Chapter 3: Mr Perfect
Walking away from the hall where Naruto had received the award, Sasuke tasted bitterness in his mouth, trying to ignore the applause and cheers. A pang of jealousy and resentment gnawed at him, and he attempted to forget Naruto's smile. Anger and frustration surged within him.
Navigating the busy corridor, Sasuke remained stoic, revealing no emotion or weakness. But then, a voice pierced his ears—a voice belonging to Obito, the HR manager, gossiping about him.
The employee's words echoed: "Sasuke is nothing, you know. He just wears the title of CEO; Naruto is the one who influences people here."
Sasuke walked away, retrieved a cigarette, and pondered: "Even after having everything, it feels like I have nothing. This company, this car, even this cigarette—it all seems to belong to Naruto. Even when they are mine."
He reached his parked car outside the building, opened the door, and settled in. Lighting the cigarette, he started the engine and drove away, the weight of envy and longing lingering in the air.
In the soft drizzle of a monsoon morning, the city streets glistened like polished onyx. The rhythmic patter of raindrops on the car roof played a delicate symphony, and Sasuke's Mercedes glided through the wet streets, its headlights casting a golden halo.
And then, there she was—a vision wrapped in an umbrella, standing at the crossroads of his mundane routine. A girl, perhaps no older than a him, with eyes that held secrets and a smile that could unravel them. The raindrops clung to her umbrella, creating a shimmering halo around her, holding out hand signalling him to give lift.
He stopped his car. The children, uniformed and eager, clustered around her like petals seeking refuge from the storm. Their laughter echoed, a chorus of innocence, as they bid her farewell. "Bye, Sakura!" they called, their voices dancing in the rain. She waved back, her laughter weaving through the drops, leaving ripples in the air.
She emerged from the huddle of children, her umbrella a delicate cocoon. The raindrops danced around her, reluctant to touch her flawless skin. As she approached the car, she lowered the umbrella. The rain retreated, as if granting her permission to reveal her face. Eyes like rain-washed grass, lips curved in a promise, and cheeks adorned with the blush of raindrops.
But it was her hair that stole his breath away. Shoulder-length strands, the color of sakura blossoms, cascaded like a waterfall of petals. Each strand whispered secrets of spring, of fragile beginnings and fleeting beauty.
As she slid into the car, the leather seat seemed to sigh in surrender. Sasuke started the engine, but it was her presence that fuelled his journey. The rain outside blurred into a watercolour haze.
As Sasuke deftly maneuvers the car, Sakura's lively chatter fills the air. Her damp hair flutters as she leans forward, adjusting the rearview mirror to catch her reflection trying to comb her damp hair by her hands. "You're headed to the Techhub Tower office, right?" she inquires, her eyes dancing with curiosity. Sasuke remains silent, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.
Sakura continues, her voice animated. "Don't think I'm taking the lift to work! Today's my first day, and I don't want risk being late." She fusses with the car's interior, inspecting every nook and cranny. It's clear she's a social butterfly, comfortable in her own skin. Meanwhile, Sasuke remains stoic.
"Shall I turn on the FM?" Sakura asks, her fingers already dancing over the radio buttons. Sasuke reaches for the dial, but she beats him to it, swaying to the music as it fills the car. Her energy is infectious.
Sakura's chatter takes an unexpected turn. "Back in my village, we have plenty of cars," she muses. "But when I ask for one, Papa insists I get married first. Can you imagine? Marrying just for a car?" She takes her phone out points towards Sasuke, "smile" she asks, She captures Sasuke's stern expression on her phone. His eyes flicker away from the road momentarily, When he glances over at Sakura, a vehicle suddenly appears, and Sasuke deftly dodges it just in time to avoid an accident.
Her attention shifts to a delicate rose ornament on the dashboard. A petal flutters down, and Sakura's curiosity piques. "This car isn't yours, is it?" she teases. Sasuke glances at her, puzzled. Undeterred, she adds, "Even if it were, it doesn't look like it." Her keen eye misses nothing.
"How did I know?" Sakura grins. "Well, if it were yours, you'd strike a pose!" She playfully sticks the fallen rose petal back in place, capturing it with her phone. Sasuke's bemused expression lingers.
As they approach the office, Sakura becomes precise. "A little more forward," she instructs. Sasuke complies, inching the car closer. "Just a tad more," she insists. He obliges, and this time, the car aligns perfectly with the entrance. Sakura's parting words carry a hint of mischief: "Not much difference, but dropping off at the entrance adds a touch of prestige." She steps out, thanking Sasuke with a wave.
Sakura stepped out of the car, her heels clicking against the asphalt. The air smelled of possibility—of fresh beginnings. Sasuke, sitting in the driver's seat, watched her through the rearview mirror. His gaze lingered on her silhouette, framed by the car's sleek lines.
Click.
Sakura paused, her phone capturing the moment. The building loomed ahead—a monolith of glass and steel. Its mirrored surface reflected her excitement, the fluttering butterflies in her stomach. She whispered to herself, "First day of office."
