Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto did. I'm just a humble writer who's trying to go wild with her imagination borrowing his characters.
Author's Note: Hello everyone here is chapter 4 for you. Enjoy.
Chapter- 4
Sasuke wake up early this morning. He padded to his bathroom, finished his morning routine, took a bath, got ready for his office and came down for breakfast. He can vaguely hear small conversation going on, as he entered the kitchen it stopped, he saw his father with his newspaper, Itachi having his breakfast and his mother by his father's side. With a small good morning greeting to every one Sasuke started his breakfast of milk and serial.
Fugaku was gone first followed by Sasuke and Itachi. They entered the office at usual timing. Sasuke was following Itachi to his cabin; as Itachi entered followed by Sasuke he quickly turn around fixing his brother with a flat look.
"Do you want anything Sasuke?"
Sasuke raised a single eyebrow in confusion "No, I don't want anything"
"Then why are you following me like a lost puppy?"
Sasuke groan in irritation, it is too early for him to deal with his brother "I'm not following you aniki"
Itachi cut his off with "But it sure looks like it."
Sasuke right eyebrow twitch in irritation "Aniki it is too early for me to deal with you right now and for your information I'm not following you."
"Then why are you in my office Sasuke?" Itachi said with a smirk.
Sasuke was getting more and more frustrated "I don't know where you have left your brain but if you have forgotten let me remind you I'm suppose to work in your cabin, as I don't have my own."
"Sasuke as you know, I highly value my privacy, same as you and I don't have the patience to deal with you on a regular basis. So, you are not staying in my cabin" Itachi promptly turn around and walk towards his desk.
Sasuke watched his brother's retreating back for a minute, getting more and angrier by the minute. His brother is a single species in the entire planate. Sometimes he cannot even phantom to understand him and sometimes he questions whether he is most lucky or unlucky to have such an infuriating brother like Itachi.
"Aniki where I'm suppose to work then? I can't work in a cubicle. It is an important project and I need a quite place to work on it, there is too much chaos down there."
Itachi give him a shrug "I don't know, but may be you can occupy the next cabin which father had prepared for you."
Sasuke stared at him dumb folded "I got my own cabin?" he as intelligently.
"You have earned it Sasuke, then why wouldn't you be getting one. I don't see the reason" Itachi watches his brother for a minute, when he got no reply he said "I don't have all day to deal with you Sasuke, I have my own work to do. Now shoo to your cabin and if you need anything don't bother me, you can go to Kakashi."
Sasuke exited his brother's office with a nod. Itachi watched his brothers back and then turn around to watch out of the window.
It is true he love to irritate the hell out of Sasuke but that doesn't mean he don't love his little brother. Truth to be told he love his little brother and will always be by his side whether he need him or not. As much as Sasuke think that he is all grown up now but there are many things he still has to learn. He will always be his little brother no matter what.
When they were children Sasuke was always by his side, where ever he go Sasuke will be there with his aniki. But time and his education had created a gap between two. He hadn't even realised when his brother had gone distant with him in his absence, he missed his bundle of cuteness and adorable little brother. He can remember the day still now when his mother had first place Sasuke in his hand, he was soo small and cute Itachi was afraid that he will hurt him if he hold any tighter. He was four year old but he had promised himself that day that he will protect him from every harm, no matter what.
As Sasuke grew he was like a constant shadow of Itachi. Their father was rarely home and Sasuke started to see him as his role model. He was so sure that his aniki will never leave him that when the time came for Itachi to go to abroad for his higher studies and Sasuke came to know about this he felt betrayed. Itachi can still remember the devastated look on Sasuke's face when he came to know that Itachi was leaving, he was only twelve at that time. He didn't talk with him for a week neither came to see him off. Itachi tried many times to talk and let Sasuke understand why he has to go but to no veil, Sasuke is stubborn.
