A/N: Firstly, Thanks so much for the reviews and follows, favorites, etc, it surprised me that you all enjoy this series, but in any case, thank you for reading this fanfiction!
Please note that I don't know too much about how business works, so if I mess on things please do point it out and I'll try to fix the mistakes. So for the future mistakes I ask for your forgiveness. Furthermore, I've been struggling a little in school so i've been occupied, but I'm trying to update this story and trying to finishing the final chapter of IEH (which will be really long...). Plus I've been in desperate need of a beta (Though so far, a lot are too busy or just gone)
So please forgive my mistakes in this story!
Tricky was such a blessed word when involved in peculiar situations. It can be applied to puzzles or difficult situations that can be considered tedious.
Luckily, Sasuke had never been in a situation that was considered 'tricky' or even 'inconvenience' due to his strict habit of alienating any person that couldn't hand in their work a day before the actual due date. However this prevented him from being able to deal with hardheaded idiots. It seems today was the day Sasuke had met his match.
Not the romantic kind unfortunately.
"As I've said before, to treat cataracts, is a complete different aspect that's far more troublesome to add." The smooth voice sneered, his fingers tapping impatiently on his desk as Naruto sat on the floor in front of him, crisscrossed legs with his arms folded in front of his chest.
Blazing blue orbs persisted stubbornly.
"It's not that different, it's still an eye condition like when a person needs glasses. Only it can't be treated on the elderly, we can help so much people this way!"
"Absolutely not. Our main goal is to create a project that repairs the lens in the eye so that glasses won't be required anymore, cataracts is when the lens becomes cloudy, they are two different eye conditions." Sasuke reminded snidely, taking pleasure that his knowledge was at a higher level than his partner's.
Naruto however protested the asshole's reasoning "But both conditions require glasses! Listen for once you dick sucking bastard!" He finally snapped, enjoying the idea of helping a wider range of people, but was bitterly despising the cold hearted ice prince front of him.
Due to his rather crude choice of words it seemed the chatter of the room had abruptly stopped. Eyes staring down on Sasuke and Naruto. There was a faint sound of a coffee cup dropping, no doubt the janitor could hear it as well.
Silence.
Until Suigetsu coughed a little to break the silence.
Sasuke looked at the inferior partner of his and approached him with two long strides he was face to face with the subjacent nitwit that was pretty much useless.
Naruto didn't flinch at the tight jackass when he appraised him, instead, his chest puffed out, willing a challenge against the arrogant jackass.
Giving an unimpressed stare, Sasuke merely glanced at the clock of his phone. He should have seen an email notification, yet there was none that was important; none that included the word 'Naruto'.
"Then we'll start it as a separate pro-" he began suggesting, wanting to calm the headache he was developing.
"No fucking way." Naruto snapped with gritted teeth.
"There is no fucking way I'm going to to do that."
Naruto knew how business worked. You needed to be a clean cut person, with a personality that could charm people into giving you their money to buy a product that should help them. Key word was 'should.'
Reality was, products are purposely made to break so others would by more. Good business meant recieving large amounts of money with the minimum of income loss.
Basically you need to convince people to hand their money to you. The problem at the moment was that Naruto was the type of person that was far too sincere to ever act in such a manipulative way when it came to anything and anyone. Sasuke on the other hand was the perfect definition of a businessman.
He had power.
Attractiveness, intelligence, social status, and was intimidating when need be.
Not a single person who knew who Sasuke was had ever tried to cross him, until now.
From the looks of it, none of his skills would be of use to him now.
"Well what do you propose then?" Sasuke irritatingly asked, waiting for the blond hothead to realize what idiotic nonsense he was spouting.
Naruto grinned and placed his hands on his waist. "About time you started asking the right questions."
Stepping forward a he straightened his jacket Naruto eagerly began his speech.
"You're aiming for young adults, but what about the elderly that suffer from cataracts? We need to remember that our project is meant to be helpful to the community. Naturally it's important to appeal to other age groups so that time demand for them are high and then from the stock rates we'll be able to deduct how many we should produce a year if we continue working productively."
Naruto glanced at Gaara who nodded in approval for him to continue.
So far so good then... Naruto thought, if Gaara approved of his words, then Naruto knew he was within reasonable range to be considered.
