I have become rather obsessed with Hizashi Hyuga so I decided to give him some love. This is a re-working of the previous "Memoirs of a Hyuga".
Meeting
"Make sure Hiashi looks absolutely perfect. I want to be certain that he makes a good impression as my heir." Hitori Hyuga commanded as the maids scrubbed his eight year old son's skin raw and brushed his long hair out carefully.
"Of course, Lord Hitori." The maids bowed respectfully as they continued with their task of cleaning up the eldest Hyuga son. Hitori nodded and left the room to finish his own preparations.
The bi-annual clan head summit was later on that afternoon. This was Hitori's chance to introduce his heir Hiashi to the rest of the clan heads as well as poke around for any relevant information from the other clans. The two particular leaders he was hoping to see were Masaru Uchiha and Kamikaze Uragiri. They also had sons Hiashi's age and he was eager to see how Hiashi compared to them. Perhaps he might even initiate a little sparring.
"Father, am I…presentable?" a small voice interrupted Hitori's thoughts. It was his youngest son, Hizashi. Hizashi had been scrubbed thoroughly and his hair was washed and pulled back from his face in a loose ponytail. He was clad in a semi-formal yukata and his cursed seal glowed on the pale skin of his forehead like acid. Hitori had been debating on whether or not to show Hizashi as well, but he also knew that Uragiri had twin sons and he was one to be outdone.
"Yes. Hizashi, go wait with your brother while finish up. We will depart shortly." Hitori said dismissively.
"Yes, Father."
When he arrived at the meeting place, Hitori was not surprised to see the heads of the other clans already milling about. The clan heads of those on closer terms seemed to be talking more easily than those who had more tenuous relations. He saw the Akimichi and Nara clan heads as well as their sons chatting and sharing some kind of snack. However, his eyes were immediately drawn to the Uragiri and Uchiha standing a few yards away.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen. I hope the day finds you well." Hitori smoothly interrupted the two other clan heads' conversation. The other men looked slightly taken back, but then focused their attention the young boys in front of him. Hitori lightly tapped Hiashi, indicating that he should stand up straight, and detached his shyer son from his leg. "These are my sons, Hiashi and Hizashi. Hiashi here is my heir. He is proving to be very strong in his Gentle Fist training."
Masaru nodded whilst Kamikaze's face remained passive. Hitori wondered if the Uragiri leader was in the right stand of mind. He knew how the clan's bloodline limit, the Norogan had a tendency to split their personalities. But Kamikaze seemed okay for the time being.
"This is Fugaku." Masaru pushed a sulky young boy forward. He had the iconic black eyes of the Uchiha and looked to be in a bad mood. He stared at the Hyuga twins, unimpressed, and gazed off somewhere else. Masaru nudged Kamikaze, annoyed with his own son's behavior.
"Oh," Kamikaze seemed to snap out of a daze and two boys with fiery red hair stepped out from behind him, smiling. "Meet Chikara and Kokoro. We have not concluded which one will become the next head."
Hitori noticed the other clan heads filing into the building and turned to the boys, who were busy staring each other down. "Boys, we have to head into the meeting now. Why don't you acquaint yourselves with each other? After all, you will be ruling side by side." And with that, they were gone.
Hizashi tossed a couple of stones into the river, watching the ripples fan out before disappearing. How he wished he really could disappear like that sometimes. He was so shy and it made it hard for him to talk to people and make friends. Hiashi was so confident; he'd easily won over the Uragiri boy, a couple of other heirs, and the Inuzuka girl seemed to have a small crush on him. Hiashi had tried to include Hizashi, as he often did, but the social situation was too much and he'd fled to the safety of the river bank.
"Hey." A voice called quietly. "You're one of the Hyuga twins right? I'm guessing Hizashi since Hiashi is back at the courtyard."
"Y-yes, I'm H-Hizashi." Hizashi stuttered, turning slightly to face the other person on the bank. It was one of the Uragiri boys, but he couldn't recall which one.
The Uragiri sat next to him, taking the rock from his hands and tossing it before looking at him. "I'm Chikara. Why are you here and not with your brother?"
"I-I don't really like l-lots of p-people…" Hizashi turned back to the river.
"Ah I see. Don't blame ya. Kokoro is more of the people person out of the two of us. He'll probably end up being the next clan head."
"Hiashi is the next clan head…I'm just a branch member…" Hizashi glanced at Chikara and then back down. "You should be talking to him, not me."
"But you seem nicer and besides, I like quiet people like you. I can be loud enough when I want to be. Hmm, what's that?" Chikara poked the curse mark with his index finger.
"It's my c-curse mark…it k-keeps me from…a-acting out of l-line…" Hizashi whispered.
"Does it hurt?"
"S-sometimes…"
Chikara smiled at him. "Well I'm learning some medical ninjutsu so when it hurts, I'll make the pain go away."
Hizashi looked up. He knew that it wasn't possible, but the fact that Chikara had offered to help him when he was so used to being ignored was special to him. Suddenly, Lord Uragiri and Kokoro appeared on the river in a cloud of smoke. Kokoro's arm was bandaged, indicating that he'd been in a fight. "Chikara. Come, son. It is time to go home."
Before going to his father, Chikara turned to the Hyuga. "You're in my Academy class right?"
Hizashi nodded.
"I thought so. Wanna sit with me and Ikasu tomorrow?"
"S-s-sure."
"Wow, you stutter a lot, but see ya tomorrow! Second desk from the window." And he disappeared with his father and brother.
Hizashi couldn't believe it; he'd made a friend.
Review please ^.^