Note: This chapter is not proofread. I am currently looking for beta readers for my fics so if you're interested, please DM me on Twitter (mikawritesss) or Tumblr (connectedfeelings).

Konoha City morning traffic is anything but a fun experience. Even on a Sunday, the streets are busy with car horns blaring and people moving past each other in a pace between walking and sprinting. While it is annoying, it's to be expected, which is why I decided to leave my apartment thirty minutes earlier to account for the bother. I could still be in bed right now if I hadn't promised Aunt Tsunade I'd meet with her.

While not blood related, I've always thought of her as a second mother. How she and my parents became friends is a similar story to how I've become close to my circle: college. Though that's where the similarities end.

My parents won scholarships and became acquainted with her through their respective scholarship programs. In a way, she mentored my parents, and now, she's mentoring me, her goddaughter.

My parents thought it best to keep that piece of information private. As a kid, I questioned why. Being a godparent really isn't that big of a deal if you think about it. But as I grew older, I became more aware of who Aunt Tsunade is and became thankful for my parents' insistence on keeping this between us.

Tsunade Senju, my godmother, is the CEO of Senju Holdings. The surname Senju holds about as much weight as the name Uchiha does in Konoha, a family from old, almost ancient, money reaching as far back as the founding of the city. Why she agreed to becoming a godparent for students she used to mentor has been a question on my mind for years. I did ask her a few times, but Aunt Tsunade would always just shrug as if it's not a big deal. Still, I'm the only godchild she has, so I'm not convinced.

After circling around the parking garage for an empty spot for what felt like an hour, I finally make my way to the elevators and into the building.

Akimichi Steak and Grill is a favorite spot of hers. Located in the soaring Sarutobi Leaf Tower, it's a popular spot for the rich and powerful. With its egregiously expensive menu and gorgeous view of downtown Konoha, it's not difficult to see why.

It looks busy today. Almost every table is occupied, and servers come and go through the tables with their trays filled.

I walk up to the entrance, and the woman at the podium greets me with a smile which I return.

"Good morning! Do you have a reservation?" She asks.

"She should be here already. Reservation under Senju?"

Her eyes widen, a stunned expression on her face. Not an uncommon reaction, given who I'm meeting.

"Yes, you must be Ms. Sakura Haruno. Ms. Senju told us to expect you."

Now, that, gives me pause. I've had meals with her here a few times, but this is the first I've been mentioned by name. Usually, she just mentions she has a guest on the way, along with a brief description of my appearance.

I shake off the unease. It's not a big deal. Maybe they changed their guest policies.

I'm lead through the tables and to a door at the far side of the restaurant. The server opens the door for me, and I see my godmother seated at the head of the table, her eyes on her phone before she looks up and sees me, greeting me with a smile as she stands.

The door closes behind me as I make my way towards her, my arms outstretched for a hug.

"Look at you."

I laugh, my momentary anxiety dissipating as she gives me a familiar squeeze. "You sound like the last time you saw me was when I was in diapers."

"You might as well have been a toddler then." Aunt Tsunade says in her typical, sarcastic tone and motions for me to sit next to her.

"That was literally a year ago."

Placing my bag on the empty seat next to mine, I take a seat and observe the table. Ornate table napkin folds on top of expensive plates. Utensils placed atop the spotless table linen, as if a ruler had been used to ensure each are placed at the exact same width apart. When my eyes stop at the two bottles in a bucket of ice in the middle of the table, I feel the smile on my face drop.

My unease begins to resurface.

"Champagne? What happened to sake?"

"Can't be too predictable," she says, placing her phone face down on the table.

That's strike three.

She always has her phone screen facing up in case she gets an important message.

I take a quick breath in, trying to mask my rising anxiety. "Are we celebrating something?"

"That depends."

"Where are the menus?"

"I took the liberty of ordering us a few things already."

My brows furrow. "A few things? There's only two of us here."

"And you must be partially hungover, so you must be hungry."

That is true, but that doesn't make this any less odd. "Did something happen?"

