally with me… regarding Naruto… and I will help you make him leave this school forever."
"And what price do you want?"
Sasuke couldn't read Shion's expression, but the way she moved her hand between her thighs, her soft moans, and the trembling of her hips and legs made him understand what Shion was offering so brazenly, leaving him feeling intense disgust.
"I want Naruto… help me break him… make him alone… then I will be there to wrap my arms around him, hold him, and make him mine…"
Shion turned to Sasuke with an exultant smile and flushed cheeks, panting a little as she said, "If you help me get Naruto, I promise you'll never see him again in your life… neither him nor Sakura…"
Sasuke tightened his fist. "Keep Sakura out of this!!"
Shion looked slightly surprised, then smiled. "Even though you already have Ino? What a playboy you are…"
Sasuke turned away in anger. "I'll overlook the Naruto matter, but if Sakura is harmed… I'll end you."
"We have a deal then~ I look forward to working with you, Devil…" Shion laughed happily as Sasuke left, a dark aura around his face.
. . .
To Be Continued.