Life On A Movie Set
Summary: Fugaku is a professional and famous actor, known far and wide for his stoic and cold nature. So how did this upstart manage to drag out his emotions with a smile and laughing sky blue eyes?
"Excited much?" Itachi intoned in a deadpan, startling Madara out of his thoughts of that new business partner he never got around to officially discussing business with. They had barely talked for ten minutes that time before the news of Itachi's injury had reached him and the man had insisted that he was definitely not offended that Madara had to leave since it was a family emergency. Thankfully, the man and his COO had rescheduled with Zetsu and this time, Itachi could come along, too!
"Don't be a brat. It's very unlike you." The elder chided as he and his nephew settled in their seats in the fancy restaurant they were meeting the Senjus in. "I'm just glad your leg healed up so well despite all the excitement and that you could come along."
"I don't see why you're panicking like this." The younger Uchiha ignored the remark about his leg that he had finally, finally freed from its imprisonment in the damned cast. He had been taken to their family doctor and did an X-ray, only to find out that Itachi's little stomping episode had put a strain on his leg despite how careful he had been since then. He had ended up wearing the cast five days longer than he had expected but he had been lucky there were no bigger complications and that he could walk around just fine again. It was advised that he didn't run anytime soon or lift overly heavy things or jump from high places, but he was free again. "I mean, you said this was an old childhood friend, right?"
"Yes, but he didn't recognize me at all!" The CEO complained in a whiny voice. "Sure, I only recognized him when he suddenly got very depressed like that one boy I knew when I was twelve, but still! He used to have a terrible haircut and act like a klutz! He grew out his hair and isn't as big of a klutz! Me not recognizing him at first sight would be understandable." Madara crossed his arms and pouted. "The only thing that has really changed about me is that my hair grew out and that I have lost the tan I had during that summer since I don't go out into the sun as much and back then I used to spend whole days out in the woods. My character hasn't changed, either! He should have recognized me!"
"Didn't he remember your name?" The genius asked, observing the other patrons of the restaurant. When his calculating eyes settled on a couple of waitresses or some girls, they would turn away with a deep blush on their face and a giggle. "I am pretty sure meeting an Uchiga is unforgettable." He arched an eyebrow back at his uncle and Madara rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"We kind of never told each other our family names, since the Uchiha had a lot of competitors back then who weren't above kidnapping me to get to Otou-sama."
"But you still remembered and recognized him." Itachi pointed out, musing to himself. "Maybe he thought he recognized you, too, but decided it was too impossible for it to happen so he just brushed it off?"
"Possible." Madara conceded after a moment of thought. "Especially since we used to make dreams about making the biggest business empire together and with our younger brothers but I have only one of my brothers left, especially not in the business industry, and he had one still as well, but he is in the family business. He probably decided I am not the Madara he knew."
"Especially with your ruthless businessman reputation." Itachi added and Madara just sighed. "You really like this guy, huh?"
"I used to tell him that I will marry him one day." The older Uchiha revealed. "It used to be like a joke between us but I ended up really meaning it the last time we saw each other before we both moved back to the cities we lived in. I came back to the Compound and he went Kami knows where, only for us to meet again, years later. Only for me to find out I still had those unreasonable feelings for him."
"Feelings are not meant to be reasonable, Uncle." His nephew told him and reached over the table to flick his forehead in the manner he usually only reserved for Sasuke. Receiving such an honored gesture put a small smile on Madara's lips, calming him somewhat. He really loved this boy. He wasn't Madara's favorite just because he was his genius COO and business partner. Itachi was the one person Madara could open up to no matter what the topic. He could not talk of worrying topics with his younger brother - that went against everything being an older brother stood for - and his other nephews didn't have as much insight or were too young in Sasuke's case. Besides, he spent the most time with Itachi anyway. They were the closest. "I am sure everything will be fine. He'll probably remember before we finish up this business deal. Speaking of which, is that them?" The teen subtly pointed towards the entrance, where two handsome men in suits had just walked in.
There were not many shared features between the Senju brothers, is the first thing Itachi noticed. One was tanned with long brown hair and kind dark chocolate eyes while the other had strange red eyes - the color of Kakashi's and Obito's 'sick' eye - pale skin and white hair despite being only a few years younger than the outgoing man that led them in. The younger was an introvert by nature but was perfectly authoritative with his presence and cold disposition. He probably intimidated many a businessmen. Well, he had never met Uchiha Itachi. This was going to be interesting, especially since Itachi had heard Senju Tobirama was a genius.
