IV. Causation
She was requested- not by name but by qualities- by the client.
She was gruffly offered alternative options by Hokage-sama.
Kurenai-sensei's gaze held experience, bitterness, fierce love and wordless refusal.
She was flatly discouraged by her father; Hanabi had burned a wretched gaze into the bedroom wall as Hinata related in brief to her sister what she was to be prepared for.
She accepted the mission.
It was only after Neji, newly ANBU and informed by the Godaime of his part in the mission, slid into her quarters past midnight and awakened her with the unmistakable flare of chakra, that she faltered.
His first words to her were low and cold. "The clan would never allow it." A deft twist of head followed, as though the painted porcelain mask was not enough to shield his face. Hinata swept her pale gaze across the sleek wooden floor, dragging a worn wrist over her hair. Her fingers were stark and white in the silver slant of moonlight.
"You'd be violated. Killed like an animal. "
The next words were spoken without expression; she felt his tight gaze upon her. Her fingers shook for an instant as she combed out her hair, still carefully escaping her cousin's masked eyes.
"Those are the possibilities you face," he finished.
"There are many such possibilities." Her fingers had stilled, leaving the warmth of her hair. "We are shinobi."
She cast her gaze at his long-fingered hands, gloved and taut at his sides as she spoke, gently. "They are not uncommon, these missions. Tsunade-sama has honour enough to consider with care before she accepts any-"
"Honour," Neji countered, dispassionate, hands clenched, "is what you might not have left after this." His voice hardened. "The Clan will not have a defiled heiress. They do not deserve that."
The words were bitter, irony-laced, and hollow. They were both keenly aware of the clear invitation Neji had made for Hinata to counter, to dredge up all possible malice, to hate.
Hinata moved towards Neji, bare feet silent against the floor, stopping in front of his black-clad form. Her fingers were upon the edges of the ANBU mask before Neji had blinked, and glittering white eyes met, before she slid the porcelain away from his face. She offered a small, pained smile which still managed to reach her eyes.
"We are shinobi of the Leaf, before anything else," Hinata's words were quiet. "We will go, Neji-nii. The Clan owes Konoha."
She gently pressed the mask into his suddenly numb hands, and stepped past him.
"The Clan owes you your chance," she said, his back to her, and slips away from him.
They went. Hinata pliant and trusting because of Neji; Neji, vicious and efficient, because of Hinata.
They returned, broken and triumphant, because they were Hyuuga, and shinobi of Konoha.