After Itachi join the collage he became very busy with his studies. And due to the time difference there was rarely any time that he talked with Sasuke. Itachi had known that their relationship was trembling but he himself didn't have any time to fix that and Sasuke was going through his teenage years at that time.
After a year when Itachi came for holidays he tried to spend as much time as possible with Sasuke and mend their relation but his brother was still ignoring him. He tried but after receiving nothing from his brother he gave up, after all he was also a teen at that time and stubborn.
His brother's ignorance had caused a blow in his pride too, but he hadn't realised at that time that pride is not greater than family. He stopped trying which was the final blow for their relation. They stopped talking with each other completely but Sasuke was his brother, as much as he tried he couldn't ignore him. His talk with his father was always short and to the point and he was very certain that his father will not know about Sasuke more that he does. He used to talk with his mother and knew about everything what's going on with his brother.
His mother knew about Sasuke's life but he was sure there was something that his mother was missing but he didn't have a way to find out. After all he knew his brother better than anyone.
When Sasuke had graduated and it was his turn for higher studies, he flat out refused to go to the same collage as Itachi and instead choose the second best collage to keep his brother away. Itachi was aware of the fact and though Sasuke had tried to distance himself from his brother, Itachi was taking none of it, after all his little brother's collage was only three hours drive from his apartment.
He frequently visited Sasuke much to his brother's dismay. Sasuke had tried very hard to keep his personal life hidden from his brother but as much as Sasuke tries to hide anything from his aniki, Itachi is a master when it comes to his otouto. He kept every detail about his brother; though Sasuke was doing well in his academics it was his personal life which was disturbing for him. He thought that their mother has taught them better than sleeping around with every other girl as well as boy. Itachi realised that Sasuke was bisexual and he was completely ok with that but his frequent visits to the nightclubs and hiring girls or the amount of one night stands he was involving himself with was not good for him or his image.
They were the heir of the famous Uchiha Corporation and there are many enemies out there who want to take advantage of them. Itachi have no other choice to put a stop to those random visits of Sasuke to the night club. That's why that day he had gone to Sasuke's apartment without any notice. The sight he was presented with was soo disturbing for him that he was thinking of regretting his decision but he knew that this has to be done.
However their talk that day was amusing to Itachi and the blackmail material he had received Itachi had no remorse to use it against Sasuke if he had to. He was not naive to believe that he can protect Sasuke from every problem, there are many things which Sasuke have to face on his own but he will protect him as much as he can. This is a vow he had taken the day he had first hold Sasuke in his arms as a child and he intend to keep it even today.
No matter how much Sasuke tries to deny the fact but he will always be his little brother that can never change. He is determined to mend their relationship like earlier, where Sasuke can trust him again and he will do so no matter what.
With a sigh Itachi turn around at time a knock came to his office door and Kakashi entered.
"This is the file you wanted" Kakashi placed a file on the desk.
Itachi took a side glace at the file "Yes, thank you"
"You are leaving tomorrow then, for your big project?"
"Yes, it will take two to three months for me to return here again. Hopefully things will change around here till I come back."
Kakashi stood there for a moment, he was not a man of words and Itachi knew that, so is he is standing there that means there is something on his mind.
"Do you want anything?" Itachi asked without removing his eyes from the computer he was working on.
Kakashi studied him for a moment "Our little Sasuke had finally joined the pack."
"Your reference is suspiciously sounding like we are some kind of wolf"
"Did it sounded like that?" Kakashi rub the back of his head sheepishly "I didn't realised that, gomen" though Itachi can tell that he was not slightest bit of sorry.
Itachi stopped his urge to roll his eyes 'typical Kakashi' "Yes, he has finally join the office and by the looks of it he is enjoying himself" he replied as he continued to type on his computer.
"I'm happy that Fugaku decided to force him in to this, it was time. I guess he did have his eyes on his younger son after all."
"Father is observant in his own way though he tends not to show it. I suspected this will happen sooner or later given the situation, but I'm satisfied that it was sooner than later."
