(AN) I must admit, I felt all the Naruto characters fit their Shakespearian roles except for the title characters. In fact, I'm not a huge fan of the pairing, and they're both OOC. But they were the best logistical choices and everything else fell perfectly into place around them, so I kept it as it is. I've always liked Mercutio and Benvolio and the Nurse more than R+J anyway!

I greatly appreciate any and all reviews be they good or bad. Even if you get halfway through and decide not to read the rest, please let me know why you decided to stop. I'm especially curious to hear your reaction to using the Shakespearian dialogue. I worry that this was not the best forum for this story. Thanks much! (/AN)

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Act I, Scene i

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The streets of Konoha were crowded despite the oppressive heat that had plagued the city for weeks. It seemed the air began to simmer even before the sun arose. Akamaru's tongue lolled from the corner of his mouth as he followed close on the heels of Kiba, who was in a particularly volatile mood.

"If luck allows, we'll come across an Uchiha today," Kiba said, bearing his sharp teeth. "I strike quickly, being moved."

"But thou art not quickly moved to strike," Shino replied in an even voice. Despite the heat, he still wore a hood that covered most of his face.

"A dog of the house of Uchiha moves me," Kiba growled, shadowboxing as they continued down the street.

"To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand. Therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away," Shino pointed out. As always, his voice was expressionless and his face was unreadable behind tinted glasses.

"A dog of that house shall move me to stand. I will take the wall of any man or maid of Uchiha."

"That shows thee a weak friend; for the weakest goes to the wall," said Shino, though to be honest he wouldn't have minded a fight that morning. It would be beneficial for the Hyuuga clan if the Uchiha ranks could be thinned a bit.

"True, and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore I will push Uchiha's men from the wall and thrust his maids to the wall," Kiba laughed and made rude pumping gestures with his hips. "When I have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids and cut off their heads."

"The heads of the maids?" Shino asked. Inside, he was wondering what Kiba's sister would do to Kiba if she heard him speak like this.

"Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take it in what sense thou wilt," Kiba replied with a smirk and a shrug. "Me they shall feel while I am able to stand, and 'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh."

Shino didn't reply, but he stopped walking abruptly. "Draw thy tool. Here comes two friends of the house of Uchiha."

"My naked weapon is out. Quarrel, I will back thee," Kiba said, placing a hand on Akamaru's neck.

"How! Turn thy back and run?" Shino asked with the first hint of sarcasm.

Kiba pretended not to hear the insult, "Let us take the law of our sides. Let them begin. I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them if they bear it."

Ino stopped walking and put a restraining hand on Shikamaru's arm. The crowd continued to flow around the four figures. "Do you bite your thumb at us?" Ino asked with incredulity.

"I do bite my thumb," Kiba replied casually.

"Do you bite your thumb at us?" Ino demanded again, hands flying to her hips.

"Is the law of our side if I say ay?" Kiba asked out of the corner of his mouth.

"No," said Shino.

"No, I do not bite my thumb at you, but I bite my thumb," Kiba told Ino with his teeth bared in a smile.

"Do you quarrel?" Shino asked quietly.

"Quarrel! No," Ino replied with a touch of hesitation. She looked back and forth between the two figures - one leering openly with insolence and the other as steady and tense as a bowstring.

"If you do, I am for you. I serve as good a family as you," Kiba said, advancing slowly.

Ino stood her ground. "No better," she shot back.

"Say better. Here comes one of our teammate's kinsmen," Shino whispered to Kiba. He had noticed a dark-haired boy approaching from down the street.

"Yes, better," Kiba said to Ino with excessive smugness.

"You lie," hissed Ino.

"Draw, if you be shinobi," Kiba said with anticipation gleaming in his eyes.

Ino immediately took a kunai from her holster. She nudged Shikamaru, who had been staring at the sky through the whole discourse, and he took out two trench knives.

Kiba released his hold on Akamaru's neck and drew a kunai, and Shino held his arms straight out as the sound of buzzing grew louder.

The civilians in the street saw the weapons and immediately began rushing away from the four figures. There were some screams and hollers as people were knocked down in the haste, but the shinobi paid no notice.

