A/N: I am extremely sorry for the huge delay of this chapter! Life happened along with the holidays and I got busy working on other projects and failed to update this story properly on time! Thank you all for being patient! ❤️ I hope you enjoy the update!
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Soft, eloquent music played in the background of the small dance room. It was early in the morning. There were no windows, no distractions, just two people cordially dancing close to one another in the liminal space. The bass of the stereo's speakers would vibrate every now and then, alerting Naruto to the tonal shift of the song. But unfortunately, it was hard to perfect his steps when one: he wasn't familiar with this type of dance or music. And two: his dance partner was Lee.
Naruto very awkwardly tried to keep a straight face as he had one hand on Lee's waist and the other softly grasping his hand which was stretched outward. They serenaded together in the room, moving side to side, before Naruto stepped on Lee's foot for a fifth time.
Lee sighed. "Alright, let's stop and take it from the top again."
"Ugh." Naruto groaned. "Lee. I don't think this is going to work."
"Nonsense! Of course it will!" He flicked his wrist. "I am an excellent instructor, and you have the spirit of-"
"Lee." Naruto gave the man a pleading look. He really wasn't in the mood for another one of his motivational speeches. If anything, they just made this whole thing even more awkward.
"Alright. We can take a break if that's what you want."
"Mm..." Naruto shuffled on his feet. "I don't think a break will help either. Lee, how important is this gala dancing thing?" He questioned. "Is there any way I can, I don't know, skip it or sit it out or something?"
Lee gasped dramatically as if Naruto had said the most offensive thing he'd ever heard. "Naruto! Dancing is very important, especially for an event such as this! As Sasuke's new potential lover, all eyes will be on you. You must enter the gala and look presentable." Lee turned on his heel and spread his arms out, then puffed out his chest a bit as if to show Naruto an example of what he meant.
"You will arrive there, Sasuke on your arm, dressed in a top-quality suit tailored by the very best. A cologne that catches people's intrigue but yet is not strong enough to make them turn their heads. It's enough to keep you mysterious and keep them guessing." He said, before strutting forward a few paces. Then he turned around and looked at Naruto. "When you enter the recital, there will be tables and guests all around you. All will be looking at you. And you'll need to keep yourself composed. Focus on the one you are there with. Yes, focus on them." Lee closed his eyes.
'Does he have to be this over the top?' Naruto scratched his head.
"And then when the time is right, you will both be called to the dance floor. Your eyes will be on each other. And then you will embark on a beautiful journey of two bodies becoming one through the power of dance." He opened his eyes and exhaled. "Ah. Love. That is what it is called." He grinned to himself.
"..."
"Do you understand?"
"I..." Naruto struggled to find words. "No."
"Ah, a shame. Then you will have to understand it all for yourself when you get there." Lee remarked. He approached Naruto and held out his hand. "Now come. Let us continue to practice."
But before they could resume, someone suddenly announced their presence by clapping. Lee and Naruto flinched as they looked at the entranceway. It was Sakura!
'When did she even come in?!' Naruto wondered, perplexed by her apparent stealth.
"A spectacular speech!" She cheered, smiling. "You always have a way with words, Lee~"
"Ah, S-Sakura!" Lee blushed and stiffly bowed. "Thank you!"
She giggled and approached the men. "Lee, do you mind if I take over with Naruto for a while?"
"Oh, n-not at all! Please, do so! I think he could use a more feminine guidance than what I can provide." He nodded before stepping out of the way. "I shall leave you two alone then. Excuse me." Lee gave another bow before exiting the room.
And now it felt weirdly quiet without the man's presence, especially now that Naruto was alone with Sakura. He looked at the woman and swallowed nervously. "Uh... shall we dance?" He asked, holding out his hand.
"Yes, Mr. Uzumaki. I would love to dance." She took his hand in hers and got into position. She waited for the song to get to a suitable part before she began to sidestep along with Naruto. "Hmm..."
"Something wrong?" Naruto asked.
"You need to move your hand lower. Like this." Sakura carefully guided Naruto's hand down further to a spot on her waist. "There. And our arms don't need to be that far out. Just bring it in a bit. Like so." She lightly pulled Naruto's hand inward. "There."
Naruto was trying not to sweat or fluster. To be so close to Sakura all of a sudden and doing something that felt so intimate was doing something to his nerves that he wasn't sure if he liked or hated. "So..." He decided to chat to distract himself. "What brought you here? Surely you didn't just come to teach me how to dance." He was going to crack a joke about how good he looked, but decided that his humor would be unwelcome during this crucial moment.
"Actually, yes~" She chimed. "I figured Lee was giving you some trouble. You've been at it for three days with no improvement. And with Sasuke so busy, he can't teach you himself. So I thought I might step in and guide you. There's nothing wrong with that right, Mr. Uzumaki?"
"No, not at all!" Naruto shook his head. "Although... can you drop the formal talk? Just Naruto is fine."
"Very well." She nodded. "You certainly don't mind being treated so familiarly. I think that's what makes you unique, Naruto. You're so laid back and easy to talk to."
"Am I?" Naruto grinned. At the change in tune of the song, Naruto spun Sakura around and then took her hand again as they began to sway in the opposite direction. "Well, thank you. However, I do try to be professional when I need to be."
"That's a talent I've witnessed you showcase before. It's really nice." She complimented. "I guess that's how you were to persuade Itachi so easily."
"Persuade? Yes. Easily? Not at fucking all." He laughed. "Honestly, I was just waiting for him to get up out of that wheelchair and send me packing."
Sakura found humor in his words. "Well, you certainly did have a right to be fearful if you were. That said, I suppose I am a little curious about how you and Sasuke have been doing?" She inquired. "I can never find the right time to ask with how busy I am. And texting you didn't seem appropriate either. I know you yourself have been busy with everything."
"Aww, it would have been no big deal at all, Sakura!" Naruto scoffed. "Sasuke is doing fine. Actually, he's been helping me prepare and do a lot of stuff. We went shopping at the mall the other day. I was pretty nervous, but Sasuke was so reassuring that eventually I just slipped into being a normal person again." He slipped into something else too, but that was a conversation for a different day.
"I'm glad." Sakura smiled. "I know this is all new to you. I warned you it wouldn't be easy."
