Author's Note: And with the last chapter, this story officially crossed the 2000 reviews! Thanks a lot to everybody who ever left a review, so you could help this story achieve such heights.
While not as popular as the one before, the previous chapter got a pretty good reception as well. I love how well received this original arc is turning out to be. Let's hope the third and final part is liked just as much. Enjoy:
Chapter 58
The Byakugan Princess, Part III
or
Setting Things Straight
As everybody got on their back, they looked around to see if the enemies have truly fled, and were they now safe. Relatively speaking.
"Just...what was all that about?" a slightly confused Tenten asked.
"Guys...I think I have an idea of what's going on..." Naruto replied. "I'm not one hundred percent sure...but that guy might be under Obito's mind control."
"Are you sure? If he was working for Akatsuki, he'd be more interesting in you than in Hinata-sama," Neji pointed out.
"You assume that the Tailed Beasts are Akatsuki's only target, my young student," Gai intervened. "Who says that they aren't after other sources of power, such as Hinata's new eyes?"
"Just great," Naruto said, letting out an annoyed snort. "As if I wasn't worried about Akatsuki going after me alone, they're not after my girlfriend. Just great."
There was a moment of silence, as the group of seven processes both Naruto's words, and what they entailed.
"So...what do we do now? Should we go back to the village, or should we rest and continue at morning?" Haku asked.
"For the time being let's rest. I'm sure all of us were already tired before this battle even began. By now, Naruto's toad should be close to Konoha, if he hasn't arrived there already. Let's set a campsite, and we'll continue our journey back tomorrow," Gai decided. "But before we do, let's see if we can salvage any of those ninja puppets that attacked us earlier. Knowing them will make us better prepared next time we have to face them!"
Everybody nodded. While Neji and Tenten went to retrieve and store the remaining puppets, the rest of the group went to find a good place to pass the night.
…
Next Day
Said decision turned out to be the most sound. After a good night of sleep, the seven Konoha ninjas were now properly rested and full of energy –even Hinata–, and were ready to resume their way back to their home. And just by noon, the Konoha ninjas triumphantly returned to their village. A quick talk with the entrance guards told them that the Moon Acolytes and all the scrolls they were carrying safely arrived last night, on the back of a giant toad.
While the first thing they wanted to do was to go home and rest, or tell their loved ones about the mission, duty came first, and they had to go to the Hokage's Tower, in order to give Jiraiya the report on how the mission went. One of the first things Jiraiya noticed was Hinata's new eyes.
"So...that's the Tenseigan?" the Hokage asked. Hinata nodded. "And what does it do?"
"So far, it allows me to control attractive and repulsive forces," Hinata began. She moved her hand, and pulled a pen that was in the table to it. She then made it float above her palm. "Though I believe that there may be more to the Tenseigan than this."
"I think so, if the explaination Nori gave me is of any cue," Jiraiya replied. "She pretty much stated it was a doujutsu on par with the Rinnegan."
"Wait...Nori told you about the Tenseigan?" Naruto asked.
"Of course. That's why I allowed this mission to begin with. If there was a chance that one of our ninjas could awaken a power that can give us an edge against the Akatsuki, I wasn't going to let that chance go," Jiraiya explained Naruto, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Of course, I took some precautions. That's why I sent team Gai with you as an additional escort. Especially since you guys are one teammate down."
"Which was a good thing, in hindsight," Tenten added.
"During our journey back, we were attacked by a mostly unyouthful individual claiming to be an Otsutsuki who also possessed a Tenseigan," Lee spoke. "But fortunately, Tenseigan or not, our flames of youth burned too bright for him to beat us!"
"The man commanded an army of puppets. However, unlike those used by Suna ninjas, they were autonomous and could use chakra," Tenten said, as she placed a couple scrolls on the Hokage's desk. "Here are the ones we managed to retrieve."
"That sounds like our Chakra Golems," Jiraiya observed, as he took the storage scrolls and placed them inside a drawer on his desk.
"In a way, yes, but..." Naruto began, struggling to find the proper words. "But they could fool you into mistaking them for actual humans, you know? I only realize that they weren't made of flesh and blood when I wounded one, but blood didn't come out."
"I'd say the craftmanship and technology behind such puppets is superior to those of the Uzumaki Golems," Hinata interjected. "Though thankfully, they are unable to absorb chakra, and are nowhere near as resistant or stout."
"Though those are indeed troubling news if the enemy counts with such assets," Jiraiya replied. "I'll send a letter to Suna so they can send some of their puppeteer ninjas here and help us studying these puppets."
"By the way, may I ask where are Nori and the other Moon Acolytes now?" Neji asked.
"They requested to stay at the Hyuga State as long as they remain in Konoha. I told them to talk with the leader of the clan to see if they were allowed to do that. If you want to see them, they will be there," Jiraiya replied.
"By the way, Hokage-sama, those aren't the only acolytes that requested to be escorted here. Almost a hundred more remain in their old hideout, as well as a good chunk of scrolls, books and other knowledge they claim to be of importance for both the Hyuga Clan and the village as a whole," Gai informed him.
