- Vacation?! Are you crazy? I've got a business to save! - Madara was pacing from corner to corner of the room like a caged lion.

- Firstl, you shouldn't yell at me. I'm much better with a calm tone. Second, I'm not saying you have to give up everything. I'm talking about delegating. So you won't stretch yourself to the limits and beyond. You're not working alone, you know, - Naruto, assuming the conversation wasn't going to be easy, had mentally prepared himself and was now the very serenity.

- Fuck, I'm the head of a corporation! Believe me, I know more about the division of duties than you do. - The Uchiha did tone it down a bit. - This isn't the time when I can hire new employees.

- Nobody said that. It's enough that the old ones are more efficient. You, for example.

Madara choked on his saliva at the insolence. Then he squinted his eyes and smirked.

- Any suggestions? - He asked coolly.

-Well, from what I've heard and seen today, it looks like you try to be in all places at once. Why did you hire all your staff then? - Uzumaki took a sip of the cocoa his secretary made him and continued. - And your daily routine isn't really conducive to health, you know.

-You sound like my wife.

-She must be a smart woman.

-Well, you'll get to know her and decide. - Madara pressed a phone button. - Akiko, invite Sakura over.

A minute later, the door opened, and a slender young woman walked in.

Naruto raised his eyebrows in surprise - Madara was in his forties, and he assumed his wife must be his age. But Sakura looked like she was the same age as Uzumaki.

-Is this the specialist you mentioned, Madara-sama?

-Yes, Sakura, this is Uzumaki Naruto, - the Uchiha hesitated, searching for words to describe the blond man's activities, - He's...

-The man who made my husband get a good night's sleep for the first time in six months. My respects, Naruto-san. - Sakura nodded to him with dignity, putting her palm to her chest. - I know what it takes to talk this stubborn man down when it comes to work.

The three of them spent the next hour discussing how to work together. Madara watched in amazement as the two of them nearly sang along pretty soon. Sakura laughed at Naruto's jokes, and he responded by genuinely admiring her intelligence, youth, and beauty. And even though Uzumaki clarified that he was unlikely to join them in sex - "for you I'd rather be something like a coach, you'll just do the exercises I give you" - still Madara felt uneasy and mild jealousy pricks.

Sakura had never once given a reason to question her fidelity to him. God, she'd even agreed to a threesome and a call girl for Madara, just to get his good spirits and an erection back. But he got a stinging feeling in the pit of his stomach as she smiled and chatted with Naruto so easily and openly.

-Honey, is everything all right? You're looking at Naruto-san like a big bad wolf, - Sakura caught the change in her husband's mood. And he kinda thought she figured out the reason.

-I'm just hungry, that's all. Maybe we could continue our conversation over the lunch?

But Naruto, who was watching Uchiha out of the corner of his eye and also noticed his eyebrows shifting closer to the bridge of his nose, objected:

-No. It's about time we actually started the work. What have you been thinking for the last ten minutes, Madara?

-I told you, I've been hungry and...

-I thought we agreed that honesty with each other was the key to successful work, didn't we? Sakura-san's presence does not invalidate that rule.

-I fucking well remember that and...- Madara suppressed his anger when he saw Naruto's darkened eyes. The boy, for all his outwardly peaceful nature, seemed capable of hurling thunder and lightning as well. With a single glance.

-...I'm not ready to share my thoughts just yet. We talked about that too, I remember.

Uchiha managed to pull out a good face in a bad game.

-Okay. - Naruto's gaze relaxed momentarily, as if nothing had happened. - Then you, Sakura-san. How did you feel just now, looking at your husband?

-Well, I have a strong feeling that he doesn't like the way I talk to you, Naruto.

-Tsk, - damn woman's intuition! He hated to admit she was right! It was as if he'd been caught redhanded in something shameful, which was exactly how Madara felt right now. - Fuck! Yes, I look at you two - and I'm getting jealous of my wife, Naruto! - He exploded after all.

Unlike Sakura, Uzumaki wasn't the least bit surprised.

-That's better! - He was quite genuinely pleased.

-What's so good about it? - Uchiha grimaced.

-Now that I understand the reason for your behavior, we can develop a strategy to deal with the situation. What do you think of the idea of putting our agreements on paper? It could include my interactions with Sakura-san and penalties for what you consider to be inappropriate words and actions. Would that ease your anxiety? - It sounded like it was all premeditated, as if Naruto had anticipated such a reaction from Uchiha.

-But how can I be totally sure that you two behind my back aren't...

The brunette hesitated, glancing at his wife: Sakura looked hurt.

-Madara-sama! Is that what you think of me! Do you really not trust me that much? - Sakura's voice changed, becoming softer, with a hint of pain in it.

Uchiha felt guilty.

-Madara, let's try to find a common solution to the problem. Such as... - Naruto calmly tried to reason him.

-No.- Uchiha suddenly made his decision. - I want to trust you, Sakura. And you, Naruto. I think that would be good for me.

-I'd still like to...- Uzumaki realized that it was hard to break the principles that had been building up all his life at once. The business world is harsh, an agreement on paper creates at least some sort of (even if illusional sometimes) security and calms the mind. The last thing Madara needed was to worry about whether his wife was having an affair with Uzumaki.

-Don't be. It's already important to me the way you're trying to ensure my peace of mind.

Leaving the Uchiha Corporation building, Naruto went to a familiar coffee shop. He needed to think about what to do next for all the customers, to make a plan for the week. This is gonna be a busy one: he had to discuss the orientation of one client with his parents, for another client he needed to think of a plan for physical interaction.

And after the meeting with Madara and his wife, another difficulty arose. And what it was, Naruto was able to realize for himself only now - after a couple of hours gone.

He was really attracted to Sakura.