Beta: The collective effort of TeethOfBerenice & HeartSNS
"It All Happened In A Heartbeat"
The only problem with Mr. Hiashi was that he didn't give Naruto enough attention. Naruto was only seen as a young, fresh and talented engineer. Even while in New York, because Naruto was only fresh and inexperienced, he had worked only in the office and not on site.
All he had been doing was looking through drawings draftsmen made or sometimes he had to make a drawing without visiting the site just using the formulas from RCC and steel structure classes from his university. He calculated the amount of concrete and iron bars just by those formulas and wrote them down on the paper, or sometimes he had to just calculate the amount used in columns or beams just by mere mathematical formulas. He was beginning to feel like he wasn't a civil engineer but some mathematician with the amount of formulas and calculations he had been doing.
And as an engineer he knew that visiting the site and seeing everything with his own eyes was much more important. He had wanted to see the base being dug and columns being lifted. He wanted to see the iron columns and concrete being used with his own eyes and not only on paper. Hiashi was a stern boss, and even though Naruto wasn't satisfied, he just couldn't muster enough courage to say anything to the man in question.
He had endured this in New York, but here he was getting frustrated. In New York he hadn't wished to impress anyone, but now he wanted to astound Fugaku Uchiha with his talent and professionalism.
He was instructing a draftsman regarding a section on a drawing about Konoha arcade when Fugaku Uchiha entered along with Hiashi Hyuga and Kurenai. The woman was the most senior architect there.
Naruto said his greeting to them. Since the day they had gone to JSEC, Naruto hadn't gotten the chance to have a conversation with the man other than the simple greeting.
"How are you, Mr. Uzumaki?" Fugaku asked him when they got closer.
"I'm fine, sir."
They have been meeting this way these days, and Naruto just couldn't say what he wanted with so many people around so what else could he say other than, 'I'm fine.'
A month had passed since he started working here. He had been registered in JSEC as a professional engineer and gotten his card. He had also gotten used to Minato's crowded train stations, so he had started to use the train for the past two weeks, but, other than this, he hadn't done any useful things in a whole month while being with Uchiha Associates.
After greeting him, Fugaku went ahead to talk with Kakashi. Kakashi Hatake was much younger than Fugaku and Hiashi, but he was still older than Naruto by many years. He was a competent and dedicated man. Kakashi was showing them a drawing on his laptop's screen. While looking through the drawing section of columns of a high rise, the men started to discuss the width and length of the needed amount.
Naruto shook his head and again started to tell the draftsman about the problem in the drawing. While he was busy explaining, he saw the three of them leaving and suppressed a sigh. After solving the problem, Naruto went back to his office and took out some drawings to look through. He had just started to look through the drawing Hiashi had asked him to, when he was told that Fugaku had asked for him.
"Yes, sir?" Naruto entered Fugaku's office and closed the door behind himself.
"Have a seat, Mr. Uzumaki," Fugaku was working on his laptop and glanced up when he heard Naruto. Naruto nodded, strolled closer to the seats in front of Fugaku's table and sat down on one of them.
"I heard that you aren't satisfied with your job here," Fugaku said without waiting for a second, and Naruto was quite baffled.
"Sir, who told you that?" he had tried to compose himself, but he was still shocked.
Who could be the person that knew what was in his heart? He hadn't said a single word to any of his colleagues. He had kept his frustration about the job to himself, so how did Fugaku find out?
"Who said this is not important. What's important is how much truth this holds," Fugaku gave a small smile, seeing Naruto so confused.
"Well, it is true that I want to go to the sites. What I am doing right now can be easily done by a draftsman. I am a qualified engineer, and checking drawings or making some designs while just sitting in an air-conditioned office is not my idea of a civil engineer. I want to go to the sites, and I want to be the part of a project from its initial drawing to the completion of its construction. I want to see my designs being used. I want to interact with the architects, the builder and the contractor."
He hadn't argued over the fact that Fugaku knew about his dissatisfaction and just said what he thought with his usual boldness and confidence.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well, I didn't want to upset Mr. Hyuga. After all, he is my boss."
"I wasn't expecting this timidity from a bold, confident and daring young man like you. I didn't ask you myself because I thought that if you weren't satisfied you would just come to me."
