Many thanks to these people for reviewing: dumdeedum, km987001, zisaidwut, and busi sibeko1.

Thanks for reading.

oOo

Chapter Twelve: When You're the One that I've Kept Closest

During the War, when Itachi was the commander of hundreds of nin, he did not have any Hyuga in his ranks.

He remembered the argument where the two Clan Heads of supposedly noble clans bickered like children in front of the Hokage.

Tsunade wanted to square away team assignments before she met with the other Kage to blend their forces. She needed to know who would fight where. All the commanders and Clan Heads were gathered around a large table in a field tent.

Hyuga Hiashi refused to have any Hyuga be assigned to Itachi's regiment.

"And why is that?" Fugaku seethed, coming to his feet.

Hiashi did not move an inch. He set his jaw and glared at the man across the table from him. He released his words like a viper spit venom. "If it was not for the Uchihas, this war would not be happening. The Uchiha may live in Konoha, but the Hyuga own the land. Your family has broken its treaty with ours."

Fugaku flung out an arm towards the tent opening. "We are not responsible for Madara's actions. The Uchiha have done nothing!"

Hiashi's voice raised a decibel. "He is your patriarch!"

"We thought he was dead! We haven't had contact with him in centuries!"

"And what of Obito? Excuse me, what of Tobi?"

"Gentlemen," Tsunade growled warningly.

Itachi tuned out the argument, mostly because movement caught his eye. Across from him, sitting next to her father, Hinata raised her head. Her white eyes caught his.

He stared for a moment, unsure how to interpret the carefully blank expression on her face.

Her father's chakra flared, startling her. Her Byakugan instantly activated, and her gaze turned inwards as she inspected their surroundings. Neji, seated next to her, activated his as well. He turned to Hinata and murmured something to her.

She shrunk into herself as she deactivated her Byakugan. Her cheeks colored and she smiled apologetically to her cousin. Patting his arm, she shook her head.

Itachi read her lips.

"All is well."

Or it was until Tsunade slapped the table so hard, the wood cracked. "Gentlemen!" she yelled. "Now is not the time to bicker between ourselves. The Hyuga will be under Kakashi-san's command and that is final! Now. Be. Quiet."

The two men acknowledged their Hokage's order. Fugaku fell heavily into his spot next to Itachi. The older man smelt like smoldering ashes as his chakra sparked with his anger.

Itachi looked at Hinata again. She stared at her hands in her lap and did not look up once.

oOo

Her eyes held some semblance of warmth as she set the steaming teacup in front of him. She carefully turned the cup so he could see the green leaves painted on it. Her index finger caught and wiped away a bead of water slipping down the ceramic side. She took two steps back and met his gaze.

"I hope this helps, Hokage-sama," she said quietly. "We have to start off with one cup a day, and then increase it in a week once your body gets used to it."

He wondered at the change in her. During the war, she never held any emotion in her eyes when she looked at him. Now, because of the chakra blockers, she could not activate her Byakugan.

For a fleeting moment, he felt a sense of relief. If she could not protect herself properly, it was good that she was in the safest place in the village. Between himself and the ANBU, she did not need to fight.

A thought occurred to him as he picked up the cup.

"Why is your father intent on having you as my assistant if he did not let the Hyuga be under the command of the Uchiha in the war." He meant it to sound like a question, but as per usual for him, it sounded like he was talking to himself. Or commanding her to answer.

She went very, very still. He watched the heartbeat in her neck artery speed up. Then, she smiled apologetically, and her shoulders rose up in an unconscious shielding motion.

He wanted to apologize, to take back the question. But her reaction woke up something deep inside him. Suspicion, his closest friend as a ninja, flared to life deep in his gut. He liked Hinata.

But he trusted no one.

Yet, he recognized that smile. It was the same one she gave Neji during that war council. It spoke of familiarity. She felt comfortable with him. It soothed some of the roiling anger.

"The treaty, Hokage-sama," she said quietly.

He raised a brow. "Treaty?"

Her mouth pressed into a thin line. "Yes, Hokage-sama. The treaty the Senju, Uchiha, and Hyuga signed when Konoha was founded."

Itachi recognized where this was going. "The Hyuga owned the land. They agreed to let the Senju and Uchiha establish Konoha here, as a neutral territory in exchange for protection."

She nodded. "But my ancestor did not… um…"

"He didn't like Madara," Itachi said plainly.

"Yes. And part of the treaty stipulated that there could never be an Uchiha appointed as Hokage."

He picked up his teacup and sniffed at it. It smelled herbal but he did not know enough to identify the specifics. He took a sip.

"But that was changed. The Council altered it to appoint me as Hokage," Itachi continued.

Hinata took a step back and clasped her fingers together. She found something behind him to stare at. "My father was the lone dissent."

Itachi's eyes narrowed. He already knew Hiashi wanted Hinata to spy. But having it confirmed by the spy herself was… surprising. "You're watching me."

Her eyes met his and they were warm and sad. She licked her lips nervously. "Yes, Hokage-sama."

He thought about what she said the other day.

"I am a Konoha nin before I am a member of the Hyuga."

He did not trust people. Especially not people from other clans. Especially not when he knew she was here to prod him for weaknesses.

He remembered the warmth of her skin against his. The feel of her hair brushing his temple. The way she handled Shisui and Sasuke. Her concern when he pushed himself too hard.

Looking at the tea left in his cup, he drained it.

He would give Hinata a chance.

oOo

Coming up: Hiashi also trusts Hinata.