CHAPTER 5
"Sir, all floors above ground had been searched thoroughly and was all found empty, as well as the two first sub floors. Team four had managed to locate the entrance to the 3rd and 4th sub basement and are now searching through them. So far, we encountered four ROOT ANBU and received only minimum damage before thwarting their ambushes." The ANBU lieutenant said to his white cloaked ANBU commander.
The commander nodded and asked, "Have there been any traces of Danzou?"
"None, sir. It seems they've already made plans to escape in case things don't go as planned. We're still trying to figure out how they managed to get all their forces out without us noticing."
Suddenly, their radio turned up and an urgent voice said loudly, "THIS IS SQUAD FIVE REQUESTING IMMEDIATE BACK UP AT THE FOURTH SUB BASEMENT! I REPEAT, SQUAD FIVE REQUESTING IMMEDIATE BACK UP! IT'S A WARZONE DOWN HERE!"
Acting immediately, both the commander and his lieutenant dashed towards the stairs heading for the sub basement. Once they got to the fifth level, they saw seven of their ANBU, three of which are from squad five while the rest are from squad four, fending off an entire room of black and white-colored animals, like tigers, eagles, dogs, lions, etc, attacking them. Not wasting any time, the commander drew his katana from his back and slashed an incoming lion, which burst into ink a second later.
Analyzing the scene, he noticed that some of the ink summon animals are converge on one spot at the other side of the room. That must be where the one controlling these things is. He also saw that three of his own ANBU have been pulled out from the fight by his lieutenant due to injuries. Turning back to his subordinates, he started making hand signs while he yelled, "Everyone, get back in my mark." Finishing the last seal, he then shouted, "Now!" before placing his palms on the floor.
As soon as the other ANBU leaped back, small wooden vines burst out of the ground impaling more than half of the creatures and turning them to ink. After that, the commander charged the spot where he thought the summoner is while his men charge at the remaining ink animals.
Slashing any animal that got in his way, the commander swing his katana with intent to kill the summoner immediately, only to stop his sword when he finally got a good look at the ink summoner.
"A child?" he asked in disbelief seeing a raven-haired boy, maybe ten or so in age, standing in front of an unconscious wounded ROOT ANBU, with a scroll and ink brush in his hands.
The boy didn't even bat an eye at the blade mere half an inch from his neck. He merely gave the ANBU commander a blank stare. There was no emotion in the boy's eyes as far as the commander could see.
Thinking quickly, the commander slashed the scroll the boy was holding, unsummoning all the ink animals from the room. The boy's stare never wavered.
While the other ANBU went to see the condition of their fellow members, which got caught in the ink summoner's ambush, the commander studied the boy more carefully. There were no visible weapons on the boy except for that scroll that got slashed in two so he wasn't a threat anymore.
In all his life, never had he seen any child with total lack of emotion on their eyes. Is this what ROOT ANBU doing to their members, taking away all their emotions to be the perfect shinobi tools? Is this what Danzo was aiming for?
Shoving the thoughts of the emotionless boy aside for a moment, he started walking towards the wounded ROOT ANBU to examine him when the young boy suddenly stepped in front of commander, using himself as a shield for the wounded ROOT ANBU, the tiniest hint of anger now visible on the child's eyes.
The commander actually gave an internal sigh of relief seeing that the boy wasn't totally emotionless. "What is your name and why are you protecting him?"
"He is my older brother." The boy said in an emotionless flat tone. "And my name is Sai, a cadet in Danzo-sama's ROOT ANBU."
"Are those ink summons yours?"
"Hai."
"Were you ordered to stay behind?"
"No."
"I'm glad." The commander said before kneeling in front of the emotionless boy. "My name is Tenzou, ANBU commander. On my honor, I will make sure no harm comes to you or your brother if both of you cooperate with us."
