I'm so so so sorry for taking this long to publish ! It's been a horrible month for me, and I could not write :( I hope you'll like this chapter. Don't hesitate to leave a review to let me know what you think !
Trigger warning: racism.
Sorry Jiraiya fans, but he's not a good guy in here (and yes I love him but I need bad guys). Jiraiya is racist and sexist in this story, but these are obviously not opinions that I share. Otherwise, I would not write my main character and her clan as person of colour (as East-Asians, to be precise). Anyway, keep in mind that Jiraiya is NOT a good guy in this story.
Chapter X: The Hokage.
Jiraiya had about two years before being executed for his failure. He would live solely to form his successor, and the Daimyō would order him to kill himself afterwards. A few decades earlier, he would have been horrified at the idea of receiving such an order, but today, he was at peace with his fate. Rare were the Kages who lived as old as him, and he was satisfied with the existence he had had. The Black Potion most likely played an important role in his state of mind, but he did not find in himself any interest for the subject. He was a Kage, and his role was to obey no matter the order. The Black Potion only insured it was the case.
Nevertheless, despite his imminent death, he would not slack off in any way. He was still at the service of the Kingdom of Fire crown, and he had a duty to perform. This duty was today represented by the little girl biding farewell to the Hisuna family, Hinata Hyūga. She was as sweet and polite as ever, surely ignorant of Rasa's role in her father's death. Jiraiya found himself feeling pity for this child, who wanted nothing more but to be respected and be worthy of her father. Sadly, she was doomed to fail. Only a tragic fate awaited her, and he wondered what her reaction would be upon understanding it.
For now, she was offering a scarf she had made herself to the youngest prince, the young unstable mage. Jiraiya had not listened to their conversation when the prince had visited her out of respect for her feelings, but he was not stupid. They had both grown incredibly attached to one another during these few days. Her dreaming a bit before being confronted to the harsh truth of Konoha was probably not a bad thing. It would maybe give her the strength to survive the court. She would be happier at Pearlforest than Ivoïré, anyway. In her birth region, she would be loved and respected, and not looked sideways because of her yellowish skin. Even if she would always be protected and served as Great Lady of Yggalë, Konoha would never love her, and her life at Ivoïré would be miserable. It would better for her to go back to Yggalë as soon as she could to live a happier life.
When the moment to climb in the carriage to leave the Sunan steppes, Jiraiya felt a shiver running down his spine and glanced behind him. While he thought the threatening aura came for Baki or Pakura, he realised it came for the young prince, whose eyes were the only part of his body visible because of the fabric protecting his skin from the sun. He looked at him coldly, his aquamarine eyes aimed at him. Jiraiya slightly frown and gulped as he saw something primal glint in the boy's eyes. Suddenly, a voice cackled in his skull, and Jiraiya immediately grabbed his head, his stomach clenched.
If anything happens to Hinata Hyūga, we will slowly rip you apart, old man! Don't believe you can escape my wrath!
The voice was deafening and Jiraiya thought for a moment he would lose his hearing, but it was gone as suddenly as it had arrived, and the prince flew away, carried by the levitation gift of the Hisunas, to join what Jiraiya assumed to be his balcony. He frowned. This boy was not a mage, but a living prison. A living prison doomed to madness and enamoured with a little girl sweeter than a lamb. He held an amused chuckle back. Only an Yggalën woman could care for such a monster, for they had no shame.
He sat in the carriage and was about to read a book when a source of energy emanating from Hinata Hyūga attracted his attention. He looked up and searched for the power's origin. He found it easily, for the Yggalën was playing with it; it was a medallion shaped like a small flask filled by a black mist which Jiraiya immediately recognized as Gaara Hisuna's spelled shadow. Why did she have this around her neck? Was he so enamoured with her that he had gave her a part of his power? It made no sense.
"Miss Hinata, would you allow me to inspect your medallion, please?", he asked as the carriage shook and left.
She immediately looked up; her pale grey eyes dubitative.
"Why so, my lord?"
"It is spelled, and I'd like to ensure that it won't harm you."
"There is no need to worry, my lord", she replied with a soft smile. "The prince doesn't wish to harm me in any way; he rescued me."
"I don't doubt it, miss. But magic can sometimes be described as alive, and it's not impossible for a spell to be corrupted and turned away from its initial purpose", he explained.
The young lady seemed to think about his words. Why could she not just listen to him? The eldest of her cousins took her hand and gave her a tender smile.
"You don't have to, my lady. But fear not, I'm sure that the prince Gaara control his spell and that lord Jiraiya won't damage it. After all, it's a royal present!"
She was smarter that she looked. Destroying a present from a prince would definitely be poorly looked upon and he hoped for the relations between the two Kingdoms – which were already extremely tensed – that the spell under control. Thankfully, Hinata handed him the medallion, and Jiraiya was able to focus.
