"My lord, The shoguns of Otogakure, Sunakagure, Kirigakure and Kumogakure are in route to Konoha. They will all be here within the week." said one of Hiashi Hyugas aids, bowed before the regal lord.
"Good. See to it that they are given adequate boarding." Hiashi replied. "It is time for us to set aside our old, childhood grudges and take the fight our real enemies."
Hiashi Hyuga was being praised throughout the city of Konoha.
He was the man that was going to bring peace to the realm, restore order, and focus on the real threat.
The Akatsuki had not invaded their lands in almost 15 years, but it was only a matter of time before they came back to try and annex their lands once again.
Hiashi looked out over the city he had help build in wonder. He could remember a time when Konoha was just a couple shacks built hastily together.
In the span of a mere 50 years they had gone from a small village to a capital city of thriving industry under the Hyugas guiding hand.
He only hoped that his daughter would continue his work towards progress. She was a shy and timid girl. She was almost a woman but he was still unsure if she would be ready to sit in his throne and make the hard decisions he had to make on a daily basis.
Would she ever be ready to make the hard call on a decision knowing that the lives of her people where in her hands and the wrong call would mean their blood would be on her hands.
'Is anyone ever really ready for that kind of responsibility?' He mused to himself.
"I wish to have lunch with my daughters. Send word to have them meet us in the dining hall in 20 minutes." The shogun said to his
15 minutes later Hiashi found himself in his great hall sitting at the head of his table, a daughter on each side of him.
Ever since his wife, their mother had passed, Hiashi had done his best to spend as much time with his daughters. Sometimes though, he wondered if he ever truly did enough.
"Will Neji-niisan be joining us today?" His youngest daughter, Hanabi asked.
Hiashi shook his head. A firm no.
"He was given a contingency of men and the order to keep the roads clear while the incoming Warlords approach our hold to attend the moot." He replied. "Though I have toyed with the idea of calling for his return. We may need him in the days to come to help with security within the compound."
Neji Hyuga was the son of Hiashis brother who died protecting his shogun and brother during the first great war with the Akatsuki. He had grown to be a capable soldier, brilliant strategist, and one of Hiashis most trusted confidants.
His eldest daughter nodded, "It could not hurt to have Neji home. He is the captain of the house guard."
The last time a member of the branch family held Nejis position was over one hundred years before Hiashi had been born.
They continued to eat their meal in relative silence.
After they finished Hiashi dismissed his youngest daughter and beckoned her to follow.
"I look at you Hinata and I see a young woman who is indecisive and hesitant, but also strong, and equivocal. You are flexible in ways people my age can not be. I hope that when the time comes you are ready to pick up wherever I leave off. Your home, your people, and the realm will need you." Hiashi said taking a seat behind his desk.
Hinata could only stare at the floor. Unsure of what to say, to reassure her father that when the time came she would be ready.
She knew she was not physically imposing, she did not have great strength, but she had been trained in the way of the sword, and could adequately defend herself if she needed to.
"I am a Hyuga. I will be what this city needs me to be." Hinata said firmly.
It was at that moment that one of Hiashis aids knocked at the door.
"My lord, there is word that Naruto Uzumaki has been sighted on the road headed towards the city." The aid said mid bow.
"Thank you for passing the information on. Have someone keep an eye on the Ronin. You can never be to careful with someone like him." Hiashi commanded.
"At once my lord." And with that the aid left.
"Naruto Uzumaki. What could bring him back at a time like this." Hiashi mused aloud.
"Perhaps he is coming to offer aid?" Hinata pondered.
"Hinata. A ronin is a samurai whose master has died, and whatever honor they did have was forsaken when they failed their master. They fight for no one but themselves." Hiashi countered.
"Of course my lord." Hinata muttered half heartedly. Sometimes there was just no arguing with her father.
She had remember a little bit of the man that was Naruto Uzumaki. She was only 8 years old when he came to Konoha as a General in Warlord Jiraiya Sanins massive army.
The Warlord had gone from village to village gathering men, women, anyone willing to fight. They had amassed a massive army, and they repelled the last Akatsuki invasion at the cost of the majority of their army, and the Warlord himself.
It had been a short, yet brutal war, and Naruto had returned a changed man. It was not long after that he and a handful of companions started wandering the continent.
From time to time she would hear stories of his exploits from the staff that worked in the compound. He had become a folk legend of sorts. He was very popular among the lower class citizens of most holds.
"You are free to take your leave Hinata." Hiashi said, he had much to do to prepare for the incoming shoguns.
With a bow she took her leave and walked out of her fathers study.