For several moments, Sai merely stared at the masked commander. Then, finally, he nodded and stepped aside, allowing Tenzou to examine the unconscious ROOT ANBU. Finding a kunai wound on the unconscious man, he quickly performed some minor medical jutsu on the man before ordering his men, "Squad five, search the area for any more hostile. Squad four, tend to the injured. Lieutenant, come with me. We are taking the boy and his brother to the hospital."
"Hai." The lieutenant said carrying the injured man on his back while the commander picked up the boy Sai gently in his arms. Together, the teleported to the hospital.
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KUMOGAKURE PRISON
Iruka sighed for the nth time as he gently stroked the hair of his adopted daughter, Nii Yugito sleeping with her head on his lap. It has been a few hours since the Raikage's personal Jounin squad suddenly barged into Kumo Civilian school and arrested him right during class. When he asked why he was being arrested, the Jounins stated that he was suspected of conspiring against the Raikage, which was totally ridiculous because the Raikage is his personal friend, and would never think of going against him.
When he was brought to the prison, he was quite surprised when he found Yugito already there. She said she was arrested as well for being part of some conspiracy. Imagine how tense the entire prison was when the mild manner civilian teacher let out a killing intent that almost suffocated the entire prison. It was the mere fact that even Yugito was being affected that he stopped and merely went inside the cell with the young genin.
Iruka sighed once more. He rarely have a relapse to his old self ever since the end of the civil war, particularly after he adopted the young blond haired girl. She was the reason why he decided to stay in Kumo despite regaining his lost memory. Besides, it's not like he have anything else to come back to where he originally came from.
His silent musing was interrupted when he felt a familiar chakra approaching. Looking out the cell doors, he saw the one person he had been itching to talk to ever since he was taken here.
"Akira-sama. I hope you got a pretty good explanation for this." Iruka said in a hard tone.
The forty years old man in Kage robes with the symbol of lightning gave a sigh as he open the cell door and went inside taking a seat in a stool in front of Iruka and the sleeping girl.
"Iruka-san, please believe me when I say that all of this had been necessary." He said, taking out a small scroll from his robes and giving it to the other man.
Iruka immediately recognized the Konoha codes used in the message. But the contents of the message are what made Iruka gasped. Not only is it an order from the Hokage but his participation was requested by Kazama Akane herself.
"As you can see, the message has been sent to me first so as Raikage, I would act in your behalf if you refuse to carry out such an order. What the Leaf doesn't know is that this kidnapping is much deeper than they know."
"What do you mean, Akira-sama?"
"Iruka-san, for the past few months, the Council of Kumo had been making secret deals with Danzou and his ROOT. He is offering something that Kumo had been trying to gain for the past several decades but couldn't quite get."
Iruka gasped. "You don't mean. . ."
"Yes. Danzou is offering the Byakugan, by means of both heiress of the Hyuuga Clan. Even as the Raikage, I can't go against all of Kumo. The Kyuubi vessel is a mere bonus compared to that particular kekkai genkai."
Silence came after that tidbit of information. Both men knew how dire the situation actually is. Then, after several minutes of silent contemplation, Iruka finally asked, "What do you want me to do, Akira-sama?"
The Raikage gave the younger man a sad smile before taking out a small scroll from his robes and giving it to the stunned man.
Iruka gasped. He recognized the scroll immediately, considering it was Iruka who gave that scroll to the Raikage as a vow of loyalty to a friend, as well as the leader of his new home.
"Iruka-san, no, Konoha ANBU code name Dolphin, please heed one last order from me."
Iruka took the scroll in his hand and gave the Raikage his entire attention.
"Please put on your mask once more, heed the Hokage's request, prevent Kumo from gaining the Byakugan, and please take Nii Yugito with you back to Konohagakure no Sato." The Raikage then dropped to his knees and bowed his head in front of the stunned Iruka. "I ask all this not only asa kage that is too weak to reign on his people, but also as a father to a daughter he left behind."
Iruka was shocked. He had heard the rumors about the Raikage being Yugito's biological father but never heed it much. Now the confirmation comes from the said father himself.
