Sayaka finished rereading Hinata's letter before sighing and folding it up to slide into her kimono's sash. They had known that this would happen sooner or later, but it somehow still came as a shock. Sayaka's problems were minor by comparison—all she had to do was sort out a donation to the Fire Temple.

As a member of Fire Country's nobility, the donation was part of Sayaka's obligations for the upcoming Harvest Festival, the year's most important public event. Of course, certain considerations were made for her given her family situation. The Chikurin Clan had taken care of things for her in the past when she was still just a child, but now that she was a young lady, Sayaka was supposed to take a more active role in such societal matters.

She wanted to make a good impression, not just with other nobles but with the Fire Temple's abbot too. Most clans, weak clans especially, ladled out gold and silver and precious gems and fine silks to the Temple to win favor and flaunt their wealth. Sayaka didn't want to do that. Maybe it was too prideful of her, but Sayaka wanted to show others that her future leadership of the Uchiha Clan was going to be one of thoughtfulness and respect. More than just relentless flame.

Of course, it was only practical too. With only one member for the next several years, Sayaka couldn't muster the kinds of gifts her competitors could. But she could also still do better than sending in only the barest token of effort.

"Lady Uchiha, the abbot will see you now," a monk said, bowing to her from the exit to the reception hall that Sayaka was waiting in. "He sends his apologies for the wait."

"It was no trouble," Sayaka said as she stood. It had been three-quarters of an hour since Sayaka had arrived fifteen minutes early for her appointment. "I am sure he has many appointments at this time of year."

"Indeed," the monk said, bowing a second time more shallowly before turning to lead Sayaka out to where the abbot was waiting for her.

The Fire Temple was one of the oldest institutions in the Land of Fire. It had stood since time immemorial as the focal point of devotion to the Ways of the Sage, said to have been raised by the Sage of Six Paths himself to serve as a fortress during the ancient war against the demons. When the Sage ascended to immortality, he left his fortress behind, and his followers established themselves there to teach as he taught and do as he did.

Smaller temples and shrines now dotted the Land of Fire, spreading the Sage's teachings to do good, defend the weak, heal the sick, and feed the poor. The fire monks ran clinics and distributed rice, theoretically eschewing earthly pleasures and selfish desires in order to serve others and search for harmony with the natural energies that permeated the world. Such Temple Arts were the precursor to the chakra control and cultivation techniques that were the foundation of modern ninja and samurai combat prowess. Those who achieved mastery were said to be able to move mountains with a thought and divert rivers just by stepping into them.

Their work made them popular with the commoners and their chakra prowess made them a powerful military force in their own right. The Fire Temple was still a fortress after centuries, its walls reinforced with seals and stone, and the smaller temples could themselves serve as forts and strong points if the monks chose to put up a fight. It was fortunate, then, that appealing to the commoners and appeasing the monks could be done with the same earthly pleasures and luxuries that the monks were supposed to eschew.

"Here we are," the monk said. He came to a stop and bowed again, in front of a path to a small gazebo next to a pond in the temple's outer gardens. Sayaka saw that the abbot was still speaking to two men. "It will be just a moment while I inform the abbot of your arrival."

Sayaka carefully did not grit her teeth and bowed again. "My thanks."

She watched as the monk walked down to the gazebo. The abbot turned and regarded the monk as he spoke, then adjusted his robes with a sigh before bowing apologetically to his guests. The two men made appropriate gestures in response before rising and bowing their farewells. Sayaka watched them come up the path, the monk who had escorted her following behind them. They wore the traveling clothes of samurai from the capital and bore the mon of the Ise clan on the lapels of their jackets.

The samurai stopped in front of her. Sayaka stood her ground, conscious of the Uchiha fans on her own kimono.

"Lady Uchiha," said the older of the two samurai. He bowed shallowly. "I, Lord Eizo of the Ise Clan, am pleased to make your acquaintance. My companion is Ise Asahiko."

"Lord Eizo, Asahiko-dono," Sayaka greeted, bowing to each in turn. She wracked her brain for anything she could remember about Eizo and came up blank. "You have come a long way from the capital."

"The distance is nothing when one follows the Way of the Sage," said Lord Eizo. "Does the Way also bring you here, Lady Uchiha?"

"It does," Sayaka said.

There was a pause.

"And how has the Way guided your steps?" Lord Eizo asked.

"I seek guidance, for I am still young," Sayaka said and mentally grimaced.

"Ah, delicate matters for a maiden," said Lord Eizo. "I understand. I have a daughter your age. Perhaps you would like to meet her, if you ever visit the capital?"

Sayaka's mental grimace morphed into a mental scowl. If she were Naruto, perhaps she might have mistaken Lord Eizo's offer as being nice and making friends, but Sayaka was here alone and not with a chaperone, and no noble lord was stupid enough to make the mistake of thinking she was here as anything less than the head of the Uchiha clan. She should be visiting him, as equals. But Sayaka was also not stupid and she knew of times and places and the facts of her youth and her gender.