"Small companies start small but think big. Since both of our companies are fairly large, we can expand on this project by adding some sort of vision aid to help clear the lenses of the eye."
Naruto thanked whatever force there was in the sky that he remembered grade 10 biology when they talked about how eyes and cells worked.
For a moment, Sasuke might have considered the blond man's suggestion, but he was never the type to simply agree. Yes, if he agreed quickly they'd save time but if he waited, he would create the line of dominance; that he was the one leading this project because his influence was the key to their success.
Patience was a key weapon Sasuke used to manipulate people with his charm and intelligence.
"I'll think about it... I'll get back to you once I make a decision." He explained, despite the fact that he was lying and had absolutely no intentions of giving in to Naruto's idea.
Watching the high class man leave the premise frustrated Naruto to no end. Entangling his fingers in his hair he groaned "Why is he such a bastard?! Acting so goddamn high and mighty!"
Storming off to the bathroom to cool his head, Gaara followed in silence, prepared to calm him down to explain that Sasuke's attitude was just part of his job.
"If he acts all cool and calculating sure I can accept that. But that fucker has no consideration of others! I know this is business but I stepped into the business world to make it easier for everyone to live a happy life."
Splashing the cold water in his face sent icy shivers down his neck, the coldness shocking some of the angry heat he felt build up in his face was refreshing and calming.
"He's very good at strategy when it comes to gaining money. It's not necessarily a bad thing. Especially with this type of work. You can't be successful quickly without getting your hands dirty." Gaara pointed out with mild amusement of Naruto's strong sense of right, his hand sliding to his pocket to take out a cigarette pack. Popping a thin stick in his mouth he got out his lighter to relieve the itching addiction for one.
"Yeah well I actually want to help the elderly instead of robbing them blind." Naruto snapped.
Glaring at his own blue eyes in the mirror, Naruto's grip on the sides of the sink tightened, the scent of burning smoke simply encouraged the anger to grow.
"I can't stand that asshole."
Returning after a day's work, Naruto hastily threaded down the halls to the elevator. Punching the up button a couple of times, Naruto silently begged for the elevator to arrive since he really needed to to check his email and get his daily relieving message. He really needed to get a better laptop and phone with better battery. Apple's battery literally suck.
As he waited his mind kept flashing back to what he had done after exiting the bathroom earlier that day.
In all honesty he should have taken heed of Gaara's advice since he was a professional in business inquires; being the thick headed man that he was, Naruto had to lose his shit once the cold hearted asshole returned early to tell Naruto no to appealing to the elderly in this one project. Pressing his hand on his temple to run at it, it wasn't the best idea to dump his poutine over his hair since it ruined Naruto's chance of savoring the salty deliciousness of Canadian Poutine. It was so difficult to get the real legit Canadian fries, cheese and gravy in the United States.
Naruto made the initiative to go to a grocery store to make some food for himself. The hotel he stayed in was one of the higher class ones that came with a kitchen, just no food.
The kitchen even came with a rice cooker.
Finally the small chime of the elevator made Naruto dive past the opening doors. Unfortunately he nearly knocked over a pregnant lady which he profusely apologized for.
Luckily for him he escaped her wrath with a small slap on the face.
Progressing down the hallway of doors, Naruto reached his designated hotel room which had black numbering of 384.
Getting out his keys he opens we the door and locked it. Throwing the keys on the counter and placed the plastic bags of groceries beside the keys as he began to strip off his tight business clothes.
He fucking despised wearing a tight necktie and a buttoned up shirt, it felt so suffocating wearing uptight clothing since he wasn't an uptight person.
Personally he would have preferred wearing loose jeans and a orange shirt on. Throwing off his blue tie, Naruto threw off his shirt which was the final piece of clothing excluding his briefs; skin feeling free and relieved of any restraining clothes.
Without realizing it until he was nestled into the comfort of his home, his stomach ached and growled to be fed.