"But I think your father had killed two birds with one arrow."
Itachi raised an amused eyebrow at this, he thought he knew what that mean but he wanted to hear it from Kakashi.
Sighing Kakashi replied "He also did this to take Sasuke off his shoulder and dump on mine, he is punishing me."
"I wouldn't say it as father punishing you. He is giving his younger son's responsibility on you that means he trust you enough" Itachi said with an amused smile.
"Don't give me that smile Itachi. You know how a 'troublesome Sasuke' is too much for your father to handle, but what done is done no use to argue about it. I think I will be going then to deal with my stubborn student."
Kakashi turned around and walked towards the door. As he reached the handle he stopped by his name being called in a serious tone. He looked over his shoulder to see Itachi had stopped typing.
Itachi turned his eyes towards Kakashi, his typing stopped as he regards Kakashi with a serious look "Take care of him Kakashi, if you be patient he will do good. He has that inside him; you just have to nurture it."
"I know Itachi. I am also watching Sasuke from young age; after all he is your brother" he emphasised on the brother part to tell his point "and I am the one training him. You have my words Itachi before this project is over you will get your brother back with you" Kakashi turned around and exited the office leaving a surprised and satisfied Itachi behind.
"Maybe my plans of Sasuke were not as subtle as I thought they would be, but then Kakashi has a habit to look underneath the underneath" Itachi muttered to himself and with a small smile and got back to his work.
Sasuke entered his new office, the one only next to Kakashi that was convenient after all he is going to work with him. The office was not very big but was neat, an elegant desk was set in the middle with a computer and some paper works and file, probably about the project, there was a small sofa at the side with a coffee table and attach washroom with that but the most stunning feature of the room was the floor to ceiling glass window behind the table.
Sasuke swiftly walk towards the window and looked around, he can see almost the whole Tokyo city from up here. Now he can understand the feeling of standing high and why people are so obsessed with it, it's intoxicating; but he know that this is not the time for him to indulge in these matters, he have work to do. He turned around and was not surprised to see Rin standing at the door.
"Enjoying the view I see" she offered that beautiful smile of her, sometime he wonders what she saw in that idiot of a cousin of his to be with him and honestly she is just too good for him "it is truly beautiful to watch from up here and you should watch the sunset from here one of these days, it's breathtaking."
"I am not in to those romantic stuff Rin and you know that, I don't believe in romance" Sasuke replied in a curt tone.
Rin gave him a smile but it was not her usual smile there was something behind it he couldn't understand.
Sasuke sat on his chair 'this is quite comfortable but then again you will need it like this if you are planning to spend all your days here' Sasuke thought bitterly.
"Do you want anything? I am going to work on the project"
"Oh yes I almost forgot" Sasuke rolled his eyes at this, maybe Obito was finally rubbing off on her.
Rin dug through the file she was holding and presented Sasuke with a paper.
"Here you go, I was here to give you this" Sasuke take the sheet from her and saw there are some contact numbers on them "These are the contact number of the people working with you in this project, Neji's name is also there. You should talk with him about the project and soon."
"I am aware of that" Sasuke said with an irritated tone, he hated it when people are patronising him, he is grown up now for god sake "and why are you and Obito are in here?"
"What do you mean why we are here?" Rin said a frown margin her features "we are working with you in this project. Don't tell me Kakashi didn't inform you about that?"
Sasuke didn't have to answer that, she got the idea from the confused look on his face.
"I swear one of these days I am going to kill one of those boys" Rin said with a sigh "sometimes I couldn't decide who is worse between the two of them."
"Well what done is done, since you didn't get the details yet let me tell you, Obito and I are also working with you in this project along with Kakashi. Hope you don't have any problem with that." She saw Sasuke nod and continued "even if you had a problem you can clear it with your Otou-san" she said with a teasing smile which earned her a frown from the younger companion.
