Chapter 4: Real Beauty
Naruto's Journal
Did you ever look at yourself in the mirror and think that the face staring back at you is kind of alien? That it doesn't seem to belong to you at all? Well just know it happens to everyone. Maybe that's the reason we spend so much time measuring ourselves. A ruler for height, a thermometer for temperature, and the scale for your weight.
We constantly need numbers and objective data telling us how we really are. And when numbers aren't enough then we let others measure us.
In fact sometimes when we look in the mirror it can be hard to figure out who is looking back.
Hinata stood in only her bra and panties on top of a scale watching the numbers go up. When they finally stopped at 999 Hinata felt like she wanted to cry.
"Oh no! No! No! I put on weight again! Another star kilo. This is awful!" Hinata stared down at the number very upset at her lack of success losing weight.
A blonde stylish girl came walking into the class (Human class) up to her friends who were dressed just as nicely. These were that one group of popular girls that every school seem to have and everyone seem to love and hate with all their heart.
"How do I look girl?" She asked her two friends with a condescending tone. They both looked at her in shock the bluenett bubble gum even popped in shock.
"You look fantastic!"
"So sheik!"
The girls called out in unison. The bluenett got up to admire her friends new out fit closure. "Astonishing! Get a loud of you! With that outfit the boys are going to line up to invite you to the Autumn party. You look great!" She said while she circled her friend. The girl continued to pose in place as if she was nothing less then the best model in the world. All three looked over at a boy with a side ways hoodie and spray can bottle across the room when the bluenett mention boys.
"I know I'm just hoping Nico will." The blonde girl said watching said boy spray paint one of the lockers in the room with a white skull.
"I know! Last year I spent a week having this tattoo done and can you believe Nico barely said word to me!" The third friend said lifting her leg on the desk and raising her pants leg to show off the skull tattoo to her friends.
"Well at least were trying you know. Not like that hopeless little case over there." The first girl said while she looked over at another girl across the room. This girl was a lot different from them she had on no make up or extension. Her nails weren't painted or fake but they were nicely manicured and clean. She had on a simple headband and a white comfortable looking yarn sweater that went surprisingly well with her lime green jeans. Though the green sneakers and headband helped. She seem like a sweet girl who was quietly doing her work not bothering anyone. The girls decided they wanted to mess with her anyways. They walked over like lioness to a gazelle.
"Moegi what are you doing? Are you going to the Autumn party? I can't imagine how many invitations you must have gotten already." The bluenett said and Moegi didn't pick up on her sarcasm fast enough.
"Actually... I..." She tried to say a little embarrassed not to have a date but she was cut off by the second blonde.
"Wait I think I can guess. Let's say zero." She said making her friends laugh at the mean comment before they walked off like chuckling hyenas.
"Dress like that the only boy that would invite her anywhere is an eight year old." They mumbled to each other while walking off. When they were gone Moegi pulled out her mirror disappointed at the plain face that looked back at her.
Tenten, Temari, and Naruto were all sitting together at a lunch table eating cake happily when Tenten said.
"There's really nothing better than a nice piece of cake to start the day." As she said this Hinata was walking up with nothing on her plate but a small cup of tea and a sad look on her face.
"What's the matter? You got a stomach ache?" Tenten asked with her simple child-like mind.
"I only wish. My tummy is grumbling. I just started this new diet and I'm starving." Hinata said looking bitterly at Naruto's slice of cake.
"Diet? Why do you have to be on a diet? Your an amazing shape!" Temari said confused. She'd kill for the confidence to where nothing but a crop top and show her stomach like Hinata does. But she's too shy that's why she wears a sweater most days... everyday.
"I already tried to get her to understand but she doesn't here me." Naruto said waving a hand in front his face.
"Why? Is she deaf? Are you deaf!" Tenten said shouting across the table to see if Hinata could hear her.
"No. But I'm not blind either you guys. Your all so skinny and me I'm on the other hand I'm just fat." Hinata said and her little firefly came up in front her face to reprimand her for saying that about herself before reminding her about having to meet Hiruzen.
"And now I'm late! Hiruzen is waiting fir me in the class room. There seems to be some kind of problem with my earthly one." Hinata said ignoring her fireflies first comments and taking another sip of her tea before running off.
Hinata came in the see Hiruzen already waiting for her with her earthly one on the large screen in front the class. He gestured for her to take a seat next to him on desk. She did and watched with him as her earthly one seem to be looking at herself in the mirror and trying to make changes. She took off her headband and tried to make cute bangs but all it did was fall flat on her forehead in an unattractive way.
She kept shaking her head in disappointment at her own reflection.
"Moegi? What's her problem?" Hinata asked clearly seeing her earthly one was upset, but she just didn't know why.