Kiba charged at Shikamaru on all fours, and Akamaru jumped onto Kiba's back. Shikamaru threw one trench knife at Kiba's shadow and managed to freeze Kiba in place, but Akamaru leaped from Kiba's back towards Shikamaru's throat.

Meanwhile, Ino was freaking out at the swarm of bugs that surrounded her. She reached into her belt pouch and pulled out two smoke bombs. While the smoke dulled the insects' senses, she attacked Shino with her kunai.

Before the fight could progress much further, six orange-clad figures jumped down from the roof above and landed on the shinobi fighting on the street. "Part, fools! Put up your weapons; you know not what you do," said the sixth figure, who was standing in front of the four shinobi. Each had a clone standing with a kunai at his or her throat. The dog was held by the scruff on its neck and pinned to the ground.

Ino opened her mouth angrily, but at that moment Neji appeared in the now empty street. "What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Naruto, look upon thy death." He assumed his Juuken stance.

"I do but keep the peace," Naruto protested. His clones disappeared in puffs of smoke, but he did not sheath his kunai. "Part these men with me."

"What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word as I hate hell, all Uchiha, and thee. Have at thee, coward!" Neji spat before launching himself at Naruto. Before he could take ten steps, however, Ino halted his attack with a handful of shuriken. Neji turned towards her with a withering glare.

Across the street, Akamaru growled viciously and attacked Shikamaru from behind. The shadow master managed to stop the lunging beast with a kick but paid for it when Kiba attacked with a kunai in each hand. Shikamaru blocked one thrust but could not dodge completely and was hit in the shoulder.

Oblivious to all this, Naruto darted into the middle of the street and produced three more clones. One began preparing a ball of chakra in his hand while the other two acted as shields against the swarming insects. Finally, he was ready, and Naruto took off running towards the hooded shinobi.

Before he could reach Shino, however, a great explosion shook the ground, and dirt and stones were thrown into the air as a giant crack split down the center of the street. "Halt!" shouted the Godaime from where she knelt with her fist in the ground. "Stop fighting this instant! On pain of torture, throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground!"

The six shinobi backed slowly away from each other, kunai and shuriken falling from raised hands.

"Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word, have thrice disurb'd the quiet of our streets. If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace." Her icy glare fixed each ninja in turn. "Once more, on pain of death, all men depart." With a sweep of her hand, the shinobi disappeared without another word.

Departing from the scene of the brawl, Naruto continued on his way towards his team's training ground. He had been hoping to find his teammates before he was distracted by the sounds of fighting earlier. Almost immediately, a dark-robed figure fell into step beside him.

"Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?" Itachi asked softly. "Were you by when it began?"

"Here were the friends of your adversary and yours close fighting ere I did approach. I drew to part them; in the instant came the fiery Neji," Naruto told him. "Tsunade-baa-chan arrived soon after."

"Where is Sasuke? Saw you him today?" Itachi inquired, changing the subject.

"Early walking did I see your brother: Towards him I made, but he was ware of me, and stole into the covert of the wood," Naruto replied.

"Many a morning hath he there been seen, but all so soon as the sun should in the furthest east begin to draw the shady curtains from Aurora's bed, away from light steals home my brother, and private in his chamber pens himself. Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow, we would willingly give cure," Itachi said as they approached the training grounds.

"I'll know his grievance or be much denied," Naruto told him reassuringly.

Itachi merely nodded before turning lightly on his feet and returning to the city. Naruto continued on alone. Soon he reached a small clearing with several sparring posts. A figure sat in front of the center post with his legs bent in front of him and his head resting against the wood.

"Good morrow!" Naruto greeted him.

"Is the day so young?" Sasuke asked tiredly.

"But new struck nine," Naruto told him.

Sasuke sighed, "Sad hours seem long."

"What sadness lengthens Sasuke's hours?" Naruto asked as he sat down next to one of the other posts.

"Not having that which, having, makes them short," Sasuke said, staring at the sky.

Naruto raised his eyebrow. "In love?"

"Out."

"Of love?" Naruto prodded.

"Out of her favour where I am in love," Sasuke said standing up and stretching.

"Tell me in sadness who is that you love," Naruto said with a foxy grin.

