Disclaimer:I do not own Naruto or any of its respective characters. This fanfiction is for entertainment purposes only. (Mostly my amusement.) However, if I DID own Naruto, it would be called "Neji and Hinata: Byakugan Babies Galore!" That has a nice ring to it...
Author's Note:Well, here we go again! Another chapter of Possession. I don't usually update so quickly, so be thankful that the Muse was here beating me over the head with inspiration. I certainly am. I am excited about this chapter, because we are drawing near the story's climax. I hope you all like! Your reviews were so awesome! Special thanks to White Heron and Salote! You both totally understood what I was going for! And on an unrelated note: I'm reading a great story, titled Retribution by Kalos. You should check it out. It's SaiSaku and SasuSaku. Really well done, and I think she needs more reviews. So, if you have the inkling, please give it a chance! It's on my favorites list. Anyhow, here's Chapter Ten!
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Possession - Chapter Ten
Hinata arrived in her father's office, quietly waiting for him to speak. He had his back toward her, as he peered out the window behind his desk. She had not stood before him like this since the day he chose to train Hanabi. That was many years ago, and Hinata had grown. But deep down, she still felt like the rejected offspring he had never loved.
"Hinata," he spoke. "I called you here to tell you..." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "I have never been more proud of you than I am tonight."
Hinata's eyebrow quirked. "That can not be difficult, otousan," she replied. "You have never been proud of me, at all."
Hiashi turned to face his daughter, eyes visibly pained. "I was very hard on you," he said.
"Was?" She countered. "Has Hyuuga Hiashi suddenly gone soft?" She smirked. "I thought he was made of steel."
He chuckled. "You are much like her, you know."
Hinata's eyes narrowed into slits. "Do not talk about her. Not now. Not after what I did to Hanabi." Her frown was deep.
"Your mother always told me you had a strength the likes of which the Hyuuga had never seen," he continued, ignoring her. "I told her she was insane." He pulled out his chair and sat, gesturing for her to join him.
She refused. "I prefer to stand, otousan."
Hiashi pulled out his top drawer, setting its contents on the desktop. "Would you like some, Hinata-chan? To celebrate your victory?" He poured a small amount of sake into a tiny cup.
Her frown deepened. "You should not be drinking at a time like this." The Heiress ignored the almost foreign honorific applied to her name.
"Hn," he grunted. "She always said that, as well," he sneered.
Hinata sighed, rolling her eyes. He truly did not understand. She did not come here to talk about her dead mother. They had a serious problem to address. The council was still at large.
She stormed over to her father, smacking the cup of sake out of his hands. It fell to the floor with a small ping. "Did you even consider poison?" She hissed. "Do you really believe Tomoyuki and Tomomori are above such tactics?"
Hiashi met the pleading eyes of his daughter, and found that he could not even frown at her. "So, you know." He breathed deeply. "How long?"
"Long enough," she answered. "But why was Hokage-sama the one to tell me?"
Hiashi pulled another cup from the drawer, before pouring more sake. "Would you believe me if a told you the truth?" He glared at his daughter. They had never spoken so candidly before, and it was awkward for them both.
"You are not in the habit of lying, otousan. I would believe anything you said." She held her head up high, looking down the bridge of her nose at him. "I believed I was a worthless failure most of my life."
Hiashi bit back the reply he would have spat out only a day ago, opting instead to accept the truth. "I was not a good father to you." He lowered his eyes.
"No, otousan," she finally sat in the chair across from him. "You were not." Hinata watched him bring the cup to his lips, but before he could tilt it upward, her hand covered the top, pushing it back down to the desk. "What is wrong with you? Are you not Hyuuga-sama?" She searched his brooding face, but he did not answer. "Drowning your woes in sake?" Her eyes narrowed. "Such weakness is unbecoming."
