Hey, hey!

Can't believe I forgot to upload yesterday. I had no clue today was Thursday.

Anyways. This chapter is heavy on the angst. This is pretty much where the story has its end. There is still two chapters left, but the next chapter is the result of this chapter. (Does that make sense?) and the last chapter is the epilogue.

This chapter could maybe upset some. Or you maybe saw it coming the whole time. Who knows lol. I just hope you enjoy it!

Neji sat across from Naruto and Sasuke in the dojo. The boys were off with their aunt Tenten and their cousins while their dads sat in the dojo to observe their mom.

Naruto held in his arms their newborn little girl, Himawari. She looked like a carbon copy of Hinata, except with Sasuke's eyes. She would surely have the Sharingan. Sasuke's little girl. She was quiet just like Sasuke and Hinata as well. Himawari was four months and laid in Naruto's arms cocooned as she looked over calmly at her mother.

Sure enough like Sasuke said. Hinata was back in shape to administer the gentle fist master test to Hanabi. Neji sat on the side of the Hyuga elders to watch and be a 'mutual observer'. In case Hanabi wanted to say Hinata wasn't being fair.

The two females faced one another with such dominance. Hinata looked at Hanabi with her head held high and a calm smile on her face. Hanabi looked at Hinata with nothing but fire and determination.

Both females were dressed in their training clothes. Traditional Hyuga style of black that clung to their bodies for mobility. Hinata's long hair was pulled into a high bun and was tightly wrapped. She had a cover over her bun like in her younger years when she was growing her hair out.

Hinata tilted her head as she looked at Hanabi. She placed one hand behind her back and looked at her sister. "Are you ready Hanabi?" Said person frowned at Hinata and got into her gentle fists stance. "Yes. Hinata-sama."

Hinata picked up on the sarcasm that spilled out of Hanabi's mouth. "Let this test be open sister. Whatever you have on your mind and want to say. Please feel free to say it."

Hanabi frowned at this and advanced towards Hinata within seconds, "Fine. I despise you Hinata."

Neji frowned at the spiteful words. It took everything in him to not correct Hanabi. He watched as Hinata quickly deflected Hanabi's advances. Knocking down blow after blow that Hanabi was doing like it was easy for her. Neji let out a heavy sigh. Hanabi was going to let her rage get the best of her AGAIN.

This is officially Hanabi's fifth time taking the test. She was so freaking bitter of Hinata she couldn't get this right. Hinata surprisingly enough heard Neji's sigh of frustration. She looked at Neji as she held one of Hanabi's arms behind her back, in an arm bar, and bent her over. Hanabi's face contorting in pain.

Neji and Hinata looked at one another for a moment. Immediately clicking and communicating.

Naruto rolled his eyes at this. Fuck was that annoying.

Hinata turned and looked at Naruto before she looked at Himawari. She then pushed Hanabi off. "You are filled with rage. Yes? You're angry with me and feel as if you can't let your frustrations out this way. Well fine. We will take this outside. To the training grounds. You will burn whatever frustrations you have there, and then we will come back and do the test, because this is ridiculous Hanabi."

Hinata gave Hanabi an aloof stare. Silently telling Hanabi what they would be doing, rather than suggesting.

Neji stood up and looked at the elders. "You all stay here. If you follow, I'll be sure to ensure you get a punishment for it. The test is paused until we get back. This is a sibling matter right now."

Neji's chakra spiked and promised nothing but misery if anyone followed them. His eyes growing whiter and emptier by the second. Something Hiashi would do to get people within the clan to submit. Something Neji inherited.

Sasuke stared at the scene and was always interested on what made Neji Anbu captain. Since growing to know Neji more and more. Sasuke has seen bits and pieces of why Neji was a force to be reckoned with. Plus during their mission to fight the Akatsuki. Naruto said Neji proved to be a big muscle in the group. He held his own and kept up with Naruto just fine.

Naruto asked Tenten to watch Himawari while they all went to the training grounds. Once they made it, Neji and Hinata didn't even have a chance to talk to Hanabi before she blindsided Hinata and clocked her in the face with a solid fist.

"Your sister is pissing me off Neji." Sasuke frowned as he stood at the sidelines and watched Hanabi make that cheap shot. Hinata held her hand up for Neji to not intervene. She recovered quickly before Hanabi could hit her again and high kicked Hanabi right in the chin. Sending her back. "If this is what you need to burn your anger off Hanabi. Then be my guest."

Hanabi hopped back up and almost stumbled back from Hinata appearing so close in front of her. Hinata had gained speed over her years. In the past, she couldn't move that quickly.

