"I don't know what you're talking about." Midnight blue tresses swayed as a hand thudded against the wall next to her head.

She bit her lip and looked down before glaring up in defiance at the man before her.

"What's wrong with you?" He questioned. His eyes momentarily sent her an apologetic look before he quickly masked it and bent lower. He inched closer to her face.

"This wasn't an issue before was it? I thought you didn't give a-"

Her hand suddenly shot up to clutch his shoulder. Her expression softened as a look of longing filled her eyes.

"I don't." she interrupted softly. Her arm pulled him closer to her face. "I don't care about that other woman! But I-I..."

She balled her fist in the cloth of his shirt and looked away with a furrow in her eyebrows.

Their eyes connected once more as delicate hands slowly slid across his shoulder to his neck and rested at his nape.

"I..." Silence.

She released a heavy breath and sagged her shoulders.

'I've been craving you?', 'I'm yours?'

She had to stifle her look of disapproval at the next choice of words.

Just like that, the atmosphere of the scene popped and fizzled away much to the despair of the director.

She let go of the man.

The script read that at this point she should be arching her chest into him and breathing his name in passion. She shuddered.

"What happened?!" the director screeched, hands thrashing forward to clutch the small monitor screen before her in what looked like pain. The crew members flinched around her. She was .2 cm from knocking out the poor guy behind her trying to maneuver a way to safely put down her meal without getting wrecked by her dynamic movement.

"The feeling! The emotion! The tension was so strong. The scene was executed almost flawlessly up until that point!"

In between her streams of unintelligble grumbles and cries, the woman was swatting away the awkward comforting pats from other crew members.

It was happening all day like this. The indigo haired actress would reel them all in with her beautiful words and twinkling eyes and just as they found themselves leaning on the edge of their seats for the biggest moments, she'd abruptly stop and destroy the feeling of it completely.

It was a vicious routine for the overly passionate director demon-sama, Arada Mitsuki.

The actor beside her gave his own awkward wince. This was probably the fifth-no sixth take on this one scene? He lost count.

His arm and face disappeared from her personal bubble. He nonchalantly stepped away from Hinata's literal spotlight with the director demon. He was definitely just an extra standing in place for the famed leading man, but hey, he wondered if he could get paid a little more for the extra shots.

Hinata shook her head and bowed deeply.

She gave a sheepish smile. "Mitsuki-san, even with Haru-san substituting I still seem to be having a difficulty grasping the idea of it."

The director sweat dropped. She rapidly flipped through some of the more successful, challenging scenes made that day in confusion. She was two seconds from calling bullshit.

Her skills were more than capable to execute her artistic vision!

"The idea?" She smiled tightly, trying to get the actress to elaborate. Nervous cries from her crew members could be heard as the woman gripped tighter to the edges of the expensive monitor.

Hinata looked at the script sprawled on her chair across the set. She had to stop her mouth from curling into a small grimace at the stage directions and next couple of lines on the page.

She didn't understand how wrapping her legs around his waist and being carried to the bed would be a normal progression for two characters who were in the middle of arguing.

She glanced at the bed in the corner of the room like it was on fire and turned back to the woman.

"I just don't think I've gotten used to the idea of this kind of romance yet I guess. Maybe it will be easier when Naruto-san is finally here to act with me." she reasoned.

She imagined his bright easygoing personality and gave a small smile. Yes, if it's going to be with anyone, it'd be the easiest with someone as sunny and as understanding as him.

The director thought back to the countless tear-jerking scenes that the indigo-haired Hyuga was famed for and twitched.

It was like having everything she's pictured and nothing of it all at once. She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted with her phone ringing.

After a slight pause, the director huffed dramatically. "Okay okay okay." She waved her hand in dismissal, her animation slowly fading if only a little. Sighs of relief could be heard once her hands let go of the equipment. "The heavens know how much the agency has prepared you for his return." She said in an unnaturally bright tone, seeming to be trying to convince herself. She got up and motioned for the cameras to shut off.

"Let's call it a day and start up from here first thing tomorrow!" Mitsuki called, ignoring another round of collective sighs of relief and the handkerchiefs patting stressed sweaty foreheads. One of the crew members practically ran with his handkerchief to assess for damage on any of the equipment the woman touched.

Mitsuki turned to her ringing cellphone, instantly brightening a couple notches or four.

"Hello? Ah yes, Director Tsunade! To what do I owe the pleasure?" The demon director walked out of the set and the room filled with the buzz of murmurs and the rustling of equipment.

Hinata picked up her booklet and began to collect her belongings. It wasn't that she couldn't execute the emotions of her character. Heavens knew how many times she's acted the same scenes growing up in the Hyuga Studios and she'd spent all of last week practicing with Neji and Hanabi over and over again until she was ready to implode.

It was more the idea of putting out an image so completely mature and... progressive compared to her previous characters that made her hesitate and cringe in the build-up of the actual moments on set.