"I am only a man!" He shouted. Their eyes locked– ice and diamond. Minutes passed, and diamond won. Hiashi looked away. "Hinata...I... I am s-sor– "
"Don't you dare apologize!" She hissed at her father. "I am what I am because you made me." She squeezed his hand, forcing his focus back to her. "I am shinobi. I have no regrets."
He caught her eyes again. "No, Hinata. There is much I need to say to you," he paused. "About Neji..."
Her face darkened, and a scowl formed, where before this night, he had only seen fear, or sadness. "Speak his name again, and I may be forced to cut out your tongue."
Now, the Leader did lose his temper. "Do not forget to whom you speak, daughter!" His fist slammed onto the desktop.
"I forget nothing, Hyuuga-sama," she whispered, tersely. "I certainly have not forgotten your role in this."
Hiashi's jaw clenched, and he leaned back in his chair. Hinata picked up the cup, sniffing it. She looked him in the eye.
"I do not detect anything," she said, shoving it into his hand. "Go ahead. Drink yourself into oblivion." Then, she stood. "In any case, I will do what you obviously could not."
"And what would that be." He sneered.
"My mission," she stated, resting her hand on the door knob. "To gather evidence– for Hokage-sama."
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The Branch servant slipped into the darkened room, bowing low before the twins, and the hag kneeling at the low table.
"Did you switch the bottles?" Tomoyuki asked.
"Hai, honorable Branch council," the man replied.
"Were you seen?" The hag demanded.
"No, honorable Main council."
The old woman smiled. "You may pour the sake," she instructed.
Tomomori, Tomoyuki and their Main House cohort held out their cups as the servant poured the pristine liquid. Hiashi always kept the best sake for himself, locked away in that blasted drawer. Like all of them, they knew he would want a drink after witnessing Hinata's shocking victory over Hanabi. But unlike them, he wouldn't live to see the result of his decision crumble under the weight of their iron will.
They drank the fermented liquid, savoring its smooth taste. The poison was undetectable to anything but a medic-nin's chakra. No matter how good the nose, no shinobi would be able to sniff it out. Besides, Hiashi was too complacent. He believed his office was secure. They all chuckled. To bad that wasn't true.
Tomomori raised his cup as another round was poured. "A toast!" He smirked. "To Hyuuga Hiashi's death!"
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Shizune spun around, slicing her scalpel across the throat of another Cloud ninja. The blood sprayed out wildly, blinding the enemy's comrade. She came behind him, pulling out a kunai and thrusting the blade into the base of his skull. Then, she took off running, toward the green blur in the distance.
She stopped, sensing the coming attack. She looked out through the slits of her black eyes, bracing her arms across her chest. The explosion rocked the ground where she was standing, shifting the cement. Shizune rolled backward, searching for her unseen enemy. There! On the rooftop! She pulled the twine of her wrist-shot, launching the needles. He was too close to dodge, so Shizune leapt forward, smirking when she heard the thump of his body, falling to the ground. The poison was quick, and would do its work.
How long had she been searching for Maito Gai? Too long. She frowned. She needed to find him soon, because he was needed for the planned assault of the enemy stronghold, just inside the village gate.
She stared into the whirlwind before her, barely able to distinguish the green blur within. The five Cloud shinobi caught inside whipped around brutally, before sailing through the air. They flew at speeds unimaginable, before being impaled with kunai, shuriken and senbon from above. The victims crashed to the ground from the sheer force of the weapons.
Shizune watched the young kunoichi land in the center of the settling whirlwind, rolling up her scroll and tucking it back into her pouch. The green blur slowed to stand beside her. It wasn't Maito Gai. It was Rock Lee, and his teammate, Ten-Ten.
"Lee!" Shizune called, rushing toward the two genin. They met her halfway.
"Shizune-san!" Lee greeted. "It is most fortunate to see you here!" They all stopped running about foot's distance away.
"What is going on?" Ten-Ten asked. "We were minding our own business, when this storm just came out of nowhere! Then the Cloud shinobi attacked!"