Jiraiya nodded. "Understood. I'll send several teams to escort the rest of the Moon Acolytes. After this, you guys deserve some little rest."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Tenten gratefully replied.
"If there's nothing left to discuss, then you're dismissed," the Hokage finally said.
The seven ninjas nodded, and left the office.
…
As they exited the Hokage's Tower, the now dismissed ninjas went on their separate ways to enjoy their leisure time until they were summoned again for another mission. Hinata then walked towards Naruto, before the blond could leave.
"Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked.
"Yes, Hinata-hime?" Naruto replied to his girlfriend with his best smile.
Hinata looked away, and started to twiddle with her fingers. Naruto noted it was something she hadn't done in ages. In fact, he couldn't remember when was the last time she did that. Definitely sometime before they became boyfriend and girlfriend.
"I...there's something I want to ask you..." Hinata said, almost in a whisper.
Naruto guessed it had to be something big for such a regression in her behaviour. He gave her a ressuring smile. "You know you can ask me anything."
"I was going home...and, well...my clan is going to see my new eyes. And I'll have to break them the news about what Nori-san told us...if she didn't do it already," Hinata exhaled. "Would you like to come with me? I don't think I can do this alone."
"Of course," Naruto said, taking her hand. "You don't even need to ask."
Hinata smiled back. "Thank you."
…
Hyuga Compound
As the couple approached the compound's gate, they were greeted by a Branch House member that was on guard duty that day. He smiled upon seeing the two teens closing by.
"Hinata-sama, Naruto-san, welcome back to the-whoa!" Not even the Hyuga's legendary stoicism was able to mask the clansmen's reaction to their heiress' new eyes. "Hinata-sama...!"
"Yes, she has new eyes, she will explain it right now. Can you go and tell her mother that we're here?" Naruto asked, midly annoyed, as he rolled his eyes.
"R-Right away, Naruto-san," the guard said, before heading inside the compound, with Naruto and Hinata following him at a slower pace.
To try not to draw attention to her, Hinata kept her eyes looking down, and kept them half closed, and relied on Naruto to guide her. As they walked, the blond noticed a couple of Moon Acolytes walking around the compound. It seems that Hikari had allowed them to stay with the Hyuga for the time being. He then saw the guard that had greeted them at the entrance walking towards him once again.
"Hikari-sama is waiting for you in main living room," the guard informed them. "Nori-san is currently with her. Do you want to see your mother in private?"
"Thank you. And no, it's okay. Nori-san already knows what I'm going to show her," Hinata replied, as she and Naruto walked in.
"Very well then. Hinata-sama," the guard made a polite bow before returning to his assigned post.
After a minute or so, they arrived at the main living room. And just as the guard said, both Hikari and Nori were there, talking about something, before the duo walked in. Hikari immediately smiled, and walked to greet her daughter and probably future son in law.
"Hinata! Naruto! So good to see you're back! Nori-san was telling me about-"
Hinata then raised her eyes to meet her mother's, and the older woman was stopped in her tracks, and gasped loudly, covering her mouth with her hands.
"Hi-Hinata..." Hikari mumbled, losing her composure for the first time in years. She took a better look at her daughter's face. "Your eyes..."
"I know, mother. Let's sit, there is much we need to talk," Hinata said, motioning to the nearby couches.
"Yes, Nori-san has been telling me-"
"Trust me, Hikari-sama, I barely told you anything," Nori interjected. "Listen to Hinata-sama. I'm sure that whatever she has to say, it will be mostly revealing."
"But before we begin, can you tell me where is Hanabi-chan?" Hinata asked.
"I think she should be training with her team at their usual training ground," Hikari replied.
Hinata turned at her boyfriend. "Naruto-kun, do you mind fetching Hanabi-chan and taking her here? Tell her it's an important issue."
"Of course! I'll be back with her before you realize!" Naruto helpfully said as he rushed out of the living room.
"I should be able to give you a rundown of the events of the past day by the time Naruto returns with Hanabi-chan," Hinata stated.
And thus, Hinata began her tale, with Nori adding something at times, or correcting Hinata when she stated something wrong: how the mission began, their arrival to the Sanctuary, what they learned about the Sage of the Six Paths, his brother, the Senju, Uchiha, Uzumaki and Hyuga, Hinata meeting Hamura himself and awakening the Tenseigan, and finally, the confrontation with Toneri, another Tenseigan wielder, with all what it entailed.
When Hinata was finished, Hikari was speechless. There were so many things to process...so many things she thought were nothing but myths and old wife tales.
"So, the Sage of the Six Paths is real," Hikari said, chuckling. "Somehow, that's the least ludicrous part of this story."
"And we're his younger brother's descendants." Hinata emphasized.
"And the Tenseigan...to think that those people I heard about were actually right..." Hikari added, mostly to herself.
"You knew about the Tenseigan, mother?" Hinata asked, her curiosity piquing a bit.
