Chapter IV - Reasons
Naruto slammed Tsunade's office door, entered the room, followed by the gang.
"Granny Tsunade. You must summon Hiashi-sama. Now!"
"What for?" – asked the Hokage lazily.
"Because he wants to marry Hinata and Neji! And they don't want this marriage!"
"Naruto, you know I can't interfere in clan's business, especially a traditional one like the Hyuga".
"Tsunade-sama, I'm afraid that you should ask him about Neji's wounds. As far as we know, they were caused by Neji's refusal in the matter". – Lee was trying to convince the Hokage.
"You mean the cursed seal activation? Neji refused the marriage proposal and got tortured?"
"Yup. One thing is to arrange marriage, another is to force marriage"- Kiba said.
"Besides, Neji and Hinata are respected ninjas of Konoha Gakure. They suffered wounds, and torture inside the village's walls. That is something of your concern, Hokage-sama." – Shikamaru slowly told the Godaime. He knew he was stepping in dangerous subject. He was sooo right:
"ARE YOU KIDS TELLING ME THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BE A HOKAGE?" – Really dangerous subject. Godaime's force was legendary. All the chunnin and Naruto flinched at her murderous face.
"That's not it, Godaime. But since we hardly could get the information from Hinata, we thought that it would be important for you to know what is happening in the Hyuga compound". – Shino spoke.
"Hum…."
"Granny Tsunade, what they are doing is wrong. They can't force people like this. Please, do something." – Naruto was begging. Tsunade had known Naruto since he was twelve, she knew he was very hurt with his friends' situation.
"Listen. I can't dissuade Hiashi if he has decided about their marriage, but I'll try my best to at least delay the wedding. I will surely demand some information about Neji's torture, this is my concern as a Hokage"
Outside Tsunade's office, Kiba was still felling uneasy.
"Guys, I think she won't be able to convince Hinata's old man"
"Why? Of course she will! She is the Hokage! Hiashi-sama will listen to her!"- Naruto seemed hopeful about the situation. He had always believed in the power of the Hokage.
"Naruto, Tsunade was very clear about merging into clan's rules. I agree with Kiba" – Sai argued. Naruto immediately grabbed him by the collar. Shino, calmly made Naruto loose his grab and put Sai in the floor again.
"So, that means we must have a plan B" – Chouji suggested.
"What kind of plan? I have no idea how we could solve this problem!" – Sakura said. And, somehow everybody stared at Shikamaru, who was half asleep in a nearby bench.
"Eeee….what? That's troublesome…."
"Shika, you're a genius! Think in a plan B" – Kiba said his friend, with his eyes shinnying in anticipation.
"….what a pain…..Look, if the Tsunade can't convince Hiashi, there won't be much options…."
"But there is always an option!" – Lee was full of hope, one of the powers of youth was believe in a sparkling new day!
"No. To be safe there are two options. The best one is run away form Konoha". – Shikamaru said with his eyes still closed.
"Out of question. I know Neji, he would never run away! Even in the worst parts of his life, he struggled until the end" – Lee really knew Neji's character.
"The same for Hinata" – said Shino.
"I don't think so Shino. Depending of the conditions, Hinata may accept the run away suggestion"- Kiba told, a little doubtful.
"She wouldn't. She knows her role as heir of the Hyuga House. That is why she is always trying her best to be strong"- Shino could say that since he was also a heir to his clan.
"So, leaves us only option two, which is…." – Naruto was expecting Shikamaru to answer him, but Sai spoke first:
"You are really clueless!"
"Idiot! I'm not talking to you!"
"Hey, you two! Shut up!"- Sakura hitted their heads.
"Option two is out. Besides, they already tried and we all won't agree with that."- Shikamaru finally said.
"I don't get! What is the option two?" – Naruto looked puzzled to the other chunnin.
"Give up from their lives." – Chouji told.
Naruto could finally understand that the situation had come to a dead end, either they convinced Hiashi (which would be hard task) or Hinata and Neji would be husband and wife in two weeks.
