Disclaimer: meh
A/N: I know I know. I'm working on it. I'm sorry. I'll do better I swear. I have alot of work and my laptop is freaking out. next chapter is smut. I promise!
IN FUCKING REVIEW:um...Sasuke and Naruto are at home and Itachi and Neji are out but what r they up to?
Itachi's smile had dropped the moment the camera was off. It always did. It was honestly a reflex at this point. The alpha politely thanked the interviewers for coming before slumping into his leather chair once alone again in the large yet suffocating office.
It had been like this for two days now since they announced the collaboration of the Uchiha and Hyuga Clan to transform former war zones, barred off from society, into modern cities through the promotion of preservation of history...or some shit.
The point is he did his job.
Well...on the surface.
He didn't care for the Uchiha Company or whatever in the slightest. If he was honest...he never did. He was simply raised into it and thus he never swayed.
'Someone had to do it.'
Was what he always told himself but he never asked himself if...he wanted to do it.
Today he wanted to do it.
The news was buzzing with theories of what truly happened at the night club and if the Council caught wind of an omega there would be trouble. However, the most concerning issue was that no where in the news was Naruto mentioned despite missing for more than 48 hours and still to this day there were no new articles or filed missing reports about the male.
Something was up.
It was somehow too quiet.
He had to give them something new to focus on and the bat alpha was thankfully in agreement.
They spent Monday coming up with an idea and quickly presenting it to the different families. It needed to be something they didn't have to think hard on and couldn't refuse. They needed to divert attention as soon as possible, and thankfully, no clansman can resist the glory of paving society. It was like candy to them, an addiction to be in power and in control. Before it was during war with the invention of weaponry and now it was this...
They could transform the battlefields that were once coated in blood and and decay into a place of "Unity", placing a large a monument at the centre of it all with the list of all those who died at battle and build a progressive city around it with respect to the history of the location. It would also involve the building of museums and more to keep the people happy. What he had been doing now was campaigning basically.
With an idea like this, of course the Human Government was going to find some fucking issue, but, the more attention the better...as long as it stayed off of Naruto.
Itachi chuckled a bit to himself recalling his interactions with the male as he pulled a file from out his drawer to browse once again.
He guessed it was built into him at this point.
The notion that one has to know his enemy first to conquer him...or whatever his father used to say back them.
He had gotten his airheaded assistant, Deidara, to gather as much information as he could on the omega. Basic things like his CV, his background and such. He was even able to find out alot of things, the blonde's favourite hang out spots, the ramen shack and a few popular bars.
...so why was the most elementary information simply not there?
It stated here that Naruto Umino was an orphan raised in the Temple orphanage until he was fourteen before being adopted by Iruka Umino, boyfriend at the time Kakashi Hatake. Now a married couple on the hybrid registry under Umino and the human registry Hatake.
Why?
Because the Human Government is stupid and refuses to acknowledge cross species relations unless the Human is the dominant name. Something about power dynamics or whatever.
Although it is normal for an orphan to have no records of their parents, the story and the absence of their documentation didn't line up. The boy wasn't abandoned...he was given, but, the parents were no where to be mentioned.
Even if the confidentiality clause or the clause that allows a parent to not be contacted in future was enacted, there would still be a recording..at least a name.
It was like it was missing for a reason.
There was a knock on the door which caused the alpha to sigh and tuck the file back into drawer he took it from before voicing permission for the guest at the door to enter.
To his annoyance, it was his father's secretary.
"Mr. Uchiha requested you stop by his office on your way out today."
"I see. Thank you."
And with that, he dilly dallied down the hall with no real motivation to actually make it there, examining his watch as he did so.
It was almost time for lunch. He recalled there not being much in the fridge last night and oddly enough...that's all he could recall...
'That's strange...'
Either way he would swing by with some food and text Neji to get his assistant some groceries on the way over. That was the arrangement to keep the bat happy. The Uchiha provided the home and so the Hyuga would feel involved enough to stay at bay and not go running back to his clan, he provided food and other utilities the fox needed.
Whatever it took to keep him from also getting in the way.
Itachi never felt at rest for a moment.
Sasuke was always too short sighted to see these kind of issues so...
'Someone had to do it'
Itachi had to watch everything from all sides. The Council wasn't the only threat but the Hyuga Clan was and even Dr. Hatake...but one needs to keep their friends close and their enemies closer.
Keeping Neji around had the benefit of keeping him under watch and monitoring his interactions with Naruto and Dr. Hatake worked for the Council. He would know if their was an internal unrest we need to be weary of while keeping Naruto healthy...and pure.
"You called for me Father?"
The wolf alpha spoke up having knocked and opened the door of the large modern decor office to look at the cause of his fourth problem.
His Father
Itachi had to keep this man abreast from his personal life.
He was a smart man. If he found Naruto...then the future afterward was also unknown to him. He had no idea that would follow but all guess pointed toward a negative outcome.
"Yes...yes I did."
It was like a reflection looking back at him really. It felt like it too. Like he was not his own person. He was just his father.
A mini version raised in his image.
The Uchiha picture
"I haven't been seeing you around much so I took this opportunity to check up on you...How have you been?"
