Hey, hey!

So, surprise! A chapter before Saturday. Don't worry, I will still upload tomorrow's chapter. I just felt like this chapter was a good informative chapter to introduce the new threat. Plus, it's a short chapter compared to Saturday's chapter and I didn't want this chapter to be a Saturday chapter lol. I don't know, I'm weird like that.

I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Hinata tapped at her father's desk in his study as she looked at a middle-aged man across the desk from her.

Mr. Foy. He was a council member, not exactly an old council member, but he was one she found out was devoted to Danzo. Also one that had financial reliance on Hyuga funds for his small business because they invested in him.

Mr. Foy was about 5 foot 9. He had a horseshoe bald spot on his head with boring brown, dull eyes. He frowned at Hinata as she stared at him blankly from across the desk.

"I cannot keep taking you increasing my interest rates Lady Hinata. I talked to your father and he told me to talk to you. That YOU are the one raising the interest rates on my farm. Yes, you own the property, but I produce everything on that farm. I do the hard labor. I provide jobs for people to work on that farm. You raising the interest rates for me to pay you for the property is just hurting my workers. You'll get a bad image sooner or later young lady."

Hinata arched a brow at Mr. Foy. She looked behind him to see Neji sitting on the floor near the door. He was leaning against one side of the door frame and his leg was stretched out to the other side of the door frame. He had one leg bent and raised so he could rest his arm on it. He was subtlety blocking the man from leaving the room.

Hinata internally smiled. She then cleared her throat. "Well, if you cannot afford to pay your workers and me, then I will take my land back. Evict you and pay the workers myself. You are not what makes the farm flourish, the workers are. You are the middle man. I can make more if I just take you out of the equation and pay the workers what you pay them anyways."

Mr. Foy wasn't an inventor. He was a business owner. They were common things to find and replace.

Hinata pulled out a folder with Mr. Foy's financial records and property agreement that he made with her father years ago. "In fact. You pay these workers below the average pay rate that this type of work pays. I will give them 'a raise' and they would surely stay to work for the Hyuga's instead of you. It would almost be impossible for you to build your business back up without the financial help that my father gave you in the past. You don't seem to have the means to go to a bank and get a loan either. Considering Hyuga's are investors in the banks also."

Mr. Foy was silent for a long time after Hinata spoke. She laced her fingers together and rested them on the table as she looked at Mr. Foy. She could see the anger build up on his face as he shook his head. "You're trying to blackmail me. Exploit me for something! What is it you want?!"

"Lower your voice." Neji said this as he looked at the heated man in the seat. Neji had a cool expression on his face. His forehead protector on and his hair tied in a loose bun. He was off today so he wore a loose cream colored robe that revealed partial of his chest and slacks to match.

Neji's frost-bitten voice made Mr. Foy immediately shut his mouth. Hinata tilted her head as she looked at the man seated across from her. "I will bring a matter up to the council soon. Your vote will go in my favor. Even if your acquaintance Danzo disagrees."

Mr. Foy's eyes widened in fear. Go against Danzo? Was she crazy?! "You don't know what you're trying to get yourself into. That man will kill you and me."

Hinata nodded her head as she listened to Mr. Foy, "Either Danzo will kill you, or I will kill you and take away your family's means for financial stability. You'll be dead and they will be homeless."

Mr. Foy's mouth went dry as he looked at Hinata. How her whole demeanor changed and she looked purely evil as she stared at him. She looked like she would surely commit to her words. "I need time to think this over. Surely you understand Lady Hinata."

Hinata pulled open her father's desk drawer, and pulled out a small scroll. She had wrote down a quick scripture and then pulled out a small razor to make a small cut on her finger. "You have until I finish this scroll to make your decision. Or I will crush your family slowly before I end your life. You'll never even have the chance to reach out to Danzo."

At this point Mr. Foy was sweating and let out a miserable groan. "Fine. You have my word."

Hinata reached her hand out for Mr. Foy's hand. "I will have your word and your blood in a binding vow. If you betray me, this binding scroll will activate. It will kill you so I don't have to lift a finger. It will prohibit you from telling Danzo any of this as well. Me and you will be bonded by blood Mr. Foy."

