My mother was ecstatic when we picked up the letter from the post office. For her, this solved all our problems, as if they had simply ceased to exist. The only obstacle in her brilliant pn was me. I never saw myself as a disobedient daughter, even though my mother loved to cim otherwise in her versations with her friends.
I hid on the roof, the only pce where I could escape the chatter. From there, I could see the city lights twinkling in the distance, while I tried to find an argument that would vince my mother. But, until that moment, all I had was a colle of ho opinions... and I doubted she would listen to any of them.
The irresistible aroma of roasti filled the air, announg that dinner was ing. I knew I couldn't avoid her for long. With o g the horizon, I turned away from the window and, without hesitation, jumped into my room.
My mreeted me in the living room with an angry look on her face, but remained silent. My father lowered his gsses, gave me a brief look and, without saying anything, went back to reading the neer.
- But are you going to die if you fill in the form? - she said, uo tain herself. - The Sele could be an incredible opportunity for you... for all of us.
I sighed deeply, feeling that filling in that form would be like signing my owence.
It was that the rebels - the underground ies that hated the Fire try, our vast aively youory - were stepping up their attacks on the pace, making them increasingly frequent and violent. We had already witheir as in Konoha: el Uchiha's house had been partially burned down, and vehicles belonging to members of Caste Two had beeroyed.
But apart from the threats, the thought of the Seleade my heart ache. Still, I couldn't help smiling as I remembered all the reasons for stayily where I was.
- “The st few years have been cruelling for your father,” my mother cooed, as my father closed the neer. - If you have the slightest bit of passion, you'll think of him.
My father. Yes, I wao help him. And Pain, and Konan. Even my mother. But I couldn't smile at the way she expihe situation.
- Stop t the girl, Mebuki,” said my father, his voice hoarse and exhausted. He was tired of spending the day pruning the Yamanaka lords' pnts and, at night, having to pruheir dies' fights.
Our situation wasn't so desperate that we feared for our survival. We weren't miserable, but we weren't far off either.
Our caste was only four steps above ro. We were farmers, and the gardeners, who occupied a slightly higher position, were still very close to the dirt. Literally. Our money was scarce, the house we lived in was a debt to the Yamanaka, and we lived at the mercy of a delicate bance. Our ine depended directly on the ging seasons.
We couldn't pnt when the snow was falling or when the sun was scorg the earth. There were only a few months between these extremes when pnting ossible, and without these harvests, my family was totally at the mercy of the Yamanaka mansion, with our ine halved.
My father dedicated himself to the estate's gardens, tending to everything with the zeal of a craftsman. Pain and Konan worked on our family pntation, making sure we had enough vegetables to sell at the market. My mother was housekeeper at the Yamanaka house, anding the servants with the same rigidity as she treated us at home. And I looked after the horses, alongside Lee. Mr. Yamanaka had a colle of racehorses, fast as the wind and as expensive as the queen's jewels.
Moegi was still too young to carry a saanure or tame a stallion, but she was only seven. There was still time for that.
Soon, the leaves orees would begin to fall, and our little world would roce again. Six mouths to feed and only five workers. Ine would be halved for at least three months.
When I thought like that, the Selector became a rope I could hold onto. Maybe that stupid letter was the ce to get off the bottom, and then I could take my family with me.
I looked at my muy always said she was a beauty at my age, with straw-colored hair that reached down to her waist and emerald greehat made the boys crowd around my grandfather's door. Mebuki Haruno was getting chubbier with age, her hair cut to shoulder length and the lines of age marking her face. She was still beautiful, but with a tired, simple beauty.
Moegi was still too young to carry a saanure or trol a stallion, but she was only seven. She still had time.
Soon, the leaves orees would begin to fall, and our little world would be shaken once again. Six mouths and only five workers. Ine would halve for at least three months.
When I saw it like that, the Selector seemed like the only rope I could hang on to. That stupid letter could be my ce to get off the bottom and maybe, with luck, take my family with me.
I watched my muy used to say that she was a beauty when she was my age, with her waist-length golden hair and emerald greehat made boys floy grandfather's door. Mebuki Haruno, however, had bee a little chubby over time. Her hair was now cut to shoulder length, and around her eyes, the marks of age were visible. She was still beautiful, but a more tired, simpler beauty.
- Mebu, let's eat! - said my father, getting up from his chair, putting down his neer and walking over to the solid wood table. Konan appeared i doorway, with Moegi by her side, lig her jam-smeared fingers. Pain was already sitting at the table and, seeing Konan approach, kissed her softly on the lips before she sat dowo him.
I watched Konan for a long time, uo look away.
[There's more tomorrow!]