"Yeah, I know." Naruto sighed. "I'm supposed to be meeting with his informant back at the office soon. I've been wondering what kind of guy he's like."
"Oh. Him." Sakura's tone seemed to change.
"...? Is he a bad guy?"
"No. Just... unsettling?" Sakura said, casting her eyes off to the side as she tried to find an appropriate way of describing him. "You'll know what I mean when you see him. We don't cross paths all that often. Most of the stuff he does is at home or over the phone." She spun around again when the tune changed, then followed Naruto's steps. "He's just a little weird. Quiet. Very imposing. Complete opposite to the guy he dates."
"Hidan, right?"
"Oh, so you've met him?"
"Unfortunately." Naruto rolled his eyes. "Guy seems like a dick. I'm shocked he's in a relationship at all."
"People used to say that about Sasuke, too." Sakura retorted. "There's someone out there for everyone, Naruto."
"There must be. Especially if someone like Hidan gets laid." He joked.
"Oh boy. Let's not even get started on that part." She snorted.
Naruto seemed to catch the hint and they both shared amused looks and chuckles. When the song finally ended, they separated from each other.
"Well done, Naruto! You only stepped on my feet twice!"
"Oh shit, did I? I'm sorry! I didn't even notice!"
"It's alright." Sakura stroked his arm in a calming manner. "Even if it happens, it's best not to draw attention to it, which is what you did. But I don't know how well Sasuke will appreciate it."
"Bah. All of this was his idea to begin with." Naruto huffed. Saying that, a part of Naruto did wish that Sasuke was here. They hadn't spent any personal time together since the shopping trip. Every morning Sasuke would just get out of bed, go to work, and text Naruto the details of what he needed to do that day. Naruto understood that they were far from a domestic couple, but he kind of wished he could have those tender moments where he said goodbye or wished Sasuke a nice day at work. Or maybe he was just so used to doing those things when he lived with Ino. Great, now he was starting to miss her, too.
"Naruto?"
"Huh?" The blonde snapped out of his thoughts. Shit, was it showing on his face? "Sorry, Sakura! I zoned out for a bit. Guess I'm just tired."
"Do you want me to make arrangements for you to see him?"
"No, you don't have to do that!" Naruto insisted. "I practically get to see him every day now."
"But not as much, right?"
"It's fine."
It clearly was not fine. Naruto obviously had some semblance of Sasuke on his mind just now. 'Geez, it's so obvious.' And it wasn't just Naruto either; it was evident when she saw Sasuke, too. They were so clearly hooked on each other and it was like watching a poorly edited romantic comedy. Some kind of magic needed to happen between these two. But therein lied the problem: did either of them want to pursue something outside of what they already have? She decided to test that possibility.
"So, Naruto... you haven't dated or been in any long-term relationships in the past?" Sakura questioned.
"Hm? Um, not really. Well not as of late." He scratched his head. "I mean, I've had hookups and stuff." He muttered. His DomSub relationship with Sasuke was basically the same thing, right? Not to mention he rarely had time to seek out dates nowadays with work keeping him so busy among other things. If he actually thought about it, he probably hadn't been in a serious relationship since high school.
"Oh? What's your type exactly?" Sakura inquired. "Or is Sasuke special~?"
"What?" Naruto blushed a bit. "Well... I mean he is really hot. Can be cute sometimes, too. When you tease him, he takes it personally. It's really fun to mess with him til he starts acting like a brat."
See? Naruto didn't even tell her his type. He just talked about Sasuke when the opportunity was provided. Sakura honestly wanted to scream. But she continued on. "Yeah, he does have little moments like that." She laughed lightly. "But do you ever think about settling down with someone? Starting a family?"
"A family, huh?" Naruto pondered. "I'd be fine with whatever my partner wanted. Kids, no kids; it doesn't matter to me. As long as they are happy." He looked at Sakura and rubbed his arm with insecurity. "I guess that answer just sounds kind of simple, huh?"
"I don't think it's simple. I think its considerate that you'd put your partner's feelings first and set a clear goal with them. Most people consider kids to be a deal breaker."
"Yeah. Sasuke told me his dad wants an heir and all this other stuff. His dad doesn't seem to consider his feelings at all. But I guess that's just how families like that work. All noble and prestigious and stuff." He rolled his eyes.
"I'm sure if Sasuke met the right person, he would put what his lover wanted first before his father."
"Pfft. No way. They'd have to be very exceptional."
"Exceptional indeed." Sakura closed her eyes and hummed. "I think you should spend more time with him. Sasuke's always busy with work and the company. But he talks about you a lot."
"Really?" Naruto for whatever reason seemed to doubt her words. 'I mean, I get that we're faking a relationship and everything. But what exactly does he tell people about me? Bet he just makes jokes about me. He always calls me stupid.' He paused in thought for a moment. 'But then again, he always compliments my work ethic and tells me how good I work. And how good I look, too. Does he... tell people that?' Naruto suddenly blushed.
Sakura tried to hold back a grin. "Mhm. Sasuke won't admit it, but it's very obvious when he misses someone. He would get like that about Itachi, too."
"Oh..." Naruto didn't know how to feel about that. He just sheepishly averted his gaze and smiled a bit.
Sakura closed her eyes and turned around with a mischievous look. She knew that a seed had been planted. "Let's stop here for today." She arched her back and stretched her arms. "Like I said, I'll pick up where Lee left off on teaching you how to dance."
"Alright." Naruto agreed. Actually, it would make the whole thing less awkward, too. It wasn't that Lee was a bad teacher, it's just that literally everything about Lee was weird and awkward. Naruto followed Sakura and opened the door for her.
"Same time tomorrow?" She asked.
"Yeah, sounds good." Naruto said. "So I'll see you then."
"Hm?" Sakura looked at the man. "Do you have other plans, Naruto?"
"What? I mean... not really. Why?"
"Come get some crepes with me then~"
"Oh! Yeah, sure!" Naruto couldn't even remember the last time he had one of those.
"Great! There's a shop right near here we can dine in. Let's go!"
Naruto followed Sakura out of the studio and rather than getting into a car, they were walking down the sidewalk. A bodyguard was following them of course. Naruto listened to the click-clack of Sakura's high heels on the asphalt as he kept up with her pace. He was impressed that she could strut so casually in them. And then he also took a moment to ogle her form a little bit. She was wearing a red, strapless minidress. It hugged her curves tightly and flittered against the dainty sway of her hips. Naruto felt like the woman could look good in anything she wore.
