Ch9. Caught in the wire

"I'm sorry Naruto…"

"The seal, I couldn't fight it so…" Neji looks down in shame, hiding his face from Naruto, Hinata and Hana. Naruto looks at Neji then to Neji's right, is the Anbu with the dog mask.

"Why are you here? …Kiba…" Naruto's eyes narrow, piercing through Kiba but he stood strong.

"You…" Kiba growled. He clenched his teeth and glared at Naruto. Naruto looked to Neji's Left and took in the Hyuuga's face- he recognised it somewhere. He took a moment to take in the man's face and froze, paling when it clicked.

"…Father" Hinata murmurs. Hana stares at the three men, and takes her time studying the man she would call 'grandfather'. Sai had warned her about him.

'This man…' She thought.

'Wants to kill father…and mother' Hana frowned, her thin eyebrows creasing.

'… If he makes a move on either of them- I'll kill him' She promised herself.

"Hinata. Neji and Kiba have explained to me why you ran away from the village using a mission as cover, those years ago." Hinata winces, his cold tone, angry and laced with disappointment. Naruto's arm around her squeezes tighter. Hinata looks up at Naruto to see him staring the stoic Hyuuga in the eyes, not budging an inch.

"And?" Naruto's voice was impatient and gruffer than usual. Hinata could see he was preparing himself for an attack.

Kiba looked to Hana the young girl from before. He had to admit she was a strong kid, but, strong or not it was her and Naruto that would hurt Hinata the most. Kiba knew telling Hiashi would mean they would all be in danger but he felt that if he could protect Hinata from any further mistakes, he would do so. Hiashi looked at Hana.

"I take it that she is this 'Hana' I have heard about" Hiashi glares at Naruto. Hana glares daggers at him for referring to her in that way.

"She's my daughter, yes." Naruto nodded, trying to remain respectful, even though he wanted to beat Hiashi for talking that way to Hinata and Hana.

"And she is also my daughter, father" Hinata said. Naruto could see her shaking in fear. Her legs wobbling underneath her, barely capable of support. Hiashi simply glared at Hinata, piercing through her will. Hiashi closed his eyes and nodded, arms crossed.

"Very well. Seeing as Hinata has chosen to disobey the Hyuuga clan, I; as head of the clan have no choice" Hinata's eye's widened. Naruto glared at Hiashi.

"No! Father!-" Hinata's plea was cut short.

"Father?" Hiashi scoffed.

"You are no longer my daughter, you are from here onwards…" Naruto noticed Hinata wince at Hiashi's cruel words and hold her breath.

"Disowned!" Hiashi's eye's pierced right through Hinata, as though she didn't exist anymore. Naruto gritted his teeth, ashamed he couldn't protest to any of it. It was out of his hands, being an internal clan conflict he could do nothing. Hinata's eyes shook, tears welling up, threatening to fall. Hana gripped her mother's hand and looked at the ground. Naruto turned to Kiba, menace in his eyes. Kiba felt himself shrink and feel totally pathetic. Kiba didn't expect the consequences to be so severe. Neji stood in silence, though his eyes too were wide in shock. It was next to impossible for anyone to be disowned. Especially since anyone would do anything to prevent it. This was because when a branch member is disowned, the curse seal is removed, and by the seal being on the person so long it bonded with the person's very spirit. To be disowned by the Hyuuga clan- was to be sentenced to death. Hinata's legs buckled underneath her, as if she were swept over. Naruto felt his canine lengthen, but fought back to make it recede.

'Now is not the time to fight' He reminded himself.

"Hey! Hiashi!" Naruto grinned a little. The Hyuuga leader stared at him blankly, a somewhat annoyed face. As if he were bothered by Naruto's presence. Neji moved forward, but was stopped by Hiashi's arm. He glared at Hiashi, but a quick glance from him told him to stay out of it. Hiashi turned to the blonde ninja.

"What?" He spat.

"How about a fight?" Naruto smirked. Hinata looked up to Naruto's face silhouetted by the moons rays. Hana stared at Hiashi, gauging his reaction. He hadn't moved or reacted at all but Hana could tell Hiashi's blood had to be pumping at the offer.

"And what would the terms of the fight be?" Hiashi's right eyebrow twitched.

"Simple:" Naruto stated. His grin taking full form, canine teeth exposed.

"If I win, Hinata doesn't get disowned and you allow me to make changes to the Hyuuga clan and, at the next meeting, you announce you want to allow the Hokage to make changes to clans whenever sought fit."

"And should you lose?" Hiashi frowned.

"I won't stop you from doing whatever it is you clans do." Hiashi's frown deepened.

"And?" Naruto's eyes gleamed. He would offer something he knew Hiashi would never refuse.

"I'll resign as Hokage." Hinata's, Neji's, Kiba's and Hana's eyes all widened. Hiashi smirked. It surely was, a deal he couldn't refuse.

"Very well, you have yourself a deal."

"Remember, you have to win before I resign" Naruto smirked, a gleam of danger in his eyes.

"And you should remember to not get too cocky"

"Two days from now, then? Let's say… Midday?" Naruto suggested, not once taking his eyes off the man. Hiashi nodded.

"Midday it is."

And with that, Hiashi left, Neji bowing, apologies written all over his face. He too left, after Hiashi. Kiba stayed a moment longer, he wanted to apologise but as he reached out to offer a hand to Hinata he was met with a glare from Hana and Naruto, as the two helped Hinata back onto her feet. She leaned on Naruto for support and not once looked back or met Kiba's eyes. Kiba, feeling down left as the rain began to slowly pour down.

Author's Note:

Ohhh, how will the fight go, hm?
Only time will tell! So, please
stay tuned and-

Please R&R!