Candles set in scones lit up each corner of the room, casting an eerie light on its occupants. Two rows of people sat facing each other, eyes down cast, hands neatly folded. Around their foreheads were wrapped bandages, a sign telling the world who exactly they were. Members of the Branch House of Clan Hyuga. Sitting at the head of the two rows, a tall foreboding man, clearly in charge. His stern face, straight back and eyes like the others in the room clearly marked his as a Hyuga. In this case, he was the Hyuga Clan Head. Hiashi Hyuga.

A world weary sigh escaped him as he again raised his hands to silence the voices of the men's shouting. It was bouncing off the wood paneled walls and settling very unpleasantly in his ears. His day wasn't even close to half over and already he could feel a head ache coming on. Watching as the bowl slowly passed around the room, little papers falling in, he felt a twinge of guilt. In this bowl would be decided his eldest daughters fate.

For eight months now, the two factions within the clan were arguing over a successor for Hiashi. From the branch house, they wanted Neji to take over. That was quickly shot down by Hiashi…..but there still remained the fact that others within the clan – a fair majority in fact – did not want Hinata to take over as clan head in the event of Hiashi's death. Some argued that she was too timid, to shy and to soft spoken. Others argued that they would let all of that go if she wasn't so weak in her sparring. Weak as a kunoichi in general.

Hiashi couldn't even argue with them and that was the part that frustrated him the most! His daughter Hinata was not as strong as her sister and she needed to be if she was to be leading this clan in the future. Again, the bowl is passed around the rows….again his heart almost stops as yet another piece of paper is dropped into the bowl. The papers in the bowl were the agreed solution to the issue about the clan head. He'd tried a vocal vote but that just ended in a debate that lasted three months. It was useless and futile.

So instead, he'd come up with this idea. It seemed to be working. Each individual was writing down his or her choice of a potential husband for Hinata. It came to the point where this was the best option for her and his clans safety. Yes, safety. There was anonymous death threats against himself and his daughter. Varying degrees of threats were minor to extreme. From a threat to burn down his clan's home and surrounding areas, to assassination attempts on himself, his wife and his two daughters. All because of his clans succession issues. This was his last straw, his last hope. With a sigh, he stood and walked out from council room. Enough was enough of this.

Walking down the hall way, he heard a dull thud followed by a gasp. A gasp he knew all too well. Hinata was sparring with someone….and of course loosing. Although….the second voice….that second voice was newer to him. This one was more deep and offered encouragement to Hinata….telling her to stand up and fight, she can do it. It took him a moment, but Hiashi remembered that voice. Like a shock, it stung him to attention. The owner of the voice was the answer! It was so simple, right here in front of him.

Quick as it came though, doubts troubled his mind. Would this one be the right one? His clan was beyond wild and so uncivilized! They lived with dogs! They lived and fought with them, animals just like their ninken. Did he really want his eldest daughter subjected to that kind of life? His best choice would've been that Uchiha boy, but he was dating that Yamanaka girl…what was her name? Ino. There was that Akimichi boy…Choji. Just thinking about it made him cringe. He'd spent time among that clan and although they were pleasant individuals, they were not what he wanted for his daughter. When this whole situation started, he'd wanted to choose the Nara boy, Shikamaru but when he enquired to his parents, he found out that he was engaged to Temari, that kunoichi from Suna. The two had been dating for three years and were going to wed in a months' time. All of the choices he wanted to choose were snuffed out like a flame blown out.

A sigh ripped passed his throat as he peeked in and found Hinata on the ground yet again. The only difference this time though…..she wasn't alone on the ground!, a figure lay with her, their face hidden from view. Had she….had she beaten her sister?! Excitement sparked through him and his hands gripped the door tighter. If he could just gather the elders and advisors and show them this! Show them that she could beat her sister, just once, she would be safe! She could succeed him as head of the Hyuga clan! Excitement raced through his veins and a small smile dared lift the corner of his lips. A solution had been found and she need not leave!

Just as he was about to race back to the conference room and tell the others of his daughter's success against her sister…the speaker of the deeper voice finally came into view, the figure rising at the exact same moment. When Hiashi finally had for sure clarification as to who it was…he felt like his stomach dropped to the floor, his heart stopped. They had a solution to their problem….just not the one that he wanted….

Bursting through the doors, he took the bowl and tossed the papers in the fire. As they lit a fire and their corners curled in on themselves, he motioned for a messenger. When the man came and bowed, Hiashi unclenched his fist and cleared his face of the anger he was sure it wore. His voice was gruff and stern when he spoke the words that would forever change no only his daughters' fate, but that of the entirety of his clan….

"Tell the Hokage I need to speak to her urgently! And summon Tsume Inuzuka to the Hokage's office. Go."

Bowing, the messengers left. Hiashi sighed and waved the men away. What was done was done….now there was no going back….he just hoped he'd made the right choice.