'I've been craving you, I'm yours'? She shook her head. The passion literally made no sense to her.

Her phone chimed, signaling that Kurenai-sensei was outside waiting for her.

She quickly said her goodbyes to the cast and crew before slipping out the doors and hurrying to her sensei's RAV4.

"Hina-chan!" a bubbly voice called out from inside the car. Hinata brightened,

"Ino! What are you doing here?"

The blonde pouted from her spot in the passenger's seat, "Did you already forget your promise to treat us out? In celebration for your upcoming debut?"

She grinned at Hinata's delayed look of realization.

"So how was it?" Kurenai asked once Hinata closed the door and got in. She was smiling kindly at her pretty protege, turning back in her seat to try to adjust Mirai's car seat.

Hinata smiled at the sleeping baby and reached out to fix it for her. She turned to the two women and let out a dejected huff.

"It's very... different." She uttered, thinking about the proximity of the leading man and all the lights, eyes, and cameras that followed her every move. She was used to sharing attention with her family.

Since she was eight she practically grew up on sets racked with the havoc caused by Neji and Hanabi's arguments. Her father was always an intimidating yet comforting figure with his stern roles and commanding gazes next to the director. And she couldn't forget Ko running around backstage frantically making sure everything was perfect.

Kurenai gave her a sympathetic smile, "Ah, it's a lot different from Hyuga Studios projects huh?"

Hinata nodded. ASF was nothing like her family's productions. The Hyuga family has always been an indispensable element in the show business of historical dramas and projects about deeply rooted family affairs.

They took home loads of awards for their movies on anything from samurai to yokai, to ninjas and historical wars to rich feuding families, assassinations and inheritance battles.

Their projects were always melodramatic and centered on older more famililal drama so Hinata grew in fame mostly from secondary roles as the noble princess or the girl who fell victim to the assassination attempts and kidnappings.

"It honestly feels forced going straight into mature themes." She said truthfully.

"Mature?" Ino whipped around in astonishment. "Mature as in- Our innocent princess angel Hinata acting acts for the mature?" she gave a mock gasp that Kurenai chuckled to.

Hinata only sighed and shook her head "Barely." She leaned her head on the window. "If I keep this up, The Director might actually implode if I don't start acting the scenes successfully next time."

She shuddered, recalling the nervous crew members and the red face of Director demon, Arashi Mitsuki.

Ever since she turned 19, Hyuga Studios started to push her away from their projects toward ASF ones.

'Hanabi's adorable youth was to replace her previous roles' they proclaimed. They thought that the nineteen year old should start representing the Hyugas in the growing hype of teen romance and comedy now that she was of age.

She agreed wholeheartedly, thinking it'd be a nice challenge to take on lighter genres. She didn't know that her first project would actually be a fiery romance. She sighed again.

Kurenai's eyes flickered to her on the rearview window and softened.

"Cheer up Hinata" She encouraged gently. The red-eyed woman knew that it was a strange transition for the young woman.

Even watching from the sidelines, Kurenai felt foreign looking at her Hinata-chan portraying such romantically passionate characters.

"Don't forget how prepared you are for the next couple of steps. You're so close to your debut!" she added.

Ino grinned knowingly, turning back in her seat to give Hinata a wink. "And I heard that Uzumaki Naruto's gonna be boarding his plane back soon." She said teasingly.

Hinata's eyebrows raised in surprise. The two women laughed and Hinata covered her blushing face with a hand.

"You haven't even met him yet and your reaction to his homecoming is so adorable!" Ino cooed, her eyes could've made heart eyes at this point. Hinata only groaned in embarrassment.

"It's not that!" Hinata waved her hands in defense. "It's just that his arrival means the love team plans are gonna start soon."

Naruto featured once in a Hyuga Studios movie that premiered in October. The project caught a lot of praises and although they didn't officially talk at all, the ASF board was impressed with her rising demand and popularity and called her to be his next prospective love team candidate.

Now that he's finally back, it'd only be a matter of time before she'd have to say goodbye to all of her privacy.

Hinata thought it wouldn't be so bad if it was with Naruto-san. But just thinking about the intimacy that they'll have to act out on and off camera was heart pounding.

Kurenai chuckled, "Stop harassing her Ino! You should focus on the work you have lined for you once she starts getting on camera" She scolded lightly.

""Oh speaking of, I'm so ready!" Ino began gushing. "I literally have so many outfits planned. Hobo chic, date night chic, casual chic, sporty chic, you will SERVE looks 25/8 Hinata!" The blond stylist declared. She clasped her hands together in excitement.

"Hobo chic?" Kurenai made a face.

Ino reached into her bag to pull up a few ideas on her phone, "Old people and their lack of knowledge about anything hip these days." She rolled her eyes playfully. "Here let me show you!"

