Crossroads
Callista Miralni
disclaimer: nothing but plot. You can find all the fun things I used as a reference to build this story on pinterest: /callistamiralni/crossroads/
It had to be a dream.
Shaking hands with Hatake Kakashi, the famous actor, Naruto wondered if his mentor actually was intimately connected with these people. Looking cool in his pressed tuxedo, Sasuke seemed as comfortable in the suit as he did in his usual jeans and t-shirts. Naruto continuously tugged at his shirt collar, willing it to stop strangling him.
"He's my cousin's best friend," Sasuke explained as way of an introduction for Kakashi.
A bell rang and Sasuke led him to a round table near the front. A man with similar features to Sasuke's smiled at him and introduced himself as Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke's older brother.
Naruto didn't even know Sasuke had a brother.
"Nervous?" Itachi asked kindly. "We all were when we attended our first event. You get used to it eventually."
He swore he wouldn't last the night.
"You met Hatake Kakashi?" Sai asked him. "No way!"
"Yeah," Naruto said, smug. "He invited me on the Koria set next weekend."
"Lucky," Sai groaned. "You have the coolest mentor ever. All Deidara-sempai does is take me to art exhibits."
"Aren't you a graphic arts major?"
"Yeah," the other man sighed. "But Deidara-sempai doesn't know anyone cool."
Kiba slid into the booth next to Sai. "What's up?" He greeted.
"Naruto got invited to the Koria set by Hatake Kakashi," Sai glumly repeated.
"You did?"
The light and feminine voice startled the three males. Haruno Sakura stared at them incredulously, the box in her arms filled with forms for the mentorship program. Beside her, Ino carried a similar box with colorful flyers.
"Yeah. Sasuke and I are going to Konoha next weekend."
Sakura arched an eyebrow. "Really..." She dragged out the word. "Have fun then."
The two walked off. "What's Sakura-chan's problem?" Kiba grumbled.
"She's probably just jealous you guys are going to the Koria set to hang with Hatake Kakashi and she's not." Sai shrugged. "Do you think you can get an autograph?"
The next week, Sai and Kiba hounded Naruto about his Koria visit during lunch. Shrugging, Naruto leaned back in his chair and said there wasn't much to talk about.
"They were filming an action sequence and I wasn't allowed to go many places," he explained. "But it was a pretty sweet setup."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Where was Sasuke-kun?"
"He went with his brother somewhere and left me alone." Naruto twiddled his pen with his fingers.
"Really now?" Sakura commented mildly. "I didn't realize Uchiha Itachi was relaxed enough to let strangers on set unrelated to the production. He wouldn't let me past security when my dad was hired to be the film's attending physician."
"Maybe he doesn't let people who hasn't been invited by the cast in."
"I was bringing Chichiue lunch."
The more Naruto argued that he had special privileges and Sakura didn't, the weaker his story about his weekend became. Eventually, Sakura gave him a patronizing smile and soothed him in a sickly sweet voice, "Of course, Naruto-kun. How silly of me to think I knew what the Koria set looked like."
Months later, when the film released, the guys went to see it. Sasuke opted to stay at home, having seen the film during the premier with his family. Kiba pestered Naruto to point out which scene he was on set for but he claimed they cut the scene.
"Actually," Sasuke confided to Sakura when she complained about the number of pathetic lies Naruto sprouted. "Itachi-nii didn't cut anything but bad takes."
"Hey Saki-chan."
The girl ignored him, curled up in Sasuke's armchair with her novel.
"Saki-chan..."
"What?" She bit out. "I'm reading."
Naruto pouted. "You're so mean..."
Sakura sighed. "What is it, Naruto-kun?" She repeated in a less irritated voice.
"Will you miss me when you graduate?"
"Nope," she replied without hesitation. "Not in the slightest."
"Hey! You could at least be nice enough to lie to me about it!"
-naruto-
Kazuto and Ino laughed at his joke about the nun and the student in religion class when Misaki and her escort, a man he recognized as her dance partner from the last gala, sat across from him.
"Uzumaki-san," Misaki greeted. "Have you met my older brother Takashi? Takashi-nii, this is Uzumaki Naruto-san, Sasuke-san's best friend. I'm so happy to see you here tonight."
Her escort nodded at him. "Nice to meet you. Keeping Ino-san under check?"
"Hey!" His friend bristled. "I'll have you know, Takashi-nii, that I'm the one who keeps Naruto-kun in line, not the other way around. If I didn't keep him under control, Sakura-chan would have been suffocated to death by now."
Takashi laughed. "I bet Saki-chan wishes she were dead right now. Sucks to be her."
Glaring at her brother, Misaki pinched him in the arm. "Have some compassion," she scolded "It's partially your fault as to why Sakura-chan's in this situation."
"If that's the case, then it's your fault too, Misa," Takashi shrugged. "We happened to be blessed by being old."