Charging his laptop on the counter, Naruto began to make himself some spicy curry with a little bit of shrimp, if he was still hungry, he could snack on ramen. Normally he would have preferred ramen and poutine but he was hungry and anything sounded appealing to him besides 'salad' and 'tomato.' Setting up the food, spices and chicken, Naruto began to chop up some onions, pretty soon he was in a bawling mess since he enjoyed the taste of fried onions he had to pay for making it himself since the onions emanated painful gases that hurt his eyes. He even stuck his tongue out to see if it could ease the pain. It didn't, which meant his friend Kiba fucking lied to him and he now looked like some kind of moron that was crying and sticking his tongue out.
Pausing for a moment to wipe his eyes which were covered in onion juice, Naruto nearly screamed at the intense burn of the liquid fire attacking his tear ducts.
"Fuck!" Harshly snapping, his eyes blinking rapidly as tears spilled faster as a means to rid of the horribly painful onion.
At that moment his laptop turned on as a sign that it was powered back enough to be useable.
Staring at the screen, Naruto finally had his mind back on a normal track and quickly cantered to wash his eyes with cool water before attending to his laptop.
With a dry towel, Naruto wiped any water that slipped down to his neck or chest, sighing at the slight burn that still persisted in his eyes. Due to the ongoing pain he experienced from the onion, Naruto just gave up on curry shrimp and settled with ramen.
Waiting for his noodles to settle a little, Naruto began logging into his email since for some reason his stupid laptop logged him out no matter what he did, but as long as his laptop could still turn on and connect to the WiFi, he wouldn't complain.
Eagerly scrolling through his email, Naruto clicked the new email with the subject "Moron."
Trust Sasuke to be a charmer when it came to emails.
"...Nice to hear you've shaved all your hair off before, would that include your genitals?"
Naruto swore he could imagine Sasuke grinning like an idiot, despite that he couldn't visualize specific details of Sasuke's face. All the young blond knew was that Sasuke was apparently attractive, hot. Like REALLY smoking hot.
But that's all the egotistical friend would tell Naruto; leaving the the champagne haired man the luxury of imagining what Sasuke looked like, it varied from time to time, but Naruto was a hundred percent on one thing about Sasuke, he must have smirked a lot with his arrogant way of conjuring words.
Sasuke was... In the mildest ways, kind of distant...but not in a antisocial way, more like...
Awkwardly silent when it came to others... Lonely. Naruto mused with mild empathy, feeling the surge of old wounds beginning to ache at the thought of his own best friend isolated.
It was ironic though, they were the closest friends a person could ever know, but at the same time, there was still so much that made them strangers to one another.
Air would become heavy to breathe in when the idea of Sasuke experiencing pain, almost enough to make him follow out his killing urge to find Sasuke, to admit his affectionate feelings to his best friend, that Naruto loved Sasuke romantically.
The blonde was willing to tell anyone that cares that he was bisexual, maybe a little more to the males than females but he liked both genders, but he didn't want to get into all those labels for different sexualities since it confused him. If you love someone than you love them, he didn't like how people make it so complicated by giving everything a name or label. As long as so one loved someone else sincerely that's all that mattered, as long as a person wasn't a pedophile or into bestiality.
That'd be just gross.
Snickering a little at Sasuke's curiosity, Naruto began typing back "Yes, and for a few days it was pleasantly cool down there until the hair started growing back as a patch. Which was kinda gross so I never did it again."
Then his eyes read the next part of Sasuke's reply, only to frown a little.
"...You never told me about that. You were abandoned?"
Such simple words meant so much. Sasuke was usually an impersonal type of guy, but Naruto wasn't, so the reaction in the form of a question said a lot.
Sasuke cared, and Naruto had seemed to have forgot to mention that he started off life with no parents; which his other friends knew about.
Feeling a bubble of shame rise he began to type out and explanation, rubbing his eye with the towel for a moment as the burn returned
"Just for a bit... Until I was a preteen I think? I don't know my labels, it was kinda hard when I started out, since no one cared to find out who I was, I was seen as a bad omen or something since I was kidnapped by some serial killer that was gunned down when I was like a month old."
For a brief moment his fingers twitched and paused, his reply was fairly straightforward but Sasuke really liked detail when it came to relevant events in Naruto's life.
"I was often alone, playing on the swing set in the shade, never had anyone approach me or even look at me. It was tough and all, but now im stronger and more determined to make sure no one suffers like me again! I like seeing people smile."