Kurenai sweat dropped, realizing she actually triggered the blue-eyed women. "Let's figure out where to eat before anything!" She voiced quickly.

Hinata was busy thinking about the love team plan. She shook her head to stop fretting. With the amount of workshops and intensives she's gone through she'd be more than fine. Everything will be smooth and successful.

"How about that tea house with the famous Chirashi sushi?" Hinata finally piped in. "I think Hanabi also wanted to try it out," she said, fishing for her phone to call her sister.

She abruptly froze at the words on the screen.

4 missed calls from Director Tsunade.

Two text messages from Kakashi-san

What the...

"Aa, yes thank you for coming in Hinata," Tsunade said with a calculating glint in her eyes. She propped her face into a hand and studied the anxious bluenette before her. A sense of satisfaction washed over her just thinking about the bucket loads of money the girl stood for.

She almost laughed at the deja vu. It looked like the two raven-haired teens already shared something in common.

Two things. She actually laughed out loud. Raven hair.

"Have you been drinking Tsunade-sama." Shizune blinked. The busty blonde sobered quickly and waved a hand dismissively.

"That's really not important. Anyway, once again, thank you for coming in I know it was a short notice and you're a very busy girl." Tsunade leaned back in her chair, giving the bluenette a welcoming smile.

She felt kind of sorry to be putting this angelic child up for a brat like the Uchiha, but happiness is money and money was everything so these kids... oh these kids were everything.

Hinata visibly relaxed at the lack of anger in her superior. This whole time she'd been expecting the worst ever since she saw those missed calls in the car. She bowed her head lightly.

"No, it's my pleasure Tsunade-sama, I'm so sorry for coming in late" she gave a grateful smile for the woman's understanding.

She shook her head for fretting so much. And Ino told me that this woman has been known to be 'a conniving b-

"Oh no no, don't worry. I just wanted to let you know that there seems to be a few changes." Hinata's smile dropped a millimeter or two. Changes?

"Ah... you mean... changes in my debut plan?"

Tsunade smiled apologetically. Dread slowly washed over the heiress.

"Sorry to interrupt but Kakashi-san seems to have arrived Tsunade-sama." Shizune chimed, putting her cellphone away after reading the notification.

"So soon?" Tsunade replied in astonishment. Shizune pulled out her phone once again.

"It seems the Uchiha received your plan." Shizune reread. The twist of a smirk gave the secretary chills. Shizune laughed nervously.

"Please be gentle at least for her sake." Shizune nudged her head in Hinata's direction with sympathy.

"My sake?" Hinata piped up questioningly, growing more and more nervous by the second.

"And here I was hoping for a more dramatic introduction." Tsunade sighed excessively and turned to the lavender-eyed girl.

"There seems to be extenuating circumstances that have pointed Naruto and you into different directions."

Hinata paled, cocking her head in confusion.

"In other words Hinata, you're in high demand!" She proclaimed with lifted hands.

"And so is Naruto!" She continued. "You already know the idea of it: People have been raving about your passion and beauty in 'Spirit Realm' and they're getting antsy that you haven't been paired with anyone and yes yes this calls for a Love team yes." She waved her hand as she reviewed what was told to her in November when they first called her in.

"But unfortunately, Naruto has been in high demand for action and fantasy.This year, he's been making moves, with the board's approval of course, into your genre just as you are moving out of it. Do you get what I'm saying?" Her voice softened at the end, giving the girl a sympathetic look.

Hinata nodded slowly, a bit numb to Tsunade's words. She honestly had no idea how she was gonna carry out the plan without Naruto. Or what she would tell her father. The panic was steadily gripping her like a vice.

"But," Tsunade trailed, handing her a paper and flipping her computer screen.

"It seems that the board isn't quite ready to give up on your talents." She said, the glint in her eyes returning.

Hinata turned to the screen and almost choked on air.

Tsunade smirked, "They're very creative no? I was surprised my-"

THUD.

"Hinata? Hinata!" Shizune rushed to the heiress' fallen body.

"Tsunade-sama!" The secretary berated accusingly. "Why would you show her that one out of the thousands we found?!" She frantically shook the unresponsive Hyuga, the copy of Sasuke's reentry contract flopping in the air.

Tsunade turned to the screen in confusion. Was the Hyuga that disgusted with the Uchiha? Sure she could relate but-

Oh.

It was an M-rated fan art of a steamy Uchiha and Hyuga in the shower.

Heh. Oops.

"I never even got to explain in words, damn." She huffed and leaned back in her chair. "Good ass fan artists." Tsunade sighed and reached for her sake. "They should honestly get paid."

A/N: Annnnnnd that's it for this chapter! Sorry if it's a bit slow but I wanted to get all the world building/background stuff out the way and introduce them first before things get juicy heh heh. Anyway, look forward to some sasuhina action next chapter :)) Thank you so much for all of the reviews, follows, and favorites, seriously, it means so much to me and you inspire me to keep going :")

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