Another Way to Serve
Chapter Seven
Kakashi wanted to throw something. Seriously. He wanted to throw something. Four weeks, two days, twelve hours and twenty-eight minutes, and he was this close—this close—to finally meeting the girl, but daaamn did that Lady Hitomi know exactly how to give him the (figurative) middle finger. It hadn't been crude or undignified either; it had been a smooth transaction whereby the "package" had willing gone from his hands to the Hyuga elder's.
He wanted to throw something.
But he didn't. Partially because it'd be unseemly for the Hokage, and partially because Team Guy was watching. Sometimes, he would've liked to be the only one in his office, then he could've danced or threw things all he wanted (or drank sake indiscriminately, but he already did that…). But since he wasn't alone, he settled with glaring instead. And with only one eye visible, the glare seemed even more venomous and startling than a two-eyed glare would've been.
Team Guy did not break formation.
Damn them.
"Allow me to recount the details," Kakashi said, low and agitated. Team Guy said nothing. "You approached the package. The package received the scroll. The package agreed to the summons. The package delayed because of midterms, but that can be excused. Then you escorted the package to the gates… and then the package just leaves you?"
"An elder from the Hyuga Clan was waiting," Neji said, clipped and precise. No hesitation or excuses from the perfect soldier. "She had interrupted the process."
"Lady Hitomi," Kakashi said.
"Yes," affirmed Neji.
Kakashi frowned. "And you did not deign it necessary to stop her?"
Lee looked worried and Tenten almost—almost—shifted, but Neji stood firm. His Hyuga upbringing and shinobi training disallowed for any sign of weakness or discomfort. His eyes, so white and fathomless, channelled so much of the Hyuga that Kakashi had almost looked away, but dared not to. Given the situation, he must face the Hyuga eye-to-eye, unblinkingly.
"I did not think it wise to confront an elder from the Hyuga Clan," Neji concluded. "I do know what consequences would befall the package otherwise."
Kakashi pressed his lips at the dark implication and threaded his fingers together in thought. He was no fool, regardless of how he acted at times. No ANBU, or jonin for that matter, would have been an ANBU or jonin if they'd been fools to begin with. He had been suspicious of Lady Hitomi since the day she had entered his office, despoiling his department of finance and suddenly brandishing a solution. How convenient for her that the situation at council had unravelled quickly enough for him to act on impulse—in her favour, it would seem.
And he had never been one to act impulsively either…
"The… package," Kakashi said carefully. "Did she seem… suspicious?"
Tenten and Lee exchanged a perplexed look. They did not take care in hiding it from their Hokage, for they did not see a reason for it. They, evidently, did not find the girl in doubt, but it was Neji's answer that interested the Hokage.
"I cannot say," the male Hyuga said, stiff and tense. "I am biased."
Kakashi narrowed his gaze. "You are in favour of her."
"Yes." No hesitation. No excuses. Perfect soldier.
He should not have sent Team Guy on this mission. What—or who—Kakashi had thought would be an advantage have now turned into a disadvantage. He had not wanted to test Neji, but the Hyuga had been tested regardless. He did not want to lose Neji to the Hyuga.
Troubled, Kakashi looked to his desk, at the disproportionate financial papers, flagging trade agreements, and jostling complaints from the treasury. Three different departments. All moved money. All kept the village afloat. Desperate. He had been desperate when penning the scroll, desperate when he had held the council at bay, desperate when he had sent Team Guy to the capital—desperate to have courted the daimyo's anger.
He had been so desperate and relived and hopeful that he had not even catered the idea of a sinister plot, of a possible betrayal, of a possible coup (if it came to that). But now, with countless papers swathed over his desk like a dirty and overgrown swamp, was he desperate enough to take another risk? Did he want to take a chance on an individual who could, or could not, be a snake in disguise? Konoha had had enough of snakes in disguise; She would not be able to bear another.
"Lord Hokage!" Shizune burst into the office, startling both him and Team Guy. Not only was she scared and trembling, but very, very desperate. "The treasury is withholding the hospital's funding! We do not have enough for supplies!"
Kakashi's eyes went wide, as did Team Guy's.
Yes.
He fisted his hands.
Yes, he was desperate enough to take a chance because—damn it— he had no one else to turn to.
"I will speak with them," said Kakashi.
And then he would speak with the Hyuga.
xxx
Somewhere in the garden, a stream was trickling. Hinata did not know where, for the foliage of bamboo and cherry trees kept the inner courtyard from her vision, but the sound tickled her ears and gave her a sense of peace. She supposed that was why her grandmother had brought her to a teahouse rather than the Hyuga Compound as she, and Kō, had predicted. The compound was stifling.