"Hey, Sakura." Naruto was curious now. "What are you going to wear at the gala? Something really fancy?"
"Hmm... I don't know. My manager or Sasuke usually picks out what I wear."
"What? So, you don't choose your own clothes?"
"Sometimes. But it's easier if I let someone else do it."
Naruto remembered how Sasuke mentioned that he often bought clothes for Sakura and took her shopping. "Do you think Sasuke already has something picked out for me, too?" He asked.
"Probably." Sakura replied. "Sasuke usually likes to plan ahead. So I don't doubt he's got something in mind. Although, your opinion matters, too." She looked at him. "You don't have to let Sasuke run everything for you. If you want something to be done differently, just express it to him. He'll listen to you."
"Hm. You think so?"
"I know it." Sakura winked. "Seriously, just ask him for anything, even if you think it's not a big deal, and he will do it."
"Because I'm his Dom, right?"
Sakura rose a brow. "You don't think he does things just because it's you and not that?"
"Well..." Naruto paused for a moment. If he really thought about it, there were a few times Sasuke went out of his way to be considerate of him and do things outside of sex. "I always thought it was just because he was being nice."
Upon coming across the entrance to the crepe shop, Sakura stopped walking and sighed. "Naruto, Sasuke isn't just nice to people for no reason." When the bodyguard opened the door, she thanked them and took Naruto's hand in hers to pull him inside. "You don't think he does everything out of necessity, do you? He's a person, not a robot. He does what he wants because he wants to."
"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry." Naruto gave an apologetic look.
"It's ok. I know you didn't mean any harm. Now..." She gestured to the assortment of crepes in the glass display case. "What would you like?"
Naruto looked at all the available flavors and combinations. His mouth immediately started to water as his eyes gazed across the delectable desserts. Eventually, he decided on getting a chocolate crepe with bananas, hazelnut spread, and a scoop of vanilla icecream in it. Sakura chose to get a strawberries and cream one with cotton candy stuffed inside. She paid for both of them and then handed Naruto his.
"Thank you!" He said, carefully taking the large dessert in his hand. Then he impatiently took a bite and chewed. "Oh man, this is so good!" He took another bite, ignoring the possibility of a brain freeze as he did so.
"I'm glad you like it!" Sakura smiled before taking a bite of her own.
"Yours looks really sweet though! The candy doesn't bother you?"
"Nope!" She said, mouth half-full as she chewed. She seemed to be just as relaxed as Naruto was with her eating habits. "It tastes like candied fruit. That's why I like it. Want to try?" She held it out to the blonde.
"Ah, no thanks!" Naruto declined, choosing to believe her. He felt like a single bite of that would give him a headache.
"You know, Sasuke loves sweets mostly because of me." She chuckled. "When we were kids, I'd always sneak treats and candy to him when he was doing his studies. His dad never let him have any."
"Really? Sheesh. The guy was a true hard-ass, wasn't he?" It made sense as to why Sasuke could be a little stuck-up at times.
"Yeah! I got him addicted to sugar pretty quick! He used to hate it though because it made his teeth hurt. But when I introduced him to this blueberry pie my mom would make, his entire world changed. Pretty sure I was responsible for every cavity he got as a kid!"
Naruto laughed at that. Hearing about Sakura and Sasuke's childhood delighted him, and he felt a little less tense now that he and Sakura were able to have a pretty normal conversation. "Yeah, I used to be bad about sneaking food when I was a kid, too."
"Really?"
"Mhm." Naruto took another bite of his crepe; it was almost gone now. "I had a huge appetite. Would eat whatever I could that tasted good, you know? One time while my mom was making dinner, I got impatient and ate all of the dinner rolls." He rubbed the back of his head. "I only meant to eat a few though, but they were so good~"
Sakura snorted. "Wow! You've got me beat. I don't think I've ever done anything like that. Actually, I've always been kind of a lightweight when it came to my diet."
Naruto looked at her. "Because of your career?"
"Well... yeah." She admitted. "I always placed myself on a strict diet. But even I cheat sometimes~" She said, wiggling the crepe in her hand.
Naruto finished eating the remainder of his crepe and threw the wrapper away. Then he faced Sakura and rested against a table. "So, Sakura. If it's ok to ask, what got you into acting?"
"I've wanted to act ever since I was a kid!" She exclaimed. "I guess it was because of my mom. She's a reporter and she travels a lot. So I wanted to become popular and successful just like her." She finished eating and wiped her mouth with a napkin. "I begged and begged her to let me take ballet lessons! That's why I can dance so well."
"Really? You took ballet?" Naruto asked, impressed. "It must have been really hard."
"Oh, it was brutal." Sakura emphasized. "I did ballet and danced until my toes bled just to be perfect. And then after that, I went to theater school. Then I learned how to sing after getting the hang of acting and everything just went from there."
'Wow. She was so passionate as a kid.' Naruto thought.
"And when I felt like I was ready, I started signing up for every acting role and casting call that I could! My mom helped me, too. And eventually I was able to make a name for myself in the industry. And now, I'm here~" She cutely twirled in her dress.
"Whoa. That all sounds so amazing, Sakura! I'm really happy that all of your hard work was able to pay off."
"Yeah. It sometimes pays off..." She sighed.
"What's wrong?" Naruto tilted his head in concern.
"Well... if I can just vent a bit... I'm supposed to be starring in a movie. That's part of the reason why I signed an overseas contract. But I didn't get the lead role!" She grumbled. "Another actress from Europe did."
"Aw, I'm sorry. I'm sure you would have been amazing as lead." Naruto reassured.
"I got the villainess role instead." She frowned. "That just doesn't suit me at all. Why would they give me that role?" She crossed her arms and stared at the floor. "Was I too serious? Do I look evil?"
Naruto could tell that this was something that was clearly bothering the woman. 'So even Sakura has insecurities.' He shifted his body weight and began to speak again. "Sakura, I think it's amazing that you snagged a villain role. It's not a negative thing at all - far from it! As a villain, you still basically have to carry the show. More people will be interested in you as that character and how you conflict with the protagonist. Also, you'll be badass!"
Sakura blushed a bit. "Really?"
