This was hard as I was a bit unsure of what to write, but I am happy with my results.

Hiashi was happy to see his daughter escorting the newly Marked Mika, her stance was one of daring. Daring anyone to run their mouths and say something stupid about her beloved friend and ally, a total difference from the Hinata of the past. It filled him with pride, but also deeply saddened him to know he had no part in her growth. Mika on the other hand, had a massive hand in whom she was. From her new style, to her personality shift... it was all him.

"Yes, Honorable Council, I have come to your summons," Mika said, his tone soft, but undeniably cold. Like wind on the tundras of the Land of Iron.

Hiashi, as one of the Leaders of the Council, stood. "We welcome you, child, but also wish to inform you that you are being placed... more or less on house arrest until we can ascertain your loyalty."

Mika sighed, unsurprised. "Let me guess, it is because of the curse mark and because my Medical teacher, Kabuto, is a traitor? Hinata filled me in on the way over here. He told me that he cast the genjutsu on the Stadium."

Hiashi nodded. "More or less. We do not wish to impede you, likely one of the most skilled genin in the village and a budding medic, but the recent betrayals and their effects leave us with little choice."

"And where is my arrest to be at? I am not going to be restricted to my apartment, that would be too hard to manage."

"You will stay with me, and my clan. We already arranged it. This way you can still train, even work in the hospital, but not be in any danger of betrayal. You will always have eyes on you, and that is key to this arrest."

"Fine, I will not argue. I see the logic there, but I do ask, Sasuke too has a mark, why is he not being arrested?"

It was Hiashi's turn to sigh as Homura answered for him. " He has ties to the village, with a team and his bloodline being the one to build this village alongside the Senju. You have none of this. Also, your mark has not yet been sealed away, and will not be sealed as way as all of our sealers are indisposed."

Mika's gaze, piercing as a Chidori, pinned the woman. "You mean to say that, once again, my status as a clanless ninja, is going to fuck me over again?"

Hiashi answered for Homura to stop the boy's rage and the killer intent he felt boiling around him ever so slightly. "Sadly, yes, but I know you hold loyalty to my daughter. I believe you to be loyal, So I am vouching for you otherwise even training would be forbidden to you."

The boy turned to him, and Hiashi had real trouble in not flinching especially with Hinata managing a similarly intense stare. "Fine, but my work as a healer is vital. So many were hurt, they will need all hands on deck."

"Agreed. Hinata, lead him to his room and to the Guest Quarters in the Main hall."

Hinata nodded, giving her father one last cold stare, before leading him away. Or at least trying to before Mika said. "I am willing to have my mind examined, for loyalty... if that helps."

"It does."

"""

"Well, that was pointless," Hinata muttered as they made their way to the Hyuuga compound. "How are you feeling?"

Mika sighed. "Sore, but not tired. I can feel a tingle of pain where my seal is." He rubbed the curse mark, three curved but straight lines at the base of his collar bone. She had seen with her Byakugan, the patterns of energy around the Mark, it was taking and converting the chakra into something foul, but she could not tell what. By any means, it was not a good thing. "Wanna spar? I am feeling rather stiff, I don't like being out of it for three days plus I really wanted to test your powers."

"Sounds fantastic, oh and I have your ninja equipment. I took it so everyone else would not steal it from you."

"Much obliged."

And so they hurried to the compound, which was oddly one of the only undamaged compounds about. Moving past the guards, Hinata led Mika to a sparring square. "We have to limit it to Taijutsu, less we cause too much destruction."

"Sounds fair."

And like that, after Mika stretched a bit, they both go into their stances and the battle was on.

Hinata lashed out with a typical Gentle strike, a series of them in fact, and Mika easily dodged to each side, knocking the final strike aside before kicking her chest with enough force that she flew back, rolling onto her feet she ducked under his next kick, rising up to pepper him with strikes that never connected. Both of them started oozing chakra, and Hinata knew this would last a while.

She was a master taijutsu user but Mika was well trained in evasion.

A matchup from hell if ever there was one.

But a fun one, she could not deny.

"""

Hiashi, who managed to end the meeting early, followed his daughter and her friend to the compound just in time to watch them fight. It was beautiful to see his daughter fighting at full capacity, showing what she could really do. Mika, though less refined, was equally as capable. They both, trained in evasion, could almost never hit each other with strikes despite Hinata's training in Taijutsu and Mika's training with Gai to increase his speed.

Settling in his manor, he watched the fight comfortably and made many notes.

Twisting, Hinata's chakra laden foot slammed towards Mika, who caught her foot by the heel and twisted, tossing her away. "I won't fall for that, I saw it in the exam."

She sighed. "And you never said a word! I pouted for five whole seconds."

"It was incredible, you took away a huge weakness of the Hyuuga style, Their reliance on their hands."

She laughed and charged, using her elbows, fists, palms and feet to attack Mika with a random style of movements that even Hiashi could not entirely predict. "I realized out rigidness would get us killed. We are too predictable, someone had to do better! I never even got to show my new Taijutsu moves!"

