As always Naruto belongs to Kishimoto. Please review.
A sharp, rattling knock woke Hizashi from a rather restful sleep, which immediately settled a deep glower onto his face. It wasn't all too often that Hizashi honestly felt rested in the morning, but as rude as he awakened and as pleasant as the idea of returning to sleep felt, he was certain he might have achieved it that night. Through the window Hizashi could make out the fading darkness, not yet sunrise but no longer night. It was the perfect hour when the sky was warmed only by the portend of the coming sun.
A voice drew his focus back to the interrupting door. "Hizashi-sama, there's an urgent message from the Hokage."
"The Hokage, at this hour?" Naomi questioned beside him, as suddenly alert as he was.
"Come in," he called and quickly stood to greet the messenger. The head of the Hyuuga clan did not greet unwelcome news in bed. And any news that came before sunrise was most definitely going to be unwelcome.
A servant opened the door and the messenger entered, bowing fast enough to let Hizashi know he was in haste. "Forgive me for waking you, Hyuuga-sama, but there's an emergency in the village. Sandaime-sama's asking for you to meet him at his office and for as many jounin and high chuunin level Hyuugas as possible to be prepared."
"Prepared for what? What's happened?" Prepared was not a word Hizashi had wanted to hear before dawn.
"I don't know all the details, but," the messenger paled a little and looked to the ground, "the Uchiha clan was massacred."
"The entire clan?" Naomi gasped. "No survivors?"
"I'm not certain, but from what I've heard . . ." he nodded, unable to speak the ghastly truth.
Hizashi took a deep breath and calmed himself. "We understand. I'll head out as soon as arrangements have been made here."
The messenger bowed again before darting past the wide-eyed servant still waiting in the hall. Hizashi wasted no time in calling out to the servant while he retrieved a change of clothes. "Wake everyone in the house. I want a list of every Hyuuga not out on missions, and call my father here immediately. And make sure someone's watching over the children. I don't want them left alone."
"Yes, Hizashi-sama," the young woman replied and closed the door.
"The entire Uchiha clan?" Naomi repeated, slipping out from the covers and hurrying to get dressed as well. "How could that many people powerful enough to slaughter the entire Uchiha clan get into the village unnoticed?"
"I'm sure Sandaime-sama's wondering that as well." Hizashi slipped on his old uniform and nearly upturned a normally ignored trunk in search of his vest. Usually meeting with the Hokage meant formal attire, but he was not about to be in a kimono if there was the possibility of going into battle. It'd been years since he'd worn his shinobi uniform, yet it felt as natural still as if he'd taken it off only yesterday. It was almost comforting once his forehead protector was on. He'd always imagined Konoha's symbol brandished over the seal somehow made him more than just branch, more than merely Hyuuga.
"Do you think this could be the start of another war?" Naomi asked as she pulled her shirt over her head. Like him, she chose more practical attire, though she wouldn't be leaving the compound. Someone was going to have to manage things on this end, at least until they knew exactly what had happened.
"If another village did this, I can't think of any other outcome. The Hokage can't ignore the slaughter of an entire clan."
"How could it be anything but another village?" Naomi continued, the dread obvious in her pale eyes. "I'm sure the Raikage would love to get his hands on the sharingan as much as byakugan."
"But why kill the entire clan?" Hizashi shook his head. It simply didn't make sense.
"It's surreal. The Uchiha – if a clan like that could be slaughtered . . ."
"That's why I'm not willing to leave the compound unprotected," Hizashi stated and waited for her to follow him out. "Until we know what's happening no one gets in or out of the compound without express permission. I'm leaving that to you, Naomi. Make sure everyone knows to stay inside and alert."
They turned down the hall to see Hyobe rushing towards them still in his night robe. A calm that could only be attributed to being the clan head during times of war kept his face virtually unreadable. He turned in perfect step to join them as they headed for the front door.
"Is it true?" he asked. "The entire Uchiha clan was killed?"
Hizashi nodded. "That's what the messenger said. I've been summoned to the Hokage, so hopefully he already knows the details."
"Then it's war again," Hyobe whispered. All three exchanged a look that both wished it weren't true but resigned themselves it was. None said another word of war.
Hizashi stopped at the front porch and slipped on his sandals as he spoke. "Father, I'm leaving you and Naomi to prepare the clan. Hokage-sama asked for as many jounin and high-level chuunin as possible to be ready; I've already sent for a full list of those not on missions right now. I want the rest of the clan on watch, and every shinobi not being prepared for the Hokage is to be standing guard around the compound in case whoever attacked the Uchiha aren't done yet. And Father, once everything's in place I want you with Hinata and Neji. I've got someone watching them now, but–"
"I understand," Hyobe finished for him. If this was more than simply the Uchiha, someone who knew main family techniques needed to be with the heir. Hizashi squashed the sick sentiment that if the branch were allowed to learn them, Hinata would be better protected. He didn't have time for clan squabbling at the moment.