She rolls her eyes. "Does something have to happen for me to want to order you food?"

"It's not just that. It's you telling the server my name, the champagne, this whole thing." I motion to her and the table. "You said you wanted to catch up, but now I'm feeling like you have news. Is it bad?"

That must be it. She's acting suspiciously nicer than usual, too. Any other day, all these questions would have made her yell at me in annoyance.

She sighs. "And here I thought we could talk and ease into the nitty gritty."

"Did you really think that would work? It's your fault I know how to smell through bullshit." And it doesn't help that she has a terrible poker face. She can put it on well for work, but I've known her for so long that it's obvious to me.

"I thought turning you into a mini-me was a good idea." She rubs at her temples. "Apparently not."

Now, this is more like it.

She looks at me, her lips curled into a frown. "Wipe that shit eating grin off your face."

That gets a short laugh out of me. I grab one of the bottles in the ice bucket in front of me. The bottle's already been uncorked, so I stand and pour the drink into our champagne flutes, then speak again once I sit back down. "So, what's the real reason you wanted to see me? Clearly, you have something to say."

"I should have started with the sake." She grabs her champagne flute and takes a long sip, practically emptying it, before replying. "I heard about your job."

My drink gets stuck in my throat, her words making me choke. "What?"

"You got fired," she says, a questioning tone laced in the words.

I hadn't told her that. I wasn't planning on telling her that, especially since I got my job back. I don't know how she would have known that, either.

Unless…

"Do you have someone watching me?"

"You're my only godchild, and practically the only family I have left alive, so it shouldn't be a shock that I look after you."

"'Look after' meaning 'care for'. I didn't think you'd have me followed."

"I don't have someone spying on you if that's what you're concerned about."

"Of course, that's what I'm concerned about." I take a deep breath, stopping myself before I get too riled up. "So you're not spying on me, but somehow found out I lost my job?"

"I know someone in Uchiha Holdings."

"Knowing someone wouldn't have been enough to find out my employment status."

"You know I have eyes and ears everywhere." She reaches for the bottle and pours herself some more. "It comes with the territory."

This is unnerving. I sit straighter, a shiver crawling up my spine and down my arms. "Well, did your eyes and ears tell you I got my job back?"

She pauses, the hand lifting her glass stopping before she could take another sip of her drink. After a brief silence, Aunt Tsunade clears her throat, composing herself. "That was fast. I'm impressed."

"I'm nothing but stubborn." Another thing I've learned from her.

A sigh escapes her lips. "Well, that kind of complicates things."

"'Things' being?" I'm tired of beating around the bush. "Why'd you want to meet today, Aunt T?"

There's a knock on the door before a few servers enter the room with trays of food, interrupting our conversation. I don't even glance at the food being placed before me. I don't back down from her stare.

I'm sure the servers can feel the odd atmosphere in the room and quickly scurried away once their job was done, not even uttering a word before the door clicks behind them.

She's the first to speak.

"I'm retiring."

Before I can even register that I'm doing it, I take in a deep, long breath. I'm gawking at her, not even attempting to hide my surprise.

It must be a joke. She's never mentioned retirement, nor has she shown any signs of stopping. Tenacity is what she's known for, it's a trait she's instilled in me. I'm used to hearing her talk about how she'd have to be dead before Senju Holdings can replace her.

"You're serious?"

"Yes. I thought it was about time."

It's difficult wrap my head around this.

"What pushed you to this decision?"

"I think it's time for a change of scenery for me."

I scoff. I don't believe that for a second. "Alright then, how's the board handling this? Did you finally name an heir?"

Senju Holdings, being such a huge conglomerate, is the largest provider of mobile telephone services, and the parent company of some of the country's top media outlets. She hadn't told me much about this but based on what I've heard through whispers at my job, the Senju Holdings board has been a pain in her ass about wanting her to name a successor. Since her brother passed, and since she had vowed not to remarry since the death of her husband, she's the last remaining Senju. And she's past the age of being able to have children in the natural way. The next head of the conglomerate will have to be someone not directly descended to a Senju, which has never happened before.