"Yeah! I actually think it suits you more than being the main heroine. Villains get the short end of the stick. They often have to start from the bottom and claw their way to the top. It takes everything they have to get the power and recognition that they eventually deserve, unlike the hero who gains it naturally. So look at it as that, Sakura. You worked hard and now you're playing a character who worked just as hard."
Hearing that, Sakura slowly began to nod her head. "Wow. Yeah, you're right." She agreed. "And well, if I can be a good villain, then I can be a good hero, or main lead in the future, too!"
"Exactly! You're still playing a crucial part of the story. Without a villain, the hero role would mean nothing. There would be no point, no conflict."
"Damn. Sasuke was right, you do have a way with words."
"Haha! I just like to look at things from all angles before I make a judgement call. That's all." He stated.
"Then it looks like being a prosecutor will suit you nicely." She smiled. Naruto was a bit bashful at her response, but took it in earnest.
The two continued to chat some more, with Sakura telling Naruto what the movie was going to be about. Of course, it won't be out for another couple of years or so depending on production, but he promised her that he would go see it. After some more time went by, they finally decided to leave the crepe shop.
"Man, that was good. I really needed that~" Sakura said, cracking her neck. "You're coming back tomorrow, right?"
"I should be. Unless Sasuke has other plans for me."
"Well just let me know what's up. Ok? You can text or call me anytime."
"Thanks! I will, Sakura." Naruto nodded softly.
"Oh!" Sakura suddenly remembered something and jumped in front of the blonde. "There's a festival next week!"
"A festival?" Naruto lifted a brow, wondering why the woman brought something like that up.
"Yeah. You should ask Sasuke if he wants to go."
"Hm? I mean, I could try." He said, taking out his phone to look at how things were scheduled.
"Just ask him." She urged, covering the blonde's phone screen with her hand. "Forget about whatever you have planned."
"Ok, ok! I'll ask, I promise." He conceded. "Were you wanting to go, too?"
"No. I'm going to be busy that day." She shrugged. "But have fun, ok? I'll see you later, Naruto." And with that, Sakura bowed and walked off to meet up with her chauffeur.
"Bye, Sakura!" Naruto waved. 'That's strange. Why'd she bring that up if she also didn't want to go?' Naruto thought. It was odd of her to suggest such a thing, or maybe it actually wasn't? Naruto was still getting to know Sakura, but he couldn't lie. He definitely enjoyed her company today. It was refreshing and just what he needed to take his mind off things. He looked forward to spending more time with her throughout the week as they rehearsed.
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And so as promised, Naruto returned to Thunderground the next day to meet up with Sakura and continue his dance lessons. He was doing better than he previously had, though his footwork could still use some attention. But he did manage to step on Sakura's toes less often than he did with Lee. When he and Sakura took breaks, she treated him out to lunch, and they would chat some more. Eventually Naruto asked if Sakura had considered paying his cousin's salon a visit. She said that she did but had been too busy. Ah well, it made sense. He didn't want to pressure her on it, so left it at that. When they finished their lunch break, Naruto got a text on his phone.
『 "Hey, Naruto. Sorry I know you are busy with Sakura.
But can you swing by the office?" 』
Sasuke - Message Received 9:36 am
『 "Sure. Do you need me to do work?" 』
Naruto - Message Sent 9:36 am
『 "No. I've just set up an appointment for you to meet with my informant. 』
Sasuke - Message Received 9:37 am
Naruto suddenly felt a slight tang of anxiety.
『 "Oh ok! I'll be there soon!" 』
Naruto - Message Sent 9:38 am
『 "Great. Let me know when you arrive." 』
Sasuke - Message Received 9:38 am
Once he finished texting Sasuke, Naruto turned his attention back to Sakura. "Sorry, Sakura. Sasuke needs me at the company."
"That's fine." Sakura understood. "We can pick this back up another time if you want."
"Sure!" Naruto's feet were starting to get sore anyway. He could honestly use a break from all the dancing. He gathered the things he came to the studio with and then departed. As he sped down the road in his neon orange car, he saw a billboard advertising the previously mentioned festival Sakura brought up. 'Hm.' It did sound like fun. And Naruto honestly couldn't remember the last time he went to a festival, let alone any kind of public event. He needed to remember to bring it up to Sasuke.
Once Naruto arrived at the office, he texted Sasuke that he was there. He was then given instructions to take the elevator upstairs to the third floor and enter the legal department. So he did just that. He started to wonder what kind of guy Sasuke's informant was. It was a little bizarre that he had never met the man despite him working in the same field as Naruto. Then again, he might just be the kind of person who remains secretive and private. Naruto recalled something about how he rarely showed up at the office unless it's important. 'I wonder why though?'
When the elevator made its signature chime and stopped at the floor, Naruto got off. He already saw Sasuke standing by and waiting for him. As Naruto looked around, he could see that the whole department was made entirely of personalized, soundproof offices with stained windows and black doors that were kept shut. Everything was made to be as discreet as possible. Naruto could barely hear people talking above a mutter in a couple of offices that were occupied. He'd only come up to this floor maybe twice in the past, but otherwise, never paid too much attention to it ever since he got side-eyed by one of the higher ups. He strode down the aisle and approached Sasuke.
"Hey!" Naruto waved. A little part of him kind of wanted to give Sasuke a peck on the cheek as a greeting but he stopped himself. That might be taking things a bit too far even if it were just for play.
"Hey." Sasuke greeted back. He looked Naruto over to see that he was wearing some of the new clothes that they bought at the mall the other day. "Those look good on you."
"Heh, thanks~" The blonde chuckled. "So. Who am I here to see?"
Sasuke pointed to the door behind with his thumb. It seemed like he was trying to be quiet, so Naruto caught the hint and read the plaque on the door: Kakuzu, Konoha Informant & Representative. Well, the title was definitely fancy for certain. It sounded like he was busy talking to someone already, so Naruto and Sasuke patiently waited until they were given permission to enter. After a while, the chattering stopped, but no one came out. He must have been on the phone.
"You can come in now." A strong voice sounded from the other side of the door. "Just Uzumaki."
Upon hearing that, Sasuke stopped reaching for the doorknob and looked at Naruto. "He wants to talk to you alone. Go ahead. I'll wait out here."