"We are also expecting the Hyuga's to include some people from their office as well, these are the common occurrence at this type of project and the rest of the people you can hire from interview, but you and Neji need to discuss these things as well to avoid further confusion. That's why you need to meet up with him as soon as possible to plan out your next move.
"Thank you Rin" Sasuke said with a nod "I am relieved that there is at least one sensible person on this project from our company. I couldn't even sleep at night if it was only Obito and Kakashi with me on this project." He finished with a smirk.
"Ha ha ha, that was a good one Sasuke" Rin laugh out loud, he always liked this carefree laugh of her "I didn't knew you also had a sense of humour, I always thought you have lost it in your teenage days."
"I didn't know I was soo repulsive for you two" a sudden voice force them to turn towards the door where Kakashi was standing with his usual bored look.
"If I didn't know you better than I would have thought you are sulking Kakashi" Rin said in a playful tone.
"Nah I am ok with the compliments I get for my laziness" he then turned towards Sasuke "but if I was you Sasuke I would have refrain myself from commenting so casually about your would to be sensei."
Sasuke's eye twitch at the emphasised sensei part but chose not to comment on that, he knew there was no use to involve himself in an argument with Kakashi he will only end up getting a headache and he didn't plan to start his day with any of it.
"Ok Kakashi, I am going to leave your student in your hands and see you again Sasuke, if you need anything just give me a call and ask" Rin exited the office with that.
"So, Sasuke tell me what is your next course of action?"
"I was going to give Neji a call before you interrupted me."
"Tsk tsk, manners Sasuke, you don't need to be rude with me all the times" Kakashi shook his head from side to side, he may be a easy person but he hated it when anyone act superior than his age namely a certain Uchiha kid and he knew exactly the buttons to push to drag him back to the line and he is going to use all of those if he have to "I also hate my job of babysitting you Sasuke, but you will not see me complaining about that."
Sasuke's eyes twitch at this and Kakashi knew he was on the right track, the iron is getting hot and soon it will be time to meld it in shape.
"If you have any complains with me..." Kakashi continued knowing full well what he was doing, Sasuke was always soo hot tempered "then I suggest you to endure it because there is no use in complaining about it to anyone."
"Damn it Kakashi" 'there, he blown it' Kakashi thought with an inner smile "I don't have time to play games with you now."
"I know that very well Sasuke" suddenly Kakashi's voice changed, his usual cheery voice gone and he regard Sasuke with a serious tone which he hadn't heard before "and as much it seem like but I also don't have all day to busy myself you. So I suggest whenever we are working you take me seriously and regard me with respect. This is the first and last time I am saying this to you I don't like to repeat myself, if you understand it now then that is well and good but if you don't I have many other ways to deal with your stubbornness and trust me you don't want to know about those things" Kakashi turned to his heels and exited the office without another word.
Sasuke sat on his chair for some stunned moments he never had seen Kakashi like this, this serious and hard, now he guess he knew from where Kakashi has gotten his reputation. He was not someone you want to upset and frankly speaking he didn't want to know the other thing Kakashi can do to deal with him, that means he have to be cautious around him from now on.
With a sigh Sasuke reached for his phone and scanning the paper dialled Neji's number, he listen the phone to ring and dial tone cut signalling someone receiving it.
"Hello, Neji Hyuga here."
"Hello Neji, good morning, this is Sasuke."
"Sasuke, good morning to you too."
"Neji we have to discuss our further plan about the project. So, if it is possible we can meet today."
"Yes Sasuke I also want to discuss about that and I have some suggestions also I want you to look over. I am around your area, if you are comfortable we can meet for lunch."
"That will be ok, where do you want to meet?"
"There is a small coffee shop near your office, it is small but we can get our privacy there."
"That is good enough, so I will meet you there for lunch."
"I will send you the name and coordinates for the shop in your number."
"That will be good, meet you at lunch. Have a good day."
"Same to you too, bye."
Sasuke cut the phone and stood up from his chair and exiting the office walked towards the elevator, he wants to talk with his father about the meeting. He met Maira outside his father's office.