"Man, I feel so weak, so helpless…" – Naruto had a rare sadness in his face.
"It's just like when Sasuke decided to follow Orochimaru…I felt this way too" – Sakura was staring at the night sky, clearly remembering her attempt to convince her friend and love to remain in Konoha.
"No, Sakura-chan. This time is different."
"What do you mean, Naruto?" – The pink haired ninja looked to her friend, trying to decipher his face.
"Sasuke always had a choice. We tried to bring him back, twice, and he has always refused by his own selfish and stupid reasons. But, nevertheless, the choice was always his. Hinata and Neji were never given the right to choose. That is why I can't accept this." – Sakura, watching her friend, realized how much he had grown into those three years! Not only her, but the others also.
Naruto sounded like a Hokage already….
The gang (except for Tenten and Ino, which remained in the hospital) was summoned by Tsunade around ten in the following day's morning.
When they arrived at her office, Hyuga Hiashi was sat in a chair across the Hokage. He politely nodded to the youngsters. The kids found seats in the office or stayed up, and then Tsunade told them:
"I summoned you here because I whish that you hear from Hiashi-kun himself the reasons for your friends marriage." – that was so strange to hear the suffix "kun" for Hiashi, but none of them knew that Hiashi was one of Tsunade's brother friends in his childhood.
She knew the Hyuga leader, and his twin brother, for a very long time; they and her little brother adored to play tricks on her. Hizashi was especially mischievous, Hiashi used to behave more (their father, old man Hideo, used to be really strict to his older son).
"First, I would like to show my appreciation for all of you for the friendship displayed towards my daughter and my nephew. This is very important to them and to me as well"
Naruto made a small disbelief sound and was discretely punched in the stomach by Sakura.
"Second, I deeply apologize for the suffering inflicted to my nephew. I never wanted the things to end that way. When I summoned them for the reunion with the council I expected their denial to the marriage, but I was sure that we could achieve an understanding"
"You deserve to hear my reasons. Take your conclusions after, please. You are all chunnin like my daughter so you are aware of the danger that lurks in Konoha and its inhabitants. As a clan leader I must seek the welfare of my people, I must act for their protection and care. A leader has to consider all the possibilities including his own death, and how could his lineage persevere".
"Hinata is my successor. But she is not ready, not yet. You know her far better than I do and you know that she has a withdraw nature, she looks up for peace, is innocent. Even though she is a strong shinobi – and yes, I recognize her as good shinobi – she might fail as a leader, since she is not familiarized with politics."
"You are wrong. Hinata is very smart, she knows when is being deceived and when to trust people!" – Kiba suddenly rose from his chair.
"Inuzuka Kiba! Shut up and listen!" – The Godaime ordered and the boy calmed down.
"ahem. What I was trying to say is that she might be manipulated by the elders of Hyuga. Her good nature would break with their demands and, for some of them, she would not be capable to say no".
"Neji is her opposite. He fights. He does not accept things as they are. Ever since his father died he has always fought against the Main House. His hatred of the past years was always discounted in a member of the Main House during the Juuken training sessions. This member was usually Hinata."
Lee moved in his place, looking threatening towards the Hyuga leader. If Hiashi noticed, we don't know, but continued this explanation of reasons.
"His anger was a clear sign of unacceptance. When he finally understood the reason for his father sacrifice, I took him under my wings, to train him, to observe him. Neji is the most gifted Hyuga alive. But his power is not what made me choose him for Hinata's husband, the reason were his eyes. He can see people's hearts, he can distinguish true from lie. He would never be manipulated by anyone. I choose him to be Hinata's guide in her role as leader, someone she can trust inside the clan."
"These are all good reasons, Hiashi-sama, but they don't explain why marry them. Neji could play this role being Hinata's counselor or tutor" – and this one came from Sai, and everybody stared the ninja, but he remained looking to the Hyuga leader.