"Ah. O-okay." Naruto replied nervously. He didn't know why he was on edge all of a sudden. But he pushed the feeling aside and opened the door. He gave Sasuke one more passing glance before entering and shutting the door behind him. Then he neatened himself out and looked at the person before him.
A large man with dark skin, long silky brown hair that went past his shoulders, a black cloth mask that covered his mouth, and a pair of green eyes that almost emitted a sinister glow to them were outlined by the frames of purple rimmed glasses. The man cast his gaze upon Naruto, and the blonde suddenly felt like he had been pinned to the spot. He was muscular in physique with large shoulders and a stocky build. Then the man took off his glasses and set them aside with a tired sigh.
"Uzumaki." He said. Kakuzu's voice was low, husky, and assertive. It oozed danger but had charm.
"Ah, y-yes sir?" Naruto felt like he had no choice but to respond to the man as immediately as he could.
"You may take a seat." Kakuzu waited until Naruto did so before continuing to speak. "It is nice to meet your acquaintance for the first real time." He stated.
"I'm sorry?" Naruto replied, brow raised. "What do you mean?"
"Precisely what I just said." He answered, turning to look at his computer monitor and then typing something on his keyboard. "Let's go ahead and get this out of the way. From today on, you will be working directly under me. I will be foreseeing all of your legal paperwork and any documents you will be handling both inside and outside of the company."
'So basically he's my babysitter.' Naruto inwardly remarked. Then Kakuzu's gaze fell on him a second time as if he read Naruto's mind just now and the blonde again straightened himself out. Whatever kind of vibes or power this man had was clearly superior to his own. On the one hand, Naruto admired his no-bullshit attitude. But on the other hand, it was starting to seem like everyone Naruto began to meet from Sasuke's family and associates were just getting more and more menacing.
"You will also be getting job assignments from me on occasion as well. I expect them to be done accordingly and in a timely manner. If there are court dates scheduled and your name is on them, you had better be there before me. Understand?"
"Yes, sir."
Kakuzu continued typing on his keyboard. "Then I think that's all we need to talk about."
Naruto was taken aback. That's it? This grandiose introduction to someone Naruto had been curious about all week and-
"That's all we need to talk about regarding work." He continued. He looked at Naruto. "I now have some questions to ask you regarding your resume and background report."
Naruto swallowed thickly. He didn't like where this was going.
"You were a college dropout. But it was rectified when you went to return and graduated. You have no father and a disabled mother from a heinous accident. The case from the accident went unsettled and you had to pay for your mother's injuries. Your uncle works as a homicide detective and is an established law enforcer who is investigating a notorious serial killer. And in response to all of this, you're wanting to become a prosecutor and pursue law yourself."
"Yes. All of that is correct."
"So, you thought to start working here at an insurance company."
"Uh… that's about the gist of it?" Naruto said, knitting his brows.
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes. "What are you really here for, Uzumaki?"
Naruto tried to remain calm in front of the informant. But unfortunately, he found his demeanor and tone of voice shifting. "...does it matter?"
"Does your job matter." And it wasn't a question. Kakuzu's tone shifted the same way Naruto's did. "Don't think that just because you have Sasuke's best interest that you are immune."
"..."
"It's very telling that someone who wants to become a prosecutor conveniently shows up at an insurance company. Whose parents were involved in an accident. Not to mention you know of company lawsuits, and now you are going to be representing the legal department." His glare on the blonde hardened. "Care to share with me what you are hoping to gain?"
Naruto remained silent. His blue eyes wavered with nervousness and uncertainty as he stared at the informant. He wasn't leaving this office or keeping his job unless he gave some sort of answer. This Kakuzu guy was sharper than Orochimaru's tongue.
"Change." He finally said.
"Is that so."
"Yes. I want things to change. I don't want past mistakes to repeat. I want…" Naruto sighed. "Fine. Maybe what I came here for at first wasn't what I wanted now. But my motivations are different. I have every intention of helping Sasuke make the right choices and improve the company." Naruto glared back at Kakuzu. "And I'm not letting someone like you get in my way." If he could get through Itachi, he could get through this. "Besides, if you thought that I was up to no good, you would have already told Sasuke. Right?" He folded his arms. "A lot of my records and details are private thanks to my uncle. So, that means you only gave Sasuke information about me that was publicly available."
"Hm." Kakuzu leaned forward and rested his hands on his desk. "You aren't stupid."
Naruto grinned. "I guess you don't know everything." He scoffed. Clearly people were still doubting his actual intelligence. And at this point, Naruto didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
"..." Kakuzu continued to stare at the blonde for an extended period of time. Then he finally said one last phrase. "You should take caution, Uzumaki. Because I'm not your greatest threat."
"What are you implying, sir?"
Instead of responding, Kakuzu merely closed his eyes and turned his head, showcasing his disinterest to continue the conversation. His silence and gestures were intense enough to make Naruto get the hint. He said nothing more and bowed before leaving. And then once he was outside the door, Naruto slowly sucked in a breath and exhaled. 'Fuck!' He didn't want to admit it, but he was seriously terrified just now. Even more so than when he had to meet Itachi and Kisame. He was startled when Sasuke suddenly approached him with coffee.
"...are you ok?" Sasuke asked, giving the blonde a look of concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Naruto said sharply. But it was clear that he wasn't.
"Naruto-"
"Hey! Let's go to that festival that's coming up!" Naruto quickly suggested. He desperately needed to cling onto a different subject right now. It was fine if Sasuke asked what he and Kakuzu talked about later, but now wasn't the time.
Sasuke blinked, taken aback by the request. "Oh. You want to go to it? Do you have a kimono or a yukata?"
"Ah... no I don't." Naruto rubbed the back of his head. He outgrew all of his old kimonos and traditional wear and gave them away.
"Then we'll have to get you one."
"Wait, you actually want to go?"
"We haven't been able to go to many places. And you've been working a lot..." Sasuke averted his gaze and looked off to the side. It seemed like he was trying to tell Naruto something else but was just shy of actually speaking it.
"Yeah, that's true. I'm down to go if you are~"
He looked back at Naruto. "I'll find us a tailor and have us fitted for a pair. I'll clear my schedule for that day and for the festival, too."
"Wait, you shouldn't-" But before Naruto could protest against him canceling his work, Sasuke pushed the cup of coffee into his hands.
"Let's go. I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to." The CEO said, turning around and walking towards the elevator.
