Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, It is the creation of Masashi Kishimoto.
日向一族 Hyuuga Ichizoku
The looming dark skies above threatens to become another light downpour, the temperature has dropped giving a certain chill in the air. It was late in the evening and all was quiet except for a few eerie sounds of the night from the surrounding greeneries could be heard.
At the outskirt of the village, a lone dark figure slowly trudges along the narrow path leading to the entrance of sombre grounds, the Shinobi Memorial, the final resting place for the fallen but not forgotten heroes and citizens of Konoha.
The heaviness of the clouds has finally given in, a drizzle had started. The lone figure walks on and is greeted by a simple slab of heavy white stone with the words "Fire Shadow" written across its dull grey surface, continuing and passing through other headstones, the figure had made a turn towards a narrower path leading to a separated plot. A red weather beaten wooden Torii stands tall in the entrance ascending into a few flights of stone steps to an elevated area.
Upon reaching even ground, the figure halts and gives a lingering look among the protruding lines of headstones all of which had one common family name written on them:
"HYUUGA"
A soft gust of wind blew, the lone person continued to quietly walk in the gentle rain only to stop in front of an old-style yet austere mausoleum at the edge of the plot; this was the final resting place for the heads of the clan.
Quietly the figure pushes the two heavy doors and enters; fire spontaneously ignites from a single lamp hanging in the centre of the ceiling. The dim light reveals the figure to be of a young woman with waist length indigo tresses clothed in a hakama underneath a haori showing the red flame crest of the Hyuuga in the back. The young woman's white-lavender eyes looked impassive and unnerving in the semi darkness yet the rest of her face showed calm and delicate features.
It was windowless and damp inside the old structure, all the tombs of the deceased clan leaders were side by side at the end of the wide hall, upon reaching one of the tombs the young woman slowly kneels down to offer a prayer for Hiashi Hyuuga.
"Father, thank you for your guidance… Without it I would not been able to lead our clan. I only regret that you did not live long enough to see all the things the clan and I have accomplished." the young woman whispered, her eyes closed and hands clasped together while it touched her forehead.
Five years has passed since the fourth Great Shinobi war ended and two years since her father passed away, and yet she still silently carries within her the heavy burden of losing her kin as well as comrades. Many things have changed since then and although she has persevered through the most difficult moments and finally prevailed as head of the Hyuuga, her courage would falter on occasion and become vulnerable as she was now.
In her trying moments, she always found solace beside her father's tomb, it was her place of peace, a place that reminds her of the promise she made which is slowly becoming a reality and unleashing events that would reform her clan's state of affairs.
"I am stronger now and I will continue to be one just as you were" with her last words, her eyes opened with sudden alertness, detecting an intrusion to her solitude.
"Hinata-sama" called a deep voice that echoed in the empty chamber. The young woman stood up to face the intruder who called her name.
At the entrance stood a man, his appearance was imposing given his tall frame covered in a mid-length white haori, his long flowing hair was tied at one side with a small white clip as the rest of his long mane fell gracefully on his back.
"Niisan" Hinata replied and walked towards her kin. She looked at the man before him and studied his aura impassively. Neji Hyuuga. The man opposite her looked back quietly; it was a staring match which the clan leader grew accustomed with, one that she mastered over the years through dealing with family especially the one before her.
"I apologize for the disturbance, but I noticed you left from the compound in this late hour" finally the man spoke as he folded his arms across his chest.
"Your mind is troubled" concluded Neji, although Hinata has changed drastically over time, he could still see through the emotionless mask she has learned to wear. She had kept her gentle nature private and only shares it with people she truly trusts; even comrades who knew her from her younger days were quite astonished by her transformation.
"A milestone in our clan is about take place in one month…I only need to convince the rest of the council and make sure a majority is supporting my decision, I do not wish to start a war within us" Hinata's voice was even and full of determination. She started to walk towards the door; a blast of cold air hit her as she made her way out, her robes softly billowing behind as her cousin followed after her.
"He who advances without seeking fame,
Who retreats without escaping blame,
He whose one aim is to protect his people and serve his lord,
The man is a jewel of the Realm"
― Sun Tzu ―