He was save from answering immediately when Yugito stirred and opened her eyes. "Outo-san, what's going on? Raikage-sama, what are you doing here? What happened?"
For a moment both men were silent. Then, finally, Iruka turned to her, gave her a smile, and asked, "Yugito-chan, how would you like to move to Konoha with me?"
"Um, why? Don't get me wrong. Even if I never did consider Cloud my home, why there?"
"Because, to tell you the truth, there's something there I need to confirm, if only to give me closure. Besides, I'm quite sure you'll like it there."
It took exactly five seconds for Yugito to make a decision and ask, "When do we leave?"
"As soon as I tie up some loose ends." Iruka said, opening the storage scroll and activating it.
Yugito gasped when a very familiar white dolphin ANBU mask and light gray cloak appeared. The first time she saw it was when she the wearer of said items saved her and gave her a first glance of happiness throughout her entire life. For the nth time this past three years, she was extremely grateful for meeting her adoptive father.
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HOKAGE TOWER
"So, Danzo escaped through a secret tunnel system under the ROOT Headquarters. This does not bode well." The Sandaime said as he leaned back tiredly on his chair after Tenzou finished his report.
"Hai, Hokage-sama. We tried following through the tunnel but we found it collapsed half way. Having most of the Hyuuga ANBU track it, we found the exit a couple of miles outside of Konoha near Route 33-C. We concluded that Danzo had taken his entire army with him to Kumo, leaving behind at least fifteen men as suicide bombers to cover his tracks. They would have blown up the entire building if my men didn't apprehend most of them on time."
"I see. What do you think of the young boy you found? What was his name again?"
"Sai, sir. No last names. He was one of the twenty cadets ranging from four to eleven years old being trained in secret as the perfect shinobi, by means of taking away their emotion or conditioning them as perfect decoys, at least that was what I've concluded from our investigations." The ANBU commander said, his voice clearly indicating his disgust of Danzou's methods of training children. "The young Sai managed to sneak away when he heard his older brother was to be left behind. According to the reports, one of my men managed to wound his older brother. Said brother was just about to perform a kamikaze run when Sai himself knocked his own brother out. Before he could escape with his brother, they were cornered by squad five and he was forced to retaliate by summoning ink animals. Sai is currently in the hospital watching over his brother along with squad three."
"I'm glad he wasn't completely turned by Danzou's methods. But still, why would he go to Kumo knowing Konoha have a secret alliance with its current Raikage ever since Kumo's civil war? What does he have to offer for safe passage through Kumo?" The Sandaime asked mostly to himself. Then, a thought hit him. 'No way! Danzou wouldn't do such a despicable act! But still, it's the most likely thing Danzou could offer to ensure his place in Kumo.'
Tenzou almost took a step back from the sudden flare of anger in the Hokage's eyes. He gulped when the old man turned to him and said, "Tenzou, bring me Hyuuga Hiashi immediately. Make sure no one else but him see you."
Before the commander could answer, both he and the Hokage felt a familiar chakra approaching. Seconds later, the door to the office opened and in came Hyuuga Hiashi himself dragging an emotionless Hinata by her shoulder followed closely by his nephew Neji, who was carrying an unconscious Hanabi in his arms.
"Forgive our intrusions, Hokage-sama, but this is a matter of great importance." Hiashi said, barely concealing the rage he was feeling right at the moment.
Looking at the rage of both the Hyuuga Clan head and the young Neji, then to the emotionless face of the Hyuuga heiress, the Sandaime own anger boiled at the true culprit, Danzou. "I think I know exactly what has happened. But please enlighten me nonetheless." The old man said.
"This child is an impostor. My daughters are missing and this child won't tell me where they were taken." Hiashi said in a tight voice, his hold on the impostor's shoulder tightening, earning an almost silent pained gasped from the child.
The Sandaime raised his hands, silently telling the Hyuuga Clan Head to stop hurting the ROOT agent, which Hiashi reluctantly obeyed. Despite who she is, she is still a child.
