A/N- I thought of this while on the bus this morning and the plot bunnies wouldn't leave me alone!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any characters/settings affiliated with it. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Even with his byakugan, Hyuuga Hiashi is a blind man.
True, he can see the tenketsu of others and spot a fellow shinobi's chakra system easily. And he has no problem seeing through his enemies attacks and defenses, but Hyuuga Hiashi is blind to what goes on in his own compound.
He believes his daughters are rivals and that hatred brews between them. He is positive that his nephew despise the Hyuuga Main Branch still. Hiashi is certain that there is no love within the compound he has so carefully crafted over his years as head.
He thinks his eldest daughter a failure and weak. He views his youngest as the strongest and rightful heir and his nephew as a perfect prodigy, the very image of Hyuuga.
But, what Hiashi doesn't realize is that most everything he believes about his compound and family is a lie.
He does not see the small smiles passed between daughters behind his back. He doesn't notice the conversations they have late into the night while he's asleep. He doesn't see that his nephew has opened up to the Main House- the two that show him kindness at least.
His eyes don't catch the gestures the three go out of their way to do for the others, even though each of them are competing for the acknowledgement of the Hyuuga Clan. His eyes don't witness Hanabi sneaking the eldest two food from dinner when they stay out late for training or Neji willingly training his younger cousins when the elders' scrutinizing gazes aren't watching their every move. He doesn't notice Hinata showing her cousin and sister how to make ointments for healing so they will be safer while away on missions.
His eyes never detect the love that Hanabi, Hinata, and Neji have for one another or the love that keeps all of the Branch house so close as a family.
He sees none of his eldest daughter's achievements, though all of the things she wasn't able to accomplish. He sees Hanabi as the strongest, but refuses to notice that his eldest daughter throws the matches with her sister, making Hanabi look better at the cost of her own image. He doesn't see as Hanabi tries to do the same, but is always beaten to it by her older sister.
He doesn't realize how strong Hinata must be to listen to all of her clan's criticism and still remain the optimistic person she is. Nor does he see the emotional strength both his daughters and nephew hold to be able to go day to day living with the burdens and hardships that prevent the Hyuugas from being a loving and happy family.
His eyes are closed to the times when Neji lets his defenses crumble and his walls fall. He's never watching when Neji breaks down and lets out his bottled up emotions. The only two who have ever seen him break are Hinata and Hanabi, though his teammates have come close.
He also never sees that his nephew and daughters are thankful that he doesn't notice, because if he did, they know their would be consequences for their actions.
Hyuuga Hiashi sees none of this and because of that, he is a blind man.
A/N- Well, there you have it. I'm not sure what made me come up with this, but the plot bunnies wouldn't leave me alone! Please R&R!
