A/N: Hey, guys! Thank you for all the lovely reviews. I know it's been a long time since I last updated this story, and I really am sorry for making you wait so long. You can blame my hectic life for that!
I hope I can make it up to you with a long chapter. Enjoy!
All you need is Love…
Chapter 7
It'd been a long and eventful first week at her new workplace. Waking up today and not having to get ready for work had felt odd, after following the same routine for the last six days. Who knew she would get used to it so quickly.
After taking a shower, she'd been in the process of making some coffee for herself when she heard a knock at the front door. Already knowing who it would be, she opened the door to find a grinning Kiba with Akamaru barking excitedly right beside him.
"We're here to pick you up, Naruko!"
And that was how she found herself at the park a short while later.
It was yet again another beautiful day. The sun was beaming down on everything in sight, something all dog lovers were making the most of. Nearly everyone they passed greeted Kiba like long lost friends. It was clear they were regulars.
Cerulean eyes eagerly took in their surroundings, noting the beautiful scenery and the sound of joy and laughter all around her. It was a sight that never failed to fill her with happiness.
Unable to keep the huge grin from appearing on her face, Naruko glanced sideways at Kiba who was still searching his surroundings without any kind of success, at the same time trying not to make it too obvious.
"Looks like the love of your life isn't going to show up today," she teased him.
Kiba sighed disappointedly, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. Akamaru seemed to have sensed the sudden drop in his mood for he came running back on all fours, barking in what appeared to be a questioning manner.
Kiba crouched down immediately and ran his hands over Akamaru reassuringly. "I'm okay, buddy. Don't worry."
"Cheer up, Kiba! We'll catch her another day, I promise," she assured him cheerfully. "How about we go grab some breakfast at Choji's place when we're done here. I know you love those chocolate chip muffins he makes."
Mentioning the muffins when dealing with a depressed Kiba was always the best option. Everyone who knew him as well as she did knew his weakness for Choji's muffins. She held back a chuckle when his face lit up instantly. Akamaru obviously approved as well, judging from the eager barks.
"You know I can't say no to those muffins," Kiba grinned. "Lead the way, woman!"
This time she didn't hold back her laughter…
When they finally made it to Choji's - a popular café situated not too far from the park, they left Akamaru waiting outside by one of the tables whilst they went inside to place their order. Kiba led the way inside but suddenly stopped in his tracks, which led to her bumping into him.
"What the hell, Kiba!" She cried out, rubbing her nose where it'd come into contact with his back.
He didn't respond or move, much to her annoyance. Moving past him to see what was wrong, she noticed the colour had drained from his face as he stared in shock directly in front of him. She frowned, following his gaze until it landed on a woman standing in the queue with her back to them. She had beautiful dark blue hair which fell all the way down to her waist in loose waves and looked to be about her own height. She wore a casual white dress with a pair of flat sandals.
Glancing back at Kiba and then at the woman again, she quickly connected the dots. "Looks like it's your lucky day, mutt," she said with a grin, smacking his arm to snap him out of it.
He did so almost immediately and then turned to walk right back out. Rolling her eyes, she followed him back outside.
"Where do you think you're going?" She demanded once she'd caught up to him, turning him around so he was facing her.
"I've changed my mind," he attempted casually, avoiding eye contact.
"Oh, come on, Kiba. Don't be a coward now," she chided him.
"I'm not being a coward!"
"Yes, you are!"
"Okay, fine I am!" He eventually admitted, looking miserably defeated. "I don't know how to approach her, Naruko. What the hell do I even say?"
Amused by the situation, she couldn't stop her lips from lifting up in a smile.
He obviously noticed and glared at her. "It's not funny!" He cried out, looking miffed.
"Sorry," she muttered, holding her hands out in defence. "I'll help you, but you're going to have to go back inside for that. We can't let this opportunity go to waste. Just follow my lead, okay?"
He nodded.
"Great! Hurry up then, I'm starving."