"I believe you, Hiashi. But still, can you tell me what brought you to this conclusion?" The Sandaime asked.
"Hiashi-sama, if I may?" Neji asked. When his uncle nodded his head, Neji turned to the Hokage and said, "I first noticed something strange about this girl two days ago, when she didn't came to the kitchen to get her regular cup of decaf coffee. At first I thought she merely skip a night but when I confronted her the next day she said she merely forgot about it. Also, during our spar, she had hit me, actually shutting off one of my main tenketsu points. The real Hinata-sama would have panic at hurting me that way but this girl didn't even bat an eye. Then, this morning, I made a thorough scan on her with my Byakugan and saw some abnormalities in her Byakugan. Hanabi-sama was in the way so I accidentally made a scan of her as well. Although Hanabi doesn't have any abnormalities in her Byakugan, several parts of her skin, particularly on her face, show some alterations. That's when I told Hiashi-sama about my suspicions and my uncle confirmed it. Both heiress of the Main House have been replaced with doubles."
The Sandaime saw that the Hinata look-a-like already seems resigned to her fate, like a condemned man merely waiting his execution. "What is your name, child?" The Sandaime asked softly.
"My name is Hinata, Hokage-sama." The girl said in almost a whisper. No emotion but resignation in her voice.
"Shut up!" Neji shouted in rage. "You're just an impostor! You're not Hinata!"
"Actually, she is. Or rather, that she had been called Hinata ever since she was brought to ROOT HQ. I don't think she even knows what her real name is anymore." Came a young voice from behind them.
Turning around, everyone saw the ANBU Lieutenant walking through the door with the young Sai beside him.
"What do you mean, Sai?" Tenzou asked the young boy who spoke a minute ago.
"This girl, Hinata, had been brought to ROOT due to her physical similarities with Hyuuga Hinata. She was trained to be Hyuuga Hinata for this one purpose." Sai said in the same flat tone before turning to the unconscious Hanabi on Neji's arms.
The Sandaime didn't failed to notice the first genuine sign of fear from the Hinata look-a-like when everybody's eyes turned to the unconscious little girl.
"This one, on the other hand, had been conditioned to believe she is the real Hyuuga Hanabi." Sai said.
The Hyuuga men were about to retort when the Sandaime said to Sai, "Please explain further, child."
"Hanabi is a Hyuuga, just not Hyuuga Hanabi. It was said that her mother has been a chunin that went MIA a couple of years ago. But according to rumors within ROOT, her death was staged by orders of Danzou-sama for the purpose of breeding children with Byakugans to offer to Kumo. I have no information on why she wasn't offered to Kumo instead of being used as a decoy." Sai finished, his voice flat throughout his entire explanation.
"It is because Hanabi-chan never developed the Byakugan, despite her pupil-less white eyes." Came the soft voice of the Hinata look-a-like, earning the attention of everyone in the room. She turned to Hanabi for a moment before turning back to most of the people in the room before continuing, "She had been living under a genjutsu most of her life, making her believe she was living Hyuuga Hanabi's everyday life. She unknowingly had a few facial surgeries to make sure she looks exactly like Hyuuga Hanabi."
"So what are you saying exactly?" The Sandaime asked.
"That Hanabi-chan is an innocent, despite her role on all of this." She then turned towards the Sandaime and kneeled before the old leader before saying, "Hokage-sama, I implore you, please spare her. She is a mere child caught in a conspiracy out of her control. She is innocent."
For a moment, every one in the room went silent to digest this latest information, the Hyuuga men in particular, who gave a glanced at the Hanabi look-a-like with a much softer look compared to earlier.
"I see. Then tell me, why just ask for her and not include yourself as well?" The Sandaime asked Hinata.
"To ask for myself would be mood point, considering I wouldn't last the next month."
"Explain." The Sandaime ordered.
