"Do you have time to talk right now?"

Sasuke could tell immediately that something was wrong. "Yeah." He jumped off the couch and left the bus without a second thought, walking a safe distance away. They were parked near the venue for that night's show in an area closed off from the public parking lot. "What's up?"

"I just…I had that meeting yesterday with Orochimaru and some record company people, and I…" She sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

"What happened, Sakura?"

"I'm just completely overwhelmed, Sasuke! They're putting me back in the studio as soon as I get back from the tour, and I won't be writing my own stuff, they're bringing in some producers and they want to get another album out as soon as possible, and they want to change my style to something more electronic and I don't have a say in it and then they brought you up, talking about how it could be a publicity thing if my sales fell—"

"Slow down," Sasuke said. "Breathe, okay?"

"Yeah. God, sorry, I just felt like I had to get everything out, I've been holding it in for the past day."

"It's fine. Just trying to understand what happened." Sasuke didn't know how his voice was so calm. He was boiling as he went over Sakura's words in his head.

"Well, everything that I was too naïve to believe would actually happen is happening. Including potential manipulation of our relationship status?"

"What do you mean."

"Never mind. I just…I don't know what to do, anymore, Sasuke. And I don't want to dump this on you, but I feel really—I feel trapped."

"Aa." Sasuke's stomach was a pit of anger.

"Do I even deserve to be complaining? It's self-centered. I have everything I ever could've wanted. Orochimaru gave me a record deal and an album I'm proud of and an amazing tour. Maybe the rest of it is an obligation. I can't help thinking of all the people who'd kill to be where I am right now. So what if people take production control? I still have creative license."

"Listen to yourself, Sakura," Sasuke said. "Are you fucking kidding me? Your manager's a sociopath. No one would kill to be where you are."

"I just feel so stupid," she said, tears clogging up her voice. "I should've known better."

"Anyone would've done the same thing in your place," Sasuke said. "No one knows better when they don't have real experience. This industry's a hellhole. I got lucky." No matter how much he felt dragged down by the music industry and fame, Sasuke knew that was true. Kakashi had saved their lives, and given them the best experience possible.

Sakura made a noncommittal sound in response.

After a pause, Sasuke asked, "How'd you even end up with Orochimaru, anyway?"

She sighed, sounding slightly calmer. "I was sending out demos to anyone who would accept them. Orochimaru was one of the people who got one, and he came to see me play in Konoha. He offered me the deal with him as my manager. I accepted pretty much right away, I mean it seemed too good to be true. Manager and a record deal in one contract. That was how I ended up on Cobra, even if it wasn't exactly known for my kind of stuff." Cobra Records signed primarily rap and hip-hop artists. "I wasn't sure about being famous, and all of that, but I needed the money and I wanted to get my music out there. I mean, I love when people talk to me about how much they like my stuff, and relate to it. Just getting that feedback makes it all worth it. And I figured it would be a lot of that. I'd be performing all over, and I'd have access to so much more. I knew what I was getting into, but I think the whole idea of fame was also sort of mesmerizing. Anyway, we recorded the first album and boom. Everything happened so fast."

"Hn." Sasuke could relate to that. He watched a truck pull up to the venue. God, he was an idiot.

"And I don't regret the fame, I just didn't think it would be like this. Like puppetry."

"It doesn't have to be like this. Why don't you get a contract with someone else?"

"I can't. I'm under contract with Orochimaru. Five years, and he was the one who signed me for a record deal. Three albums. I can't just sign on with someone else."

"Terminate the contract."

"Yeah, that's easy to say but impossible to do," Sakura said. "I'm under his management, and there's no way to change it without breaking a ton of laws."

Sasuke glared into space. "There has to be a way."

"Trust me, I've been looking," Sakura said. "The only way is to sue, and it's not like he's really done anything to me."

Sasuke frowned. "I'm going to ask Kakashi."

"No, don't get him involved," Sakura said immediately.

"It's not a problem."

"Really?"

"No." He was firm.

"Okay." There was a pause. "I have to go, I have prep for my show tonight."

"Aa. I'll call you soon."

"Thanks. Sorry."

"Don't apologize." I should be the one apologizing.

They hung up, and Sasuke trudged back to the bus. He felt incredibly guilty; he'd never questioned Orochimaru's treatment of Sakura. Sure, he hadn't approved of it, but he'd blamed the industry and never thought to look deeper.

"Is there any way for someone to switch management?" It was later that night, and Sasuke and Kakashi were the only ones on the bus. The rest of the band had gone out for drinks after the show.

"Are you guys really that upset with me?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow but Sasuke could tell that he was smirking.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "No. It's Sakura."

Kakashi's eyebrows went up slightly in surprise. "Who's she with now, Orochimaru?"

"Aa."

"Hm. Not from someone like him. Especially if she doesn't have someone else lined up. That's the only way it'd be possible, but even then…"

"You mean there's a chance that she could do it?"

"I don't know for sure." Kakashi looked thoughtful. "Does she have someone in mind? Even if it was a bad falling out with Orochimaru, someone like Sakura Haruno…she could swing some tough deals. She's in demand."