Hizashi offered a nod to his father and, ignoring decorum, kissed Naomi goodbye before dashing out across the compound. Already the clan was waking into a frenzy. Members of the branch family sprinted towards the main house, many quickening their pace after taking note of Hizashi's appearance. When the clan head (even an acting one) was ready for battle, everyone had to be. He stopped by the gates only long enough to warn those on duty to keep everyone from leaving until he or the Hokage sent word otherwise.
The village was oddly quiet for the news he'd just heard. Except for the flickering presences he sensed rushing silently to or from the Hokage's office, no one was awake yet to learn the horrifying news. But then if this was only the Uchiha clan there was no reason they should. The Uchihas lived in a far corner of the village, an attack there could be done with quick precision if well-planned and fast-moving. Still, to know enemies were in the village long enough to massacre a clan – Hizashi sped up.
Around the Hokage's office was like night and day to the quiet tranquillity of the sleeping village. The messengers he'd sensed earlier collected at various checkpoints before sprinting off on another mission. A couple Inuzukas and their dogs stood outside the building in serious planning with a team of ANBU. Not too far away the same was being done by a group of Aburames. While all the activity made sense, something felt very off with what he saw. Aside from the ANBU, where were the rest of the powerful families? Why weren't all the jounins preparing for war? The Hokage had requested all the Hyuuga's jounin and high-level chunnin, so where was the rest of the village?
An obviously harried aid met Hizashi shortly after he entered and ushered him directly to the Hokage's office. Nara Shikaku leaned over the Hokage's desk in hushed discussion of the map between them, his deer-skin vest tossed haphazardly over the corner of the desk. Both men remained drawn and any grief they bore to the night's events had long since been buried beneath necessity. Sandaime's whole body looked tired and heavy though, the only outward sign of the responsibility he bore to the village.
Sandaime looked up from their debate when he heard Hizashi approach, and Hizashi offered both men a respectful bow to the interruption. "Hizashi, it's unfortunate I have to call on you tonight, but I'm glad you're here. We're going need the Hyuugas help."
"It's true, then? The entire Uchiha clan was killed?" Hizashi asked. He could see the map on the desk the closer he got. It displayed the lands surrounding Konoha and deployment markings already covered the southwest and western forests.
"Almost," Sandaime sighed. "Only one survivor, I'm afraid, Fugaku's younger son, Sasuke. Eight years old only. It seems the poor boy walked in at the end of the attack."
Hizashi quelled the image that flashed through his mind of Neji or Hinata entering the compound to find everyone dead. What that would do to a child their age he didn't want to think about. He didn't have time to think about it. Hizashi looked between Shikaku and the Hokage for further explanation. "Did he see what village the attackers were from?"
Sandaime bowed his head and stared at the map in front of him until Hizashi could see nothing of his face beyond the brim of his red and white Hokage hat. "Unfortunately he did. The attacker was from Konoha."
"Konoha?" Hizashi repeated. The very word was unbelievable. "Wait, attacker? One person from Konoha slaughtered the entire Uchiha clan? Who?"
"Fugaku's older son, Itachi," Shikaku answered. "The boy said Itachi confessed everything to him before knocking him out and presumably leaving the village. That was late last night."
An Uchiha slaughtered his own clan? The story got more fantastic the more he learned of it. Hizashi'd been prepared for an unavoidable retaliation against another village and the idea of war on the horizon, but this? He wasn't sure whether he should be horrified or relieved.
Whatever reservations Sandaime had to the knowledge it was one of their own that committed such grievous crimes was invisible on his face when he raised his head again. "That's why we need the Hyuugas help. This isn't preparation for war, it's a manhunt. We need every tracker capable of handling themselves in battle against this class of rogue ninja to be out there searching for him. At his level, if we don't capture him immediately, there's no telling how long it will take to find him."
"Of course," Hizashi answered, shaking out any remaining shock. They had a job to do now, and whether it was right or not, he was glad it wasn't for war. "Are you certain he ran, though? Is there any chance he intends to attack further than the Uchiha clan?" Hizashi was responsible for his clan; if there was the possibility Itachi would attack the village, he didn't want to leave the compound so unprotected.
"I suspect if he were after more we'd have seen it already," Sandaime answered. "I've already had people out to the scene and every thing we can find show he's left the village. Of course, until we're certain he's not working with someone else we won't be leaving Konoha unprotected."
"I understand," Hizashi said.
