Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or any of its characters. The OC's in this fic are mine but I don't get paid for it.
Honored Son
Chapter Four: Answers
It took every ounce of his self-control to refrain from massaging his temples. Hiashi looked at his friend in disbelief and spoke, "You bring this up now?" he sighed. "Do you have any idea what you are asking?"
Minato nodded, "I know exactly what I am asking. I have not said anything on it before, despite how I may feel about the practice, but I felt the need to talk to you about it."
Hiashi surveyed his friend, "Hanna came to ask you to do this." He did not ask the question, simply stated the fact.
Minato admitted to it immediately, feeling it best. "Because she, like me, feels it to be a pointless practice. But even as Hokage I have no say in what ever traditions a clan may practice, unless it is a treat to the village, so I had no reason to say anything."
Hiashi sat silent for a moment before speaking, "What do you mean, pointless?"
"Tell me, what is the purpose of the seal?" Minato asked calmly.
"To protect the Byakugan," Hiashi answered immediately.
"Then why does the entire clan not have it?" Minato countered just as quickly.
Hiashi failed to give a response, no answer came to him.
Minato continued, "And for that matter, if it is to protect the Byakugan, why does it have the dual purpose of bringing pain or death to a branch member of your clan?"
"Well, that is to…" Hiashi began and quickly stopped. He was very aware of his friend's thoughts on the concept of a master/servant 'relationship'.
"To force servitude?" Minato finished for him. "For obedience?" he scowled. The blond Kage sighed, "Look, Hiashi…we grew up together. You and Hizashi are like brothers to me, but since getting the seal Hizashi has been getting more distant. I barely even speak with him."
"You think I haven't noticed?" Hiashi snapped, his normal resolve and stoic nature evaporating. "Do you think that I haven't noticed how my brother…my twin looks at me? And don't think that I haven't noticed it has gotten worse since Neji was born…or how he looks at my daughter, his niece, with anger and contempt, when he realized that his son would have to be sealed?"
"Then why do you still do it?" Minato asked. "If you don't like it either…why haven't you, as clan head, put an end to it?"
Hiashi sighed, "It's not that simple. I may be the clan head, but the elders of the clan insist that it remain." He paused a moment, "I have brought it up to my father when he was clan head, let's just say that the result was…unpleasant."
Minato pondered it a moment, he then gave a weary smile. "I have an idea…"
OoOoO
Kushina sighed at her husband's decision, he was rarely so impulsive. Minato always thought things through though…so maybe he had done so in this case.
"Are you upset?" Minato asked carefully. There was really no way to tell how his pregnant wife's mood had shifted.
Kushina shook her head slowly, "no, not really. But I think it best that we not tell the children."
"What do you mean?" Minato questioned.
Kushina gave a slight laugh, "Naruto-chan is a lot like me. I can already tell that those two are meant for one another, but to tell them that they will be married…Naruto will reject it on principle alone. I think its best that they come to it on their own."
"And if it doesn't happen?"
Kushina rolled her eyes, "oh, it'll happen. But despite that, what you did, was a great thing."
OoOoO
Hiashi was surprised that it went so smoothly. Sure there was a bit of grumbling at what had happened when he told the clan elders but they were receptive to the idea.
Minato had made some very valid points that he in turn relayed to the elders. He pointed out that the seal can be figured out, and eventually exploited.
One of the elders had stated that a seal expert like their Hokage could figure it out, but would any possible enemies be able to do so?
He had answered that Minato was not exclusive in his abilities as a seal master, this village had two of them of that caliber. There would be others, some of them might not be friendly.
Minato offered to create a new seal, one that would destroy the Byakugan at death or if it was removed. And get rid off the potential weakness of a simple Jutsu that had the power to bring the fiercest Hyuuga warrior crashing down.
He alleviated any worries that the branch members would be able to revolt when their seals were altered with the simple fact that they would be quite grateful for the freedom from it.
It would provide a far better protection of their clan secrets this way, not to mention the protection it would allow the village that one of their largest and most powerful clans, aside from the Uchiha, no longer had more than half of its population bound like that.
And the betrothal of the clan leaders first born daughter to the Hokage's son simply capped it all. The clan elders saw this as a rise in their own standing in the village.
Hiashi had another reason for wanting it initially, if Hinata married into another family, and the heir of that family…then she would not have been sealed. And therefore his second born would be free from it as well. He never wanted that for his children.
Not after seeing it happened to his brother.
That was beside the point now, but it was the main reason he wanted it with to be Naruto. After all, his best friend's son, he liked that idea.
OoOoO
Hizashi could hardly believe it. He spent a while staring at his reflection, hardly able to imagine what it would look like without the seal but that may not be any way.
He watched his son playing with Hinata and felt a rushing sense of relief, it may indeed prove to be impossible to alter the seal already on him…but Neji would never know what this seal felt like.
He would still get a seal, just as Hinata and every other Hyuuga would. But not to be subservient to the main part of the clan…they would be equals.
He watched as Minato approached with his wife and son, and felt a deep appreciation to his childhood friend. It was a feeling that he, Hizashi, had been showing less of recently.
He smiled over at the blond man, he would have to remedy that.
OoOoO
"Hey Hinata-chan," Naruto said to his friend while looking over at the girls uncle, whom he had never seen with a smile. Naruto had insisted to come over before they headed to the Chunin matches, if he would be unable to spend time with his best friend today he wanted to make sure he at least gave her, her gift and wished her a happy birthday.
"Yes Naruto-kun?" she answered softly. She had accepted the card and locket with a slight blush. It was in the shape of the Konoha flame, and opened to reveal her picture next to his.
She'd cherish this forever.
"I've never seen your uncle look so happy," Naruto commented.
Hinata looked over to see Hizashi indeed smiling at them, Neji had already gone to his father's side and it gave them a chance to talk a bit.
"He got some good news today," Hinata replied in her soft tone. She said no more, being a clan issue.
Naruto seemed to understand in any case and he nodded, he soon turned his head at the sound of his mother's voice telling him they really needed to get going.
The boy was unsure why, but he had noticed his family and people from Hinata's family giving him and her odd smiles.
"Coming Kaa-san," he called out before turning back to the young girl. He scratched his scarred cheek absentmindedly, "well, I have to go…boring exams and all."
She giggled as he rolled his eyes, a sign of irritation he'd picked up from his mother.
"Just wanted to wish you happy birthday, glad you like your gift."
"I love it, thank you Naruto-kun."
He beamed at her and as fast as a blink he leaned over and kissed her cheek, which turned red just as fast, "see you tomorrow Hinata-chan." He then took off after his parents.
OoOoO
"Kaa-san, what's with the weird smiles all day?" Naruto asked as the family walked out of the Hyuuga compound.
Minato remained quiet as Kushina answered, "No reason, it's just a good day."
Authors note: Kinda short I know, and partly filler and fluffy, but I felt it was needed.
Hope you all liked and please review.
And please check my profile, there is a link on file to another profile of mine on this sites sister site for original fics. I have nothing posted yet, but I will, and would really like feed back on an original story I am working on. Not sure when I will post that, but if you are interested please look for it.
Thanks for reading.