"Yes, Shizune-san! Please inform us of the situation!" Lee pleaded.
Shizune took a moment to catch her breath. "Calm down, you two. We were all taken by surprise." She pulled a slip of paper from her kunai pouch, handing it to Ten-Ten. "Here are your orders," she said. "Now, where is your sensei?"
"Gai-sensei is with Neji-san," Lee answered. "At the genin training grounds."
Shizune's eyes grew wide and her face stern. "Quickly," she demanded. "Tell me which one!"
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Neji crawled along the muddy earth, looking back at his sensei as the jounin stalked toward him. What was going on? Maito Gai was really trying to kill him! He turned his head back to the front, and Gai was already there. The Green Beast's heel slammed the Hyuuga's face into the soft ground, stifling his breath. Neji struggled, but by now, he could barely move.
Gai lifted his foot, allowing Neji a strained gasp, then plunged his face back into the mud. He did it again, and again, after longer periods each time. When he lifted his foot the final time, he kicked the boy over onto his back. Neji's eyes rolled around his head, as he coughed and gurgled on a mixture of mud and blood. Gai grabbed him by the throat, squeezing until his face turned red and his eyes bulged.
The jounin slammed the pathetic Hyuuga prodigy into the trunk of a tree, boring into him with lethal black eyes.
"S-S-Sensei..." Neji wheezed. He desperately tried to fill his lungs, while clawing at the Green Beast's hand. Gai tightened his grip, and Neji's eyes rolled backward.
Gai thrust forward, and a small explosion of chakra left a Neji-shaped crater in the tree trunk. The jounin released the boy, and he fell to the ground in a heap of torn muscles and broken bones. Neji managed to turn his head toward the man who was now a stranger to him.
His eyes twitched, and his whole body trembled. "G-Gai-sensei?" He couldn't see the man's face through the darkness, but he knew... this was the end. "Sensei!" Neji pleaded. "I thought– " He tried to back away, but his legs would no longer move. He looked around... for an escape, a weapon– anything! "Please, sensei!"
Neji felt the heat rising in his gut, and his breath was short and ragged. His white eyes glazed over, and fresh tears spilled down his muddy cheeks. Maito Gai stood over him, grimacing as he tensed his muscles, drawing his arm back for the final blow.
"Sensei! No! Please!" His eyes reflected the moonlight pouring through the broken storm clouds. "Please don't do this!" He begged. "I don't– " He swallowed the bile rising in his throat. "I don't want to die..." He sobbed, slumping his head back in defeat. "Hinata-sama..." He trailed off. "Hinata-sama..." He thought of her sparkling silver eyes, and her soft indigo hair. He remembered her voice, kindness laced in every word. And her smile, so warm and understanding. She never demanded, she always asked. She was never callous or malicious. She was Hinata-sama, and Hinata-sama was perfection incarnate.
Neji was no longer aware of the man looming above him. His words were for her, and her alone.
"I will not ask your forgiveness, because I know... I am undeserving." His teeth chattered. "Just know that I kept my promise..." More tears welled within his eyes, swirling his view of the moon into the picture of her innocent, smiling face. "I will never touch you again," his voice broke. "And you will finally... finally be free..." He closed his eyes, body and mind begging for death. "Farewell... my beloved."
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Hinata crouched down behind the hedge lining the garden pathway. She followed the three elders as they made their way across the compound. None of them spoke, but she read them like an open book. They were afraid, as well they should be. Hokage-sama's interrogation would not be light, nor would Hyuuga-sama's punishment– when he sobered up, that is.
She slipped behind a tree, her black-clad body perfectly concealed within the shadows. She used her Byakugan to read the tiny gestures indicating their destination. The storage shed? How quaint.
She trailed behind them, leaping silently from branch to branch. They had no idea.
The elders slipped into the shed, looking back suspiciously, before easing the door closed behind them. Hinata flung a single shuriken, and it lodged between the door and the wall, stopping the lock, just before it sealed her out. She drew a kunai, just in case one of them had heard. She watched with her Byakugan as they continued on, deeper into the shed.