Sandaime continued, "One more thing, Hizashi. I know your position in your clan, but I'm requesting you join the hunt. If Itachi truly is as powerful as we think he must be to do this to the Uchihas–"
"Then main family techniques may be very useful," Hizashi finished for him. "Don't worry, Hokage-sama, I may be acting as the head of the clan, but the Hyuugas are a part of Konoha, and when the village is threatened all of us are at your disposal."
A weary grin tempted Sandaime's lips but never fully formed. "Let's hope then that you're not needed to this extent for a long time to come."
Hizashi nodded. He'd prefer if it didn't happen until after he was long dead, but given the shinobi world he knew better than to expect that. If it waited until Hinata was older than him though, he'd take that as a blessing.
Sandaime and Shikaku showed Hizashi all the checkpoints to send the Hyuugas to for team assignments. No one was moving alone against Itachi, and all teams had at least one ANBU member. Most Hyuugas were being sent northwest and west of the village, with a few being requested to supplement the teams already searching in the southwest areas. They'd been able to track Itachi only so far before losing a definite trail, most of which had been hours old by the time they started searching. By all accounts, according to Shikaku, he was heading westward, but they were fanning out since there was no telling if he'd turned north or southward in his escape. Once explained, Hizashi bowed to Sandaime and ran through the still sleeping village back to the Hyuuga compound, which was alive and moving with activity.
Most of the clan had collected at the meeting hall between the branch and main houses since it was one of the largest single-room buildings in the compound. Hyobe remained at the head of the room directing everyone into small groups. He was separating them out by rank and skill set, Hizashi noticed. All eyes locked on Hizashi as he walked through the groups to his father.
"This is everyone?" Hizashi asked.
Hyobe nodded. "The rest of the chunnin are already stationed around the perimeter wall, and Naomi's directing the genin to the training halls where she's gathered the remainder of the clan."
"Good, though things aren't quite what we thought they were."
"What did the Hokage say?" Hyobe asked, dreaded curiosity settling in his old face.
Suddenly Hizashi understood the weight of the revelation he'd seen in Sandaime's aged body. How did you tell everyone it was one of your own that murdered his family? Taking a short step back, Hizashi waved everyone in the meeting hall to quiet. For a moment he saw the desperate desire of every white eye staring at him, begging him to say the very thing he could, "Konoha is not at war."
Relief swept like a crashing wave across the room. A few even took each other's hands and laughed in a giddy reprieve of good news. Hizashi allowed them the moment before continuing, "What we were told, though, is true. The Uchiha clan was slaughtered last night, with only one child as a survivor."
Dozens of uncertain faces turned to one another for some understanding of what they were hearing. Hyobe voiced the question they all were thinking, "How can we not be at war then? Who did it?"
Hizashi took a moment to brace himself. How would the clan react to the news an Uchiha had killed his own clan? It took another moment to smother the thought that attempted to pass next, one he knew he could never allow the clan to read on him. Would any of them find such an act, successfully done, an appealing solution to clan problems? Hizashi didn't want to believe it was possible, but the Uchihas had far more solidarity than the long divided Hyuugas.
"The criminal is Uchiha Itachi," Hizashi announced to the silent audience. "As far as it can be found, he alone killed his clan. We're not at war, but the Hokage has given us the mission to help find Uchiha Itachi before he escapes permanently."
Hizashi carefully scanned the faces before him for every inflection, every tiny facet that would give away the thoughts rumbling beneath the surface. There was shock, of course, mixed with bewilderment and uncertainty. And then he saw it, rolling low in their gazes, passing from one to another like an unstoppable virus. Fury. Hot, boiling, righteous fury. Cousins, siblings, parents and children, they each looked at one another and for a moment imagined one of their own taking them away. They were clansmen. No matter the problems and the division and the bitterness, they were still clansmen. Still family. Hizashi never felt so proud to lead them.
"We'll be splitting up between four different checkpoints where we'll be assigned to help lead teams in the search," Hizashi explained. "Everyone needs to be careful, never leave your team. Uchiha Itachi is officially considered a rogue and extremely dangerous."
"We'll?" Hyobe questioned quietly.
"Yes, at the Hokage's request I'll be joining the search parties," Hizashi answered without hesitation or option of rebuttal. "He doesn't believe that there's a threat to Konoha, but he's not sending everyone out just in case. I'll leave the compound to you, Father."
Hyobe didn't appear convinced. "And what if something happens to you, Hizashi?"
"You're not to send Naomi back to the branch house. Hinata'll need Naomi and Neji still." The seriousness in his voice forced Hyobe's eyes to narrow, and Hizashi had to resist the urge to smirk. "This is the Hokage's request and for the safety of the village. Everyone capable needs to be out there searching before the threat gets away. Besides, I'm only going to be one of countless searchers out there. Even if I don't find him, that's one more area that can be searched by someone else."
