Hinata rested her head against the wall, holding her eyes closed. The darkness only served to strain her vision and there was nothing to see, no point in activating her Byakugan just to ease the strain. It had been at least six hours, though it was becoming more and more difficult for her to tell time. The only thing she knew for sure was that Danzo was due back any moment. He came rough every half hour, though sometimes it must have been closer to an hour. She wouldn't sit passively any longer. The next time he came through that door she was resolved to fight back. She was not helpless by any means. It was another few moments of silence before blinding light struck her from the freshly opened door.
"Are you ready?" Danzo's voice carried to her with ease.
"Fine." She sighed. "What is it you want to know?"
"Why are you following me?" He asked.
"To confirm rumors fed to me by a terrorist." Hinata stated bluntly.
"We're they confirmed?"
"Not until you brought me here." She admitted, shifting to her knees in preparation to stand. "Now it is very clear to me now that it is the truth, not rumor. Your future is absolutely sealed."
"And what truth is that?" Danzo pried, a ball of anxiety forming in his stomach. "What is my sealed fate child?"
"Death." Hinata climbed to her feet, meeting his cold gaze. "Death is your truth and your future."
"You are mistaken." He chuckled, arrogance thick in his words.
"Did you not order the massacre of an entire clan, women and children included, so that you could defile their graves and secure superficial power for yourself?" She asked, activating her Byakugan. "I can see them. That's why you avoid us, the Hyuga."
"I don't avoid anyone, I have no business with such an insignificant clan." Danzo moved across the room to her. "You don't know what you see, the weakest link, unfortunately born into the line of succession."
"How will you explain it away when my father comes?" She asked, standing tall before the elder, ignoring the insult her hurled at her. She could see his chakra network, certain parts fractured and disrupted by the many Sharingan sealed along the left side of his body. A strike would have to be meticulous and would not fully cripple him. "How will you explain the danger young children posed to Konoha?"
"Silence." Danzo demanded.
"How will you explain the danger non-shinobi mothers posed?" She continued on.
"Quiet girl." He warned.
"How will you explain the reason behind defiling sacred graves; stealing eyes of the dead for your own ambitious desires?" She pushed and pushed, trying to create an opening for herself.
"Enough!" He roared, bringing the back of his hand across her face. While consumed with his irritation she found her window. Hinata quickly pressed her hand to the right side of his chest, energy emitting from her palm forced him backwards. Her strike further disrupted his chakra networks. She pushed off the wall and darted for the door, intent on escape. She had mapped the halls during her time in confinement.
…
Sakura stood in front of her mother and father, chewing on her bottom lip as she waited for one of them to speak.
"You're dating Ino Yamanaka?" Mebuki finally spoke up, her brow furrowed in confusion. "The girl?"
"Yes." Sakura nodded. "That is why we've been spending so much time together."
"I don't understand." Kizashi, admitted. "For years you've been adamant in your love for Sasuke."
"Is this because he has bonded with the Hyuga girl?" Mebuki questioned.
"Hinata, mom, you know her name." The pink-haired girl sighed. "And no. This is just something that blossomed from our friendship."
"Do you understand what it means to date a girl?" Her mother continued on with her questions. "What sex with a girl will be like?"
"Mom." Sakura's cheeks flushed a bright pink. She was well aware what it would mean to have sex with Ino, but that was a conversation she wasn't ready for. "Stop."
"I thought for sure you'd be dating that blonde boy you are always hanging out with." Kizashi remarked.
"No, Naruto is my best friend. That is all." The girl explained.
"And have you told Naruto?" Mebuki asked. Sakura nodded. "How'd he take it?"
"How'd he take it?" Sakura repeated. "Better than you."
Naruto stared blankly at Sakura for what felt like an eternity. His blue eyes lost as his mind worked to process an appropriate response.
"Naruto-kun?" Sakura whispered. "Please say something." Naruto's face shifted from cautious to his normal bubbly expression as he rubbed the back of his head.
"I thought Sasuke was my only competition." He joked. "Guess we aren't even in the right league."
"Be serious!" She demanded, nudging his shoulder with her fist.
"Okay, okay." He chuckled, rubbing his bicep where she'd tapped him. "Are you happy?"
"I am." She nodded.
"Then that's great." His smile widened. "No need for a big conversation I guess."
"You have nothing to say? That's new." She teased, resting her head on his shoulder as relief washed over her.
"I don't understand what is so difficult to get." Sakura sighed. "Should I have lied when you asked why I am spending so much time with her?"
"Of course not." Kizashi sighed. "It just comes as a bit of a shock considering your previous obsession."
"I would have preferred you lie." Mebuki remarked. Her face a cloak, unreadable. "Have you even considered what this means for your future bloodline?"
"No, because I'm 16." Sakura rebutted.
"Exactly, not nearly mature enough to make these kinds of decisions." Her mother stated.
"Not mature enough?" Sakura scoffed. "I train with the Hokage, serving at her side, overseeing the reconstruction and daily function of the village hospital, and I even find time to train every single day to participate in the upcoming war. I think I can handle deciding who I want to spend my time with regardless of whether you approve or not!"
…
Sasuke and Neji followed Hiashi into the building, several other Hyuga men flanking them. It was odd to walk through the foundation. The halls were empty and it felt like a ghost town, though the small group of men definitely were not alone. Hiashi had not responded well to Neji and Sasuke when they'd first approached, but as Neji had predicted it wasn't hard to convince the Hyuga clan leader to join in their search for his daughter. For Sasuke it almost seemed like fate to have the support and force of the Hyuga clan behind him. It didn't take long for them to find Hinata…and Danzo. As Sasuke turned a corner, in unison with Neji and Hiashi, Hinata collided with him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Relief settled in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Sasuke-kun." She whispered, burying her face in the bend of his neck. Sasuke held her in a tight embrace, aware of Hiashi's hard gaze fixed on them.
"We were under the impression you were being held against your will." Neji noted. Hinata pulled back slowly, her cheeks a light pink as she looked to her cousin and father.
"I was." She assured him. "I saw you all coming and I knew I needed to make my move." Sasuke grabbed her chin, holding her face steady to examine the irritation and swelling of her cheek.
"He hit you." His tone was low, almost a growl.
"I hit him back...harder." She assured him, pulling her face free of his grip. "Focus." She whispered before turning to address Hiashi.
"Where is Danzo?" The clan leader asked.
"He's almost here." She stated. "Father, you have to look at him. You have to truly see him." Hiashi activated his Byakugan as Hizashi moved out of the ranks to join his brother and son.