"Do you mean your not able to see it for yourself?" Hiruzen asked watching as Moegi tried putting on a yellow daisy covered dress which didn't really suit her.
"That girl is confused. She can't decide if she likes herself or not anymore and you must push her to hate herself. To desire to be someone else." The female devil said to her student Ino.
"So would you like me to beat her self-esteem black and blue?" Ino asked casually her head resting on her arms atop the desk.
"Not you she must do it to herself. Having her hair dyed, wearing more make up, even something more extreme. Maybe a permeant tattoo or even a nice tongue piercing!"
"These are all ways to conform with her friends. To try to be excepted or even perhaps to have some boy like her." Hiruzen explain to Hinata.
"And this is...?" Hinata asked not seeing the problem. Hiruzen raised and eyebrow.
"Wrong. Everyone of us if unique Hinata. A creature different from all the others. A beauty, true beauty is not in copies but in originals."
Ino nodded her head at her professor "Got it covered prof." She said understanding her mission.
"Then hurry to the challenge room. For anyone who's interested the lesson is over." The professor said and began making her own way out the class. Choji watched her go his eyes never leaving her body for a second.
"Wake up Choji the professors out of your league completely." Sakura said closing his mouth by pushing up his jaw.
"Why!? What am I missing? You know I totally hate her." Choji said and Sakura had to admit that was the start of a beautiful relationship.
"And that's to your credit, but look at you. Always the same clothes. The same look. Your not able to reinvent yourself. On the contrary Sasuke with his glove..." Sakura said looking over at said boy. The sound of his glove becoming a part of the conversation put Sasuke's hair on end.
"What's me glove got to do with it?" He said snippily.
"Since you asked you wear it night and day it's like your hiding something. " Sakura said honestly.. for once.
"You think professor Tsunade would look at me if I walked around wearing a cool glove like his?" Choji asked excitedly.
"Not a glove like his. His glove. Sasuke why don't you help a devil out and give him your glove." Sakura said looking at Sasuke. Making him stand to leave.
"Your not funny Sakura." was the only thing he said as he walked a bit faster than usual to the door, but Sakura followed right after.
"What are you hiding?" She finally asked a giddy undertone in her voice. She loved a mystery.
"I'm not hiding anything at all." Sasuke said defensively.
"Then why don't you take off that glove and prove it." Sakura said in a challenging way. Knowing that no devil can back down from a challenge. And she was right because the moment she said it Sasuke reach down to remove his glove. Only for memories of his touch with Naruto to come flooding back.
"I can't let them see the mark. But how do I hide it!" Sasuke thought as he slowly removed the glove pausing midway only for Sakura to rip it the rest of the way off.
"Wait! I can explain! It's just...!" Sasuke said too late.
"A hand I see it." Sakura said looking down at Sasuke palm in disappointment. How lame.
"The spot disappeared." Sasuke thought confusedly as he stared down at his palm in wonderment. Before a large smile stretch across his face and he smacked Choji on the back in happiness.
"Awesome!" Sasuke shouted as he did so.
"Hey man you don't want the glove anymore do you?" Choji asked his roommate.
"Nope I don't need it." Sasuke said happy to get rid of it. Choji picked up the glove with his black painted finger nails running off with an extatic laugh.
When they left a man in a gray and black hoody came out the shadows his eyes following the glove.
Ino said trimming her nails in front the challenge room while she waited for her angel opponent. A devil could never look to perfect.
Hinata came running into the hall not a moment later.
"I sorry! I sorry I'm late." She said as she was an angel and they apologize to everyone when they were wrong. Even devils.
"No worries. With all that weight your carrying around I'm surprise you got hear this fast." Ino said taking one last look at hear nails. Hinata looked at her in surprise for a second before she remembered who she was talking to. Though she had to admit Ino really got to her with that comment. She really hated that devils six sense that just seem to let them know what was the best way to get under someone's skin. Hinata tried to look mad but her upset sigh came out anyways as her brows lowered in anger. Ino just ignored it though.
"With all the time I had waiting for you I decided on the challenge. You ready?" Ino said before snapping her fingers changing the challenge room into a giant gymnastics stadium.
There was a fake crowd that the room had conjured and every thing. Ino stood with the spot light on her. It was clear she intended to go first.
"A gymnastics challenge?" Hinata asked with her hands on her hips. Why would the devil pick this?
"Rhythmic gymnastics to be precise. Arachno get ready." Ino said and a large spider walked up next to her curling around it's self it turned into a ball. Ino lifted and began to preform a serious of beautiful movements with it showing off her skill, grace, poise, and flexibility. She clearly had a great love for this sport.
When she finished the challenge room put a score of 9 of the board for her. She smiled proudly at it for a second before proceeding with more tricks. Another 9 appeared on the board.