Hinata activated her Byakugan and stared deep into Hanabi's soul. "You just have to make sure I get to burn off my anger as well."

Hanabi snarled and administered rotation to create a distance between her and Hinata. Proving to be successful because Hinata was now several feet away. "Anger? You've punished me enough don't you think Hinata? To forever live in your shadow with you judging me. Treating me how father would treat you!"

The two ran at one another. Both their chakra seeping out their bodies and proving to be a shield. When they collided, it left an indent in the ground and Hinata gripped Hanabi's hands. She stopped herself from crushing them when she saw her sister wince. "I have not treated you anywhere near how Hiashi has treated me."

Hinata addressing their deceased father as Hiashi sent Hanabi into a rage. She pushed into Hinata and forced her back several steps. "You disrespect him! When he was there to protect our family until he couldn't anymore. Meanwhile you frolicked with outsiders. Bedding them like some WHORE!"

Naruto's jaw squared. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared heatedly at Hanabi. "Just let them get this off their chest." Neji said this and Naruto looked at him with no trace of agreement on his face. "Hanabi makes another cheap shot, and I'll make a cheap shot."

He'd DESTROY her.

Hinata smiled at the insult and quickly side swiped Hanabi and watched her sister lose her balance. Hinata still had a grip on Hanabi's hands so she focused chakra into her hands and swung Hanabi into a training post. Hanabi blasted through it and landed on the ground. "Please. Tell me everything you feel Hanabi."

Hinata touched her sore jaw where Hanabi punched her. She looked at Hanabi and her eyes focused on her. Her Byakugan zeroing in on Hanabi's body. "You blame me for father's death?"

Hanabi jumped up from the ground and growled in pure rage. "Yes! For his death and our grandfathers. You put blame on me for fathers death, when you took more part in it! Choosing those outsiders over your family! Always running away from us like we were the problem. When the problem was YOU! You and your bottomless, bottles of alcohol. You fucking junkie! You fucking murderer. You traitor. I hate you!"

Hanabi sprinted towards Hinata. "Eight Trigrams Mountain Crusher!"

Neji crouched down and was preparing to shield Naruto and Sasuke with rotation, but Naruto's tail covered the three of them and the strong blast of chakra didn't hit them. Everything else around them crumbled and quaked to Hanabi's forceful attack. "Neji…she better not hurt Hinata."

The dust cleared and Naruto looked for Hinata, as his light threat just slipped out his mouth. Neji grunted at this. "Yes, I know. The last thing we need is for you two to lose your minds."

Sasuke nodded his head as he continued to stand cool as a cucumber, with his hands in his pockets. "As long as you know."

Hanabi took a big breath as her eyes surveyed the area with her Byakugan in search of Hinata. Hanabi paused and her breathing faulted as she noticed she had an extra shadow connected to her own. Hinata was back-to-back to her. Molding into her almost. She dodged her attack. How? She had her locked in her sights.

"I am a murderer. I've killed so many people Hanabi…and I don't care." The two turned around and engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Hinata again proving her taijutsu skills were a bit more advanced.

Neji watched on the sidelines and saw the speed and strength Hinata put in her attacks. They now mimicked his level and his strength. When strength was something Hinata struggled with for years. Neji was impressed, he'd want a match with Hinata soon.

Hanabi growled as she could barely keep up a defense against Hinata's hits. They were fast, heavy and overbearing. "You shut me out your life Hinata! I had to find out from Neji about your drinking addiction, and he said it was only because you told him to tell me. Even father didn't tell me! You all shut me out!"

Hinata watched as her sister became more chaotic. More unstable. Hanabi thought the crazier she got, the more of a chance she had at catching Hinata off guard again and landing a damaging hit. Hinata frowned at this. She'd have to show Hanabi why Hiashi trusted her with their clan.

Hinata wordlessly smacked Hanabi's hand away as she tried to land a hit on Hinata's ribs. Hanabi dodged one of Hinata's twin lion fists, but didn't dodge the other and Hinata hit her in the face and sent her flying across the field. "Get up."

Hinata said this with a chilled voice. Her hands encasing with lightning as she created a bow and sent electrical arrows at Hanabi. One whizzing by Hanabi as she stood up and cut her left cheek before it started to burn her face. Hanabi covered her face as she backed away and Hinata sent more arrows Hanabi's way.

"Fight me Hanabi."

Naruto watched Hinata sharply. He wanted to make sure Hinata didn't lose herself during this fight. Hinata would never forgive herself if she ended up really hurting Hanabi.

