Chapter Six
Another short chapter, hopefully the next one will be longer. But real quick when I first started this it was supposed to be a Naruto and 2k crossover, that's cause I'm going to introduce a lot of things from the game like Freq and Vic. Can't wait for that. But it is also a crossover with the Starz show Survivors Remorse, a show really just like the idea of this story.
Naruto groaned as he ran after Nina.
"Just let me fix the braid."
Nina shook her head as she ducked under his legs.
"No! You did it to tight last time!"
Naruto sighed and chased her into the kitchen where his daughter ran into Mia who was dressed in a blue dress.
It had been a few weeks since his game against the Warriors and his schedule with the team finally allowed him five days of rest before a practice. But this also gave Sony a chance call him in for a video conference. Apparently the board wanted to see him and his family before giving him so much money.
"Nina this is very important for your father so why don't I do your braid and you let your father get dressed.
Naruto looked at Mia and Nina in their dresses before looking at his t-shirt and basketball shorts.
"Go!"
Naruto nodded at Mia and ran towards his room but Shikamaru and Temari entered his apartment.
"On the couch everyone we got two minut-"
His words died in his mouth as he took in Naruto's appearance.
"What the hell are you wearing!"
"Swear!"
Nina pointed at Shikamaru and smiled.
With Naruto's friends from Philly coming, Amanda instituted a few new rules in the house. When ever someone said a inappropriate word in the presence of Nina they had to put a dollar in the swear jar. After five swears the fine went up to five dollars and so one.
Shikamaru fished a dollar out of his suit pants and handed it to Nina who quickly ran to put it in the jar.
"Naruto you have to change now!"
Naruto nodded and was about to leave but the TV beeped letting everyone know Sony was calling.
Naruto gave Shikamaru a look of panic. "What do I do?"
Shikamaru was thinking but Amanda ran into the room wearing a white dress and holding a white button down shirt.
"Quick put this on and whatever you do don't stand up."
Naruto nodded and quickly put the shirt on rushing through the buttons.
When he was done he took a seat on the couch with Nina and Mia on his left and Amanda on his right. Shikamaru and Temari stood behind the couch.
Shikamaru looked down at his client/best friend and pressed the button to answer the call. Instantly the image of a long table appeared. There were about ten seats at the table and at the head was Kazuo Hirai.
"Naruto good to see you again. Why did it take so long to answer."
Naruto threw a quick smile on his face. "I was taking care of a few last minute things. Had to make sure everything was perfect."
Kazuo smiled. "Well if that's the case then let's get started. These are the board members that handle our American relations so they all speak English and you won't have to deal with a bunch of angry Japanese people unless you do something extremely stupid."
Naruto nodded and Kazuo continued. "Naruto you were handpicked from a short list of possible candidates. But you had what all of the others didn't have."
Naruto shook his head and Kazuo pointed to a female board member.
"We did a survey and asked one hundred random people from a list of basketball players who was their favourite. This list included Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry and you. Sixty five of those people chose you. This survey was conducted two weeks after you claimed the NCAA championship. While you just started gaining a buzz in America, Naruto Uzumaki had been a household name for almost two years in Japan."
Naruto stared at them in and another board member spoke up.
"While your star power over her is far stronger over here than in the U.S. we do not doubt that you are a future superstar. You've taken everything the universe has thrown at you and just pushed past it. One of the things we say here at Sony is 'make believe' but for you there is no make its just believe and that is the reason why we selected you to endorse our brand."
When he was done Kazuo spoke up.
"Now I see you have your family with you. Would you mind introducing us, If you are joining the Sony family we would like to meet your family."
Naruto nodded. "This is my mother Amanda, my sister Carmen and my daughter Nina."
Nina happily waved to the screen as Naruto looked over his shoulder.
"And as you already know this is my best friend and agent Shikamaru and his girlfriend Temari."
Kazuo smiled at them. "Well I'm glad you could all be here you can make sure Naruto stays focused on his responsibilities on and off the court. You here of far to many athletes getting in your position and blowing it."
Amanda nodded. "We all make sure Naruto does what he has to do. I personally make sure he doesn't slack off."
"Good now want to make sure the entire world knows you've signed with us. At the conclusion of this meeting we will announce it on Twitter that you've partnered with us and then in a few days we will unveil a billboard across the street from the Staples center. Now we have devised a marketing plan to suit both the U.S. and here in Japan."
The meeting went on with Naruto receiving dates for shoots and events he must attend. He was also told how he would be able to get special surprises if he accomplished things like making the All Star team and being selected for an all nba team.
As the meeting came to a end Shikamaru faxed over Naruto's signed contract and once it was in Kazuo's hand he looked at Naruto through the screen.
"Well everything seems in order. Your first video shoot is at the end of the month. I see big things in your future, don't let us down."
