My Oath

"I am aware that I am less than people prefer me to be,

But most people are unaware

That I am so much more than what they see."

-Hyuuga Hinata

Chapter 1: I am a Hyuuga

It was just yesterday that her father leave without notice, and it really shocked her when Hanabi knocked violently at her door very early. She still remembered the expression of her younger sister when she found out that the Hyuuga head already leave that soon. They all know that he had planned business trips together with the royalties of the isle of the Crescent Moon, but leaving at such moment is really surprising. He usually notifies the whole household, especially her, Hanabi and the Hyuuga prodigy, Neji, and of course the rest of the elders whenever he has some plans on leaving the household.

Just at this very moment, just half past an hour after breakfast, the silence between her and her precious imooto did not seem to fade. She sips on her cup of tea trying to understand her father's sudden leave and the letter he left at her doorstep. Her sister started to ask her aloud to tell her what could be written on the story, but her, being an obedient daughter as she was, she decided to let it be known to all elders what could have been their father's will and decision of whoever will take over his place.

She stands up, while fixing her red obi, as well as fixing the sleeves of her pink kimono with Sakura petals as its design. Her imooto stand up too, as if following her through and very eager what could have been written on the letter left by their otou-san. Their zori started to click on the wooden floors of the meeting room where the expected elders are already there.

Her, being the Hyuuga heiress, is assigned to be seated on the middle of the table, on her right is Hanabi and on her left is Neji. Next to Hanabi are the male elders of the clan, namely: Hachiro-70yrs.old, Hideaki-65yrs.old, Hiroto – 60yrs.old, and Hiraku – 55yrs.old. Next to Neji are the female ones, namely: Hiromi – 72yrs.old, Hotaru – 60yrs.old, Harumi – 55yrs.old, and Hisako – 50yrs.old. Their wisdom had proven their eligibility to be one of the elders, not considering that they are all head family members.

Being the eldest man in the group, the all gray-haired man Hachiro was about to signal a hand gesture that their meeting should start but was interrupted by Hinata faking her cough sheepishly which make all of the elders have their eyebrows twitched with her interruption.

"The meeting shall now start." Said the heiress timidly, while all she could feel is that red tints are all visible on her cheeks, especially when…

"You do not have any rights to interrupt an elder! Don't tell me that you're a heiress means that you'll take over the place of Hiashi-sama when he's away!" whined the eldest man in a very strong manner that even Neji, whose stoic expression started to change to belittlement upon hearing that voice. Hinata being a calmer but shy one started to bow and was about to say sorry but stopped by a whisper…

"You are the heiress! You don't want me to suffer right? Onee-san?" whispered Hanabi, carefully trying her best not to be spotted by the eldest man beside her. Hinata started to feel disappointed on herself upon remembering the words she gave to her sister not so long ago, that she would take over the clan's headship for the sake that her precious imooto would not be experiencing of higher expectations for her tender age.

"Much as I want to apologize for my sudden actions Hachiro-sama, I was assigned by this letter written by Otou- er Hiashi-sama that he himself gave to me, that I must start this meeting, not considering any reactions from your party." She said bravely, since she already promised herself that she won't stutter again and the word fear would no longer be in her vocabulary nor be seen in her eyes.

"Please proceed Hinata-sama…" the youngest woman in her pale blue kimono started to speak up. All eyes started to set on her. Cold and pale violet eyes started to pierce her like thousand needles but she stay put, though droplets of sweats started to form on her forehead. Hinata saw all that and she quickly admired that kind of courage and with that she was able to fake a cough again to get the full attention of the elders back to her.

"I would like you to listen as I read aloud the letter that Hiashi-sama left to me…" said Hinata, now her voice is bolder, but all she receives are sighs, like the elders know what exactly is in the letter that their precious Hanabi would take in charge of them.

She started to read the letter aloud:

I left without notice because it would be inappropriate if I would be leaving in such an hour when all of the household are taking their rest. I would be traveling with two branch family members and five head family members to my trip to the Isle of the Crescent Moon, where Hikaru-sama, the son of the king of that place had invited me long ago to have some business proposals which I think would be good for our clan. On my absence, my precious Hanabi, my pride, would take care on the needs of her nee-san. As for my trusted nephew, Neji-san, would be entrusted for the whole safety and welfare of the whole household. And him being a genius and also a pride of the clan, I believe that he will make the best ways to protect our clan even in the most dangerous situation.

As for my eldest, Hinata, she would take in charge of the whole household, and again, since I believe in her abilities, it would be best that you follow her orders as much as you follow mine. If ever I receive a report that you disobey her orders, I myself would put the caged bird seal on your forehead and let alone my Hinata kill you at once.

As for you Hinata, it doesn't mean that I will take you in charge of this household, would also mean that you will not seek advices to the elders. Also have faith in yourself.

I would be back in 3-months time.

"For 3-months! Hiashi-sama would be out here for 3-months! And a weakling would take over us! That's ridiculous! It would've been better if Hanabi-sama…." Hideaki started to burst and pound his hand, only to receive glares from Neji which also surprised the whole body of elders. Hideaki was about to perform hand seals, which surely meant death for the only branch family inside the room, when a shuriken wounded his face. He touched his left cheek, only to see vibrant color of red blood, and with that he started to redden in embarrassment and was about to stand up…

"Hideaki-sama, with all do respect, would you please remain calm?" the eldest of all the elders, Hiromi started to speak up, her calm demeanor filled the before place full of tension back to its plain atmosphere. The maid who was in charge in the room started to rush and give the wounded elder a white handkerchief to wipe off the blood off her face.