"I did, but I didn't give it much importance. I thought it was a myth, like the Sage of the Six Paths," Hikari replied. "There were some members of our clan who tried to awaken it, some went so far they even lost their lives. One of your great uncles in particular, he dedicated most of his life to try to achieve it. Guess that, wherever he is now, he's possibly laughing while saying something like 'who is the crazy old man now?'"
"And most importantly...the caged bird seal, and the Main House/Branch House split," Hinata added. "Now we know where do they come from."
"Indeed. I never liked the way the clan was divided, and hearing its origins didn't make me like it much more..." Hikari admitted.
"Then why don't we change it?" Hinata asked her mother. "You're the Clan Head!"
"Being the Clan Head doesn't mean that I can do whatever I want," Hikari regretfully told Hinata. "However, I think we might have a chance now that-"
"I'm back!" Naruto happily chimed in. "And I brought Hanabi with me!"
"Naruto said that nee-chan had something important to tell me," Hanabi said, as her eyes darted towards her older sister. Naturally, she noticed Hinata's Tenseigan, and her reaction mirrored those of her clansmen. "WHOA! What the hell happened to your eyes!?"
Well, maybe a bit more brusque than her clansmen.
"Don't worry Hanabi-chan, you'll find out soon," Hinata gently said as she walked towards her. "Now, give me your hands, please."
"Okay...?" Hanabi unsurely replied, and complied. Hinata grabbed her hands, and both sisters were suddenly engulfed by an intense lavender aura, as Hanabi felt a huge power invading her body. "WHOAAAAAAAHH!"
"Don't worry, Hanabi-chan. This will hurt a bit at first, but it's for the better," Hinata said, in an almost regretting tone.
"Hinata-hime? What are you doing?" Naruto asked, midly concerned.
"Hikari-sama, what is she doing?" a distressed Nori asked, though she was already fearing the answer.
"Byakugan!" Hikari's Bloodline Limit came to life. "She's...she's transferring her Six Paths Chakra into Hanabi!"
"NO!" Nori shouted, as she rushed towards Hinata and tried to forcefully separate her from Hanabi. "Hinata-sama, you have to stop!"
Seeing the urgency in the priestess tone, Hinata stopped the flow of chakra. Hanabi moaned a little, before fainting into her older sister's arms.
"Why did you stop me? What's wrong?" Hinata asked.
"Hinata-sama, you can't do that! The Six Path Chakra in your body is what powers the Tenseigan! The less you have, the weaker it is!" Nori explained, still shaken.
"You didn't tell me this before," Hinata noted.
"Because I never thought that you'd do something like that! WHY did you do something like that?" Nori loudly asked.
Hinata's face hardened, and fixed a determined glare on the priestess. "Why, you ask? After hearing the true history of how our clan came to be, 'why not' would be a better question. The Otsutsuki clan kept the power of the Tenseigan for themselves, and look what happened. And our clan then continued those foolish practices. No, I won't hog this power all to myself. Besides, you said that only an Hyuga with a kind heart and an emphatic soul is worthy of the Tenseigan, and I like to think that Hanabi-chan fits those qualities. Besides, no one ever said that there can only be one Tenseigan wielder."
"Yes but...sharing that power dilutes it. You'll need the Tenseigan at its full power to face the enemies that are to come," Nori insisted.
"Can't my Six Path Chakra regenerate, like normal chakra does?" Hinata asked.
"Yes, but it will take some time," Nori replied.
"How long?"
"I couldn't tell. What you just did had no precedents. Weeks, months, years...who knows," Nori replied, letting out a sigh.
"I will find a way to accelerate the Six Paths Chakra regeneration speed, then," Hinata firmly stated. "But like I said before, there's no way I'm going to let our clan to continue with the same traditions that let it to its doom once."
"That's...very mature of you, Hinata," Hikari praised. "You know, all these revelations made me think. Given what Nori-san said about the wielder of the Tenseigan being the head of the Otsutsuki Clan...I think it may be the time for me to step down and let you take your place as the Clan Head."
"W-What!?" Hinata blubbered.
"That's awesome!" Naruto piped in.
"I understand it may feel overwhelming right now. You're still young, and had this strange power thrusted upon you. But deep down, I believe it's the right choice to do," Hikari explained. She then grabbed Hinata's hand, and smiled. "And you won't be alone. You will have me to help you and guide you if you feel lost or don't know what to do."
"Thank you, mother. I promise I'll do my best," Hinata assured Hikari.
"Well, I think we should also start your training with the Tenseigan as soon as possible. My group alone brought plenty of books and scrolls that you will have to study in order to master the new power you now possess, Hinata-sama," Nori interjected. She then took a look at the unconscious Hanabi, resting on the couch, uncosncious. "And Hanabi-sama as well, it seems."
"We better wait until she wakes up. That way we can start the two of them at once," Hinata suggested.
Nori nodded. "I see no issue with that."
"Meanwhile, I'll start making preparations for Hinata's announcement as the new clan head," Hikari replied. "I'll make sure the whole clan is gathered here for the afternoon."
