Chapter Text
The academy training grounds were cleared of students, as only the rustling of leaves could be heard. Crouched underneath a large tree, whose large branches and leaves shielded her, was Natsumi. She sat curled into herself, clutching the white handkerchief Hinako had given her tightly in her hands.
Fresh tears continued to roll down her cheeks. The more her mind replayed what happened earlier in the hallways, the worse she felt, especially when she recalled Chouri's response, because deep down the Akimichi heiress was right. Which only made her remorse hurt worse. She mocked them and declared loudly how they brought shame to the title of kunoichi.
Yet did she truly have any right to say such words? The more she thought over it, the more disgusted she felt with herself.
“So this is where you ran off to.”
Natsumi froze as she slowly lifted her head and found Nara Shikadai standing nearby with both of his hands shoved into his pockets. The young blonde Nara wore his usual bored expression, teal eyes staring down at her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked quietly.
Natusmi used Hinako’s handkerchief to hurriedly wiped her tears. Asking herself, out of everyone, why it had to be Shikadai who found her.
Shikadai shrugged.
“Been asking myself the same thing.”
Natsumi rolled her eyes, and silence settled between them before Shikadai decided to speak.
“About what you said earlier.”
Natsumi felt her stomach begin to twist, not wanting to be reminded of her most horrible moment.
“‘They don’t take being kunoichi seriously.”
“They’re an embarrassment.”
“They care more about being pretty than being shinobi.”
Each quote he recited made her hugged herself tighter because she now understood how ugly they sounded, and questioned herself for even saying such harsh words in the first place.
“You were wrong.”
Natsumi flinched, and it was not because Shikadai sounded angry with her, because he wasn’t. What he felt was disappointment.
“Yeah, they like cute stuff. Talk a lot about fashion and stuff like that. And yeah, they act girly.”
His gaze shifted toward the academy building.
“But I also know how hard they work.”
Unlike other students, who only knew the so-called superficial side of the Academy Three Princesses. Shikadai basically grew up alongside them from when he was a toddler, so he knew them much better than others—having seen things that others hadn’t.
“Saki and Chouri are future clan heiresses. They carry expectations most kids our age can’t even imagine. Every day they train. Not using shortcut methods, but methods that would better help improve their flaws. They work their asses off trying to become shinobi their parents can be proud of.”
Natsumi lowered her head, but Shikadai continued talking, which was saying something, as he usually kept to himself and his personal inner circle.
“Then there is Hinako. People forget she spent a lot of her childhood in the hospital.” His expression softened just an inch because he remembered the times when Daisuke used to always talk about his sick oneechan, and how the two use to visit Hinako when she was in the hospital, mostly because a certain idiot dragged him along, but he never forgotten.
Natsumi blinked her eyes, because, believe it or not, she had indeed forgotten this fact, mainly because it was hardly ever talked about.
“Yet even after her condition improved, people still compare her to the hot shots in her family. Can you imagine having parents who are viewed as shinobi gods, and not to mention falling into the shadows of two prodigy siblings?“
Shikadai recalled a scene he had once stumbled upon by mistake, watching the blonde whom some cruel people ridicule as the Weak Uchiha Princess, engrossed in improving her kunai-throwing and taijutsu skills, and sometimes surrounded by various books as she tries to improve her fuinjutsu skills. All so she can catch up to those big shadows.
“Most people would’ve cracked under that.”
Shikadai's voice remained calm.
“But she still wears a smile on her face with a kind heart that she shows to others, and despite what people say behind her back, she is still trying to improve herself every day.”
Shikadai moved his eyes towards Natsumi.
“That’s not weakness, that is strength.”
“I didn’t mean what I had said!” Natsumi blurted.
“I know.”
Natsumi finally turned to look at the blonde Nara, who calmly answered her, and she saw that his eyes held no judgment towards her.
“You… do?” Natsumi was surprised that Shikadai was not venomous or admonishing her for talking harshly to the three, as she knew the Nara was quite close with the three girls.
Shikadai nodded.
“If you meant it, you wouldn’t be crying out here.”
Those words hit harder than any lecture he had given her as her fingers tightened around Hinako’s handkerchief.