Ino had an uneasy expression on her face once the siblings started discussing Sakura. "Umm... what exactly is going on tonight?"
Naruto leaned forward. He wondered the same thing, ever since Sasuke bought the ring.
"You'll see," Kazuto answered cryptically.
Naruto spotted Sasuke seated next to Sakura with their parents at a table across the room. He tried to make eye contact with either one of them throughout dinner but they were too engrossed with their conversations to look around the room. They were joined by one of Kazuto's classmates, filling up the table, and spent the evening trading stories.
During dessert and coffee, Haruno Kizashi and Uchiha Mikoto took the podium.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen," Haruno Kizashi-san began. "Thank you so much for joining us this evening."
The room quieted to hear his next words. Naruto traded bewildered glances with Ino.
"First, we'd like to inform you on the success of our last charity gathering. Five weeks ago, you raised almost two million dollars to help struggling clinics bring better healthcare to impoverished areas throughout Southern Hi no Kuni."
Applause thundered through the room. Naruto couldn't believe how much money was raised at the last gala. How much did these people have to spend?
"Tonight, we have a few announcements we'd like to share with you."
Uchiha Mikoto-san took over. "First of all, it is my pleasure to announce the partnership between Bistouri Medical and Vista Heights Medical Center. As you know, Bistouri is primarily a research lab who does a lot of labwork for surrounding hospitals. It is our hope that by partnering together, we can still continue to bring you the best healthcare at a reduced cost."
The room erupted in applause again. Haruno-san waited until it died down before the second announcement. "This partnership has also fostered discussion for another venture. Tonight marks the beginning of the Coeur Foundation, a charity dedicated to providing healthcare and medical services to low-income and impoverished areas. There is a silent auction in the adjacent wing and all proceeds will go to the Coeur Foundation."
His hands began to smart. Naruto didn't understand why the others were being so secretive about tonight's events. Nothing seemed particularly extraordinary.
"Finally," Haruno-san cleared his throat. "While this may seem a bit inappropriate, we have wonderful news to share with you, our dearest friends and colleagues."
The others tensed. This was it, Naruto thought grimly. Whatever they say next, this is it.
"As you know, my daughter Sakura recently graduated and has been accepted to the Shiga Kiyoshi School of Medicine for the fall."
Mrs. Uchiha smiled. "Similarly, my son Sasuke also graduated and will be taking over Bistouri Medical when I think he's ready."
The adults laughed.
"The world works in mysterious ways," Mrs. Uchiha continued. "And-"
A loud BOOM reverberated through the room, knocking people out of their chairs. Naruto caught himself on the edge of the table and turned around in time to see a dozen masked individuals enter the room with guns in hand. Smoke filled the museum.
"Get down!" Takashi yelled. "Crawl under the tables and head for the exit."
People screamed as shots were fired. The security team moved in, desperate to protect the guests while capturing the intruders.
Naruto didn't hesitate. Pulling Ino along with him, he moved as fast as he could on his knees towards the emergency exit. If memory served him right, the stairs beyond the door lead straight to the lower parking area where he left his car.
"Sakura-chan!" Ino screamed. "Sakura-chan!"
Turning around, Naruto saw their other two friends running across the room. Stupid! Naruto wanted to yell. You're going to be shot!
A bullet ricocheted off the wall and landed in front of his hand. Instinctively, Naruto jumped up, yanking Ino with him. His eyes widened when he saw one of the shooters aim towards him and pull the trigger.
The cold metal door hit his back as Sasuke tackled the three of them through the emergency exit. "Move!" He hissed. "They already realized we escaped."
They ran down the stairs and into the parking lot. Fishing his car keys out of his pocket, Naruto almost hit the unlock button but Sakura's hand closed around his. "Don't!" She warned. "It'll make a sound and they'll know where we are."
He inserted the key into the lock and turned twice, quietly unlocking the doors. "Lights off until I say so," Sasuke instructed as Naruto started the car. "Whatever happens, don't stop driving."
Naruto nodded. "What about the gate?" He asked as he backed out of the space.
"It opens automatically but it takes a couple seconds. Think we can risk it?" Sakura mentioned.
"We have no other choice if they start shooting," Sasuke warned as he fastened his seatbelt. "Buckle up."
They made it to the gate, headlights off, without incident. Just as the bar began to rise, a loud shout announced their whereabouts followed by the sound of running feet.
"Go, go, go!" Sasuke shouted. "Drive like you're Vin Diesel in Fast and Furious!"
The Acura RSX barely cleared the bar as it shot forward. 75 on the city streets. He'd never have a valid excuse to drive that fast in the city ever again.
"Where to?"
Sasuke was silent for a moment.
"Sasuke-kun," Sakura quietly said. "I have it."
Naruto wondered if the secrecy would ever stop.
"Konoha Airport," his best friend finally said. "And turn your headlights on."