Fingers typed eagerly away as he found himself smiling despite the tear that slipped out from his eye, from the onion of course.
"I'm thankful that I experienced loneliness, because I don't ever want someone to feel alone because they're different. People are living life and going through difficulties, which is why I was so hyped to join my dad's line of work. To help people, to see them smile without worry."
Warmth spread in his chest which could only be described as happiness, sending pleasant sensations through his blood, which absentmindedly brought to mind a time Sasuke had written to Naruto that the blond man was the only one out of his entire life who could make Sasuke forget about his work and misery, that in a way, Naruto was his only escape from the suffocating chains of his family.
These little things that Sasuke said were flattering and complimenting since Sasuke had a difficult time getting along with anyone in general who wasn't family; which he had developed a crush over his anonymous pen pal which would prove to be 'troublesome' as Shikamaru would put it.
Reading further he nearly burst into laughter if he didn't find himself freezing as his brain connected an odd coincidence.
Apparently Sasuke had a partner coming in to work on a large project, on the same day Naruto had arrived.
For a moment panic settled like thick paint before he laughed to himself Uchiha...? Sasuke? Psh! Fuck no... That's impossible.
The mere idea of Sasuke being the stuck up Uchiha was impossible, Sasuke wasn't some shallow asshole that wouldn't blink to the idea of robbing the poor and elderly.
Sasuke was this smart guy(borderline smart ass), that was a little lonely since he could never find a person who liked him for him.
Typing the rest of the reply with his fingers, Naruto tapped the 'enter' button and watched his email deliver the message.
Getting to his feet with ease, Naruto settled to shower and hopeful rid himself of the onion of pain juice out of his eye.
Note to self: wear safety goggles for onions... He absentmindedly thought as he allowed the warm, clean water to spray on to his face, cleaning out any chemicals from his eyes, enjoying the glorious relief of the pain deserting his eyes.
Naruto was never mediocre, so it was plausible why he didn't think it was weird to think of the Uchiha guy while he was in the shower.
Call it a passing thought, but maybe the Uchiha was lonely.
He's always alone... Like he hates people...
Naruto pressed on the shower head to stop the shower head from spraying water. His eyes were dark with concentration, the proud Uchiha was known to being cold and distant from what his friends that were in the same kind of work area explained to him, Naruto did do his research–despite the fact he tended to forget to memorize the first names of new acquaintances.
Apparently even in high school the Uchiha and his brother had problems with getting along, that the Uchiha brothers both seemed to prefer to isolated from others, living on without companionship, not a single moment of having a good time with friends.
However, it seemed eldest brother, understood that relationships with strangers were important, and began to warm up to the ambitious students which all became powerful professionals in the world of business; He had an easy start when he began directing their family business with his contacts he made contracts with.
The younger Uchiha never really grew out of the loner phase and was still very much distant to the idea of companionship.
Naruto soon recalled that his penal, Sasuke was in a similar situation. It wasn't that he disliked people in general, he didn't enjoy being around them because he found people often have to suck up to others to have friends.
The fact was, Sasuke was intelligent, refined, and attractive, but that's all anyone considered when he was approached; not a single person has ever tried to understand his personality instead of his looks; Hence, the reason why he disfavored human company.
Apparently his high school saw this as a problem which inevitably introduced Sasuke to Naruto.
Sasuke had come a long way since then, apparently he had this friend who was similar to Naruto's personality, but more disruptive much his his dismay. To Sasuke, Naruto was his only real friend that liked him for who he was.
Which was why maybe the Uchiha bastard was in the same position as Sasuke. Hating how everyone around him deemed his prominent qualities to be just looks and intelligence, that he was worth nothing else without those characteristics.
The mere idea of having friends disgusted the Uchiha.
Feeling a bit more empathetic for the younger Uchiha since Naruto understood too well what it was like to feel worthless, that you were nothing.
Squeezing out Irish Spring soap on his palm, he rubbed both hands to lather it into a silky foam before he began applying it on his back, and chest, extending to his arms eventually.
I guess the Uchiha guys has a lot of pressure too... Dad did say the Uchiha brother's father was incredibly strict... Naruto breathed in the fresh, humid air of the shower as he recalled his father's advice regarding the Uchiha family.
