No, you aren't seeing things. Enjoy the double update :)


"I do not keep track of the ongoing affairs of any council," Hinata defended weakly the following morning. She should've kept her mouth shut. Curse the curiosity Itachi ignited with that fieldtrip. "It's mere gossip."

The older woman raised an eyebrow and Hinata bit the inside of her cheek to avoid squirming in place. After a moment Soleil's smile widened and Hinata braced herself. That lady smiling was never good news. "You sure talk plenty about Uchiha affairs to feign nonchalance anymore. While I wouldn't suggest a union with them, you must go for the eldest of the brothers if you do." As an afterthought she added, "it will look better when you stake your claim over clan leadership."

Hinata just knew her face was set aflame. She should've known better than to inquire about that family with the political-minded Soleil. "I wasn't thinking about that— neither of those things!"

"Do not fret, it is only natural for you to prefer the younger one since he is your age but in a few years you'll see the older one is a fine young man as well."

"You're just saying this to punish me for not doing my duty," Hinata scoffed without any bite. "I see that now."

The creases around Soleil's eyes crinkled, amused and unapologetic. "Forgive an old lady from wishing to teach you a valuable lesson. We need to work on concealing your thoughts before you graduate from the Academy next week."

"I would rather train and increase my odds of survival, I'll have no part in the Grand Council, after all."

"Of course not, right now your place is in the Minor Council," Soleil said airly. "Back to the lesson, care to remind me what that is?"

Hinata bit back a scoff; her tutor was not done being petty. You taught me this when I was five, she wanted to say. In response, Soleil would probably question the rest of her basics. "The heirs of current members of the Grand Council deal with small local issues such as the Academy's curriculum and budget as well as the state and maintenance of public property."

"You speak as if you were an outsider," Soleil mused. Hinata's already tense shoulders stiffened when she caught the sharp glint in the woman's gaze.

Hinata's steely hushed voice left no room for interpretation. "I will not participate in the Minor Council, Soleil-sensei. That place belongs to Hanabi."

"You cannot shirk your responsibilities just because you dislike the way our clan works." A warning. Deep in her mind the three year old heiress, newly presented as such, screamed at her to take the olive branch she extended. Soleil was not acting without Hiashi's leave— she never would. It wasn't too late to take up the mantle of her birthright.

It wasn't too late to make her father proud.

Simultaneously, the image of Hanabi's wide admiring gaze being replaced with Neji's hateful eyes crossed her mind. A chill ran down her spine and she knew her answer.

"Hanabi was born to lead the clan."

Wrong answer.

Soleil's playfulness was completely snuffed when she finished her sentence. Hinata's hands clenched the teacup that continued to burn the wounds under the wrapped bandages and blood silently dripped from the porcelain to the cedar table. For a moment Hinata was tempted to retract what felt like a finality.

As the heiress, and eventually head of clan, Hinata could protect Hanabi even if she was branded… but that was the coward's way out. Hanabi would not pay the price of her cowardice.