Hinata scanned her surroundings before making her move. She saw nothing, nor did she sense any chakra, so she dashed toward the shed, and slid inside.
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The shinobi peeked above the rooftop he was hiding behind. The wind whipped his spiky silver hair around, and he blew the strands away from his one good eye. The storm was breaking, and he wondered how the rest of Konoha's shinobi were faring.
He ducked back down when he saw the Hyuuga Heiress scan the area. He suppressed his chakra so she would not detect him. His orders were to watch, and to step in only if needed. So far, the little kunoichi was proving her talent quite well. However...
He peeked over the rooftop again, as she slid into the shed.
...He could not protect what he could not see...
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Hinata heard hushed whispers coming from the back, and she slunk forward, weaving her way between the stacks of heavy wooden boxes. She released her Byakugan. Many of the elders gathered here were ex-shinobi, and would be able to sense her if she were not careful.
She pressed her lithe body flat against the wall, in the shadowed space between it and a tall column of boxes. She was in the far right corner, while the elders– seven of them– were gathered in the far left.
"What do we do?" One of them asked. They were frantic, looking around every corner, and in every shadow. They felt vulnerable, Hinata could see it in their eyes. She smirked.
"We don't do anything," another said. "This is Tomoyuki's problem."
"Oh, please! We are all involved in this!"
"Well, I say we disassociate ourselves!"
"Idiot! You said that the last time!"
"If you had listened to me..."
"Noone wants to hear what you have to say, you old fool!"
Hinata's smirk turned into a true smile as she stalked just a little closer. They were divided, tearing themselves apart. It would be laughable, if the village were not at stake.
"Calm down. There is still a chance that the plan could work."
"You haven't heard, have you?"
"Heard what?"
"Hokage-sama and her shinobi have beaten back the first and second waves."
"What!"
"Impossible!"
A long and hearty laugh. "She is the Hokage."
Hinata's smile became a grin. Konoha was strong. Soon, all of this would be at its end.
"They still have the third wave to deal with. It isn't over yet."
"One of our spies saw Tsunade's genin pets on their way to the border."
"How many?"
"Does it matter? They're only genin."
"We're talking about Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and all the others! Not to mention that genius chuunin, Nara Shikamaru leading them!"
"None of them will make any difference!"
Hinata shifted her eyes toward the only elder who had not yet spoken He sat on one of the boxes, eyes closed. Unlike the others, he was calm; meditating. She leapt onto another high stack, peering over them.
"All of you will sit down this instant," he scolded. They looked into his serene face, and he opened his pale eyes, glaring hard. "We will remain calm. Tomoyuki, Tomomori and our honorable elder sister are taking care of everything."
"What do you mean, taking care of everything?"
"Exactly what it sounds like," the serene elder said. "Hiashi-sama is not long for this world."
Hinata's eyes widened, and her jaw clenched. She slipped down, onto the floor. She had heard enough. That was all the implication Hokage-sama needed. Any other information, she and Ibiki-sensei could rip out of them on their own. Hinata scowled. She had to go back. She should never have left him alone. But first, she would make certain that these traitors could not slip back into the Hyuuga unnoticed.
She pulled three small, dark spheres from her pouch, rolling them quietly to the center of the gathered elders. They were too busy fussing with one another. They did not notice until it was far too late. By then, Hinata had already dashed back through the shed and out the door. After closing it, she jammed a kunai into the keyhole, effectively locking them inside.
Eventually, they would break it down, but not before the inky smoke tinted their pale Hyuuga skin, leaving them a rich, smooth shade of purple. Just like the corpses they would soon be– once Hokage-sama was done, and the Leader got his hands on them again.
Hinata ran full speed, back toward the Main House– back to her father's side.
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Cough, cough, cough!
He opened his eyes to a pair of inky black orbs staring intensely at him. He panicked, thrusting forward, desperate to escape.
