Okay all, I hope you enjoy this next chapter. A little more of the Hyuga clan politics and such along with other things. Thanks to all those who read and reviewed, and added me to their faves and alerts lists. It's hugely appreciated.
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The Prince and The Slave.
Chapter Thirty-Five.
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(General P.O.V.)
Hinata sat at the front, in her clan's meeting hall, along with Neji and Hanabi. Three chairs had been placed there specifically for the heads of the clan to oversee meetings. Hinata wanted to be angry at this moment. All the men were yelling over one another and none would even acknowledge Hinata's existence. "We are having great problems tilling the fields now. There are no more slaves to work and with no more slaves, we need to find labour. That takes time." One man said.
"We need workers to be provided or the fields will become useless." Another man added. Hinata stood, but the men kept talking.
"Brothers of the clan." Hinata called out. Her voice didn't shriek, but neither did she sound too soft. She had always been able to project her voice well. The Hyuga men were ignoring her. Hinata looked at Neji and Hanabi. She knew she couldn't ask Hanabi to fight the clan for her. They didn't like that she or Neji were there in the first place. They had wanted Hanabi to be clan head, so that they could control her. But with Hinata and Neji as Hanabi's guardians, by a royal decree, the clan had no way of using Hanabi for their own ends. Now Hinata had to prove her own strength to her clan and there was only one thing that they understood. Hinata pulled a dagger from its sheath, hidden within the sleeves of her light blue kimono. Then she threw it with perfect precision. It hit the sleeve of one clansman, and pinned it to the wall behind him. The group stared suddenly at Hinata. "When a clan head speaks it is your duty to listen and honour their words. If you haven't learnt to do that yet, there are always ways I could use to convince you." Hinata stated. The men stared at her in shock. Hinata walked down from the small platform where the three chairs sat, leaving Neji and Hanabi seated, and made her way to the clansman, whose arm was pinned by her dagger. She yanked the dagger free and then looked the man in the eyes. "Are there any here who wish to insult me further, with ignorance? Because I don't miss my targets, as another brother of this clan learned, on the day of my father's death." Hinata stated icily. All the men bowed their heads, seemingly subdued, for now. Hinata made her way back to her seat, in the middle of Neji and Hanabi. That was something else the clansmen hadn't liked. Neji and Hanabi had told Hinata that she must sit in the middle seat, as they both believed her to be the true heir of the Hyuga clan, at any rate. Hinata sat again and looked at the men standing around her. "To answer the crisis of the fields, my suggestion is to start working the fields yourselves until you can hire good men or women for fair wages. Not only will tilling the fields yourselves give you added strength and save you gold, but you'll find yourself prouder of the profits reaped at the end of it, because you actually worked for it yourselves." Hinata stated. The clansmen stared at Hinata as though she were insane.
"That's ludicrous!" One man said. Another nodded his agreement.
"We're nobility. We can't be seen to be toiling in the fields. We would lose the respect of all other clans!" Another man said. Hinata glared.
"Strangely enough, when I lived with the Uzumaki clan, everyone worked within the fields and where they were needed, especially when there were troubles with the crops as you seem to be telling me there are. No one sees them as being anything but respectful." Hinata replied.
"The Uzumaki's are-" One man made to say before Neji stood from his own chair.
"I would think carefully before you finish that sentence, brother. Naruto Uzumaki and I are both on the royal council and the Uzumaki clan are beloved by the people of Konoha and all who know them." Neji stated coldly. Hanabi nodded her agreement from her own chair. She seemed uncomfortable and Hinata held out a hand, which Hanabi grasped tightly. Hinata knew how she was feeling. Neither of them felt comfortable with clan politics. Even Neji, brave as he appeared, hated the clan politics.
"We are not the Uzumaki clan, we are the Hyuga clan. The greatest clan of Fire Country." The man stated.
"And yet, the Hyuga and Uzumaki clans will be joined together soon enough." Neji replied. The clansmen carried looks of shock as questions of how, why and when, were shot out at the new clan heads. Hinata stood up and revealed the necklace of that Naruto had given her, on the day of Sasuke's coronation. She had tucked it into the collar of her kimono before. She had been waiting for the right moment to announce to the clan that she was engaged to Naruto. But it seemed that Neji had felt the need to reveal the information now.
"I am engaged to Naruto Uzumaki. But I will continue my duties as a head of this clan, even after I am married." Hinata announced. There were horrified gasps from the men in the council room, as they realised that Hinata wasn't joking.