Before Hanabi knew it. She was in a circle of lighting arrows and couldn't really get out the electrical circle. Hinata jumped in it though and engaged Hanabi in gentle fist. "I said fight me!" Hinata knocked Hanabi down and proceeded to kick her on her side. "Get up! You weak filth! You worthless, weak trash!"

Neji walked over to Hanabi and Hinata. He stepped into the deadly circle unharmed and Hanabi watched from her shell she created as Neji did this. Wondering how he was able to when she couldn't escape. She felt cornered. "Stop it! Both of you!"

"You remember that Hanabi? This is how father treated me. Is that how I treat you?! Is that how you want me to treat you? Every. Single. DAY!"

Hinata took deep breaths as she walked around Hanabi's shell she created for herself. "It drove me to addiction. Now you know. The pain that you feel. How you feel stuck and unable to escape the misery. That's how I felt. Every single day. Yet, I stayed. I fought tooth and nail to come back home. To be there so you wouldn't have to endure what I have endured."

Hinata paused and looked up at Neji. His Byakugan activating as well when the two looked at one another. Both looked back at Hanabi. "Now I will ask you questions Hanabi. Did everything me and Neji endured work? Did father ever treat you like he did us?"

Hanabi sobbed as Hinata looked down at her. "No! He's never treated me that way! I…I hated the way he treated you Hinata!"

Hinata ignored the cries from Hanabi. "Did our grandfather ever touch you Hanabi? In a way you didn't want him to?" Hanabi paused and looked at Hinata strangely. "W-What? What in the hell are you asking Hinata?"

Hanabi's eyes widened as she looked from Hinata to Neji. How they both looked at her seriously. What was their grandfather? "A-Are you telling me he was a fucking perv? H-He did that to you Hinata?!" Her head snapped over to Neji, "You too?!"

Hinata closed her eyes to contain her emotions, "Answer the question Hanabi. NOW."

"NO! He…I was never alone with him. I was always around him with father around. When father died, he came around more, but he never did any sick shit like that! His friend he was with, was a bit touchy, but not in that manner! Is that…oh my God, I think I'm going to be sick!"

Hanabi dry heaved as she thought about the sickness that comes with doing that to children. Your own grandchildren at that.

Hinata let out a sigh of relief and saw Neji do the same. Hinata looked back at Hanabi as she cleared out her electrical trap she created. "You can hate me all you want Hanabi. We don't have to ever have the relationship that we once held, but you telling me that you came out of this unharmed. It was well worth everything I have done. Your personality. Your fire. I never want you to lose it. You're the purest thing I know Hanabi. I love you."

Hinata heard Hanabi start to cry. "H-How could you want to stay here Hinata? After everything that has happened. I-I can't stomach just thinking about the elders. The Konoha council. That evil man Danzo. I…I just don't know how you can be here. Now our grandfather. This is all too much."

Hinata nodded her head as she listened to Hanabi. "You need to pass the gentle fist master test. You will be the secondary leader of our clan members in Amegakure. Still under me. Your fiancé Konohamaru has asked me personally about you two going to Amegakure. If Konoha ever needs him, he must fulfill his ninja duties to Konoha and Konoha only."

Hanabi stared at Hinata shocked and confused. She didn't know Konohamaru did that for her. Hinata took a deep breath as she looked at her sister. "Neji will come back to Konoha, in your place. I cannot run this clan alone and he is the help I need. Your first two years of running the clan. If you show success and high approval rating. I will remove your caged bird seal. I am granting your freedom Hanabi. You do me the favor and fix whatever anger you have within that heart of yours."

Hanabi looked up at Hinata with giant tears that fell down her face. "Hinata…Thank you!" Hinata nodded her head and turned around to leave her sister. She didn't say anything to Hanabi and didn't acknowledge the tears.

This crushed Hanabi. Neji closed his eyes and receded his Byakugan. "Hanabi. Let's take you back. You two burned off your energy, and you'll be in a better headspace to take the exam."

Hanabi also receded her Byakugan and looked at Neji confused before she looked back at Hinata. "Hinata! I don't want our relationship to be like this. I don't want to lose you! Please! Say something."

Hinata paused and looked at her husbands. Sasuke and Naruto took in her features and saw that she looked incredibly hurt. At first they were confused, but then Sasuke realized Hinata had been checking Hanabi out the whole time with her Byakugan to see if Hanabi was lying or telling the truth their whole fight.

There was a difference in saying something to be spiteful and saying something you whole heartedly believed. Hanabi was being 100% honest in everything she said to Hinata.

Hinata squared her jaw and took a deep breath before she spoke again to Hanabi. Her voice full of strength and confidence. Still facing Naruto and Sasuke.

