Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Candidates

On the outside there was nothing special about Megumi. She barely reached an average height, though she was average. Her eyes are a common brown color, and her hair is black and, just as shiny as the next girls. At a first glance nothing stood out about Megumi. Her outside appearance is nothing extraordinary; however, on the inside is a mind that could rival some of the most enlightened thinkers that lived through out history. She had learned to read by the time she was four. She could solve simply algebraic expressions by the age nine. She could speak foreign tongues by age twelve. Through Megumi never used her brain to its full potential. In fact she was rather ashamed of her intelligence. Megumi had been born into a very old, and traditional clan. A family that prided on their traditional values, the Tanaka clan Values such as; the first born son shall inherit, women must stand behind their husbands, and that men are superior to women in every way. So while most parents would feel blessed at having such a gifted child, and shower that said child with praise, Megumi was scolded for all of her accomplishments. Whenever Megumi showed any promise in anything other than housework and needlework her parents affection would quickly turned into detest. Megumi figured out that it was better to not show her true colors, and just let her family mold her in to the clan's version of the perfect daughter, lady, and soon wife.

Megumi was sitting at an oval table, listening to her parents and the matchmaker talk about her like she wasn't even there. Though it was her father that seemed to be doing the most of the talking, while the matchmaker was busily dotting down notes. "What about her cooking ability?" She asked.

"Megumi was practically raised in the kitchen. She can bake, fry, and grill just about anything. She must know at least fifty different recipes. I taught her myself", Megumi's mother answered as if it had been rehearsed.

"And what other household subjects has Megumi studied?" Came another question from the matchmaker after she had finish writing the previous answer down.

Now it was her father's turn to speak. "My daughter can sew, and knows how to do embroidery, and floral designs. She has been attending lessons on these subjects sense she was very small."

The matchmaker seemed to be very pleased with all of the answers she'd had been given so far. "Your daughter appears to be very well rounded. I must say it is so much easier to place a well-rounded girl than a closed minded one. Though tell me dear", The matchmaker said, for the first time directing her attention to Megumi. "How do you feel about getting married? Is there anything you want in a man?"

Although Megumi could feel her parents staring at her, their eyes telling her not to mess up, she kept her eyes respectfully lowered. "It will be an honor to be married to any honorable man. That is all I ask, to wed someone with honor." Though what Megumi really wanted to say was that she didn't wants anyone who where losing their teeth, and where bald.

The matchmaker smiled, telling Megumi that it was the answer she was looking for. From the seat next to her, her mother affectionately patted her hand. Everyone seated at the table was pleased, everyone except Megumi.

A few days later the Tanaka family where all sitting around their kitchen tables, happily reading all of the profiles of potential grooms, while Megumi was serving them tea. "Honey, what about this one, he's a hyuga?" Megumi's mother asked her husband.

Taking to profile out of his wife's hand he looked over the contents before shaking his head. It's no good, he's a branch member." Her father answered, setting that one down and picking out another one. "I'll only except a boys from other clans for possible son in-laws", He said. "So that cuts the candidates in about half." After another look at all of the profiles Megumi's father stated, "Only a handful of these boys are from the leaf village, all the others appear to live mostly in the mist or sand village."

Her mother looked up from a discarded profile and frowned. "Oh, but dear, don't you want our daughter to be near by, especially when we have grandchildren?" She asked.

Megumi's father paused in his reading to think. He would like to be able to visit his grandchildren whenever he wanted. While nodding, agreeing with his wife he said, "That will leave use with only three other choices." Slowly he picked up the right profiles. From her spot next to the kettle, Megumi glanced over her father's shoulder. She was starting to get nervous, as would anyone if they had no say in their future. "The Tanaka family will approve Nobou, a retired weapons master, Kiba inuzuka, the heir to the Inuzuka clan, and Kyo, a very promising chunin." Megumi's father selected before turning to his daughter, "Now it's up to them, weather or not they want to marry you." Megumi nodded, it was out of her hands.

Kiba groaned as he paced back and forth in his room, while Akamaru lay on his bed, watching him. His stupid clan and its stupid traditions, he kept saying in his head. He didn't want to get married yet. Kiba had just become a jounin, now wasn't a time to settle down. Now was the time to be going on advance mission and to push himself. Having a wife would just drag him down. If his sister wasn't a vet she could inherit the clan instead of him, sense she was the first-born. Letting out a light growl Kiba marched over to his desk where the profiles of many young women sat. All these girls seemed to be the same. They could all cook and sew. And just about all of the profiles said that their best quality was their obedience. Kiba smirked to himself, these girls sound just like a lap dog. With a heavy sigh Kiba picked up the last one that he hadn't looked at yet. Megumi Tanaka, age sixteen, Kiba read to himself. He picked up her picture that had came with the profile and flopped down on his bed next to Akamaru. This Megumi girl did look different than the others. Her face wasn't covered in layers of makeup like the other profile pictures. Nor did see seem like a complete airhead. Maybe there was still some hope in finding a fiancé that wouldn't just obey him like some mindless slave. He wanted a girl with a little spunk. "What do you think Akamaru?" Kiba asked, holding the picture in front of his dog's face. "Think you could live with this girl?' For if Akamaru didn't like her Kiba knew he never could. From his spot next to Kiba, Akamaru barked and wagged his tail to show that he improved. Kiba sighed, and brought the picture back in front of his face. "Looks like we've found our bride." Kiba said, while petting Akamaru's head. Kiba just hoped that this girl wouldn't be all clinging and hold him back from his work.