Naruto took a sip of the coffee and then followed behind Sasuke. He agreed with not staying in this department any longer. The whole place just seemed to kind of fill one with a negative energy. As Naruto got onto the elevator, he glared at Kakuzu's office door one last time before it disappeared from view.
After Sasuke and Naruto's departure, Kakuzu allowed himself to relax and sighed. He was truly too old and tired for this. He could only hope that his discretions about Naruto were the right ones to make and that his concerns would be disregarded. He wasn't getting paid enough for this.
"...Damn. That was intense." A voice tittered from beneath his desk.
"Hnn..." Kakuzu moaned and shifted in his seat. "Hidan."
A humored chuckle was heard as a silver haired man slid from between Kakuzu's legs. The informant's dick was hard and slick with saliva from Hidan cock-warming him all the way up to this point. "You really had him shaking, old man!" Hidan mused, despite the fact that he couldn't even see Naruto during the interrogation. "I knew he wasn't tough shit when I saw him at the mall!"
"Shut up, Hidan. You weren't even supposed to be here."
"Tch. I wouldn't have to come here if you came home and fucked me every once in a while!" He snapped.
Kakuzu looked down at him and cupped his chin. "Is that all you want?"
Hidan moved from under the desk and sat in Kakuzu's lap. Then he leaned forward and stared at him. "Yeah." His hand curled into the shirt Kakuzu was wearing, wrinkling it. "...'iss you…" He muttered.
At his response, Kakuzu lightly caressed Hidan's cheek. "Fine. We'll go home then."
"What, really?"
"Yes." He leaned forward and nipped at the skin between Hidan's jaw and neck.
"F-fuck, Kakuzu!" Hidan gasped. "Let's go before I fucking undress you right here!"
Kakuzu chuckled and as much as he wanted to tease Hidan further, he knew it would be a mistake to do so. Rather than leaving discreetly, he let the man practically drag him out of the office. His work was done for the day.
~:: ღ ::~
It was still morning by the time Naruto and Sasuke got back to the condo; about 11 a.m. Sasuke rode with Naruto in his car, and for the most part the pair remained relatively quiet, save for chats about work and other little things. Now they were situated back inside, with Naruto helping himself to a snack and Sasuke sitting in the living room with the television on. When the blonde sat beside him with a ham and cheese sandwich, Sasuke turned the volume down to start up conversation.
"How were things with Kakuzu?" He asked.
"They were fine."
"You sure? You seemed bothered when you came out of his office." Sasuke remarked. "I know he can be kind of intense. Did he make you uncomfortable?"
"No, it's not that. I think he was just doubting what I can actually do. And it made me upset. That's all." Naruto looked at Sasuke in reassurance. He was still lying of course, but he didn't want Sasuke to worry about it. "Where'd you even find a guy like that?"
"I didn't find him. He found me."
"Yeah, that makes sense." Naruto had no reason to doubt that. He already witnessed Kakuzu's skills firsthand. Informant really did suit him. "So, he approached you looking for a job?"
"Pretty much. I needed someone who could do thorough background checks. He's expensive as fuck, but he gets the job done."
"Do you have to pay him extra if you want a lot of details on people?"
"Yeah. He could even get me their social security number if I wanted."
"...Sasuke-"
"No, Naruto. He's not yakuza and neither am I."
Naruto snorted. "You already knew!" He took a bite out of the sandwich he made.
"Are you going to ask that about every member of my family you meet?"
"No. Just the ones who look like they could kill me with one look."
"...Did I look like that?"
"A little bit. But in a sexy way~"
"So Kakuzu's sexy?"
"What? No way!" Naruto frowned. The guy was certainly sharply dressed and dripping muscular, masculine energy. But he wasn't quite the blonde's type.
"He's got such huge tits..." Sasuke muttered.
"Sasuke!"
"What? I'm just wondering what he's going to wear to the gala."
"Oh, suuure you were." Naruto narrowed his eyes, obviously suspicious. But then that lead him to his next question. "So wait, he's going to the gala, too?"
"Yeah. A lot of people from the office are going to be attending. People and entrepreneurs from all over, too."
'Wow. So the gala is that big and important...'
Sasuke leaned in close to Naruto. "You've got that worrying look on your face again. You'll be fine, ok?" He held Naruto's hand.
Naruto just smiled and nodded. Of course it was always going to be bothering him in the back of his mind, but with Sasuke by his side, he was starting to feel better about the whole thing.
"So, how are your dance lessons going?" Sasuke asked next, changing the subject.
"They're going pretty well." Naruto answered. He finished eating the rest of his sandwich and then leaned back. "My feet are killing me though."
Hearing that, Sasuke's eyes trailed down to Naruto's feet and then back up to his thighs. "You've been working pretty hard. You can take tomorrow off if you want."
"Nah, it's no big deal, Sasuke." Naruto reassured. "I want to do it. It's important to you, right?"
"..." Sasuke seemed to scowl.
"Wh-what?" Naruto panicked upon seeing the look.
"Your health is more important to me, Naruto." He said, leaning in close to the blonde. He slid his hand between his thighs. "How are you going to fuck me if you're constantly tired and in pain?"
Naruto looked down at the male's wandering hand and then back at his face with a smirk. "Is that what you've been thinking about?"
"I think about you a lot..." Sasuke murmured.
"Hm?" Naruto didn't hear him.
"I want you to relax, Naruto." Sasuke's voice dipped into a lower tone. He pushed Naruto down on the sofa. "So let me help you feel better?"
"Alright." Naruto smiled. "Make me relax then, Sasuke."
"Wait here." Sasuke got up from the couch and left the living room.
Naruto continued to lie down, waiting for Sasuke to return. And when he did, he saw the male now had a conspicuous purple bottle with a label on it in his right hand. He climbed back on top of Naruto, straddling his waist. "I'll give you a massage." He said, lifting up Naruto's shirt.
Now Naruto was definitely into this. A massage from Sasuke Uchiha after a long week of exercise and work? This was something surely only he could brag about. Naruto took his shirt off completely for Sasuke and tossed it to the floor. "You sure you want to use that on the sofa?" He asked, gesturing to the bottle of what he was certain was some kind of lubricant.
"What's one or two more stains?" Sasuke hummed.