"You told the truth. You hate me. You don't agree with my relationship lifestyle. You believe I am…exactly like our mother. A junkie. You do whole heartedly blame me for Hiashi and his father's death. Your tears over finding out about your grandfather was solely because you are hurt he ruined his legacy. Not for what he has done. You don't understand and cannot relate to me and Neji. That is understandable, and I am happy you have that option to feel that way."

Hinata didn't want Hanabi to see her cry. She was her leader after all.

"You believe I betrayed you. That I am a murderer, and you will never look at me as anything different than the day I was covered in those black veins. I am a monster to you. Now and forever. I've seen what the real you feels Hanabi. I understand. That will never change. There is nothing else for us to discuss. We will go back and take the test. I hope you are focused enough to pass this time."

That was all Hinata said as she left to go back to the dojo.

Hinata handed Naruto his coffee and Sasuke his tea. Tenten gave Neji his cup of tea and went to sit on the couch beside him in the Uzumaki-Uchiha's living room. The kids were playing in the play room except for Hana and Himawari. Hinata was now currently sitting down on the three-seater couch between Naruto and Sasuke breastfeeding Himawari as she eased to sleep.

Hinata was silent for the most part, but she didn't look depressed. She had a cover over Himawari and would periodically peek through while she sipped her tea. Neji watched Hinata rather impressed with how his sister was taking everything. "How did you get by Hanabi's Byakugan and make it to her blind spot."

Hinata looked up at Neji with an 'o' face. "Oh, she was too busy seeing red, she couldn't even focus. Also she was too busy in making sure her mountain crusher was executed right, I just slipped to her other side. She had a shadow clone locked in. Not actually me. I must say, her execution for the jutsu was good. Considering she has no real-world experience using it."

Neji smiled at this and nodded his head. "She really does love you Hinata." Said person hummed as a reply, and Neji let out a sigh while shaking his head.

Naruto slouched on the couch and leaned his head on Hinata's shoulder. She looked at him and smiled. "Naruto-kun. You were getting so upset out there." She could sense him. He was getting very frustrated with Hanabi.

Naruto pouted at this. His tail wrapping around Sasuke to pull him into him, Hinata and Himawari. Thus pushing Hinata into Naruto more, gentle, for Himawari. "She just did a cheap shot and punched you Princess. I was seeing red. All those below the belt comments. Like she was pissing me off."

Sasuke looked at Naruto annoyed for a moment for almost making him spill his tea. However he calmed his nerves and leaned back into the couch. "It wasn't too bad for me to watch. It reminded me of when me and Itachi sparred for the first time together after he was exonerated. It was emotional and we got a lot of things off our chest, but I will say watching you hold back was greatly annoying. Considering she was trying to take your head off."

Hinata smiled at her husband's before she looked off in thought. Thinking about something Hiashi told her a long time ago. "Neji. Remember that night we found everything out and Hiashi caught us? What he told us that night."

Neji grunted as an acknowledgement that he did remember. He smirked somberly as he thought about it. "That man literally tore us down that night. Be specific on what you want to pinpoint. The fact that he was the one to put hate in my heart for my own village. How he made us beg for help. A father made his daughter beg for help for her alcohol addiction. How he told us to become numb to the world. That man was a work of art."

Neji literally hated that man with every fiber of his being.

Hinata just continued to smile. Even though Neji wasn't smiling at all. Naruto looked at her and nudged her with his nose on her cheek. "Hinata."

"How we'd have a better life if the council never did this to our clan. How we'd have a better him. How with time, we would grow numb after a while of being in his position. Being crushed by the village. I…don't think he was all wrong."

Hinata bit her bottom lip as she spaced out in thought. "Not with Konoha. Hiashi was restricted purely because of Danzo, and his own father. If he would have worked on eliminating them the whole time, things would have been different with the caged bird seal."

She tilted her head as she thought more in depth. "Being a leader. Especially for a clan of this caliber. It'll harden you. Hiashi grew numb from our clan. It is a very…demanding job. Your father getting the caged bird seal broke their relationship, and that killed Hiashi inside. It was the beginning of him being numb. Sometimes I wonder why I just couldn't see the signs of that being why he couldn't be there for me. That he was broken. Maybe I wouldn't have repeated history with me and our sister."

Neji took a deep breath as he looked at his tea. He then looked at Hinata. She was feeling numb. Growing a wall around her so she didn't feel pain. So she could close Hanabi off forever. "Hey."

