Curse Seal

A/N: NEJIHINA ALL THE WAY, KIDS.

The Circumstances

Hinata is Head of Hyuuga. She regularly holds council with the Hokage and the heads of Konoha's other clans, and the Hyuuga Elders back her completely. With Hiashi's death and the pressures of leading, Hinata has learned to be ruthless—not that her intuitive concern for others has been compromised; her preoccupation with the good of the Hyuuga simply took the place of her more personal regards. It was understood—or rather, presumed—by everyone that Hinata was only responding to the needs of the Hyuuga at last. She was becoming a fine leader.

Neji does whatever he's told. He is Hinata's protector (or more accurately, her personal mercenary), and he's tremendously efficient at his job. As the Hyuuga clan's strongest shinobi, he is deathly methodical in terrorizing Hinata's enemies. It was widely understood—presumed—that the sole reason for Neji's loyalty was the curse mark on his forehead. And Hinata was applauded for employing the prodigy's potential to her advantage.

Neji and Hinata were both outcast in a way. Their friends from childhood remained as such, but had learned to stand at a certain distance from the Hyuuga pair. After all, their clan had always been somewhat isolationist. Within the Hyuuga clan itself, both Neji and Hinata were also given a wide berth. Hinata was just as laconic a leader as her father had been (though her empathy clearly set the two apart), and Neji's status as the Head's protector alienated him from the rest of the Branch House (an unfortunate implication he never attempted to correct).

But despite public apprehension towards Neji and Hinata, however, the facts remained that the Hyuuga clan was prospering. And therefore no one complained.

Politics

The thief lay still on the ground, heaving. Cradling a broken arm, glaring through puckered, purple eyes, and covered in blood and dirt, he could barely plead for mercy. His teammates were all unconscious, sprawled indignantly around their ravaged campsite.

Neji grabbed the thief by the neck of his shirt and dragged his face once more through the mud. The thief made a strange gurgling sound. Neji frowned. Obviously, the thief didn't really know the specifics of his mission, or he would have said something by then. Neji straightened, plucking the stolen scrolls from the thief's obi and tucking them in his own. There was nothing else he could do.

:.:.:.:.

"What do you propose we do?"

Hinata blinked.

"Hinata-sama," an elder called for his Head's attention. He was disheartened at her inattention. "The scrolls…"

"What about them, Ojii-san?"

The Council of Elders was silent. It seemed inconceivable to them that Hinata had been ignoring their meeting up to that point. Hinata was unfazed, and returned to catching up on her meditation.

"The scrolls contain the basics of the gentle fist. Though losing them is not a major detriment, we must account for thieves' interest in the techniques of our clan."

"Without byakugan, how effective can the gentle fist be?"

The elders exchanged glances. "The Hyuuga have guarded the byakugan sharingan for centuries. Dishonest attempts have been made over the years… to obtain it. We must not underestimate any suspicious activity."

Hinata did not reply.

"Hinata-sama?"

"The thieves should be at the very most two days' travel from Konoha, am I correct?" Hinata mused aloud.

"Yes, at the very most. We must send someone to retrieve the scrolls before…"

:.:.:.:.

After calling the ANBU to bring the thieves back to the Konoha prisons, Neji returned to the village at full speed. Hinata's suggestions were to leave quickly—as soon as the scrolls were discovered to be missing—and to return quickly. So he did just that.

:.:.:.:.

Hinata's mandatory meeting with the elders was in session by the time Neji returned. The servants at the door wore long, fatigued faces. Obviously, no headway had been made. It must have been one of those days when Hinata simply would not cooperate.

"…Hinata-sama?"

The elders were at a loss of what to do or say. It seemed like the hundredth time they had called for a response from their Head. It was grossly infuriating—the passive disrespect with which she treated them.

Just then, the doors to the meeting hall were opened, and Neji was admitted. His white sleeves were flecked with blood. Bowing briefly to the elders, he made for Hinata's bench and provided her with the stolen scrolls. He then stood behind his cousin. No one dared to object. After Hinata had browsed through the scrolls, she stood and declared that the meeting was over. The problem—she acknowledged the theft vaguely—was fixed. Neji followed her from the meeting hall.

The elders all agreed. That was the last straw. Something had to be done about the Hyuuga power politics.