This reaction was just what Itachi had anticipated, in fact it was almost as if he'd done it on purpose, perhaps he had, it was impossible to tell with his dead pan demeanour. Sasuke was now pacing the room, raking his fingers through his hair so vigorously that it looked like he was on the verge of ripping it out already.
"Damnit Itachi. I can't do this. You know I can't do this-… I can't go back to Konoha. Not with him there…" Sasuke spoke at a hundred miles per hour, quite out of character for the cool and composed male; his eyes were wide as he shook his head, trying to comprehend the idea of moving back there.
"Grow up Sasuke." Itachi scolded him now, slamming his hand down on the desk and getting to his feet to get his brother's attention, once he'd gained it he narrowed his eyes and held Sasuke's gaze. "Konoha is our home- it made sense to have an office there- and I want you to run it, we need to keep the business in the family." He reminded him. Sasuke seemed to be calming down a little now, he sat back at his desk with his face in his hands, and a low groan could be heard through his finger tips.
"Why can't I run this office?" He mumbled childishly, really fighting his case.
"Because you aren't mature enough- a fact which you've just proven to me further by your tantrum." The older Uchiha informed him steadily.
Sasuke huffed in response and folded his arms stoically across his puffed out chest as he glared out of the window at Tokyo.
"Do I have a choice?" He asked after a few moments of silence.
"No." Itachi snapped back bluntly, giving his brother a slight smirk. "If you deny the position I'll have no choice but to fire you." He added to which Sasuke's eyes widened like dinner plates, what little colour he had in his face completely drained. That was it then, he was moving back to his hometown, facing up to his fast, the thought made him feel sick. Or maybe it was the hangover, either way, Sasuke just wanted to crawl into bed right now and stay there.
Two weeks passed, two weeks was all Sasuke had to get his head around the fact he had to move back 'home'. Konoha wasn't a big town, everyone was into everyone's business and he knew news of his return would be around the whole village by the time the first day was out. The raven gazed around his now empty apartment, his stuff had already been taken over to his new place in Konoha, and he was actually going to miss this, his first real place.
With a sigh, Sasuke left his keys on the kitchen worktop for the realtor and switched off the light, carrying a box of keepsakes and his small bonsai tree down the corridor and out of the apartment block to his car.
The drive was tedious with long straight roads, each mile was taking him closer and closer to his former lover and the nerves began to kick in, sweaty palms on the steering wheel, his heart pounding in his chest each time he saw a road sign for Konoha, and his stomach lay in knots something which only worsened as he came off the high way and down the narrow and winding roads, through forests and mountains and eventually past a sign that said 'welcome to Konoha, the village hidden in the leaves.'
"Welcome home Sasuke…" The Uchiha murmured to himself and turned off the radio as he glanced at the name of the hotel he'd be staying at tonight until he could pick up the keys to his new apartment tomorrow. It sent chills up Sasuke's spine to drive through the town, past the school he spent his early years of life, the old estate that his entire ancient Family once populated, a family that had all but died out apart from Sasuke and Itachi, with his vile spawn.
When Sasuke left ten years ago, he vowed never to return, never to relive the memories this place held.
As he drove through the busier part of the village heads began to turn and eyes began to widen, it wasn't every day the people of Konoha saw a jet black Lamborghini with blacked out windows roaring down the high street.
"Would you look at that? I wonder who it is- they're not from here driving a flashy car like that, do you think they're from the city?" A woman gossiped to her friend sat outside the town's most popular eating spot, Ichiraku ramen, which was no more than a bar under a canopy where ramen was served, with a few tables either side. At one of said tables sat a group of young adults, at the centre of which was a cute looking blonde with a shaggy mess of golden layered hair, perfectly tanned skin and eyes that rivalled the brightest blue sky, radiating light and happiness he was striking to say the least wearing an orange and black varsity jacket and ripped blue jeans with orange and black hi-tops. Said male was currently shovelling a bowl of ramen into his mouth with chopsticks, grinning and guffawing with laughter at one of his friend's jokes, a young, pretty woman with pink hair sat beside him gave him a sour look and a thump on the arm.
"OW SAKURA CHAN YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SO-… whoa…" The blonde's yell was cut short when he heard the purr of an expensive engine and saw the black car crawling through traffic down the high street.