She looked back up at him and Neji looked very serious. "I never liked your father, so this will not be hard for me to say. Your father was literally scum. A piece of filth. No matter how you look at it, he was a bad father. Being a man and being a father, you pull yourself out of your depression, own personal issues, and function for your family. He failed you Hinata because he selfishly didn't want to be there for you. Yet, he was there for Hanabi. He made sure Hanabi was untouched. Literally, fuck Hiashi Hyuga. Okay Hinata? For once I agree with that hot headed Uchiha husband you have. I don't want to hear about that man again in a positive light."

Neji placed his tea on the table and leaned back on the couch. Tenten was holding Hana as she slept, but she rested her head on Neji's shoulder to give him comfort.

Neji looked at Hinata still with a serious face. "You worry so much about ending up like him. Trust me, I worry about the same thing, but we can't get depressed because we have his traits. We're his children, of course we're going to have his traits. I have his horrible evil stare and anger problems. So does Hanabi. I'm sure anyone that meets us for the first time thinks we're arrogant bastards. You have his manipulative ways and cold personality. So what? We'll get over it."

Neji finally smirked as he looked at Hinata. He nodded his head over to Naruto and Sasuke. "If I get too much out of line, I have Tenten to put me in check. You have those two knuckleheads. They seem to have no problem in telling you to calm down or to point out that you have crossed the line to psychopath."

Hinata blinked at Neji before a smile covered her face. She soon giggled at what Neji said because it was actually true. "Neji!"

Sasuke watched as Naruto hid a smile. Naruto has told Hinata for what seemed like years that she was a psycho. Sometimes joking and sometimes serious. Sasuke had to admit, Hinata could cross the line of being a bit insane. However, only if she was pushed out her comfort zone, which Hinata has stated she hated being pushed out her comfort zone.

Plus around Naruto and Sasuke, who when upset, were ten times worse than Hinata. She didn't look that crazy after all. She was far sneakier and more manipulative than them though.

Neji held his hands up defensively, "I'm being honest. I realized you were absolutely nuts a long time ago Hinata. When you took Hanabi out to the training field, I knew she was going to get a reality check. You didn't disappoint me. She needed to know how different we were all raised."

Hinata smiled at this, but she could see how Neji came back full circle to talk about Hanabi again. "I still love her Neji. We just will need time. She has showed me how she truly feels."

Sasuke leaned up to Hinata's ear and whispered in it. Naruto heard the whisper and grinned as he saw Hinata's cheeks blush dark red. "You gave me a second chance, when you saw I was being truthful with how I first viewed you. I was horrible to you, and you still gave me another chance to love you."

Hinata's cheeks puffed. Sasuke wasn't wrong. "Sasuke-kun." Said person smirked at getting Hinata's flustered. He pulled away and leaned back on the couch. "Think about it."

Neji rolled his neck and stood up from the couch. Helping Tenten with Hana as she stood up to follow. "I'm going to our house here, we have a long journey back home tomorrow and you still have much work on Hanabi before sending her to Amegakure."

Hinata looked up at Neji and he arched his brow at her. "Yes. She passed her gentle fist mastery test, but we still need to work on her. I seriously do not plan on her leaving Konoha in the shape she's in. If you want, I can come here more and help, since you two are at odds right now."

Hinata slowly nodded her head in understanding Neji's hesitates. "No. Please don't worry over this Neji. I will handle this." Neji's shoulders slouched a little and he gave Hinata a pointed look. Naruto looked at Hinata annoyed and so did Sasuke.

Neji frowned as he looked at his sister. "Hinata-"

"Tonight. I want to talk to Hanabi tonight. We're going to work out a plan on how all of this will be done. Her goal dates and where she needs to be on those dates. I will talk to Konohamaru as well. We will discuss their future. Marriage and what I expect from her in Amegakure. Children. Her future and our future."

Neji squinted his eyes at her a little. He could see what Hinata was doing. She was trying to officially disconnect from Hanabi in a formal manner. Permanently. Hinata had no ambition of trying to work things out with Hanabi. Their sister hurt her too much. "Okay. Come to my house tonight. We'll discuss it there. Surely you don't want Hanabi in your home right now."

Naruto saw the twitch in Hinata's eye as she looked up at Neji. He knew Neji caught her in whatever Hinata was truly trying to do. "That won't be necessary Neji."

Neji grinned at Hinata's words. His eyes held no amusement in them though. They were ghostly white and angry. Authoritative and overbearing. The look he'd give Hinata when he wanted to intimidate her. A look that worked since they were kids. The look he inherited from Hiashi. "Nonsense. I insist. Hinata."

The look still got under Hinata's skin. Especially when she knew she was in the wrong.