Sasuke looked at him and rolled his eyes before sighing yet again. "She hath Dian's wit. She will not stay the siege of loving terms, nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes, nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold."

"Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste?"

"She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste," Sasuke said sulkily. "She hath forsworn to love."

Naruto stood up to swing an arm over the dark-haired boy's shoulder, "Be rul'd by me, forget to think of her."

"O, teach me how I should forget to think," Sasuke replied sarcastically, pushing Naruto's arm away.

Naruto was not discouraged. "By giving liberty unto thine eyes; examine other beauties."

Sasuke stared at him from the corner of his eye. "'Tis the way to call hers, exquisite, in the question more. Farwell: thou canst not teach me to forget," he said before disappearing in a swirl of leaves.

"I'll pay that doctrine or else die in debt," Naruto called out with determination.

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Scene ii

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Hyuuga Hiashi leaned back in his chair in the spacious dining room of the Golden Crane Inn. "But Uchiha is bound as well as I in penalty alike, and tis not hard, I think, to keep the peace."

"Of honourable reckoning are you both," Lee said diplomatically. "And pity 'tis you liv'd at odds so long. But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?"

"By saying o'er what I have said before," Hiashi said with a wave of his hand. "My child is yet a stranger in the world; she hath not seen the change of eighteen years. Let two more summers wither in their pride ere we may think her ripe to be a bride."

"Younger than she are happy mothers made," Lee pointed out.

"And too soon marr'd are those so early made. But woo her, get her heart, my will to her consent is but a part. This night I hold a feast whereto I have invited many a guest. Come, go with me," Hiashi said as he stood and led the younger man back out onto the street.

Sasuke passed the door to the inn seconds before the two men emerged and walked in the opposite direction. He felt someone move quickly behind him, and he whirled around while throwing two two kunai.

"Why, Sasuke, art thou mad?" Naruto teased as he caught the first kunai and used it to deflect the second.

"You again?" Sasuke muttered before turning his back on his friend and continuing to walk down the street

"Yes, but this time I am sure you are glad to see me," Naruto crowed as he took three long steps to stand in front of the sulking Uchiha. He held a small scroll open in front of Sasuke's face. "Read."

Sasuke scanned the paper quickly before pushing it aside and asking, "So what?"

"This, my dear friend, is a list of invitees for a masquerade tonight. At this same ancient feast of Hyuuga sups the fair Tenten whom thou so lov'st. Go thither, and with unattainted eye compare her face with some that I shall show, and I will make thee think thy swan a crow." Naruto did a little caper.

Sasuke was unimpressed. "When the devout religion of mine eye maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires. One fairer than my love! The all-seeing sun ne'er saw her match since first the world begun."

He started walking again, but Naruto did not give up easily. "Tut, you saw her fair, none else being by, herself pois'd with herself in either eye. But in that crystal scales let there be weigh'd your lady's love against some other maid that I will show you, and she shall scant show well that now shows best," he said confidently as he bounced alongside his friend.

Sasuke stopped walking and looked at the blonde. Naruto's eyes were scrunched up with determination, and his mouth was tightened in conviction. "Fine," Sasuke sighed. "I'll go along."

Naruto did another dance and had an excited one-sided conversation all the way back to the Uchiha house.

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Scene iii

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Hinata was sitting in the garden of the main house reading a book when through the open windows she heard scampering footsteps.

"Hinata!" a young girl called from inside.

"How now, who calls?" Hinata asked, though it was obvious by the high pitch of the voice.

"Our father," Hanabi said breathlessly through the open door. Hinata scrambled to her feet as Hiashi walked regally out into the garden.

"Sir, I am here. What is your will?" Hinata asked meekly.

"Marry is the very I came to talk of," Hiasha said without preamble. "Tell me, daughter, how stands your disposition to be married?"

Hinata was shocked at the bluntness of the question. "It is an honour that I dream not of," she said carefully.

"Well, think of marriage now. Younger than you, here in Konoha, ladies of esteem are made already mothers." When Hinata did not immediately reply, he went on, "The valiant Rock Lee seeks you for his love."

"A man, Hinata!" squealed Hanabi. "Such a man as all the world!"