"Is otou-san in there, I have something to discuss with him."
Maira looked up from the papers she was working on and gave him a smile "Good morning Sasuke-kun, yes he is in there but let me ask him if he is free."
Sasuke nodded as she reached for the intercom after a minute he heard his father to receive the call.
"Sir Sasuke-kun is here, he wants something to discuss with you. Should I send him in?"
There was silence for a moment "Ok sir, I will do it."
Maira kept the phone down "You can go in Sasuke-kun, he is waiting for you."
"Thank you Maira"
Sasuke walk away with a nod he entered his father's office and saw him sitting on his chair with some paperwork on the desk.
"Good morning otou-san, can I come in?"
Fugaku lifter his head "Come in Sasuke, take a seat."
Sasuke walked in and took a seat at a chair opposite to his father "Thank you" Fugaku still working on his papers "I wanted to discuss something with you" at this Fugaku stopped his work, kept the pen down and gave Sasuke his full attention.
"What is it you want to discuss with me? Is it about the project?"
Sasuke was feeling little bit of nervous; it's a long time he had gotten his father's full attention on him like this and now he was thinking if it was ok for him to come to his father for such trivial matters but he can not back down now.
"Yes otou-san, I talked with Neji and we are meeting for lunch to discuss things over, Rin informed me that Obito and she will also be working on this project."
"Yes, I have talked with them and they have done some project like this before, I thought it will be a good thing for them to help you, you can use their experience. It is a good thing you are meeting with Neji, discuss your further plans in details."
"Yes otou-san we will and Rin told me there is a chance that they will also include someone from their office as well."
"That is not uncommon for this type of joint project and this is your first work; you will need everyone's suggestion, but don't hesitate to give your own."
"I will remember that otou-san, thank you."
"Is that all you need?"
"Yes for now it is."
"Have a good day then. I have meetings all day long, so you cannot see me after this, we will discuss your meeting with Neji after dinner at home and your mother will kill us if we bring up work at dinner table."
'Did father just joke with me?' Sasuke thought uncertainly, so he just gave a nod and stood up "I'll be going then, have a nice day otou-san"
After Sasuke exited the office Fugaku heaved a sigh "there goes my attempt to lighten the mood, that kid he is too uptight for his own good but then again this is also my fault he is not as free as Itachi is with me" with that Fugaku get back to his work.
Sasuke was walking through the streets for the cafe, he could have taken Itachi's car but the coordination Neji sent him the cafe wasn't that far and he also wanted to explore the area. It was nearly around lunch and he will be there just at time.
Sasuke reached the street mentioned and search around for the shop; he found it just around a corner. It was a small establishment nothing fancy but there was a warm feeling in it, it was nice.
As Sasuke entered the shop the bell rang above the door and the cashier at the counter greeted him with a smile.
"Hello, good afternoon sir" a young boy probably in his late twenties with black hair and deep turquoise almost black eyes greeted him with a smile "How may I help you?"
"I am meeting someone here, is here any table where we can talk in private?" Sasuke asked with his usual stoic posture.
The boy looked at him for a moment "are you a friend of nii-chan? I haven't seen you before and you didn't seem like his type but there always can be exception I guess" the last part was muttered soo silently that if Sasuke was not listening to his he would have missed that.
Sasuke frowned his brow at this "what are you talking about? I don't know your nii-chan."
"Oh, I am sorry then, actually who ever wanted the private room here usually are friends of him" the boy said with a sheepish smile and rubbing the back of his head.
"Can you show me the room now if you are finished with your interrogation?" Sasuke asked in an irritated voice, 'seriously how Neji knew this place, it didn't seem like his type of place.'
"Hey you didn't have to rude" the boy protested "now I am sure you are definitely not his friend, you are not the type. Please follow me."