She led the way back inside this time, looking back over her shoulder once to make sure Kiba was following. He was. Once they were inside, she quickly noted that the woman was at the front of the queue, and luckily for them there was no one else behind her. They moved next in line quickly.
The dark-haired woman had already placed her order and was waiting patiently. Naruko looked past her, trying to get a glimpse of Choji – the owner of the café who was also their close friend. Not seeing him, she turned to one of the girls who was taking orders.
"Hey, Aiko, is Choji about? I needed to speak to him about something important."
The dark-haired woman seemed startled by her voice and looked back at her. Her eyes were an unusual light colour and stood out from her soft features. She was beautiful.
Aiko nodded. "He's out back in the kitchen. Do you want me to go get him for you?"
"Please, if you don't mind?"
"Sure, no worries. I need to go pick up this lady's order for fresh muffins anyway."
"Thanks, Aiko." She waited until Aiko had walked away before turning to the dark-haired woman. "Sorry about that," she apologised, moving to stand beside her.
The dark-haired woman smiled shyly at her. "That's okay."
"So, you like the muffins here, too?"
"I do, yes," she blushed prettily.
"My friend and I love the chocolate chip ones. They are heavenly!"
She nodded in agreement. "They are the best I've ever tasted. I come by every Sunday to pick some up for myself and my family."
"That's nice," Naruko flashed her the infamous Uzumaki grin. "I'm Naruko Uzumaki, by the way, and this is my friend, Kiba Inuzuka. We're regulars here so you're very likely to bump into one of us again."
Kiba grinned bashfully. "Hey!"
"It's nice to meet you two. My name is Hinata Hyuga," she replied with another shy smile.
Naruko's eyes widened slightly when she heard the name. "Hinata Hyuga? Are you related to Neji Hyuga, by any chance?"
Hinata seemed surprised by her words. "He's my cousin. Do you know him?"
She shook her head. "I only know of him. I work for Uchiha Industries, you see."
"I see. Well, that explains it."
Aiko chose that moment to return with a batch of freshly-baked muffins. The aroma coming from them was divine. Naruko could already feel her mouth watering.
"Choji said to go ahead and order. He'll come see you as soon as he can," Aiko told her as she placed the muffins carefully inside a box.
Naruko nodded. "Thanks, Aiko."
After Hinata had paid for her muffins, she turned back to them with a smile, bowing her head in the traditional way of saying goodbye. "It was really nice to meet you, Naruko and Kiba. I hope I'll see you again."
They followed suit with the goodbyes and watched her as she walked away. Kiba's eyes never left her retreating back until she'd disappeared from sight, climbing in to the back of what looked like a black Bentley that'd pulled up upon her arrival.
Kiba was strangely quiet whilst Naruko ordered food for both of them. It'd started to get busy so they headed back outside to their table. Akamaru immediately stood up, barking at them happily.
"Sorry we took so long, buddy," Kiba bent down to pat him on the back.
Akamaru didn't look like he minded too much, especially when they gave him a muffin as a treat. He didn't waste any time, taking it into his mouth in one go. Naruko couldn't help but laugh when he looked up expectedly at them for another when he was done.
Turning her attention back to Kiba, she frowned when she noticed the resigned look in his eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked him.
Kiba shook his head in answer. "It's nothing," he tried to assure her with a weak smile. "Thanks for what you did back there, Naruko. I finally know her name."
"It was no big deal, Kiba. Now, tell me what's bothering you."
He sighed when he saw the serious look in her eyes, knowing already that she wasn't going to back down until he told her. "I can't stop thinking about her," he revealed, looking down at the table in front of him. "Ever since I saw her at the park for the very first time. I like her a lot, but…I'm going to have to face the facts. She's too good for me."
Her eyes widened at the statement before they narrowed in disapproval. "Don't be stupid, Kiba. How can you even think that?"
"She's a Hyuga," he argued. "Look at her background and look at mine. There's no way she would even think of being with me!"
"You won't know for sure unless you've tried, you idiot!" she scolded him. "Were you not paying attention when she was talking to us? She's nothing like those arrogant rich losers."
