Summary: Sasuke and Naruto wrote a song seven years ago before they gave up and threw it away.
When Sasuke hears Naruto singing on the radio, he wants to get his share of the credit.
An Interview with Sasuke Uchiha,
By Sakura Haruno
February 2006
In today's pop culture, Sasuke Uchiha is a prince. Only two years ago did he reach fame with the popular rock band Sound Five, and in that time has garnered fans nation wide. Last month, the extremely popular twenty-year old announced that he would be going solo from now on. Now, with his first single to be released soon and fans all over the country eagerly awaiting his next move, Sasuke is one of the most anticipated artists of the year. Today I had a chance to sit down with him for a chat…
Prologue
Enter Sasuke Uchiha
"I don't do these very often," Sasuke admitted, crossing his legs as he swept off the dark sunglasses. It was plain to see why he was the most popular boy his age nationwide. With such deep eyes, a pretty face with sharp features, and a gorgeous body, there was no doubt he was a rock star. Today he wore in-style jeans with rips and patches across the knees and thighs, with a white tank top under a bomber jacket.
"That's alright," Sakura told him, tucking strands of strawberry pink hair behind an ear. "The editor picked me personally to interview you, because she believed it would be easier for you to talk to someone your age." They sat in a French café, starting the interview over coffee.
"I appreciate the thought," Sasuke said with a tiny smile, one Sakura could tell didn't reach his eyes. "So, shall we get started?"
"Of course." Sakura took a small notebook and a tape recorder from her bag. She flipped through her notes and rested on a page. She looked it over and asked, "So Sasuke-san, are you excited about being a solo artist now?"
Sasuke shrugged. "I'm a little excited, I suppose. Being with Sound Five was really good for me, because it gave me time to learn how everything about this business works. I mean, if I had started out solo in the first place, I might have made it. My reputation as Itachi's younger brother might have taken me places, but in Sound Five, I didn't have to bear it alone. Even when it was a label-made band, Sound Five was really close. But I always saw myself doing everything myself."
"You mentioned your brother," Sakura noted, turning back in her notebook. "Itachi is the lead guitarist of The Akatsuki, isn't that right? How is your relationship with him?"
"The same as always," Sasuke said. "He's still my brother, you know? Even if he's a jerk sometimes, because he's really famous and all, and he still likes to remind me that he taught me how to play the guitar. But there are some times when we're just, you know, brothers."
"Let's talk about your single. That's all the girls ever talk about nowadays," Sakura told Sasuke with a smile. "Such as, what is it called? What's it about?"
Sasuke cocked his head to the side for a moment, thinking of how to answer the question. "I've been working really hard for the past few months. I've not only been working hard on the single, I've been writing a lot of songs so I can release an album later this year. The single coming out is going to have three tracks, no promotional videos, sorry. The song is named Rivals, and it's about well, rivals. How can I say anything about it without singing it? I started writing it back in junior high. Back then it wasn't the best song, but it stuck close to my heart, so I wrote it again for my debut. I could think of no other song I would rather use."
"Do you expect to make the Oricon charts?" Sakura inquired.
"Of course," Sasuke said. "In the top ten, at least."
"And speaking of rivals, do you have any of them?"
"Everyone else in the music industry," Sasuke replied. "Why do you ask?"
Sakura flipped to another page of her notebook and asked him, "Have you heard of Fox?" The English word rolled off her tongue smoothly. "He's a new face in the industry, signed up with Kanoha Productions last year. He's released a few singles, but his newest one is almost at number one in the Oricon charts. In an interview, he named you as his ultimate rival."
"Really," Sasuke deadpanned. "No, I haven't heard him yet. I've heard about him though, but I've never had the chance to listen to him yet. And I am bewildered as to why he names me as his rival, unless he's vying for the position of Most Popular Guy in our age group."
"That must be it," Sakura laughed. "Well, if you'd like to hear Fox play sometime, I have a few backstage passes…"
Sasuke coughed into his fist politely. "If you're asking me to go with you, I can't do that."
"Oh don't worry," Sakura told him. "I won't be in town for his show, so I'm giving away my tickets. Here," Sakura pulled an envelope out of her purse and handed it to him.
"It's alright, really," Sasuke insisted, pushing the envelope back to her. "I can't take it…"
"If you think you won't like his music, you should listen to his new song," Sakura told him. "From what you told me about Rivals, I'm sure you two have a lot in common. His music style is unique, but in a way similar to the couple songs you wrote when with Sound Five. You'll feel an affinity towards him, I promise."
"Where can I hear this song?" Sasuke asked sarcastically.
"I have it here on my cell phone," Sakura said, pulling out a skinny, bright pink phone. Before Sasuke could warn her about how unprofessional she was acting, she had turned on a song and put the volume all the way up.
A slightly nasally baritone sang over a soft piano melody before the drums crashed in.
"I'm going to show you
up.
I'm going to prove to
you
That I'm gonna make
the cut,
And the one who's out
is you."
Sakura watched as Sasuke's face paled in shock. It was the most emotion she had gotten out of him yet, and all she had done was show him a song! Sasuke quickly shook himself out of his stupor, and narrowed his eyebrows, glaring at the pink phone.
Sasuke knew that voice. He would recognize it if he were deaf. How dare he!
end./prologue