Chapter Text
Sasuke Uchiha stood in front of the vanity mirror in his private dressing room, jaw clenched as he let Ino fuss with his hair. His dark locks, naturally unruly, were being gelled into submission for his next scene. Ino hummed thoughtfully, her blue eyes sparkling as she leaned closer, feigning professionalism.
“I think the slicked-back look suits you best,” she murmured, fingers brushing against his temple. “It highlights your cheekbones.”
Sasuke barely glanced at her through the mirror, his expression cold. “Do whatever gets this over with faster.”
Ino pouted but didn’t stop her ministrations. Across the room, Sakura Haruno sat on a plush chair, pretending to check her tablet while stealing glances at Sasuke. She cleared her throat, hoping to catch his attention.
“Sasuke, I reviewed the scene for today,” Sakura began, her tone overly professional to mask her nervousness. “It’s pretty intense, but I know you’ll nail it like always.”
“Obviously,” Sasuke replied curtly, adjusting the cuff of his tailored shirt. “Anything else?”
Sakura’s shoulders drooped slightly, but she covered it with a forced smile. “No, just… wanted to make sure you’re ready.”
Before the tension could thicken, the door burst open, and Naruto Uzumaki strode in like a whirlwind of energy.
“Sasuke! Can you believe it? We’re finally working together again!” Naruto beamed, slapping Sasuke on the back. His loud laugh echoed in the small room, making both Ino and Sakura wince.
Sasuke shrugged Naruto’s hand off. “Don’t touch me.”
“Aw, come on!” Naruto teased, unfazed. “It’s been years since we shared the screen. This series is gonna be huge!” He spun around dramatically, pretending to bask in an imaginary spotlight. “The stoic lead and his hilarious sidekick—audiences are gonna love us!”
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. “You’re not the sidekick. Stay out of my scenes.”
Naruto laughed louder, clearly enjoying Sasuke’s irritation. “You’ve got no sense of humor, bastard. That’s why you need me to keep things interesting!”
Ino finally stepped back, admiring her work. “Perfect, as always,” she announced, but Sasuke had already moved past her, grabbing the jacket draped over the chair.
He walked toward the hallway, his long strides leaving everyone scrambling to keep up. Naruto jogged beside him, still rambling, while Ino and Sakura exchanged subtle glares before hurrying after them.
As they reached the set, the sleek, modern studio buzzed with activity—lights being adjusted, crew members shouting instructions, and cameras being fine-tuned. Sasuke surveyed the chaos with a calm, practiced detachment, while Naruto gawked like it was his first time on a set.
“This place is insane!” Naruto exclaimed, waving at a passing cameraman. “Hey, buddy!”
Sasuke ignored him, focusing instead on the director, who gestured for him to head toward the main stage. Before he could take another step, Shikamaru Nara appeared from the sidelines, his hands shoved deep into his pockets and his face twisted in annoyance.
“Troublesome,” Shikamaru muttered as he fell in step with Sasuke. “Your PR team is a disaster. They’re lucky I’m too lazy to fire them right now.”
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. “What’s the problem this time?”
“They can’t handle the media fallout from the last premiere,” Shikamaru replied, yawning mid-sentence. “And don’t get me started on how badly they botched the social media campaign. I’ve been in meetings all morning, and the studio’s considering switching to a new team.”
Sasuke’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Do what you want. Just make sure it doesn’t interfere with production.”
Naruto leaned closer, smirking. “Is the PR team that bad? Maybe they’re distracted because you’re so charming.”
Sasuke shot him a glare. “Shut up.”
Shikamaru rubbed his temples. “If they don’t get their act together, it’s going to reflect on you, Sasuke. And I don’t have the energy to clean up another mess.”
“Then handle it,” Sasuke said simply, his tone icy.
Before Shikamaru could reply, a voice called out from across the set. “Sasuke, we’re ready for the next scene!”
He nodded sharply and walked toward the stage, leaving Naruto and Shikamaru behind. As he passed through the chaotic set, he caught glimpses of familiar faces at work.
Tenten, the show’s social media strategist, was busy snapping photos for Sasuke’s next promotional post, her sharp focus making her oblivious to the noise around her. Choji, the event coordinator, was reviewing a catering list while chatting with one of the directors. Kiba, the on-set photographer, was reviewing angles with a videographer.
Sasuke ignored them all, stepping under the glaring lights of the main stage. The weight of the production settled over him like a second skin. This was his domain—the place where he thrived, no matter the chaos behind the scenes.
“Quiet on set!” the director called.