Well that answer told Naruto all he needed to know. He crossed his arms behind his head, letting Sasuke have the full view and reign over his chest with a smirk. And Sasuke didn't waste any time. He unscrewed the cap to the massage oil and upturned the bottle, drizzling it onto the blonde's chest. A sweet, berry scent quickly filled the air. After applying a hefty amount of the oil, Sasuke set the bottle aside on the coffee table. Then he groped Naruto's pecs.
"Couldn't help yourself, could you?" Naruto chuckled. He didn't say anything else as he let Sasuke continue.
Sasuke first allowed himself to marvel at the feeling of his hands caressing Naruto's chest; he could feel the blonde's heart beating lightly beneath them. How long had Sasuke wanted to do this? Practically since he first laid his eyes on Naruto at the office. It was the first place his eyes landed. The second being the bulge in his tight pants when the blonde was distracted. He exhaled softly as he finally began to knead his fingers into the firm pectorals. His fingers sunk into the taut flesh and pressed into tenser parts that he worked out with gentle rubbing. Then he trailed his hands down to Naruto's ribs and did the same thing.
"Hn." Naruto let out a content hum and closed his eyes. Sasuke was a natural at this. He already felt relaxed and a little dreamy. He focused on the tingling sensations of Sasuke's hands expertly working on his torso before trailing down lower to his stomach.
Sasuke pressed his thumbs into Naruto's abs; kneading and pressing into them and working out any kinks. It was a little hard to do when the blonde fidgeted. But when he spotted a smile on Naruto's face that he was trying to hold back, Sasuke couldn't help himself. He started to tickle him.
"H-hey!" Naruto laughed. "Come on!"
Sasuke chuckled. "Sorry." He stopped and continued to massage him. When he felt satisfied with the massage he had given Naruto thus far, he moved on to his lower body. Sasuke turned around and began to undo Naruto's belt and pants. He slowly slid them down to his ankles before pulling them off over his feet and discarding the clothing on the floor. Now Naruto was only wearing a simple pair of orange boxers. Sasuke reached for the bottle of oil again, and poured another decent amount into his hand. Then he began to work on Naruto thighs. They were harder than his chest; so damn firm and muscular that Sasuke honestly felt like he was rubbing a rock at first. But with enough technique, even he was able to soften them up.
He listened as Naruto continued to make soft moans and hums beneath him. One thing that wasn't soft, however, was the bulge that was accumulating in the blonde's boxers and pressing up against Sasuke's ass. But Sasuke said nothing in response to it. Instead, as he leaned down to rub Naruto's legs, he ground his ass lightly into the man. He heard Naruto's breath hitch. Sasuke then began to work on Naruto's feet, and with every little movement, he could feel the blonde's cock getting harder and harder. Sasuke leaned back up and then slid his fingers underneath the leg openings of Naruto's boxers. He rubbed the softer skin and flesh with care and teasing touches. At one point, they got dangerously close to the blonde's balls before he started to move back down again and re-focused on Naruto's legs.
Sasuke then flinched when Naruto suddenly grabbed his waist. "I know what you're doing, brat." He uttered.
"What do you mean?" Sasuke said, trying not to react to the blonde's sudden touch and grip around his waist. "I'm just trying to make you relax."
"Yeah?" Naruto opened his eyes and looked at him. "Well, there's a spot that I think you've missed." He rubbed his hard cock against Sasuke's ass while holding him in place. Sasuke grunted. Then he did it again, but this time, he arched himself into the man in a way that made his dick press against Sasuke's balls.
'Fuck.' Sasuke tried not to react, but the blush on his face betrayed him.
"You gonna take care of it?"
"Y-yes, sir." Sasuke replied with a shaky breath. He turned around and faced Naruto again. Then he slid down the male's boxers until his cock sprung out. It was beautifully pink and erect. God, Naruto was such a stamina king. No matter what, he was always ready to indulge Sasuke in his games. He loved it.
With his oiled-up hands, Sasuke took hold of Naruto's cock. He gripped it lightly at the base, and then squeezed firmly as he slowly stroked upward. When his fingers reached the glans, he would stop and then bring his hand back down. He continued doing this until precum oozed from Naruto's urethra and dribbled onto his fingers. Sasuke wanted to do nothing more than to lap it up with his tongue, but he held fast. He continued to stroke Naruto like this for a few minutes, and then gripped his cock with his other hand. His thumbs pressed down into the underside while his fingers applied more pressure. When his hands moved up, he pushed his thumbs into the sensitive frenulum below the head of Naruto's cock.
"Fuck, Sasuke. That feels good~" Naruto purred.
"I'm glad, sir." Sasuke responded. Actually, he was more impressed with the fact that Naruto was able to hold his composure despite Sasuke's teasing motions. Not once did Naruto arch or buck his hips into Sasuke's grip. He was just lying there, eyes closed, and body slackened while a few small breaths left his mouth. It was unbelievably sexy. But Sasuke was determined to make the blonde lose his mind just a little bit. So after teasing him a bit more, Sasuke's hands started to move at a quicker pace.
"Hah..." A husky moan left Naruto's mouth. His chest rose and settled as more pleasure began to course through him.
Sasuke kept gliding his hands up and down Naruto's cock. It was quickly becoming sticky from the mix of oil and precum. Then Sasuke enclosed his fist around the head and began to pump it. Again, would he hear another one of those sweet moans and bated breaths come from the blonde. With his other hand, he cupped Naruto's balls and massaged and rolled them gently between his fingers and thumb. He continued to do this simultaneously until Naruto's cock turned a darker shade of pink and twitched in his hand. Then he stopped jerking off the tip and again wrapped his hand around the base. He gave it a tight squeeze, which was enough to elicit a sharp whine from the blonde.
"Mhh! You're killing me, Sasuke. Come on!"
"I didn't want it to end so soon, sir." Sasuke said coyly. He knew that what he did was dangerous, but the urge to mess with the blonde in such a vulnerable state was too much to resist. With his hand still squeezing him, he moved it back up again, tracing the thick vein that ran along Naruto's length with his thumb. Then in one quick motion, he slid it off the top, making sure to squeeze the head hard as he did so.
"Fuck." Naruto opened his eyes and glared at the male. "Just make me cum, Sasuke."
"Sorry, sir. I guess I'm a little tense myself." He mused, pressing the hard-on in his own pants against Naruto's dick.