Sasuke murmured, his breath fogging the door mirror. The words hung in the air, fragile and irrevocable."I love her,"
"I love her."came another voice from the back seat, both at the same time, a voice—a whisper that seemed to emerge from the very fabric of the car.
Sasuke is taken aback as he turns around to find Naruto, dressed in his office attire, sitting in the backseat. The office attire clings to Naruto like a second skin—crisp shirt, perfectly knotted tie, and trousers that whisper of professionalism.
Naruto, who had been gazing at Sakura, turns towards Sasuke. A smile spreads across his face, reaching his eyes, giving him an almost boyish charm. He playfully teases Sasuke, "You love her? I love her…," his voice a mix of amusement and surprise. His smile broadens into a grin as he adds, "We love her."
Naruto then smoothly transitions from the backseat to the front, his movements fluid like a cat. He nudges Sasuke lightly, saying, "Same pinch, same taste, man." His words are filled with camaraderie and a hint of competition. He extends his hand for a friendly fist bump, adding, "We are best friends, right? Congrats, ya."
Annoyed Sasuke moves to get off the car, Naruto stops him. He rummages through his pocket and pulls out a coin, proposing a toss for Sakura. But before Naruto can flip the coin, Sasuke intercepts, declaring that he will do the toss.
Naruto, now sitting beside Sasuke, picks up a monkey plushie. He swirls his hand on the monkey's tail, drawing out the pronunciation of his choice, "Alwaysss taiiils."
Sasuke flips the coin, catching it mid-air. But instead of the usual slap onto the back of the hand, he catches the coin vertically, peering into his hand. With a deliberate flick of his wrist, he makes the coin land heads up.
He reveals the result to Naruto, stating, "Heads, Sakura is mine." Naruto, however, takes the coin from him, retorting, "No, Sakura is mine. We are friends, right? Whatever you win is mine and whatever I win is yours." He pockets the coin with a triumphant grin.
Naruto then picks up a rose, placing it between his teeth. He turns to Sasuke, mimicking Sakura's earlier action of taking a picture. He frames Sasuke with his hands, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he says, "Smile, please." After this playful interaction, Naruto steps out of the car, leaving Sasuke behind.
Hinata sitting in the office with a longing in her eyes, is seen staring intently at a photograph of Naruto in her cellphone. Her gaze is unwavering. The silence of the room is broken only by the voice of Obito, the HR manager.
In stark contrast to Hinata, Obito, the HR manager, is engrossed in a seemingly mundane task. He's meticulously cleaning a photograph that rests on his desk. The photograph, though devoid of any visible dust or grime, holds immense value. It captures a moment in time when Obito was engaged in a deep discussion with none other than Bill Gates.
Breaking the silence, Obito's voice fills the room. "Hmm, this is what we call manic depression," he begins, his eyes still on the photograph he's cleaning. "Naruto doesn't reciprocate your feelings, and that's the root of your pain."
He then turns his attention to Hinata, posing a question , "How do you feel when you're filled with happiness?" Without tearing her gaze away from Naruto's photograph, she replies , "I feel an overwhelming urge to embrace Naruto."
Not missing a beat, Obito continues his line of questioning, "And what about when you're seething with anger?" Hinata, her eyes still glued to the photograph, responds, "I feel a compelling need to hold Naruto even closer."
Obito, taking in Hinata's responses, mocks "The situation is dire," he remarks, "You're in over your head. There's no easy way out." He suggests, "A barrier needs to be erected between you and Naruto, a wall that can shield you from this storm of emotions."
Just as he finishes his sentence, an unexpected voice cuts through the tense atmosphere, "Excuse me…"
Sakura, the new joiner, bursting into the room, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. She queries, "Who is the HR here?" Obito, with a hint of amusement in his voice, corrects her, "Not HR, HR Manager."
Sakura, quick to catch on, teases him, "That means it's you only, isn't it? See how I found out." Her words are laced with a playful tone, lightening the atmosphere.
Obito, tickled by her quick wit, welcomes her with a grin. He introduces himself as "Dr. Obito, holder of ten degrees, and a friend of Bill Gates," and proceeds to show her a photograph as evidence of his claim. Sakura, taken aback by his credentials, exclaims, "Wow! Really?" and promptly snaps a photo of the photograph with her phone, revealing her penchant for capturing moments.
Obito then proceeds to introduce his role, "I'm less of an HR manager, but more of a psychologist. I cure the psychological problems of corporate workers." He then invites Sakura to meet the team. As they walk towards the team, Obito humorously remarks, "In the corporate world, along with money, there are many diseases and disorders. That's why I remember more of their disorders than their names.". All while he was regularly cleaning his iphone.
Their first stop is at Lee's desk. Obito introduces him as "Mr. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder." Sakura greets him saying "Hi", Lee, true to his introduction, greets Sakura by repeating "Hi , Hi , Hi" three times. Obito playfully adds, "He does every work three times, but was born only once." Lee then proceeds to say "How about coffee? coffee? coffee?". Sakura responds by capturing his picture on her phone.