Sasuke took a deep breath, his icy demeanor transforming into the simmering intensity of the character he was about to play.
“Action!”
_______
Hinata Hyuga sat at her neatly organized desk, the faint hum of the office's air conditioning her only companion. A blank document glared at her from her laptop screen, the cursor blinking impatiently, demanding words she didn’t feel like typing. Beside her, a legal pad was half-covered in scratched-out phrases.
“Dear media outlets, we regret to inform you...” she muttered under her breath, resting her chin on her hand. Nothing sounded sincere enough.
The client in question, a well-known actor, had been caught cheating—yet another scandal in an industry that seemed to churn them out weekly. Hinata’s fingers hovered over the keyboard before she sighed and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment.
It was always the same. A man with a perfect public image, revered by fans and respected by peers, shattered his reputation with one stupid decision. And yet, instead of worrying about the person they betrayed, they were more concerned about their public apology, their image, their next paycheck.
“I’m so sorry for the pain I’ve caused...,” she mocked softly, reciting the typical lines. They didn’t care about their partners. Not really. They just wanted to salvage their careers.
Hinata’s stomach churned at the thought. This would be her last job with this client. Thankfully, the contract was set to expire after this campaign. She wouldn’t have to deal with his insincere remorse much longer.
A chime from her phone interrupted her thoughts. Picking it up, she idly scrolled through notifications, skimming headlines and work emails. But one image caught her eye—a photo of Naruto Uzumaki, plastered across a glossy entertainment page.
“Naruto Uzumaki Joins Cast of Highly Anticipated Series,” the headline read. The accompanying photo showed him grinning brightly, his signature golden hair ruffled and his blue eyes sparkling with excitement.
Hinata froze, her thumb hovering above the screen. Her chest tightened, and her fingers reflexively clenched the phone a little too hard. She stared at his face, a flood of memories rushing in unbidden.
She remembered the early days of their relationship—when he’d still been a struggling comedy actor, full of dreams and boundless energy. He’d been magnetic, drawing people in with his infectious laughter and sunny optimism. Hinata had been one of those people, quietly admiring him from the sidelines until he finally noticed her.
They’d been happy once. Or at least, she thought they had.
Her heart ached as she remembered the late-night walks through the city, where he’d talk endlessly about his aspirations while she listened, content to just be by his side. She’d believed in him, supported him, loved him with everything she had.
But as his career took off, things changed.
The time he used to spend with her became swallowed up by meetings, shoots, and events. She tried to understand—it was his dream, after all—but the distance between them grew, no matter how much she tried to bridge it.
And then there were the rumors.
Tabloids whispering about him getting too close to his co-stars. Photos of him at parties she hadn’t even known about, surrounded by people she’d never met. He always denied it, brushing it off with a laugh or a joke, telling her not to believe everything she read.
But the worst part was how invisible she started to feel.
Hinata swallowed hard, staring down at her phone as her vision blurred. The memory of their last fight hit her like a cold wave.
“You don’t understand what it’s like, Hinata!” he’d shouted, his voice echoing in her small apartment. His frustration had been palpable, his usually warm eyes clouded with irritation.
“Maybe I don’t,” she’d said quietly, tears streaming down her face. “But I’ve been trying, Naruto. I’ve been trying so hard, and I feel like... like I’m not enough.”
He hadn’t denied it.
That silence had been the nail in the coffin.
They broke up the next day. He’d left her life just as quickly as he’d entered it, taking his sunshine with him.
Now, staring at his smiling face on her phone screen, Hinata felt a mix of emotions she couldn’t untangle. Anger, sadness, regret—they all swirled together in a storm that made her chest feel heavy.
She locked her phone and placed it face-down on the desk, exhaling shakily.
Naruto had moved on. Of course he had. He was thriving, living the life he always dreamed of, surrounded by people who adored him.
And her?
She was stuck, cleaning up the messes of men like him.
The silence in Hinata's office broke with the soft knock of knuckles on the door. Before she could respond, Shino Aburame stepped inside, his usual calm demeanor exuding an air of quiet authority.
“Hinata,” he began, his tone measured as always. “I just spoke with Kiba. He mentioned something interesting that might be worth your attention.”
Hinata looked up from the blank document on her laptop, grateful for the distraction from her swirling thoughts about Naruto. She leaned back in her chair, gesturing for him to continue.
“Apparently,” Shino continued, stepping closer, “Sasuke Uchiha’s PR team is failing to meet expectations. Shikamaru Nara, his manager, is reportedly looking for new representation.”
Hinata blinked. “Sasuke Uchiha? The actor?”