Itachi Uchiha was extremely successful in everything which had set a difficult standard for his younger brother.
Maybe the younger sibling felt like he was Itachi's shadow.
"Poor guy..." Naruto muttered as he closed his eyes as he switched to applying shampoo in his hair. Pity wasn't the emotion he felt towards his partner in business, instead he saw the situation as unfair.
Naruto reflected back to himself, Naruto concluded that the young Uchiha prodigy probably needed a friend, someone to help him open up and become more approachable.
To fix the trust issue of him, maybe then the uptight jackass would get laid and finally look relaxed for once.
Turning back on the water, the fierce blond finally came to the decision that from this point on, becoming friends with the ice prince was his goal for this business project.
The Uchiha needed to start somewhere when it comes to being sociable, Naruto was always a people person, taking enjoyment out of other people's happiness.
For an odd reason, Naruto just really wanted to see the Uchiha give an earnest smile.
A smile of that jackass... Maybe he'd look okay with one.
Out of business concern, Itachi stepped out of the airport building, ignoring the loud noise on landing planes, Itachi settled right into the limousine that was sent for his return back; after he received a text from Suigetsu that a certain friend of Sasuke's was in town, it was rather obvious he needed to return to meet the anticipated mystery friend.
Itachi Uchiha, was a well informed man of every person he considered noteworthy; including outsiders that associated themselves with his younger brother whom he cared for.
Luckily for Itachi, Sasuke didn't socialize much which made it easier to keep track of who was involved with his little brother.
Naturally he knew about Naruto by purposely looking through Sasuke's laptop one night, coincidentally noticing that Sasuke was in the middle of replying to an email to what seemed to be a close friend with how... Happy Sasuke's words seemed.
Itachi from that point took whatever means to find out who this 'Naruto' was, to make sure the guy who was Sasuke's friend was a good influence.
To his delight Naruto exceeded his expectations. Naruto was Minato Namikaze's son. The heir of Konoha Corps.
Obviously he approved of the blond man, seeing how Naruto was so expressive with his thoughts and emotions, contrasting with Sasuke's frigid attitude that kept others at bay.
Naruto seemed like a healthy kind of influence, one that would be able to piss Sasuke off. The gloomy brother needed someone different in his life to keep things meaningful.
Engine hummed in approval, reminding Itachi of a lion purring in approval. As the car began its smooth descent back to his home, Itachi realized that it was likely Sasuke didn't know Mr. Uzumaki's first name with how impatient his fool of a brother.
Tsk. I won't allow such a minor mistake from preventing the inevitable. Itachi mused to himself, mildly entertained with the irony of the situation. Nonetheless, Itachi began conjuring of ways for them to discover the truth.
The smooth glide of the luxurious automobile slowed from traffic, Itachi's lips quirked a mild smile at the sight of children comically play when he witnessed two boys roughhousing each other with mud.
Itachi secretly hoped that if Sasuke and Naruto got close together, than perhaps, something–whether it be a romantic, or a platonic relationship–Sasuke's personality wouldn't be as closed off, and maybe Sasuke would begin to find color in his life again after he had shut himself away in the darkest caverns of his heart.
Facts made life so much harder which was why it was all the more tedious to somehow find a way for Sasuke to offer a smile directed to him.
Due to tradition of their family, it made sense that Sasuke hated Itachi; but that didn't mean Sasuke needed to deprive himself of any joy.
The smile of Itachi's wavered when he recalled the time how he and Sasuke roughhoused in the snow.
Like the snow, both of them were carefree and ignorant as children. Itachi had grown accustomed to his current life now, no longer adventurous, nor happy; just a simple loop of monotony.
Despite this, he would be satisfied with Sasuke being happy; To see Sasuke achieve true happiness was an old wish Itachi used to make; after a numerous amount of years, his wish seemed impossible, but now... It was in reach.
Sasuke would smile again after this week, Itachi would see to that since he was going to be present to the current dilemma of two idiots who unconsciously avoid one another's name like the plague.
Itachi was more than ready for this.
He waited for this.
Without a doubt, Naruto would be changing Sasuke, and Itachi had high hopes the Uchiha family would accept this change.