He hesitated for a moment before he reluctantly gave Hinata his hand and she cut it. Hinata placed his bleeding finger on the scroll before releasing him. "I will lift the added interest on your farm Mr. Foy. It was nice doing business with you. Enjoy your day."

"That means get out." Neji said this as he reached up and turned the door knob. Opening it for Mr. Foy to leave.

The older man stood up from his seat and looked at Hinata before shaking his head. "You and your father. You're one in the same. You know that? I see you learn from the best. I was really hoping you grew up to be different, Lady Hinata."

Said person leaned back in her chair as she stared at Mr. Foy. "You don't take my threats serious. Do you Mr. Foy? Please understand, they are more like promises than threats."

This made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and Mr. Foy almost jogged out the office.

Neji shut the door as he watched Hinata roll up another scroll and place it in her father's drawer and locked it. "He's the last one that has close ties to Danzo. You're pretty much solidifying that our request will be passed with this current council." Neji watched as Hinata still sat at the desk and had a conflicted look on her face. "What's wrong?"

Hinata stared off into the void as she spoke. "They do not think I can hold my own against this evil man, Danzo. They just think that once he gets ahold of me I will cower. I want to show them that I am not scared of Danzo. That I can handle myself. Not even father has challenged this man. I want to."

Hinata was proud to be getting justice for her clan, but this hatred that has been brewing inside her for this man Danzo. This was personal. He ruined her clan's dynasty, yes, but he also ruined her life heavily. Hiashi, he was a broken man because of Danzo. Hinata put the blame heavily on Konoha's council, and especially Danzo, for her father and clans internal struggles.

She wanted Danzo personally herself, and she didn't want anyone to know the thirst for vengeance had been marinating in the pit of her stomach. That she's been fixated on this man.

Neji eyed Hinata. He stood up as Hinata spoke and dusted his robes. He crossed his arms over his chest as he looked at her. "Alright. We'll go together. Tonight."

Hinata shook her head as she finally looked up at Neji. "No. I want to do this alone. He cannot believe you are in relation to this. Tenten is pregnant. He'll threaten you and her. I don't want father involved. He'll go after Hanabi. This is my fight. I want to show him that I am the one behind all of this."

Neji immediately wasn't for this. She was acting as if her life was disposable. He hated when Hinata did this.

"No. You don't know why everyone fears this man. True he is an elder, but people are scared of him for a reason. That, and he is in charge of the ROOT organization. They are dedicated to him and only him. They will all attack you if he tells them to and they'll kill you. If Danzo finds out you're the one that knows all his secrets he will stop at nothing to take your life. If you don't want me to go, just wait. Naruto and Sasuke will be here in a few days."

Hinata shook her head again. "I do not want anyone to interfere. This is MY fight." Neji stood in front of Hinata and stared heatedly in her eyes. Once upon a time she would have recoiled at this stare. Now she held the same stare at him. "I said it's too dangerous, Hinata."

Hinata didn't falter. "I…said you cannot go. I'm telling you that you cannot go. I have the title remember."

Neji furrowed his brows together. "Are you ordering me?" He couldn't disobey a direct order. He was the oldest, but Hinata was labeled the heiress. Her orders had to be held and respected. Hinata squared her jaw and took several deep breaths to calm her nerves. To be honest, she was still very much intimidated by Neji. "Yes. I am."

She was scared right now. She didn't want to lose Neji. She didn't want him to get angry with her, but she needed him to see that his life was worth too much to lose. "If anything ever happens to me. You will be there for our clan. Both of us cannot be lost."

Neji faltered and stepped back from Hinata. Shit. She had him there. "I rather you send me, but you are being very stubborn and hard headed right now Hinata. This is an 'order' as you say, so I will do as I am told. You better come back though, or I'll never forgive you."

Neji watched Hinata disappear into the night from their front porch. He clicked his tongue against his teeth and played with his kunai on the porch as he sat beside Tenten. "Where is Hinata going?" Neji looked over at Tenten and smiled. She could see through the fake smile and frowned at him. "Neji."

"She's going to play on deaths door, but don't worry. I have a plan."

