"Good morning, Uchiha-sama," The uninterested female Hyuga greeted. To be honest, Itachi could remember her from when she was born, and still didn't think much of her. Yet, here she was. A gleaming Hyuga Head, whose perfect features would be painted to perfection. She had a limitless supply of venom, and had an army tough to beat. However, the more pawns spent, meant more openings.
"Morning, Hyuga-sama,". Good, pleasantries out of the way, now was business for sure. Itachi knew for sure he was in the lion's den, and this lioness was not letting an opportunity to feed out of her sight. A kind of unconditional family protector came in the form of one of the weakest looking females in history. However, Itachi was not allowed to speak or think in such a way. He knew how looks could be deceiving, and boy, did Shisui teach him well.
Her eyes were unrelenting. A battle of wits, to where no one spoke. The Hyuga female, whom he never bothered to learn the name of, sat before him, and gave him a glimpse of her weaponry. Her eyes that never wavered, not even when a shadow of doubt consumed her.
"I will not loose her, Uchiha-sama," though her voice dripped with venom, her eyes were soft. He could relate, but no openings could be offered here. "She is my most precious person, before everyone else. She will not leave the Hyuga House," so, the Queen attempts to be a pawn? To save a pawn? How ridiculous. "You may think it impossible for me to care so much for one simple Branch maid." Yes, he had to agree, it was quite crazy. "However, Hinata, is of Main-Branch lineage, my sister, in fact," now, Itachi was interested. Sounded much like him and Sasuke. In his interest, he began to fiddle with his ring that began irritating his skin. He removed it and set it down on the table.
"I see, well, your father and I had a deal. The Branch maid comes with me as my personal maid," Itachi said, his voice booming and demanding respect. Hanabi gave him credit, he was definitely scarier than Neji, but nothing compared to her father. Unrelenting personality paired with an ocular gift, Itachi was not someone Hanabi needed to be on the bad side of. However, this is Hinata.
They sat there for more than what could have been considered an eternity. Finally, the Hyuga Heiress sighed, and stared down at the horrid white papers sitting atop the lacquered table. Reading the pieces of trash that decided her sister was meant for slavery, Hanabi picked up a pen. Itachi nodded at her, only he felt guilty. He knew though, that he was more than capable of taking care of the little Hyuga girl.
Itachi watched as she purposely slowed her movements, but not by much. He blinked. Itachi was sure he would do the same for Sasuke, if the situation was flipped. However, it was not, and Fugaku decided that Hiashi Hyuga should pay up for whatever ridiculous reason. Itachi sighed. How old was this girl anyways? She had to be old enough to understand and obey commands (Itachi inwardly cringed at this - it was if she is a dog), and in the Hyuga Household that age was around two-years-old. However, she must be young enough to sell. Most likely a younger sister, or maybe a twin.
To be truthful, Itachi barely noticed when Hanabi stopped her movements, and nodded at a couple of guards. The perfectly painted door was opened, and there stood the maid he was supposed to take in.
If Itachi was surprised or appalled, it didn't show. However, there in the door frame stood a thin girl around Sasuke's age. And if he remembered correctly, Hanabi was around thirteen, making this girl five years superior. They let the actual heiress into the Branch? They let her be sold? He allowed that?
Sick to his stomach, because she was not that much younger than him, he said, "Hyuga-san, I will take you under my wing now,". He watched as she lifted her head with ease and grace certainly not meant for a maid. He expected the cold and distant white eyes of Hyuga, but he got lilac colored fear. A stab of sorrow pierced his gut, and he instantly knew why Hanabi had been over protective. A younger sibling might not understand, and come to accept terms later. However, a functioning older sibling was being sold by the younger, and Hinata was more than capable of understanding what was happening. Hinata understood that she was being sold. That was enough for Itachi to blink a few times to clear what seemed to be moisture in his eyes.
"I understand," the fear in her eyes remained the same, but she was at least polite. Her soprano was something to get used to, but nothing intolerable. "Thank you, Hyuga-sama, for placing me in good hands," he heard her say. How... completely honest and sincere.
Hanabi found that when she looked into her elder sibling's eyes, she saw nothing but pride. For what? For her? Hanabi almost snorted. Hinata was proud of her? What kind of monster sold their sister to a rival clan because of a stupid deal that happened when her father was trying to drink the pain away? Oh yes, it was the worst kind of monster - Hanabi Hyuga. Her sister had the gaul to be proud of her.
She glanced as Itachi handed Hinata her knew uniform. It stung that Hinata could no longer wear the Hyuga name like a banner, however, in its place was the Uchiha fan. However, Hanabi watched in terror, as Hinata left, and after a few minutes of hell, she came out wearing the pants and uniform black top of the Uchiha.
Itachi calmly bowed to Hanabi, and whispered something to Hinata. Now, Hanabi could have screamed at him for beginning his services on Hyuga ground, but there was no voice for her anger. There was only a resonating shock.
She watched as the pair left for Uchiha manor, literally, a street away. Hanabi sat with herself. Alone for the very first time. She saw something gleam on the table.
How odd. Itachi had left something? A ring. Hanabi used the Byakugan to make sure it was not some sort of trick, but found that there was a latch and piece of paper concealed within the ring.
After prying the silver latch open, Hanabi unfolded the paper.
Itachi, this is your mission:
Produce an heir or heiress. Either is fine.
-Fugaku Uchiha
Soon, Hanabi's face turned completely red. Hinata was going to have to - Itachi - 'personal maid'- the ring - the note. It was not long before Hanabi fainted for the first time in her life.