The taller man rose from his seat only to wince a little and sit back down slowly which didn't go unnoticed to the other who walked over, closer to the desk to be near if assistance was needed.
"I'm fine Father. Why are you in office today? You should be taking a break like your doctor recommended."
"You know I can't do that"
"It's more like you refuse to." Itachi remarked nonchalantly as he sighed and composed himself a little.
"The moment I am gone those old fogeys will be up to no good and you refuse to step up and take over so I have to protect my life's work until you are ready." He responded with a slight smirk observing the other only to slightly chuckle at the expected response.
It was like a reflex for the young Uchiha now.
"My answer remains the same."
"You say that and yet you did an excellent job in the recent days. You proposed an brilliant idea proving without a doubt you deserve to take over this company. The land was just laying there rotting anyway. If we go forward with your monument idea and build a city around it with schools and medical facilities there will be immense profit. The press is satisfied and the Council is happy as well. It should keep them distracted for some time."
'Hopefully it does.'
Itachi thought to himself as he ignored the same old motivational "Take over the Company" speech.
The older male sighed deciding to stop for the day with his attempted to sway the other, examining him as he stood on the other side of the desk before him with pride.
"...What's the matter son? You look solemn. More than usual anyway."
"It's nothing father."
"If you say so. I've been meaning to ask where you've been."
"Is that so?"
"Your assistant said you haven't been home for a couple of days now."
'That big mouth idiot.'
"Yes, I guess I haven't."
"...Mmhhm...So where've you been?"
There was a silence in the room as the two alphas simply stared each other down before one sighed in submission.
"I've been with Sasuke for the past couple days." Itachi answered with a half truth as he became tired of standing, battling with his father, and chose to mind numbingly browse the random collection of books in this father's bookcase. To his surprise he found some interesting titles of historic war books and strategies that he never noticed before...maybe cause he fucking hated it in this office and never sought to spend long in it enough to notice them.
"Is that so? What's that dead beat been up to these days?"
"If you keep saying stuff like that he'll hate you forever you know." Itachi commented with disinterest as he selected a book off the shelf titled, 'The Four Higher Clans', "He's been fine."
The older male replied with a bit of a hum as he looked away from the other back to whatever he was reading before the wolf's arrival.
"He doesn't come to visit me."
"Would you if your father said you deserved to die, you were worthless and not a member of this family?"
"Stop it." The other sighed tearing his eyes away from the file in hand to look over at his son with exhaustion looming his emotion of unease. "You know I didn't mean it."
"But you said it...didn't you?" He stated in a matter of fact tone, taking the book fully into his grasp as he returned to the stare down with his father again. "The problem is you said it...and many more things."
This time Fugaku submitted and carefully made another attempt to stand, slowly drifting over to the large wall that over looked the city and pulling across the large curtain slightly that darkened the room to see the view.
He stood there for a bit, quietly, while Itachi over looked...again, not really interested in the conversation. Fugaku noticed the indifferent expression on the other's face in the reflection of the glass and couldn't help but ...slightly smile at his son's boldness.
"Tell him to visit me some time. I'm getting old...and my wounds are catching up to me."
"I can't keep acting like a bridge for the two of you, Father."
"You should be looking into marriage soon as well. When you take over the company an heir needs to be on the way."
"You're being stubborn, Father"
"Do make sure to visit and come into the office more often."
"Fathe-"
"And give your mother a visit as well."
Itachi went silent, unconsciously straightening up a bit.
'If that's what you really called me for you should have just said it. You're so...bullheaded.'
"I'm sure she misses you both dearly"
"...I'll be on my way, Father, and I'm taking this." Itachi turned and marched out the office with the book now that the interaction was over, leaving behind the old man...staring into the street below idly with a smile.
He stood there long enough to watch the male enter the parking lot and drive off to who knows where before turning back to his desk.
"Yeah...I know. They grow up to fast," He said more to himself as he reclaimed the file that laid abandoned on his desk, his small smile drooping into a deep frown, molded out of disappointment," and so stupid..."
The older male reclaimed his seat examining the small 4x4 picture with a hard-pressed expression, spinning the chair a little as he felt slight amusment.
"Naruto Umino was it? I can't for the life of me figure out why my boy has become so invested in this one of all hybrids. He's never tried to hide anything from me before...Maybe...it's something more? I look forward to finding out."
Itachi sighed as he checked his phone for the last time before entering the private forest.
Neji wasn't able to make it this afternoon because of work load on his end so Itachi would have to think of a solution for dinner and breakfast.
The wolf parked the car and with care tried to carry the two bags of hot fresh balanced meals inside. There was something nice take out that Uchiha sort of enjoyed.
He carefully rest to bags on the dinning room table before checking his suit for any stains from the dripping liquid he just noticed as he had to return to work. After okaying his outfit he looked around the place a bit, acknowledging the uncomfortable silence of the cottage.
"Sasuke? Naruto?" He called out in confusion and slight anger as concerns of where the two could possibly be started to creak into his mind.
However, such worries immediately disappeared when he heard a light pair of footsteps come down the stairs...smelling...
'Sweet?'
"Oh my~...How did you know I was craving lunch? Now I'm really curious what dinner will look like.~"
"Na...ruto?"