Most of the family members are here, sitting in the reception room,
this morning. When the sliding door opens before Hinata and Neji, the silence
settles and all the attention goes on them. Hanabi only lowers her head
instead of raising it.
All these glances which are fixed on her make Hinata tremble, but she
manages to keep her composure . She must stay strong. She withdrew her
lenses to she her white eyes, and her long hair is carefully capped, but
she kept her clothing of the day before, refusing to put on the hyuga traditional
Kimono. She isn't anymore the old Hinata. She and Neji advance to the room
center, facing the clan chief, Hiashi.
In the heavy silence, Hiashi rises and advances towards them, but Hinata
speaks first.
Hinata: "What do you want from me?"
What kind of answers are possible to such a question? None. There's
no answer. Hyugas don't want anything from Hinata, they don't expect anything
of her since a long time, they don't know what to do with her. Too different,
she doesn't enter inside their preset mould, they don't know anymore how
to react. Then they don't answer.
Hiashi: "Hinata, your unconscious behaviour created a great disorder
in the clan, threatening our balance! What answer do you have to this?"
Hinata: "The disorder was created only by your arbitrary and unjust
decisions!"
Usually, Hiashi is calm and masters himself. But for the second time
in a day, his emotions overcomes him and his hand rises to slap her daughter.
But Neji interposed and blocked his arm. All the room resound from
such an audacity. Hiashi's anger turns to the young man who faces him.
Hiashi: "How dare you, Neji! First you hide Hinata from our family,
then you dare to touch her in a unforgivable way! You dishonoured her,
whereas you are cousins! Your crime is unforgivable! You deserve an exemplary
punishment!"
But he doesn't have the time to form with his hand the signs feared
by the secondary family members, the signs which activates the seal on
their head. Another hand blocks his movements and hold his fingers tight
firmly. It's Hinata's hand, which holds her father without weakening. In
her other hand, a kunai shines. Then she turns it towards her own throat.
Hinata: "If you do something to Neji, I'll cut my throat."
Her threatening voice make the others Hyuga stop as they were raising
to help the clan chief. Nobody dares to move anymore while the father and
the daughter's glance clash, maintained one by the other. Hinata won't
yield, she's decided to go until the end, and her father reads it in her
eyes with horror. But he doesn't yield either, he's the chief of the clan,
he just can't let pass that...
A voice resounds in the silent room: " I'll cut my throat too, if something
happens to Hinata!" Pointing a knife towards her, Hanabi raises and faces
the glance of her father. She decides , this time, to truly help Hinata.
Now, all the younger generation is bound by the same fate and is drawn up against the chief of clan. They are united, main and secondary branch family, sisters and cousins, more united than their parents were, united in life and death as a strong clan must be united. Hiashi's anger alleviates and leaving place to a great sadness. He must recognize that they're right. The older Hyugas are responsible for the disorders and the dissensions inside their clan. Whereas the Hyuga's young people could understand themselves and ally.
Hiashi ceases his fighting against Hinata and she releases him. Looking
at the face of her father, she reads tiredness and sadness there. He doesn't
say anything, and Hinata speaks with her soft voice: "Let us live the life
which we have chosen."
Then she smile to Hanabi. Taking Neji's hand, she leaves the room with
him. They walk straight. They're going home, in their small apartment.
They're free.