"I'll be here as well to see such a moment," Naruto promised. "In the meantime, I should go see the Uchihas. They should know all the things pertaining their clan's history."
"Alright then, see you later, Naruto-kun," Hikari saw Naruto off.
…
Shisui and Shizune's apartment, a few hours later
Just like Naruto told Hinata, after leaving the Hyuga Compound, he headed directly towards Shizune and Shisui's apartment, and had them gather the rest of the clan –which were just Sasuke and Itachi–, before Naruto could tell them about the mission. All of them gathered in the living room. Shiro, however, was playing with some toys, isolated from the others by a baby fence –not that the baby minded being alone–, while a sleeping Shizuka rested on her mother's arms.
Just like Hinata before him, Naruto gave the Uchihas a quick rundown on how their mission went, and all they learned about the Sage of the Six Paths and his family, but focused mostly on the part with Indra and Asura, the origins of the Sharingan, and Indra's Curse of Hatred. The Uchihas listened intently, and didn't open their mouth until Naruto was finished, not even to ask questions.
"...so that's pretty much everything," Naruto finished. "Well, technically not everything. There's a bunch of stuff about the Hyugas, but I thought that you guys wouldn't find that that interesting."
There was a moment of silence, before anybody broke it to speak. Said person was Sasuke.
"The Uchiha is one of the most powerful clan to ever lived. But to think that we are descendants of the Sage of the Six Paths himself..." Sasuke said, his awe being hidden by his usual low-key tone.
"The fact that the Sage is an actual thing as opposed to a myth is just as amazing," Shisui followed.
"Guess that those who said that the Uchiha is a clan cursed by hatred had no idea how right they were," Itachi sourly said. "The part about Indra's curse was...troubling, to say the least."
"Do you think that curse is real?" Shizune asked, as she looked apprehensively at both her sleeping daughter and playing son, worried for their future.
"I'm not somebody who believes in curses, but that would explain a lot of things," Itachi regretfully admitted. "But we allegedly now have tangible proof of the Sage of the Six Path's existence, so the curse might as well be real."
"Are you thinking that it might be the responsible of pushing our clansmen into that suicidal coup?" Sasuke asked.
"Again, it's a possibility, one more probable than I'd like to admit," Itachi replied. "I can't help but wonder what kind of extent does this curse has over our very actions..."
"Come on guys, don't get so gloom! Even if there's a curse out there, you guys doesn't seem to be ruled by it or anything!" Naruto vehemently countered. He looked at Itachi and Shisui. "When the clan rebelled, you guys worked to protect Konoha," he then turned at Sasuke. "And Sasuke, if it wasn't for you, I'd be dead right now, and Akatsuki would have the Nine Tails in their power. That has to count for something, right?"
Naruto's unbridled optimism made Itachi smile a little. "Thanks for having so much faith in us, Naruto, but it's not as simple as that. My father served loyally to Konoha for decades as Chief of the Military Police, yet in the end he decided to lead a coup."
"But I'm sure it wouldn't have done it if Obito didn't manipulate him!" Naruto protested. "He's the real cuplrit behind that."
"Naruto-kun, even if that might be true, the Uchihas weren't forced or coerced. They attempted the coup on their own volition," Shizune softly said.
"Yeah, as much as I hate to admit it, they have nobody but themselves to blame for it," Shisui agreed with his wife. "And it's on us to pick up the pieces and rebuild the clan into something greater, that won't make the same mistakes of the past."
"You know, now that you mention it, the Uzumaki Clan's downfall was pretty similar," Naruto said, earning the attention of those present. "Uzushio wanted to be a Great Village at any cost and...well, it brought the wrath of two other Great Villages upon it."
"Maybe it's not something exclusive to the Uchiha and inherent to all of the Sage's descendants," Shisui said with a chuckle, maybe joking, maybe not. "You mentioned that the Uzumaki and the Senju were descended from the Sage's youngest son, right?"
"I don't remember hearing anything similar regarding the Senju Clan, so that might not be it," Itachi interjected.
"Naruto, you said that the Sharingan has a form even higher than the Mangekyo Sharingan, right?" Sasuke asked. Itachi shoot him an apprehensive look.
"Yeah, the Rinnegan. It awakens when the Ying Half of the Six Paths Chakra all Uchiha have is combined the with the Yang Half of the Senju or the Uzumaki," Naruto explained, before shooting Sasuke an intriguing look. "Why? Do you want to get one?"
"Sasuke..." Itachi tiredly said.
"What? It would be an useful tool against the Akatsuki. And you said one of the Akatsuki have it too, right?" Sasuke asked.
"So there may be more Uchihas in the Akatsuki besides Obito," Shisui guessed, sighing a little.
"Actually, I think they might be an Uzumaki," Naruto interjected. All of them looked at the blond in surprise.
"Come again?" Shizune asked.