"S..she's really good." Hinata said worriedly as she watched her opponent move. She was starting to worry about her Moegi. Ino was letting out small giggles at this point seeming to completely loss herself in what she was doing. Hinata doubted she even remembered what for. She end with a final 9 on the board. A score that was going to be hard to beat.
Ino was raising her hands as the fake crowd cheered.
Choji pulled the tight glove as best he could over his hand before waving at the devil woman in front of him.
"Professor Tsunade! Hey I wanted to ask you something" He called out loudly. Tsunade didn't even bother to slow her walk. She hated over achieving students. Why couldn't Choji be more like Sasuke and skip class more often. Then maybe she'd actually acknowledge his existence.
When she continued walking Choji chased after completely undeterred. He was unaware he was being followed. Choji jumped in front of Tsunade his glove held high making it as obvious as possible. Tsunade didn't even seem to notice it.
"Not now Choji I'm busy." She said before making a turn and walking off again. Leaving Choji in the hall be himself. Choji looked at the glove.
"She didn't even look at the glove. She didn't even see it!" He said out loud confused.
It was now Hinata's turn as she stood under the spot light.
"Your turn." Ino said cockily as she tossed Hinata the ball.
"I'll never be able to preform her routine." Hinata thought already mentally giving up. Before an idea struck her that made her face light up.
"What are you waiting for. Well." Ino said confused on why she was taking so long if she looked so confident.
Hinata nodded at her before kicking back the ball her way.
"You can't do your routine without a prop." Ino said staring to wonder if Hinata even knew how to play this game.
"I'll do it my way." Hinata said before grabbing her golden halo above her head. She stretched it out until it was the size of a hoola hoop. She tossed, flipped, and twirled with her hoola hoop. Her skills were at an inhuman level. She did tricks that one couldn't even guess to use a hoola hoop for. Twirling it with her ankles as she skipped across the stadium. Laughing happily all the way.
She did all of this with the grace only an angel could possess not even Ino came close to it. As she did thei sher scores came quickly one after another. The first being 10.
"Yes!" Hinata yelled when she saw It but didn't stop.
"No way. That's impossible." Ino yelled in anger. No one ever beat her at this! No one!
Hinata kicked up her hoola hoop before flying through it as if went through the air landing on the ground and catching it with her hips again as her next move. Then she let is slid all the way down to her ankle again before kicking it form swiftly from under her. It flew over the crowd.
"Flower fly!" Hinata said quickly before going inside and outside the hoop as it went a trail of golden flower following after her.
"Oh that's enough!" Ino said. She tried to splay this fair out of the respect she held for the game, but if that cloud-headed angel was going to use powers so was she!
"Wild fly!" Ino called out and her pink wings grew cheetah patterns. She sent a swarm of bat she had conjured right at Hinata who was still practically dancing through the air with her hoop. The bats were unexpected and made Hinata lose balance as she dodged them. Making her and her hoop hit the ground below. Hinata looked up quickly at her score.
10, 10, and 4. Damn it! She had come so close. If it wasn't for that cheating devil!
"You totally cheated!" Hinata held at Ino pointing at the score board.
"Guess I won. And that means I get the first move with Moegi." Ino said a superior smirk on her face as she looked at Hinata.
Moegi turned around in front the school when she felt someone tap her. It was Ino only her wings and horns were gone and she had on s simple but very stylish outfit.
"My names Polly. I'm Nico's sister. You know Nico right?" Ino said with an all knowing smirk which Moegi didn't seem to pick up on.
"Yes. Only by name. Everybody knows him at school." Moegi said and resisted the blush that wanted to come up.
"Ha! Ha! I know my brothers so popular! Especially with the girls, but he's got some weird ideas up there you know." Ino said tapping on her skull to indicate what she meant. "He still hasn't decided who he's going to take to the Autumn party."
"I guess it's a really hard choice." Moegi said. She could understand that with someone as popular as Nico.
"Actually he wants you." Ino lied and Hinata felt her stomach drop as she watched.
"But that's a lie!" Hinata said in angered shock. How dare that devil play with her earthly ones emotions.
"Me!" Moegi said in disbelief.
"Yes you. But there is one little thing I should mention to you. Nico says you could be much prettier. If you took a little care of yourself. Wouldn't hurt you either." Ino whispered that last part to Hinata.
"How dare you! I look great!" Hinata snapped back.
"I what way?" Moegi asked getting back Ino's attention.
"Um are you familiar with beauty world? You know the salon over at the mall?" Ino asked. Moegi face suddenly got angry.
"Of course. I don't live on mars." She said offended that Ino would just assume she didn't.
"Your outfit left me unsure. Anyway if you go there they'll style you from head to toe and Nico will invite you to the party. Those popular girls have already been check them out." Ino said and Moegi looked over at them. They were in their stylish out fits from earlier.
"I don't know. It'll cost a fortune." Moegi said not really having the money.