It's become a hot topic in the country, especially in Konoha, where Senju Holdings is based in. But no matter how many people try to pressure her into doing what they want, Aunt Tsunade never changed her decision. After all, she is the CEO, and with her fearlessness and obstinate nature, she's someone almost impossible to mess with.

Her lips curve into a frightening smile. "As a matter of fact, I did."

For some reason, my throat feels dry.

"What distant relative has the unfortunate task of taking over for you?" I manage to get the words out. Something in my gut is telling me, warning me that I won't like whatever she's about to say. But my gut must be wrong right now. She can't possibly be doing what I think she's about to do.

She only watches me as she takes another sip of her drink.

Oh, no.

"This isn't funny, Aunt T."

"You know I always thought of you as if you were my own daughter."

Oh, dear God, no.

"Please tell me this isn't going where I think it is."

No longer holding her punches, she looks me dead in the eyes. "I'm heavily considering naming you my heir."

There it is.

I sensed it coming, but even with her confirmation, I can't bring myself to believe her. An unknown goddaughter? As the Senju heir?

"You have to be joking."

"No, I'm not."

"I majored in journalism, not business."

"I said I'm considering you as my heir. It doesn't mean I expect you to take over for me right now. I'm retiring soon, not at this moment."

It's impossible to wrap my head around this. It's hard enough to believe that she wants to retire, but me? Replacing her as head of a company I have absolutely no knowledge about how to run? This is a nightmare.

"I'm not qualified." I don't have the experience. Hell, I don't even have the right degree, nor do I have the want for this.

"You said it yourself. You might as well be a second me, Sakura. Senju Holdings needs that." She leans over the table to put something on her plate. "And you and I both know a lot of these people in high positions are just as unqualified. It's all a name game. It's who you know, who you're with, and what family you're from."

"And what? Just because I'm your goddaughter, they'd be fine with it? No one even knows you have a godchild!"

"Look," she exhales. "I don't expect you to be all gung-ho about this. Truth be told, I had hoped I wouldn't have to do this, but things are changing. Rapidly."

I raise a brow, urging her to elaborate.

"There's unrest in the board. Somehow, a majority have a person in mind for my replacement, and I haven't even said anything about stepping down. They're eager for it."

A corporate coup. "Who could they possibly think could replace you?"

"Shimura." The moment the name leaves her lips, her face sours.

I frown. That name rings a bell. "Wasn't he involved in that securities class action lawsuit two years ago? I wrote a few articles about it."

"You'd think that whole circus would've crossed him out of the list completely."

"So why even retire if you know that's who they want to replace you with?"

"I've been wanting Shimura gone for as long as I've been thinking of finally retiring, but they insist he stays, meaning he's garnered a lot of support within my own board of directors. I may be the head, but I'm outnumbered here. I need something to weed him and his allies out."

"So naming an heir would do that? Again, I highly doubt they'd accept. It can't be that easy, and I don't have the credentials to back you up."

"They wouldn't accept, yes, you're right." She pauses. "Initially. But they would if my heir was connected to another powerful family."

I take a second to digest her words.

Then another.

And another.

"No."

"Sakura, just consider-"

"I thought about it, and no." My response is firm, my gaze unwavering. "You can't just expect me to say yes to marrying some random stranger for you. That's insane!"

Her brow furrows, her eyes understanding, but I can't bring myself to feeling even slightly apologetic in my refusal.

"You don't actually have to marry him. It's for appearances. Naming an heir attached to a powerful family would be extremely beneficial, not just because of their name and notoriety but with how it relates to the Senju."

Because the Senju aren't particularly forthcoming with their own personal relationships, especially with other prominent families. I bite the inside of my cheek. It is a juicy story.

"To try and oust me after the announcement of something like a possible family alliance, whether personally or professionally, would look bad on the company. It'd buy me time to do my own investigations of the board and weed out Shimura's co-conspirators, maybe even get to the bottom of what he has planned."

