Disclaimer: I do not own the manga/anime Naruto.

A/N: Okay, it's very important to read these author's notes, although this one isn't very pressing. Have fun with the first chapter, people! Oh, and if you want to distribute this piece of writing, then you have to tell me in an email or a review. My email address is in my profile. The whole story isn't going to be in first person mode, just the first two chapters. Just like my story in the Inuyasha category. Enjoy!

Summary: Hinata is a simple girl whose real mother died and whose father dies recently. She has to live with a cruel stepfather and an equally oppressive stepbrother. The only thing that keeps her going is the thought of the one person who's definitely out of her league. Prince Naruto... And here's another twist, even if she managed to get a hold of him, he's hopelessly in love with Princess Sakura, who in turn is in love with his rival half-brother, Prince Sasuke. And to add to all this, Princess Sakura has a commoner in love with her too... a humble yet determined boy named Lee. Oh, and one more thing... Sakura has a rival sister who loves Sasuke also. Sasuke doesn't love anyone... yet. Let the mayhem ensue! AU (Alternate Universe)

Opposites

Chapter 1

Hinata

Hello... I'm Hyuuga Hinata. But of course a simple girl like me doesn't need to live with such formalities. You must be thinking, 'What a polite girl!' Please don't... for you see, what else can a girl like me be but what my owners have made me? Was that confusing? I'm sorry... Let me start from the beginning.

As I said, my name is Hinata and I'm not even a full-fledged teenager to be smothered in all this premature angst. But let me start on as positive a note as I can muster. I am naturally a very pessimistic person, except for when my eyes alight on him. But there I go again, digressing... Where was I? Oh yes, a positive note. When I was younger I dwelled in a quaint cottage on the outskirts of the High Leaf Village in which my parents had wed (of course we were still in the Hidden Leaf country). It was a small life, though very fruitful and filled to the brim with happy moments. I was four years old when I first caught a lengthy glimpse of the two resident princes, Naruto and Sasuke. Each very different from each other and yet strangely alike... It was hard to tell which one was stronger, in body, soul or mind. On one hand, Naruto had the determination and the strength of the Nine Tails on his side (some people were embittered because of it)... but on the other, Sasuke, his half-brother, the will and skilled prowess of the Uchiha clan on his.

Their major difference was that Naruto always seemed to be full of energy, his eyes perpetually burning with an interminable light; and Sasuke... his demeanor was always cool and his voice was empty of the bounce that Naruto's held.

Although I—ever calm, ever shy—would have been more liable to find a kindred spirit in the calm Sasuke, I found myself looking in silent awe at the slighter prince and finally finding courage in his eye. The main thing about me is that my most focal goal is to change myself. And don't think that I'm being pressured by the world to turn into a beautiful blond like Princess Ino or Princess Sakura (although the latter's forehead isn't very pretty)... It's a different kind of pressure. A pressure that comes from within and threatens to make me implode at times. I feel that I have to be more—more empowered. I'm a soft-spoken failure most of the time (can you guess who I was studying when I wasn't?) and I wouldn't hurt a fly. That's the most hurtful thing. According to my hateful stepbrother, the strong rule the world. I would like to have those people who have hurt me cowering before my powerful personage—but no, still, even in my anger I can't imagine hurting someone for sport or even for vengeance. It's just not me. But there I go again... deviating from the subject at hand.

I saw the two majestic princes as they walked before us poorer folks' eyes in the annual celebration of the Hokage that used to rule. For now, the world was into monarchy, but I secretly wished for the old Hokage of yore, when the children of the reigning Hokage were not overly held above the heads of others.

But back to my story... I was a small child even then and my mother cradled me in her arms protectively, still enabling me to see my future rulers. I had been expecting to see two fair young men with cropped blond hair and beautifully chiseled features. What I got were two boys, the same age as I was. At that time I was virtually incapable of feeling a strong love—or any other type of love that wasn't strictly platonic at that—but as I gazed upon one still boy, and caught sight of another who could barely stay still, I felt a spark in my stomach that I could only explain as 'cooties'. Needless to say I kept my distance when any young boy came across me, but in a few years I had grown out of that stage and I was ready for jealousy.

It was when I was seven that I first noticed that something was wrong with my loving mother. I had stumbled across hushed voices from inside my parents' bedroom and I crouched with my ear pressed flat against the door. I could only pick up a few mismatched words and phrases, but what I heard was enough to make me suspicious. The gist of it was that there was something that my father wanted my mother to reveal to me... I was sufficiently anxious. What could it be? But I was a quiet one, and I didn't go up to my mother with my questions until it was too late for her to give any answers.

