Bound by the Ring: Remake
Disclaimer: The series both manga and anime does not belong to me. All rights are reserved to Kishimoto-sensei. I am just a really, really big FAN!
Rule No. 1: No matter how normal your day starts, chaos is just around the corner.
Author's note: Thank you for pointing out the grading system. Please do not worry. It really is a 1.0. Some universities and secondary schools do practice the (1.0, 1.25, 1.75… to 5) grading system with 1.0 highest. It is not rare where I come from and I am more familiar with this system so I decided to use it. Sorry for the confusion. ^^
Currency: Ryō = 0.010 USD? (-_-)
I am following Japanese Corporate titles. So in case we get confused (yes, that includes me)
Kaicho = Could be considered the chairman of the board, but not really. O.o – Er. How do I explain this— closest would be a semi-retired company president and or founder. It is unusual in Japan for a president to retire completely but corporate rules that places age limits forces presidents to retire. They still carry a certain power over the company but is usually done behind the present company president authority.
Sacho = Company president, head of the corporation
Sasuke absently toyed with the white gold and silver band around his ring finger while he waits for the doors of the elevator to open. He glances up the screen to locate what floor the other lifts are at; completely ignoring the blatant display of women preening around him. He will not pay heed as long as they keep their distance.
The sound of the elevator's bell signals the small crowd that it has finally landed on their floor. Assuming that he will be one of the last to leave the lift, he enters first and is immediately followed by mostly familiar colleagues. The majority knew better and kept their distance save for that one girl dressed in a short pencil skirt and a blouse with half of her cleavage showing; a visitor's badge dangling from her breast pocket.
She daringly moves closer and boldly rubbed her shoulder against his arm.
Sasuke remained silent and discreetly glanced at her features. He tried to recall if this woman is important enough for him to grin and bear the whole debacle during the duration of the ride. Unfortunately, the young lady took that as a sign that he was checking her out. She giggled and moved closer.
As if burned, Sasuke harshly shrugs his arm away and sends a death glare towards the woman.
Afraid and taken aback, the young lady runs away trembling and close to tears as soon as the lifts' doors opens.
Sasuke hears several of his co-workers snickers behind him. He massages his temple with his fingers, willing himself to stop an oncoming headache so early in the morning. This was nothing compared to the week before.
Two weeks ago, "Chakra" magazine published an article that contained Konoha City's 10 eligible bachelors and Sasuke Uchiha came out on top of the list.
Everything went soared from there.
Single Women and sometimes the occasional men threw themselves at his feet day in and day out for a chance to bag the man for their own.
Why?
Why the hell not?
At twenty-one, Uchiha Sasuke was able to land a job as a field sales representative at Hokage Corporations on his first try. Anyone who works under there that was not sponsored nor scouted by the company knows the battle to get in could rival the "Great Hidden War." One simply couldn't walk out of their HR. Sector unscathed with a contract of employment on the first visit.
Five years later, the young Uchiha became the youngest executive director in the Sales department the company has ever had. The second person in Hokage Corporation who managed to climb the corporate ladder in a short amount of time the first being the Late Fourth President, Namikaze Minato.
His six foot four frame; lean body with muscles carved in the right places; raven locks that shines to an enigmatic blue when hit by sunlight, porcelain flawless skin and eyes that contain deep black pools of irises, Hokage Corps' prodigy can put Adonis to shame.
"I told you stop reading that- out loud to boot. I could hear you all the way from the hall."
A man with silver hair and mismatch colored eyes sat behind Sasuke's desk while swiveling the executive chair from side to side, relaxed and acted as if the Sasuke's office is his own.
"Speak of the Devil. Good morning to you too Sasuke-kun~"
Hatake Kakashi
Executive Director of the Events and Creative Department
He gave the younger director a casual salute as he reclined the seized office chair to its acceptable limit.
"Kakashi-senpai, to what do I owe this visit?" Sasuke eyed his mentor turned colleague turn a page of the magazine containing a picture of his kohai in a fitted pin striped three piece suits.
