Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Did he regret what he had done? Sometimes, late at night when the compound was silent and he walked the mostly deserted paths, there he may come upon the young woman, hair sticking to her sweat dripped skin. He would watch her move through the routine no matter how hard or how much pain showed in her face. Then he would regret it.
But with the dawn he would return to the same impassive countenance that broke her down. Bit by bit he watched her die inside, and everyday he wondered what made her keep living with that smile on her face. What gave her such strength to face him with such a tender and kind voice, even if it shook with fear?
That day was no different, or so he had thought when she entered his office, eyes downcast as if in an eternal apology for her failure. He waited for her to speak, waited to hear what she dared think was important enough to disturb him. How ever could he prepare himself for her trembling words?
"I'm leaving, Father."
"I don't need to know every time you leave. It is a waste of my time," he reprimanded her without even looking up.
"No, Father. I am leaving here permanently."
Hiashi looked up, finally acknowledging the woman that once was his child. Why did her voice not seem to waver that time? "If you want to live outside the compound that can be arranged. However, coming to me like this is hardly helping you."
"Father, I am leaving today. My things are already gone and he is waiting for me at the gates. I only wanted to tell you good-bye."
Her eyes were staring into his now, resolute. Had her head been up the whole time? "You will obey my orders, Hinata. Hyuugas live here unless I give permission. And who, is 'he'?" Hiashi could have checked himself, but he wanted her to say it.
"Naruto-kun is waiting for me. I am leaving with him. And I do not have to get your permission, since as of last night I am no longer a Hyuuga. My name is Uzumaki Hinata, and I have made my decision."
He could see it when she spoke his name, a softness that appeared despite what she was doing. Hiashi approached her, fury simmering beneath his calm façade. "Do you think you can stop being a Hyuuga just like that? As long as you have those eyes you are a Hyuuga."
"Would you like them, then? The choice is yours, but with or without these eyes I am leaving here today to go live with my husband."
Hiashi was taken aback. Who was this woman in front of him? Could it really be that child that used to cling to his leg, frightened of the world if he didn't make it safe? Did he really raise this person?
No. He broke her. Scolded her. Struck at everything that gave her strength. He wanted to keep her the child he remembered, relying on his strength and looking up to him. He wanted to keep her locked up and away so that no one could take her. If no one had intervened she would be his still. But she wasn't anymore. He had lost her.
Hiashi took her hand, no longer small and fragile in his, and pulled her close. Around her shoulders he wrapped his arms and found his hold full of the daughter he once could hide in his embrace. Tightly. He needed to hold her tightly or else she would be gone. She would disappear forever from his life if he couldn't keep her in his arms. He could feel her arms on his back, and into his ear a soft whisper, like the memory of a breeze. "Good-bye, Father."
And she was gone.