Of the Leaf

Darklight

Disclaimer: NOT MINE!

A.N.: I am back! Sorry for the lack of updates. Since I last updated I have moved three times, lost my job, and been to the hospital frequently. 2008 ended badly for me and 2009 started out just as bad. I hope that I can turn this into inspiration! Thanks to all who have stuck with me.

(Stares at the screen happily) yeah!!! 60 odd reviews!!! Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes! Thank you all so much for reviewing and giving me something to remind me why I like to write. Constructive criticisms are welcome but praise is loved!

By the way… I screwed up last chapter and now I need to rectify my mistake…

ATTENTION EVERYONE!!! I would like to thank Ninbinlotwen for beta-ing my work now. Ninbinlotwen is also responsible for the last chapter!

Yeesh… this is the longest author's notes I have ever written. Onward!

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Shikato slumped down further in his chair. Well, this wasn't what he had been expecting when he had been called to the Hokage's office. His son had to go and get the HEIRESS of the Hyuuga clan knocked up.

Troublesome brat.

So here he was sitting in the Lady Tsunade's office between Hiashi and his troublesome wife. That boy of his was going to owe him BIG TIME for this. And if he didn't know better he would say that troublesome blonde in front of him was getting a kick out of watching him squirm. As it was she was attempting to keep Hiashi from committing murder. Though the Hyuuga Clan Head was sitting down and appeared calm everyone in the room knew that he was boiling hot on the inside.

Currently Hiashi, Yoshino and he were being debriefed on the situation. Those kids had actually done one hell of a job negotiating a trade deal that would keep the Leaf Village in the green for years to come. The whole business about the aphrodisiac poisoning was understandable but he had never heard of one that could sublimate any form of birth control… That was worth looking into.

A glance to his left reminded him to do that later. Right now he had to deal with his wife. And Hiashi, and Tsunade, then his son… This was going to be a pain in his…

"Well, let's settle the issue the clan merger, shall we?" Hiashi unexpectedly spoke up. Glancing at the other man Shikato blinked and raised an eyebrow.

"The Nara clan will, of course, be absorbed by the Hyuuga and will be welcomed with open arms. They will make valuable members of the House with their skills and knowledge, though I fear that a few of the lesser clans will be unhappy but they will indubitably come to accept this."

Hiashi had turned toward Shikato during this minor monolog. His tone was meant to be friendly but it came out sounding condescending and the Nara found that he was becoming both amused and irritated.

"Oh, really?"

'Uh-oh, here she goes.'thought Shikato when he heard his wife speak up. Yoshino leaned forward and fixed a glare onto the leader of the oldest and most prestigious clan in Leaf. As far as she was concerned he was just a man with a fancy title and he would 'indubitably' hear her opinion loud and clear. The slightest of smiles could be seen on the face of the Fifth before she raised her hands back up to cover her mouth.

"Do you actually think that the Nara clan will allow itself to disappear into tomes of Hyuuga history? One of the many little clans that quietly allowed itself to die? Honestly are you…."

Right about that point Shikato tuned out his wife and the predictable responses of Hiashi. Propping his head up on his left fist and slouched down in the chair he gave a gusty sigh. He began to mentally weighing the pros and cons of murdering his son; he was also mildly surprised that Lady Tsunade was letting them fight like this in her office. Peeking out from under closed eyelids he saw that she also had her eyes closed. Who knew what was going through her mind?

Suddenly her eyes flew open and looked at Yoshino and Hiashi. Taking his cue from her Shikato also glanced up and tuned back in to the argument.

"…Branch House will benefit from the Nara clan. In time the Main Branch will also profit from your clan's strength but not until all members that are born into the combined family are properly marked." Hiashi was finishing up.

"Marked?" Shikato perked up at that. "You mean Sealed? As in the Seal of the Caged Bird?" Hiashi nodded.

"On who? My clan members' children?" Shikato's tone of voice dropped an octave when he spoke. Hiashi raised an eyebrow at the other man but answered him regardless.

"Well not just them, our grandchild too, of course. It will not be fit to enter the Head Branch because of the circumstances of its conception. As will all children that are borne of this unfortunate union. Regrettably Hinata will not be allowed to lead due to this, though she had potential. But circumstances will call for her to step down. She too, will be sealed."

Tsunade glanced at Shikato to see his reaction. Hiashi had stated this so calmly, as if he had no real care about his daughter or grandchild being sealed. She found it hard to believe that it really didn't matter to him. In Shikato, though, she saw a response that could be hazardous.

People generally compared the Nara clan to a herd of deer. Even the saying so much as 'Mess with a deer you'll get antlers.' But she had never seen the parallel. There was so little of anything deer-like about the family, other than the name. Gentle, soft, group oriented, none of those things were a typical Nara.

They tended to be solitary, rough, and difficult to deal with. Though each member had these traits in varying degrees. When it came down to it, Tsunade had always thought of them to be more akin to the great cats of the worlds. Hell, they were lazy like them too!

And in looking at Shikato now, though he hadn't physically moved from his position since he had opened his eyes and looked Hiashi, she saw a readiness in him. So similar to a lion getting ready pounce. She blinked at him, how had he gone from a tired, worn out fighter that was ready retire to this elite jonin ninja who was obviously still in the his prime of life? In all honesty she could only think of one other ninja that could do that.

"Over my dead body."

Tsunade blinked again. Had Shikato really just said that?

Hiashi also blinked in surprise.

"…."