"Stop replacing the trash I threw with a new one." Sasuke swore he had crumpled, stabbed and slashed that offending piece of publication yesterday. Yet, without fail, Kakashi managed to place another copy of it in his office. Again.
The silver-haired man gives Sasuke the most wounded look he could muster with half of his face covered in a black cloth mask.
"According to our Logistics, the popularity of our new line of products in our women's facial care sector increased in popularity by 71% in all the retail stores that carry it while the made-to-order Taylor shops that we handle spikes to 42% AND-" Kakasihi points to another picture of Sasuke holding a bottle of energy drink.
"This product reached its highest sold items to date!"
"That's because Hyuuga and I finally closed the deal at Suna City in the Wind Country." Sasuke stared at his own picture on the page. "I can't believe people will fall for this crap. I don't even drink this shit."
Kakashi didn't miss several of employees in Sasuke's department discreetly hide the said energy drinks.
The door to Sasuke's office is always open despite the glass walls that allow him to see his team's progress. It is very important for the young Uchiha to know how his subordinates are fairing anyway he can. More importantly, without words, aware or unconscious, the young director wants them to feel that there is no need for hesitation when there is a need to report or clarify something with him.
"Is that so? The Creatives must be losing their touch. Whatever shall we do? Should I start looking for another job? Find my calling by helping old ladies cross the street—" Kakashi's woes, equipped with a clenching-of the –fist-in-front-of-the-heart gesture could convince anyone who is willing to ignore that he is saying it all in a monotone voice.
Sasuke's eye nearly twitched in barely concealed irritation. He strides towards the occupied chair, places a firm foot at the back rest and shoves it to the side of the room with his former mentor still sitting on it.
Despite his loathing for Kakashi's tardy habit, lazy features and eccentric choice of – face accessories, Sasuke could never deny that the man and his merry band of offbeats are the best is the business. Their department, without fail, has annually reaped numerous honors and awards from creative advertising award ceremonies. The events they plan always became the talk of town during that day and the succeeding days after.
However
He'd rather die than admit that their latest stunt caused their sales to double.
A month before the blasted issue was published; Kakashi's shinobi like subordinates secretly took photographs of him and submitted them to the magazine along with a full page article about him.
"It only counts as libel if I delivered a false statement that could ruin your reputation and I don't think placing first in the top 10 eligible bachelors of Konoha City counts as slander." He recalled his damn mentor's words as hoards of female Hokage employees flocked outside the conference room to give their congratulations and something more—
Without bothering to reclaim his chair, Sasuke proceeds to read through the documents on this table and signals his secretary to enter.
"I want you to gather all the reports regarding the…"
Kakashi leaned back on his stolen chair as he watched the young director at work. He delegated various tasks to his subordinates clearly and efficiently. The young Uchiha could instantly pick up which responsibilities are best designated to whom. He has the skill to see people's capabilities and calculate the probabilities. A natural ability of an Uchiha and Sasuke uses it to close billions of Ryōs' worth of contracts and sales each year.
The kid is going places.
Even if he had not heard of him from Obito, Kakashi was able to tell from the moment the raven-haired raised his hand to ask a question during his lecture as a guest-speaker in F.U.
"… I hate a lot of things…I don't like anything in particular. I don't have a dream but rather an ambition. I want to own the richest Company in all of Fire Country." It was daring of Sasuke to write and blurt that out to the panel of interviewers during his application. Never the less, he not only captured the president and the group of directors in the company he managed to snatch the hearts of the HR's female population as well.
But if he thinks knowledge, determination, hard work and drive is the only thing he needs to succeed; then the boy still has a long way to go and a lot more to learn. And with the way things are going, Sasuke needs to realize it soon.
With an ear to ear grin hidden behind his mask, Kakashi stretches and stands from his seat.
Because he'll be damned before he tells and offers the kid what his lacking on a silver platter. After all, what senpai would miss out on an opportunity to make his kohai suffer?