I was too young to understand why she was bedridden and why her once beautiful face was pasty and blotchy. Also, her large colourless eyes were now blank. And her long hair was full of tangles that no comb could fix. She died when I was eight. I had finally worked up my courage enough that I could ask her what was wrong... When I ran into her room that fateful morning, a horrible sight greeted me. Her torso was flung over the side of the bed. I called my father and that was the start of my troubles.

When I was nine, my father started associating with a truly wonderful woman, but then, to our dismay, my father was found in a ditch the day after their wedding. Apparently it had been an accident. I wasn't that much of a fool. His black locks were wrung and his pale eyes were now vacant. It's funny how both my parents—beautiful people—both died young. While I, the plain girl with the scarily wide eyes and the mousy hair lived on. But I still had my stepmother, who had brown curls and big green eyes—pretty eyes, normal eyes—and was the nicest person I had ever met other than my few friends and late parents. Yes, I did have friends... although I spent more time trying to see Uzumaki Naruto than anything else. But soon the newfound peace was disrupted. How? My stepmother found love.

Don't think I'm heartless... although it was kind of depressing to go through two real parents. She fell in love with a cruel man. But I soon realized that he was the same as me. Along with his son.

They were both from the Hyuuga clan also, with pale all-seeing eyes. They hated me immediately. For they, although obviously having more potential then I could ever have, were part of the lower Branch House, while I was in the Main House. Therefore making me someone that they would have to look up to. Not if they could help it.

Sometimes I wonder why I was poor, but at other intervals I long for those desitute times. For now, I am not poor... I am rich. But more depressing of all is that I was made to move to a fussy house away from my scant friends and in the heart of the High Leaf metropolis. And I was even farther away from my prince because I barely existed. Especially after my stepmother was murdered by an unknown person. Although I think I know who it was... Maybe her 'beloved' spouse? But I wasn't even real to others. Almost no one knew I lived in that house. I was forced to stay in the cellar and do a myriad chores. And not even an ounce of defiance was left in me, because my stepbrother could tell when I was being insolent just by using his Byakugan and having his wide moonlit orbs study mine.

And so it has been... But didn't I mention somewhere that this was where I would discover jealousy? Oh yes... I'm getting there. So, let me find my narrative—

The only thing that kept me going all that time was the thought of the strong-willed prince who had begun to appear in every one of my dreams. And each one was just a variation of the one before it. Naruto bursting through the doors of my home and sweeping me off my feet... Not after making my step-family scrub all the floors, of course. And each time I'd wake from my dreams crying silent tears of happiness. The only times I permitted myself to cry. I thought of it as leaking vomit from my eyes and that kept me in check. I had a weak stomach.

Sometimes I was let out to perform small errands, like taking certain torn clothes (never mine, I wasn't good enough for that small privilege) to the local tailor; or buying assorted groceries, or even sending little messages from my powerful stepfather to the castle where the royal family resided. And every one of the times where I found myself at the entrance to the castle, giving a slip of paper to a maid or manservant, I found a way to catch the prince somehow. Too shy to speak to him, yet too captivated to stray from his path, I found myself catching his eye purposefully every time I came across him.

I loved his spiky, sometimes altogether unruly, golden hair, and his striking visage, and I had looked into his eyes so often and his in mine that he had taken to trying to speak to me. Even more wonderful were the flashes of recognition that I saw in his eyes now. Of course I would always turn away just as his lips parted. I was thirteen (I am thirteen, really), and readily able to have strong feelings for anyone in my opinion, although I wasn't sure about this one.

One day when I again found myself about to enter the castle, I discovered that two girls were visiting. Neither was as old as my stepbrother (he was fifteen years of age) and yet they seemed to be at least a few months older than me. (Even a few months have always made a difference to me and the Hyuuga clan. Just a few days could make the difference of whether you were in the Main House or the Branch house.) But I am very mature-looking and so I felt sure that I could fit in if only I tried... Then I stopped myself. I could never fit in with this royalty... and not because of my status, oh no. Nobility was high enough. Two things stopped me, no three even. The first two were that my 'family' never would have allowed me to go up the social ladder without bringing them with me, which I didn't want to experience; and these kids seemed higher than me. All except Naruto of course. And this wasn't to imply that he was lower than the rest. He was just less proud, although he acted cocky and outspoken to hide this. Maybe I was the only one to notice, I don't know, but it seemed that way. The rest of them acted all high and mighty. I had yet to understand the third reason. Bear with me here...