"During our mission in Suna, we found out that Akatsuki also have access to Uzumaki sealing jutsu," Naruto began. "However, it was a kind of seal that required a lot of chakra to make it work. That's why it made me realize that said Uzumaki seals might not be stolen. Now, it's possible that this person, besides Uzumaki, might also have Uchiha ancestry. That's how he or she was able to awaken the Rinnegan. Do you guys know about any Uchiha who disappeared under mysterious circumstances, defected the village, or something along those lines?"
Shisui sighed. "None come to mind, but it could be just about any Uchiha. Until a couple years ago, we all thought Obito died during the Third War, yet it turned out it wasn't the case. Maybe an Uchiha faked his death in order to defect Konoha, met an Uzumaki, and had a child together that would awaken the Rinnegan."
Naruto slumped in defeat. "So nothing then."
"Itachi, you've been gathering information about the Akatsuki. Do you have any idea regarding this mystery?" Shizune asked.
"Just one, but it's not very reliable," Itachi replied. "I heard rumors that Akatsuki had infiltrated Amegakure. This is coupled with the fact that Hanzo the Salamander, Amegakure's leader, hasn't been seen in years, despite official word being that he's still the leader."
"Wait a minute, you think somebody ousted Hanzo the Salamander? As in, the same Hanzo who defeated the Sannin in their prime?" Shisui asked, incredulous.
"Somebody with a Rinnegan could have done it," Itachi countered. "But like I said, these are just rumors with no actual solid evidence to back them up. Gathering said evidence would require an infiltration in Amegakure."
Naruto nodded wordlessly. Silence briefly reigned over the apartment. That is, until a realization dawned upon Shisui.
"Hey, all of these stuff Naruto told us about...doesn't it sound similar to the Stone Tablet?" the one eyed Uchiha asked.
"Now that you mention, yes. I knew this sounded similar to me for some reason," Sasuke agreed.
Naruto, however, was completely lost. "Uh? Stone Tablet? What stone tablet?"
"It will be better to directly show you," Itachi decided. "Let's move this conversation somewhere else, shall we?"
The others nodded. Naruto raised an eyebrow.
…
Uchiha Training Ground, a few minutes later
"You still keep a private training ground?" Naruto asked, as he walked alongise the Uchihas through the field of grass, heading towards a small forest. "I thought you gave all the old Uchiha properties to the village as a compensation for the insurrection."
"We did, but Hokage-sama allowed us to keep this training ground," Itachi replied. "Given how far from the village they usually are, nobody would be interested in building anything here, so there wouldn't be any money to be made."
"We dug an underground chamber below this field to store all our clan secrets and knowledge, once we no longer had the compound," Shisui explained. "Though what we're looking for isn't underground."
"In fact, we're already here," Shizune announced.
The group were now standing in a small clearing surrounded by the middle of the clearing, surrounded by thick rope held by four stakes forming a square, there was a large stone tablet with several characters carved upon its surface.
"So, this is the stone tablet?" Naruto asked to no one in particular. Sasuke grunted something the blond took as a "yes". He tried to read the tablet's inscription, but was unable to do so. "Do you guys understand what it says? It's like a bunch of gibberish to me."
"Naturally. The cyphers of the Stone Tablet can only be translated by a Sharingan," Shisui replied.
"The Mangekyo Sharingan allows to translate it even further. And even then, there are still parts that not even the Mangekyo can fully read," Itachi continued.
"Which led me to believe that we need the Rinnegan to translate it completely," Sasuke finished.
"I see. And what does the tablet says?" Naruto asked.
"Mostly secrets regarding the Uchiha Clan, and the Sharingan," Itachi began. "How the Sharingan works, how the Mangekyo Sharingan can be achieved, how it can be used to put Tailed Beasts under one's control, as well as other powers."
"However, there's this line here, it says 'two opposing forces work together to form all things in the universe'," Shisui said.
"Sounds rather vague," Naruto pointed out.
"It is. This line has been the subject of much discussion among the Uchiha clan. Many thought that the two opposing forces were them and the Senju, and believed that if they stopped fighting the Senju and formed an alliance with them, happiness could be found," Shisui explained. "Madara Uchiha, however, believed it meant something else. Many of his clansmen thought that he was just blinded by his hatred of the Senju."
"However, the information you brought to us has shed a new light over the debate," Itachi interjected. "It's possible that this line alludes to the possibility of awakening the Rinnegan, by merging the Yin and Yang halves of the Six Paths Chakra Uchiha and Senju have, respectively."
"Thank goodness I'm not a Senju by birth. Having to raise two children that can awaken the power of a god..." Shizune shivered at the thought. "No thanks!"
"Think how well they would do in the Chunin Exams, though," Shisui joked, laughing a little.
"Then again, I believe in the first interpretation. When the Senju and the Uchiha buried the hatched and formed Konoha, it was the best for everybody, right?" Shizune suggested, as her face became a little more solemn. "And...sorry for reopening old wounds, but when the Uchiha rebelled and tried to subdue their former friends and allies..." Shizune left the sentence unfinished, but the message was more than clear.
"Don't worry. If there's a silver lining to this, is that future generations of Uchiha will learn from their ancestor's mistakes, and won't have to go through the same suffering," Itachi replied.