"Right Moegi! Hang in there!" Hinata said proud of her human. Until Ino pulled some sort of ticket out.
"With is you'll get in free. Consider it a present from Nico." Ino said and Moegi gingerly took it from her hands.
"Um.. Thanks a lot!" She said excited Moegi wasted no time heading to the store.
Moegi stood in front the building that said beauty center before going in.
"Easy victory!" Ino said in her devil form to an angry Hinata.
"Don't you think it's a little early to declare victory." She asked hovering just above Ino. Who looked up confidently.
"Early? You did see her go inside didn't you? There going to take her apart and turn her inside out. She'll be a different person." She asked the question with a wicked smile. Instead of getting mas at Ino's words Hinata only smile. Which was never good for the devil.
"You just gave me an idea. My turn now." Hinata said before transforming.
"Lightning activate metamorphosis. To guard and protect." She said and her halo stretched again. She through it watched it roll back the she kicked it and let it spin in the air before it began spinning around her solidifying into an iron like blue flower. The flower blossomed and revealed a human Hinata.
Hinata walked down the steps of the store to the entrance where Moegi was.
"Hi I'd like to.." Before Moegi could finish Hinata cut her off.
"Redeem your free gift? Oh don't worry about a thing I'll take care of you." Hinata said grabbing her wrist and pulling her off. She first put Moegi in a tanning bed Moegi clearly did not appreciate the strong light. Then when she was done she gave her ridiculously huge girls that didn't suit her in anyway. Moegi had to bite her cheek to stop from saying she didn't like it.
The nice lady was doing this for free and she didn't want all her hard work to go to waste
"If anyone has anything to add speak now or forever hold your peace." Tsunade said her back to her class as she wrote on the board. Choji was waving his glove hand franticly trying to get her to notice and call on him but she never once turned around.
"Well I'm glad to see your all so disinterested." Tsunade said proud of her class when she didn't hear anyone speak.
Moegi had finally told Hinata in a polite way she wanted a different hair style. Hinata agreed happily and put it up in a way that no hair should ever go up. It was worse than the last on and to make it all worse she'd covered Moegi face in thick make up. When Moegi finally open her eyes to look in the mirror she was taken aback.
"So what do you think?" Hinata asked already knowing the answer.
"Huh! It's just not me. I'm really sorry but this really just isn't me!" Moegi said as she ran out the room covering her face crying.
"I'm not sorry. I'm not sorry at all." Hinata said and she wasn't she didn't even feel that awful angel guilt. Because she knew she did something right today. And her Moegi would not be coming to one of these salons anytime soon.
Moegi was at school back to her plain old self she was looking in a hand mirror. Sure she was plain but that was a lot better than what she had been turned into yesterday. Ino and Hinata were both watching her from the side.
"How did you pull that one off? I had convinced her to be just like the other girls." Ino asked upset but slightly impressed. Which was good it was no fun having a weak enemy. And Ino could same she loved the challenges Hinata brought to the table. Not that she would ever admit that.
"I didn't have to do anything the mirror did it. And everyone knows Originals are always better than copies." Hinata said as if she was lecturing a small child.
"Your the winner great! Moegi's the one who loses. No one's going to invite her to the Autumn dance now." Ino said upset that the stupid angel had ruin their humans chance at a fun night.
"I'm not so sure." Hinata said pointing behind Ino. They both looked surprise to see Konohamaru walking up to her and taking a seat sharing the desk with her from the other side. Hinata was smiling with pride.
"If you don't believe it yet just stick around. You want to know what I think? I think I'm going to have a nice piece of cake." Hinata said before flying off. Done with her diet. Her friends were right she's perfect the way she is now.
"Tsunade only looked at me twice. She barley even notice me!" Choji thought as he finally took of the glove tossing it behind himself carelessly. "This stupid glove is completely useless!" Choji was too lost in his thoughts to notice the hand that caught the glove before it could it the ground.
Minato chuckled triumphantly as he held the glove close. His mistresses would be pleased. Minato looked around for anyone before turning to the closet mirror in the hall he touched it and it revealed the world.. prison of fog. Minato touched the bottom of the mirror with two hands and it extended to body size allowing Minato to step through it.
"Minato." Was the first thing he heard when he entered.
"My lady I have the devils glove." Minato said.
"It's not the glove I'm interested in you fool. It's memory of his tainted skin. In this ridiculous seeming glove is the recorded impression of the touch between Naruto and Sasuke. The transgression of the veto." She said as she took the glove. She walked behind her thrown to a glass case that held the purple scarf in it. She lifted the lid of the case.
"The tears of the chosen one and the sacrilege of the young devil." She said as she put the glove in the case with the scarf before closing it.
"Now I have everything I need!" She said as she laughed evilly to the non-existent sky.