I peered through a window into what looked like some sort of recreational room very closely, using my Byakugan. You might think that I didn't need to, because of the close proximity, but without it I never would have been able to see clearly, being hidden in shrubbery. By now I was worried... I had already delivered the message. I couldn't afford to be too late. If only I had gone, because the next sight drew a gasp out of me.

The two princesses, Sakura and Ino of the neighbouring village, had golden hair just like Naruto. I couldn't yet bring myself to despise them for their similarities to him. They were all over the black-haired 'cutie' any way... I shuddered in revulsion. That calm, rude boy had made Naruto the brunt of his jokes often enough. Also, he was blatantly mean to both of the princesses, and it was all I could do not to scream at the girls to stop acting so stupid and obsequious. But then I noticed how Naruto was acting... the normally happy and willful Naruto was glaring daggers at an oblivious Sasuke as he continued to brush each girl off. He ogled Sakura every few minutes and all he got for his trouble were a few heartfelt glowers in his general direction. From both girls.

Sasuke blew a small raspberry and smirked, not entirely enjoying the situation, but happy that Naruto had 'got his'. Naruto was head over heels in—no, I can't bring myself to say it... I gasped breathily, causing every head to turn my way. Then, ignoring the calls from behind me, I hurriedly scampered away towards my temporary 'haven'—although it had to be called a hellish sanctuary indeed. As soon as I made it through the front door of my 'home' I was lectured and jeered at and leered at until I just couldn't take it anymore. I emitted this weird choking noise and ran back out of the door. I didn't know that solace would definitely not be found.

As I was fleeing blindly I didn't notice the person walking steadily towards me and my house until I actually collided with them. I looked up and my eyes met a scary sight. Naruto. I turned my eyes down immediately and covered my hair with two hands and then spoke. "Uh... Prince Naruto, I—"

"Have you seen another girl around your age passing through here? I mean, she's kind of plain and weird-looking... I don't know..."

I bowed, but not only because of his stature. I managed to suppress a few tears before I sighed and said, "I'm sorry, Prince. No."

"Oh... well, then... the Royal Messenger is going to each of the prominent houses but this one because I thought I saw the girl running in this direction. Uh... so—oh! Here, take this." He smiled sheepishly and then ran back off, waving with two fingers over his shoulder. I looked at my hands, only just now noticing the small length of parchment that lay there.

"F-father...?" My stepfather had suddenly appeared from the interior of the house.

"There's no need to explain, I was watching you. Good bowing technique. It must come from all of the heavy-duty table wiping that you do, eh?"

I couldn't tell if he was cracking a cruel joke or being completely serious. Either way, he incensed me, as usual, and I grit my teeth but nodded, just as a docile, meek girl like me should have done... but inside my thoughts were racing. Why wasn't he punishing me? Why wasn't he allowing Neji to clobber me in 'sparring practice' as usual? And whywhy for my first time speaking to the prince did I have to act like that? Why did he have to call me weird and plain?

"Got that?"

"What?" I realized that he had been giving me some sort of instructions and I hurriedly snapped back to attention.

"Listen carefully, Hinata. There's going to be a ball. And you're going whether you want to or not."

"No, no..."

I couldn't face all of that nobility!

"Yes, yes!" He countered, then he shook his head, giving me a disgusted once-over and continued, "But I don't know how an ugly girl like you is going to be able to fit in... Let me see that leaf of paper."

I handed it to him, then he patted me on the shoulder. I just managed not to flinch. "It's a costume ball. Wear a mask, do anything. But you're going, and hopefully that Prince Sasuke character will like you."

"P-prince Sasuke?"

He chortled, a very rare sight. "Don't tell me you were hoping to get to know the other one? Let me tell you something..." He beckoned for me to get closer. I could smell his sake-ridden breath. He whispered conspiratorially, "Naruto is obviously in love with Princess Sakura of the next village. You know the one, Low Leaf Village? And Sasuke is more like you. He doesn't like Sakura or Ino. In fact, they might just repulse him. So move in for the kill. Your brother and I will be there to talk to the king. But I will be watching you."

"Wh-when"—I licked my dry lips—"When is it?"

"Two days from the morrow. So go out right now and find something to make a costume with. I'll give you this much... No more money for I find that you are, without doubt, not to trusted. Afterall, you were brought up that way. From what I understand your first family was thieving and poor." As I attempted to ignore this comment, he laid a very small amount of coins in my hesitantly raised palm and I smiled inwardly. I'd use this money for myself; I'd just find scraps from various places. Now all I had to do was dodge the prince and I'd be fine. But nothing in life ever comes easy, does it?