"No. You aren't allowed to cum." He stated.
Sasuke bit his lip. How cruel. Naruto hadn't fucked him since moving in with him and he hadn't had release since the mall. The pouting must have been obvious on his face because Naruto frowned.
"Are you telling me you can't wait?"
"..." Sasuke shook his head. "I can't... I can't wait. I want to cum, sir. Please?" He quietly begged.
"Hmm..." Naruto pretended to think about it. "Don't know. You've been a bad boy lately. I really think you need to earn it."
"I'll do anything you say, sir. I won't talk back or misbehave." He pled.
"You'll do anything?"
"Anything."
Naruto gave it some more thought before answering. "Fine. I'll let you cum today. But you have to be good until the festival. No sex. You aren't allowed to touch yourself. No being bad or acting bratty. And when the festival is over, I'll give you something special~"
"Something special?" Sasuke questioned; there was a faint spark of excitement in his eyes.
"Yes." Naruto affirmed. "So if I let this happen, can you promise to do that?"
Sasuke eagerly nodded. "Yes, sir. I promise."
"Alright. You can go ahead and get yourself off. But continue the massage." He ordered.
"Yes, sir."
Finally given permission, Sasuke undid the belt and buckle to his own pants. He slid them down his slender thighs until his own dick greeted the air, swollen and erect. He breathed a sigh of relief at it finally being free from its constraints. Then Sasuke scooted up some, until the tips of both of their cocks were touching. It was such a forbidden feeling for Sasuke; having his bare dick skin to skin with Naruto's. It might have been enough to make him cum right then and there if he didn't have the willpower to contain himself. He wrapped his hand around both his and Naruto's cocks, then began to stroke them together.
Naruto propped himself up on his elbows to watch. Somehow his gaze made it all the more salacious for Sasuke. He had to summon even more restraint to prevent himself from just jacking them off hard and quick. No, he knew better than to do that. Its why Naruto specifically told him to carry on with the massage. Could someone even still call it that at this point? He didn't have time to complain though. Sasuke was granted this rare opportunity and he was going to seize it.
When Sasuke's hand came back up at one point, he forcibly squeezed just below their glans, making the sensitive skin at the tip turn a light red as more precum oozed out. Both he and Naruto let out a pleasured groan at the action. Then unable to resist chasing after the pleasure, Sasuke solely began to stroke them without stopping. His jaw slacked as he started to lightly pant. A lewd, wet noise was pounding his ears as it echoed in the quiet room. There was nothing else; just him and Naruto with soft moans and heated breaths.
"Faster, Sasuke." Naruto whispered.
Sasuke obliged the blonde's orders, and his hand glided even more feverishly along the lengths of their cocks. He could see sweat forming on Naruto's face and body, making his skin shine even more with the oil applied. His bangs were sticking to his forehead, and he could feel Naruto rocking his hips beneath him. He decided to finally guide Naruto to orgasm. Sasuke moved his hand and squeezed their cock heads together tightly, then started roughly jerking them off at the tip. Not once did Sasuke overdo his glides; his hand despite being slick and wet, always stayed on their cocks to keep giving them pleasure, never slipping.
Naruto started rocking his hips more, bucking into Sasuke's hand. "I'm gonna cum." He warned.
The squelching noises got even louder, even more lewd when Sasuke heard those words. It was as if his hand were acting on instinct purely from Naruto's voice. He felt his own orgasm reaching its peak as well. He couldn't help but to push his waist forward a bit, trying to get himself even closer to Naruto. His moans began to mix in with the blonde's, sweat forming on his own skin. He didn't know how fast his hand was moving now, just that he needed to cum and that he needed the release he craved more than life itself right now. He was nearly there. Just a little more-
"Sasuke!"
"N-Naruto!"
They called each other's names in unison when it finally happened. Naruto threw his head back and trembled when his cock throbbed in Sasuke's hold. Semen shot out of it in hot, thick ropes. A single spurt landed on his chin while the rest coated his chest. "Fuck!" He gasped. His hips were still moving, still trying to ride off the rest of his orgasm while Sasuke kept stroking him to completion.
Sasuke hadn't been far behind. His body tensed and he clenched his teeth, before arching his back as his own cum came shooting out of his cock and coating his hand and Naruto's dick in cum. "Yes." He hissed. His thighs quivered as he kept milking himself and Naruto for every drop that they were worth. When Naruto reached out a hand to stop him, he finally halted his movements.
Both men were now panting, basking in the afterglow, as they worked to recoup their breaths. Everything suddenly felt cool and clear as their surroundings slowly faded back in: the low volume of the tv, the air from the a/c, the general ambiance of the room. It was as if they were in their own subspace for a while before finally coming back down to earth.
"Goddamn." Naruto exhaled. He lifted his head and looked at Sasuke. "That was the best handjob I've ever fucking gotten."
"Heh. I'm glad you enjoyed it~" The male stated, bringing said hand up to lick the collected semen from his fingers.
Naruto stared at the man breathlessly, admiring his form and his slutty face. He continued to lie there for a while before speaking again. "Wash your hands and bring me my briefcase, Sasuke."
Sasuke didn't question anything and did as he was told. He went into the bathroom to clean up and then went to Naruto's room to retrieve his briefcase. After doing so, he returned to the living room. Naruto was now sitting up on the sofa, still undressed. He approached him and held the briefcase out to him.
"Thank you." Naruto said, taking it and putting it on the coffee table. He unsnapped it and then used the special key to unlock the secret compartment. "Come here, Sasuke."
Sasuke took a closer step towards the blonde.
"You're about to make good on that promise." He said, before taking out a leather harness with a metal cock cage attached to it. "Drop your pants and hold your shirt up." He waited for Sasuke to comply before he took the male's cock in his hand and gently placed it into the cage. It was just the right size for the man; he had wiggle room, but it was compact enough to make an erection that formed in it uncomfortable. Then Naruto fastened the leather straps around Sasuke's waist and tugged them a bit to make sure the harness fit snugly but not too tight. When he finished, he placed a small padlock on the cage and clicked it in place. Then he looked up at Sasuke.
"Six days until the festival, Sasuke."
Sasuke's breath was shaking. He desperately tried to not let himself get aroused all over again before finally acknowledging Naruto's words.
"Yes, sir."