Chapter 2 - Songs of the broken
"I have heard of this disease" Tsunade muttered to herself. She bit down on her nail once again. A pained expression spread across her face as she tried desperately to remember more about the disease. She had been sitting at her desk when the thought suddenly appeared in her head. It was an image of a word, Duvalin. She could not remember what it was but she knew it mattered. She reached for her desk drawer and pulled out one of her reference books on diseases. One by one she went through her reference books until she found a book with a glossary containing the word Duvalin. She didn't know what it was but it had to be a disease. She had spent 7 days looking for an answer to Sasuke' predicament. All of her focus had been on it, and her mind must have finally remembered something about it she told herself.
Her chocolate brown eyes darted the entries for the word, finally discovering it hidden away. It was an obscure entry, with a paragraph devoted to it. As if the author had just found it worthy enough to have an entry in the reference book but not enough to devote ¼ of the page to it or more. She pulled out a shot glass and sake from her desk drawer. She picked up her phone with her dominate hand and with the other placed the shot glass in front of her. She used her teeth to pull out the cork and poured herself a shot with her free hand. The other hand began dialing the Hyuga Clan manor. She drank 3 shots of Sake before the call was answered.
Hinata was seated across from Hiashi when they received the call. Hiashi raised the phone to his ear and Hinata waited quietly. Hiashi's face shifted from curiosity to great concern then finally setting on anger. Hinata was then surprised to see Hiashi's eyes slowly turn to her. She felt her face turn red, she could feel his eyes intensity rising. Hiashi's right hand flew out and grabbed a stress ball on his desk and began squeezing it. He pressed it in his hands with such force that Hinata wondered if Hiashi blood pressure would reach its limit and his heart would explode. Then without warning the conversation ended and with a single sentence her fate was sealed.
"She will join you now." Hiashi stated in a forced tone.
As much effort he put into sounding pleasant or at the very least unphased had not been enough. Anyone could hear the frustration coming from his voice. His eyes look down to his desk for a brief moment, as if admitting defeat to himself before rising upwards and looking at Hinata directly. Had she not seen the whole thing unfold before, she would have taken Hiashi's calm expression on his face, as an uneventful call. An everyday occurrence is to have the Hokage call them directly and Ask for her. The Hokage had asked for her, Hinata's eyes widened as it just hit her like a ton of bricks. The Hokage had asked for her.
"The Mission we had prepared for has been canceled….. for you specifically, the others will be given a new leader and sent to investigate without you." Hiashi stated bluntly.
Hinata felt her stomach dropped. It had taken her so long to convince Hiashi to give her a chance, a chance to prove her ability to lead. She looked down to the floor and she fought back tears as she wondered If Hiashi always planned on switching her out for another. Had he lied to her just get her hopes up before picking another to lead in her place because she couldn't be trusted? Hinata balled up her hands into fists as she willed the tears to stop before they began falling on her face.
Hinata looked up once Hiashi began speaking again.
"The importance of investigating the Akatsuki hideout is still the Hyuga's top priority. We will not abandon that, but you have been requested by Lady Tsunade to aid her on a mission". Hiashi stated in a dull voice.
For a brief moment a pained expression had appeared on his face as he spoke.
"I do not know the details of the mission, I assume S rank as Lady Tsunade will take a leave of absence to join you on the mission". Hiashi stated.
Hinata felt dumbfounded. She felt so lost.
"But then who will take her place until she comes back?" Hinata blurted out. Deeply concerned she had forgotten she was speaking to her father for a brief moment.
"Hanabi will lead the Hyūga on the mission while your away, you will leave now to join Lady Tsunade." Hiashi stated with a tone used for stating facts. He left no room for Hinata to rebuttal or ask a single question. He stood up and motioned for her to leave as he stood at the door of the room. Hinata felt numb, she reluctantly stood up and left the room. Hiashi didn't try to meet Hinata's eyes even though she desperately tried to look into his eyes. Once she left the manor she began traveling to the Hokage tower moving as fast as her body let her go. She couldn't think as much as she wanted to organize everything in her mind, she couldn't. It was too hard and so Hinata decided not to think about it. She would reach the Hokage tower.
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