— A visit by the Crown Prince to a territory suspected of political treason? — Princess Karin rose from her cushioned chair, crossing her arms. — Do you enjoy walking into the lion's mouth, brother?"
— I'm not asking for your opinion, Karin. I'm just telling you. A king should know the hardships of his people.
I understood Karin. Partly because I knew what it was like to try to keep a country alive. Every royal family knew of Tsunade's debts and vices. She had been a good queen in her time, but that time was over. From an early age, Karin had been walking a tightrope: cutting costs, cheering up taxpayers, smiling to those she needed, keeping out the rebels, and most of all, keeping her brother from becoming as bitter and exhausted as she was.
But did anyone really think about her? Of course, there were many rumors. They said she was smart, shrewd and ambitious. Some called her cruel, others said she wanted the throne in her brother's place. Many even said she should rule. They painted her as if she were one of those soap opera plots, where King Minato had two sons: one good and kind, and the other... her.
But what about the real Karin? Did anyone know her? Did anyone care?
She was a child when she lost her parents, and she should have been playing with dolls at the time. Instead, she was left with a depressed grandmother, forced to carry a burden that did not belong to her. Karin became steely, unyielding, as gentle as a hungry wolf, as selfless as a venomous viper. She never forgot an affront, real or imagined. She mistook kindness for stupidity and disagreement for defiance.
But it was like that because they forced it to be.
If it weren't for that, the kingdom would have fallen. The Fire monarchy would have crumbled. And her brother, the only damned person she had left and whom she loved with all her heart, would be lost. To protect him, Karin played the villain. Because of her father's legacy and her brother's history, she accepted being the callous and cruel one. As long as they were both safe, that was enough for her.
— I'll tell you what you'll find, Naruto. Streets filled with Caste Eights, half-dead from hunger, half-dead from cold, accepting any piece of bread to rip their heads from their bodies.
— It is my people who are dying there. — he countered. — Succumbing to evil by necessity, not by choice.
—I could request an armed escort. Soldiers could secure the ground before our arrival.
— What do you mean by 'we'? — C jumped beside me. — Our father left you in Konoha to socialize with the Fire, close business deals, maybe find a wife. Not to get caught in the middle of rebel gunfire.
And there he was. My little brother.
A bastard's opinion didn't usually carry weight with Karin, but amid so many compassionate faces, she seemed pleased to find a supporter.
— The Southern Colonies are no man's land, but they border our kingdom — I continued. — Prince Naruto and I have responsibilities towards those people.
C gestured, Karin screamed, but in the end, we got our passage to the Southern colonies at the end of the week.
***
A bill.
I tapped the tip of my pencil on the blank binder. Another test to prove our qualifications as princesses. Each of us had chosen solitude to think: Pakura was in the women's hall, Tenten in the garden, Hinata in her room, and I... sat on the edge of the southern wall.
The city stretched out before my eyes like a living painting. I saw the bustling market, the great temple, and, farther away, an immense blue mass that smelled of salt.
— You shouldn't be here.
The voice came from behind. Sasuke. His shadow was welcome against the merciless three o'clock sun.
— Yes, soldier?
He rolled his eyes.
— Go back inside.
- No.
I looked back at the blank binder and flipped through the page. He frowned and went on his way. I watched him walk down the stairs until Pakura appeared.
She was the most beautiful Selected, no one could deny it. Fine hair in mixed tones, a friendly face, rosy cheeks, full lips and honey-colored eyes. That afternoon, she was wearing a well-cut cream dress and very high heels. She was already tall, almost as tall as Naruto. With those heels, she would be even taller than him.
—Hidden in the wall? — he smiled.
— Thinking about something. And you, have you had any ideas?
— I have one. — Which, obviously, he wouldn't share with me. — But I think you've fried your neurons enough. The girls and I are seeing something much more interesting in the training yard.
She gave me a mischievous look.
— Come. You'll love it.
***
Under an umbrella next to the athletics track, Hinata and Tenten were waiting for us.
Hinata wore a large white hat, giving her an elegant and vintage look, perfectly matching her white frilly dress. Tenten wore a short red floral dress on a blue background and wore large sunglasses — probably to disguise her insistent gaze on the sweat-shiny abs of the guard soldiers.
That was it. A training.
And, like the perverts we were, we prepared to watch the shirtless guards run.
— God, Papi! — Tenten fanned herself with a magazine as one of the soldiers walked by, sweat running gloriously down his biceps.
— I told you the weather here was nice! — Pakura winked at me.
A butler arrived with a tray of cut fruit and refreshing juices, and we began to talk about those bodies.
I had met cute boys my entire life: Pain, Deidara… Sasuke. But nothing compared to this. Nothing compared to those soldiers.
— When I was younger, I had a boyfriend… Gods… he was addicted to working out, and I followed all his workouts. It was embarrassing to sit for hours at the gym. — Pakura sighed, her eyes fixed on a defined six-pack, biting into a piece of pineapple.
— My first boyfriend was addicted… to cheating on me with my cousin Tonton. Their baby is due early next year. — Tenten rolled her eyes and downed her lemonade in one go, already asking for another.
— My ex-boyfriend was addicted to saying he didn't have a girlfriend.
— What do you mean? — Hinata's eyes widened.
— We were dating in secret. He was from a high caste. It would never work.
— High caste? Type Three? — Tenten was curious.
— Type Two.
They were shocked. Mouths open, eyes wide.
—But, Sakura-san, you're a Three now. You're an Elite. Maybe he'll accept you.
Hinata had innocent eyes. She didn't want to hurt me. She was always extremely polite.
But I think deep down she saw a Four like me as someone with a disease… starting to be cured by the Selection.