"No. She doesn't have anyone in mind. But I thought…You."

Kakashi chuckled. "Since when was it my client's job to get new clients for me?"

Sasuke glared at him. "You like her," he said accusingly.

Kakashi just looked at him, amused. "Music contracts are serious agreements, Sasuke."

"You talk to me like I'm a kid," Sasuke said through gritted teeth.

"There's a reason for that," Kakashi said, smiling an infuriating smile. "You're only twenty-two, you know."

Sasuke hissed out a breath through his teeth.

"You're right, I like her. But I can't take on someone like Sakura Haruno right now. She's on the same level as you four, and unfortunately I don't have super powers. I like to sleep occasionally."

"She can't stay with Orochimaru," Sasuke said through gritted teeth. If Kakashi couldn't help, he didn't know what to do.

Kakashi frowned. "Hold on. I didn't say I couldn't do anything."

"You just said you can't take her on."

"I can't. But I may know someone who can." Kakashi was on the edge of a smile. "I'll see what I can do. This will be interesting."

Sasuke just frowned at him. He wasn't completely sure what was going on.

"You can trust me here, Sasuke. The person I'm thinking of is an old friend, of sorts. She's probably the only person who'll be able to work out the mess that this will cause. And definitely someone Sakura would want on her side."

"Okay," Sasuke said, frowning. He figured he just had to trust Kakashi. "Thanks."

Kakashi just smirked. "Thank me if this works out. Now, go join up with the rest of the band."

"Are you coming? I thought you were meeting us for dinner."

I've got a lot of calls to make," Kakashi said. "Looks like we'll have to put it off for now."

It took several emails and phone calls to finally get a number where he could reach her.

"You were extremely hard to get hold of," Kakashi said.

"There's a reason for that," Tsunade Senju said, her voice wry but vaguely exasperated. "What do you want, Kakashi? It better be good. You went through a lot of people to get to me."

It was always best to cut to the chase with Tsunade. "I want you to take on management for Sakura Haruno."

There was a pause. "What?" He could hear her frown.

"Sakura Haruno. I want you to—"

"I heard you the first time," Tsunade said sharply. "Where is this coming from? You know how I feel about taking on new clients."
"Tsunade, Sakura Haruno is—"

"She's big. Yes, I know. Popular, for a little pixie."

"She's smart," Kakashi said, amused by her summary of Sakura. Though Sasuke's face during their conversation the previous week had given Kakashi the strong suspicion that Sakura was on the verge of a crash. He'd never seen the kid so stricken. Thank God for Sakura Haruno, he thought, not for the first time. Kakashi was fairly sure she'd saved Sasuke, even if neither of them knew that.

"Oh, right, I suppose you know that since you manage the boy," Tsunade said dryly. "The coverage of that is sickening."

"She's extremely talented, too," Kakashi said.

"I don't care how talented she is," Tsunade said, sounding irritated. "Let's say she has potential, that's fine. But I'm not getting back into that circus. You know how much I despise the business, Kakashi."

"You despise the business because you hated your clients. Or at least most of them."

"Exactly. I'm happy where I am now."

"No you're not." Kakashi was smirking. "You're bored out of your mind, aren't you?"

There was a pause. "There's less drama now. So much nicer to deal with."

"Give me a break, Tsunade. You love drama."

"Oh, go fuck yourself, Kakashi," Tsunade said brusquely.

"You really are too predictable."

"I thought that was a clear dismissal, but apparently I'm wrong. Do you have something else to bother me with?"

Well, there was nothing else for it. "Look, she's under Orochimaru right now."

A longer pause, and then: "…Damn it. Damn it," Tsunade said quietly. "Fine," she bit out, loud and angry. "I swore I'd never…God. Of course it's Orochimaru." Kakashi heard her slamming things around, and he grinned.

"So, what do you say? Want to get back in the game?"

"I don't have a choice, do I? I can't leave her with that snake." Tsunade sighed. "That's why you're pushing this so hard, isn't it? Because I'm the only one who can get her out."

"You've been dying for something like this. Don't deny it."

"Dying to deal with Orochimaru? I don't think so. I hate that bastard." She was practically gnashing her teeth.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Alright, fine. God damn it, how do you always know what I need?"

"Because it's always been that way with you. Retirement's never going to suit you, Tsunade."

"…Just send me the contact information for this girl. She'd better be as great as you say." Tsunade sighed tiredly. "You owe me."

"One day you'll thank me for this."

"Do me a favor and shut up." She hung up, and Kakashi smiled. That had been easier than expected. Tsunade had definitely known who Sakura Haruno was, and she liked her. Though the promise of a battle with Orochimaru had probably been the final straw, it would've taken more than that to sway her. In this case, Kakashi thought it was all Sakura's doing (and obviously unintentional on her part, like with everyone else she came into contact with). Tsunade was paying attention, no matter what she said.

A/N: College can get a bit hectic, hence the lag time between chapters.