"Would ya' look at that?" He mumbled his friends turned their head's to gawp too; the girls looked intrigued whereas the boys looked both impressed and envious. "Phew- sweet ride!" Grinned a wolfish looking brunette man with fang-like canines. "Who in this dump drives a car like that?!" He echoed the women from the other table and glanced at his blonde companion who had suddenly gone very quiet.
"I know one person…" He mumbled, his eyes glazing over somewhat.
The brunette rolled his eyes and gave the blonde a friendly shove. "Hey, would you quit it? You've been mentioning him a lot lately, what's with you?" He asked with a scowl, no sooner had he said that the blonde snapped himself out of it and shook his head, a foolish grin re-appeared on his face.
"Heh! Nothin'! And I gotta go!" He cheered enthusiastically as the car drove out of sight he jumped to his feet. "I have that job interview today!" He told his friends.
The girl with the pink hair looked him up and down and pulled a distinctly unimpressed expression as she took in his attire. "Uh-… You're not going to wear that are you? You look so scruffy!" She scolded, the blonde pouted in response and folded his arms before glancing down at what he was wearing and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh-… I guess, I've… never really had a proper interview before- I don't have any fancy stuff?" He mumbled. "Could you help me, Sakura?" He asked sheepishly.
Sakura sighed and nodded reluctantly, waving goodbye to the rest of the group, she and scruffy blonde left together to head into town to find something to wear.
Meanwhile Sasuke had already checked into his hotel, it was a fancy five star place, occupied mainly by people on business trips to the area, people like him that didn't look like they belonged in a town like this.
The Uchiha wasted little time in dropping of his stuff, having a quick coffee before setting off to his new office.
It was a surprisingly modern building with mirrored glass all the way up and Uchiha Industries across a sign at the top with the family crest, a small red and white fan.
Sasuke entered through the revolving doors and smirked at the
immaculately pristine lobby which smelt brand new, freshly painted with shimmering marble floor, crisp leather couches, a spotless desk and even a water fountain with a few large potted plants.
"Ah, Uchiha-san. A pleasure to see you!" Sasuke stopped in his tracks when he was greeted by a most peculiar man, if you could call him that, he looked more like a reptile, a snake to be exact. His skin was as white as a fax paper framed limply by two sheets of long, black and somewhat greasy looking hair. His features were thin and watery and his body shape frail but he was smartly dressed in a black suit with a light purple tie. "…Hello." Sasuke replied cautiously as the snake-man outstretched a skeletal hand, his amber eyes glinting and a creepy smile etching slowly on his lips when Sasuke reluctantly shook it, complete with a small grimace .
"Who are you?" The Uchiha asked bluntly as he snatched his hand back to his side.
"Oh? ~" The man purred in his strange, chorus like voice which definitely had a distinct hiss about it.
"Itachi didn't tell you? My name is Orochimaru, and I'll be you're new advisor, mentor if you will. I've worked with your brother for many years, your father too in fact… he sent me here to help you run the new branch of the business, a long with a few associates of my own." He smiled simperingly.
Sasuke began to inwardly simmer with rage. His brother didn't even trust him to run the damn business on his own, not only that, he'd sent some weirdo to help him.
"I see." Was all Sasuke managed to reply, pursing his lips as three figures came through a door behind Orochimaru, wearing similar attire, the group consisted of a skinny, pale man with white hair and violet eyes and a manic expression, a much bigger, taller man with spiked orange hair and kind eyes, and a woman with long deep red hair and glasses who seemed to tense up as she saw Sasuke.
"Sasuke, I'd like you to meet, Suigetsu, your Marketing manager, Juugo head of security and Karin who'll be your pA." Orochimaru introduced the three of them one by one, Sasuke robotically shook each of their hands and nodded in acknowledgment, but he could not be less interested… there were plenty of other people working here too, commercial sales people, designers, market researchers, engineers and secutaries and Sasuke was in charge of them all, it was a little overwhelming but he couldn't help but smirk.
"I'll be going to my office now." He told them all and pushed between Suigetsu and Karin towards the lift but annoyingly, the red headed woman chased after him just before the doors shut. "S-Sasuke kun!" She all but yelled, pushing her glasses up her nose, unable to look him in the eye.
