A/N: More Hyuuga scenes.

I have to warn you all: I originally planned out this part of the story way before May of last year, and as such I've decided to keep in the original scenes I'd written for it. This chapter contains scenes that are very close to the actual protests that happened last summer in the USA. I apologize if that makes you uncomfortable to read; I encourage you to skip if you need to.

I am in no way trying to make light of or mock those protests in any way, nor am I trying to send a 'message' about the Black Lives Matter movement. I'm merely showcasing some of the issues that deep-seated social/economical discrimination and superiority complexes can have on not only shinobi clans, but on civilians too.

Also, I apologize for the weirdness of FF. I have no idea why the update date doesn't change sometimes. Maybe I'm just old.


"Have you all considered what we've been speaking of?" Hiashi questioned as the council met that night. "Whatever we decide to do, we must decide soon. The people are growing more and more restless."

"I, for one, am in favor of speaking to the rebels," one of the younger elders commented.

"It wouldn't be so bad of an idea to gain more allies," another thoughtfully added. "The people are so angry that they would side with anything."

"But therein is the problem: the people would side with anything," yet another argued, stroking his beard. "Given the wrong influence, we could just as easily find ourselves with a mob on our hands anyway."

"We can't give up!" The first elder insisted. "We hardly have any support in the city as it is. The people are beginning to see us as a joke!"

"Elder Daichi has a good point," Neji spoke up. "No matter what we do, every action will be scrutinized. In such a time of political strife, would it not be wiser in the long run to side with the rebels? As the saying goes, the enemy of an enemy is a friend."

This didn't seem to particularly sway the council. Murmurings rose among them, and a good portion still looked unconvinced.

Hanabi leaned over to her cousin and whispered, "They aren't buying it."

"We need more to convince them," he replied with a contemplative frown. "But what would the smoking gun be?"

"It's not as if the Uchiha have killed one of our own yet," she observed with a sigh. "That would surely be enough. Especially for father."

Hiashi glanced their way and seemed to recall something. "Neji, you're still in contact with a link, are you not?"

"Yes, Uncle." He straightened his posture. "Our link is ready to engage at all times."

"Good work. Let them know that the council is still deliberating."

"Yes, Uncle." Neji nodded.


The two walked to Neji's home that night, downtrodden and frustrated.

"I just don't get it!" Hanabi was exclaiming, throwing her arms up. "We've given them every piece of evidence we can find so far, and they still won't agree?"

"We need to be patient," he replied just as tersely, heaving a sigh. "I know they are older, and many of them have been alive since the civil war ended, but that doesn't excuse being stuck in their ways in the middle of yet another civil crisis. This time, more than just innocent clan lives are at stake."

Hanabi huffed, clutching his arm.

As they passed by the square, they could see a demonstration taking place. Three people knelt before a crowd of kneeling people, and they were shouting phrases from a cardboard sign on the ground before them.

"MOTHER!" The leaders cried, and the protestors echoed it. "I CAN SEE YOU, MOTHER!"

"I'M COMING, MOTHER! WAIT FOR ME!"

Hanabi glanced their way sadly, and as her fingers tightened on Neji's arm, he raised it to huddle her closer.

"I wonder what Hinata-nee-san thought as she died," she softly commented, turning away with teary eyes. "I wonder what she saw. I wonder…"

"Stop that," he chastised gently. "Hinata would not want you to continue to weep over her like this. She would want you to chase your happiness."

"But it's hard," she whimpered, brushing her tears away with her knuckles. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about her final moments. Who did she think of as she died? Did she hate Father for abandoning her? Did she miss us? Did she… did she see Mother?"

Neji sucked in a breath.

"Did she hate me?" He wondered, sparing a glance to the castle standing tall in the distance. "Did she wish I'd objected harder to her engagement? Did she wish I'd come to see her more often?"

"MOTHER, PLEASE WAIT!"

He closed his eyes, trying to will away his own rising emotion as he led his cousin away from the demonstration.


A/N: Please tell me what you thought.