Don't own Naruto… there are errors… uuhhh enjoy
At one pm, Pacific Time, the production staff of Ero-Gama studio is up and running. But its CEO Naruto Uzamaki is snoozing in his office chair. It is a normal occurrence that the staff works around. The grandson of President Jiraiya is well organized despite his habits. He had been up for seventy six hours. During those hours he divided his time between parties and working. As the seventy seventh approaches Naruto is starting to feel tired. That is after he had saved all the notes for the next ichi ichi paradise book on his laptop, completed the contracts for his new hires and written the screenplay for the shoot his team was currently setting up had he exhausted himself. His mind was relaxed enough to sleep a few hours before the ADD kick in again. His nap is only a few minutes in when a knock comes from the door. His door is only closed on two occasions: auditions and naps. The staff has been instructed not to disturb him unless there is an emergency during those occasions. However, that rule is flexible. And today his assistant is about to put that flexibility into practice, ", you have a call from New York?"
"I'm sleeping!" All of the usual charm that he gives his secretary is gone, is lost in the sleep filled outburst. But the secretary is undaunted and walks in with the phone extended towards the CEO. "It's Sasuke Uchiha."
"Sasuke?" Naruto is wide awake at the mention of his best friend's name.
The secretary nods and puts the phone on the desk and walks out, shutting the door on the way. A silly grin spreads over the blonde as he says hello.
"Naruto, why did you keep me waiting?" Sasuke's voice is low and calm but the way he drawls out Naruto's name is a clear indication that he is slightly annoyed.
"Hahaha. What's got you up so early?"
"What are you talking about, you moron. This is a respectable time to call in both time zones."
"Whatever, man. Whazzup? I have not talked to you in ages?"
"I saw you two months ago. Now, shut up, and listen. My band's new album is about to drop and Uncle O is forcing us to have a party. "
"Party? When? I am so there"
"July 16. Just get here…"
"Oh yeah! I am coming out there to do a Triathlon with Rock lee that month, believe it."
"Whatever, email me your itinerary. One more thing, there is a dress code. You have to wear white."
"Are you serious? That is not stylish!" Naruto
"Naruto are you listening to me? This is a white party. Do not wear some bright orange or red jumpsuit to my white party."
"Yeah, yeah, ya bastard, I'll be there." Naruto hung first. Politeness was never something that either practice, in person or one the phone.
Once the call ended Sasuke pinches the bridge of nose with his free hand in a futile effort to ease a developing headache. His headache is partly caused by the loud volume of the conversion with Naruto, despite the fact that the phones volume was on the lowest setting. The pulsing that is hammering up from the base of his skull is not the echo of blood rushing through his veins. The beat is arrhythmic compared with his normally calm heart rate. The tempo plaguing him stems from Hebi's drummer Jugo. Jugo is idly tapping on the metal coffee table. For a moment Sasuke closes his eyes and tries to image that he is not at in studio conference room with them, but in Santa Monica. In his mind, he is laying out on the beach, with the sun beaming down. Instead hearing the bickering of guitarist Suigetsu and Keyboard/backup vocalist Karin in the background, Sasuke focuses on the memory of sounds created by the ocean waves and clamoring seagulls hovering overhead head.
Sasuke often finds himself fantasizing about being somewhere, anywhere other than with his band; especially when he has to share confined quarters with them. Hebi irritated Sasuke, having to deal with Sound records infuriates him, but it is the price he pays for the fame. Fame won on his own talents and not his family prestige, and influence. At the age of seven we was proclaimed a musical savant. No instrument beyond his mastery. He only learned to read sheet music as a formality; since he could play songs after hearing them once. But the rich falsetto of his voice is what perked the attention of so many musical institutions. However, attending such a school would impossible because having a musician in the family offended Granddad Madara's sensibilities. Had he been born to any other family his talent would have made him special. But being an Uchiha, it just made him less than second rate to his business genius brother and useless to the family business.
At 18 he made a deal with Madara. He proclaimed that he could make as much money with his music in five years, as his brother made with the company. Unfortunately, he had not thought the old man would have black balled in the industry, just to bring him back into the fold. After two years of struggling on his own with no help from his family or trust fund, and no one willing to listening to his demos he got a call from last group he wanted to work with. Orochimaru, and his assistant Kabuto approached offered him a position as their new songwriter. Reluctantly Sasuke agreed, with the hope of making them a boat load of cash quickly and moving on as soon as possible.
By the time his five years was up, Sasuke had written 14 songs for the label, two which went platinum. He had also established himself as a real musician and not the spoiled Uchiha heir wasting time before his trust fund kicked in. His songs made millions but when he presented his portfolio to Old man Madara and Father, they were unimpressed. The old man asked him to turn out his pockets and calculate his personal net worth. Once he did that they handed him is folder and said that he did not know how to make a deal. They condescendingly told him that Orochimaru was paying him peanuts compared to other songwriters and that he should have asked for a raise after the first album went platinum. They continued on to say that Sasuke should have started producing the work of other singers by now. But most importantly they decided that Sasuke had lost his bet, and therefore access to his trust fund and a place in the Uchiha Corporation should be revoked. Despite that conclusion the two older men offered Sasuke the opportunity to retain the stakes he offered for the bet if would forget about music and come work for the family.
