Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing.
The Face of Change
He knew this day would eventually come. Actually Neji was a little surprised it hadn't come about sooner. Hiashi could no longer stave off the inevitable; Hinabi would be receiving the seal of the Branch house. Neji filed in along the left wall with a few other select branch house members to witness the ceremony. A few main house members stood opposite of them on the right wall as Hiashi and the head members of the Main house stood at the front of the room facing Hanabi who stood at the center. As Neji scanned the faces of the Hyuuga around him he noted an absent face, Hinata. Obviously still on her latest mission with team 8. Neji had been wondering why Hiashi had chosen now to begin the ceremony. Thinking back to when it was first announced it had seemed a bit rushed. Hiashi had probably concluded it would be best to do this while Hinata was away, as to avoid any emotional scenes. Hinata had always had too soft of a heart.
As the ceremony began Neji envisioned what would happen when Hinata returned to find her sister branded. Probably hole up in her room and cry, Neji thought with disgust. A day, maybe two; but she and Hanabi had never shared a close relationship, so she should get over it soon enough. What Neji really wanted to know was how Hiashi was taking all of this. Hanabi had become Hiashi's favored daughter after showing much more promise in skill and strength than Hinata. Neji looked to Hiashi, but could discern nothing from the man's features. Not even a genius like Neji could read Hiashi. Being saddled with Hinata as the future of the main house line must torture him, Neji thought with an inner smile. He could almost look on Hinata kindly for that.
Suddenly the doors burst open as Hinata ran in panting for breath. Well speak of the devil, Neji thought. Hinata stood there, dirty and worn out from the mission she had obviously just completed. She must have been told of the ceremony on her way back to the compound. She was looking up at her father with those painfully sad eyes that reminded Neji of a kicked puppy.
"F-father" she stuttered, "You cannot g-give Hanabi t-the seal, p-please." Neji kept his eyes trained on Hiashi, Hinata and Hanabi. Noting no reaction in Hanabi and only a slight tightening in Hiashi's face. "Hinata," he addressed her coldly, "the tradition of the Hyuuga clan will be upheld. Only one child may remain within the Main house; the others become Branch house to protect the secrets of the Hyuuga." Neji felt a slight twinge in his heart as he remembered his father telling him much the same thing in an emotionless voice so long ago. Hinata's stammering brought him back to the situation at hand. Her head bowed she begged her father to reconsider. For all the good it would do; Neji barely kept himself from rolling his eyes.
"Enough!" Hiashi barked, halting Hinata's pleas. "Tradition has kept the Hyuuga strong since the beginning of the Hyuuga line and will be continued today for the betterment of the clan"
Silence fell over the room and Neji noted the stillness that came over Hinata. She wouldn't, Neji thought frantically. Hinata lifted her head. She would, he concluded oddly horrified of what he knew she was about to say. "I'll take the seal," she stated quietly, but everyone had heard. Hiashi showed no reaction, a face carved in stone. But Neji wasn't a genius for nothing. He was still watching all three and noticed Hanabi's lips twitch, just ever so slightly, but it was enough. Suddenly it all hit him at once like a bolt of lightning. The whole thing had been so meticulously planned. Hiashi had never really considered branding Hanabi. It was all his perfect solution to rid himself of Hinata and her weaknesses and keep Hanabi in the Main house. He hadn't been trying to complete the ceremony before Hinata returned; just long enough so Hinata would have to make a rushed and foolish decision. Hiashi and Hinabi were banking on Hinata's soft heart for this exact result. Fast on the heels of this monumental breakthrough came another realization. The head members of the Main house weren't protesting. Even if Hinata had made the decision it should still have caused some disturbance; she was the rightful successor of the Hyuuga line, but they were allowing such a turn of events without even a protest. Then, Neji saw the change he had missed these last couple years. Something that had overtaken the unshakable leaders of the Hyuuga. That even Neji, the genius, had only just now discovered. The heads of the Main house were...afraid, of.. Hinata. The realization nearly brought Neji to his knees. Everything clicked into place for Neji in that split second. Hinata was strong, more than strong, she was powerful. She was the future of the Main house. She was going to do what no one before her could. She held the strength to break tradition and change the Hyuuga clan forever. She alone could break the cycle of hatred and servitude and yet still keep the clan whole. No more Branch and Main house, no more seals, one house and one clan. If Hanabi was the successor, everything would stay the same, their positions of leadership secure, but if Hinata succeeded Hiashi.
Neji had no more time to think as Hiashi drew himself up to speak. "Hinata do not!" he shouted. Fearful that the main house would stop him with his seal he rushed on, "If you do as they wish nothing will change!" Neji felt the slight awareness of someone reaching for his seal and so fell silent; hoping he had said enough. Hinata looked at him, surprise and confusion on her face. Then the realization started to creep into her eyes and she looked to Hiashi; reading there what no one, not even Neji, would have been able to discern. Neji saw the pain hit her like a physical blow. The betrayal of her father and her sister, crushing her entirely. But her eyes held something within them besides the pain. Something Neji had never seen in them before... Defiance. Neji allowed himself a small sigh of relief. Hinata would not take the seal and now, now there was hope.
Hanabi, who had been standing by silently, was frantically realizing her chance at leading the Hyuuga clan was slipping through her fingers. She was going to be the one branded, sentenced to the Branch house; not Hinata. This wasn't the plan. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Hinata was the weak one, she was supposed to take the seal. Hinabi looked to her father and the Hyuuga leaders, hoping that they would see the mistake, but they were a wall of stone. They would not prevent this. Tradition was to be upheld and even Hiashi could see no way around it. The Main house was Hinata's rightful place according to her birth; she could not be commanded to take the seal.
Hinabi felt rage overtake her. This couldn't be happening. She wouldn't let it. She would not be forced into serving some one as weak as Hinata when she should be the one to rule. She would not stand idly by and watch Hinata take everything that should have been hers.
A mere blur of motion her only warning, Hinata turned. Too late to defend herself she could only watch as Hanabi drove the kunai at her heart. And suddenly someone else was there in front of her...Neji? She peered around him to see Hanabi on the floor a few feet away. Neji..had protected...her? Neji watched as Hanabi picked herself off the floor. He had taken a big chance. The Main house could enact his seal at any time. He held his breath waiting... but nothing happened. Relief rushed through him; they had decided. The Main house recognized Hinata as the rightful successor, therefore Neji could not be punished for striking Hanabi in Hinata's defence. Neji let satisfaction role through him. The Main house was now caught in their own rules. Not one of them had the right to deny her place within the main house and none of them could openly stop her from succeeding Hiashi. Which didn't mean they couldn't try secretly, Neji surmised, better let them know what their up against.
"As a Branch house shinobi it is my duty and honor to be the personal protector of Hinata-sama, the successor of the Main house of the Hyuuga." A small gasp came from behind him as Hinata was shocked senseless. Neji was still reeling from his own declaration himself. Never in a million years would he have thought to utter such words. But what was done was done. Hanabi knew when she was outmatched and now the Hyuuga leaders would think twice about harming Hinata. Neji would see her set at the head of th Main house or die trying.
Because in the end Hinata's heart was going to save them all.