"By the way, guys, where did you find this stone tablet? Who wrote it in the first place?" Naruto asked.
"Nobody knows. It has been in our clan since pretty much forever," Shisui replied. "Some said that it was the Sage of the Six Paths himself who wrote it to guide the Uchiha. It was believed to be just nonsense, but given what we now know...it may as well be true."
"Wonder if the Sage left another tablet for the Senju or the Uzumaki," Naruto mused. "Anyway, now that you know the history of your clan...what do you plan to do?"
"Probably the same thing we've been doing so far. Living our lives, becoming the best ninjas we can be," Itachi replied, shrugging a little. "And continue undoing the damage our fallen brethen did to the village."
"Though now that we know about the Curse of Hatred, we'll do our best to overcome it," Shisui added.
"Yeah. Plus, I refuse to let some old guy who died centuries ago to dictate my life, Uchiha ancestor or not," Sasuke firmly stated.
Naruto smiled a little. "Glad to hear that," Naruto then turned around, and realized that the sun was starting to set. "Whoa, I didn't realize it was so late! I have to go to the Hyuga Compound!"
"Late for a date with Hinata, Naruto-kun?" Shizune asked, gliggling a little.
"Even better! Hinata is going to be named Head of the Hyuga Clan!" Naruto enthusiastically announced as he ran away.
"...say what?"
…
Hyuga State, an hour later
Hanabi stirred in the couch, blinking slowly, groaning as she slowly woke up.
"You're finally awake, Hanabi-chan," Hinata said, smiling. She was sitting on the couch besides her, with Hanabi's legs resting on her lap.
"I had the weirdest dream ever," Hanabi groaned as she sit up, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.
"What kind of dream?" Hinata asked, though she could imagine the answer.
"It had some weird old man with horns, and glowing eyes, kinda like yours," Hanabi explained, trying to recall the rather vivd dream. "He said something about how now I had a great power and that I had to be responsible with it. Sounds like a rather cliché line from a comic book."
"There's more truth to those words than what you think, Hanabi-chan," Hinata replied, as she handed her sister a compact mirror.
Feeling a bit agitated by such action, Hanabi opened the mirror and looked at her reflection. She yelped, and instinctively dropped the mirror. "My eyes! What happened to my eyes!? They're like-" she stopped, before noticing Hinata looking at her. "...like yours."
"Yes. Your Byakugan is a Tenseigan now. An ascended form that will grant you an array of new and powerful abilities," Hinata explained.
"Wow..." Hanabi said in awe. "And how did I manage to do that? Hey, wait a second! What you did before I fell asleep...!"
Hinata nodded. "Yes. I transferred some of my Six Paths Chakra so you could awaken it. While not much, your body will now generate more Six Paths Chakra so the amount you possess will match mine."
Hanabi titled her head. "Six Paths Chakra?"
"It's a bit complicated. You see-"
That moment, the door of the living room slid open, and Hikari walked in. "Oh, Hanabi, you're awake already. And look at that, with a Tenseigan as well," Hikari smiled. "And just in time. The whole clan is gathered outside. Time to make the announcement."
"Announcement? What announcement?" Hanabi asked.
Hikari couldn't help but smile knowingly. "You'll see soon."
...
When Naruto arrived at the Hyuga State, there was a huge crowd of Hyugas formed in the front patio. However, despite his initial fear, he realized that the announcement hasn't been made yet, much to his relief. Even if deep down he knew Hinata would forgive him, he wouldn't, and he didn't want to miss his girlfriend's big day.
Naruto wasn't alone. He made sure to bring both Haku and Kurenai with him, so the whole Assasult Squad could be present for the announcement.
"You know, Naruto," Kurenai began. "When you told me Hinata was going to be made Clan Head, I was rather skeptical, but seeing this crowd, well, it supports your claims."
"You didn't see Hinata-san after we returned from our latest mission, did you, Kurenai-sensei?" Haku asked. The Genjutsu Mistress shook her head. "Let's say that Hinata came from that mission more changed than anybody else."
"We'll explain you after we're done with this, because you just can't imagine what Hinata is now," Naruto cryptically said, visibly enjoying his sensei's confusion.
At that moment, the murmurs of the gathered Hyugas –and few guests– came to a halt when the state's main doors slid open, revealing the current Clan Head Hikari, flanked by her two daughters. The murmurs began once again when everybody noticed the blue and white glowing eyes the Hyuga sisters were sporting now.
Hikari cleared her throat before she started speaking. "My esteemed clansmen, both Main and Branch houses, thanks for heeding my call and gathering here. There's an important announcement that I need to make.
"But before I do, I have to explain a certain series of recent developments, in order to give all of you the context of the situation. As you probably know by their presence, our clan is now housing a group of religious scholars known as the Order of the Moon Acolytes. Said Acolytes possess numerous hystorical records and tresures regarding our clan and its past. Among those, is the ability to elevate the Byakugan to a higher level, called the Tenseigan."
The murmurs became suddenly louder when Hikari made such announcement. Even if some Hyugas made questions regarding it, the Hyuga matriarch chose to ignore them.