"Unlike Hanabi-chan, I was not born a Hyuuga. These eyes of mine have been implanted a month ago by order of Danzou-sama. The eyes are incompatible to my body and would inevitably cause my death in a month's time."
There was almost a visible drop of temperature in the entire room. All the males present felt a cold fury bursting out of them for the one person responsible for this incident.
"Lieutenant, please escort Hinata-chan, Hanabi-chan, and Neji-kun outside for a moment. After that please take Sai back to the hospital to watch his brother. I would like to talk to him tommorow afternoon." The Sandaime said, trying to conceal his anger.
The lieutenant nodded and escorted thefour children out of the office before closing the door behind him. As soon as they were gone, Hiashi turned to the old man and said with a barely contained rage, "Hokage-sama, permission to join the rescue team as well as to take out Danzou and his ROOT."
"Denied. We wouldn't be able to catch up to him before he reached the boarder. I couldn't risk Konoha going to war with Kumo at the moment, especially now that there seems to be a political power struggle in Lightning country. Our first priority is to rescue both the Kazama and Hyuuga heirs. I already have one agent in Kumo and another on his way, one which has no tie to Konoha at the moment."
"Who are these agents, Hoakage-sama?" Hiashi asked, having his doubts that a mere two people would be able to go through Danzou's ROOT ANBU to rescue the kidnapped children.
"Dolphin and Weasel."
Hiashi almost gasped. Both of those men were well known ex-ANBU. One was known as the hero of Kumo's civil war. The other a prodigy of the highest caliber with a dark past. Both are powerful shinobi of Konoha. Dolphin would make sure the children would get rescued while Weasel would make sure to eliminate anyone that gets in Dolhin's way. Sincew both men are not officially members of Konoha, the Hokage could easilly deny any action they take outside the country.
It was just then that Hiashi finally noticed another presence in the room. Turning to the corner, he saw a familiar young man stepping out of the shadows.
"Uchiha Itachi." Hiashi said when he finally calmed down.
The young Uchiha was wearing a standard ANBU with his weasel mask hanging on his belt.
"Hiashi-dono." Itachi said in an emotionless tone, nodding his head in recognition.
"Have you heard everything, Itachi-kun?" The Sandaime asked calmly.
"Hai, Hokage-sama. I am already in pursuit of the ROOT forces and would alter mission parameters accordingly." The young man said in a professional tone.
"Good. Our first priority is to rescue the children. Bringing back Danzou's head is optional. We will discuss your parole at your return."
"I would rather stay at my current status."
"Do you really think Akane-san would allow you your self-imposed punishment once you return with those children? The only reason she allowed you to stay there as long as you had is because Kushina believed that you needed this for your sanity."
For the first time, Itachi allowed a small smile appear on his face. "It is still quite strange to have two such personalities inhabiting one body. Despite that, both cares the same, just like Yondaime-sama."
"You are right, Itachi-kun. Is it a wonder that you chose to side with the Hokage instead of Fugaku and the Uchiha Council?" The Sandaime asked in jest.
"Not at all, Sandaime-sama. Anyway, I shall return with the children as soon as I can." With that, Itachi, who had been a Kage Bushin all along, disappeared in a puff of smoke, transferring all its knowledge to the original Itachi, who is currently pursuing the ROOT army to Kumo.
As soon as the Itachi Bushin was gone, the Sandaime turned to the silent Hyuuga Hiashi and asked, "Tell me, Hiashi, what are your plans concerning Hinata-chan and Hanabi-chan?"
"What makes you think I have any plans concerning those two, Sandaime-sama?"
"Because, despite their role in this, I would not allow any harm to come to those two, particularly Hanabi-chan." The Sandaime said gravely.
"Then we are of the same page, Hokage-sama. By your leave, I have a lot of work to be done." With that, the Hyuuga Clan Head left the office.
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Neji has been leaning against the wall for a few minutes now after they left the office, staring at the sleeping Hanabi with her head on Hinata's lap, gently stroking her hair.