Next, they move towards Suigetsu, who is fast asleep with his head on the desk. Obito introduces him as "Mr. Narcolepsy," explaining, "We don't know when he wakes up and when he sleeps, and neither does he." Suddenly, Suigetsu wakes up,"Good morni.." greeting them in a slurry voice. Obito quickly advises Sakura to take a photo before he falls asleep again, and sure enough, Suigetsu dozes off before she can capture the moment.
They then approach Kankuro, who Obito introduces as "Leonard Shelby," explaining his short-term memory loss. Kankuro looks at Obito quizzically,"You.." trying to recognize him. Obito interrupts, saying, "He doesn't even remember me, who he sees daily. He wouldn't remember you, no use introducing him." Kankuro tries to say something but forgets mid-sentence, "Sorry , I forgot" apologizing for his forgetfulness.
Suddenly, Kiba, in a hurry to reach his office, collides with Obito. Apologizing for his carelessness, Kiba explains his rush to get to his office. Obito, however, points out his mistake, "You fool, your office is on the 9th floor, this is the 6th floor. Now get off." As Kiba rushes off, Obito tells Sakura about Kiba's peculiar disorder, "That guy is Mr. 69. He can't differentiate between 6 and 9. His office is on the 9th floor, but he always roams on the 6th floor." Sakura laughs lightly at the humorous situation.
As they retreat to Obito's room, Obito begins to introduce himself, "Now, listen about me, I-" but Sakura interrupts him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Wait, wait! Let me guess," she exclaims, "You're Mr. Technomaniac, aren't you?, You have 2 weakness one is your iphone".
"My wife Rin gifted me this"
"and other one is you Laptop"
"Bill gates gave me that laptop".
Sakura nods, her playful smile widening, "So, these two are your weaknesses!" Obito, laughing heartily, agrees, "Exactly!"
Sakura, still chuckling, boasts, "See, how I found out. I can tell a whole story just by looking at someone's face." As she says this, she captures the essence of her new workplace with her phone, her fingers dancing over the screen.
Suddenly, Obito captures her attention, "Hello." Sakura looks up, "Yeah?" Obito, with a playful grin, points out, "You forgot to take my picture." Sakura gasps, "Oh, sorry, I forgot," and readies her phone to take his photo.
Just as she is about to click, Obito interrupts, "Just wait." He adjusts his collar, strikes a pose with his iPhone, and flashes a charming smile. Sakura, suppressing her laughter, instructs, "Smile," and snaps the picture, capturing the moment in her collection. The chapter ends on a humorous note, leaving the readers eagerly awaiting the next interaction between the technomaniac and the photographer.
As Sakura and Obito approach Obito's cabin, they step inside to find Shanaya sitting there, her eyes lost in Naruto's photo. As she settles into her seat, she quizzes, "So it means no one is perfect here? Everyone has a defect here?" Obito, taking a seat, chuckles and replies, "No, no, no, no, a person without a defect is also here, Mr. Perfect, Naruto, your team leader."
Shanaya then proceeds to describe Naruto, her voice filled with admiration, "He is decent, sincere, hardworking, intelligent, good-looking, hot, but he doesn't even look at girls in the office." She then introduces herself, "I am Shanaya, manic depression." Obito, with a knowing smile, adds, "Deeply in love with Naruto." Shanaya, blushing still lost in her own world whispers, "Mr. Perfect."
Suddenly, Sakura interrupts them, her voice firm yet playful, "You wouldn't decide this, I will." She then looks around the room, her eyes scanning for the elusive figure, "Where is your Mr. Perfect?" she asks in a mocking voice, adding a touch of humor.
As Sakura asks, "Where is this Mr. Perfect?" Shanaya points towards Naruto's cabin, visible through the open blinds of Obito's cabin. Sakura's gaze follows Shanaya's direction, landing on a pair of hands diligently working on a PC, and a partial face turned away, engrossed in the screen.
Curiosity piqued, Sakura tries to get a better look inside the cabin. She notices several awards, including 'Best Employee of the Year', adorning his table. A goldfish bowl, placed on a stand beside his table, catches her eye.
Suddenly, an employee passing by accidentally grazes the goldfish bowl. It teeters rolls off the stand freefalling in the air threatening to crash onto the ground. But just in time, Naruto swiftly catches the bowl, saving the goldfish.
As he inspects the bowl, his face is revealed to Sakura. His golden smile radiates warmth, his glasses reflecting the soft light of the cabin. His neatly combed yellow-blonde hair adds to his charm, and his professional office attire speaks volumes about his meticulous personality. He exudes an aura of perfection, his every feature contributing to an impressive impression.
Intrigued and somewhat impressed, Sakura turns to Obito, "You may be right, he does look like Mr. Perfect." She then takes out her phone, capturing the image of the man who might just live up to his title.
I am really really sorry guys. I had planned to update it weekly but I had just got busy. Now I have completed my college and also found a job, So I will be free now for a couple of months. I promise I will update this every week now.
In the next chapter we will see how will the relation between Naruto and Sakura / Sasuke and Sakura proceeds.
Every one is office thinks Naruto is , but we know better don't we ;)
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