"Before you ask, yes. My daughters have awakened the Tenseigan. So far, due their lineage, they're the only ones capable of doing it," Hikari continued. Her explaination wasn't entirely true, but felt it should be for the better to keep the whole truth of the Tenseigan under wraps for them time being. "Hinata and Hanabi now possess a power not just beyond any Hyuga, but beyond most ninjas as well. All they need now is proper training in order to master that power.
"We've recently discovered that our clan are descendants of another clan named Otsutsuki. Like us, they also had a Byakugan, and their family was structured into a Main and Branch houses. And their leader was always somebody who possessed a Tenseigan.
"And, to honor such ancient tradition, and due the fact that both my daughters have surpassed me in terms of power, I have made a decision. I hereby step down from my position as the Hyuga Clan Head. Now everybody, give a warm welcome to our new Clan Head, my eldest daughter, Hinata Hyuga!"
Naturally, the news weren't met with cheers and celebrations. Hinata wasn't popular among Main House members due her opposition to most of the clan's traditions and hierarchy. And even if she was popular among Branch House members, they still considered her too young to be a proper leader.
Hikari moved aside, and let Hinata take the spot she was occupying.
"Thank you, mother," Hinata then turned at the large group in front of her, made mostly of her clansmen. "Like my mother told you, we recently discovered the true history of our clan. They had similar customs and traditions as ours, in order to make sure a few members had absolute power over the rest. Said customs led them to their downfall, and we will follow the same path, if we don't change.
"After many centuries, our clan finally recovered the Tenseigan, a power that was lost during the Otsutsuki Clan's downfall in the past. And as its wielder, it's my responsibility to use this great power for the whole clan's interest and well being.
"And thus, my first decree as the new Clan Head is to abolish the separation between Main and Branch houses. Application of the Caged Bird Seal shall be banned for future members, and while I'm looking for a way to remove the existing seals, any Main House member that is caught using the Cage Bird Seal to threaten, coerce or cause pain to a Branch House member will suffer harsh consequences."
Naturally, the effect was immediate. While the many Branch House members started to cheer and sing the praises of their new clan head, most Main House members started to protest loudly.
"You can't do that!"
"You'll tear the clan apart!"
"This will end in a disaster!"
Suddenly, Hinata's eyes flashed white for a second, as she send a pulse of chakra. The air became much heavier, and everybody felt as if Hinata's eyes were piercing their very souls. Everybody was silenced upon realizing the sheer power the new Clan Head possessed. Hikari wasn't exaggerating. Opposing her wouldn't be wise.
"Do you question the decisions of our Clan Head?" Hikari smugly asked.
"But...Hinata-sama," a middle aged Main House member began, sounding more pleading than demanding. "The Caged Bird Seal is a crucial tool to stop our enemies from acquiring the Byakugan. What will we do then?"
"What other clans with Bloodline Limits do: push ourselves harder and grow stronger. The stronger we are, the less chances our enemies will have to steal our eyes," Hinata sharpingly said. "The Hyuga had always prided in being one of the strongest clans of Konoha. Let's show everybody that we can back those boasts."
"You can't do this!" another Main House member, a woman, protested. "Clan Head or not, you can't change our ancient traditions on a whim!"
"I think Hinata made it clear that there will be consequences for those who oppose her," Hikari replied the woman.
"So if we refuse, she will impose her will by force? What a tyrant your oh so meek and gentle daughter turned out to be when she got some power handed to her," the woman scoffed
Hikari was about to protest, but Hinata beat her to the punch. "Tyrant? Imposing my will by force? Isn't that what the Main House has been doing to the Branch House for generations?"
The woman opened her mouth to reply, but no words came from it. She closed it, hesitating, as if trying to come up with a proper argument to refute Hinata's claims. She mumbled something, but eventually shut up.
"That's what I thought. If any of you think I'm abusing my both authority and my new power, feel free to express your concerns to me. But before doing so, I want you to realize that this is how the Branch House members have felt their whole lives," Hinata replied, resting her eyes on them. "In fact, I don't see them complaining about my decisions or calling me a tyrant."
This made the Main House members realize that they were both outnumbered and overpowered. The Branch House was the majority of the clan, and if Hinata had their support, on top of the incredible power she now possessed, her rule would be pretty much uncontested.
"For the time being, that will be all," Hinata said. "More changes are bound to come in the near future. I know the Hyuga Clan values tradition, but hopefully in time you'll see that these changes are for the better, and you'll agree with me as well. You're dismissed."
The murmurs began once again as the crowd gathered in the patio started to slowly dissolve. Hinata's teammates, however, remained there.
"...was that Hinata? The same Hinata that has been my student?" a flabbergasted Kurenai asked. "She radiated so much..."
"Power?" Naruto finished.
"Confidence," Kurenai corrected. "I mean, Hinata did grew more confident over time, but such jump in attitude was quite the shock."
"Hinata-san always tried to put the more beligerent clan members in their place, and now she has the power to do so," Haku added. "Don't worry. Deep down, she's still the same kind person we know and love."
