The Fame

Chapter 1: Magazines

Written by: muddyapplz ~ Puddle Productions

It's been only a week since I was adopted. People had told me I was lucky to survive the house fire that consumed my parents as a child, but I never believed them. After all, I was just a baby. How often to baby's have luck? But, any older, and I might not have been stuck to the floor, where there was little smoke, struggling on my limbs. At least that's what the orphanage told me. I suppose it was just luck that the firemen discovered me in time. And I suppose it was just luck that Tsunade, one of the wealthiest women alive, chose me, a sixteen year old, to take in as her own. I have no talents, I reminded her, nothing special, yet she insisted. Deep in the recesses of my mind, I wondered if it was just a celebrity thing; to adopt the most unfortunate, uneducated children. Tsunade simply explained that she had a good feeling about me. As if that wasn't enough to make me suspicious. It wasn't her first time adopting one of my kind. What really got me thinking was: why choose a girl with such exotic hair? And a teenager, nonetheless.

I dismissed my doubts and was set of being happy, because, hey, how bad can being rich be?

My high heeled shoes click against the dirty public pavement gracefully. Maybe if you listen closely, you can hint the paranoia. I had asked Tsunade's guards to back off a bit, maybe watch me from the shadows, as to not attract too much attention. What was the point of having a scarf to veil my hair and wearing those wide rimmed, tinted sunglasses, even though the sky was clearly a dull grey, if I was going to be found out anyways? I understand how Tsunade must feel; an amateur like me roaming the streets of Amegakure City. But logically, tall, wide shouldered men clad in all black following a girl protectively must attract the pedestrian's eye. She had suggested I stay inside the hotel room, sleep until we leave, but being showered with room service and paparazzi the whole week is really exhausting, and not to mention bothersome. How is anyone going to get some peace and quiet in all that ruckus? I just had to leave, see the world, just as I used to in the orphanage. Being cooped up in a room is just not my style.

I strut on the sidewalk, watching the normal people walk carelessly by me. A young couple is making out on a bench; no one bothers them. An old man struggles down the street; no one helps him. A homeless woman, hugging her two children close to her, begs for money; no one sees her. I am compelled to help, but something catches my eye.

At a nearby magazine stand, on the cover of C-Weekly, is a paparazzi shot of Tsunade walking me out of a salon. I read the large bold beside us: 'Pampering the poor? Tsunade brings new adopted teenager to salon?' The man at the stand sees me staring and beckons me over.

"Would you like to purchase one?" He inquires right away. I pick up the magazine with me on in and slide it on the counter. The man looks at me questioningly.

"Do you think Tsunade really likes the girl? Or is she just using her?"

"Using her for what?"

"Fame, of course." I explain, sliding the magazine back onto the rack.

"Can't say. Not many know what Tsunade's intentions are, Ma'am. It's said that she gets her hands on the worlds most talented. Many reckon that the new girl has some sort of rich skill. Wouldn't you say?"

I grin kindheartedly at him, "Not at all. She doesn't look skilled in the slightest."

"Quite bold words you have there. Got any proof?" He chuckles.

"None," I respond, shaking my head lightly, "Just instinct."

"Well, instinct can only take you so far."

I smile, but the man doesn't do the same. Instead, he is studying my face. Not for my reaction, but the curves and the shape of it. I panic and reach for a random magazine, pretending to look over the cover when I am actually shielding my face. Surprisingly, this magazine isn't about me. It's an issue from 'WHAT' magazines. On the cover is an onyx haired male, blanketed in a white, baggy sweater that is unzipped, exposing his pale toned chest. He shoves his hands in his pants pockets, tilting his head back coolly in a pose for the camera. He looks like he's glaring at me. In oversized red letter, as if the editor forgot to take off the 'caps lock', it reads: 'Sasuke Uchiha, sexiest man alive? So true, says millions of woman out there.'

In pure curiosity, I display the magazine in front of the salesman, and say: "Who's this?"

The man doesn't hide out astonished he is. It's almost as if he's looking at me like he would a dumb one. His eyes, wide an all, say, 'You, a woman, doesn't know who he is? '

"Why, Ma'am, it says it on the cover."

"No, no. I mean, why is he so famous?" I correct.

"Pardon me, but, as it says on the cover, he was voted the most wanted man alive."

I frown in disgruntlement.

"But surely he is known something other than that. What does he do: act, dance?"

"Everything, naturally. It's not just his looks that they prize him for. Haven't you seen any of the award ceremonies? I don't know how many he's won. Can't count on ten fingers alone, anyways." The man looks at me to see if I am pleased, but I am lost in the picture, "Good news for all of the women out there, though: He's single."

I glance up briefly at the salesperson, not noticing how he is staring.

"Hey," He says in thought, realizing something, "Your remind me of someone."

"I've never met you before, so that's not entirely possible," I reply quickly, backing away from the stand a half a step.

