A/N: I've been on ffDOTnet for a long time but this is my first Naruto fic. This story is kinda based on a TW drama called "Devil Beside You" and a bit on a HK series "Not Just a Pretty Face" and maybe a hint of "Central Affairs". Let's just say, I've gotten pretty inspired...

Summary: Hinata finally decides to confess her love to Naruto but she accidentally professed to the wrong person! Now, as if it wasn't bad enough, she's blackmailed to be his slave. AU

Genre: Romance/Drama/Humor

Pairings:

NaruHinaNeji

NejiHinaNaru

NaruSaku

GaaHina

& minor pairings… will be listed as story progresses

Warning: This story contains AU-ism, possibly a bit OOC-ish, no bashing (okay, maybe slightly), a lot of drama, incest, sexual reference/implications, and some boring business stuff. DON'T LIKE, DON'T READ! Or skirt around (that's what I usually do). You have been warned.

Disclaimer: Me own Naruto? Ha, and the sun rises from the north…

The Devil Next Door

It was a moderately warm summer-autumn morning, one of those days when the temperature fluctuates between two seasons. The birds still chirp in the morning because it was yet to be cold enough to fly to the south. Leaves on the trees began to yellow and flower petals softly grace the ground. It was just the perfect time to…

"Hinata-chan!"

A gallant knight in orange, with blond hair, blue eyes and an unsettling reddish tan, came galloping down an auburn brick road towards the gloomy Hyuuga castle where her stern family held the beautiful princess hostage. His noble white steed sped pass the collapsing bridge without a hint of sweat.

"The competition is growing stiff. We must do something in order to increase the sales and make a profit. Are there any suggestions?"

The gallant knight—equally as handsome—drew out his long and shiny sword battling the giant, evil white-eye, pale-scale dragon, fighting courageously for the princess he loves. In the end, he successfully defeats the evil beast, proving once again that the power of the underdog should not be under-estimated.

He held up his two-finger peace sign as he leaps on his white horse. They crossed the mote before the drawbridge lifts.

"According to recent statistics, consumers find our products slightly out of style. Our typical consumers are from the older generations, many of who are dying out. They would rather spend their money on food and health care than on our products."

"This chart shows a deep decline in consumer spending after we shifted our products away from Konoha city. We had bought our products back to the city but the sales were unmatchable to when it previously was before the move."

The knight, who also was a prince, leaped off his horse and ran up the narrow stairs of the hollow tower. He pushed past the creeping doors, the disapproving fathers, the angry nobles, the chained servants. He pushed past the unsupportive words, the horrible glares, the hateful scowls, until…

"Well, perhaps we can spend more on advertising and decrease the budget on manufacturing and employment."

"We can't decrease the amount used for supplies! You can drop the money spend on labor and services but not on resources. Without the materials, there will be no difference between Hyuuga Corp. and all the other half-ass companies out there. I see a bunch of enviable lay-offs in the near future."

"Hmm… what do you think, Hinata?"

The prince finally arrived to the top of the tower, where the princess, Hinata, was held captive. He easily kicked open the heavily bolted iron doors and torn through the tangling streamers hanging from the ceiling. Finally, he spotted her sitting in her lovely canopy of a bed. The scent of flower petals dance around the room as he edge closer to his target.

"Hinata?"

He brushed pass the thin, lacy sheets. Princess Hinata turns her head to greet her prince. Her long blue hair coiled loosely into thick curls. She was adorn in a beautiful lavender gown, accompanied by laces and ribbons. Her long lashes graced her porcelain face and he continued closer.

"Well, Hinata?"

"Naruto-kun."

He slowly leaned in for a kiss only to pause.

"So, Hinata…" His eyes shimmer the bluest of the blue and his pearly-white teeth were flawless.

"What do you think we should do about the corporate sales?"

"Huh?"

"Hinata, I expected an answer from you this instant!" Hiashi does not look too please.