For a moment, Neji almost forgot that these two were mere impostors posing as his uncle's daughters. But everyone could see how much this Hinata adores and cares for the fake Hanabi, much like the real Hinata with the real Hanabi.
Neji knew he should hate these two impostors but having the information he have now, he just couldn't force that hate to stay.
Neji's thoughts came to an abrupt stop when he heard Hinata say, "You adore them, don't you."
"What?" He asked dumbly, caught unaware.
"The real Hinata and Hanabi, I mean, particularly Hinata-san." She said, her voice flat and soft, not even looking at him.
"How much do you know about her?" He ask flatly. But there was genuine curiosity on his voice.
"Almost everything. But considering how easy we've been caught, it wasn't enough."
"I wouldn't be surprised. Hinata-sama barely shows her real self in public, even within the Hyuuga Clan House."
"But she have no reason to hide anything from you, it seems. You have proved time and time again how loyal you are to her. Not to the Hyuuga but her specifically. Can I ask when you decided to devote yourself to her, that is, if you wouldn't mind?"
For several minutes, Neji contemplated if he should tell her that particular event. In the end, he decided that it wouldn't hurt any if she knew so he said, "It was a few days before the failed kidnapping of Hinata-sama by Gashir from Kumo, a week after I was given the Caged Bird Seal. Hinata-sama hurt her hand, I was never told how, but she was given a very chakra sensitive seal to heal it properly. Any use of chakra in the clan, including the Byakugan, had been forbidden by Hiashi-sama until the healing seal is removed in a weeks time.
"My father and I were watching Hiashi-sama spar with Hinata-sama in the dojo when my father tried to scan her with the Byakugan. Hiashi-sama, seeing this, immediately activated the seal on my father's forehead, putting him in extreme pain for disobeying a direct order from the clan head. Hinata-sama, seeing this, had attacked Hiashi-sama, unintentionally closing a tenketsu on his leg, as well as endangering herself."
"How?" Hinata asked in genuine curiosity.
"Because she tried to give herself a Caged Bird Seal three days prior."
-----Flashback-----
"Hinata, do you have any idea what would have happened if your seal reacted with the Byakugan's chakra?" Hiashi asked his crying daughter harshly, who was standing between him and the now incapacitated Hizashi, who is just starting to recover from the effects of the Caged Bird Seal a few seconds prior.
Neji, stunned at first by the harshness of the Caged Bird Seal to those who have them, was more stunned now that Hinata-sama actually attacked her own father to stop Hiashi from hurting Neji's father.
"The same thing you had done to uncle." Hinata said softly, trying to sound brave and failing miserably.
"Fool! The seal on your hand would have killed you instantly! There is a big difference between the Branch House's Caged Bird Seal and the one you tried to give yourself! Their seal produces pain. Yours will simply kill you. Hizashi almost killed you." He shouted harshly.
"I don't care!" Hinata shouted back, earning a gasp from everyone else in the room. It was the very first time the timid and shy Hinata had ever shouted like that, and to her own father nonetheless. Then, her voice turned soft, tears started flowing down her cheeks. "Please father, he is your brother, my uncle. You're both family to me. I-I love you both."
"Hinata-sama." Came Hizashi's voice. Turning around, they saw him kneeling behind her with his head bowed, his forehead touching the floor. "Hiashi-sama is not at fault here. He has every right to punish me for my disobedience."
"Please, uncle. You didn't know. No one but me, Yondaime-sama, and father were supposed to know." Hinata said apologetically, kneeling in front of her uncle.
-----End Flashback-----
"The Caged Bird Seal she tried to give herself failed miserably. Instead of providing pain, it would have killed her instantly. Luckily, Yondaime-sama was able to put a counter seal on it to erase it a week later. But if any Hyuuga chakra had activated it, she would have died." Neji said, a scowl present on his face that Hinata didn't fail to notice.
"You don't seem to approve of her getting a seal of her own." Hinata commented.