The maples fluttered as a wind teased through the clearing, sifting the scent of honeysuckle and winter jasmines in the air. She glanced to Kō mischievously, and he smiled; they loved nature and all Her children. It was unfortunate that he was standing a little ways behind her, away from the grandmother and granddaughter. Hinata would've loved for him to join them, but alas, her grandmother was a traditionalist.
Hinata turned her gaze from Kō to watch one of her grandmother's attendants pour the tea. They were situated in a gazebo, above a small man-made pond, shielded from view by stone walls and trees. Her grandmother had reserved a private garden in the teahouse, although Hinata could not tell if the walls and trees also hid their voices.
The attendant poured Hinata's tea last and then silently withdrew to the far side of the gazebo. It was a poor imitation of privacy, but her grandmother's attendants would never repeat the words said between the two Hyuga main members. With her grandmother, Hinata was given the respect she was due, but that did not mean Hinata was comfortable in accepting it.
She smiled at the attendant in thanks, and was relieved when her grandmother did not scold her for it… this time. Hinata supposed that there other matters to discuss, matters more important than Hyuga propriety, although Hinata did not know if there could be matters more important than Hyuga propriety. She would keep that joke to herself.
"Hinata," Grandmother Hitomi began, and Hinata straightened, "how were your midterms?"
Hinata could face foreign dignitaries, fraud-ridden bank accounts, and even Lord Fusao's temper (albeit never directed at her), but her grandmother—anything Hyuga related—made her a nervous wreck. Which was why her index fingers had unconsciously touched, only for her to forcibly lay her palms flat onto the table, where she could see and, hopefully, control them.
"They went well," Hinata said. With her grandmother, her stutter was almost non-existent. "The first had been in marketing. I confess, grandmother, I did not do as well as I hoped, but I believe I fared better than the majority of my class." She watched for a reaction from her grandmother, but Lady Hitomi had merely lowered her gaze to take to her tea. It was a graceful guise to shielding her emotions. Hinata had never been able to manage the subtle feminine grace of a Hyuga lady, enough to be admired and enslave all at once.
When her grandmother gave no answer, Hinata continued. "My second midterm was in finance and accounting. I have always excelled in numbers, therefore I will not hesitate in proclaiming my success. I know that I have done well, even better than I could have imagined."
Hinata ended her retelling on a positive note and waited for her grandmother's practical teachings on not expecting more and working harder and knowing one's place. Expect, that morning, Grandmother Hitomi did not hold her at bay or keep her modest. Grandmother Hitomi did not starve her of affection. Instead, Grandmother Hitomi had set aside her tea and looked at Granddaughter Hinata in the eye.
"Good," Grandmother Hitomi said.
Hinata blinked. She was sure that if she looked at Kō that he, too, would appear taken aback. Hinata almost leaned forward, but was conscious enough to stay her body. She wanted to enquire, but as the dutiful granddaughter, she waited for her grandmother to continue.
"Hinata," said Grandmother Hitomi, "you have been away from the Hyuga for a very long time now."
Hinata wanted to fidget, but somehow managed not to. Her grandmother was acting strange.
"You have thrived outside the village, as I have predicted, and become someone to be acknowledged," her grandmother said. "It is good that you have decided to return to us, for there is much for you to learn here, and much for you to contribute."
Hinata did not know how her grandmother knew of her return, nor was she surprised. The Hyuga knew things, had always known things, and it was better to not question. It must be the eyes, she thought almost regretfully, the eyes showed the clan everything.
"Do not disappoint me, granddaughter," Grandmother Hitomi said.
Hinata was both afraid and confused. She did not understand what her grandmother meant by "disappointing" her, for there was nothing she could disappoint her in (unless she failed in her classes). And since she did not know how she could disappoint her, she was afraid of disappointing her, however unconsciously or by accident. She was just about to ask her grandmother for clarification when a waitress silently stepped into the gazebo and whispered inaudible into her grandmother's ear.
A slight, gentile nod from Grandmother Hitomi and the waitress retreated at once. Taking another sip of her tea, Grandmother Hitomi looked to Hinata and said, "I have a visitor waiting inside."
Hinata nodded, not ready to leave without all that talk of "disappointments," but she made to exit regardless.
"You will wait here," Grandmother Hitomi instructed.
Hinata paused, alarmed and perplexed. This was the strangest conversation she had ever had with her grandmother.