Hinata stubbornly looked off to the side and pursed her lips. "I appreciate you opening your home for such a situation. Thank you. That is where we'll be then."

Neji's grin slid off his face and he continued to look at Hinata. "Great. Don't forget Naruto and Sasuke. It is a family affair after all. The best way to heal everything, is if everyone knows everything. Right?"

Hinata slipped for a moment and showed her true frustration and gave an airy laugh as she looked at Neji. "Of course brother."

With that Neji left with his family and Hinata sat sulking until that night. They had asked Itachi to watch the kids for them. He happily accepted because his niece was a perfect angel to him and he loved holding the small delicate bundle.

Naruto knocked on Neji's front door and was welcomed to Konohamaru opening it. Konohamaru smiled brightly at his mentor and Naruto returned the smile with a brotherly hug. "Man! How have you been! I feel like it's been forever?!"

"Boss! It's been like four days since I last saw you. Too long!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes as the two interacted. They were so annoying sometimes. It looked like Hanabi and Konohamaru has been here for at least an hour, meaning Hinata purposely dragged her feet.

It was going to be one of those nights. A giant Hyuga pow wow.

Usually Naruto and Sasuke opted to sit these things out, but Neji invited them. Sasuke supposed Neji wanted them to see Hinata when she closed off on people. She didn't do it around Naruto and Sasuke, so her two husbands actually wanted to see this. Hinata obviously was not on board with this.

Hinata held a black leather briefcase and walked over to Neji's living room table to set up. She noticed the house was quiet, so the kids had to be sleeping. Meaning more focus on what they were doing. Meaning Hanabi would want to talk more and Neji would try to mediate between the two.

She didn't want this. She just wanted to separate. Let time do the healing. Hinata didn't want to talk about her past. Her scars. Her trauma. Her anger. Hinata wanted to forget about all of that.

Seeing Hanabi was starting to become a trigger for her. Simply because Hinata couldn't forget that look of utter fear and disgust Hanabi truly showed Hinata when she was at her worst with the dark chakra consuming her.

"Hanabi. Here let us discuss some things." Hinata continued to look at her documents. Plans that she drew up and planned to execute. Hanabi was sitting on the couch beside Neji with some tea and both looked at Hinata as she sat at the table, on the floor, calmly waiting for them.

Hanabi walked over and sat beside Hinata, who closed her eyes at the closeness and silently braced herself. Just in case Hanabi touched her. Hinata knew Hanabi was a toucher.

Naruto and Sasuke sat on the couch behind Hinata as they watched her. Silently watching as Hinata emotionally checked out of the situation. Hinata showed Hanabi some papers and had a pen on the table. "These papers here states, although you passed the gentle fist mastery test. You will still conduct training with me at least twice a week. No less. When Neji is in the village, you will solely train with him."

Hanabi looked at Hinata and could tell already she was detached from the conversation. Hanabi knew her sister. She knew when Hinata was avoiding her. "These documents say you will marry Konohamaru no earlier than your 18th birthday. No children until your seal is removed. That will be based on your performance as secondary leader of our clan in Amegakure."

Neji frowned at Hinata. "Wait a minute. You cannot be serious. This was YOUR idea Hinata? It seems like the elders idea."

Hinata ignored Neji. "These documents state, that you will become a Jonin before you leave. You will only test for this in Konoha. No other village. Now these documents here state that once you have stayed up to par with your gentle fist training and have made Jonin. After you wed and migrate to Amegakure. You will train additionally under Neji for six months, no less than twice a week, until he fully transitions out."

Hinata laced her fingers together and rested them on the table. "Also it states. You will not have access to funds without my permission. You will not participate in meetings relating to our clan unless I request you. Your advisor will be of Neji's choice. When I request of you, it is mandatory that you respond. Understand?"

Hinata lifted up the pen and handed it to Hanabi so she could sign stating she agreed to everything on the documents. Neji snatched the pen from Hinata's hand. "Stop. Hinata, just stop it."

Hinata looked over at Neji and still held a void look. She then looked back at Hanabi. Pulling another pen out her white kimono. "You see Hanabi. I initially put in for you to be punished until the age of 21. Now I am retracting that to a lesser punishment. Majority of our people were satisfied with you being punished that long. Yet I am changing it. That in return makes me look forgiving of your wrong doings."

Hinata's jaw squared because she didn't want to do this in front of Neji. Or her husbands. "It makes me look like Hiashi. Turning the blind eye so the privileged can continue to do as they wish. The elders believe you are my achilleas now. Since I am retracting my punishment. Neji coming back is good for the lesser of our clan, but the still brainwashed nobles wanted you to stay. They will give me backlash if I show my weakness. So, even though it makes me look vulnerable, I will let you go. As you wish, but I will hold you to restrictions."