"What say you? Can you love the gentleman?" Hiashi asked gently. "This night you shall behold him at our feast. He is a man of virtue, and so shall you share all that he doth possess, by having him, making yourself no less."

"No less! Nay, bigger. Women grow by men," Hanabi whispered to her sister with a nudge.

Hinata blushed at the younger girl's words. "I'll look to like, if looking liking move. But no more deep will I endart mine eye than your consent gives strength to make it fly," Hinata told her father.

Hiashi studied his daughter for a moment before turning to walk back into the house. "You girls should prepare for the feast tonight."

"Yes, father," the girls replied together.

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Scene iv

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Sakura idly swung her mask around as she stood in the empty square near the road leading to the Hyuuga house. She wore a simple black dress with silk laces crisscrossing the bodice, and her white porcelain mask was accented with red paint. Out of the corner of her eye, she studied her teammate sitting on the edge of the white granite fountain.

Sasuke was brooding again, and Sakura knew it was because of the girl he was obsessing about. The perfect, beautiful, better-than-a-goddess Tenten. Sakura felt the bile rising in her throat again. She had bought this dress with Sasuke in mind, but he hadn't even glanced twice at her while they waited for Naruto to arrive. In fact, he hadn't even said two words to her.

"Let's get this over with," Sasuke said as Naruto finally approached the square. "I hope you don't plan on spending all night there."

Naruto grinned widely. "Let them measure us by what they will. We'll measure them a measure, and be gone."

Sasuke stood and began walking towards the Hyuuga district, knowing the others would follow on his heels. "Give me a torch, I am not for this ambling. Being but heavy, I will bear the light."

Sakura forced her self to smile, though it only touched her lips. "Nay, Sasuke-kun, we must have you dance."

"Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes with nimble soles. I have a soul of lead so stakes me to the ground I cannot move," he replied without turning towards her.

"You are a lover," Sakura said with just a touch of mockery. "Borrow Cupid's wings and soar with them above a common bound."

"I am too sore enpierced with his shaft to soar with his light feathers. Under love's heavy burden do I sink," Sasuke sulked.

'What the hell do you know about love's burden,' Sakura thought to herself. Out loud, she said, "And to sink in it should you burden love - too great oppression for a tender thing."

"Is love a tender thing?" Sasuke asked with a short, barking laugh. "It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn."

Sakura was annoyed. "If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down." She brought her mask to her face and tied the strings. It covered only the top half of her face, but it would be more than enough disguise. No one would be looking closely at a masquerade like this anyway. Her teammates secured their own masks before stepping into the lights around the Hyuuga house.

"Come, knock and enter. And no sooner in but every man betake him to his legs," Naruto said. He wore a fox-eyed mask with orange accents.

"Let wantons, light of heart, tickle the senseless rushes with their heels. I'll be a candle-holder and look on," Sasuke said, making sure his friends knew just how much he didn't want to be there.

Sakura rounded on him in exasperation. "If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire of this sir-reverence love, wherein thou stick'st up to the ears. Come, we waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day."

"And we mean well in going to this mask, but 'tis no wit to go," Sasuke said stubbornly.

"Why, may one ask?" Sakura asked, tapping her foot.

"I dreamt a dream tonight," Sasuke said.

"And so did I," Sakura said with exasperation.

"Well, what was yours?" Sasuke asked.

"That dreamers often lie," Sakura said cynically.

"In bed asleep, while they do dream things true," Sasuke said. He was peering off into the shadows as if seeing something that was not there.

Something inside Sakura snapped. "O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you. She is the fairies' midwife and she comes in shape no bigger than an agate stone on the fore-finger of an alderman, drawn with a team of little atomies athwart men's noses as they lie asleep."

The pitch of her voice rose. How dare he sulk and mope about love while she sits and smiles at every sling and arrow thrown at her. As if she didn't suffer from unrequited love, too! "Her chariot is an empty hazel nut, and in this state she gallops night by night through lovers' brains, and they dream of love. O'er lawyers' fingers, who straight dream on fees. O'er ladies' lips, who straight on kisses dream. Sometimes she gallops o'er a soldier's neck, and then dreams he of cutting foreign throats, and then anon drum in his ear, at which he starts and wakes. And, being thus frighted, swears a prayer or two and sleeps again. This is that very Mab – this is she…"

"Peace, Sakura," Sasuke said softly, and only then did she realize how loud she had been talking. Shrieking, almost. "Thou talk'st of nothing."