Just some yards away I bumped into another member of the royal family. It was the other prince. "Have you seen my brother around here?"

I bowed, making sure to keep my head down. "Yes, Prince... but I'm not sure where he went."

"Thank you."

I started to scurry away when he called me back, "Yes...? Prince?"

"You look familiar... are you the brother of this weird girl with large... uh, luminescent eyes?"

"N-no..."

"Why do you keep your head bowed?"

"No reason, Prince..."

"Then look at me." I refused, obviously.

Then he dismissed me with a cold sniff, and I was finally free to rant all I could. I decided to just buy cloths (not clothes, cloths) with the money instead of risking bumping into any more of these frisky royals. No such luck. As I set out to buy the first item on my mental list—a mask, a pretty blue one with wings at each side that would frame my face and wasted away half of my money—I managed to bump into the remaining royals, the two princesses—I think their names were Sakura and Ino?—and they immediately recognized me. I didn't even have enough time to bow my head, or at least push a bit of my hair in front of my eyes.

From the ground, Princess Sakura yelled a triumphant "We've finally got you!" even as she struggled to gather the remains of her dignity and lift herself up.

Ino, who had managed to artfully land, crouched on the ground, instead of crumpling and becoming a tangled heap of pink hair and kimono, like a certain other someone, had finally tired of watching her sister's painfully humiliating attempt to rise from the gravel of the main street beneath them. She impatiently pulled the other princess up and, gracing her with a patronising stare, said, "Look Sakura, you're embarrassing enough with that big forehead of yours, so try not to add to the deplorable package. As if Sasuke could ever like someone like you." Even I had to cringe at this remark. People like me easily drift to the background, and even more so in scenes of great disarray, thankfully for me.

Sakura managed a pathetic retort in the form of "Shut up, Ino-pig!" I was actually beginning to feel sorry for her before I remembered her scorn of Prince Naruto.

"Hah! You're such a loser, Forehead-Girl. Don't hate me 'cause I'm beautiful." A feral growl escaped via the lips of the pink-haired girl, and Ino continued, "But of course you would, judging from the weird animal sound that you just made. I hear Prince Sasuke likes long hair too." Saying this, Ino tossed her long blond pony-tail behind her and let the wind catch it in the air.

Sakura gaped and grasped a forelock of her own short hair. "I'm sorry Ino, but I like my hair the way it is; long hair gets too much in the way when it comes to the arts of the shinobi. I just bet that Sasuke actually likes reasnoably average to short hair, since he's a pretty dedicated fighter." She didn't seem to believe this much herself and I frowned at their shallowness. However, who was I to feel saddened at this. I had even shorter hair than Sakura and Naruto had called me plain and weird-looking. I felt a single tear sliding down my cheek, and I was about to turn away from them and make my getaway when—

"Yeah, right, and I hear Naruto's a pretty dedicated fighter too. That should interest you enough, seeing as the poor freak's pretty much hopelessly in love with you. Looks like you'll be having a bit of competition for him. That girl... whatever her name was."

"Huh. Well, you're wrong in two respects. A) I don't like Naruto. He's an annoying moron who I'm forced to associate with because of his infinitely better half-brother. I feel really sorry for poor Sasuke." The other girl nodded at that and I felt my fists balling of their own accord in anger. "And b) I'm pretty sure that that girl from the window likes Sasuke. I mean, she gave this horrible gasp when she saw us with him. See? Even common folk have good taste in men!"

For once in my life I wanted to shout to the world that I came from proud nobility. I managed to swallow that down though as Ino concurred flightily.

"Yeah, I pretty much agree with you there. She looked like the type of person that's pretty quiet. Just like Sasuke. Nah... I'm pretty sure he likes prettier, more normal girls than that. Even you're at least a little above average in the looks department, otherwise I wouldn't let you hang around me all the time."

"Thanks. I think. Hey, wait a sec... That girl! Where did she go?"

By the last part of her reply I had already gathered up my spilled bags (I had dropped them in my frustration) and was on my way out of there. Even if I wanted to speak my mind, at least a little, I wanted to escape from their clutches more. It just wasn't worth it. Plus, I was pretty far behind with my clothing errand and I knew my father would already be getting a bit agitated.

So I set about getting the cheapest, most beautiful cloths I could afford. Blues and purples; deep reds and smoky grays. But I stayed away from pink, the one colour that I loathed. And when I was done, I had nothing.

Now I had to actually make the costume... Needless to say I wasn't very pleased. Gods... Why wasn't there a jutsu for sewing?