Kiba still didn't look convinced. "I don't know…"
Now it was her turn to sigh. "You have to try, Kiba. I doubt you want to look back later on in life with regret that you didn't at least try. If she's not interested then it'd be easier for you to move on and find someone else."
Kiba was silent for some time, obviously mulling over what she'd said. She waited patiently, silently hoping that he would give it a go. Hinata seemed like a really nice girl. They would make a good couple, if it worked out.
"You're right," he grinned toothily. "I won't know unless I try."
She grinned right back. "That's the spirit!"
Naruto headed back home some time later, after parting ways with Kiba and Akamaru who had to go see Shino. There were a few things she needed to do before the day was over, like shopping and cleaning up her apartment.
She glanced down at the box of muffins she'd decided to buy to take to work the next day. Ino and Shikamaru would love them for sure. Whether or not her boss would that was another story. Thinking about the dark-haired man now instantly soured her good mood.
Things in the office since that night she'd taken care of him hadn't exactly improved like she'd naively hoped for. In fact, they had only worsen.
Sasuke Uchiha was a man who believed in perfection and expected nothing less from his employees. That she already knew for Suigetsu had made that very clear. She'd kept that in mind from the very start, making sure everything she did was nothing less than perfection.
Yet, that jerk had the audacity to continuously be rude to her. She couldn't understand what his problem was. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't think of a reason big enough to warrant his ill treatment towards her. It'd nearly brought her close to tears a few times, but like the strong individual she was she'd pushed them back, determined to work even harder to get his approval. No matter how hard he tried to break her it wasn't going to work.
Even though she continued to smile, the unfair treatment had taken a toll on her mentally.
And then there was the party scheduled for Friday evening. Suigetsu had gone over all the arrangements with Akari-san who she hadn't had the pleasure of meeting just yet, but had spoken to several times on the phone to check on things. An appointment had been made on Wednesday for her to come down and show them the final plan for the event. Invitations had already been sent out, and the party was all the media could talk about.
Ino was really excited about the party, going on and on about what she was going to wear every chance she got, which reminded her of her own predicament. What was she going to wear? The only formal event she'd ever attended had been her own graduation. She didn't own anything that was good enough for her to wear to such a huge event.
She'd spoken to Gaara about her predicament who'd offered to help like she'd known he would, but she'd refused, assuring him that she would take care of it. She would've asked Ino for help but the blonde had already mentioned going to visit family today. She had no choice but to find a dress on her own.
Crossing the road after looking both ways, she headed towards the red building of apartments where she lived. Taking the lift up to the third floor, she mentally debated on what kind of dress she should buy and what colour. It didn't help that she had a budget and couldn't afford to buy something too expensive.
Exiting the lift, she walked the short distance to her apartment, stopping short when she noticed someone standing directly outside her apartment door. Her eyes widened when she saw who it was.
"Temari?"
Dressed stylishly in a summery dress and heels, Temari smirked back at her. "Hello to you, too, Naru-chan!"
A big fat grin spread across Naruko's face once she'd gotten over her shock, and rushed forward to envelope Temari in a hug. "I can't believe it! It's been so long. Is Gaara here, too?" She pulled back to look around excitedly.
Temari shook her head. "No, he couldn't make it. He had a meeting to attend with Kankuro."
The smile dimmed slightly but not completely. "It's okay. I know how busy he is," she turned to unlock her apartment door, gesturing for Temari to enter once the door was open, and then followed her in. "So, were you passing by? No one told me you were coming."
Temari took a seat on the couch, watching her as she walked in to the kitchen to fetch them something to drink. She waited for her to return before she answered.
"Gaara sent me," she replied, helping herself to a can of soda. "He said you needed help with buying a dress for the party Uchiha was hosting."
The can of soda almost slipped out of her hands. She stared at Temari, unable to quite believe what she was hearing, but then again she really shouldn't be surprised. It was just like Gaara to do something like this. He would always come to her aid when she needed it.