Kazuo hit a button on his phone and Naruto received a text from his bank account, a deposit for twenty thirty dollars was placed in his account.
Naruto jumped up in excitement and he could here Shikamaru.
"Oh my God."
He watched as Mia groaned, Nina put her head in her hands, his mother looked away and Temari put her head down.
"Um Naruto where are your pants?"
Naruto quickly looked down remembering his lack of pants.
"Oh about that."
Kazuo put his hand up. "I don't even want to know. Now how about you take some of that money and take your family out, have fun."
Naruto nodded as the connection was cut. Naruto gave a weary smile as he looked at his family.
Next Day
Once the tweet went out that he had signed with Sony the outside of his building was flooded with paparazzi ruining his night as well as the other tenants in the building. As an apology he gifted the entire building with a boxes of mini pies.
While the photographers outside hoped to catch a pic of him the rest of the media world made due with the released contract information. As always Naruto found himself watching First Take on ESPN and as always Smith had a lot to say about him.
"I'm not taking anything away from him, he's a entertaining player to watch. But since the Warriors game he's only scored more then twenty once. He's averaging 18.22 points a game which is again impressive. Then you look at his eight, almost nine assists a game. Once again impressive. But then you look at the Lakers four and five record! I hear it all the time, oh your being too hard on him well you forced me to the moment you traded Pau Gasol who has actually led the Cavaliers to a great seven and two start."
Cari shook her head. "But you can't put all the blame on him. The Lakers have almost an entire new roster. Everyone is getting used to a new system and so far Naruto has caught on the most."
Skip nodded his head in agreement.
"They may not have the best winning percentage but it's a start. They have a point deferential of only minus six and you look at the players around him who are playing the best basketball they've ever played."
Smith scoffed. "But they still can't manage to win! I'll give him credit he's playing excellent basketball, all star level but two things need to be answered. First can he win! He did it at the collegiate level but has struggled so far to do it here in the pros! You went out of your way to pick this young man up cause you thought he would help your team win but so far he hasn't done that! But then I see the news and he's got a hundred or so million dollar contract with Sony! What! Now secondly and quite possibly the most important, how well will he play with Kobe Bryant. Kobe has wanted a point guard for the longest and now the Lakers supposedly have a 'great' point guard so how will these two fit together."
Naruto cut the T.V. off and pulled out his phone. He dialed a number and waited for a answer.
"Naruto it's your day off, what's the problem?"
"Coach I need the practice gym for the day?"
"Why? Trying to bring a few people over there and shot some hoops?"
Naruto shook his head. "Nah I need to work on a few things. Can you get a assistant coach down there to?"
"How about I meet you down there? Like the old days?"
Naruto smirked. "Alright see you in a bit coach."
Naruto gathered his gear in a bag and headed down to the parking garage hopping in his Mercedes he went down to the practice facility. He quickly changed and met Rick Pitino on the empty court.
"Ready?"
Naruto simply nodded and Rick pointed to the cones on the floor.
"Time to get to work."
Play Hate Me Now by Nas
You can hate me now,(Q.B.) but I won't stop now (real niggas)
Cause I can't stop now, (Bravehearts) you can hate me now (c'mon)
But I won't stop now, cause I can't stop now
You can hate me now, you can hate me now
Naruto started running to the cones. There was a cone on each corner of the court and one at each free throw line.
He had to run straight from one corner to the other before cutting inside to get to the cone at the free throw line and then back out. When he cut inside he had to switch to a running sideways and then back to a full on sprint as he came back out.
Don't hate me, hate the money I see, clothes that I buy
Ice that I wear, flows that I try, close your eyes
Picture me rollin', sixes, money foldin'
Bitches, honeys that swollen to riches, Nas get in ya
Rick watched as Naruto did this drill for forty eight minutes. Naruto did this on multiple occasions in college to prove that he could run for the entire game.
After running Rick set up a speed ladder and Naruto quickly started shuffling his feet through the pegs as fast as he could. Going side to side and up and down Naruto did this for almost thirty minutes before switching to the next drill.
Most critically acclaimed Pulitzer Prize winner
Best storyteller, thug narrator, my style's greater
Model dater, big threat to a lot of you haters
Commentators ringside try watchin' my paper
Naruto grit his teeth as Rick held onto his shoulders and pushed him back as he tried to move forward. He didn't care what anybody had to say about him. He worked to hard to get here and he was going to show everyone that he belonged.
And Done!
I really enjoy the comments and messages that you guys send me. I enjoy writhing this one way more than the last one and without the chakra and other stuff I can move much faster with the updates. Before any of you ask the season is just starting so Naruto is focused on playing right now. He's going to spend time with his family, especially when I get to the holiday chapters. And finally I asked this question in the last story, in real life Kobe Bryant played only six games in the 2013-14 season, if you guys want to see him play more let me know.
As always read, follow, favorite and review! Review! Review!
Duces!