Madara was completely stuck on staring at Senju Hashirama, the elder brother, not even bothering to be subtle about it. The younger raven haired man rolled his eyes and kicked his uncle in the shin, startling him out of his ogling session and making him whirl around in indignant anger. Itachi's pointed glare shut him up and the elder Uchiha quickly regained his composure. It wouldn't do to make a scene right now and it would be even ten times worse if he managed to get Itachi angry with him. He had spent the teen's whole life staying on his good side and he would rather not throw it all away just because he was anxious about seeing his old crush.
''Ah, you must be the Uchiha Inc.'s COO.'' Hashirama said pleasantly, walking up to them with a beaming smile on his face that made Itachi think of him as something of a puppy. In contrast, Senju Tobirama looked more like a wolf, prowling besides his brother, watching their every move as though they were about to attack the man instead of shake his hand. He must have heard rumors about Madara's and Itachi's secret past time of practicing with katanas. ''I am Senju Hashirama, CEO of Senju Corp, and this is my younger brother and COO, Tobirama. It is a pleasure to meet you.''
Seeing that his uncle looked nervous still, Itachi stepped forward, earning an arched eyebrow from both the Senju brothers which he ignored. Madara would have spared a moment to be proud of him and of himself for snatching such a great right hand man had he been able to really focus on anything other than the fact that he was once again in the presence of his best friend and childhood lifelong crush. Itachi let him enjoy the moment while he dealt with business.
''Yes, I am and it is a pleasure to meet you as well. I am Uchiha Itachi and it is an honor to speak with you, Hashirama-san, Tobirama-san.'' He replied, extending a hand to shake, which Hashirama accepted after he got over his startlement. It would seem he had been joking when he said Itachi was the COO. Yes, it was widely known that the Uchiha Inc. and Sharingan Corp. have an incredibly young COO, but no one exactly expected a kid to show up to these meetings and they expected it even less to have that same kid put them into their place for doubting him in the first place. ''I believe you know my uncle, Uchiha Madara, the CEO, already.'' The two men nodded towards the wild haired Uhciha, who returned it stiffly, just barely following the conversation.
''You are fairly young, Itachi-kun,'' the brunet of the group observed as subtly as he could, which was still pretty much like slamming a wrecking ball into a glass cabinet with your mother's best china. Madara finally relaxed, seeing that his friend had not changed at all. He had left their last meeting in a hurry when Itachi didn't answer five of his calls in a row, something he didn't do, ever, if only because Shisui or someone else makes him take the call so Madara doesn't flip out and start ringing all of their phones. For all of their sanities. So he had left quickly due to a family emergency and Hashirama had just agreed to reschedule, and Madara had nearly had a heart attack when he saw Itachi's leg.
''Indeed I am,'' said teen's voice brought him back out of his musings and he was just glad that he had had another chance to speak with Hashirama and as business partners would have many more chances to do it again. ''Fifteen is very young still, is it not.''
''Fifteen?'' The younger Senju repeated with an arched brow, looking Itachi up and down, as if judging him. Madara would have been indignant on his nephew's part if he didn't see the impressed look Tobirama had on his usually impassive face. ''I've heard rumors about you and your age, but I didn't know which ones to believe, Itachi-kun. I am glad to have this chance to confirm them for myself.''
The younger Uchiha sent the man a small smirk. ''As am I, as I have also heard quite a few things about yourself, Tobirama-san, that I would like to test out.'' Tobirama smirked, Madara arched an eyebrow at their interactions and Hashirama clapped his hands in glee, happy to see the talks were going well so far. ''Please do join us. We have much to discuss.''
''Thank you,'' the older man replied and promptly sat down right across Madara while Tobirama followed a bit more elegantly and sat across Itachi. A waiter immediately materialized from seemingly nowhere and took their orders before disappearing just as fast. If Madara didn't know better, he would have sworn the man was some sort of ninja, especially since he was so large and looked like the type of person to not be so stealthy or fast. Shows just how much appearances could be deceiving.
Just like Hashirama. The man acted like a fool most of the time - just like Madara remembered him - and was downright overemotional, but he could become as serious as the rest of them when talking about business, even though he bickers with his little brother from time to time because he would agree to things that the younger considered foolish. Although the white haired man had to remind Hashirama to act more like an adult during the meal after the food arrived, since Hashirama got too excited and started talking while shoveling food into his mouth. The look on Itachi's face when he saw that suggested he was comparing him in his mind with little Naruto and Madara had to agree.