"Hold still!" This was not the voice of the man he now feared. It was a woman's voice; strained but calm. He slumped back down, allowing his focus to return.
"Where am I?" He finally asked.
The woman's hands were warm, as she ran them over his body. He had been stripped down to his boxers, but he didn't care. He was alive.
"In the training grounds," she answered.
His head throbbed. "Who am I?" He asked, testing the waters. A sharp pain shot through his abdomen.
"Don't toy with me, Hyuuga Neji," the woman spat.
"Well, then who are you?" He inquired, through the pain.
"Open your eyes," she said. He hadn't realized he'd closed them.
Neji's silvery orbs slowly opened, and he was met with the hostile face of Tsunade's assistant, Shizune.
"You..." He trailed off.
"Yes, me." She concentrated her chakra on his ribs. "You're lucky," she said.
"Hn. I don't feel lucky."
"You're lucky Tsunade-sama sent me to find Gai, instead of Kurenai." Her hands hovered over his face, healing the swelling and bruises there. "She probably would have killed you."
Neji pushed himself up onto his elbows. "She would have been too late. Gai-sensei would have– " He froze. "Where is Gai-sensei?" Panic started to wash over him again.
Shizune looked him in the eyes, a small smirk dancing upon her lips. "Maito Gai was not going to kill you."
"You don't know!" He shouted. "You didn't see the look in his eyes!"
"Oh, yes I did!" She raised her voice to match his equally. "I imagine it's a lot like the look you gave Hinata right before you violated her!" Neji shut his mouth, and Shizune lowered her voice. "And this fear– is probably similar to how she felt at the time." She stood. "He taught you a very valuable lesson, Hyuuga. I suggest you take it to heart."
Neji scowled, trembling. "Where is he now?"
"I sent him back to the village. Hokage-sama's orders," she answered.
"Has something happened?"
Shizune walked over to where his clothes were located. She retrieved the bundle, bringing them back to the nearly naked boy.
"Has something happened?" He repeated, once he was on his feet. She shoved the garments into his hands.
"The Leaf is repelling the Cloud, as we speak," she finally answered.
"What!" Neji began throwing on his clothes. "What are my orders?" He demanded.
"You have none," she stated. "As far as Tsunade-sama is concerned," her eyes narrowed, "you are a fugitive." Neji swallowed hard. "Your best bet, would be to go back to the Hyuuga compound, and hope Hiashi takes pity on you. That will be the only way to escape Hokage-sama's wrath."
Neji buttoned up his jacket. "Why are you helping me?" He asked.
Shizune frowned. "I'm not helping you. I'm just getting you out of the way." She turned, walking toward the trees. "There are a lot of people in the village who want to see your face smeared all over the pavement. You'd only be a distraction."
"Then why did you heal me?" He demanded.
"I'm a doctor," she said, and then she was gone.
Neji stretched out his limbs, and pain shot through his body. He grimaced. Shizune had healed only what was absolutely necessary. He couldn't blame her though. He was hardly worth the air he breathed.
He raised his head to the sky, allowing the moon to bathe him in cool, silvery light. Hinata-sama... his beloved. He understood now. He had done so many awful things to his Heiress, but never again. Never again would he touch her without permission. Never again would he allow his urges to run wild. Just as Gai-sensei had said: he was a shinobi of the Leaf, not some filthy animal. And he would prove it– for the rest of his life.
Hyuuga Neji ran into the forest then, every thought focused on the woman he would never hurt again.
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Tomoyuki turned the knob to Hiashi's office, peeking inside the darkened room. There was no movement behind the desk, so he entered. Tomomori followed closely behind. He shut the door, and they both walked slowly toward the Hyuuga Leader, leaned back in his chair.
Tomoyuki smiled. "He's dead. Finally!"
Both twins rushed forward, reaching for the drawers.
"Quickly, the papers!" Tomoyuki hissed.