"No woman has ever married outside of the clan." One man said. Others started mumbling agreements.
"Besides, if you marry an Uzumaki that will make you an Uzumaki, therefore unable to carry on as a clan head." Another male added. Hinata pulled out her dagger and threw it once again. This time it scratched the face of the man who spoke and once again embedded itself into a wall. The others in the room fell silent.
"As a clan head, I am allowed to make decisions and change laws to benefit this clan, as I see fit. Though as my cousin and my sister are equal to me in power within this clan, I discuss everything with them. You think you have the right to question my decisions?" Hinata asked the man, who now held a hand to his scratched face. "If my father were the one speaking, would you question him?" Hinata asked the room in general. Everyone stayed completely silent and still. The fact that Hinata had drawn blood from one of them, seemed to have shocked them. "You all believe that I am not fit to be a clan head. You do not like that I am here. But the King himself made me clan head, along with Hanabi and Neji. You don't have to like that, but you do have to accept it. I will not put up with disrespect. I will defend myself as I would defend this clan. Whatever decisions that we make as clan heads, it is your duty to accept and follow. I have been kind so far, but I am not the little girl my father had the nerve to sell into slavery. I am now a woman, and I am much stronger then you might imagine." Hinata stated icily. There wasn't a sound from anyone else in the room. Hinata knew they would be quiet now. She knew there would be murmurs and whispers when they left the room, because they didn't like her or her ways. But Hinata could live with that. She looked directly at the man, whose face she had scratched with her dagger. "Bring me my dagger, brother." Hinata asked coldly. The man stood straight and stiffly bowed. Then he pulled the dagger from the wall and brought it over to Hinata, offering it to her hilt first, his head bowed and his eyes did not meet hers. It was at this moment that Hinata knew she won the loyalty of one member of her clan, at the very least. "Thank you, brother. Now let us continue with this meeting." Hinata stated. She looked at Neji to make the next announcement. Neji looked over the men in the room.
"I've noticed that there are no women present today. Where are they?" Neji asked. Another man stepped forward.
"Women have never been welcome at clan meetings." The man said. Hinata glowered at him, along with Hanabi.
"That will change. Women have as much right as men to hear what is going to happen within this clan. From now on, men and women will be equal in standing." Neji replied. There was more grumbling from some of the men but no outright outbursts.
"We have also decided, that there should be marriage outside of the clan, as you've already guessed." Hanabi stated. Hinata couldn't help the pride she felt for her little sister, who was using the tone of voice, one would expect from an adult. "Also, we will be donating a sum of money towards helping freed slaves." Hanabi added. The council meeting went on for what seemed like forever. Once the meeting was over, most of the men left grumbling except for the man whose face had been cut by Hinata's dagger. He looked at Neji, Hinata and Hanabi.
"Lady Hinata, I would ask your forgiveness for my callous attitude." The man said gently.
"What is your name brother?" Hinata asked.
"Ko, Lady Hinata. My name is Ko." The man said. Hinata nodded.
"I am supposed to have a bodyguard of the clan. Would you assume such a position?" Hinata asked. Ko looked at Hinata, then at Neji and Hanabi. He nodded his head.
"I would be honoured, Lady Hinata." Ko replied. Hinata looked at Neji who nodded his agreement. The cousins had very good instincts, and Neji could see, just as Hinata did, that Ko would no longer cause trouble, but show loyalty. Hinata had earned his respect by standing up to him and the other clansmen. As Ko bowed and left to wait outside the meeting hall, Neji grinned at Hinata.
"You've earned the loyalty of one man at least, Hinata." Neji said softly.
"I don't understand." Hanabi stated.
"When he bought back your sister's dagger, he handed it to her hilt first." Neji replied.
"What does that mean?" Hanabi asked.
"When you hand a weapon to someone hilt first, it means that they have the power over you, over your life or death. If I had chosen to, I could have taken the dagger and killed him with it. If he had handed me my dagger, blade first, it would mean that he showed disrespect and distrust of me as a leader. It would also mean that my own life was in danger, because he could choose, to make an attempt on my life." Hinata replied. Hanabi nodded.
"No one ever told me that." Hanabi said softly. Hinata smiled.
"You're still young Hanabi. There's a lot you haven't learned. But I will always be here for you to ask questions." Hinata replied.
"If you marry Naruto-San, won't you be going to live in Konoha?" Hanabi asked. Hinata could see that Hanabi was worried about losing her again. Hinata knelt in front of her little sister, taking her hands into her own.