"Just be careful." Hyobe looked to the entire room of Hyuuga men and women. "Everyone be careful and find the bastard who killed his own."
There were times when you honestly saw a person's true colors: in desperation, in death, and in tragedy. In that moment the Hyuuga showed their true selves, and if Hizashi ever doubted again that his clan could reconcile one day he would be a fool. When called upon or threatened, main and branch disappeared from their minds and for that short while they were only Hyuuga. A single, unanimous cry without division.
Once the room quieted again, Hizashi issued his orders with quick precision, and the trained shinobi flushed from the meeting hall like fire under their feet. They would find Uchiha Itachi. Hizashi motioned for his father to follow as he hurried back to the main house.
"Until we get back I want you to keep the guards on watch just to be safe," Hizashi ordered. "I trust Sandaime-sama's judgment, but it doesn't hurt to be vigilant. Where are the children? I want to see them before I leave."
"I thought you weren't worried," Hyobe answered, his leader's calm betraying none of his intended meaning behind his reply.
"I'd still like to reassure them myself," Hizashi remarked. "Besides, Hinata needs to understand why I'm doing this, so she'll make the right decision if it ever falls on her."
Hyobe nodded. "They're in Hinata's room."
Hizashi nearly ran through the halls. He needed to get to the checkpoint himself, but he knew this was important. Not simply in case something did happen to him, but for Hinata's sake as the next clan head. She'd only ever seen the side of the clan where she was protected. It was time she understood when the head was no longer protected by the clan.
He stopped outside the thin shoji door of Hinata bedroom and took a deep breath to erase any worry or uncertainty from his face. No need to make them more upset than they surely were. The second he slid open the door four feet pounded against the floor and slammed the two bodies they belonged to right into him.
"Dad!"
"Uncle Hizashi!"
Hizashi gently pushed them both back into the room and closed the door behind him. "It's all right, Neji, Hinata. Calm down. What've they told you?"
"They said something horrible happened to the Uchihas and now we might be going to war," Neji answered in one long breath. "Is it true?"
"Something horrible did happen, but we're not going to war," he assured them. He forced them both sit down and knelt in front of them, addressing each as seriously as any of the adults. "What I'm about to tell you isn't going to be easy for you to understand, it's not easy for us to understand, but you're both too old for us to shelter you from what's happened. One of the Uchihas, Uchiha Itachi, last night he killed his clan. All but his brother, Sasuke."
Neji and Hinata stared at one another, as if somewhere in the other's face was a reasonable explanation of what Hizashi said. Hinata leaned over and curled her hand into Neji's. "Sasuke-kun's in my class at the academy."
"I don't think he's going to be in class for a while, Hinata," Hizashi said, reaching out to softly stroke her cheek.
Neji straightened up and tried his best to exude maturity and confidence next to Hinata. "Why'd he kill them all?"
"We don't know," Hizashi admitted, "but we have to find him. He's a criminal now, and he has to be brought back to the village to pay for what he's done. That's why Hokage-sama called for us to help him. The Hyuugas are one of several families in the village whose techniques are especially apt to tracking people. It's our responsibility as a part of the village to respond when it's threatened or attacked, no matter how dangerous. And I'm leaving to join them in the search, too."
"But . . . but you're clan head," Hinata squeaked.
"That's right, Hinata, I'm clan head and that's what I'm going as." Hizashi pulled her from Neji's comforting grip and looked on her alone. It was a lesson only she could learn.
"The clan head isn't someone who simply issues orders and stays away from danger," he explained. "In the times when the clan is most frightened, most in need of a leader, that's when the clan head steps out in front of everyone and is the first one to enter the danger. Just like the village looks to the Hokage, when the clan doesn't know what else to do, they look to the clan head to be there for them. And because we're a part of the village, the clan head should be the first one to come when the Hokage calls for the Hyuugas. You must be strong when everyone else wavers. The reason you're given a life of privilege and respect is because when the greatest dangers come, you're expected to make the most sacrifice. That's why I'm going with them, because Uchiha Itachi is a danger to the village, and if he's a danger to the village, he's a danger to the clan. As clan head I can't let our family go out and face such a danger without me."
He leaned in and kissed her on the top of her head before turning and doing the same to Neji. He stared at the two children before him for a moment, at their confused –and so very beautiful– faces.
"I love you both, and I'm proud of you both." Hizashi hugged them one last time and, without another word or comforting gaze, left the room. They'd understand one day, and he was determined to be there to see it.