“What should I do?”
Shikadai stared at the clouds, watching them drift over the village.
“Apologize.” His response was direct and classic Shikadai.
“And for once… Be honest with yourself.”
Natsumi stared at the young Nara, taking in the words he had said. For the first time since this whole mess started, she felt a little lighter.
“You know… That was surprisingly wise.” Natsumi admitted.
Shikadai smirked.
“I get that a lot.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Fair.”
There was a pause, and suddenly Shikadai extended his hand towards her.
Natsumi blinked with confusion.
“What?”
“Pay up.”
“…Pay up?”
“Consultation fee.”
Natsumi stared, before her cheek flushed red as she exploded.
“YOU MONEY-HUNGRY SHARK!”
Shikadai rolled his eyes and muttered. “Tch, troublesome.”
Later in the evening, before the last bell, the students who were part of the Shinobi-Track spent this time doing some personal training. Natsumi appeared before Chouri, Saki, and Hinako. Chouri was still glaring at the other girl, still taking her words from earlier to heart, when all of a sudden Natsumi bowed.
“I’m sorry about what I said earlier!” She exclaimed, drawing surprised reactions from the three young kunoichis in training.
“I… I shouldn’t have said those words. Now that I think about it. I was taking my own personal frustrations and insecurities out on you. In actuality, I was just jealous of the three. You three… You are everything that I’m not. Strong, Beautiful, and Popular. While people don’t even look my way, and I suck at making friends.”
Natsumi blurted the truth that had always existed deep within her heart, pouring out her emotions to these three girls. She knew they were probably mad at her, and she wouldn’t blame them if they refused to forgive her. But for once, she wanted to speak the truth to someone… and just maybe… maybe someone would want to be her friend.
Silence echoed after she said everything she wanted.
Natsumi kept her head, mentally preparing herself for the rejection.
SNAP.
Chouri snapped her fingers.
“That’s it.”
Chouri marched forward, a huge grin spreading across her face.
“Class Rep.”
Natsumi nervously swallowed, believing Chouri was about to tell her off, as she did earlier, but probably a lot worse this time.
“Y-Yes?”
Chouri pointed dramatically.
“I’ve decided to forgive you.”
Natsumi blinked, unable to believe what she was hearing, especially after what she had said.
“What?”
“And as your punishment…”
A dangerous glint appeared in Chouri’s eyes.
“You are receiving a full Chouri Akimichi makeover.”
There was silence until…
“HUH?!”
Three pairs of wide eyes shot Chouri way; one of them was Natsumi, who finally looked up.
Later that evening, after the girls stopped at Flower Beauty and checked out with three full bags of products, the four girls found themselves gathered inside the Akimichi household. It was Natsumi’s first time visiting the Akimichi household. The moment they stepped through the front door, she noticed where Chouri inherited her looks.
Karui stood in the kitchen, arms crossed and wearing a knowing smile that looked almost identical to Chouri’s.
Meanwhile, Chōji practically lit up the second he saw his daughter.
“Welcome home, Chouri!”
“Kaachan! Tousan!”
Natsumi watched as Chouri immediately hugged her parents, who in return welcome her warmly, especially her tousan who placed an armful of snacks in her arms, before telling her to have a good time with her friends.
‘Chouri tousan definitely spoils her.’ Noted Natsumi
After Chouri greeted her parents, the group went upstairs and Chouri opened the door to her bedroom. The second Natsumi stepped inside, everything about Chouri's bedroom screamed very-Chouri. It was bright and bold, much like Chouri's personality. Covering the walls were posters of the female idol group, CBU, along with fashion magazine cutouts pinned everywhere. Various beauty products occupied nearly every available surface.
“Take a seat, Class Rep.”
Before Natsumi could protest, she found herself shoved into a chair. Standing before her, Chouri grinned, and it was not a comforting one. It was the grin of a mad scientist who had just discovered her next guinea pig.
“Now…”
Chouri cracked her knuckles. For what reason? Natsumi had no clue.
“Let the queen work.”
For the first time all day, Natsumi felt genuine fear. In the following hour, Chouri quickly got to work on Natsumi's makeover. Throughout the process, Chouri used Saki and Hinako as her personal assistants.