Neji broke the pen in his hand in frustration. "Well cancel the whole thing then. Have Hanabi just stay here until her punishment is done." Hanabi then looked at Neji and shook her head. "No, I want to leave Neji. If this is what it takes, then so be it."

Hinata tilted her head as she looked at Hanabi. Her fire cracker sister. Willing to do any and everything to have it her way. This time Neji looked at Hanabi in anger. "Do you understand what she is SAYING Hanabi? Listen for once!"

Hanabi looked at Neji with widened eyes because Neji never typically raised his voice at her. "Hinata's saying she had to take the backlash. Again. For your wants and needs. Yes, these requests that I'm sure the elders created are pure garbage, but Hinata had to take a big hit on her position as leader. Now people know you are indeed a soft spot for her. That is dangerous. Especially considering your past. How gullible you are to talk to our enemies."

Now Neji wasn't trusting Hanabi to have her seal removed so soon. She was just too immature right now. She could never see the bigger picture.

Hanabi narrowed her eyes at her older brother. "That…That situation. You're STILL blaming me for that situation?! I was 14! I'm not that immature teenager anymore. You know what?!"

Hanabi slammed the pen on the table and now was glaring at Neji and Hinata. This wasn't fair. How they ganged up on her. "You two shut me out. For YEARS. Over everything. Don't you two sit here and place ALL the blame on me, when you NEVER told me the severity of anything! You just treated me like some nuisance that you told what to do all the time!"

Neji looked at Hanabi with nothing but annoyance. "Hanabi. You never ASKED! You were fine being in your own perfect world of being in the main family. We instructed you to do ONE thing in your life, and you just couldn't do it. WHY?"

Hinata looked between Neji and Hanabi exhaustedly before she looked over at Naruto and Sasuke. They stared at her and saw that she was over this situation and was growing upset. "Hanabi. If you want to leave in the future. Just…just sign the papers, and we'll be done with it."

Hanabi snapped her head to Hinata. "You just want to write me off. That's all. You-you HATE me that badly Hinata?! I deserve this from you?"

Hinata looked at Hanabi tiredly. She told herself that day she snapped on Hanabi and slapped her, that she would never do that to her again. She meant it. "You deserve to live your life how you want. Neji deserves to live his life how he wants. Neji wants to be here in Konoha. He's done his duties in establishing our clan in Amegakure. You want to leave and this is your opportunity."

Hanabi shook her head and her eyes started to become watery. Her voice shaken. "This isn't about that Hinata. You KNOW it. It's about us. Me, you and Neji. We're family. You two are all I have left in this family."

Hinata still looked at Hanabi tiredly. That wall was solid and built between her and Hanabi. Hinata didn't want to break it down. "Hinata." She snapped out her void and looked over at Sasuke when he called her name. She looked over at her husbands and the three just clicked.

They could see she was emotionally drained from this. That she wanted to leave and cuddle with them at home. Focus on their life. Neji was right. Hanabi in particular was draining. An emotional rollercoaster that Neji was used to dealing with for years before Hinata stepped in.

Sasuke at least wanted Hinata to try with Hanabi. Second chances could be a good thing. Hinata let out a sigh as she looked at Neji, who was silently encouraging her to speak to Hanabi. "You're right Hanabi. I was planning on you signing these ridiculous papers and never speaking to you again unless in training. I did plan to disconnect from you. I don't hate you, but I know you don't have the same love for me that I have for you."

Hinata looked Hanabi directly in her eyes. "It's a pain like no other to lose family and I've lost you. Not because of anything you've done Hanabi, but because of me. I decided to be addicted to alcohol. To push you away. I decided to hide my abuse from you. I decided that you were too young to understand. I just wanted to put you in a box to protect you. I decided to hide my battle scars from you, because I was ashamed of them. I decided to not show you who I am and how bad I was hurting. I lost you Hanabi. It is all my fault."

Hinata said this with a hollow voice. Detaching from the pain. Not willing to crumble from what she was saying. "Seeing you so alive. With so much life, fire and rebellion in you. It was enough for me. I felt complete. That wasn't enough of a connection for you though and that was my fault. It was selfish of me."

Hinata picked up the pen Hanabi slammed down and held it. She looked at Hanabi seriously now. "My faults were losing a relationship with you. Your faults were disobeying orders. Not taking accountability of what you have done. Not looking at everything me and Neji have done to ensure you have a bright future. The lies we've told to cover for you. The risk I am taking letting you leave to Amegakure. Me ignoring how you still mourn for Hiashi and that man you call a grandfather. You have faults Hanabi, you are not innocent anymore. You've admitted to being jealous and hateful. Yet you expect me to still fully trust you. No."

