I was literally in the air as I wrote this chapter- on aeroplane. Hope you enjoy the read!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or it's characters.
22nd April, 2032, Uchiha Corporation. Time- 15:35
For the second time that week, Sakura found herself in the Uchiha Corporation main building, once again on official business. And the person she was looking for was making her wait. Again .
Finally, after a good 2 hours of making her wait, a secretary escorted her to Mr Uchiha's office, which was apparently where Naruto spent all of his time. She was supposed to meet the two of them.
When she walked through the pristine steel doors, the only one inside was Naruto, sitting in a seat next to Mr Uchiha's chair. His demeanour was as cold as ever, and his raven black hair covered part of his face.
"Take a seat." He said in a low, indifferent voice. She sat down in the chair opposite from him.
She had talked to Arisa before coming in, and had been told to treat it as as a mission debriefing. Although she hadn't heard the complete conversation, the Uchiha Corporation may as well have been involved in the crime they were investigating. After all, what she had heard almost solidified the fact that the Sahara Group was involved.
"I have an official report of the events which took place yesterday. Among other things, it accuses Mr Kabuto Yakushi of attempted murder. We may use it in the case we are currently investigating if the Sahara Group is found guilty. " she took out said report. "It requires your signature."
She placed the file on the table before her and pushed it towards him.
When she had written the report, she had also looked through the public records of Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. There was almost no information on Naruto, only that he was an orphan who had been taken in by the Uchiha Corporation at a young age. No pictures either. As for Sasuke, a few sketchy pictures and official documents were all he had to offer.
Naruto picked up the file and looked through it, stopping at the page where his signature was necessary. He spent five long minutes looking at it, before finally taking out a pen and signing it.
"Is that all?" He asked.
"Anything else will require the presence of Mr Uchiha." She said.
He looked at her intently, his onyx coloured eyes locking with her. As though he was using those eyes of his to look into her mind and soul, and reading her like the file he had just finished reading. Unnerving, it almost sent shivers down her spine.
She returned his stare, not wanting to prove weaker in any way by being the first to break eye contact.
He handed her the file and as she reached out with her right hand, he dropped the file and grasped her hand. She jumped in her seat with surprise at his sudden actions. Then, she realised he was looking at the bandages.
She was surprised that he even noticed, she for one had forgotten it was there. He looked at it with concern, asking, "Is it a serious injury? "
She took a little too long to respond before saying, "I - it's really nothing. It'll heal up in a day or two."
His hold on her hand lingered for a few more moments until he let it drop and gave her the file.
She turned in the direction of the door, to see Sasuke Uchiha standing in the doorway, looking at Naruto with comically wide eyes.
He looked the same as he did two days ago, tan skin, whisker like markings on both cheeks, and ridiculously pointed patent leather shoes. And he was ogling Naruto.
"I-is there a problem, Mr Uchiha? " she prompted.
He looked at her and then back at Naruto, and after what seemed to be a silent conversation, he said, "No problem at all. Hi! Umm. ..what was your name again? " He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Sakura. Sakura Haruno. FBI" she said.
"Oh yeah! That's right. I remember you, just not your name. You're the super cool special agent who came here as well as Hinata ! You saved Sa-N-Naruto's life! " He said.
"Umm...yeah, I guess." She said, laughing at his antics. He seemed to be a genuinely good soul. Which made it all the more important to finish her business there.
"I'm here on official business. In particular, the conversation between Naruto and Mr Kabuto Yakushi yesterday at the Sahara Group office building." She said, suddenly taking a more serious tone. She looked at both men. "I heard everything."
Sasuke looked unfazed by the statement, but looked confused as to why she had changed tone. And Naruto looked as impassive as always.
Another thing she had spoken to Arisa about was how to go about interrogating them. She had reminded Arisa that they had not heard the full length of their conversation, which meant that she could not ask them about everything. In reply, Arisa had smiled mischievously , saying, "But they don't know that. Use that to your advantage. ..."
"And trick them into spilling the beans." Sakura had finished.
She was dragged out of her recollection by Sasuke squirming uncomfortably in his chair saying, "About that...It's better if you talk to Naruto about that. I'll go get the paperwork? " before she could properly answer, he darted out of his chair and left the room.