Sasuke promptly told they were full of shit and that he did not need their name or money and walked out the Uchiha Corp. Sitting in his car he called Orochimaru and said, "I want to sing. I be at the studio in an hour." Then he called Naruto. The first thing he said once the blond picked up was, 'you better pass the bar exam'. This petty taunt was a deliberate provocation. One that Sasuke was sure would infuriate Naruto in a one sided yelling match for the next twenty minutes. Sitting in his car he put the phone volume on mute and cried. By the time he fixed his face and made it back to Sound records, Orochimaru had the makings of his newest band sitting in his office waiting for Sasuke. Sasuke took one look at the trio and flatly proclaimed that he was a solo artist and would not carry anyone else. The old snake just smiled and suggested that they play little melody he wrote awhile back. Reluctantly the quartet filed into the recording room.
Sound records known for its unconventional promotions plays put a live feed of the performance on net. The serve they used to crushed in three from the poll responses on the sound and appearance of the band playing. A week later Hebi was born. Four years later they were still going strong and getting ready to hit the pop scene and live its Indy-punk roots. Orochimaru had recently lost his pop star money makers, TS4 to irreconcilable differences. Sure he could have moved the Fuma Clan band in to the spot, but Kabuto had convinced Uncle O that Hebi would look better on the posters.
Despite all the fame, and money, Sasuke found it lonely at the top. Sasuke had not set out to become a pop idol. The fans did not replace the family he had walked away from. He did not like being the Black sheep in the family. That was Itachi's job, but somehow that weasel waltzed back into their lives and become Madara's favorite again. Deep down Sasuke wished things were like they were when he was a kid. When they had family dinners and the house was always warm and welcoming. But when Itachi left when he was junior high things changed. The home his mother kept spotless grew cold and empty. His father grew distant, while Madara heap countless expectations on him. This went on for years. Then one day Itachi came back nobody seemed to care if Sasuke was there or not. In Sasuke's mind Hebi and Sound records would never come close to replacing what he had given up. But his personal pride would not allow him go back and apologize to the old man. He was not wrong for wanting to do something that he loved. But worse of all was that the only person who understood any of this was his ADD, overly optimistic friend, Naruto. His reliance on Naruto is something he tries to keep hidden but having that guy around made him feel at ease about not living up to the Uchiha name. Besides he was hoping that having Naruto there would make things interesting for him.
This white party should be a grand event. At least that is would what the rest of the band is hoping for. Suigetsu is telling Karin. Karin on the other hand is saying that it's a lame publicity stunt that is done to death. For Jugo and Sasuke it is more like a funeral for their old music. Jugo dreading the pop star stamp more than Sasuke, but he wanted to preform and if Sasuke was going although with he would stay on abroad the Hebi money train. But sitting around waiting for his check made him antsy. An antsy Jugo meant a tapping Jugo that would lead to Sasuke telling everyone to shut up. Followed by Suigetsu and Karin arguing about whether or not Sasuke was being an ass or not. Jugo was all too happy be surrounded by the chaotic bickering of Hebi.
However, this formula for the proceeding chain of in events is interrupted by the arrival of Kabuto. In his customary manner he pushes his glasses back on to the bridge of his nose before speaking. "Greetings everyone, I am sorry to have kept you waiting. Here are the new contracts, and projected estimatefor the record sales of this new album. There are not any new conditions, so can just sign and leave."
"As if? There is no way we'd sign anything Uncle O sends without reading it. He has probably arranged it so he is getting more money because it's the first cross over album he has produced"
"Suigetsu, there is no need to be so harsh. We strive to be fair will all of artists, but the cost of doing business is very high, even in this industry."
Sasuke took his copy skimmed through and signed tossing it back in Kabuto's face.
"Sasuke, may I have another moment of you time?"
"What?"
"You mother called. Said she leave a care package in your apartment"
Before Sasuke could give his customary 'Hn', Suigetsu's laughter assailed his ears. "Hehe…awwww, must be nice. She still takes care of you even though you're the outcast."
Sasuke turned with a murderous gleam in his dark eyes. Kabuto instinctively put his hand on the singers shoulder. "I think it's time the band got some R&R." Sasuke snorted and left the room, and Kabuto let out a sigh of relieve.
"You idiot!" We are not supposed to talk about his family" Karin shouted, and swinging a haphazard punch at Suigetsu, who jovial leap out of his chair. "That guy needs to light up. I'm out of here. See you losers at the party."