Sasuke didn't give any reply at this and followed the boy to the back of the cafe. The boy opened a door and urges him to follow. Sasuke entered a small room; there was a small coffee table at the centre and two chairs around it, he walked towards it and sat on a chair, he then turned to the boy who was still standing at the door.
"Do you need anything sir?" the boy asked in a polite tone.
"I will have some water, thank you."
"Right away sir" he exited the room with that.
As the door closed Sasuke watched the room carefully, for such a small establishment the decoration was quite notable. The was nothing too flashy or overdone, it was simple and sober, the walls are of cream colour and there was a painting on a wall in dark brown frame, the chairs and table are of same colour with cream cushions on the chairs a simple contrast of light and dark.
Sasuke took his phone out to check the time, it was 1.15 pm. He was little bit early here but he has nothing to do at office and he also wanted to explore the area. Sasuke started to check his mail box and massages after sometime he heard voices from outside and the door opened a moment later.
"Good afternoon Sasuke, are you waiting for long here?" Neji asked in a polite tone.
Sasuke looked up from his phone "Good afternoon, no it wasn't that long and I was also little early here" he replied while pocketing his phone.
Neji gave a nod and sat on the opposite chair, the door opened again and the boy from earlier stepped in, he set two glass of water on the table and turned to Sasuke.
"You didn't say you are meeting with Neji-nii."
"I didn't thought it was important to state your business to be in a cafe" before Sasuke could continue Neji cut in.
"Konahamaru you talk too much, he is rubbing off on you" Neji said in a curt voice "now go fetch us the menu and don't bother us, we are working here."
"Hey don't insult nii-chan, Neji-nii" he is the best bro in the whole world.
Neji fixed him with a look "sorry I will fetch you the menu" Konahamaru left the room with that.
Sasuke was watching the interaction till now "I believe you know this guy?"
Neji turned towards him "yes I do, a friend of mine took him in when he was young and he called him nii-chan about whom you are hearing soo much about."
Sasuke nodded and Konahamaru entered the room with two menus and present it with them.
"I believe you are hungry? This place has good food, you can try." Neji said with a polite smile.
Sasuke picked up a menu card and scanned it, he put it down. Neji was sitting there he haven't even touched his menu card, Sasuke looked at him in question.
"I usually take the same thing when I come here" Neji said understanding his question.
Sasuke nodded and just then Konahamaru entered the room "Can I have your order now?" he said in a professional tone.
"I will take a chicken club sandwich and a cold coffee" Sasuke gave his order and watched him turned towards Neji.
"Will you have your usual Neji-nii?"
"Yes"
"Ok, thank you. The food will be here soon"
Konahamaru nodded, collected the menus and quickly exited the room.
Neji spoke first "I believe we need to discuss about the people working in this project, how are we going to select them, their qualification and their experience level."
"Yes, we have some plan. There are some people in our office who have worked in this type of project earlier, otou-san thought that it will be a good idea to let them work in this project" Sasuke said with confidence "and if there is anyone in Hyuga office who can work with us then we can also see their profile together and the rest of it we can select by the interview process."
Neji was looking at him sharply and he was feeling uncomfortable. It's not like he didn't like Neji but his eyes make him uneasy, they look like they were searching deep within you.
Neji nodded after a moment "I was also thinking the same thing and we also have some people in our company to help us with this" Neji bent down to receive his bag and opened it to take out a file.
He slide it towards Sasuke "these are the profiles of some peoples; they are also my colleagues and my team. I have already discussed this with Oji-san, you can read and discuss them with your father, then tell me."
Sasuke was going to open the file but Konahamaru entered the room just then with their food. Sasuke closed the file and carefully tucked it in his bag as Konahamaru set their food on the table neatly.
"Enjoy your meal" he said politely, gave a nod and exited the room.
Sasuke looked at the table; Neji has ordered rice balls and lemon iced tea. Sasuke took a half of his sandwich and inspect it 'it looks ok' he thought to himself and took a bite. Neji has also started with his food. Sasuke took a sip of his coffee and proceed with his meal. They eat their food in silence, after they were finished Konahamaru came and take their plates away.