"Y-yes, grandmother." It was such a strange meeting that her grandmother did not even scold her for stuttering.
Finishing her tea in small, delicate sips, Grandmother Hitomi placed the cup down and stood, her attendant immediately detaching from the sides of the gazebo to line up behind her. Wary and nervous, Hinata could do nothing but watch the group of beautiful Hyuga women exit the gazebo and into the teahouse. The sound of waving grass and branches did not sit well with her.
She turned to Kō, who frowned in confusion. They were both out of their elements, but neither believed that Lady Hitomi would plot against them. The woman had invested, not only time and money, but also affection into Hinata to discount suddenly ridding her.
"We can only wait now, mistress," Kō said.
Hinata did not like Kō calling her "mistress," but understood that Hyuga had more than all-seeing eyes.
They had sharp ears as well.
Hinta nodded, and then returned to her cold tea.
xxx
Kakashi had wanted to pay a visit to the Hyuga Compound, but had been directed elsewhere by a letter written by Lady Hitomi herself. Since she was the reason for his pursuing of the girl, he had decided to speak with her first. He did not know if Hiashi even knew about the happenings around his firstborn. He had an inkling that Lady Hitomi was making decisions and playing cards without the Hyuga Head's knowledge or consent.
Kakashi did not want an inner-clan war on his hands. Konoha could not contain anymore chaos.
He adjusted his absurd hat and forced himself to still when Lady Hitomi entered the room. The teahouse was quiet and comforting, but it could not quell the feeling of trepidation and suspicion within him. Not even when the door was closed and locked did he feel it safe enough to speak.
"Lord Hokage," Lady Hitomi acknowledged, without even a bow or a nod.
It irked him more than he thought it would. "Lady Hitomi." He did not bow or nod. If she was playing games, then he could too, at least he had the freedom to be petty if he wanted. Hyuga decorum sometimes limited fun.
"I appreciate your coming to meet me," the Hyuga elders said.
None of them had taken a seat, eyeing each other across the room like tigers ready to pounce.
"I appreciate your having the time to see me," he said with a certain sting.
Lady Hitomi narrowed her eyes. "Your ill-disguised suspicion of me is rather childish. I am not brittle or weak. What is it that you want to ask?"
Kakashi wanted to throw something. Seriously. He wanted to throw something. He cursed all the Hyuga and their all-seeing eyes and their all-knowing presence. If she did not fear accusation, then he would lay it all out. "What is it that you want from me?" When she didn't answer, or even seem to understand, he clarified. "How is it, that when the department of finance and the treasury were bickering, that you suddenly bring a solution to me? How is it, that when the department of trade was on the brink of destruction, that you give me a girl who has the—possible—skills to prevent a fall out?
Pardon me, Lady Hitomi, but it all seems rather convenient for you to place one of your own—your very own granddaughter who you have trained no less—into my inner sanctum. Again, I ask you, what do you want?"
Lady Hitomi was not moved by his vehemence or his dissecting eyes. Instead, she merely blinked and calmly took a seat, as if they were having an amicable discussion rather than a confrontation. Her tranquility roused his anger, but he did not move.
"You are accusing the Hyuga of a coup," she said. He was not the only one who could lay it plainly.
Kakashi did not flinch, did not move, did not acknowledge that that was exactly what he was thinking of.
"I can tell you, Lord Hokage, that that is not what the Hyuga, or I, want," Lady Hitomi said.
Kakashi did not believe her.
Lady Hitomi looked at him as if he were a bug she was sparing. He wanted to throw something.
"The Hyuga, my Lord Hokage, have never had the need to be the rulers of Konoha," Lady Hitomi said, as if the very thought was beneath her and a waste of the Hyuga's precious time. "It is not only time-consuming, but exhausting—in both our energies and treasury. No. There is no need for a Hyuga to be Hokage, or numerous Hyugas to dominate the council. There never will be.
The Hyuga, my Lord Hokage, have other means of ruling and controlling the village, and the world beyond. Money, knowledge and intelligence ensures that the clan is safe and our position secured." She looked to him sharply, so scalding that he almost drew back. "That is all we have always wanted. We do not wish to control the world or the village, we merely want to control ourselves. Thus, you can be rest assured, Lord Hokage, that the Hyuga have no designs for a rebellion.
"A rebellion would be foolish, and would decimate our clan."