"Sir, you have gotten a bit too much of an impression from me. I am not that audacious," Naruto quickly said and Fugaku let out an amused chuckle.
"So Mr. Uzumaki Naruto, a very talented engineer told me that if I didn't hire him, then the loss would be mine. And now, if that talented engineer isn't satisfied here and goes to someone else, then that will be my loss too, no…?"
"Sir!" Naruto felt beyond embarrassed and mortified. Fugaku hadn't forgotten to mention his sweet talk from the first day.
"We are going to the site in Azabu-Jūban, so be quick and get whatever you have to get from your office. I'll be waiting outside," Fugaku ordered and then took his ringing phone from the table to get the call. Naruto, positively beaming, quickly left Fugaku's office. When he returned to his room, Naruto quickly shut down his laptop, locked his drawers, grabbed his phone and keys and quickly left.
When Naruto got inside their ride, Fugaku handed him the working designs of the factory. The reason behind it was so he could get all the necessary information about the site and the project, and while driving Fugaku also briefed him about the structural design of the factory.
The factory was being constructed on a very large area, and when they arrived there, the construction workers were buzzing and doing the work at a monstrous speed. The moment they got out of the vehicle, the site engineer rushed to them.
"Hello, sir!" the man was quick to greet Fugaku and started to report on the speed and standards of the construction work. Naruto and Fugaku made their way inside together with the site engineer. It was loud, and all they could see was dust in the air with iron bars, concrete, wood and other building materials. All the laborers were working meticulously. The builder quickly moved toward them and Fugaku started introducing everyone to Naruto.
The first floor was done and the bars were already placed there, but the stairs weren't built yet, so the workers had constructed a makeshift staircase. Fugaku was already going up, Naruto following close behind, all the while trying not to drop any drawings or designs.
"Check the steel in the beams," Fugaku told him, then turned his attention to a busy discussion with the builder and the site engineer. There were iron beams everywhere, and, while trying not to bump into any of the stuff there, Naruto opened up the working designs and started to compare the one in the drawing with the one used in beams. It was all such a new experience for him to not to bump into iron bars or try to compare the steel and then checking that it was of right quality.
After giving him his work, Fugaku was still busy with the site engineer. The site engineer was telling Fugaku all about the problems they were facing, and Fugaku was solving them one by one. After he was done with his assigned work,Naruto went ahead to talk with the workers.
Those men were even more knowledgeable than him, and, obviously, while working in the field, these guys knew about the amount and qualities of beams and concrete and how much was going to be used even without seeing the drawings themselves, unlike him. Naruto was amused when some of the workers even told him how to walk through these types of places as they saw him walking before so cautiously.
"Let's go, Mr. Uzumaki," Fugaku said and went ahead to climb down the makeshift stairs. Naruto nodded, and after saying his goodbyes, followed Fugaku.
Fugaku gave him the keys and told him to go sit in the car. Naruto went ahead, while Fugaku stayed behind to discuss something with the site engineer. After a few minutes, when Fugaku came back, he started to tell Naruto some other points about construction, and soon they were out of the construction area.
"I have to attend a meeting of building control, and you, Mr. Uzumaki, are coming with me," it felt as if Fugaku was going to make all his complaints go away today. It was already past one pm, and if he had been in the office he would be having lunch.
"It's lunch time. You must be hungry", while driving Fugaku looked his way.
"No, sir. I'm good," he had tried to convince Fugaku, but soon they were stopping in front of a McDonalds.
"So what do you want to have?"
"Sir, please. I…" but before he could say something Fugaku cut him off.
"When did you become so formal, Mr. Uzumaki? A month ago the young man I met was confident and easygoing, and you know, that was the quality which impressed me, so please don't change yourself."
There was no way Naruto could say no now, so he swallowed thickly and gave Fugaku his order. It felt embarrassing, but soon Fugaku was coming back with his takeout paper bag.
"And sir, what about you?" Naruto didn't see another bag in Fugaku's hands.
"I don't eat fast food. I'm a heart patient, so fast food is a no go for me," Fugaku told him, and Naruto nodded. When they finally arrived at the civic center, the building control office, Naruto was already done with his lunch. Fugaku told him that this meeting with building control authority's high officials was about an apartment complex they had made with another builder, so, once they issued them the NOC, the booking of flats could be started.