"Kakashi, Obito and Rin will be helping us in this project from our company" Sasuke broke the silence as he sipped on his water "I will mail you their profile today."
"There is no need for that, I know their ability. I have worked with Obito for a small times and Kakashi's reputation precede him. I don't know about Rin but if Uchiha-san has selected her I am not the one to judge her."
"She is talented from what I have seen but personally I think she is there it keep Obito and Kakashi in line" Sasuke said with a smirk.
Neji smiled at that, he knew about Kakashi and Obito very well, so he also thinks that there is some truth in that sentence, Kakashi is lazy and Obito tends to create problems where ever he goes, which reminds him of his own problem.
"There is a fresher in the file I gave you. He is a new face but I can assure you that he is the best graphics designer out there you can get, even from the most experienced one" Neji said to Sasuke "discuss this with your father, he have potential and if you want you can also have his interview with other candidates."
"Is Hyuga-san ok with it?" Sasuke asked while setting his glass down "by that I mean this is an important project and to allow a fresher to handle all the graphics, we don't have room for two designers after all."
"I have discussed this with Oji-san and I must tell you he was the one to suggest him" Neji said calmly "I told you he might be a fresher but he is the best out there you can get. He is in our company for couple of months and already had worked with Oji-san in few projects. You certainly know how great of an achievement that is to work under the head of a company with in your first few months."
Sasuke stared at him in disbelieve, he can't comprehend the things Neji had said. As much as he knew Hiashi Hyuga was a perfectionist, he is even more stoic than his father. Sasuke had heard that he even denied any acknowledgement for his own daughter until she showed some growth and maturity to him, granted his father was not any better but Fugaku had never denied his presence in his life. To believe that such a man is preferring a fresher to work with him and recommending him for such an important project is really apprehensive and if there is any ounce of truth in what Neji said than this guy must really have some talent.
Sasuke thought for some time, maybe it was worth a try and if they are recommending him he can at least talk with his father about this.
"Ok, I will talk with otou-san about this, if Hyuga-san has personally recommend him then I think there must be something about this guy you are talking soo much about" Sasuke said carefully "but personally I don't think that he will approve."
"Don't judge a book by its cover Sasuke" Neji said calmly "there are many things in this world you can't justify with logic. Oji-san knows a talent when he sees it, it is one of his abilities and don't take it personally but we have yet lot to learn."
'Don't judge a book by its cover', Sasuke suddenly remember his earlier conversation with Kakashi, maybe he should keep that phase in mind. Sasuke nodded his agreement with Neji's words.
"Well then I have to go now" Neji said while finishing their conversation "I have to get back to office and report everything to Oji-san" Neji stood up from his chair and turned to Sasuke "I noticed there was no car outside Sasuke, how did you come here?"
Sasuke stood up as well "I walked here, it was not that far and I wanted to explore the area."
Neji smile at that "I have my car, if you don't mind I can drop you in my way."
"Thank you, I'll appreciate it" Sasuke replied as they walked towards the exit. They can hear loud voices coming from the front as they exited the room.
He can distinguish some words like 'party' 'vacation' and rolled his eyes 'teenagers' he muttered under his breath and Neji smiled at that.
"You don't have to be grumpy just because you are working now Sasuke, from what I have heard you were quite the party animal yourself."
Sasuke grown at this, he knew all those choices he made weren't good for his images but he was trying to draw his father's attention but instead he got his brother's which was a disaster, he can still feel the chill from that day Itachi had confronted him. Yes, his brother is a very dangerous man if he needed to be one, another example of the famous phase 'don't judge a book by its cover'.
They came to the front desk and Sasuke attempt to pay for their meal but Neji's voice stopped him.
"Don't bother, the tab is cleared already and from what I see you will not get any response from him when he is like this, he is talking with his nii-chan. Let's go."
