::Hyuga Mansion::

Hiashi sighed softly as he walked from under the cherry blossom tree. With each step he took he felt his heavy heart weighing him down and it seemed as if it was enough to break his staff in two. As torn as he was inside for losing his Hanabi and on top of that forcing his nephew and daughter into an unwanted marriage, he had to keep his composure as a leader so no one would see weakness through him. Even in secret, all alone by himself, he knew he could never weep for the loss of his child nor the fact that he was tearing his eldest daughter away from everything she had always wanted. As strange as it was even he noticed the change in the frail little Hinata when she was around Naruto. Always happy, never stumbling over words, there was never any fear in her eyes when it came to him. But around everyone else she was timid and scared, almost frightened to say something and when she did she stuttered horribly over her words.

Before the Hyuga king realized it he was up at the door of Neji's room. He stood there a moment, hearing the scrambling of the young adult trying to put all of his things away after the ordeal he had to go through. Once the shuffling of feet came to a calmer paced he raised his mighty hand to knock upon the wood frame of the sliding door. "Neji, its Hiashi." He said in usual cold form. It took the boy inside no more than few minutes to rush towards his room and open the door for the man standing outside. He gave a slight bow, as he always had done, to the older male but Hiashi extended the edge of his staff towards Neji's chin to raise his head up and look at him. "You'll be part of the main house hold. You bow to no one, understood?" Hiashi said with a firm tone and in response the broken hearted Neji could nod his head up and down a little bit in understanding, "Yes, sir."

Hiashi, satisfied with the answer walked into the boy's room. Since birth, Hiashi never had stepped into Neji's room which was rather small to say the least. There was enough room for a small bamboo laid bed pilled with a few blankets for comfort. Beside it he had a small one foot table that had a ninja head band stand and the rest of the space was just pictures of either Hanabi and himself or pictures of him with Hinata when they were younger before he was branded with the mark that changed his status forever as a branch family member. There was then a small dresser which he assumed held all of Neji's clothing and ninja gear and located at the right of the room was a round table good for three. By the pillows settled at the side, he could see the knee prints of someone who probably came by a lot since Neji was already kneeling down at the edge of the table with a cup of hot tea prepared for each them. "Please, sit," the lad beckoned the older male. In compliance Hiashi took a seat on the untouched pillow besides Neji. It would be Hinata's place to take the area where her sister was perched when she came to visit Neji.

"Naruto came by a few minutes ago," Hiashi first started off. His hand extended towards his tea to pull the drink closer to his body on the table. His lavender eyes stared at the murky, steamy water while awaiting Neji's response yet, none came for a few seconds. When he turned his eyes, he could see the boy was lost in thought. "You should speak with him, make sure he understands why this needs to happen."

"He won't understand. He doesn't believe in tradition." The male replied quickly.

"Maybe coming from me he won't, coming from you might or coming from Hinata he surely will."

"Why do you even care about his feelings in this Lord Hiashi?" the boy sudden peeped up after the mention of Naruto. He remembered well just about ten years ago when it was that little knuckled headed blond that made him realize that he was no pawn to the Hyuga family, that he was something more than just fighting as a caged bird.

"Its not the question of why do I care about his feelings. Its the fact that he will be an extreme burden between Hinata and yourself after the marriage occurs or even during the marriage. You know how out of control that little monster is," the man replied in a firm tone.

"Don't speak of Naruto like that Lord Hiashi. You don't understand anything of what Naruto is. The only monster I see here is you," after he spoke with a defiant tone he was writhing in pain on the ground. Hiashi had used the brand upon the young male's head to enforce pain upon Neji. A simple reminder to let the boy know what his place was amongst the his people. He might have been marrying into the main branch family but as long as he lived he would forever remain a branch family member. In agony the lad screamed out in pain. It was the first time he had ever felt the torment of the branding seal. Hiashi stared at Neji rolling around like a dying worm being baked by the sun. There was no remorse in his eyes and even though Neji was brought to his weakest point he continued to insult the older male. "You that much of a coward? You think that a second branch family member could possibly bring you to your knees and your destruction?"

It was the last words that Neji was able to rambled for he really ticked off Hiashi and was put into an unconscious position. What niether of the two realized though was standing at the opened doorway was Hinata. Covering her body she had a simple blue silk kimino, tied with a white obi around her waist. Her hair, still wet, was braided down her back and her bangs parted to show the fear in her lavender colored eyes. Seeing her father rise from his seat, Hinata snapped out of her fear and jumped into defensive mode. A side that Hiashi hadn't seen from his daughter, ever. "What did you do to him!?" she yelled loudly.

"You're a woman, its none of your business."

That was one line Hiashi should have never crossed for Hinata pushed off the balls of her feet and dashed towards Hiashi with her palm extended outwards towards his stomach. Just before her piete hand could make contact with his abdomen though the hand of Hiashi grabbed tightly at the wrist of his daughter. "Do not forget your place either amongst this family. As long as I draw breath I rule this family," his voice said in a cold tone. But Hinata only smirked. Why? When looking down he could see why, his daughters other hand was just an inch from the side of his rib cage. She had caught him in a good blast and a deadly one.

"You are right father, as long as you draw breath you are the ruler of the clan but once your time has run out you are no longer in this clan. Sleep well father..." she stated and yanked her hand from his own. In minutes Hiashi knew he was going to be dead but in that last moment of his life he dropped his reserve as a ninja and revealed something no one ever saw. He smiled!

"Naruto was right about you," he stated as he took his seat at the table once again. He could feel the blast of chakra that his daughter had delivered taking effect now. His internal organs at his side was drowing in his eternal blood and his right lung was somewhat punctured from the blast also. Though choking on blood Hiashi tried to speak as he watched Hinata near Neji's side with her palms glowing a soft green color at the boys temple. The older male spoke again. "He stood up for you you know Hinata. I had my doubts about you but you-"

"Y-You were never my f-father. A-A father w-w-would never force h-his daughter to m-m-marry someone she did not love i-intimately. And never had you shown me the same love you showed my baby sister." At first Hinata stuttered over her words but her anger had made speaking to her father easier. "I loved Naruto, I always have. But I know my place in this clan and I do what I shall not for your sake but for the sake of my people and my village."

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Authors Note: Sorry I've been gone for a very long time! I didn't know how to continue this story but I do want to give a shout out to the three people who reviewed my story thus far: IheartHidan ; Sataro Miyaki; and Top-Kid. And a special thanks to all of you who have read this story. If you honestly hate it please tell me, I need feedback and I need reason if I should even continue this story anymore. It takes only one person to say they like it and I will keep the story going.