"You heard me, Hyuuga-sama; it will be over my dead body before any child of the Nara clan is corrupted with your family's slave markings. And if you think you can seal your own child then think again, she married my son, thus making her my daughter and anyone who thinks that they will touch her or harm her will deal with me."

His voice low and dark with promise; Shikato remained in his slouched position in the chair. His expression had changed, the muscles in his face tightening and his eyes darkening, whereas they were black before now they were hard chips of obsidian reflecting a cold anger. Elite Jonin ninja indeed.

Hiashi stared at the Nara thunderstruck. Shock slowly gave way to anger and his face slowly colored with his rising fury. Shikato was cold as ice in his anger becoming sharper and more refined. Hiashi was more akin to a forest fire, blazing into a roaring temper and gaining strength and speed.

"How dare you… how dare you insult the Hyuuga! How dare you claim Hinata as your daughter! You did not raise her, nor did you watch her grow, no, struggle to become a ninja! Every hour of every day my daughter sought to become one of the finest ninja this Village has ever…but what would you know of that?! You don't even know the girl! Were she to have the seal on her head you could not pick her out of a line of Hyuuga!"

Shikato narrowed his eyes further and cut in before Hiashi could get any further. "Yes, but she is not sealed now is she? And you, her father, speaks so casually of placing that mark on her head. Your own daughter, your flesh and blood. One who you should value above everyone else. And you speak of putting that blasted cursed mark on your own child, you bastard! That mark that signifies that she is second best! Not as good enough as you and your Main Branch!"

In a rage Hiashi stood up shouting "She is not good enough! But what would you know of this? The Hyuuga have survived for these centuries because we strive for excellence in our selves and our leaders. Strive to a level that most will never even dream of! She is my daughter and you cannot know how I have agonized over her progress. Watching as she struggled just to get to the level she has reached and should she go further my pride will know no bounds! But she will never be great! She is above average nothing more! She will never be fit to rule her clan or any clan for that matter. So for the good of the clan and for her own good she will be Sealed and be free of any responsibilities that hold her back. But what would you know of responsibilities? You are nothing but a pitiful excuse of a clan leader!"

Standing with a fluidity that belied his age Shikato rose and faced Hiashi. Despite the insult thrown at him he ignored it to pass one final warning. "Regardless, I name her my daughter and acknowledge her position as wife of my heir and mother to my grandchild. Do not attempt to place the curse seal on her, Hiashi, else you will force my hand."

Turning away from Hiashi, Shikato faced Tsunade but turned back unable to restrain his final comment. "I pray that one day you will realize her worth as family before it is too late Hiashi…just as you realized Hizashi's worth too late."

Hiashi Hyuuga stood there stunned for a moment before his fury consumed him fully. Moving faster than the eye could follow he lunged towards Shikato blood limit activated.

"ENOUGH!!"

Tsunade stood between the two men blocking Hiashi from committing murder and holding Shikato at bay. "I have heard enough from the two of you!"she roared. Lowering her hands to her sides she glared back and forth at the two men. "Both of you are the heads of powerful clans in MY Village but if you persist in acting like petty children then GET OUT! I will not have this office of my forbearers disgraced by your spitefulness towards each other! I will not have civil war breaking out in this village. This is a matter between your clans! Solve it soon with your clans or I will solve it for you and I promise you both that you will not care for how I will solve this!"

Shooting furious glances at each other both settled down for fear of further angering their Hokage. She never before showed this level of power in this office and neither wished to test their skill against it.

"SHIZUNE!" Tsunade roared. In an eye blink the young woman appeared. "Escort Hyuuga-sama to his compound. Dismissed." Hiashi bowed low to Lady Tsunade and turned on his heel. Moving swiftly out of the office and down the eerily silent corridors of the Hokage Tower. Many eyes following his form through and out of the tower also taking note of Shizune's presence behind him long after he had cleared the governmental section of the Village. People immediately began their quiet speculations of what had been said to anger the Hokage so.

Turning to face Shikato, Lady Tsunade glared at him. Catching the look he turned about and locked stares with the Hokage. For a brief moment Tsunade thought he just might challenge her but the Nara sighed and dropped down into the chair he had vacated in anger. Yoshino also returned to her chair beside her husband, quietly taking his hand, keeping her gaze on him. Tsunade kept her glare on him.

"That was uncalled for Nara. I don't care how much it is true or how badly he needed to hear it. No matter what you think, Hiashi loved his brother more than any will truly know. I don't claim to understand his line of thinking but I do know that he is entitled to have his own opinions. His clan is so very different from yours and who are you to say that he is wrong?" Tsunade sighed and leaned back against her desk. "Though…I do agree with you on how he will probably regret how he treats Hinata, she is still his daughter and…"

"My daughter now also, Tsunade, and I meant what I said. She will not be sealed and neither will her child. That is something I will not back off of. And if future generations of Nara children are going to also be sealed, then there is no way in hell we will merge with them." Taking a deep breath Shikato glanced up at his Lady Hokage and sighed it back out. "I'm sorry I acted like that but I am not sorry for my words Tsunade. Though you are correct, this is a matter for our clans, not just two proud idiots like Hiashi and me."

Standing he faced the blonde and bowed low. Yoshino also stood and bowed. Facing the older woman again Shikato spoke again, "We'll go now, we need to speak with our son. Perhaps his wife also. Any idea where we can find the lovebirds?"

Tsunade shook her head at the younger man. Only a Nara would lose their temper then go back to normal so quickly. Shaking her head again she smiled to herself. Only a Nara could get into so much trouble and come out of it with a smart assed remark. Only a Nara.