She smiled, her eyes softening the way they always did when she thought about her friend. "I should've known he would do something like this."
Temari couldn't hold back her own smile. "I agree. Now, go get changed. We're going shopping..."
Several hours later, a very exhausted Naruko stepped out of Temari's car, clutching several bags of purchases. "Are you sure you don't want to stay the night," she asked the blonde. "You must be exhausted."
"I'll be fine," Temari assured her with a smile as she climbed out of the car. "I have to be somewhere in the morning otherwise I would've stayed."
Naruko walked around the car to give her a hug. "Thank you so much for coming today, Temari. You have no idea how much I appreciate it."
The older blonde returned the hug. "Don't be silly, Naru-chan. You mean as much to me as my brothers do. If I had known I would've come down without Gaara having to tell me."
Naruko pulled back to flash her a grin. "I know."
Temari turned to get back inside the car. "Take care of yourself, Naruko, and let me know how the party goes. The guys will be tripping over their feet when they see you in that dress."
Naruko rubbed that back of her neck self-consciously. "I still can't believe you made me get that one!"
Temari smirked. "Maybe I should tell Gaara to drop by and keep an eye on you."
"Gaara knows I can take care of myself."
"You keep on telling yourself that."
Naruko rolled her eyes. "Have a safe journey, Temari. Make sure you drop me a text when you reach home."
"Will do." With one last wave Temari drove off.
Naruko waited until she'd disappeared from sight before she started walking towards her apartment. The first thing she did as soon as she entered her home was to call a certain redhead. He didn't take too long to pick up.
"I was wondering when you were going to call," Gaara's deep voice held a hint of amusement.
"I can't believe you sent Temari all the way here to help me pick a stupid dress and then not let me pay for it either," Naruko didn't waste any time voicing her thoughts. "What were you thinking, Gaara!"
"What colour is it?"
"Gaara!"
There was no response as he waited for an answer.
Rolling her eyes, she gave in and told him. "Blue."
"There are several shades of blue," he pointed out.
She smiled at his reply. "Temari said it matched the colour of my eyes perfectly."
"I see."
She made her way to the window, watching the evening sky. "When are you planning on coming to see me? It's been ages, you know," she pouted childishly.
"Very soon," he told her.
"Do you promise?"
"Yes," there was a pause and what sounded like voices in the background. She thought she heard Kankuro's voice amongst them.
"Did I call at a bad time," she asked. "If so, I could call you back later."
"I'm sorry. Something just came up."
"It's okay. Call me back when you're free."
"I will."
"Gaara?"
"What is it, Naruko?"
She smiled. "Thank you for being such a great friend."
There was another pause. "I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy, Naruko."
"You always do," she said softly.
"Look after yourself," he said. "I'll call you later."
She hanged up with a smile…
Dark eyes glared at the cloudy morning sky as it pelted down with rain outside his car window. It steadily grew faster, showing no signs of slowing down or stopping. He could tell it was going to last all day.
Hearing his phone go off, Sasuke swiped the phone screen to check the message sent from Suigetsu. A quick glance had him rolling his eyes. It seemed the depressing weather had done little to dampen the idiot's mood, but then again there were very few things that could.
The car soon stopped outside Uchiha Industries. He waited for the driver to open the door before he grabbed his briefcase and moved to get out. Like always, he ignored everything and everyone around him as he entered the building and headed towards the lift that would take him all the way up to the top floor.
As the lift moved steadily upwards, his thoughts drifted towards the conversation he'd had with Sai last night. It seemed his suspicions had been correct. Neji was indeed going for the same contract his company had their eyes on. How Sai had managed to learn about Neji's plans was of course a big mystery, but then again he was the very best at what he did, which was why he'd hired him in the first place.
It certainly wasn't what he'd been hoping to hear, not that he was worried. Uchiha Industries and Hyuga Enterprises had a history of rivalry that started back when his father had been President. It was only inevitable that it would continue into the next generation and so on.