She calmed herself with a few deep breaths. "True, I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle brain begot of nothing but vain fantasy, which is as thin of substance as the air and more inconstant than the wind."

"Supper is done, and we shall come too late," Naruto said, breaking into the awkward silence.

"I fear, too early," said Sasuke. "For my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars."

No one said another word as they finally entered the house.

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Scene v

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The main hall of the Hyuuga household had been converted into a grand scene with elaborate lighting and decorations. A small orchestra sat in one corner and was currently playing an upbeat dancing song. The crowd overwhelmed the senses with all the bright colored clothing, pungent smoke from tobacco and cooking, sweat and heat from so many bodies, and noise from a hundred conversations.

With everyone wearing masks, Hiashi greeted Sasuke and his friends without hesitation or reserve. "You are welcome, gentlemen! Come, musicians play. Give room and foot it, girls."

With a last glance at Sasuke, Sakura allowed herself to be drawn into the dancing. Naruto turned to his teammate. "And now, it is time to weigh the scales. Find your sun-lightened goddess, and I will find a diamond for your coal." He disappeared into the crowd.

Several people bumped into Sasuke amidst the dancing and laughing, and he decided to find someplace he could sit and watch in peace. There was an area with tables and chairs for eating, though most of the guests had finished supper and were adding to the crush of bodies mingling around aimlessly.

He sat down heavily and pulled his mask off. This whole idea was stupid. So far, there had been no sign of Tenten. He threw his mask on the table and scanned the faces in the crowd once again. Suddenly, his breath hitched.

He caught the sleeve of one of the serving men who was clearing the tables. "What lady's that?" he asked breathlessly.

The man tried to look where Sasuke was pointing, but nearly lost the precarious balance of his pile of plates. "I know not, sir," he answered before hurrying off towards the kitchens.

"O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright," Sasuke breathed. "It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel."

Across the room stood two girls on the edge of the crowd. The older of the two wore a lavender dress that was cut very modestly, but still clung to every nuance. Delicate falls of silk brushed the creamy white skin on her arms and around her throat. Whereas Ino was thin and Sakura was bony, this girl was all soft curves. Silver feathers brushed her blushing cheeks, which made the porcelain of her mask look dingy and old in contrast.

Sasuke could not tear his eyes away. "Did my heart love til now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty til this night."

Across the room, a pair of silver eyes noticed the dark-haired boy sitting alone at the tables. "This should be an Uchica," Neji growled. "What, dares the slave come hither to fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin." He activated his bloodline and began walking towards where Sasuke had finally stood from his chair.

A heavy arm fell across Neji's shoulder. "Why, how now, kinsman? Wherefore storm you so?" Hiashi asked.

"Uncle, this is an Uchica, our foe. A villain, that is hither come in spite to scorn at our solemnity this night," Neji told him.

Hiashi squinted towards where Neji pointed. "Young Sasuke is it?"

"'Tis he, that villain Sasuke," Neji hissed and once again began walking towards the Uchiha.

Hiashi restrained his nephew gently. "Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone. 'A bears him like a portly gentleman, and, to say the truth, Konoha brags of him to be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth. I would not for all the wealth of all this town here in my hosue do him disparagement. Therefore be patient, take no note of him. Put off these frowns, an ill-beseeming semblance for a feast."

"It fits when such a villain is a guest. I'll not endure him," Neji muttered defiantly. He turned again towards the tables, but the dark-eyed boy was gone.

Hiashi's fingers dug into Neji's arm, and Neji was spun around. "He shall be endur'd," Hiashi said sharply. "I say he shall. Go to! Am I the master here, or you? Go to! You'll make a mutiny among my guests."

"Why, uncle, 'tis a shame," Neji spat.

Hiashi stared at him coldly. "You are a saucy boy. Is't so, indeed? I know what. You must contrary me! Be quiet, or I'll make you quiet." With a final searching look, Hiashi left his newphew.