"No, no. Someone from a picture," he mumbles, squinting at me. Suddenly, he reaches over and snatches my shades. Dumbfounded, I gaze at him in disbelief. He gasps at my emerald eyes, my pink eyebrows. In a moment, my guards are at my side, leading me away when a small crowd gathers from the excited yells of the salesman, "That was her! I was talking to her! Tsunade's adopted child! Sakura! Haruno, Sakura!"

The man was pointing at my retreating figure, causing curious looks and excited smiles to go my way. People will do anything to get close to a celebrity, although I couldn't really say I counted as one. As a limousine pulls up by an empty curb, already camera lights are flashing. The guards help me into the back and the driver hits accelerate. It starts raining.

I rip the off center fabric from my head and throw it onto the hotel couch. Tsunade is waiting for me, so I scurry over, taking a seat on the couch across from her. She shortly looks my way before turning the TV, a flat screen hanging on the far wall, on. The channel is already set to 'WHATTV', as indicated from the red and white logo in the right corner. I slump in my seat when an inconspicuous picture of me standing at the magazine stand flashes onto the screen, then another of the salesman reaching over and snatching my shades.

The reporter begins speaking:

'Just this hour, as it seems, Tsunade's adopted teen was spotted conversing free willingly with the public! As bystanders say: She was quite under the radar. Will she be different from the barely seen Tsunade? Many have only been hoping. Ms. Haruno had decided to take a stroll down the busy streets of Amegakure, when, as reports have claimed, she took a stop at a nearby magazine stand. Let's bring it over to Kira for the latest news on that:'

The screen switches over to another female reporter, this one standing by the magazine stand, holding a microphone in one hand, and an umbrella in the other.

'Here we are, at the very magazine stand that Ms. Haruno has made her first alone public appearance. We have Alfred Wane with the claims on Ms. Haruno's words. Mr. Wane, why do you think Ms. Haruno came to your stand?'

The man I met before comes into view, talking as the female puts the microphone to his face:

'I honestly have no idea, Kira. She was walking by and came over to comment on how wonderfully my magazines were organized.'

I jaw falls. Mr. Wane continues:

'She walked over, looking much like a normal pedestrian to me, and started asking about one of my magazines.'

Reporter: 'And which one was that?'

Mr. Wane: 'The one with her on it, of course. I reckon she doesn't like being on cover pages, by the way her mouth seemed to frown. I must say, she was quite the mannered girl, chuckling cutely and asking nicely. I felt very comfortable around her.'

Reporter: 'Oh! Please elaborate on her questions!'

Mr. Wane: 'She was asking me why I think Ms. Tsunade chose her. I said I don't recall anything suspicious about it, but that other people reckon she's got some special talent. She told me she doesn't think she has a talent. I wondered why, because the girl sure did seem like she had a forte for kindness.'

Reporter: 'What else did she talk about?'

Mr. Wane: 'Well, she wasn't quite fond of Mr. Uchiha, considering she was asking about who he was.'

Wait for it…

Reporter: 'No!' She gasps, covering her mouth. Several other breath intakes are heard from the sidelines.

Mr. Wane: 'I couldn't believe it myself! She was truly clueless about him, so I elaborated. Couldn't understand why Ms. Tsunade never taught her about the other celebrities out there. Do you reckon there is television in an orphanage? Because Ms. Haruno must have been quite isolated from the social world.'

Reporter: 'No doubt. Well, how has business been going in the last hour?'

Mr. Wane: 'Very well, if I may say so. Ms. Haruno really helped me out there. I sold—"

Tsunade turns the television off, sighing in relief, "It's not as bad as I had feared."

I sigh as well, sinking into the cushions. Tsunade gazes tiredly at me, mumbling, "Please, be more careful in the public. Never just stand there when you're noticed. Just walk away casually. You don't want to seem like an idiot, do you?"

I scowl at nothing, recalling how I didn't escape when I had the chance. We sit there in fatigue silence before Tsunade ruins it.

"Would you like to go have singing lessons? Or maybe dance?" She questions casually, leaving me the whole decision.

I raise a brow, "Why would I need that?"

"Don't you want to become famous?" She asks, tilting her head curiously, "I'm simply providing you with the means to do so."

I grin heartedly at her.

To be continued…

A/N: Just another idea. Almost done with chapter 3 of ITML (In The Midst of Luforther). I wanted to get this idea out of my head before anything else. I have future plans for it, and so far I like how it's going. Yeah, this is short, but it's late and I need to get started on my summer homework (I had to read TWO books/plays, talk about boring!) Two weeks of my summer was spent going to school, these past two weeks was a relaxing/cleaning time, and now I have less than a month until I leave for school! GOSH!

Aaanyywayys:

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto…. Yet (jk jk). I don't, and most likely will never, own it.

Written and edited by: muddyapplz

Please Review! They are appreciated (because, seriously, I only got ONE review for my second chapter of ITML. What a letdown… I know it was boring, but PLEASE!)