Hinata tilted the pen for Hanabi to take, which she did. The two holding the pen together now. "I am not saying I am perfect. I am not saying I am better. I know my sins Hanabi. I know who I am now. I am your sister, and I love you more than you could ever imagine. More than life itself, but I cannot continue to put you ahead of myself Hanabi, and you have to UNDERSTAND THAT."

Hinata took a deep breath to calm herself. "This will be the last time I take a hit for you Hanabi. I need you to grow up and be better. I will always support you. You can always reach out to me and I will be there for you. That will never change, but right now my mental and my family is my priority. Not going back to the past. Not talking about my addiction. Not talking about my abuse. Now I need you to sign these papers. Right now."

Hanabi did. She signed every last document.

Hinata took the papers and placed them back in her black suitcase. "After this situation. I will be replacing the elders. They have undermined me one too many times. While they are removed, I will be actively in their position. So, I will be busy Hanabi. With many responsibilities. I need you to keep on the right track, so Neji can come back here to help me in person."

She stood up and looked at her sister. "Hanabi. I have one last question for you. Before I leave and retire for the night?" Hanabi looked up at Hinata still in a daze. "Yes?"

Hinata clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Why? Why do you not want to be in Konoha anymore? Is it because of me?"

Hanabi looked at Hinata confused and shook her head. "No. I…I just need a change Hinata. I can't keep living like this. In the shadows."

Hinata looked at Konohamaru and tilted her head at him before she slowly looked back at Hanabi. "I see. I see some things just run strongly in our family. The clause that you will be training with me at a minimum of twice a week, was personally added in by me. You being micromanaged was personally written in by me. You waiting to have children, again personally written by me. I wrote it all. The elders have no clue about these documents, and you will not bring it up to them. Do you understand?"

Hanabi's eyes widened slightly before she looked down again in shame. Nodding her head in understanding. Neji looked at Hinata curiously and finally Hinata looked at Neji, "I've been recovering for over seven years brother. I know the signs very well. Hanabi, your hands were shaking as you held the pen I was giving you. You are a strong and good fighter. Trust me when I say I know when someone is on the road of recovery. You caught yourself before you became bad off as me. The 'junkie' of the family, as you say."

Hinata looked at Konohamaru and smiled at him. "Thank you. For taking care of my sister when I was too lost in my own recovery to do such a thing."

Hinata looked down at Hanabi and pushed down any emotion she was bursting to feel right now. "That is why Hanabi. I have to keep my distance. You are in the beginning stages of denying your temptations. Sometimes two addicts cannot be around one another. I could relapse and lose everything. I've done my research. I've heard Amegakure is a dry village. No sell of alcohol and little to no drug problems now. So…honesty would have gotten you what you wanted sooner than this."

Neji blinked and looked at Hanabi, "What?" Hinata placed a comforting hand on Hanabi's shoulder and walked to the front door. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from everything Hanabi."

With that Hinata left with Naruto and Sasuke.

End of chapter.

A 'bittersweet' ending maybe. Not really 'The Ending', but there are no other arcs to be had. The buck stops here.

The chapter was titled, 'I'm Sorry', because Hinata ultimately did everything she believed she could do to protect Hanabi. Yet she couldn't protect her from Hinata's biggest demon. Which was alcohol. Addiction. Genetics. She couldn't protect Hanabi from the addictive gene and missed the signs of Hanabi doing exactly what she did during her addiction phase. Hinata is sorry because in the end, she failed Hanabi.

Hinata has been sober for some time. However, relapse could easily happen around the wrong crowd, and at this point, that is Hanabi. So, Hinata knows she cannot be there for Hanabi this time. She cannot protect her sister, because she might end up falling herself.

So, Hanabi has picked up the habit. The cycle continues. Hinata's mother, Hinata, Hanabi. Hinata's worse nightmare, as she said last chapter.

Since the beginning of the story, Hinata has been slowly evolving to what she fought very hard to not become. Hiashi. Even though Neji and Kakashi saw this coming. Neji even going as far as telling Hinata to suck it up. It's life. So, Hinata now has taken the role of what Hiashi was to Hinata. The person to pull her out of addiction. In the harshest way possible. With no love. Just all business. This is the only way Hinata knows to help Hinata.

Still, we have two chapters left. So cheer up! Next chapter, the follow up with Naruto, Sasuke and Hinata of what just happened. My girl Hinata needs some TLC.

See you Saturday!