The man who had designed the building was already there and waiting for them. The man's name was Danzo, and his designer outfit, expensive footwear and watch was enough proof of him being rich.
After the introductions, Naruto already despised that man. This specific type of man could be found everywhere, and this was exactly the type his friend Sakura told him about. The type who had lasers fit into their eyes and would dissect every young man or woman with their eyes. It was creepy and disgusting.
Once they were done with the meeting, it was already four pm.
"Sir, you should have your lunch," Naruto couldn't stop himself from saying this while they were climbing the stairs to go to the drawing section.
"Lunch?" Fugaku had looked startled like he had already forgotten about it. "Yeah, I'll have it, but before that I have to meet with Kakashi. Tomorrow we have to submit the drawing for a children's hospital to the building control."
It was five pm when Naruto was informed on the intercom by Fugaku's secretary Utakata, that Fugaku had asked for him.
When Naruto arrived, just like always, Utakata was typing something swiftly.
"You can go in. Sir is inside," Utakata told him when he came closer to the man.
"Did he have lunch?" he immediately asked Utakata, who seemed surprised.
"Uh... no."
"Still not?" Naruto took a quick look at his watch and said, a bit shocked, "What kind of a secretary are you? Your boss hasn't had lunch till this time, and you know he is a heart patient. He must be using medication, and, let's say even if he isn't, even then. Do you think it is right for a heart patient to work till this late and miss their lunch?" Naruto ignored the startled way Utakata had reacted, turned and entered Fugaku's office.
"Come in, Mr. Uzumaki." When Naruto entered, he saw that his boss Hiashi was also sitting there. There was a drawing spread on the table, and it seemed like they had been discussing it before he came.
"Have a seat." Naruto nodded and sat down on the seat beside Hiashi in front of Fugaku's table.
"Actually, Mr. Hyuga, I want Mr. Uzumaki from your team to assist me along with Kakashi in the project for Konan University School of Medicine. But of course, only if you allow…"
Naruto felt a bit embarrassed with the way Fugaku spoke about him, like he was someone too important, because to Hiashi, Naruto was only a foreign qualified freshly graduated engineer. So, with the same detachment, Hiashi had added him to his team, he nodded to this proposition.
Naruto was already getting excited by the mere idea of working with Fugaku.
While Fugaku discussed the soil report of the medical college with Hiashi, Naruto kept quiet and listened to the discussion. A few more minutes passed and Hiashi took his leave. Even though the purpose he had been called for was fulfilled, Naruto didn't leave with Hiashi and remained sitting.
"So how was today for you Mr. Uzumaki? Did you get to learn something new on site or during the meeting?" Fugaku's attention was now focused on him.
"Well, it was without a doubt a treat for me. I learnt so much, and, sir, I just can't thank you enough for adding me to the new project. I am definitely excited about it."
"Well, don't be too excited because I can be way stricter than Mr. Hyuga. You should ask Kakashi how much he had been lectured on the structural designs and submissions," it seemed like Fugaku was trying to scare him, and it amused Naruto, but he didn't show it.
"Sir, I don't think you would ever be angry with someone for no reason. I'm sure it must be an unforgivable blunder if you could get angry like that." Naruto's words brought a small amused smirk to Fugaku's lips.
"You give quite a good impression of me. So that means if Mr. Naruto Uzumaki ever leaves Japan for America, then at least I wouldn't be the reason of it."
"Indeed, sir, you are a very respectable person. I admire how you always hold your employees in high regard, so that they are content and happy with their employment just like you did for me. But sir, you shouldn't be focused only on your employees and firm but on your own health as well" Naruto didn't hesitate one bit before he gave his boss a piece of his mind and Fugaku looked a bit confused.
"Sir, it's five pm. The office hours are almost over and you still haven't had your lunch. You shouldn't be so careless if you are a heart patient."
Fugaku's eyes widened a bit and his lips parted in surprise. The man had indeed completely forgotten about that. Naruto had also heard during Fugaku's discussion with Hiashi, that Fugaku had a meeting with a client here at seven, which meant that the man was going to be there for a longer period of time.
"There is time till your client comes, so why don't you have your lunch now sir?" Fugaku looked surprised but not irritated, in fact, he looked amused.
"Are you always this caring for your bosses, or am I just special?"
