A/N: Sorry everyone for not updating in the longest time.I promise some Neji/Hina next chapter. Thanks for your continued support. Hope you will enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me.
Hiashi's Promise
Looking up from his writing as he heard the door being slid opened, Hiashi was greeted with the sight of his younger daughter, stepping into the room. She was like a young female version of him, this daughter of his, while the older one was a copy of his deceased wife. Hiashi's heartstrings twanged a little but he stilled it, reminding himself of the consequences having a soft heart would entail.
"Hanabi," He called out imperiously as he stared at her. She had been glaring at him since she entered the room but after his voice rang out, she lowered her head. Yes. He knew why she was angry. Yet to be a leader, one had to make sacrifices. This was just another test to see how strong Hanabi really was.
"Otou-san," Hanabi greeted even as she lowered her head. Her fists clenched by her sides. She knew she really should be bowing and then taking a seat but she was feeling defiant.
"Take a seat," Hiashi said. But I'd rather stand, Otou-san. The unvoiced rebelliousness hung between them, creating an ominous atmosphere. However, Hanabi knew, despite his cordial tone that her father was issuing a command that he expected to be obeyed. Reluctantly, she bowed stiffly before walking to the mat and kneeling on it.
"I gather you have heard the news?" He deliberately made his statement sound more like a question.
There was a long pause before Hanabi nodded and said a grudging, "Hai,"
"I'd expect you to be more enthusiastic than this." Hiashi added with a touch of puzzlement into his tone.
Hanabi's head snapped up suddenly and her eyes fixed on his with a frown of determination. It seemed as if she had come to some sort of decision. "Otou-san, I need to tell you that this is a big mistake."
"A big mistake?" Hiashi raised an eyebrow at his daughter as if wondering whether she had gone slightly mad. No one ever told him that he made a mistake. Even if they wanted to, it would all have been hinted at subtly and not said point blank to his face like his daughter just did. "I thought you of all people would be ecstatic."
"Ecstatic?" Hanabi wrinkled her nose in bewilderment. "Why would I be?" Hanabi's frown deepened.
"Hinata would be relegated to the Branch family once she marries Neji and that would leave you to be the next in line for the title of heir." He said that as if it was the most logical thing in the world. And it was. Hanabi was usually clever enough to pick up on things like that but she was obviously not thinking clearly. Hiashi wondered briefly if it was such a good idea to have let her relationship with Neji go on for quite so long. It seemed as if she had lost her edge.
Hanabi looked slightly shocked by her father's revelation before she recollected herself.
"But Otou-san, can't you marry Onee-chan to another Branch member?" Hanabi responded with a pout aimed at her father. Usually this aided her in getting her way.
Hiashi smirked. There was his manipulative little Hanabi again. However, this time round he would have to disappoint her. Hanabi had to learn that even a leader cannot always have his way. It was a tough lesson but there was a reason behind it.
Neji and Hinata had been betrothed since they were children, a promise that Hiashi and Hizashi made to one another when Hizashi promised his son to be Hinata's protector forever. The truth behind the required wedding was to unite their family once more, so that none of their grandchildren would be marked with the cursed seal. At least that was what Hizashi wanted. There would be no retracting the betrothal since it was well-known knowledge amongst all the older folks in the Hyuuga household, both Main house and Branch house. Hence, there was no way Hiashi could openly allow Hanabi to be with Neji. However, only a few Hyuuga elders were privy to the truth behind the betrothal and as almost all of them are of the camp that did not want Hinata as the next clan leader, none of them would speak out if Hinata was relegated to the Branch family instead. Thus, Hiashi was going to renege on the promise he made to his brother.
It is for the greater good, little brother. Just like your death was for the greater good. The Hyuuga will not follow a weak leader. It will rend the clan asunder.
Yet even though he tried as hard as he could to convince himself of this fact, he could not help but feel a small part of his soul dying from advocating this lie. In consolation however, he has decided not to brand Hinata even though her status would become that of a Branch family member. It was one of his terms of condition with the council. Let Hinata be the first Branch family member to be unmarked. It would be his one act of defiance and perhaps one step closer to the dream his brother and Hinata shared.
"Neji and Hinata have already been betrothed since they were young," Hiashi did not feel he had to explain the truth of his actions to Hanabi in the same way that he did not explain his decision not to brand Hinata to the council.
"But..Otou-san…" Hanabi was about to kick up a fuss and Hiashi was in no mood to entertain it. The harsh and ugly truth would surely render her speechless and malleable to his demands. Hiashi decided to come directly to the point. Yet Hanabi had a highly volatile temperament and that was possibly the one thing he overlooked.
Cutting her off, Hiashi said severely "No 'buts'. The decision is final. Now I know of your little indiscretion with Neji and truly Hanabi, it was only allowed to continue because I permitted it." Pausing briefly to allow Hanabi to digest what was said, he then continued albeit regretfully, "However, the time has come for your little game to stop. You need to let this matter go and concentrate on what lies ahead." The council had requested for Neji and Hinata to be wedded earlier than he had expected. There was no time for his third generation heir to be produced. He could only hope that Hanabi's future offspring would be as strong, if not stronger than Neji.
Hanabi had indeed been stunned into silence. Her head hung awkwardly as she stared gapingly, albeit unfocusedly at her father. Apparently the second half of what he said had entirely escaped her, quite possibly due to the fact that the first part was simply too stunning.
"You knew?" She whispered so softly that he had to strain to hear it.
"You knew about us all along!" Her whisper had turned into an angry yell even as she stood up to glare at her father. "Then you should know that I don't let my possessions go easily!" There was a flash of fire in her eyes. Hanabi whirled around angrily and stormed towards the exit.
Yes. Apparently he had overlooked his daughter's feelings for Neji. Perhaps he had thought too highly of her, after all, Hanabi was really still a child and he was treating her as if she were a matured adult.
Flinging aside the sliding door roughly, Hanabi paused to find Hinata standing just outside her father's study room, looking pale and shocked. Hanabi gave her sister a look before turning her head back to throw one last potent glare at her father before she rampaged out leaving Hinata to stare dazedly at her father.