"If the Ise Clan offers such hospitality, I would be honored to accept," Sayaka said, bowing again in 'gratitude'. "You are most kind, Lord Eizo."

Lord Eizo bowed back. "I hope only to follow the example of the Sage. But you have an appointment, and I have inconvenienced you. I bid you a good day, Lady Uchiha."

"And you as well," Sayaka replied. The group exchanged another round of bows before the samurai continued back up towards the main temple.

"Lady Uchiha," said the monk, and Sayaka nodded. She followed, down to the gazebo, and bowed at the threshold.

"The Lady Uchiha, Father Kosai," the monk said.

"Please, have a seat," the abbot said.

Sayaka slipped off her sandals and stepped onto the raised seating platform to kneel in seiza on one of the cushions. Father Kosai was an emblem of stereotypes, old and white-bearded with long eyebrows and robes that draped across a body that seemed mostly made of bones that, presumably, belied great mastery in the Temple Arts. He did not offer Sayaka tea.

"Your letter spoke of the Harvest Festival and the Uchiha Clan's customary donation," Father Kosai said. "I must admit that I do not see the need for a visit in person for such things."

"Yes," Sayaka replied. "As I am young, I wished to learn more about the Temple and how I might best serve the Way."

Father Kosai hummed and stroked his beard. "I see. But you surely have a caretaker who would be able to provide such guidance."

Sayaka spoke very carefully. "Perhaps it is youthful arrogance, but I wished to make my donation personal, rather than perfunctory. I worried that I would be taught ceremony and not…"

She trailed off and hoped she made it seem like she struggled from passion for the subject and not because she had forgotten this part of her rehearsed speech.

"I understand," said the abbot, and Sayaka hoped it was because he actually believed her. "You are correct, of course. Many who donate do not truly seek the Way, but believe that since others do so then they must make a show of it as well."

Sayaka said nothing but dipped her head, as if in agreement.

"Your father was not a devout man," the abbot said. "I am glad that you are more so. Would you like some tea?"

Sayaka bowed deeply. "It would be an honor to share a cup of tea with the abbot of the Fire Temple."

Now she had done it. Instead of making a good impression, Sayaka had gone all the way to accidentally implying she actually cared. She really hoped that the abbot did not have very high expectations for her—Sayaka was about as pious as a rock.

"The Temple has found itself short of medicine as of late," the abbot said at length, after the tea had been poured. "As I recall, the Uchiha have an estate to the west which includes a substantial fern forest."

"There is an estate a week's dead run from Konoha for me, which lies in a valley near the border with the Land of Wind," Sayaka said. "Is this the estate you are thinking of?"

"It is," said Father Kosai. "Perhaps there is not enough time, but I would value most highly a donation of medical herbs from that forest."

Sayaka did some very quick math. "I believe that there would not be enough time, no," Sayaka said. "The herbs would need drying for transport, and I lack the sealing scrolls to transport fresh cuttings."

"The Temple has scrolls you may borrow," Father Kosai said. He gestured at the monk waiting nearby. "Brother Sen will show you them and teach you how to use them, and provide a list of what we are short on. I will ask for three scrolls full of whatever you can find in your forest. Do this for the sake of the Way, Lady Uchiha, and you will have the gratitude of the Fire Temple."

Sayaka bowed again. She was completely screwed. "It shall be as you asked, Father Abbot."


Naruto was finally allowed out of the sight of the Hokage late in the evening after five days of careful examination by, in his view, an unnecessarily large number of ANBU, high-security medical personnel, and two members of the Torture and Interrogation Group. It appeared that nobody was able to tell that Kazuko had been added to the collection of beings that were in Naruto's head. Or soul, or whatever.

There had been absolutely no chance to actually summon Kazuko out like Naruto had promised. He had tried to return to his mindscape through meditation, but as expected it was impossible. He could only hope that Kazuko wasn't upset with him.

Hinata was waiting for Naruto under the lamps just outside the tower's main entrance.

"Hinata-chan," Naruto said, surprised. "It's really late, you didn't need to come."

Hinata smiled at him. "Of c-course I did. L-let me walk you home."

"Oh, uh, I mean, it's pretty far from the Hyuuga Compound," Naruto said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Are you sure? I don't wanna…"

"It's fine," Hinata said. "I um, have special p-permission to be out l-late tonight, and I wanted to talk, so if it's not any b-bother…"

"No no, of course, it's cool, yeah," Naruto said hurriedly. "I uh, it's this way."

It was and was not a long walk. Naruto couldn't say that he honestly lived that far from the Hokage Tower, but at the same time both of them were walking at a civilian pace. Running at ninja speed felt like too much effort.