As I set out to meet my probably annoyed stepfather, I managed to avoid the royals and so wasn't interrupted. For once in my life. Somehow, due to the day's events, I actually couldn't wait to get back, maybe do a few chores, and settle down. I knew now that I would never be able to fit in with the likes of the princesses Ino and Sakura, and certainly not my current subject of infatuation - Prince Naruto, and I walked, my shoulders slumped, and a testy light in my eyes for the rest of the long journey across town towards 'home'. Maybe that was why as I continued to walk along, people gave me a wide berth and as I finally made it to my destination, Neji sent a wan smile my way. Albeit an obnoxious one. What else would he smile at me for?

When I got 'home', I received a bittersweet surprise. My stepfather was hiring the tailor to make a beautiful butterfly costume. The bad news was that I was not exempt from staying at the ball until its very end. And there was a catch to 'enjoying' myself... During the day I had to truss up doubly with makeup. In addition to that, I had to do twice the regular amount of chores. So much for finishing up quickly and sinking back into my small cot in the basement earlier than usual.

It struck me that my stepfather was indeed just making me do chores to spite me, and not, as my kind stepmother had insisted, to build my character. We had servants, and yet they were instructed to only do the small things so as to let me finish up with everything else!

As I shook my head to clear these thoughts—they just made me even more depressed than I usually was and forced me to see the world for it was - a festering cesspit—I proceeded to make a hasty dinner of baked trout, cheese-stuffed mushrooms, truffled crab and meaty odangos (I prided myself on my superior cooking skills; after all, I was taught by my chef-mother before she died); do the dishes afterwards; clean the floors with the rye that stings; look after my brother's hair; do the laundry and, with a little forbidden help from one of the unneeded—and therefore not well-paid—scullery maids (she got caught afterwards and was 'looked after' by the head maid - the one with the whip) cleaned all of the bathrooms.

I was exhausted. I managed to stumble into my small, dirty 'bathroom', which consisted of flaky walls, a rusted over tap that sometimes didn't work, and a bucket. I quickly discarded my clothes—or rags, as they were often called by the unwealthy village boys—and was just able to fit my legs, while standing, into the peeling metal bucket that served as my tub. For ten minutes, maybe more, I turned the stiff handle of the tap, and was finally able to squeeze a few drops of water onto the remains of my old rag. I was happy with that though, as last time I had only managed one drop and had had to use a little bit of improvisation—or, in a rough-put way, a little bit of my own spittle—to have somthing that came close to a proper bath. From a single shelf that had been clumsily nailed on to the wall with my own calloused hands, I picked up the little scrap that I had left of my homemade soap. It was half made of the ancient carbolic soap bar that my mother had used before she died, and half made of some melted sheep fat. Then I washed myself and finally readied myself for bed, just putting on my outfit from this day's work, being too tired to reach into my box and get out one of my other two outfits.

Now you can see how pitiful my life really is, and maybe you can understand my first few statements? I even bore myself, really, but I had to go through all of those introductions, however useless they may seem to you.

I was still heavily worried about the ball that would be held entirely too soon. All that makeup! And having to face all of those people, with their appraising stares, and upturned noses. Even though I knew that none of them would be fully able to do anything to me because of my highly successful stepfather, I was still apprehensive. What was it that the prince had described me as again? Oh yes, plain and weird-looking. Even now as I just saw it as a painful memory, along with many others, I felt a tear slip out from under one of my lids and I shamefully wiped it away. A shinobi never cried. And even if I was a rather bad, self-made one, I still had to follow the rules. But still! All of those people eyeing me and looking for any slip-ups that I might make... It wasn't a pleasant prospect.

Well, as long as I could stay hidden behind the mask for the entire ball I was happy... but what was this I heard about it being customary to take off your mask before royalty?

There were still a few hours left until the ball commenced but right now I was in complete turmoil. It was official... I was going to have to take my mask off in any of the royals' presence. For a few minutes at least.

Bathing in bath oils for the first time, I couldn't have been more unhappy. It all felt so unnatural, too unnatural, for me. Dressing up like a doll, putting on a mask. But then again, that's what I'd always wanted to do, wasn't it? Put on a mask? Be someone different?

Suddenly I had an idea. Why couldn't I be someone else for just one night? Smother my face with so much makeup that no one would recognize the ugly girl underneath? Style my hair in such a way that all the girls would ball their fists with envy, and all the boys would stare at me? And that's when I decided... Tonight, I was going to play the part of the wonder girl. The one everyone aspired to be. And everyone would love me for it.

I began to get ready with renewed zeal. The ball was going to be a night that no one could ever forget. I'd make sure of it.

A/N: So how was it? Review and tell me what you think!