Naruto: Chosen

- I wet your little friend who talks too much. I've told you a thousand times not to bring those chickens here. - I said, anger overflowing. Over Izumi's shoulder, I saw that Sasuke still had his arm over the girl's shoulder.

- Kim, are you all, right?" the girl asked. I knew her, but I didn't know her name. That's when Kim freaked out and pushed me and Izumi out of the way to make way for her big show.

- That Four had the audacity to wet me! - Sasuke looked at me and, with a sudden movement, disentangled himself from the girl. - I demand that she be sent to apologize and repair the damage to my clothes.

A Four hired by a Two was under his full responsibility, according to the constitution, but I wasn't one of the Uchiha, I was one of the Yamanaka, and I was far from home.

- I am a Four under the responsibility of the Yamanaka, not the Uchiha. They don't answer to me.

Sasuke grabbed my arm so hard that I groaned in pain. His eyes were filled with rage when he said:

- Don't ever come into this house again.

- Let me go! - I screamed, trying to pull my wrist free, but to no avail.

- Let her go, Sasuke! What's gotten into you? - Izumi tried to pull us apart, but Sasuke pushed her away and dragged me into an office, locking the door.

- Hell, do you want to tarnish the name of the Uchiha? Do you want everyone to believe that the servants are in charge here?

- What the fuck are you talking about? - I replied, confused and furious.

- Kim is a Hamezuka. While my father is away, I'm in charge of this family. And I'm not going to let someone like you...

- Someone like me? - I interrupted, sarcastically. - So, tell me, Sasuke, what's someone like me like? A maid? A corral cleaner? Why don't you tell your friends outside who you've been getting involved with? Or tell your mother who your girlfriend is? Or tell that girl you were hugging that you're going to marry me!

I pushed him away, but he pulled me back with a force I'd never seen before.

- I would never marry a Four.

The slap that hit my face made them let me go. I ran outside, but soon Sasuke's two friends held me back.

- Let her go, now! - Izumi ordered. Immediately, they released me. I fell to the ground awkwardly, but before I could get up, Izumi tried to help me. I, however, ran.

I ran outside, to the car, to the house. I ran into my father's arms and only there, finally, did the crying begin to take hold of me.

***

I just wanted to be alone. Everyone, with unexpected delicacy, gave me two days to recover. But at eleven o'clock on the third day, Mr. Inoichi was in my living room.

- Sakura, can we talk?

Mr. Inoichi was tall, imposing like a basketball player, with long blond hair and dark brown eyes. His appearance, in a way, reminded me of an older version of Deidara, but he was absurdly handsome, despite his age.

- Mebuki, could you bring those wonderful cookies you make? - He asked with a gentle smile. My mother bit her lips, and for the first time, I saw her hesitate before obeying Mr. Inoichi's order. I reassured her with a simple nod, and she disappeared into the kitchen.

- Would you like to sit down, Mr. Yamanaka? - I asked, pointing to the sofa. He smiled again and made himself comfortable, while I sat down in the armchair facing him.

- You know why I'm here, don't you? - He began, his voice low and calm. I did. Honor. I had tarnished the honor of his house with my little show. He had every right to kick me and my family off his land, and I knew it would all be my fault.

- I've known you since you were just a little girl and I've also known Kim since Ino brought her here. I know you, Sakura Haruno. Can I hear your story?

The words came out, heavy, almost choking.

- She said that my mother should know her place, that she walked around like a Two. She said that my mother should be more like my father, covered in dirt and always crouched down, staying in her place. - My voice faltered, choked with tears. By the time I had finished speaking, the tears were coming down hard, wetting my face profusely.

Mr. Inoichi ran his hand through my hair in a fatherly gesture, and the look he gave me was one of pure pity.

***

The Hamezuka demanded an apology from the Yamanaka, and Kim demanded a new golf uniform. Ino paid for the uniform, and Deidara apologized personally. Mr. Yamanaka smiled, proud of his children.

- But the girl wants your apology.

My mother returned to the living room with the famous cookies and two cups of tea. Inoichi's gaze was dark when he finally said:

- Kim demanded the Law of the Eye, Sakura.

***

Mr. Hamezuka was a doctor in the region and, as a good professional, he had more pressing concerns than witnessing his own daughter's revenge. But Kim, on the other hand, had brought her mother and two younger sisters to watch the spectacle.

I knelt down in front of her.

- Tsk... Well, well... Who knew? - She laughed, pleased.

- This isn't a joke, Kim. Just get it over with. - Deidara intervened.

Behind me, the Yamanaka lords and their twin sons watched in silence. At that moment, they were my family.

One of Kim's sisters handed him a jug, and the girl slowly poured the icy water over my head. Every drop was torture, but what was worse were the smiles. The humiliation scratched deeper than the cold. But the water finally ran out.

- Get up, Haruno. - Kim ordered.

I stood up, my dress soaking wet, my body trembling with anger, my eyes stinging with tears that I refused to shed. It was too much.

- Your debt is paid to the king, Haruno Sakura.

Kim slid his cold fingers across my cheek in a gesture that was as condescending as it was cruel.

- Educate your employees better, Yamanaka. I don't want this to happen again. - Mrs. Hamezuka said before getting into the black limousine. Her daughters followed her, but Kim stayed for a moment.

She turned to me with a calculated smile.

- An eye for an eye, Haruno. But I'm not finished yet.

Then she got into the car and disappeared.

I stood there, static, until Mrs. Yamanaka approached me and held out a towel, gently drying my face.

- Let's just forget about it, okay?

She smiled. A smile that only mothers have.

And, for a moment, I wanted to believe that everything would be all right.