Once again face to face with only Naruto, he started by asking, "How much did you hear? "
She had come to a conclusion yesterday that he was not nearly as dumb as she had initially made him out to be. In fact, he was dangerously strategic. And he knew exactly what she was trying to do.
"Enough." Was her reply.
He looked at her through those cold, calculating eyes, saying, "Where do you want me to begin?"
She could tell him to start at the beginning. But then he may believe that she hadn't heard anything. So she said, "Start with the funding. What were you funding? And why did you help them out of bankruptcy in the first place. "
He looked at her with the same unnerving gaze.
"We first answered their plea when they were on the edge of bankruptcy two years ago due to a series of unsuccessful projects. After a full assessment, we decided that they were a good business prospect to invest in, and so Sasuke decided to invest in their company as a way to expand on our profits. A few projects were reviewed and funded by him, all of which were successful. "
Reasonable enough, it matched what she had been told. "And the records for these transactions? "
"They are among the files he'll be bringing shortly. "
"What about the underground compound? Were you aware of its existence? "
"Yes. We had been there on several occasions. What they were used for, we do not know further than the fact that they were composed mainly of private conference rooms."
"You realise that that place isn't even legally built? " she asked.
"We were not aware and not informed. Is it not the business of the authorities to check for things like that?" He parried.
He was good, she had to give him that.
"What about the boy?" She asked.
He paused for several moments before saying, "Which boy?"
She blinked at him. Was he playing dumb? Or simply trying to confirm who she was referring to?
"The boy whose dead body was found. The boy whose murder we are attributing to the Sahara Group? "
"He has nothing to do with us. " he said coldly.
"Then how do you explain your visit to the office yesterday? " she asked.
"A source informed us that the Sahara Group may be suspected for the crime. Since we have a clean record, we do not wish for any association with criminally involved organisations. Hence the withdrawal of our support. "
"And do you believe that they were responsible? " she asked.
"You heard what Kabuto said as well as I did. He denies all involvement. Although his involvement is very likely. " he said.
Just then, Naruto burst in with a pile of 4-5 large files. He walked towards Sakura before tripping on the floor mat and promptly dropping everything.
Naruto groaned while Sakura sighed, laughing inwardly. He really was a funny idiot.
"I'm sorry! " he said as he struggled to gather all of the files. Naruto got up and helped him arrange the files, handing them to her.
Sighing, she looked through the files. Not that it would be of any use. If they were indeed hiding something, it would be easy enough to come up with counterfeit documents. The last thing she had discussed with Arisa was what to do if they manoeuvred their way out of her questioning. Arisa had asked, "If I put you in alone in his office, will you be able to locate anything confirming or erasing our suspicions?"
"How much time would I have?" Had been her reply.
"How much time would you need?" Arisa had said.
"15 minutes. "
"I'll get then out of the room for that long. You just stall until my distraction takes place. "
Dragging herself out of the memory, she watched as the door banged open. The other man from two days ago, the one called Sai, shouted, "Sasuke! Naruto! There's a Russian madman wreaking havoc downstairs. He's overturned tables and chairs, set fire to some poor chap's briefcase, and thrown several computers across the room! He demands to see you! "
Naruto and Sasuke both got up and rushed to the door, Sasuke saying to Sakura, "Take your time looking through that stuff...we'll be back in a jiffy."
And the two left, with only Sai remaining standing in the doorway.
"I don't suppose you know which of these drawers has the classified documents?" She asked him.
"All the interesting stuff is in the cabinet by the windows. But it's locked- not the kind of lock that you can pick." He turned around, shrugging. Just before he left the room, he added, "Well, since I don't spend some of my free time eavesdropping at the door , I wouldn't know that that Sasuke keeps the key opening the cabinet containing his classified business transactions inside the photo frame of he and Naruto which he insists stays there. But of course, I shouldn't betray Sasuke's trust any further so I'll be leaving now..." he left the room.
Remember, since it's from Sakura's perspective, every time she says 'Naruto' she means "Sasuke" and vice versa. Confusing, but funny
Also, since I had to write it from the phone and was pressed for time, it may seem a bit abrupt and there may be mistakes, so please bear with me! I'll review it ASAP.
~Raven