Only he really shouldn't find it as endearing in a fully grown man with a high position in a powerful firm like Hashirama as he would in a small four year old boy.
At least Itachi and Tobirama seemed to get along quite well, despite Tobirama being a bit more than twice Itachi's age. Myst be the genius side of them agreeing with each other, especially when they shared this strange look of fond exasperation when looking over to their fellow CEOs as though they were the younger ones. Well, that was rude of them. Madara will be having a talk with Itachi about it later. No matter how much he loves his nephew, he won't be tolerated being looked at as though he were an idiot.
The look Itachi sends him tells him the younger knows exactly what he was thinking and that it won't come to pass. And he hates it that he knows it's the truth.
''Psst!'' He startles at the stage whisper that came from Hashirama and looked away from where the two geniuses were now going over the final details of their deal, heads bowed together, black and white almost connecting, eyes narrowed, one pair red and one flashing red due to the angle of the light from the window next to their table. He contemplates if they brought out the Shogi board who would win briefly before turning back to look at Hahsirama, who had a silly grin on his face that no respectable adult should be able to pull off as well as he did. It made him far too cute for his age.
Madara fought a blush. ''Hn?''
The brunet man seemed startled for a second at his very Uchiha response - even Shisui and Obito, two of the cheeriest Uchiha in history, did it - before he shook his head like a dog and focusing back on what he had first wanted, his grin returning. ''I know there's a nice little river not far away in the woods.''
''Is that so?'' The raven haired CEO asked, keeping his cool and impassiveness even as a bout of excitement stirring something that felt like fiery butterflies in his stomach. He and Hashirama had actually met by a river when they were just boys. Did this mean something? Did Hashirama remember him? Had he recognized him as the boy he used to skip stones with on the very same river they have met by?
''Wanna go check it out?'' Hashirama asked with childish glee that Madara would have discouraged in anyone else. Instead, a grin started to pull at his own lips, his eyes lighting up.
''Do you know how to skip stones?'' He asked instead of answering and was delighted at the challenging glint entering his long lost friend's eyes.
''I wager I can skip them better than you!''
''Then I'm sure I'll win. You always lose your bets.''
''Hey~! No need to be rude!''
''To the river?'' He asks as he stands up as quietly as he can manage, wondering if he should ask that waiter from earlier for lessons on stealth. Without though, while he was still pondering ninja waiters, he offered the tanned man a hand to help him out of his seat and almost jumped out of his skin when Hashirama accepted it.
''To the river!'' Hahsirama stage whispered his cheer before pulling Madara along, not even sparing a glance back at their COOs, excitement overtaking both friends as they left to have an afternoon to themselves.
00000
Tobirama watched his brother bound off with the Uchiha Inc's CEO before turning to his fellow COO with an arched brow, which only climbed higher when he saw the fond smile on the younger man's face. ''I take it that Uchiha Madara is indeed the Madara Hashirama has met when they were children, then?''
The younger Uchiha turned back to study him with those sharp, strangely perceptive eyes of his. ''Hashirama-san then knows that my uncle is his friend?''
The albino nodded, leaning his elbows on the table and his chin on his intertwined fingers. ''Indeed. He nearly cried on sight but he was under the impression Madara didn't recognize him.''
''Likewise, for my uncle.'' Both geniuses snorted at the silliness that were their company leaders and shook their heads in despair. ''I am warning you now, though, Tobirama-san, that my uncle has lived through much and his first joy comes from his family. Hashirama-san is the first person I have seen him so happy around or talking about, so I advise you not to in anyway cause a disturbance in their relationship, whatever it may be after this day.'' The Senju was impressed how threatening the boy could be without uttering a single threat. ''He has had a rough past and he is doing his best to continue on without looking back at it too much. If Hashirama-san is the only one to put a smile back on his face outside of family, then Hashirama-san is precious and his company will not be restricted to my uncle. If you in any way try to cease their relation, be assured that not so pleasant things will befall everything and everyone you hold dear.''
Tobirama let out a low whistle, not expecting such aggressive words to be uttered so casually. ''Are you some kind of mafia boss?''
''You don't want to know what kind of connections I can form.'' Was the bland reply and a wry smirk pulled at Tobirama's lips as he extended a hand for the younger to shake.
''Uchiha Itachi, I think this might be start of a great friendship.''
''And partnership, likewise.'' There was an answering smirk on the teen's face and everyone who was looking in their direction when they saw them like that shivered.
Dread filled everyone who saw them shake on it.
Down by the river, skipping stones like little children, Hashirama and Madara remained oblivious.