"No Hanabi. Naruto and I will have a home here. Naruto is a member of Sasuke's royal council now, so he needs to be available whenever Sasuke wishes to call a council meeting." Hinata assured Hanabi gently. Hanabi nodded and hugged Hinata tightly. She was just glad that her sister wouldn't be leaving her anytime soon.
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Ino could see the sun, low in the sky. It was late afternoon already. She missed Ten Ten, Sakura and Hinata so much. Hinata, Neji and Hanabi were trying to make sure that Hyuga clan matters were being resolved fairly. While Sakura was back in her home village rebuilding, and Ten Ten was with Lee, looking for her Aunt. Ino couldn't help but be happy when she saw Hinata come to the door of the council room. It had been set up so that she and Jiraiya, along with some other volunteers, could help slaves find their families. "Ino? Are you busy?" Hinata asked. Ino found herself smiling.
"I'm so glad to see you Hinata. How are things going?" Ino asked. Hinata entered the room and sat in a seat, followed by a member of the Hyuga clan. Ino also took a seat, and waited for Hinata to speak.
"Slowly. The men of the clan are offended that Neji and I make up two thirds of the leadership in the Hyuga clan now. So, they fight us at every turn, and argue against every decision that we make." Hinata replied. Ino decided to ask about the man, behind Hinata.
"Who is that?" Ino asked. Hinata smiled.
"This is Ko. He is a member of my clan and now my bodyguard." Hinata replied. Ko gave a formal half bow to Ino.
"Um… hi?" Ino greeted.
"Hello, Miss Yamanaka. I am honoured to meet a friend of Lady Hinata." Ko said.
"Nice to meet you too, Ko." Ino greeted. Then she looked at Hinata again. "Do you really need a bodyguard Hinata?" Ino asked.
"Truly I don't, but it's a part of clan policy that clan heads have one personal guard." Hinata replied. Hinata looked at Ko. "Ko, close the door please, so that Ino and I may talk in private." Hinata asked kindly. Ko nodded and left the room, closing the door without a word.
"So, he has to do whatever you ask?" Ino asked.
"Within reason." Hinata replied. Ino grinned.
"I don't know if I could handle that." Ino commented. Hinata laughed.
"It's not so bad." Hinata replied. "How are things here?" Hinata asked. Ino sighed.
"So many people are looking for lost family members. Sometimes there aren't even any records for all the people that are being looked for. Some people are already dead, and no one wants to hear that a family member is dead. I feel as though I was so lucky. A girl came here today looking for her family, only to find out that her baby brother was fed to a dog and her mother was killed in the slave market. There was no other family for her to find. I wanted to help her, but the information that Jiraiya gave her, just brought her more pain. Is all this really worth it?" Ino asked.
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked.
"At least people had hope of seeing their family members before. Now there are some who've had their hopes crushed." Ino replied. Hinata smiled at Ino.
"Not everyone can be as lucky as we were Ino. Sakura lost both her parents, but she found her brother. I managed to be a part of my clan again and I'm able to look after my little sister and speak to my cousin. You have your brother, sister and father back, although you lost your mother. Ten Ten lost her parents and her uncle to the slave trade, but she found her dearest friend, and her cousin, and she may yet find her aunt. In a way, yes, we've all suffered tragedy, but we're lucky as well. We have loved ones to care for, and who care for us. But even though some people aren't lucky, even though they've lost their families, these people are free Ino. They can find a way of life, they can earn a wage, find a home, find love and raise families in peace. Before, if they found out a slave was pregnant, they would kill her, or wait until the child was born and kill the newborn. Things are changing for the better Ino. There will always be rough patches along the way though." Hinata finished. Ino smiled at Hinata.
"You were always the sensible optimist. I've been missing everyone since all of this started. I feel a little bit alone, without all of you." Ino said softly.
"You know where I am if you need me." Hinata replied.
"I didn't want to interrupt anything." Ino said. Hinata lightly slapped at Ino's arm.
"You would never be interrupting Ino. Whenever you need to talk to me, or whenever you feel alone, you come and you find me. I don't care what time it is. If you can't find me, just keep a look out for Ko. He has to know where I am at all times now." Hinata replied. Both girls laughed at that idea. Ino felt happier then she had in days.
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Okay, so that's the end of that chapter. Originally I intended to make it longer, and something happened when I originally loaded it, that messed it up. So I lost like… a third of the chapter. But it will be in the next chapter, because, clearly I had to rewrite it. LOL! Please R&R and let me know what you think, and I hope the next chapter doesn't disappoint.