In a way it was a good thing. Having a rival only made him more determined to succeed, and it was always a pleasant victory made sweeter when he saw the look on Neji's face after defeating him yet again. Thinking about the last time he'd wiped the smile off his face made him smirk.
The lift soon reached the top floor and he walked out, heading towards his office. Keeping his gaze locked on his office door, he ignored the blonde who looked up as he approached.
"Good morning, Uchiha-san," she greeted him happily.
He couldn't hold back the frown from appearing on his face once he'd walked past her. How could someone sound so cheerful was beyond him. He'd hoped after the treatment he'd given her last week that it would dampen her annoying cheerful demeanour but it hadn't. In fact, it only seemed to make it worse.
He pushed open his office door, letting it close shut behind him. Walking up to his desk, he placed his briefcase down before he headed towards the window. Looking out at the showers of rain coming down, he couldn't help but recall the time he'd seen Naruko dancing out in the rain. He'd been too far away to see the look on her face, but it wasn't too hard to imagine.
Slightly startled when he realised what he was doing, he pushed back the memory with irritation. Why the hell was he even thinking about her, of all things?
A knock at the door made his irritation grow. "Come in," he called out after composing himself.
He heard the door close after she'd walked in, not bothering to turn around to acknowledge her. The smell of coffee instantly hit his senses.
"Uchiha-san, here's your coffee and the files for today's meetings," she said, setting them down on the desk, and then going on to inform him of today's schedule. "I also received a call from Asahi Shimbun today," she added when she was done. "They're doing an article on Japan's most successful young businessmen and was wondering if you were available for an interview. I told them I would get back to them after speaking to you."
Everyone knew Asahi Shimbun was one of the top newspapers in the whole of Japan. If they wanted to interview you it was a big deal. He smirked.
"Inform them that I have agreed to do it," he answered eventually, turning around to face her, "but it will have to be after the trip to the U.S."
"I'll let them know."
He waited until he was sat down before he looked at her. "Have you booked the flight tickets and sorted the visas?"
She nodded. "You will be flying out to the States on the 11th of May and returning on the 15th. Shikamaru and Ino will join you on the 12th in time for the meeting on the 13th."
He still hadn't told her that she would be accompanying him on this trip. Maybe now would be the best time to do it.
"I need you to book another ticket for the same dates as mine," he said casually as he reached for his mug of coffee, frowning when he noticed what looked like a chocolate chip muffin sat on a plate next to where the mug of coffee had been.
"Oh, is Suigetsu accompanying you as well?"
"No."
Confusion clouded in her blue eyes. "Then who?"
He looked up at her, already predicting her reaction. "You are."
"What?" She cried out, shock making her eyes widen comically. "But…how can I go. I mean, I've never been anywhere outside Japan…"
He sighed inwardly, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "Just sort it out and get out of my office."
His cold tone quickly snapped her out of it. Without another word she turned and left. He watched her until she disappeared from sight, the door closing shut behind her retreating back.
What was it about her that he couldn't quite stand?
"I guess we're quite alike. My parents died when I was really young so I know how you feel. The pain never truly goes away, no matter how much you try to get over it. Hiding it only makes it worse, I guess, but some habits are hard to let go."
His hands tightened into fists as he recalled her words from that night.
After watching the recording on the CCTV camera, he hadn't known what to think or do. It hadn't been what he'd been expecting. In fact, it'd been far from it.
For the first time in his life he was in a position where he had no idea what to do, and what made it worse was that smile… The one he hadn't been able to stop thinking about.
He knew he needed to get rid of her. These thoughts were dangerous. He couldn't afford to let such trivial things get to him, but no matter how much he tried he couldn't seem to do it. Instead, he found himself giving her treatment she didn't deserve, silently hoping she would get sick of it and hand in her resignation.
His gaze drifted towards the muffin she'd bought, already knowing it was futile. She wasn't going to give up so easily…
Naruko couldn't seem to sit still after returning to her desk, still unable to quite believe that she was going abroad for the first time in her life, and to the United States of America of all places. It was enough to rattle anyone.