They didn't speak again until Naruto had invited Hinata into his home.

"It's not much," Naruto said sheepishly. "Do you want any tea? It's sort of late but…"

"Oh, n-no, water is fine," said Hinata. She doubted that she would enjoy any tea Naruto kept in his apartment, and she wouldn't put it past him to think it gross and just not have any. "How, um, how was your s-stay in the tower?"

"Boring," Naruto said as he removed his shoes and went to grab two glasses from the kitchen. "Here uh, we'll have to sit in the kitchen, my apartment doesn't have a living room. And actually, do you want any noodles? I was going to have some, so if you want I can make you a pack too."

"I'm n-not hungry, but thank you," Hinata said. She took her shoes off as well and followed him into the tiny kitchen. Naruto was filling a pot of water at the sink, next to an ice chest that had a variety of dry goods piled on top and under a set of shelves with his bowls and cups. Light came from a single lamp in the middle of the ceiling, its light focused on a small table that had a scattering of detritus that apparently Naruto was too lazy to lean up. "I, um, I'll clean up a little…"

"Oh, right, sorry," Naruto said, flushing a little as he shut the water off. "I don't have many guests, so you know, you get lazy with cleaning…"

Hinata, who had never in her life had anything less than an impeccably neat room, nodded. "O-of course. I understand."

They were silent while Hinata cleared away the detritus and Naruto set the water boiling. Hinata took two cups off the shelf and filled them with water from the insulated flask on Naruto's counter. Apparently Naruto did drink tea, though of course the water was now cold seeing as he'd been away for a week.

"I wish it was easier to make ramen," Naruto said as he sat down across from her to wait for the water to boil. "The soup's such a pain in the ass, so I gotta do miso and mushroom powder every time I want some at home."

"You could add d-daikon radish when boiling the n-noodles," Hinata suggested. "If you cut them up into s-small pieces, they would be s-soft by the time the noodles are done."

Naruto made a face. "I dunno. I guess that makes sense, but man daikon's not that tasty. Maybe I should get some niboshi? It's better than nothing…"

Personally, Hinata had always liked those kinds of soups or stews, but well, Naruto's tastes had always skewed to the loud and bombastic. "M-maybe."

"What've you guys been doing while I was out?" Naruto asked.

Hinata took a breath. "Hokage-sama asked us to t-take a break. Sayaka-chan decided to v-visit the Fire Temple today because she got b-bored."

"Heh, sounds like Sayaka," Naruto said. The pot on the stove began to rumble as the water inside heated up. "What'd she go there for? Is she into the Sage?"

"The clans traditionally m-make a donation to the Temple b-before the Harvest Festival," Hinata explained. "S-Sayaka-chan said she wanted to ask the abbot about w-what to donate."

"Is that normal?" Naruto asked.

Hinata shook her head. "I'm n-not sure what she's thinking. I t-think it was just an excuse t-to get out of the house."

Naruto glanced at the pot of water and saw that it was starting to shoot out a jet of steam. He tossed in his noodles and prepped a bowl of miso and powdered shidatake mushrooms.

"Did you get any training done?" Naruto asked. "The god of pessimism made me do like a hundred hours of meditation but that's all."

"I'm s-sure Danzo-sama has his r-reasons," Hinata said.

"Yeah but it's so boring," Naruto groaned. "I didn't even get to do any manipulation practice. The Hyuuga compound's real big though. I bet you got some real good training in…"

Hinata took a deep breath. "I spent most of my time reviewing fiancees."

Naruto set down the bowl. "Oh."

"Father gave me a list."

"Okay."

"I… you weren't on it."

Naruto turned off his stove and opened the pot lid. The noodles inside were ready and he pulled them out into his bowl with a pair of chopsticks. The water clinging to the noodles softened the miso paste and turned it into a slurry. Naruto tipped more of the noodle water into his bowl and stirred around until the miso and the mushroom powder turned into soup. He paused and took a deep breath, then picked up his jar of chili oil off his shelf and dropped a dab onto the top of his noodles. He added a shake of sesame seeds and aonori on top, then picked up the bowl and turned back towards Hinata.

"Guess I should have filled out my paperwork faster," Naruto said as he set the bowl on his table and sat back down.

"I d-don't think that is why you w-weren't on the list," Hinata said quietly.

Naruto stirred his noodles. "Why not then?"

Hinata took another deep breath. "Because I have to marry a clan member to fulfill my duty to the clan."

Naruto picked up a bundle of noodles, then put them back down again. "That so."

"Yes."

Naruto put down his chopsticks and put his hands on the table next to his bowl. He kept his eyes focused on the droplets of chili oil that floated across the top. "Is this the thing you and Sayaka were supposed to tell me about?"

Hinata looked down at the table. "Yes. I am— it is important f-for the Hyuuga clan that the M-Main Family always has a s-strong bloodline."