Kakashi gritted his teeth, wary and cautious. What she spoke of held weight, and the argument did coincide with what he knew of the Hyuga, both from research and his own relations with the clan. "Very well," he said, but it was not in finality. "You may not have any desires for Konoha, but your granddaughter knows how to work wonders with numbers-"
"Are you daft?" Lady Hitomi hissed, as if what he said was a personal insult—and it was. She was so angry that her eyes sparked with white flint, more emotion than Kakashi had ever seen in a Hyuga. "Are you implying that the Hyuga are in need of funds?" She nearly scoffed, but that would be most unbecoming and inelegant. "We are the Hyuga, child, we have trade relations across the land—across the borders—across the oceans. Our accountants are highly gifted and our traders highly intuitive. We have never been left wanting, nor are we going to be anytime soon."
"And yet you do not advise our treasury," Kakashi cut, quick and fatal.
Her eyes burst into hot white flames, a burning and searing that left Kakashi short of breath. This was a Will of Fire unlike any other he had encountered.
"We serve Konoha in other ways," Lady Hitomi hissed, deathly and omnipotent. "With our lives."
Kakashi looked away.
He refused to feel chastened, but he did. He knew, better than most, that the Hyuga were dedicated to Konoha. They had never been greedy enough to take from the very village they served, the very people they had bound themselves to watch over and protect. They had never had the desire to be more than the Hyuga, to reap and cut down anyone in their path for the coveted title of Hokage. The Hyuga were not the Uchiha. They did not have to be underhanded or sly—they were just very good at playing the game, having more than enough private ventures, increasing funds and growing assets to keep their clan thriving.
They had not become the most powerful clan in Konoha from cheating.
They had become the most powerful clan in Konoha from saving.
Exhausted and bereft, Kakashi fell into the chair behind him. He had been foolish to exchange words with a Hyuga, in particular one of her calibre, wise and experienced from all her years. Even more foolish to accuse the Hyuga of anything. His suspicions could be right, or they could very well be wrong, but he was not about to trust Lady Hitomi on her word. And yet…
He closed his eyes.
And yet he was still desperate enough to take the chance—a chance on the girl.
"If you are done smearing the Hyuga name," Lady Hitomi said, smouldering with distaste, "then perhaps you would like to meet my granddaughter."
He opened his eye and looked at her, wary but curious. "Where is she?"
"Outside," Lady Hitomi said. "My attendant will show you the way."
At first, he didn't move, watching her carefully as the afternoon sun streamed colour into the room through the painted paper windows and doors. She could, very well, strike him down at any given time for having insulted her and her kin non-stop for the past half hour. He had been foolish. He had given her a reason to watch him… perhaps with even more care and precision than prior to this meeting.
She said nothing and did not move. When it was finally evident that she had no plans to down him, Kakashi stood from his seat and nodded to the attendant who moved for the door. Stiff and a little unbalanced from their fired exchange, Kakashi made to step forward when another attendant moved toward him. He nearly drew out a kunai in defence, but was glad that he'd refrained when the second attendant handed him a folder.
He eyed the file cautiously. Lady Hitomi may very well have placed an explosive tag in the papers.
"You may want to test her," Lady Hitomi clarified.
He saw that she saw his hesitation. He found himself getting weaker and weaker in her presence. He cursed those all-seeing eyes.
"Give her the file," she said. "She will be able to discern the situation for herself."
Kakashi frowned, but refused to remain weak in her gaze. Stubbornly, almost rebelliously, he took the file from the attendant and opened the folder, as if the brisk action alone could swipe aside his apprehension and her disapproving judgement. But with one, brief scan over the first page, his eyes went wide and he glared at the Hyuga elder. Perhaps he hadn't been foolish to accuse her. "This is-!"
"If you think Konoha's accounts are private," she met his glare with a glare of her own, "then you are a bigger fool than I thought."
He was incredulous. Incredulous and speechless. And angry. And definitely, definitely paranoid. It would seem that the Hokage Tower's security was lacking. Either lacking, or traitorous. He caught Lady Hitomi's cool look, and he understood. She had just made it very clear that he was vulnerable—that Konoha was vulnerable. His inner sanctum had already been penetrated.
He distrusted her, but he understood that Konoha falling was not advantageous for the Hyuga either.
"Go," Lady Hitomi said. "She is waiting."
Kakashi closed the folder with a snap.
He was desperate, so very, very desperate…
He followed the attendant outside, a frown marring his otherwise smooth forehead.
…and hoped very, very much that the girl wouldn't disappoint.
Kakashi's grip on the folder grew firm and his shoulders straightened.
For he had no one else to turn to.
xxx
the point
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