Hinata looked away from the window, realizing that she had been off daydreaming again. She had been completely oblivious to the question her father asked and began to stutter, "A-ano… umm… I think that… that…" she stares at her younger sister, Hanabi, for an answer. Hanabi was idly picking her nails out of boredom.

Needing to think of something fast, Hinata spurted the idea she withdrawn from the last meeting, "We should have an office party in congratulating the workers for their hard work!"

The room was silent with the exception of Hinata's remaining echo. Hiashi's eyebrows knitted so tightly together, if a fly were to come between them, it would sure likely be squish into a flat raisin.

"Sales are steadily decreasing," His voice was at first calm but it sped into a furious bark, "so in order to boost it up you think we should back it by throwing an office party, which, by the way, requires a lot of time, money and effort, all of which, is in a low deficit right now?!"

Ears rang but no one dares to speak on the young heiress's behalf.

Hinata lowered her gaze down to her lap, biting on her lips knowing that she surely had made her father really piss, adding to his brewing frustration from the company's current problem.

All eyes are on her now, waiting for her to make a diligent comment that will prevent her father from exploding. The Hyuuga heiress wished that the earth would at sudden crack open and she could just hop in it so her troubles will all disappear. Better yet, her knight in orange jumpsuit would pop open from that small white door and whisk her away.

If only reality works like fantasy… None of that will ever happened though.

"Er… w-well… may-maybe we can j-just…" out of habit, Hinata's vision stray across the table towards her sister who was mouthing something to her. She squinted, trying hard to read Hanabi's lips. As usual, something quite obscure manifest from it.

"Eat cabbage?"

Hanabi slaps herself in the forehead. Why even bother? She should have been like the many others who had given up on her sister years ago. Hyuuga Hinata was definitely not business material.

CRACK!

Trails of sticky, dark brown liquid ran across the long mahogany table of the boardroom, Hiashi had spill his coffee. His face was red, nostrils flare, as his fists shook violent. He was seething with anger as he hastily rubbed his temples. Life wasn't fair! Why is he, the CEO of Hyuuga Corp. and head of the main house, given such a lowly, incompetent daughter while his brother, who is from the far less important branches, is given such a brilliant son?

As if cued, Neji broke the silence, "Hiashi-sama, if I may speak?"

All eyes were on Neji, the Hyuuga genius.

"Please, anyone but my idiotic daughter."

Neji nodded as he stood up, preparing his proposal.

"I did some research, checking the booth in the mall where a sample our company's products were distributed. After further investigate and from what I had witness, I discovered several things consumers look for before deciding to buy or not buy our product.

"Young females would not even take a second look at our products when they pass by our booth, let alone males. Why? Because our products are too old-fashioned, the colors are too dull. Girls these days prefer a more fruity, neon patterns as compare to the opaque, solids ones of yesterday. In addition, people these days look for inexpensive but name-branded products. It doesn't really matter whether the quality is long lasting or..."

Hinata stared at her elder cousin in awe, completely enlighten by his charisma.

Although he is only one year her senior, he was dubbed the Hyuuga genius at a very young age. By the age eight, he had started managing company's paperwork. By age twelve, he was fluent in five languages; had straight A's; manage to play four different instruments; and won gold medals for swimming, soccer and basketball. By age fifteen, he became the class hunk, having a new girlfriend each month, yet still managing to be on top of his schoolwork. He was the class president and valedictorian at eighteen and continued to succeed afterwards. Now as a sophomore in college, he can practically run the whole company while balancing with his social life.

Hinata secretly envied her cousin for she herself was never scholarly when it comes to school. It seems that no matter how hard she tries, in the long run, she'll always fail. All the after school tutoring, the overnight studying, the hundreds of dollars spent on "smartness potions", none of it had worked, not on her. And because of that, her socially life had suffered, not that she could've manage one, not with her confidence she couldn't. But secretly, deep inside her heart, she had never given up. Perhaps through hard work and a bit determination (screw luck!) she too could make it. Her foxy blue eye prince had certainly done so. Why can't she?