The mist within the flask was indeed wild and almost uncontrollable but its intention was clear. Protect Hinata Hyūga. The mist, for now asleep, would only awake by the opening of the flask. It was a basic spell, but it worked well. It was not complex and therefore would easily pass the test of time. The prince had thoroughly thought of this spell and had put a lot of energy in it. The shadow encased in the flask could act independently for about ten minutes, which would allow Hinata Hyūga to escape from numerous attacks. The only downside was its one-time use, but he could allow her to keep it.
"The prince's intentions are laudable, what a devoted young man", he said as he gave her back the medallion. "Although I hope you will never have to use this present", he added.
"So do I. But who can pretend knowing the Mother of All's intentions?", she replied in her sweet voice.
The journey was calm and devoid of any incident. The Water Daimyō and miss Hinata conversed when the convoy stopped for the night about any kind of subject, but Jiraiya did no listen; politics were not his domain, and he did not doubt that Mei Terumi only entertained discussions with the young girl out of politeness and not a sincere interest. After all, Hinata Hyūga was but a little girl. Smart for her age, but a terrible liar to whom the fire throne was not destined. She may be the legal heir, but it would not last.
Jiraiya perfectly knew that His Highness Hiruzen would organize a new selection, using a plain pretext to justify it, even though everyone would know the true reason. He would never allow woman, especially an Yggalën, sit on the throne. Hinata Hyūga would receive all the respects of a Great Lady, but she would never be considered as an heir by anyone. After all, her father had only been chosen because he was the least bad option. Kushina Uzumaki was a woman and Fugaku Uchiha was a tyrant in the making. His Highness Hiruzen would have let the Great Lady of Laguloé or the Lord of Pràyol sit on the throne unless he wished to destroy everything he had worked for during his reign.
It was during one of those uninteresting evening of conversation that Jiraiya noticed that one of Hinata Hyūga's cousins was watching him. She was youngest of the two, but he had not bothered remembering her name. Even if she possessed the same speed as the other members of her clan, she was no threat and therefore, he had failed to see any point in remembering who she was precisely. The eldest was slightly less uninteresting for already splendid and gifted in charming men. He had seen her thank the knight of the Kingdom of the Wind who had dispatched the assassins sent after the two of them, and he had no doubt that this particular knight now dreamt of confessing his love to her. Her exotic beauty would surely charm some men and she would be able to make a living as a courtesan.
Hinata Hyūga's young cousin whispered something in her sister's ear, who glanced at her before looking at Jiraiya. She sighed and got up before walking towards him, a polite smile on his face. Would she try to manipulate him thanks to her beauty? He would like to see her humiliate herself like so; he had loved only one woman during his entire life, and she was far more beautiful than a yellowish-skinned Yggalën. Her beauty would surely work on nobles with queer desires and war men, but he was neither. Nevertheless, he was intrigued to know what she could expect of him.
"Lord Jiraiya, may I have a word with you? My sister fears she might offend you, for politeness have never been her strength", she said.
"Of course. How may I help you?"
"It's about the assassins sent after my lady. Have you the faintest idea of who they are? Or rather who hired them?", she asked.
"Alas, I have no evidence", he replied without naming anyone. The diplomatic incident would have to wait until they were all safe in Konoha.
"I didn't ask for proof my lord, but a name."
Jiraiya studied the young woman for a few seconds. She was right to want to know the name of the man the behind the murder of her lord. It would be easier to protect miss Hinata and defend the honour of her birth region. The Yggalëns were depraved, but they loved their land more than anything; their loyalty to their region should never be questioned. He swiftly thought of his options; the Mizukage and Mei Terumi already knew, keeping the secret would then be pointless.
"The Wind Daimyō is my principal suspect, and his Kazekage."
She did not need to hear about Orochimaru. She did not seem surprised and simply nodded thoughtfully.
"I thought the same thing. He should have warned prince Gaara, his plan might have succeeded", she said as she mechanically readjusted one of her rings. "What will you do about this? Will there be a war? The Daimyō had Lord Hiashi murdered."
"We have no proof. His Highness will maybe order me to murder the Wind Daimyō, but I can't affirm anything", Jiraiya replied.
The Daimyō would not do anything, using his age as an excuse. He would not unleash his army to avenge Hiashi Hyūga, who had not even been crowned. Moreover, Fugaku Uchiha would surely be radiant because of the chaos of a war and would maybe try to use it to reinforce his influence or even take the throne by force. And if he did so, the civil war would destroy the kingdom. The Daimyō could not take such a risk because of Yggalë. Lady Cho would be grieving, and the survival of her eldest daughter would surely suffice in silencing her anger. Moreover, the Yggalëns were not known for their battle prowess. Some stood out, but it was rather rare. Their bodies were too fragile.
