-XXX-

SASUKE

When I returned to my office, Miss Haruno was sitting upright at her desk. Even though she was now on the phone, I could feel her watching me like a vulture. No doubt she was eagerly waiting for me to take my anger out on her for some kind of minor mistake I'd made up on a whim today. But that little girl is wrong, because from now on it's going to look very different between us.

But instead I just nodded a greeting to her as I passed her and went on to my office. I knew that when I got to work I had to check all the emails, messages, voicemails on my answering machine, and go through the stack of papers on my desk just waiting for my signature. However, I didn't feel like doing any of it, so I got up and went to look at the view of the city, which was spectacular from my office through the glass and soundproof wall. It was quiet everywhere. Both inside and outside.

Everything seemed different. It was as if this place where I was standing didn't relate to me. In the Namikaze Group, the sights and sounds were completely different. More alive, more joyful and full of energy.

When Danzo sometimes took me with him to his business meetings, I was tense and a little uncomfortable the whole time. It wasn't that I didn't trust myself, not at all. But Danzo had a way of spotting a weak spot in people, focusing on it and hitting it. Then everybody did what Danzo wanted. Willingly or unwillingly.

I hated his style of work, even though many would think otherwise. Yes, I didn't argue with clients either, but I knew where the acceptable line was. Danzo always crossed that line, and not always in legal ways. Bribery, blackmail, intimidation... They were effective methods, I'm not saying that. But it wasn't pleasant to look at, either.

I always thought that this approach was a daily routine in companies of great caliber, a daily bread. Until this moment, I didn't realize how wrong I was. Meeting Naruto's father, however, opened my eyes.

When I looked up info about Namikaze Group and about the man himself, to be prepared for the job interview, all I read everywhere was about how he and his company are one and the same. And how kind and generous he is. Truth be told, other than Danzo's disparaging and negative remarks about Namikaze, I haven't read or heard anything bad about him.

As we talked in the conference room and discussed my ideas for their shoe campaign, I felt an excitement I hadn't experienced in years. I felt creative and full of ideas again, like I did when I first started in this business after college. Namikaze listened to what I had to say, really listened. He encouraged my train of thought with positive comments and contributed his ideas to mine.

I myself was surprised at how new and refreshing teamwork can apparently be. I wondered what it would be like if I wasn't part of the ruthless world of ROOT Inc. I imagined what it might be like to work together with people, and exceptionally not against them. Would I be happier in my job? Would I find it more fulfilling than my current job? I was looking forward to the answers.

Right after our meeting ended, I realized that my reason for wanting to work at the Namikaze Group was no longer revenge alone. I longed to relive the excitement of working as I did when I started. To be proud of my unique campaigns and not to keep running the same stale campaigns like on a treadmill. I was snapped out of my thoughts by a loud slamming of the door. I frowned and turned to look at the person who walked rudely into my office.

"Danzo... You're lucky I didn't have a client here." I responded irritably. What does the old man think of himself that he doesn't even knock and storm into my office? "Miss Haruno told me you were in here. She called you, but you didn't answer." I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't hear the intercom. This is really the first time this has happened to me. "What do you need?"

Danzo straightened his shoulders as he prepared for our little exchange of opinions. "Where did you go this morning? I was looking for you, but you didn't answer your phone or respond to my messages." He said grumpily with a stern expression, squeezing his cane hard in his hand, which he was leaning on.

"I had a personal appointment."

"Your secretary told me you went to the doctor."

I knew Danzo was lying and trying to get me. One of the things Miss Haruno was unbearably good at was following my orders. But I looked surprised, as if I hadn't seen through his trickery.

"I have no idea why she would say such a thing to you. I didn't tell Miss Haruno where I was going. Like I said, it was a personal appointment."

He watched me suspiciously, but he let it go. He took a few steps closer to me and tapped his cane twice on the marble floor of my office. I don't know if it was meant to evoke fear or respect, but it never did anything to me. I had known this gesture from him for a long time, and like other things, I was fed up with it.

A murderous look settled in his eyes and he looked closely into my face. "What was that noisy boy doing here the other day? Naruto Uzumaki." I shrugged disinterestedly and sat down at my desk. It was now all too clear to me what this visit of his was really about.

"As the idiot would say, we're friends. We agreed to go to lunch."

"Couldn't you have done it over the phone?" He replied mockingly, because he disliked Naruto ever since I'd known Danzo.

"He was just down the road. He likes to flirt with Miss Haruno, so he came here in person. Is there a problem?"

"What are you up to?" He asked me with a bland face and I shook my head nonchalantly. "I'm not planning anything. Well, except for the arranged lunch. Check me out at eight-thirty on Friday at Ichiraku if you want." I challenged him, but I knew full well he would never show up there. I was pleased to see that Danzo was getting nervous about me always mysteriously disappearing somewhere, and Naruto was showing up more and more often. That meant my plan was on right track.

I picked up a stack of papers from the table that I had finished yesterday. "If you were interested in your employees, you'd find out that I have a lot of untaken days off. So I came later today."

"I'm watching you, Uchiha." He declared in warning, turning his back on me and storming out of my office. Of course, he didn't miss the opportunity to slam the door behind him making the windows rattle.

I'm watching you, old man.

I smirked at the door and reached across the table to reach the intercom button. When Miss Haruno answered, her voice sounded even more wary than ever. "Yes, Mr. Uchiha?" I told her I needed coffee and she nodded in agreement. "Anything else, sir?"

"A little of your time."

She took a deep breath, and I didn't know if it was annoyance at being asked to do something ridiculous again, or if she was genuinely worried about why I wanted to talk to her. "I'll be right there." I turned in my chair toward the window and sighed. I still couldn't believe I was about to make this proposal to her.

However, I could only hope it would work.

-XXX-

End of Chapter 6