"Of coarse not! She could have died that whole week." Neji said angrily.
"And you devoted yourself to her for doing it despite the dangers to her self. Because it showed you how far she would go to show that she doesn't care about the Hyuuga Main and Branch House conflicts. To her, family is family."
Neji's anger evaporated instantly. She was right. It was during that time that he had devoted himself fully to Hinata-sama, seeing her as the only one worthy of his loyalty. Over the years, his loyalty turned into brotherly love, which only intensified once Hanabi was born. For Hinata-sama, he gave her younger sister the benefit of a doubt, which turned out to be the right choice all along. Despite being a bit more rebellious than her older sister, Hanabi is just as lovable as Hinata-sama.
After several minutes of awkward silence, Neji asked, "Do you really not remember your real name?"
For the first time, Hinata looked directly at Neji's eyes, confused at his sudden gentle tone of voice. After a few seconds of silent contemplation, she finally said, "I think I remember a name. But it's been so long so I'm not sure if it's even mine."
"What is it then?"
"Hikaru."
"Hikaru." Neji echoed, as if testing how the name sounded to him by voicing it out. "It's a pretty name."
Hinata, or rather Hikaru, gave Neji a stare, her cheeks now sporting a tiny reddish hue.
It was just then that Hiashi stepped out of the door and look t all three of them. Neji gave him a curious look after a brief glance at the girls, Hikari gave off a resigned sigh, while Hanabi slept on.
Hiashi didn't fail to notice the Hinata look a like unconsciously drawing Hanabi closer to her when his stare turned to them. Despite no emotion showing on her face, her body language says she was afraid for the younger girl.
Before he could say anything, his nephew Neji suddenly kneeled in front of him, placing himself between the Clan Head and the two girls before saying, "Hiashi-sama, permission to handle the situation until Hinata-sama and Hanabi-sama's return." Then, as an after thought, he added, "Please."
Hiashi stared at his nephew questioningly. A few hours ago, Neji was just itching to strike down the impostors. Now, he seems to be trying to protect them from his supposed wrath, even going as far as to beg him to spare them. Neji had never begged for anything in his life. To force him to do so means he was quite serious indeed.
Trying to test his nephew's resolve, he gave them a glare with a small amount of killing intent as he asked, "Why should they be spared my wrath, boy? They are ROOT Agents, who's purpose was to make sure my daughters are taken without me knowing. Tell me why I should not strike them down for their roles in this conspiracy?"
Several emotions passed through Neji's face. First it was confusion. He wasn't sure himself why he suddenly decided to do this. Next was nervousness. He knew trying to reason with his uncle in his current state would be suicidal. Then it was anger. He knew Hiashi was right and has every right to be angry. And finally, defiance.
Neji stared at his uncle's eyes and said, "Because family is family. If Hinata-sama was here and knew everything I've learned about the situation, she would be the one asking you this."
Hiashi remained silent. He knows his nephew was right. Hinata could be as defiant as her mother used to be when she sees family being mistreated. And despite how situations come about, these two girls are still Hyuugas, at least until he makes it official.
Staring at Neji, he said, "Very well. Until Hinata and Hanabi are returned, you shall be responsible for them. We will then discuss their fate once they are back." Then, he turned his back on them and started to walk away, neither of the three children noticing the small proud smile the Hyuuga Clan Head sported on his face for his nephew.
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A/N: To all that gave me the reviws, THANK YOU! Sorry for taking so long but I had to make several revisions on this chapter alone. At first, I wasn't even gonna introduce any Hyuuga in this chapter yet but luckily I wasn't able to think of anything that would just allow Danzo to get to Kumo without problems. Itachi shouldn't even be here yet but Iruka alone won't be able to taker on the entire ROOT army by himself.
Both of Iruka and Itachi's past will be revealed soon, particularly why both men seems to be over powerful compared to their canon counterparts.
The status of the kidnapped children will be on the next chapter.