"True. He will be her counselor, and protector. For it marriage is not necessary, true. But as I said, a leader has to preserve his lineage. The marriage is for this purpose also. Hinata is heir to the Main House, Neji is the most gifted Hyuga, their offspring would be pure Hyuga blood and talent!" – with this statement the white eyes of Hiashi shinned!
"So, they are getting married just to have babies? THAT IS STUPID!" – Naruto yelled.
"Uzumaki Naruto, my daughters Hinata and Hanabi are responsible to continue Hyuga's lineage"
"Yeah, but for this they can choose who they want to marry! You don't have to pick husbands for them!"
"This is true for Hanabi, since she is the second one. But Hinata has to marry someone with pure Hyuga blood. She knows this since her childhood. And, believe me, as her father the only pure Hyuga blood that I would thrust my daughter and my clan is Neji. I could not afford to see she married with no one else in the Main Family."
Silence reigned in the Godaime's office.
"To convince the council to accept Neji as her fiancée was a hard task, since he is from Branch House, and in the past he showed no respect for the heiress life. I managed to make them understand my reasons. I hope you all understand too. I'm not asking for your endorsement in this matter, that would be asking too much. What I expect form you is to support them, in order to make these changes smother." – this was sounding more like a supplication.
All the young ninjas were diverting their eyesight from the man, like trying to avoid an answer. He had reasons. Good reasons. That couldn't be denied.
"I … get your point….but it is not easy for us….y'know. We ..I can't accept that one's life can be ruled by anything else than one's will. We must have the right to choose our paths…that's what I think….my ninja way…."
"Young man, remember this: no man is really free, freedom itself is a prison. The world we live in asks for certain kinds of behaviors, manners, politics. The true freedom comes when you are able to live your life happily without being bothered by those rules, and without ignore them."
"Naruto…" – Sakura placed one of her hands on her friend's shoulders and with the other she caressed his blond hair. Naruto seemed disappointed, but he understood rule number one to be a Hokage: politics.
"One other thing." – said the Hyuga head as he was moving towards the office door- "Being Hinata's husband is a safe condition for Neji, he'll be in a hybrid position in the Hyuga, neither Branch nor Main House".
Ino was sound asleep in her chair beside Hinata's bed. The Hyuga girl heard from the blond ninja that their friends would do a petition against her marriage. She knew her dad, he would never give up.
Activating her byakugan, she spotted the hospital room of her cousin. She could see Tenten talking to him and after leaving the room. Even though she was not a very good lip reader, she picked something about "get food". That would probably take the weapon mistress some minutes away from Neji.
Trying not to awake Ino, Hinata stepped out of the room and rushed trough the corridors towards her cousin. When she found the room, activated again her bloodline limit to be sure that Tenten wasn't inside or near. And suddenly, someone called her, from inside the room:
"Hinata-sama. I know you are here. Come inside or leave"
Opening the door slowly, she entered the room, finding her cousin resting in his bed.
"What do you want?'
"A-a-a-..do you know t-t-that N-N-Naruto-kun and the others w-w-w-went to talk with f-f-father a-a-about the marriage, nii-san?" – she asked, completely frightened with his possible reaction.
"Yeah. I was watching the meeting from here." – she was surprised to hear that his byakugan could reach such distance!
"So…w-w-what's the o-o-o-outcome?"
"He accepted and promised you would marry Naruto." – he said ironically, but Hinata could feel her cheeks get red….
"W-w-w-w-what….?"
"Of course he hasn't changed his mind, dumb!" – he was nervous!- "And who told them about it in the first place?"
"I-I-I told…t-t-t-they w-w-w-were concerned about your c-c-condition….Hokage demanded to k-k-know….I'm sorry, nii-san. I screwed up again…"
"sigh. Not your fault. This couldn't be helped anyway".
"Listen, nii-san, I will try my best t-t-to be a g-g-good w-w-wife f-f-for you. I-I-I won't screw t-t-things a-a-again".
"Cut the cheap talk. I can't stand this!"
"No. E-e-e-even if y-y-y-you don't a-a-agree, it's a p-p-p-promise. My ninja way"