“Saki! Tweezers!”
Saki immediately handed them over.
“We are getting rid of these caliper eyebrows!”
“Hinako! Moisturizer!”
“Coming!”
“We do NOT do dry skin around here!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Saki and Hinako responded like loyal followers.
Despite her initial embarrassment… Natsumi found herself relaxing, and she was surprisingly… having fun. While Chouri worked on her makeup, Saki volunteered to handle her hair. Gentle fingers carefully brushed through Natsumi’s long raven locks.
“There isn’t anything wrong with your hair, Natsumi-chan,” Saki said warmly.
“It just needs a little care.”
Natsumi watched from the mirror as Saki worked on her hair while Chouri applied a timer-set facial mask to her face, and in the meantime, Saki handled her hair. The raven-haired girl's every movement was patient and careful. Showing nothing but kindness towards Natsumi. Nobody had ever treated her hair with this much attention before. Soon the girls had started chatting, even dragging Natsumi into the conversation.
“Do you listen to CBU?” Hinako asked Natsumi, who shook her head.
“My favorite is Sena.”
“What?” Chouri nearly dropped a makeup brush.
“Kiri is obviously the best girl.”
“You’re both wrong.”
Saki spoke up next, smiling.
“Magari is the best.”
An argument immediately erupted. Natsumi watched as the three girls debated favorite songs, concert performances, choreography, idol rankings, and limited-edition merchandise. Suddenly, the conversation switched to training when Hinako noticed Natsumi’s hands.
“You have calluses.”
Natsumi stiffened.
Some of the girls from the Non-Shinobi Track loved to mock the Shinobi-Track students for their bruises, scratches, rough hands, and training scars. To them, such marks were ugly. Proof that shinobi girls were crude, unfashionable, and beneath them.
Yet those small marks were nothing compared to what they would face once they became true shinobi.
In this new age of peace, the divide between civilians and shinobi had begun to grow in quiet, uncomfortable ways. Many civilian families, especially those who owned large businesses, had flourished after the war. Merchants expanded their shops, trading companies grew rich from reconstruction, and luxury brands became more powerful than ever.
Some merchant families earned more in a year than an average chūnin could hope to make.
And with that wealth came arrogance.
Girls like Akari and her groupies looked at shinobi children and saw outdated village customs. Something beneath their polished world of brand-name clothes, expensive cosmetics, and family-owned businesses.
So when Hinako gently touched Natsumi's callused hands, Natsumi braced herself for ridicule.
But Hinako only smiled.
"You train hard.”
There was admiration in her voice. Not judgment like the ones Akari and her group once threw her way. Reaching into her pouch, Hinako handed her a small container.
“I made this. It’s ointment which helps with blisters. I usually give some to Satsuki-chan when she trains too much.”
For a moment, Natsumi stared at the cute, small container in her palm before looking up at the blonde Uchiha, who was smiling at her happily, and now understood why people called Hinako the ‘Sunshine Angel’.
‘A fitting nickname.’ Natsumi, because even after everything that happened earlier… Hinako had never once treated her badly.
“Chouri-chan, how is your expansion jutsu clan technique coming along?” Saki asked while putting two rolling pins in Natsumi's hair. When asked this question, Chouri let out a dramatic groan.
“It's coming along a lot better than before, but I refuse to do the Human Boulder technique.” Chouri comment made the other girls laugh as they watch her pout.
“Like, it's powerful, but it makes me super dizzy and irritates me. Plus…” Chouri hesitated. “I want something new and original. My clan has generations of amazing shinobi, and I’m the odd one out. I’m not like other Akimichi’s, yet I’m constantly being compared to them. Yeah, tousan is always reassuring me. But due to my own differences, it's put me at a slight disadvantage.” Natsumi couldn’t believe her own ears, as it was her first time hearing Chouri sound somewhat lacking in confidence.
Chouri, she knew, always carried herself confidently, no matter what other girls said.
“But no matter what!” Chouri shrugged her shoulders, closing her fashion magazine. “I'm gonna fight my own way! I won’t give up being who I am. Just watch, I’m going to be a fabulous kickass kunochi!” Declared the Akimichi heiress, pointing at herself with her thumb.
