I knew about the photo, a I only applied lip gloss.

  I didn't want that. So not looking pretty was a relief. At least I'd be about ten points below Izumi. She had that natural, uated beauty: big bck eyes, long brown hair and the shy dot in the er of her eye. I could almost see her as queen. But if that happened, it might mean the end for Sasuke and me.

  No. He had promised to marry me long before the Sele. He loved me. He loved Sakura Haruno, The Beautiful One, not Sakura, The Chaste Four.

  - That one looks like a Christmas tree,” said Pain to Lee, but we all heard.

  - I don't know why some exaggerate so much. Look at Sakura, she's so beautiful,” said Mrs. Uchiha. - I'm gd you didn't folloath.

  - I'm nothing special. Who would e over Izumi?

  The Rock Lee soldier raised his hand iement, drawing ughter from everyone.

  - Don't be silly! - Mrs. Uchiha wi me. - Every time Sasuke es back from the police station, he says that Sakura Haruno has passed the intelligend beauty tests twice.

  - Really? Sasuke is always so kind! - said my mother, absent-mindedly, as she analyzed the petition around her.

  - He's a great son, so hard-w.

  - He's going to make a girl very happy one day,” added my mother, rummaging through her bag in searakeup.

  Mrs. Mikoto ughed softly, catg her eye.

  - I think he's already found someone!

  - What's she like? - my mother wao know. Even though I nning my wedding to a plete strahere was always time fossip.

  - He hasn't introduced me to anyone, but I know my children. And I know Sasuke even more.

  - He's been whistling,” tributed Rock Lee.

  - And singing,” added Izumi.

  - Singing? - repeated Pain, puzzled.

  - That's right,” firmed Izumi and Mikoto in unison.

  - So, he really is with someone! - my mother specuted. - Who could it be?

  - I don't know. But she must be a wonderful girl. He's been w very hard... Fugaku is proud. I think he's saving money for the wedding.

  My heart raced, and a squeal of excitement escaped before I could trol myself. Fortunately, everyone assumed it was just because of the news.

  - Nothing makes me happier. He's taken on so many responsibilities at the Police Station. Any girl who makes him happy is like a daughter to me.

  - You're a lucky girl! Sasuke is a wonderful boy,” ented my mother.

  I felt my face heat up, and a smile began to form without me being able to tain it. I... simply had no words.

  He was really going to ask me to marry him!

  It was the only thing going through my head: Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke.

  I got in line, sighe papers firming my information and had my photo taken. Before fag the photographer, I shook my hair twice, giving it a little more life.

  No irl in the whole of the Land of Fire was smiling more than me.

  ***

  It was Friday. The Official Fire try News started promptly at eight. It wasn't an obligation to watch it, but ign it was almost an unfivable mistake. Even the Eight - the beggars and wanderers - found a pce, whether in stores or churches, to follow the news. And with the date of the Sele approag, the Official Journal became an almost patriotic obligation. I've never been much of a patriotic person, but at 7:57 on that Friday, I was already sitting on the fluffy carpet in the living room.

  - Do you think they'll annouhe wioday? - asked Konan, while braiding the hair of Moegi, who was o me.

  - No, the winners have nine days to submit their forms. We won't know for at least two weeks. - My mother replied, leaning on my father's shoulder and giving him a tender kiss on the cheek.

  - I 't wait! - said Paiering the room and throwing himself into the old armchair. Moegi, who was no longer ied in the hairstyle, ran into Pain's p.

  - I carried that little thing around for nine months so she'd fall in love with her father! - Konan grumbled, with false irritation. Uo tiyling Moegi, she started braiding my hair.

  - Pain told me you spent a long time in the queue. - Konan ented.

  - I don't know why give it another nine days. I swear everyone from the vilge was there. - My father ughed softly.

  - Was it fun analyzing the testants, Saky? - he asked, an amused smile on his lips.

  The national anthem began to py and the portrait of the royal family appeared on the s. Queen Tsunade was sitting on a chair, with all her royalty, ao her, Princess Karin on the left and Prinaruto a little behind. The picture had ged over the years. When I was only four, there were two other people in the picture: King Minato, with his serene ale expression - I remember thinking that he looked more like he was made of pster than flesh, but his smile was weling - and Queen Kushina, beautiful and smiling, with her fme-red hair, a true daughter of the Land of Fire.

  - Mother? - I whispered, so as not to distract my father.

  - Yes?

  - Queen Kushina... What was she before the Sele? I mean, what caste was she?

  - Caste Five. - My mother replied, with a tohat mixed nostalgia and longing.

  A Five. She had grown up in a world where music or cy were her panions, perhaps she could even sing like an ahe Five were only three steps away from the mud, literally. But something ented King Minato, something in her personality, perhaps a joke, a special talent. It was easy to fall in love with a girl full of gifts; it was hard to love someone who only knew how to carry saanure and put stalls on horses.

  The camera focused osuo her left rincess Karin, a redhead like Queen Kushina once was, and tht, the object of every girl's sigh: Naruto Senju. The prince was undoubtedly handsome.

  Not like Sasuke, but still in a way that captivated. His sun-blond hair and deep blue eyes were remi of the o. Naruto had a summer face, I could imagine him with a surfboard on the sands of Suna, hing, ughing with that irresistible smile. I bit my lower lip hard, trying to push the idea out of my head.

  Vaku