Hiashi's eyes shot open. "Not quite," the Leader spoke. He thrust his palms into both conspirators, pushing them back against the walls. Tomoyuki clutched his heart, while Tomomori sneered, pulling a kunai from his sleeve. Hiashi stood, leaning slightly. His breath was heavy, and his hands trembled. "I waited for you," he said. "My life will not end, until I take you with me."
Tomomori looked toward his brother. "We can take him," he said.
"What!" Tomoyuki gasped. "Like this? He was supposed to be dead!"
"Well, he isn't!" He turned to face the wobbly Hyuuga Leader. "Just look at him. He's barely hanging on by a thread!"
Tomoyuki swallowed. "Couldn't we wait until after– "
"After what? After Hinata comes back?" Tomomori stepped forward. "No. We will do this now."
"Hurry up," Hiashi taunted. "I don't have all night."
Tomomori rushed at Hiashi, sneering viciously. His thrust was blocked and the Leader threw him against his brother. Hiashi eased around the desk, leaning to hold himself up. His limbs were shaking wildly, and sweat streamed from his brow.
Was this it? Was this all Fate had in store for him?
He raised his arms, taking up his Juuken stance. "What are you waiting for? Here I am," his dull, white eyes narrowed. "You will never get another chance."
The twins rushed at him, palms flying. Even in his weakened state, Hiashi was superior. The Leader disrupted several chakra points on both traitors, concentrating his efforts to their arms and legs. He slowed them down, but could not land a fatal blow. He dodged their next round of attacks, backing toward the door. He could not go on like this.
"Hanabi... Hinata..." Would he never see his daughters again? Would be never be able to say what he so desperately needed? To tell them– that he loved them?
Tomomori's kunai slashed through the air, striking Hiashi's arm. "The Clan is ours!" He wailed. Then, his face twisted into a lecherous smirk. "Hinata is mine– and Hanabi..." He glanced toward his brother. "A bit too young for my tastes, but Tomoyuki will make good use of her."
Hiashi scowled, barring teeth. "Neji will never allow it! He will do what I could not!"
Tomoyuki approached, slowly. "Hyuuga Neji is in the village, with the rest of Konoha's shinobi. He will be of no help to them."
Hiashi exploded into a fit of coughing. His mouth was coated with saliva, before the bile rose up, along with the blood. His organs were falling apart, as though he had been struck with the Gentle Fist. He looked up at the twins, blinking the sweat from his eyes. But they had not touched him.
What was in that sake anyway? He bit down on his lip. Hinata would be furious, before the grief settled in. She told him, yet he did not listen.
Tomomori slunk closer, kunai held firmly. "You are wondering what the poison does, aren't you? It forces your own chakra against you, like genjutsu. But unlike genjutsu, its effects are physical, real– deadly."
What a blind fool he'd been! He'd waited too long. He only wanted to protect them. But now... he didn't even have the strength to use the cursed jutsu. He would be slain by the very two he wished to protect them from. Now, he would be forced to leave his daughters... alone.
"Not now! Please! Not now!" Hiashi pleaded, for the sake of his daughters. "I can not die now!" He clutched his heart, as a spasm tore through his body. "Hanabi! Hinata!"
Tomomori plunged the kunai into Hiashi's gut, twisting it. "Yes, now!" He hissed. "Die, Hiashi!"
The Hyuuga Leader's mouth swelled with blood, and he coughed again, spitting the slick wetness all over his assassin. Tomomori gestured for his brother to come closer.
"Get over here, coward! My hands will not be the only ones stained with blood!" He yanked the blade out of his fallen Leader, handing it over to his brother. "Now! Do it!" He demanded.
Tomoyuki's hands trembled, and he looked to his twin, who's face was twisted in bloodlust. He swallowed. Gods help him. He was not prepared for this kind of death.