“No cussing, Chouri!” Karui yelled from downstairs.
“Sorry kaachan!” Chouri sheepishly scratched her head.
“I know how you feel.” Saki smiled. “I inherited tousan ink-ninjutsu more easily than kaachan clan technique, the mind-body switch, which I’m still struggling with. Don’t get me wrong, kaachan is always there cheering me on, but ink ninjutsu comes easier to me, but no matter what, I’ll keep doing my best. Besides, I don’t want to let down kaachan or our clan.” Determination filled Saki's voice.
Once again shocking Natsumi, who only saw Saki as shy and pretty, a girl who was always doodling in her notebook.
“Trust me, I understand.” This time it was Hinako speaking. “Try having a kaachan who is literally the Second Goddess of Shinobi, and two prodigy siblings. Ryu is one thing, but Satsuki-chan and I are twins, but Satsuk-chan has already made a name for herself outside these villages' walls, but… when people see me. Especially once they figure out my background, and they see nothing but a disappointment.” A sad look entered Hinako's eyes, to which Saki and Chouri patted her shoulders, wanting to reassure the blonde.
Both Saki and Chouri knew of the heavy burden of expectation that Hinako wore on her shoulders, or the teasing she would get, not to mention the harsh comparison that would be made between her and her mother, and even worse, between her and Satsuki, who in terms of shinobi talent was miles ahead of her younger twin sister.
Natsumi was in her chair, and felt something shift inside her. These girls, the so-called perfect princesses who others believed had it all, were quite different from how others saw them. Natsumi thought back to what Shikadai had said to her and realized that they, too, had their own insecurities, fears, and struggles. They were not the perfect princess she had imagined them to be.
“You… You three shouldn’t be so down on yourselves.” Natsumi spoke up, drawing eyes from all three girls.
“I see now that you three are not as perfect as others paint you. Not that it is an insult!” Natsumi hurriedly blurted, not wanting them to misunderstand her. “But… B-But that you feel more human, and not a fantasy cooked up by other students. You struggle. You have fears, and you make mistakes. But despite what others may say, you three keep trying.” Natsumi's voice became stronger the more she spoke.
“Like the Nanadaime said, as long as you never give up, you can achieve anything. So don't give up.” Natsumi wanted to encourage them. The three girls looked at her; none of them said anything, which made Natsumi nervous, as she thought she might have acted up.
Until Hinako smiled, shooting the other girl a genuine smile.
“Thank you, Natsumi-chan.”
“That was very sweet of you to say.” Saki smiled as well.
“Tch, not bad.” Chouri looked away, but her lips were fighting back a smile.
Meanwhile, Natsumi felt happy that her words had done some good, especially after the horrible things she had said earlier. More time had passed, and finally, Natsumi's makeover was wrapped up.
“Alright, Class Rep! It's now time for the moment of truth!” Chouri dramatically removed the blindfold from Natsumi's eyes. Slowly, Natsumi opened her pink, jewel-like eyes, reflecting at her as she took in her full appearance and was shocked. Because while she still looked somewhat the same, she was also different.
Brighter, if I would be a better word to describe it, as her long raven hair had been styled into a fashionable high ponytail. Her skin looked healthier, and her brows were now properly shaped and no longer looked calliperial. A hint of blush highlighted her cheeks, and a touch of gloss softened her lips.
“And we’re not finished.”
Saki placed a neatly folded outfit on the bed, and Chouri pointed to it and told Natsumi.
“Get changed!”
Natsumi obeyed, and a few minutes later she emerged, and the room erupted in squeals, nearly scaring Choji downstairs, as Karui rolled her eyes at her husband. Back inside, the girls were gushing over Natsumi.
“You look so cute, Natsumi-chan~!” Squealed Hinako
“See! Didn’t I tell you I am the queen of fashion!” Chouri puffed her chest out.
“Hai, Chouri-chan, you are the queen of fashion,” Saki told Chouri.