Shino nodded, taking a seat across from her desk. “Yes. He’s been gaining traction recently, but his team’s lackluster handling of media and scandals is holding him back. From what I’ve heard, Shikamaru’s patience is running thin, and he’s open to working with someone new. I think it’s an opportunity we shouldn’t ignore.”
Hinata frowned, tapping her fingers lightly against her desk. “Sasuke Uchiha... I know the name, but I haven’t followed his career closely. Is he worth the trouble?”
Shino adjusted his glasses. “He has potential. He’s not just another drama actor; he has a natural screen presence that draws people in. With the right team behind him, he could move from being a mid-level star to a household name. First-list material, as they say.”
Hinata hesitated. The idea of taking on someone like Sasuke was daunting. Actors of his caliber often came with a mountain of baggage—scandals, egos, and an endless stream of drama that PR teams were left to clean up. After the exhausting mess with her current client, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to dive into another whirlwind.
“Think about it,” Shino urged. “If we succeed in rebranding him, it could elevate our agency’s reputation. And from what I’ve seen, Sasuke is... different. He doesn’t seek attention like some of these other celebrities. He could be a refreshing change.”
Hinata sighed, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her desk. “Alright. I’ll look into it. But no promises. If his history is too much to handle, I’m not wasting my energy.”
Shino nodded, satisfied. “Fair enough. Let me know what you decide.”
As he left the room, Hinata pulled her phone closer and typed “Sasuke Uchiha” into the search bar. The screen populated with articles, interviews, and social media accounts in seconds.
She scrolled through his official Instagram account first. It was exactly what she expected: professionally curated posts showcasing his on-screen roles, behind-the-scenes moments, and the occasional posed photo of him looking brooding and mysterious.
“Standard drama actor,” she muttered under her breath.
Her thumb paused over a recent post—a candid shot of Sasuke on set, his dark eyes staring off into the distance as if lost in thought. The comments were flooded with adoration: “Sasuke is a masterpiece in human form!” “Can’t wait to see you in the new series!” “Marry me, Sasuke!”
Hinata rolled her eyes but kept scrolling. It didn’t take long for the polished facade to crack as she dove deeper into the internet’s archives.
A headline caught her attention: “Sasuke Uchiha and His Leading Lady: On-Screen Chemistry Spills Off-Screen?” The article detailed an alleged affair with one of his co-stars, complete with blurry paparazzi photos of them having dinner at an upscale restaurant.
Another tabloid claimed he’d had a fling with his former assistant, a scandal that had been quietly buried by his PR team.
And then there was the family drama. Hinata frowned as she clicked on an article featuring a picture of Sasuke and his older brother.
Itachi’s face was impossible to ignore. He was a legend in the film industry, though not for his looks or on-screen charisma. Instead, he was celebrated as an award-winning screenwriter, crafting stories that captivated audiences and earned critical acclaim. His name appeared in the credits of some of the highest-grossing and most beloved films of the decade.
The article, however, wasn’t focused on his career achievements.
“Behind the Curtain: Tensions Between the Uchiha Brothers Escalate,” the headline read. Beneath it, a journalist delved into the often-speculated rift between the siblings.
While Itachi was the quiet genius behind many blockbuster successes, Sasuke was fighting to make a name for himself in front of the camera. The media often pit them against each other, contrasting Itachi’s steady rise to Sasuke’s more turbulent career path.
“Sources close to the brothers suggest that Sasuke resents constantly being compared to Itachi. Despite their different roles in the industry, the shadow cast by Itachi’s success looms large over Sasuke’s career.”
Hinata felt a pang of sympathy as she read on. The article painted Sasuke as someone forever chasing recognition, while Itachi remained an untouchable figure of perfection. Even their rare joint appearances at industry events were dissected by tabloids, searching for signs of friction.
The idea of working with someone like Sasuke—a man trying to step out of his brother’s shadow while navigating the pressures of the public eye—felt daunting. But it also piqued her interest.
She leaned back in her chair, her mind churning. Sasuke wasn’t just another pretty face embroiled in petty scandals. His story was layered, with personal and professional stakes that could make or break him. If handled correctly, helping Sasuke redefine his public image could be a career-defining challenge for her as well.
Hinata glanced at her blank laptop screen again, the apology statement still waiting to be written. For the first time that day, she felt a flicker of excitement. Maybe Shino was right. Maybe this was an opportunity worth pursuing.
Closing the article. She had no time for idle speculation. There was work to be done. She opened a new document and began drafting an email. If Shikamaru was indeed looking for a new PR team, she intended to make sure hers was at the top of the list.