Neji left the cafe followed by Sasuke. His royal blue BMW Z4 was waiting outside, they entered the car and drove away.
Neji dropped Sasuke at the parking after five minutes "See you later Sasuke."
"Bye Neji, have a good day" Sasuke exited the car and entered the building; he reached his floor, entered his office and took the file Neji gave him out from his bag. He kept it on the table and went to pour himself some water from the jug.
Kakashi entered the office as he was just about to drink his water. He strode through the office as Sasuke watched him carefully, Kakashi was smiling under his mask and his dose in the morning was still effective if Sasuke's weariness was any indication.
Kakashi stood in front of the table and reached for the file Sasuke had set there. He opened it and started to read through it "How was your meeting with Neji today Sasuke?"
Sasuke drank his water and replied "it was good and we discussed about the team we can have for this project, I told him about you three and he gave me this file of possible candidates. We have to study their profile, I am going to discuss this with father tonight and if you are free we can discuss about it now."
Kakashi turned another page of the file, he was reading everything with concentration, the steadiness in his eye was the indication though his posture was relaxed "Hmm, I guess I have time for you. There is nothing which needs my attention right now" he replied without looking away from the file."
"That's good, my guess it will take us sometime to discuss all of the profiles, there are quite a few" Sasuke said.
"I am surprised though" Kakashi said "they are relatively quite young and in experience..."
Kakashi suddenly stopped which caused Sasuke to look up at him in question and was surprised to find what he saw. Kakashi's whole body was rigid and stiff; his eyes are big watching something in the file intently as if trying to solve a puzzle or as if he had seen a ghost. Sasuke never saw Kakashi like this, never and it concerned him about what could have possibly make Kakashi to react like this.
"Is everything alright Kakashi?" Sasuke asked timidly not sure what to do or say in a situation like this.
Sasuke's voice snap Kakashi out of his stupor, he looked at Sasuke with an expression he could not decipher.
"I need to borrow this Sasuke and I am afraid that we won't have time to talk about anything today, we will discuss this tomorrow" with that Kakashi practically ran out of the room leaving a dumb folded and gaping Sasuke behind, who couldn't understand a single thing that had occurred just now.
Fugaku Uchiha was inside his office sipping his afternoon tea and was in a process of his much needed break when suddenly someone entered his office opening the door with a loud bang. He was just going to fire the person who dares to disturb him like this when he saw Kakashi standing at the door with an expression which he hadn't seen on him in a long time.
Kakashi walked in to the office after shutting and locking the door behind him. Fugaku didn't say a word instead watched him closely. Kakashi was panting slightly which indicates that he was running but from where he didn't know, his whole body is rigid as if waiting and anticipating a something he can't place, there was a file in his hand which he was clutching tightly like a life line. As Kakashi stood at his front suddenly he saw a much younger Kakashi standing with that same expression on his face.
Kakashi handed him the file he was holding and Fugaku took it without a word, he would probably find something in here to make Kakashi like this. He opened the file and scanned through the pages, Kakashi still didn't said a word instead he was now looking outside his window at the sky.
Fugaku turned the pages of the file, these are some new faces and there was Hyuga logo on it. These are probably the members for the project he was talking about with Hiashi yesterday, but what could be possibly in there that can make Kakashi like this. He was almost finished when suddenly his hand stopped as he turned another page and his eyes grow wide and the file fell from his grasp on the floor.
Then he heard Kakashi spoke as he turned towards him "we finally found him."
TBC...
A/N: Ha ha ha, a cliff-hanger. Please don't kill me; I know I am terrible person. First breaking my promise and updating soo late and now with the cliff hanger, but as a compensation I gave you the longest chapter yet.
I am sorry again but the last two weeks were hectic for me but now I am free and can concentrate on writing again. I know I had also promised to introduce our lovely sunshine soon and he will be here in the next chapter, so please bear with me.
Thank you for your support. Please read&review.