Hiashi clapped his hands, "It is good to hear from someone with a bit more intellect for a change." And on that cue, he glared down at his elder daughter.

"Hinata!"

"Y-yes, father?"

"Take a lesson from your cousin, Neji! For once, stop being a burden to this family!"

"Hai." Hinata's head sunk even lower. Then again, once a failure, always a failure.

"Such a disgrace! This meeting is over." The old, white-eyed CEO slams his portfolio to a close before thrusting it into his secretary's hands. He stormed out of the room without turning to the others.

Hinata stood up from her seat, head still lowered. The incident was too common, it happen in every meeting. Her opinion is asked, she states it, her father disapproves with distain. Then, after everything, Neji would come up with an ingenious plan to mock her in front of the elders. Her father, afterwards, will add to her embarrassment by acknowledging her supposed stupidity.

Hinata peered upwards only to see her cousin stroll pass her, head lifted high with arrogance.

"Neji-nii-san."

He stopped briefly, his back towards her.

"Hn."

His head turned slightly to give her a glare of disgust before leaving the room.

Aside from her sister, Hinata was the last person in the meeting area. Hanabi walks up to her as everyone else cleared out.

"Hinata, we really got to work on your lip-reading skills. Were you daydreaming about Naruto again?"

Hinata looks at her opaque-eye sister in surprise. Hanabi was five years her junior, currently a sophomore in high school after skipping two years advance. She looks a lot older than her actual age. There's just something about her that screams confidences, something her older sister lacks. Of the two, she was always the favorite; it was a tragic she was born female.

"Go figure. This happens every time. I just don't get it. What's so great about that idiot Naruto, anyways? I mean, he's such a loser!"

"Hanabi-chan, you just don't understand…"

"Tell me about it," her brows suddenly furrow, "You let Neji get the upper hand again! At this rate, he'll worm into our family inheritance at no time and you'll end up with nothing. Knowing dad, he might just do that."

Inheriting her aggressiveness from father, Hanabi threw her portfolio down in rage as she continued, "With respect, I'll call him nii-san, but other than that, he is just another filthy side-branch rat! If he thinks he can get his dirty hands on my money, he's got another thing coming!"

"I don't know, Hanabi, he probably does deserve this compa—"

"Probably nothing!! Hinata, you are the first-born to the main branch, you have the birthrights for this company. So get this in that thick skull of yours. I'll sure be damned if that outsider, Neji, gets his hands on it."

Hanabi took in a deep breathe, dropping her current façade. "You know what, it's almost time for school so why don't we just set this all aside for now?"

"O-okay."

But wasn't Hanabi who started it?

"Hinata, I heard you have an important meeting with the headmistress today."

The blue-haired heiress gasped, "Oh my! I almost forgot! Thanks for reminding me, Hanabi." Hinata pick her things, ready to leave when her younger sister grabbed her by the sleeve.

"Hinata, take this," she waved a pieces of blank paper for her sister, "Write down all your feelings for Naruto on this sheet so you can clear your mind and pay attention at the meeting."

She paused as she noticed the tears by Hinata's eyes, "Hey, I'm not doing this out of kindness; I just don't want people to laugh at me anymore because I am related to you."

And with that, Hanabi close the door behind her.

Hinata smiled. Despite Hanabi's cold exterior, Hinata knows that her stringy hair little sister do care for her. She is truly grateful that Hanabi is still on her side after all these years, ignoring all the horrible comments made about her older sister.

She sighs. It was time for school. Maybe today will be the day that Hinata can finally confess to the boy she admired. She doubts it though.

To Be Continued…

Good, Bad, Crappy?

Currently feeling uninspired. Don't expect a quick update.

Can anyone guess what produce does the Hyuuga Corporation sell?

PS. This has been bugging me for awhile. There are pros and cons on listing the characters by the title and I mostly see the cons. So, for this story (and any of my other stories) I think I'll change the 2 character things around depending on who the chapter is about.