"Nothing will be done, right? Just like you will never give back Lord Hiashi's bones, or that lady Hinata will never be made Daimyō", the Hyūga before him declared, not bothering to hide her annoyance.
She could be as furious as she wanted, she probably knew the answers of her questions before asking them. Yggalë had not been part of the kingdom for nearly long enough to be deemed a trustworthy region. Hiashi Hyūga's great-grandfather, Mélyo Hyūga, had been the last monarch of Yggalë. The seizing was too recent; Yggalë had to learn humility first or his inhabitants would soon attempt to reclaim their precious independence and would deprive the rest of the kingdom of their resources.
"Why question me if you already knew the answers to your questions?", he sighed.
"I didn't wish to base my opinion on simple suspicions. I thank you, my lord, for showing me you that His Highness and you are exactly how I thought you were."
Her sentence finished, the Yggalën turned around and returned to sit down by her sister and her cousin. Jiraiya watched her whisper some words in Hinata Hyūga's ear, who took her hand and replied something with a tender smile. A few minutes later, the Yggalëns excused themselves and went in their tents.
Jiraiya grabbed one his numerous flasks from his belt, the one containing a potion that would allow him to remain awake all night long and keep his strength. The chance that assassins had followed them was far too high for him to risk sleep. He had to protect the Yggalën maiden; if he failed again, the Yggalëns would more than furious and lady Chō Hyūga would not hesitate a second to throw her clan and their vassals in merciless war against the crown. The Yggalëns would lose, of course, but they would cause important damages and the kingdom would take a lot of time to recover. Moreover, the loss of a powerful clan such as the Hyūga and all its vassals would leave them economically weak and open to the attack of another kingdom.
As he guarded the tent, he allowed his spirit to wander to a simpler era, when he was younger, before Orochimaru's betrayal. He sighed as he thought about his childhood spent at Ivoïré, as he was trained by the old Sen, blessed by the One of Embers. The former Hokage had both took them under his wing, him blessed by the One of Battles, Orochimaru by the One of Woods. The Kingdom of Fire seemed ready to become more powerful than ever, with two Kage. But Orochimaru had been blinded by a thirst for power once the Black Potion drank. Perhaps this thirst for power had always been present, but was controlled by his feelings?
Jiraiya did not know. Orochimaru had fled Konoha at the age of seventeen, turning towards crime and choosing as a goal the destruction of the five kingdoms. And today, he was reappearing. Why? What was his role in the murder of Hiashi Hyūga? Had he simply served as an alibi to the Wind Daimyō? What interest could Rasa find in an alliance with Orochimaru? He had worked to better the relationship between Konoha and Suna. What could he gain in poisoning the future Fire Daimyō and attempting to murder his heiress? Did he wish to weaken Yggalë for a future invasion?
When they reached Ivoïré, they were welcomed by His Highness himself, who was waiting for them in the courtyard. All the Hyūgas present in Konoha were also here, without a doubt waiting for their Great Lady. Jiraiya recognized amongst them Kō, the only Hyūga whose name he had remembered. The bird carrying words about the attack had had to arrive a few days prior to them. As soon as miss Hinata climbed down from the carriage with her cousin, Kō's squire – who also was the overly protective cousin of the maiden – ran towards her, and she immediately took refuge in his arms. How improper; she should be bowing before his Highness, not in her cousin's arms! He thought her better mannered, but he should have expected this kind of attitude from an Yggalën.
Jiraiya bowed before His Highness, who swiftly gesture for him to stand up. Hiruzen Sarutobi was dressed in black in honour of the deceased High Lord, but the Hokage knew that the Daimyō was more annoyed than saddened by the situation. Jiraiya saw him about to scold miss Hinata for her inappropriate attitude when the Water Daimyō, who had insisted on escorting them all the way back to Konoha, made her entrance. She was as splendid and graceful as ever despite the days of highly uncomfortable travel.
"Daimyō Hiruzen, what an honour to finally see you!", she exclaimed as she walked closer, Yagura on her heels.
"Daimyō Mei, you are as beautiful as ever", His Highness replied almost bitterly. "I had rooms prepared for you when I learned that you had the kindness to escort miss Hinata to Konoha. I'm forever indebted to you."
"It was a pleasure", she smiled. "Lady Hinata's company is one of the most agreeable", she added, insisting on lady.
Jiraiya almost rolled his eyes. Miss Hinata was not fourteen years old yet; he would call her lady until she was at least sixteen, and if everything went smoothly, she would be gone from Yggalë at this moment. The more important things for now were Hiashi Hyūga's funerals but also for His Highness to have a small discussion with miss Hinata.