Note from the author: I don't like how this chapter flows at all, and I hope somebody kills me for it before I can write anything else as shitty as this. --
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We'll never be alone.
Hinata knelt and offered a bow, before sitting back on her heels, fingers twisting and untwisting in her lap. "You wished to see me, Father?"
Hiashi looked down his nose at her, and she could feel herself shrinking, before consciously sitting straight again. "Yes." He stated simply, blinking slowly at her. "I wished to inform you of my plans for you for the next few years."
Curiosity got the best of her and she let her eyes raise to his, eyebrow cocked slightly, "Plans, sir?"
Her bold gaze took him by surprise, but he continued without missing a beat. "Yes. For your training. I intend to send you away with a personal trainer. Neji will be going as well." A bubble of joy grew in her heart. "Not together, of course." The bubble burst and her face crumpled. "I wish for you to be separated so that you can focus solely on your training, so that one day, you, Hinata, may lead this clan." He paused. "You seem upset. I thought you would be pleased. Do you not want to be a good ninja?"
"I do, Father," she managed out around the lump forming in the back of her throat. "It just … I don't see why I must leave."
Hiashi smiled, or rather, twisted his lips in such a way that it showed amusement: "Will you miss us?"
She struggled to return the smile. "Yes, of course. Will you excuse me please?" She bowed again, all her new-found strength seeping into the floor where her forehead touched it. "I am not feeling well."
"Of course. Oh. Hinata?" She reached the door, and turned hesitantly. "You shall leave the day after tomorrow."
She managed to get out the door and close it before retching. She really wanted to cry, but instead ran into the garden to hide. Her feet jerked to a halt the moment they touched grass and she stood there frozen, eyes closed. The softness of the breeze seemed wrong somehow against the roughness of how betrayed she felt.
Hands slid around her waist, and a chin settled on her shoulder. "He's just protecting his power, Hinata," Neji purred against her ear." When we're together, we're a threat."
Her head dropped against her chest, fists clenched so hard her nails pierced her palms. "I don't care about any of that." Her voice shook. "I don't care about power, or bloodlines, or being in the main family." His arms around her tightened, but she stepped out of his reach, running her hands over the coarse bark of a nearby tree. After a moment, she turned to him, pearl eyes determined. "I want to spend my life as a ninja, helping people, and I want to spend it beside you."
He held out his hand to her, and she took it, letting him draw her into his arms again. She hid her face in his shirt, refusing to cry, taking in his musky scent, trying to memorize him, and trying not to think of what was going to happen while they were gone.
"We'll get through this," he whispered against her hair.
She gripped his shirt, trying to stay close to him. Somewhere he heard her murmur, "You're damn right we will."