In other words, distract the public and the company with an engagement. A fake engagement when we get to the specifics but an engagement, nonetheless.

It's a good plan. A great one, actually. If it involved anyone else, I'd be more inclined to agree with it, but this involves me. Bringing me into her world, a world I don't particularly want to be in.

I'm a journalist. I know what people in her world are subjected to. It may look glamorous, but behind all that is nothing but drama I don't want to subject myself to.

"I know this is crazy but think about what you could help me uncover."

Uncover? My lips thin. "No, you don't get to pull the story card with this."

"It was worth a shot." She sighs, backing down easier than I thought she would. "I was never going to force you, Sakura. It was merely something I had in mind."

My anger remains but her earnestness extinguishes some of the flames. It's a rare glimpse behind the invincibility she exudes, and even having known her for so long, it's something I've only ever witnessed once before.

During Dan's funeral.

The memory floods back.

People all in black, umbrellas shielded us from the rain. I tried to peek through taller bodies, my eyes roaming the area until I see her. Her back was to me, but with the way her body shook, I knew she was crying. How could she not? The love of her life was taken from her far too early.

I hadn't been born when she lost her brother, but from what I've heard from others, she loved him dearly. Losing him was devastating. And she had to relive that feeling again.

It was then, as if she felt my eyes, she turned, her red eyes and her stubborn chin trying to hold herself together showed me a defenselessness she never allowed others to see.

While it's not the same, the way she's being open right now, it tells me there's more behind this than a mere problem with the board. And the need to know tries to claw out of the one subsection of my brain.

Leaning forward, I place a hand on hers, showing her support. "There's something else, isn't there?"

The vulnerability disappears almost instantaneously. Back are the stubborn chin and the mask shielding me from whatever was clouding her eyes. "It's nothing for you to worry about. You've refused. There's no use thinking about it."

I said no. She accepted my refusal. Yet here I am still in the restaurant, asking for another drink from the bar and feeling guilty as hell. Aunt T left thirty minutes ago and offered me a ride home, but I chose to stay. Apparently, getting shitfaced at the wedding last night wasn't enough.

I drown myself in another bubbly citrus drink, that fleeting look from her still flooding my mind. There's something to this, something more she isn't telling me about this situation. But what use is there thinking about it? It's none of my business. She respects my decision.

But she backed down too quickly.

It's so unlike her to just back down without a fight. I'm sure she had better ways of persuading me into whatever she has planned. Instead, she went straight for the story angle. Sure, it'd be an incredible article. A possible exposé about some of the most powerful people in Konoha City? What journalist wouldn't foam at the mouth for that opportunity?

But no. I already said no. The promise of a juicy scoop wasn't enough to sway me in the moment, it shouldn't now. Who cares if Shimura making alliances within my godmother's own board sounds shady as fuck? He'd be crazy to do that after the stunt he pulled a few years ago.

But that's how it is when people want power, isn't it? Crazy. And if there is something as damning as Aunt T was insinuating, it'd be the story to break.

No, I shouldn't dwell on this. I don't want the drama that comes with all that. I'm sure I don't.

But I do want to know.

Ugh, it's fucking selfish of me if I want one thing that comes with this and not the other, more damaging consequence. Not to mention, there would be more eyes on me that I'm definitely not used to. That should be enough for me to just bury all this under and stop thinking about this.

But…

No, it's the alcohol talking. It must be. How much alcohol is in a mimosa? It's just champagne. And it's tasty. Plus, who can say no to bottomless mimosas?

Maybe I should get a margarita instead.

I raise a finger, flagging the bartender. "Hey, can I-"

"I think you've had enough," a low, masculine voice interrupts, and I feel a hand on my wrist, lowering my finger to the top of the bar table.

"You're not the boss of me, asshole," I say, turning around to face the rude man keeping me from my tasty drink.

Only to still and see Sasuke Uchiha's unimpressed expression.

God truly hates me.