"Uchiha-San." Sasuke corrected her as the lift doors shut and pressed the top floor button.
"U-Uchiha san!" Karin continued hastily, blushing at her mistake. "Is there anything I can do for you, I am your pA after all." She seemed to stutter, getting very flustered in the enclosed space of the lift.
"No."
"…Well I'm interviewing an intern this afternoon." She persisted.
"Wonderful." Sasuke murmured and rolled his eyes, interns were annoying, more so even than this damn red head.
"Get me a coffee." Sasuke demanded as they left the lift and he began marching towards his office just as an excuse to get rid of her, and true enough she scuttled away with a quick nod.
Once in his office Sasuke approached the huge floor to ceiling windows and pressed his forehead against the cool glass, gazing out at the town. His office was quiet, and it smelt so crisp and new. It was Sasuke Uchiha's ambition to run his own business, to be his own boss to answer to no one, but now he was here, he somehow felt, empty, trapped… why this place? Why here?
"So, you ready?" Sakura asked the handsome, now smartly dressed blonde in front of her, his shirt was somewhat gaudy, a bright orange under a black suit jacket with a black silk tie and smartly ironed black pants, shoes so shiny you could see your face in them.
"Mhm! Sure- I'm gunna nail it!" He replied with a bright grin and Sakura quickly hugged him.
"Good luck- oh and you never actually said where the interview was?" She asked and the man before her drew a blank. "Uh-… I forget what it's called… some new office across town, all I know is it's a technology company from Tokyo." He shrugged and gave her a quick wave before strolling off towards the office in question.
The blonde's head was so much in the clouds he failed to notice the sign on the building, on the doors of the building which he entered. He simply approached the front desk and greeted the receptionist there with a smile.
"Hey- I'm here for an interview for the intern job thingy?" He said in a loud friendly voice, the tight lipped blonde secretary woman gave him a dirty look before turning to her computer screen.
"Name?"
"Uzumaki Naruto!" He chimed and the receptionist handed him a visitor's badge, instructing him to go to the twelfth floor which Naruto did happily a spring in his step as he ascended the lift and followed the receptionist's instructions to one of the conference rooms where Karin was waiting for him with some paperwork laid out.
"Hey- I'm Uzumaki Naruto; I'm here for the interview!" He told her and sat down without invitation. "Oh!" He added and leant across the table to shake her by the hand, surprised and somewhat horrified by his lack of professionalism Karin cleared her throat and glanced at the list of questions she'd set to ask him.
"Right, well- take a seat…so, what made you apply for the internship here at Uchiha Industries?" She began with a smile.
"Oh! Well actually I didn't apply- my papa, Iruka sent my-… wait… huh? U…chi… ha? Uchiha Industries?" It sounded as if the words were becoming stuck in the blonde's throat, his eyes began to shake and the colour began to drain from his face.
"Yes? That's right- this is the new branch, extended from Tokyo- you've heard of the company?" She asked, confused by Naruto's reaction to the name.
"Yes. I have." Naruto's whole demeanour changed from a sunny, idiotic blonde to a reserved, brooding man, hurt began to show in his eyes and Karin was unsure of how to progress the interview.
Behind them, the door slowly opened and Sasuke Uchiha entered the board room, a mug of coffee in one hand and a file of papers in the other.
"Apologies for my late-…" Sasuke's eyes instantly fell on the figure sat in the seat in front of him, years of memories came flooding back through his brain all at once, years of laughter, happiness, love, anger, fear, pain and heart break hit him like a ten tonne truck all at once. He barely noticed it but the mug, half filled with scalding black coffee was falling through his finger tips, crashing to the floor and shattering into dozens of pieces, at that point, the blonde head turned and azure orbs met Onyx across the room, a soft gasp proceeded to leave the blonde's parted lips.
"Sasuke…"
"Naruto…"
-
such cheese! *^*
I hope this gives you a taste of things to come, this fanfic is going to be pretty drawn out so please stick with it if you can cope with the angst! Feedback and ideas are really appreciated please help me out you wonderful people. :D
Next chapter will be up probably next weekend! ^u^