"May I ask, to whose shuriken is that?" asks the other elder, Harumi. Her eyes closed, fist rolled into balls. She is more of the peaceful type, and seeing her talking in the meeting would be very seldom, but since the situation seems to worsen because of the sudden outrage of her co-elder, she decided not to tolerate it any further.

"I am." Hanabi said courageously which surprised everybody, knowing that one of her mentors is actually Hideaki.

"Hinata-sama, being the heiress of the clan, and the one in charge here, I advice that you give Hanabi-sama an appropriate punishment for such an act of discourteousness." Said Harumi, as she stared at Hinata, who was surprised from what she had said. This is very rare for her to judge someone at that instant, especially in this kind of situation when her imooto is the topic. Everybody look at her, Hiroshi and Hideaki smirking, while the rest are waiting for her decision. She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and started to gaze at her sister's guilty face.

"So what?" Hachiro asks sarcastically, as if expecting that Hinata would just let it go, but ironic as it may seem to the heiress, she seemed to decide quicker than anyone thought.

"For you Hanabi Hyuuga, you would be grounded for two days, locked into your room, and there will be no trainings for you. Regarding your food, it would be sent to your room and you'll not be allowed to have meal with us because of such act, and again that's for two days." Said Hinata, as everyone nodded in agreement, while she just tilted her head only to see Hanabi looking at her with puppy eyes, hoping that the word 'no training' would be out of the punishment, but what the heiress has said, it must be done.

"I guess that would be enough for this morning. Later at 8:00, after dinner, there would be another meeting for us to talk for the changes in 3-months time while Hiashi-sama is still away. Meeting adjourned…" said Hinata flatly, trying to mimic her father's stoic figure when having a meeting. This time, the same elder burst up… again.

"You are not even worth to be a heiress." Loudly said by Hachiro as he stand up from his kneeling position but was quickly stopped by Neji upon receiving Hinata's gesture to stop the elder.

"What now?!" shouted Hachiro, who's actually even more irritated from the sudden action of the branch family member.

"I never said that you're dismissed." said Hinata flatly as she gestured to the female elders and the others to have their way out of the room, only leaving Hanabi, Neji, Hideaki, Hachiro, and her since she was totally irritated and humiliated as well. It's been a long time when she was treated like this, and it's like four years ago.

"Kindly have your seat Hiroshi-sama. I have something to deal with you." Said Hinata politely as she can ever be, this make Hideaki and Hachiro's eyebrows twitched as they steadily look at the eyes of the heiress hoping to see any signs of her reactions regarding their misbehaving, but her were eyes closed.

"Hn." Was all Hachiro could mumble, he sat upright, towering the Hyuuga royalty beside him. He switch his gazes between Hinata and Neji whose eyes are also closed too. He sighed only to see the cheeks of Hideaki still bleeding from the attack Hanabi made to him a while ago.

"What's with you to be the eldest, and to be the first to violate the rules of Hiashi-sama?" asks the heiress, though not hoping that she could get a nice answer

She heard giggles from the two elders, and stopped with a sarcastic grin, one elegant eyebrows were raised and their chins up. This makes her irritated but still, she waited for their answer.

"Well, it doesn't mean you've become a jounin, it would mean that we will respect you. You're still a weakling, and as far as we know, you are the lowest of all jounin in Konoha, a total disgrace for the Hyuuga clan!" blurted Hiroshi out, as he moved his head sideways, and sighed. Hinata sighed too, longing for fresh air, but still she give Hideaki a glance, as if asking him voicelessly that she needs his answer.

"As far as I am concern, Hanabi-sama is far more appropriate to be called the heiress than you are. Since she is more will-powered, and not a crybaby as well." Hideaki said with a smirk plastered on their faces, while putting their crossed arms above their chest. They heard Hinata sighed, which they thought she felt defeated or holding back her tears again.

"So, if that's it, I would no longer seek admiration to the both of you. My existence being the heiress is very important, a necessity on your life here on earth. Please be reminded by that." Said Hinata warningly as she gestured them to leave

They leave as quickly as possible, leaving the two siblings and their cousin alone, the maids are gone too, after preparing them another set of tea.

"Hinata-nee-san, do you have to do that to me?" said Hanabi, pleadingly

"Of course, in any unrighteous acts, there should be a punishment." Answered Neji and was only answered by a snobbish face of his cousin. Then he looked at Hinata who's carefully sipping on her tea again. What the elders said are all true, that she's really the weakest of all the jounin, they just forgot that she's the 'weakest' on the First Seven Captains of all jounins, meaning to say, the third best kunoichi in all Konoha

"Neji-nii-san, do you really think I could handle this?" said Hinata as she slumped herself on the table, while having the back of her hands as her pillow. Neji, being a genius, could get what she meant, so he tapped Hinata's back for his sign of encouragement that she can do it.

"Of course Hinata-sama, you can do it, may it not be on the way Hiashi-sama do it, but in your own very special way." said Neji coldly, only be answered by Hinata standing up and wearing her sweetest smile

"You are a Hyuuga anyway…" said Hanabi flatly, but the sparkle in her eyes are evident. She believed on her onee-sans abilities.