So she wouldn't think about it, she forced herself to focus entirely on her work. It didn't take too long to forget about it temporarily. Today's schedule was a busy one. There were three meetings to get through, emails which needed to be typed and sent, phone calls which needed to be made, not to mention a stack of paperwork which needed to be filed and put away and that was only the beginning of it.
It was nearly the end of the day when she finally finished all her tasks. All there was left to do was get through one last meeting. She glanced at the time, waiting for her boss to appear so they could head on down to the Mandarin Oriental for a business meeting. Ino was supposed to attend this meeting with Uchiha-san but due to domestic reasons had to go home early. Naruko had no choice but to go in her place instead.
The Mandarin Oriental was one of the top five star hotels in Tokyo. She'd never been there before but Ino had told her it was incredible. The meeting was with someone called Orochimaru Sannin, who also ran a trading company like Uchiha Industries, though not as successful. According to what Ino had told her, Orochimaru had requested an informal meeting over dinner to discuss a proposal. What that proposal was no one knew. The only way to find out was to attend the meeting.
Uchiha-san soon showed up. She followed him to the lift, standing beside him while they waited for the lift to take them back down. Strangely enough, he'd been quieter than usual today. She'd been expecting the same backlash she'd received last week, but none came since he'd told her to get out of his office in the morning. It was kind of weird.
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He was staring straight ahead, looking as detached as he normally did, but there was definitely something different about him today. She had noticed it throughout the day but hadn't been able to figure out what it was.
As if sensing her gaze, he frowned. "Any particular reason why you keep staring at me?"
Embarrassed at been caught, she looked away quickly. "You seem different today," she muttered before she could stop herself.
Closing her eyes she tensed, waiting for the cutting insult that was surely on the way, but when none came she opened one eye to peek at him again.
He was staring at her.
Surprised, she couldn't help but stare back. Looking into those dark eyes, she had come to realised, was an experience in itself. Once you made contact you simply couldn't look away.
It was only when the lift doors opened did she blink. In that time he'd already disappeared. She hurried after him, taking the opportunity to quickly compose herself.
They were met at the doors by one of Uchiha-san's bodyguards who would be accompanying them to the meeting, but keeping low once they got there. She followed them quietly to the car, getting in the back with Uchiha-san. The door was closed shut behind her, and they were driving away a few seconds later.
She turned to look out of the tinted car window, her eyes narrowed in confusion as she stared at the evening sky. Why had he been staring at her like that, and more importantly, why hadn't she been able to look away. In those seconds, minutes, or however long it'd been it'd felt like…they were the only two people in the world. She hadn't been able to think about anything else.
She didn't know what to make of it. It was odd. One minute he acted like he hated her guts and the next he's staring at her. Just what was up with this guy? She couldn't figure him out.
It was completely dark by the time they'd arrived at the hotel. Naruko only had time to have a brief look before they went inside. Not that it mattered. The inside was impressive enough with its modern exterior, and virtually reeked of money and class. She couldn't help but feel out of place.
It seemed like the staff working there had been expecting them, for one of the ladies working behind the front desk approached them immediately.
"Good evening, Uchiha-san," she greeted him with a flirtatious smile, not bothering to hide the fact that she was checking him out. "Orochimaru-san is already here and waiting for you at your table. If you'd follow me I'll show you where you need to go."
Uchiha-san simply nodded.
They followed her past the front desk and down a long wide corridor. At the end, there were a set of double doors, which undoubtedly led to the restaurant. One glance inside was enough to see how busy it was. She led them away from the bustle in the room and continued ahead where they went through another set of double doors.
On the other side there was another room with chairs and tables, but the layout was more private. The room was mostly empty, save for a handful of people. She led them towards a table on one side where there were two men sat waiting. They pushed back their chairs and stood up as we approached.