"Why?"

"The Hyuuga clan is s-split into the Main and B-Branch Families," Hinata said. She paused, took a breath, then continued. "The Main Family leads the clan, while the B-Branch Families serve the Main Family. L-like a tree, the Main Family stretches tall and the Branches support it. The roots of the Main Family anchor the clan a-and the Branches spread from it."

Naruto said nothing. Hinata continued.

"Without strong heirs, the Main Family cannot lead," Hinata said. She bit her lip. "I am not strong enough on my own, and there are rumors that I should not be the next clan head."

Naruto grit his teeth. "So this is about you then?"

"No!" Hinata said sharply. Then, more calmly: "No, it is not. It is about k-keeping the clan whole."

"How's that then."

"If I am d-disinherited, who should take my place?" Hinata asked. "Hanabi? She is s-strong for her age, but young. Neji is the s-strongest choice."

"So?" Naruto asked. "What's the problem? You don't want to be heir, right?"

"If it w-was that easy then I would n-never have been heir at all," Hinata said. "N-Neji would have t-taken my place when we were young. The C-Clan is divided over w-whether Neji is a g-good fit. He is strong but he is f-filled with anger at m-my father—"

"Yeah why is that?" Naruto interrupted. "You getting hitched has something to do with that doesn't it?"

Hinata twisted the fabric of her jacket in her hands. "W-when I was t-three years old, Hidden Cloud tried to k-kidnap me during peace negotiations. My father killed the man responsible. The Land of Lightning threatened to start the war again unless my father was executed."

Naruto bit his lip to keep from interrupting. Everyone knew that Hinata had almost been kidnapped. What did that have to do with Neji?

"My father and Neji's father were twins, born o-one minute apart," Hinata continued, voice beginning to waver. "S-so, it was determined t-that Cloud w-wouldn't be able to t-tell the difference between the two b-bodies. S-so Neji's father d-died in place of m-mine."

It was very quiet in the kitchen.

"I can see why he hates you," Naruto said quietly. "That's horrible."

"The clan elders thought—" Hinata said, then stopped. None of that really mattered.

"Yeah," Naruto said, because he could figure what they probably had thought.

"In truth, N-Neji-niisan and I agree on m-many things," Hinata said. "My f-father is c-cold to the Branch Families." And to me, Hinata didn't say, but Naruto knew it already anyway. "He has l-lost sight of what m-makes our clan powerful. Change m-must occur."

"But?"

"If Neji-niisan challenges m-me for the inheritance, the clan will be c-consumed by infighting," Hinata said. "The division b-between Main and Branch is w-what prevented these s-struggles for power, and I c-cannot let my family b-burn."

Naruto closed his eyes. That was a shitty reason. "This wouldn't be a problem if you didn't have the separation in the first place."

"It would be worse," Hinata said. "The Uchiha w-went through six succession crises b-before joining Konoha. H-half the lords in the Land of Fire k-killed their brothers to t-take the castles they sit in now. The Hyuuga have only had o-one such dispute."

Naruto opened his mouth to say something but closed it again. Maybe all the lessons with Danzo were doing something—he honestly didn't know enough to argue with Hinata about this. He couldn't believe she honestly believed what she was saying, that treating almost her entire family as second-place was somehow reasonable, but—

"Fine, whatever," Naruto bit out. "I— so what about us? Am I— are we breaking up?"

Hinata took a deep breath and let it out very slowly. "Clan heads traditionally have only one spouse, b-but may take multiple concubines," she said. "If you are amenable—"

"No," Naruto said instantly. What the fuck. "I'm not going to be your boytoy."

"That is n-not how concubinage works," Hinata said. "Especially not for a f-female heir. There are r-rules, b-but—"

"Hinata, if we're going to be dating, I want to date you and not be second place to some random guy your dad says you have to make babies with," Naruto snapped. "That's how you treated me when we started dating and that's what I want."

Hinata looked up at him with a frown. "You are still the m-most important person to me," she said. "The person I marry isn't the s-same person who has m-my heart. Can you n-not see that?"

Naruto took a breath and then closed his mouth again. He was silent for a full minute before speaking again: "I guess that's the difference between commoners and clan members. The person you marry should be the person who has your heart too, but I guess that isn't true when you're part of a clan."

"It isn't w-when you are not p-part of a clan, either," Hinata said quietly. "B-but if you can't s-see that, I guess I know w-what your answer is."

Naruto blinked and two tears fell into his ramen bowl. "Yeah."

Hinata stood and slid her chair back, then carefully pushed it back in. "I h-hope you enjoy your ramen, Naruto-kun."

Naruto swallowed and nodded. "Thanks. You— You better hurry home. S-see you around."

Hinata nodded. Silently, she turned and left Naruto's apartment.