"Well, whoever I like, that person becomes special to me. It doesn't matter if he is my boss or not," Naruto said in his usual bold way.
"Well, now that such a fine young man like you are asking me, there is no way I would say no. But I have one condition. You have to join me," while informing this to Naruto, Fugaku asked Utakata on the intercom to bring him his lunch.
"So, how are you enjoying it here? If I'm not mistaken it has already been two months since you came here."
"It's good here. It's still a bit new and unfamiliar."
Naruto was talking when an errand boy entered and placed the lunch on the table in front of the couches.
"Come, Mr. Uzumaki," Fugaku said to him before he got up to go and wash his hands. On the table Naruto could see steamed rice with clam soup, steamed salmon, mixed fruit and veggie salad. Fugaku had sat in front of him. Naruto had lunch already, but to be polite he took just a bit of rice with soup with no clams and salad. Fugaku had took a small piece of salmon and was adding salad to his plate when he glanced at Naruto's plate. Fugaku stopped and started to look at him in interest.
"Vegetarian?"
Naruto nodded, and Fugaku started to eat his salad after he had mumbled a small 'itadakimasu' under his breath.
"I eat salad mostly and very small portions of other things, but I'm not a vegetarian."
"I know sir," it was out of his mouth before he knew and Fugaku looked at him in surprise, "You don't eat the outside food, and to have a healthy diet, you must take more vegetables and fruits, and less of other things," Naruto had quickly said to make his point clear, and Fugaku nodded.
"The food is really tasty? Did your wife make it?" Naruto took some more salad and tried to change the topic.
"Not anymore. My wife used to make lunch for me, but she is having some health problems, so we hired a cook. He makes the food under her guidance."
"I would ask for tea or coffee, but it's already late. You should go home," Fugaku said to him when his phone started to ring. It was the client Fugaku had the meeting with.
Naruto said his goodbye and left the office. Utakata looked at this newly appointed engineer who had been worried sick for Fugaku's missed lunch. The young man hadn't just shown worry, he had made Fugaku remember about it and then had asked for lunch, and it looked as if he had the lunch with Fugaku too. This boy had been appointed without any add or vacancy, and now Naruto always followed Fugaku. Utakata had known Fugaku for years and knew that he wasn't a man like that. He really wanted to tell this new engineer...'Listen, young man, you are going for the wrong person. Our boss loves his wife too much, and I'm a witness to this as well his secretary. I know how many times he calls his wife and how many times he receives the call.'
Utakata knew well that homosexuality was becoming a common thing in Japan and the trend of going for your own boss, even if he was older. Many young people found it quite thrilling and exciting.
"Well, it's not like this is any of my business," Utakata shook his head and quickly started to wind up for the day.
"What's up with you today? You look happy," Suigetsu said, looking at him. They were having dinner at the moment.
"Yup, I'm pretty happy. I'm gonna get started on a new project with my boss tomorrow," Naruto smiled while swallowing down his food.
"I'm happy to see you getting familiar so quickly. Always stay happy, Naruto." Karin's tone was sincere, and Naruto gave a small lopsided smile. While Naruto was in America he didn't have that much contact with Karin and her husband, but now that he was here, Karin was already in love with this charming ball of sunshine. Naruto wasn't arrogant or valiant like she had thought a foreigner would be. Instead he was gentle, kind and very compassionate. He had all of the Japanese mannerisms, and Karin loved it.
Karin and Suigetsu's house, which had turned lifeless after the death of their child, had become a lot merrier since Naruto came. All of them were busy till the evening, but in the evening they had dinner together and would chat late into the night. But mostly they would all take their leave at eleven because of the working day except weekends. They often went out to bars and got drunk together sometimes, well, not Karin and Naruto, but Suigetsu always got carried away.
Overall it was fun and relaxing, and Naruto loved the company of these simple and loving people.
The next day Naruto went out to the Medical University site along with Kakashi and Fugaku. Today the construction work was going to start. It was a huge project because along with constructing the University they had to build the boarding houses for students.
Fugaku left after working for just over an hour and inspecting the site, but Naruto and Kakashi needed to stay longer to look after the workers and to guide them.