One of them had grey hair, which he kept in a ponytail. He wore glasses, and was dressed smartly in a dark grey suit. The other was much taller. He had long dark hair, and very pale skin. His eyes were a distinctive gold colour with strange purple markings around them. He was also dressed smartly in a suit.
The taller one smiled. "I'm so glad you could make it, Uchiha-kun," he said before his eyes drifted to Naruko. "And who may this beautiful lady be?"
Naruko couldn't help but feel uneasy under his intense gaze. He gave off a creepy vibe.
Uchiha-san frowned. "This is my personal secretary, Uzumaki-san," he said curtly, glancing down at his watch. "I suggest we get this meeting started, Orochimaru-san. I'm a busy person."
Orochimaru smiled. "As you wish, Uchiha-kun. Please take a seat," he gestured towards the two chairs opposite. "But before we begin, let us have dinner."
Naruko took the empty seat next to Uchiha-san, silently hoping this wasn't going to take too long. She glanced sideways at her boss, noting the look of indifference on his face.
As soon as everyone was seated, the man sat next to Orochimaru signalled to the waiter stood nearby. The waiter, a young man who looked to be in his twenties, hurried forward with menus. He greeted everyone, and was just about to place a menu in front of Uchiha-san when he was signalled to stop by a pale hand.
"If you don't mind, Orochimaru-san, I would prefer to use a waiter approved by my bodyguard," Uchiha-san announced calmly. "I'm sure you would agree that one can never be too careful nowadays."
Orochimaru smiled tightly. "Of course, Uchiha-san. I completely agree with you."
The waiter backed off, moving to take the orders from the two sat on the other side of the table. As soon as he'd moved, another one took his place. This one appeared much older, in his thirties at the most.
"Good evening," he greeted them with a bright smile as he placed the menus down in front of them. "Uchiha-san, Uzumaki-san, I will be your waiter for this evening."
Naruko smiled politely. She picked up the menu in front of her, and after a quick browse selected a light starter and a main.
Once all the orders had been taken, the waiters left to fetch their drinks. As soon as they were alone, Orochimaru immediately started conversation with Uchiha-san.
"I hear congratulations are in order, Uchiha-kun," he began smoothly. "The deal with Haruno Corporations was truly a remarkable one. You must be pleased with your latest achievement."
"Word sure does spread fast in the business word," Uchiha-san muttered drily.
Orochimaru chuckled. "It is good to keep an eye on things, Uchiha-kun. One never knows when a good opportunity arises."
Uchiha-san narrowed his eyes. "What do you want, Orochimaru?" he asked bluntly.
Snake-like eyes lit up in amusement. "There's no need to be so impatient, Sasuke-kun," he chided. "Let's enjoy dinner, and then we'll talk about why we're here."
Naruko remained silent during their exchange, observing the two men sat in front of her closely. The unease continued to grow the longer she was around them. Something was definitely not right about these two, and it seemed Uchiha-san had also noticed.
Orochimaru seemed a little too confident for someone who had yet to mention what kind of proposal he had. It was as if he already knew he was going to get what he wanted.
"I think we're done talking here," Uchiha-san replied coldly, moving to get up.
"You don't want to do this, Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru responded with a creepy smile.
Naruko moved to get up as well, eager to get away from them. It was just as they were walking away that Orochimaru said something – something that made them stop in their tracks.
"I guess you don't want to know why Itachi left then…"
A/N: Please don't kill me! I know it's awfully harsh of me to make you wait so long, only to end in the chapter in a cliff-hanger. It was not intentional, believe me. I hadn't even planned on having Orochimaru and Kabuto in this story. It just happened. Don't worry, though. I'm not planning on giving them a big role in this story. They'll probably be around for just another chapter.
I have this bad habit of adding drama where I can in my stories, haha!
As for those who want to know when Gaara and Sakura are making an entrance, then you'll be happy to know that you won't have to wait too long. I won't give any spoilers. All you need to know is that I have something great planned.
As for the latest developments, please review and share your thoughts. Your feedback is very much appreciated. Until next time…