…
A few minutes later, Hinata, Hikari, and Hanabi returned to the living room.
"So...how did I do?" Hinata unsurely asked.
"That was amazing! I've never seen you being so assertive!" Hanabi excitedly praised.
"Don't you think I exceeded myself?" Hinata asked once again.
"Not in the 're the Clan Head now, you should show them who's in charge," Hikari firmly stated. "By the way, I loved what you did with that chakra pulse. A really good way to let those idiots know who were dealing with."
"Speaking of which...mother, you still haven't told me what are my responsibilities now that I'm the one in charge," Hinata asked.
"Don't worry about that. For the time being, I'll continue doing the boring part of the job. All you have to do is to make sure change can finally happen within the clan," Hikari replied.
"By the way, mother, if you wanted the Caged Bird Seal gone, why you didn't abolish it yourself?" Hanabi asked.
"It's not that simple, sweetie. As you can see, most of the Main House opposed its abolition, and if a Clan Head tried to eliminate it by force, the whole clan would fall into chaos," Hikari explained.
"But with Hinata-neechan is different," Hanabi concluded. "Is because of the Tenseigan?"
Hikari nodded. "Though it's not just because of the power. Both you and Hinata are the first persons in literally centuries to awaken a higher form of the Byakugan that most of us thought it was just a myth. Your place in the clan is too important to earn your enimity. Imagine if the Sage of the Six Paths appeared and asked to be made Hokage. I doubt anybody would turn down such request."
"But I'm not the Sage of the Six Paths," Hinata protested.
"No, but you have the same eyes his brother once had, if what you and Nori-san told me it's true," Hikari cheekily replied. "Yes, some clansmen will call you a tyrant, but don't listen to them. You're doing something great, and you will have my support."
"And mine too!" Hanabi chimed in. "And if you feel that using your power against them is wrong...remember that I also have a Tenseigan, but I'm not the Clan Head." Hanabi said with an evil giggle, as she punched her palm for added emphasis.
"Hanabi-chan!"
"Joking! I was just joking! Sheesh!" Hanabi protested, holding her hands defensively. "I was totally not joking," Hanabi added under her breath.
"By the way, I saw your teammates outside during the announcement. How about if we invite them to have dinner for us, to celebrate you appointment?" Hikari suggested.
Hinata smiled warmly. "I'd love it."
…
Outskirst of Takigakure, a month later
Hidden within the thick forests that surrounded the Village of Takigakure, there was a large army that waited the order to move on. Said army was rather diverse, ranging from thugs unable to use chakra, ninja mercenaries, missing ninja whose strength ranged from Genin to low Jonin, and finally robe-wearing religious cultist whose entire skin was dyed in black and white, with skeletal patterns.
Commanding this army were two members of Akatsuki, Hidan and Kakuzu. They've been spending the last few weeks gathering this army to assault Takigakure. Most of them would die, but the Akatsuki cared very little for their eventual fate.
"The troops are ready to fight," Hidan said, as he walked towards his partner. "I can already smell all the blood that's going to be spilled today. Jashin-sama will be pleased."
"Make sure you and the lunatics that follow you do your job. And remember, do not harm the jinchuriki," Kakuzu stressed.
Hidan rolled his eyes, and groaned loudly. How many times did Kakuzu need to remind him that? As far as his tenure in Akatsuki go, he didn't kill any jinchuriki yet. Even then, the cultist decided not to answer that.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Hidan dismissively said. "So, this is your former village, right? I'm sure you can't wait to burn this shithole to the ground."
"While I try to keep personal feelings away from business, I'm going to admit that yes, I'm going to enjoy this mission in particular," Kakuzu confessed.
Hidan's grin formed a sadistic grin. "Then what are we waiting for?"
"Very well. Send the attack order."
Hidan couldn't repress a glee upon thinking in the incoming battle. Soon, the world will be one ninja village down, and Akatsuki will have one more Tailed Beast in their power.
Author's Note: And thus concludes the Byakugan Princess arc. I've been waiting to write and publish this arc since the moment I uploaded the first chapter, but alas, I just couldn't give Hinata the Tenseigan when she was still in the Academy. As you could see, this chapter was mostly exposition and characters recovering from the intensity of the two previous episodes. Still, I hope you enjoyed Hinata's ascension to clan head, and how she started to make things better for the Branch House.
Next chapter will begin my take on the Hidan and Kakuzu arc, which will also bring back an old fan favorite, Fu! Who's also a favorite of mine as well. It's been a while since she last appeared, huh? Tournament arcs, like the Chunin Exams, are popular because they not only allow, but demand the author to use a lot of characters at once, and sadly, other arcs are much more restrictive, so sometimes several characters might go for quite some time without any major appearances or contributions to the story.
Thanks a lot fro grimlock987 for betareading this chapter.
So, what are your thoughts on this chapter and the arc as a whole? And what do you expect to see in the next arc? Tell me in a review! Reviews make me really, really, really happy!