Hiashi wheezed out his final words. "Go on," he hissed, through clenched teeth. "Mark yourself with my blood. The stain of my chakra will never fade. Hinata will see, as will Hanabi– as will Neji..." He coughed again, slumping down to the floor.
"Hurry up!" Tomomori shrieked.
Tomoyuki held the weapon over his head, then squeezed his eyes shut, plunging the blade into Hiashi's chest. He struck the Leader several times, before his brother caught his wrist, stopping him.
"That's enough. We must go," Tomomori whispered, angling Tomoyuki's hand downward.
"Go where?" Tomoyuki was hysterical. "Where can we possibly go? The plan has failed! We murdered our Leader! Who would take us in?"
"Just come on!" Tomomori yanked his brother to his feet. "First, we must wash away the evidence. Then, we will gather Hanabi-sama, and flee to the Land of Lightning."
"Kumogakure?"
"Yes, brother!" Tomomori shook his twin by the shoulders, causing him to drop the kunai. "We will survive!"
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Hyuuga Hinata dashed through the winding corridors of the Main House, streaking past the Branch servants on her way to her father's office. A feeling of dread had sunk low, in her gut. Something was wrong, and she needed to be there– five minutes ago.
She turned the corner, running along the wall for a short time to avoid slowing her steps, arms trailing behind her. She pulled two kunai from her pouch, one for each hand, as she finally slowed, skidding to a stop before the bloody footprints leading away from Hiashi's door.
Her eyes widened and twitched, and her stomach rose into her throat, but she swallowed it back down, steeling herself for the image she dreaded was behind that door.
Hinata crossed her arms in front of her chest, kunai ready. She kicked the door open, and her mind shattered into infinite pieces across the blood-soaked floor, where her father lay dead, in front of her.
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Neji felt a sharp pain course through him, then a shattering sensation, followed by an emptiness so deep, his vision faded temporarily. He remembered those feelings. They were the same ones he'd felt when his father died.
"Hinata-sama..." Her name fell from his lips like blood dripping from a fresh wound. A strange image when thinking of Hinata-sama, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she had changed. Neji scowled. She needed him, and here he was, in the forest, too far from her to be of any use.
With renewed vigor, he ran, leaping through the trees, leaving nothing but a rustling wind in his wake.
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Hinata knelt behind her father, holding his lolling head in her lap. She caressed his face, and tangled her fingers in his long, dark hair. His wounds were fresh, his blood was warm, and his eyes still held the illusion of life. But, he was dead. Hyuuga Hiashi was dead, and she– she was now Leader of the Hyuuga.
The former Heiress ran her fingers over her father's eyes, closing them to the world. She eased his head back down to the floor, standing and scanning the room with her Byakugan. She walked over to the cabinet on the far right wall, burst the lock with her chakra and opened it. Inside, she found her father's sword. Her sword. The Leader's sword.
She unsheathed the curved blade, running two finger along the flat of its length, acquainting herself with the weapon that would be her companion for as long as the mantle was her's to bear. She was Hyuuga-sama now, and she would avenge all the wrong done to her Clan– to her family.
Hinata had meant to tell her father that he had made the wise decision. Now, it was too late. She meant to tell him that she loved him, but he would never hear the words. Not because she could not speak them, or because he was not listening in whatever realm his soul now resided. Hinata would not say, because she could not hold any one person's love above another. Under her leadership, the Houses would be equal– all of worth and value; and her affections would extended toward each individual with same fire, and the same ice.
Only in death, could Hiashi teach her the final lesson. Her white eyes narrowed. Only through distance, could one truly lead the Hyuuga.
She placed the stoic, Hyuuga mask back upon her face. Her father would be proud, for not a single tear was shed. She strapped the sword sheath to her back, and turned, glancing one final time at the man whose harsh voice had made her. A voice she would never hear again.
Lady Hyuuga walked out of the office then, following the bloody footprints toward her destiny. She smiled. Toward the dead men walking, whose blood would soon decorate the pristine walls of the Hyuuga Main House.
End Chapter Ten