Natsumi stared at herself in the mirror and felt her eyes watered, because for the first time in a very long time… She felt beautiful. Not because someone else told her she was, but because she honestly believed it. Chouri walked forward and placed a hand on Natsumi's shoulder.
“Now, time for me to give you some words of advice, Class Rep. A kunochi is always beautiful, and we come in various forms. She can be cute, tough, wear pretty dresses, have six-pack abs, a glam-queen, and a total tomboy. What truly matters is that she is being herself and never changes for anyone. So always be beautiful, and just be you.” Chouri offered the other girl a soft smile, and for the first time that day, Natsumi cried happy tears as the girls welcomed her into a tight group hug.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Natsumi repeated through tears.
Omake: Financial Crime
Earlier that day…
When Chouri had dragged the girls to Flower Beauty. A combination of Yamanaka Flower Shop and a cosmetic store, owned by none other than Yamanaka Ino. Ever since the merger, business and sales have skyrocketed. The second Chouri stepped inside and grabbed a cart, which she began to fill with various products. Ten minutes later, a second cart was added, which was also filled to the brim.
“Chouri, do we really need all of this?” Natsumi nervously asked.
Chouri didn’t even look her way, grabbing some facial toner that dropped into the cart.
“Absolutely. This is top beauty operation.” Finally having wrapped up grabbing everything she needed, the four girls made their way to the counter, where Ino waited for them.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite customers.”
“Hello, Ino-obachan~!” Hinako cheerfully greeted the older woman.
”Hi, kaachan!” Saki greeted her mother.
“And what can I do for my three princesses today?”
“Ino-obachan, this is a top beauty emergency!” Chouri signaled dramatically; Ino looked at the overflowing carts and let out a whistle.
“This is quite the haul.” Ino let out a whistle as she began to ring up the products. Chouri had grabbed various moisturizers, lip gloss, hair care products, perfumes, beauty oils, and a lot of nail polish. By the time Ino was finished, the total even left her surprised, especially going by Chouri's standards.
“Even with your discount, are you sure you can afford all of this?” Ino said worriedly, only for Chouri to grin, which worried Saki somewhat, having grown familiar with that grin.
“Don’t worry, Ino-obachan! I got it covered.” Ino watched as Chouri dramatically took a shining card, and the moment Saki saw it, her soul almost left her body.
“Chouri-chan… Isn’t that Shikadai card?” Saki's voice was almost a whisper, hoping she was wrong, but Chouri's grin only grew wider, proving that she had indeed guessed right.
“He let me borrow it.”
Saki immediately knew this was a terrible lie, probably the worst lie Chouri ever told, because Nara Shikadai willingly handing over money was about as likely as the Hokage Tower sprouting wings and flying away.
“You stole it, didn’t you?”
“I prefer the term borrow, Saki-chan.”
“That’s stealing.”
“Only temporary.”
“Stealing is still stealing, Chouri-chan!”
Ino pretended she couldn’t hear their argument and continued ringing up items, because in her eyes, business was business.
Elsewhere in Konoha, Shikadai sat inside Thunder Burger with Daisuke and Hitoshi. The boy had just finished eating, and Shikadai reached for his wallet, ready to pull out his card when his expression paused, and his expression changed.
Why the scary look, some may ask? It was because Shikadai noticed his favorite card was missing. The very one connected to his savings accounts and other important side businesses.
Daisuke had already placed his money on the table when he flinched, having caught the scary look on Shikadai's face.
“Bro, you okay?”
But Shikadai didn’t answer, eyes twitching, mind mentally reviewing potential suspects. Nestled within Hitoshi's hoodie, Shiro trembled. Why? Because in Shikadai's mind, someone was about to die. But as his mind narrowed down suspects, a scene of him dropping his wallet at lunch, which Chouri only returned to him at the end of school, replayed in his mind. Shikadai stood to his feet, slamming his hand on the table, making both Daisuke and Hitoshi flinch.
“CHOURII!!!!!”
His screams echoed across half the village.
“Yep, she’s dead.” Daisuke
“Definitely dead,” Hitoshi repeated.
Meanwhile, at Flower Beauty, Chouri used Shikadai's card to buy another face mask and a new set of nail polish for herself, completely unaware of the threat to life.