- We have nothing more to say.

  He hurried off, and I followed. The staff watched us - they looked at my wet face, then at the redness on Sasuke's face. When he reached the front door, I shouted:

  - Uchiha Sasuke, don't you dare move!

  My voice sounded fierce. He stopped and finally faced me.

  - Are you rehearsing for when you bee one?

  If it hadn't been for his eyes, I would have believed it was just a joke, but the offense was clear. Sasuke got on his bike and I stood there in the doorway, tears streaming down my face. The ph again.

  - Hello? - Moegi answered, her voice broken. - No, my aunt isn't here... my aunt died.

  The m, I put on the uniform of the selected girls: bck pants, white shirt and, in my hair, the flower that represented my province - a white rose. The shoes, however, were my choice, and my mother's mouth twitched when she saw me in my shiny riding boots.

  - Sakura! - she excimed, visibly upset.

  I wao make it clear from the start that I wasn't born to be a princess.

  Now I was a Three. There was something about those chosen from the lower castes, those from caste Four downwards, who, after the Sele, couldn't adapt to their old lives. For this reason, those chosen from these castes were automatically given a passport to the third step.

  ***

  The day didn't start well. Professuren, Konan's mother, appeared unannounced on our doorstep, trying to re-establish the family ties that she herself had severed. Pain had been grimag ever since, but Konan, after so long without seeing her mother, looked radiant. Her eyes were watery - after all, it was her mother.

  The car that would take me to the tral square was white and old, with enough room for my whole family. I sat between my father and Pain, who suggested that I be apanied by the men of my family.

  Pain was my only sotion. He held my hand tightly, trying to give me a bit of enthusiasm. We were still holding hands wheook the first step into the square, which acked with people. It seemed like the whole vilge of Tea was there to say goodbye to me and Ino.

  Another car, identical to mine, arked o mine and a woman who must have been a queen got out. Ino, with her hair loose and curled at the ends, wore the rose with a grace that made it seem as if it had always been hers, while I, in my riding boots, began to feel immensely embarrassed. The boots I had chosen looked ridiculous pared to the elegant red pumps that adorned Ino's feet. She hugged me, and I felt a lump in my throat.

  - I couldn't have chosen ater to be with me,” she said into my ear.

  - Ah, Ino... - I replied, aarted to cry, like two silly girls. The fshes of the cameras enveloped us before we climbed onto the huge ptform.

  Standing oform, I could clearly see the divisioween the castes. Waneesa Wandgor, a Three, was gring at me, as were her parents. Sarah Lynn, a Seven, was kissihe upper castes looked at me as if I had stolen something from them. From the Four downwards, everyone was cheering for me - the ordinary girl who had beeed. I then realized the weight of my significe to everyohere. I represented something to them. I focused on the faces around me, holding my head high. I was determio stand out. The was Ino's, but I still had a ce to do well. Sakura Haruno, the champion of the lower castes.

  The mayan his speech, gesturing wildly.

  - The Tea Vilge was cheering for the beautiful daughters of Fire, Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura! - Ino stood erect, receiving the appuse and votes of the upper castes, but it was I who received the kisses from the Seven and the shouts from the Six. I was happy about that.

  I let that sound wash over me for a moment, abs the energy of the crowd. I smiled and waved to everyone when Maito Guy, a Six, threw a ation at my feet. I thanked him with a smile.

  Then I went back to watg the crowd, but this time with a different goal.

  I wao see his faore time. It didn't matter if it was with an expression of disgust or fury, I just wao see him. I didn't know if he would e. Nobody fets the person they love ht, I wao believe that, but suddenly I began to questioher he really loved me.

  After sing the crowd twice, I finally found him. I wish I hadn't. Sasuke was there, behind Araigar, ing his arms around her waist and smiling at her.

  Maybe some people really fet others ht.

  Arana was a Three, about my age. Pretty, no doubt, but she had nothing to do with me. Sasuke had apparently ged his tastes with arming rapidity. He smiled at her and then walked away, heading towards his family. Izumi waved and cried at me, while Mrs. Uchiha, with a provincial flower in her hair, looked stunning. el Uchiha, with one of his arms around his wife, didn't appud, didn't wave, didn't smile.

  When I looked at Sasuke again, he was staring at me intensely.

  - Sas...

  - Would you like to say a few words, my dear? - The mayor's voice whispered softly to me, while Ino gave me a curious look. The party was ing to an end, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't take my eyes off the idiot who was hypnotizing me.

  - Thank you, but I'm so overwhelmed that I don't think I say anything at the moment. - I replied, trying to hide my disfort.

  He thely took my hand, holding it between his, and with a reassuring smile, said:

  - Of course, young dy. Don't worry about it. Leave it to me, I'll take care of everything.

  The speech this time was a string of pliments directed at me and Ino. Oher side, my friend watched me with a suspicious look. I decided to ignore her. When the mayor mentiohat I was “too beautiful for a Four”, I forced the fakest smile of my life.

  As my eyes roamed the square, I spotted Sasuke's face again in the crowd. His expression was distant, pained - the plete opposite of the one he had shown Arana minutes before. Aname, Sasuke? I'm tired of pying.

  Vaku