"It's so boring lately." Kakashi glances at the jewelry around his "favorite junior's finger" and fakes a yawn to gain the other's attention.
"Hn." Sasuke didn't bother to give him a proper reply but Kakashi recognizes that the other heard what he said from the way the dark gaze transferred to the ringed finger.
"The door is wide open Kakashi-senpai. You are most welcome to get your lazy ass back to work."
It was Nara, Shikimaru, from the logistic department who gave him the idea. He and Sasuke often exchanged conversation with regards to any insights from the company's goods to its services.
"Troublesome. It's because you're still single and available for the kill." It was said nonchalantly but Sasuke took that as an advice. The very next day Sasuke bought and secured the simple gold ring around his finger and neither denied nor confirmed the allegations behind the small jewelry. The direct assault ceased but subtle flirting here and there remains adamant.
It sufficed. One can't have everything.
"It was fun witnessing the desperate bawl and beg for an explanation for the first few days but now that you are no longer a Bachelor –it's too quiet for my taste."
"No one is assailing me with offers to go out and I am now free to do my job."
"Cold as always…. You know, that indifferent attitude of yours will bite you back one day."
"I'll take that than over some idiot who wants to take it."
"Do you even know your secretary's name?"
"The one with red hair and thick glasses"
"I didn't ask for a description."Kakashi slides his palm down his covered cheek. "See what I mean."
"If I call her name would her efficiency increase further?" Kakashi could tell that it was a serious inquiry and laughed.
"Probably not—she will just go cloud nine all day and squeals how director Uchiha knows her name."
Kakashi laughed at both the death glare of Sasuke and guilty look of his red-haired secretary had from behind.
Sasuke held his gaze with the other man for several moments before released a sigh. He makes himself comfortable on the couch and spreads his paperwork on the stainless coffee table.
"What are you really doing here Kakashi-senpai?" Sasuke grabbed his tablet from the table and scrolls the emailed documents in it. He refused to pay attention to senior anymore than he had to.
"Ah." And it was his mistake for not doing so.
Kakashi's visible eye closes into an inverted U. "Now I remember. Sarutobi-kaicho and Jiraya-sacho are looking for you. They are in the main conference room."
"What!"
A loud bang reverberated in the office with Kakashi to stand witness to the graceful move Sasuke's knee delivered to the table.
"Ugh! You should have told me this sooner."
"You're limping." Kakashi pointed out as he trailed behind his junior.
"You think?"
Usually, Sasuke's pride would never allow himself to show signs of weakness; opting to endure the pain than to be seen walking lamely by others. However, he's too preoccupied with hiding his anxiousness.
"I can't believe you even dared to make them wait."
"I dared? I'm not the one they're looking for. It's you dares to make them wait."
Sasuke swore that a vein is on the verge of bursting from his head at any given time now. He made a grab for the older man's neck but the other smartly dodged and skipped ahead of him towards the conference room to knock on the door.
"Come in." A wise-old voice called from the inside. Enma, the Kaicho's aid silently opened the doors and gestured for them to go inside.
"Yo. Sasuke." Sitting on one of the chairs near the window is the fifth president of Hokage corporations, Jiraya. "Grab a seat - You too Kakashi."
"How wonderful to finally meet you in person, Uchiha-kun," an old man, with a kind smile greeted Sasuke from the corner of the room. He looked at Sasuke with eyes that contain wisdom and experience from the many years he served as the company's president.
Sarutobi Hiruzen- kaicho.
"Please sit." He gestured at the empty chairs and both guests respectfully complied. "You made it just in time."
"Yeah, considering Kakashi's track record for tardiness" The president followed with a laugh. "Oi, Sasuke, did he give you any trouble?"
"Of course not sacho. I went to his office bright and early and immediately told him about this appointment at 10—ugh!" With his uninjured leg, Sasuke accurately pinpoints his co-director's foot and stomps on it with the heel of his shoe; grinding it for good measure.
