Hiashi was annoyed, Fugaku knew. He'd arranged for this meeting in the dead of night primarily for secrecy and after several attempts by the Hyūga to reschedule, he'd gotten his wish.
On his flanks, Inabi and Tekka walked with him while Yashiro watched his rear. Members of the Hyūga in black kimonos and bandaged foreheads stood guard as the quartet passed through the streets. Coolly, Fugaku's eyes glanced over them.
They seem ready for a fight, but their eyes are watching the wrong people, he mused. The Uchiha approached the elaborate and beautiful minka of the Hyūga clan leader. A male shinobi stepped forward with his Byakugan activated. The ghostly eyes traveled over the Uchiha before the man frowned.
"You may enter, Lord Fugaku. But, your men must stay here," he said.
As expected, the Uchiha clan leader thought. He gave his trusted companions a look that spoke volumes. Be prepared for my signal.
The shoji doors slid open and Fugaku stepped onto the dark cedar floors. Hiashi sat, cross-legged at the end of the room, his milk-white eyes opening as the doors closed and the Uchiha removed his sandals and placed them at the entrance. There was a mat on the floor several feet away from Hiashi, and he knelt there.
The two stared at each other for a few moments before Hiashi let out a soft sigh. "What is your business, Lord Fugaku?"
"I want to make a proposal." He found no reason to tiptoe. Clearing his throat, he continued. "Lord Hiruzen is getting old and if I am able to speak freely, soft. His actions following the war, pressing for a peace treaty after we'd suffered so long to maintain the war effort was weak. The jonin will ask him to resign soon."
"And how do you know this?" Hiashi asked, narrowing his eyes.
"As chief of the military police, it's my job to know these things," Fugaku replied. "I also know the list of names that will be presented to the Elders, the jonin, and the daimyo. They are Orochimaru and the young hero, Minato Namikaze."
"Hm," Hiashi murmured, still as a stone. "And you want your name to be included in that list?"
It's time to start revealing my hand. "I do," Fugaku replied. "You know as well as I do that Orochimaru is a wretched and twisted man. Minato, while powerful, lacks the experience and grit to do all that is necessary to protect our home."
"It isn't the Hyūga clan's place to influence elections."
"Your honor is on the line, I'm aware," Fugaku said, nodding. "However, I haven't finished with my proposal. The Uchiha and Hyūga have stood as the most powerful clans in Konoha for the past fifty years. Every enemy cowers at our names and seeks to steal what we have. While we are always able to defend ourselves, sometimes it is imperative to drop pride and step into new, unfounded directions." Fugaku could hear the crackling of the fire in the room when he took in a breath. "I propose a marriage union between my son, Sasuke, and your daughter, the young Lady Hinata."
Hiashi took the proposal better than Fugaku expected. He didn't attack, laugh, or demand that he leave. He simply nodded. "What benefit would this have for either of us? Your youngest son marrying my daughter and heir seems...disproportionate. The Uchiha have always held themselves in higher regard than the other clans and infusing Hyūga blood into your gene pool would be an affront to your ancestors, would it not?"
Not in the interest of power... "My ancestors would have preferred to have a strong ally instead of a powerful enemy. A combination of our two clans' dojutsu would create something far more powerful than the Sharingan and Byakugan separately." Now for the final move. "In exchange for your assistance in helping me become the Hokage, I promise you that any child born to the combined union of our children will belong to the Hyūga," Fugaku said.
This caused Hiashi's eyes to widen fractionally. "You'd sacrifice your lineage for the title of Hokage?"
"We shinobi must sacrifice often and much. At least with this, it's a choice," Fugaku said. "With my proposal comes the protection of the Hyūga and I hope in good faith, you'll return the favor. As a show of my seriousness..." The shoji doors slowly opened. Tekka and one of the Hyūga dragged a man inside, dropping him in between the two clan leaders.
From the shift in his expression, Fugaku knew that Hiashi saw what he wanted him to see. The long-haired man's eyes changed, veins protruding on his cheeks and temples in the shape of a winding, rushing river. With the Byakugan, the Hyūga could see through anything and Fugaku was sure that he'd be able to tell the obvious.
"The Land of Lightning's head ninja? Why is he here?" Hiashi asked.
"My men captured him about thirty minutes ago as he attempted to flee with the young Lady Hinata. The peace treaty that Lord Third agreed to was just a ploy. What Kumogakure was truly after was the Byakugan." Fugaku dipped his head. "Next, it'll be the Sharingan and the secrets to every technique integral to our military strength."
Hiashi seemed to ignore this and instead asked the question Fugaku had expected. "Why bring him here and not keep him imprisoned?"
"Because, ultimately, his punishment would be determined by the Hokage." Fugaku lowered his head and met Hiashi's eyes. "Do you truly believe that Lord Third would do what was best for your clan?" The white-eyed man seemed to ponder this question for a while then stood up and walked towards the Kumo man. The head ninja was dead after a single strike to the heart, letting out a soft groan as he collapsed at Hiashi's feet. The Hyūga clan leader faced Fugaku.
"No," he said.
"Then we're agreed?" Fugaku asked, extending his hand. After a few moments, Hiashi approached him and the two men shook.
"We are."