Neji, however, didn't even notice his uncle depart. A sharp pain flared between his eyes and his vision swam. He clutched his head and nearly doubled over. By the time Neji regained his bearings, neither his uncle nor that Uchiha were in sight. "I will withdraw," Neji whispered angrily. "But this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall." He turned on his heel and stalked out of the main hall.

Meanwhile, Sasuke remained unaware of the discovery of his identity. As he approached the two girls, the younger noticed him first and nudge the other. She whispered something behind a dainty hand and then darted off into the crowd.

When he finally reached the girl in lavender, she nodded her head slightly in greeting. Sasuke bowed in return and took her hand. "If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." He turned her hand in his and kissed it gently.

"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much," the girl said in a sweet voice as she pulled her hand away. "For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss." Her delicate hands were dwarfed as she pressed them against his callused palms.

"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?" he leaned closer to her. Her dark hair shone like sapphire in the dim lighting.

"Ay, lips that they must use in prayer," she said, taking a small step backwards. A pink blush stained her cheeks.

"Dear saint, let lips do what hands do! They pray. Grant thou, lest faith turn to despair," he moved his hand towards her mask so that he could look into her eyes.

"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake," she said, taking another step backwards. Her heel brushed against the wall.

"Then move not while my prayer's effect I take," he said huskily, placing one hand on the wall beside her head. With his other, he trailed his fingers along the feathers of her mask until they rested on her cheek. "Thus from my lips, by thine my sin is purg'd."

Sasuke didn't know what possessed him to approach this girl so boldly, but he did not hesitate to lean in and kiss her gently.

"Then have my lips the sin that they have took," she said breathily.

Sasuke couldn't tear his eyes away from her lips. "Sin from my lips? Give me my sin again." He kissed her once more, his hands sliding down her silk dress to rest lightly on her hips.

She pulled away slightly and whispered, "You kiss by th' book." Her breath was warm against his ear and he shivered. Before he could prove her words wrong, however, someone appeared beside them. It was the young girl who had been there earlier.

"Onee-chan, father craves a word with you," the girl said.

The older girl pulled out of Sasuke's grasp, and with a small smile, she disappeared into the crowd.

Sasuke scowled at the interruption. "Who is her father?" he asked.

The girl seemed surprised. "Our father is the lord of the house. And a good master, and a wise and virtuous." She gestured in the direction her sister had disappeared in. "He that can lay hold her shall have the chinks." The girl raised her mask, winked at Sasuke, and danced away with a childish laugh.

Sasuke stood fixed to the floor. The image of the gir's face was frozen in his mind. Those eyes… "Is she a Hyuuga?" he whispered to himself. "My life is my foe's debt."

He darted in the direction of the girls' departure and soon found himself in the main hallway. Naruto spotted him and walked not-so-steadily over to throw an arm on his teammate's shoulders. "Away, be gone. The sport is at the best," he laughed drunkenly. Sakura emerged from the crowd, and the three made their way towards the door.

"Ay, so I fear. The more is my unrest," Sasuke said, still searching the crowd for a hint of lavender silk or sapphire hair.

From the stairway at the end of the hallway, Hinata beckoned to her sister. "Come hither, sister. What is yond gentleman?" she asked, leaning down to speak in the younger girl's ear.

"The son and heir of old Danzo," Hanabi replied obediently.

"What's he that now is going out of door?"

"That, I think, be young Konohamaru."

"What's he that follows there, that would not dance?"

Hanabi hesitated. "I know not."

"Go ask his name," Hinata said with a pleading tone. Hanabi grinned at her sister before hurrying down the stairs. "If he be married, my grave is like to be my wedding bed," Hinata said to herself.

She watched her sister work through the crowd until she was intercepted by their cousin. They had a brief conversation before Hanabi returned to the stairway. Her eyes were no longer twinkling. "His name is Sasuke, and an Uchiha," Hanabi reported.

Hinata felt a twisting in her gut. "My only love sprung from my only hate. Too early seen unknown and known to late," she said in an barely audible whisper.

"What's this?" Hanabi asked, cocking her head to one side.

"A rhyme I learnt even now of one I danc'd withal," Hinata replied in a shaky voice. She watched the crowd until the dark-haired boy had passed through the door. Then she turned and retired to her room for the night.