Hiashi gasped. "She made new moves, new jutsu for our style?"

Mika beamed. "Then show me. Just not on me, I like living." The boy leaped onto the roof and leaned in.

Hinata fell into a low stance, her chakra expanding outwards. "Gentle Fist- Protective Eight Trigrams!" Hinata then moved, her arms swinging at speeds far exceeding the Sixty Four Palms technique. Tiny needles of chakra extended from her fingertips, carving paths through the air at seemingly random directions. Each one a perfect strike that Hiashi knew would cut down, maim or block even the most advanced attacks.

He fell to his knees. "She did it, she made a jutsu more advanced than the Sixty Four Palms... How were we so wrong about her?" Hiashi watched as his daughter stopped, moving to a standing position with a slight pant.

Mika shot down, clapping loudly. "That was amazing!"

She blushed. "I know, right? Father, I know you are watching, what did you think?"

Hiashi made his way to his daughter, humble and soft. "I think we might have to reconsider Hanabi's heiress status."

Hinata unleashed a monstrous, unnaturally high killer intent in that moment so strong Hiashi stumbled back. "NO! I won't let you enslave my sister, mark her with that disgusting seal!"

"What..." He sighed, and considered his words, then he leaned in and whispered. " I hate it too." She stopped then, looking at him with shock. "I hated it since it cost me my brother, I just knew no other way. I let Hizashi's death kill my heart, I will not let it kill my childrens' too. Come with me. Mika, you too." They all move into the compound, into a room in the far back where Hiashi kept his office. "This room is protected with seals, I can see outside of it but no one can see inside it.

Hinata, I had people following you for years. I know Mika swore to unweave the Curse mark. I took it, well I did not care thinking he would never manage it. Now though, recent events have made me realize he has the power to do just that. Not just anyone catches Orochimaru's eye. Not just anyone is able to master the Mystic Palm as fast as he has. No one else managed to help you, Hinata, tap into your truest potential... No, I will not deny he may very well be able to master this.

Mika, I will allow you to work to undo this, but you must be in absolute secrecy. The wrong person hearing this, would kill the Branch Family out of spite. I cannot stress that enough, you must be careful."

The kids, both of them, nodded. Mika spoke up. "What changed your mind?"

"Hinata's words, about my saying she would not matter if she died. Her constant successes... I realized how wrong I was. As the expression goes, I took my head out of my ass." Hinata snorted at his swearing. "I am sorry, my dear daughter, please forgive your foolish father."

She sighed. "Not yet but we are far closer to that possibility now than we ever have been..."

"Thank you."

Mika turned to him fully. "If anyone asks about my study of seals, it is for my own curse mark. If nothing else, this damn thing gives me the ability to mask my goals."

"That it does. So, do we have an accord?" They all nodded, and a pact was born. "I will eventually provide Mika with the seals, once he is good enough to manage the undoing of it. That will take years. In the mean time, I will push for him to be Chunin, so he can access the scrolls needed to learn it. I would continue your study of medical jutsu, it will be a major factor in this."

"I understand. "

"Also please continue to work with Hinata and Neji, they need to grow stronger to survive the evils of our clan. I will start teaching Neji the More advanced secrets of our clan, no one will argue it, but you can help him learn more advance everything else. It will also give you a great ally. For both of you. Now, we cannot stay here long, people will suspect, for now we must be quiet."

And with that, they left, a new secret on their hearts.

One that would change their lives forever.

'I have set the pieces into place... now it is your turn, Mika, Hinata, I am taking a massive risk. Do not make me regret it.'

:::
'

'And so my goal has even greater value, the salvation of an entire clan. I have so many things on my plate, can I manage it all?' Mika wondered. 'Will I be able to do this all... I need to prioritize. My seal first, get mastery and then work on their seal. Bit by bit, all the while getting stronger and stronger until I am undisputedly powerful. I need to make sure no one can touch me. My actions will make enemies...

I need to continue my work in the hospital, With Hinata, with Gai, with Raido... I need to continue getting stronger. Chunin is just the first step, setting the stage. I can do this, it will be hard, but it is possible. I wanted to make a name for myself, well this is it! Do not cower from the change, embrace it... by any means.'

And as he walked with Hinata and Hiashi, Mika was so distracted he almost ran into an adorable little girl who grinned at him.

"You're Mika! I saw your exams, you were amazing!"

Mika smiled right back at her, noticing her lack of a mark. "You must be Hanabi, I hear you are a genius."

She blushed. "Hinata beat the Genius butts of Neji and Sasuke, she is the real genius."

"There can be more than one. I helped her grow, she is my friend, Wanna spar with me too? I am sure I can help you too."

She beamed, turning to Hiashi. "Can I father?"

"Mika is a guest, and to be respected for his skill... so yes, I do believe the expression is kick his butt."

Hanabi choked, then nodded. " I will, father!" She grabbed Mika's hand and pulled him away, with the others laughing at his expense.

'This, this is what I saving, All of the kids like her... ' And that only made him desire to save the Hyuugas all the more potent.

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a joy to write, some of my best work.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.