"—he just had a lot of things to finish fist." The silver-haired man hissed out.
Sarutobi gave them a knowing smile. "Shall we begin?"
The Kaicho's inquiry, made the two men sit straighter and halt their silent banter.
"As you know, Jiraya-san has expressed his wish for an early retirement to pursue…" The old man pauses to cough before continuing. "…his writing carrier and will leave by the end of next year's spring. So…"
The Kaicho gathered his breath and continued. "By any chance, are you familiar with this company's fourth president?"
Sasuke nodded his head. "During the economic slump 20 years ago, the fourth president took his seat at Konoha Corporations at age 25. Throughout his term, Hokage Corporations quickly grew to be the biggest corporation in Fire Country and contributed to solve our countries economic crisis. Unfortunately, he and his family died tragically in their home with evidences pointing to involvement with underground dealings."
"You know our company's history well." Jiraya points out. "-Perfectly recited from the archives. Sometimes I forget you have the Uchiha blood in you. Is that the version your father showed you?"
Sasuke didn't miss the venom in the other man's voice. "I am not in good terms with my family sir. I am an Uchiha only by name. The rest of what I am is through sheer hard work and determination."
The president's snarl turned into an amused smile and snorted. "I guess you did, otherwise you wouldn't even be called here. I'm someone who judge people base from where they came from. I'm not supposed to even be sitting here, but unfortunately my student forced me to take his place when he decided to leave for the land of the dead before me." Jiraya sighed. "Even in death, he still managed to leave me an offer I can't refuse."
"Do you know why the fourth got chosen over other more experienced candidates?" Sarutobi questioned to the curious Uchiha.
"No sir."
"Drive, determination, and fierce ambition are the characteristics you share with him. You are getting there but not quite there yet. But I hope that by the end of the year you will be able see what is the most important character you must possess to succeed."
"I don't understand sir."
"Congratulations boy!" Jiraya stood up from his chair and gave a hard pat on Sasuke's back. "You are one of the candidates chosen to take my place."
His face remained stoic but his insides were twisting and turning like there is no tomorrow.
"Your promotion will be determined through your over all evaluation, that includes your previous performances from the time you started this company. Since you are currently the youngest candidate we have, Jiraya will be mentoring you for the entire year. You will also be accompanying him through some of his duties. It will take up your personal and business hours but if you could learn to manage your time well, your efforts will surely be rewarded."
"What do you say boy?"
"It would be an honor sir."
Sasuke struggled to remain calm as he too stood up and gave a formal bow to Jiraya and Sarutobi. He placed his hand out and accepted their congratulatory handshakes.
Sasuke knows that this is his chance to make it big and a second opportunity might not come by again. It is a take it or leave it situation. He is able, ready and willing. Ecstatic beyond words with his feelings coming close to a person who just discovered how to fly, soaring to the skies with a new found resolve…
"By the way Sasuke-kun, my wife and I planned a dinner gathering in our home this Friday. I insist you go—and oh! Please bring your new wife that I keep hearing about."
…only to come plummeting back deep into ocean drowning to his doom.
"She must be quite the lady to manage winning you over." The president hooted
"E-excuse me?"
"Your wife." The old man gestured to Sasuke's wedding ring.
Shit
"Haha. She is. And cute too!" Sasuke wondered why Kakashi was being unusually silent.
"Then it's settled. I'm looking forward seeing you at our home on Friday."
"And so is he." Kakashi placed his arm around Sasuke's shoulder and ruffled the dark locks on his juniors head.
"Thank you for inviting me." Sasuke smiled at the old man. He reached for the arm holding him captive and gripped it hard enough to leave bruises of black and blues later. He whispered, making sure that the silver-haired devil is the only one who can hear what he had to say.
"I'll get you for this."
TBC
Rule No. 2: When you find yourself close to a deadline and in need of an immediate plan; Make sure that it falls within the line of Common Sense.