Today Naruto was wearing khaki jeans, brown shirt with construction gear, joggers and a cap on his head so all in all he was in perfection gear to work on a site as a professional civil engineer. After working late in hot weather and dust they returned to the office in the afternoon. After coming back Naruto went over the drawing section with Kakashi.
Naruto and Kakashi stood in front of three drawing boards that held the drawings of the Medical University and discussed the working and Temari were also busy working on some designs when Naruto saw Kiba coming inside mumbling something.
"Everything ok with you Inuzuka? What are you mumbling inside your mouth?"
Kakashi peeked over his shoulder turning his head to the side. Kiba had passed out from University of Tokyo this year. He was working only for seven, eight months here. He was a cheerful and lively boy and looking at his childish nature you could never guess that he was a gold medalist from U of T.
"Well some people are so busy that they have totally forgotten about a get together after their first salary. Just six months ago when I got my first salary I treated all of my coworkers to drinks and dinner but no...some people are just so cold."
Naruto was startled a bit on this because, well, Kiba was definitely targeting him. When Naruto saw Kiba shaking his head animatedly he couldn't stop his smile.
"By the way Mr. Uzumaki, isn't there any custom, say like...treating your coworkers...because I've heard that foreigners are quite rude even to their girlfriends too. I mean, they even divide the bill on dates," Kiba said with a small pout and blinking his eyes with innocence while he slowly made his way closer to them.
"Well I was definitely not that kind of boyfriend." Naruto let out an amused chuckle. Even Sakura and Temari had stopped working and began listening to them.
"So, how about I treat you guys today? Where do you guys wanna go because I'll take you there." Naruto beamed while looking at them.
"Wherever you want to, we are very nice people so we won't even complain."
It was decided that they were going to eat pizza today after work. At seven pm they arrived at Pizza Hut and since it wasn't yet dinner time, the place was not that busy. After they ordered their favorite pizza and drinks they all started to talk about things, like how some thug had snatched away Kankuro's phone and he was pissed off.
"Come on don't be so sad. Just think that it was his and never yours." Kiba tried to be sympathetic seeing as how much the guy was heartbroken over his newly purchased iPhone getting stolen just after a week.
"His?" Kankuro glared at Kiba.
"Yup his! I mean seriously, you do know that thugs are out at nights and not to mention the drug addicts too. So having a good phone while walking around in a shady neighborhood? Do you really think that was a smart move?" Somehow his tone made everyone snicker.
"Yup! In fact you should be happy that you had a good set with you. I mean, if you had a bad one, they may have been offended."
"He is totally right. I saw a girl's purse getting snatched away and then the biker was back in just five minutes when he didn't find anything worthwhile in the purse. He threw the hand bag at her and called her a loser before speeding away." It was Temari who told this while she chuckled.
They did start to talk about different incidents with thugs. Naruto listened to them about different stories and also shared some of his own experiences too.
"Hey guys come on. Let's not scare off Naruto or he might leave Japan," Kakashi snickered.
"Well that he is gonna do anyways," Kankuro said as a matter of fact.
"Well then you should be thankful to me or else you could have missed out on your treat if Naruto left in the meantime," Kiba winked and said playfully.
"Rest assured Kiba, because Uzumaki Naruto won't be leaving Japan. Yeah it's different but I didn't come here to just run away back to America like a loser." Naruto took a piece of pizza with his fingers and smiles softly.
"Well that's good, though I would advise you to not travel during the night with anything valuable, for future reference." Kankuro was still quite pissed over his phone getting snatched away. Naruto and others just chuckled amused. Once they were finished the girls wanted to order ice cream.
"Well you girls can eat ice cream and we boys will have coffee." Kakashi called for the waiter and then smiled a bit playfully.
"We boys?" Kiba said, widening his eyes animatedly, making Kakashi slap his back playfully. Kakashi was older than all of them by eight or nine years, so whenever the poor guy would use the word 'boy', Kiba would tease him.
"For girls, it can be ice cream and for us boys and the oji-san with us, coffee"
All of them laughed out loud on that. Kakashi and Kiba kept on with their little teasing display, keeping everyone amused.
When Naruto came back it was already 10 pm. Karin was busy on the phone and Suigetsu wasn't back yet. He took some rice balls and then retreated back to his room. He researched for a bit and then when he couldn't push back the tiredness anymore, he closed his laptop and decided to go to sleep.
Any Comments?