Hinata sighed to herself as she felt rain drops fall down on her. It was starting to rain and soon she would be soaked. It was much too hot in the night to be cold and wet, but to be wet and have insects attracted to her now greatly made things more annoying.

Just as she suspected, it started to pour down rain. Just as she arrived to Danzo Shimura's home. It was a modest home. Nothing impressionable. He lived conservative and basic. Danzo lived far away from others. He had about two or three acres to himself. Meaning he could do a lot of things undetected.

Hinata watched as Danzo's cottage light had randomly went off. It was about 11 at night, and from what she gathered. Someone like Danzo was a paranoid man. So him randomly turning all the lights off in his home at 11 at night was alarming. That meant he knew she was here.

Since she was already compromised. Hinata just walked the large field to Danzo's cottage. She was drenched and out in the open as she freely walked. Already taking note that his ROOT-nin were hidden in the shadows.

When she had gotten closer she saw Danzo standing outside his home. On the porch as he looked at Hinata approach him. "What would you need, at a time like this Hyuga?"

Hinata didn't say anything until she had gotten close to him. About six feet away from him. It was interesting that he knew who she was. Considering she was in Anbu gear and wearing her mask. That meant he had been watching her from afar. Reading her confidential files.

Following her.

"I say this for the last time. What do you want Hyuga?"

"I want you dead." That was Hinata's only reply.

Danzo couldn't see this, but Hinata frowned when she heard him laugh. She pulled out her bow and arrow and pointed it at him. She watched as Danzo slowly started to play with the bandage around his eye and arm. Revealing a modified, deformed arm. His skin there was discolored from the rest of his body and soon Hinata saw multiple Sharingan eyes open. It also revealed he had a Sharingan eye like Kakashi.

What the hell was going on?

Hinata did not hesitate. She saw Danzo about to say something and immediately hit him with an arrow. Right in his chest, but not where the heart was. "How rude. You didn't even give me a chance to speak." In a matter of seconds Danzo yanked the arrow out and had done multiple hand symbols and a giant wood log emerged and rammed right into Hinata. Knocking her on the other side of the field.

If Hinata was to be honest. When everything was soaking wet, the hit felt more painful.

Hinata hopped up, but wasn't fast enough before Danzo was upon her. He was fast with his age and before she knew it, he punched her. Right in the face. Immediately cracking her mask. This man had to be in his 70s and he just cracked her mask in half.

The ringing in Hinata's head was loud and all she could hear was Danzo hitting her in the face again, and again and again. Until she fell on the floor and he was on top of her hitting her with a series of punches.

Hinata finally got ahold of herself and held one of his fists while her other hand formed a lion fist and hit Danzo. Landing him several feet across his land. Hinata quickly stood up, ignoring the ringing sound in her head. How flashes of light came across her vision and how she clearly had a concussion. She ignored how she could feel the night air on the bare right side of her face because Danzo had cracked her mask in half.

Danzo was up within seconds. Hinata activated her Byakugan and engaged with him. She landed a hard hit on him moments ago. This should have depleted some of his chakra. Making it hard for him to go for the big moves. "You're a fire cracker aren't you Hyuga. I could use someone like you."

Hinata backed away as she noticed Danzo perform wind release. She performed rotation, but she still received damage from the sharp force of his jutsu. This man was strong, he could go through her defenses. Monsters like him was the reason her father trained her until she fainted.

Hinata leaped mid-air and pulled out another arrow, aimed and released it towards Danzo. It was littered in lighting, but ended up making impact on a giant tree stump, thanks to Danzo's wood release.

When Hinata landed she was behind Danzo. He turned around and frowned at her. Oddly he was feeling weak. Even though he was well rested, he was sweating and breathing hard. Finding it hard to concentrate. "What was your point in coming here tonight? I know all of your secrets and took the measures to expose you shall I die by a Hyuga's hands. You need me alive to keep your sins buried."

Hinata was breathing hard before she slowly started to approach Danzo. She watched him lean against his large tree stump and take large breaths of air. "I am prepared to take the punishment. I did all of this. I will solely go down for this. If it means people like you will never hurt innocent people again."

Hinata finally made it face to face with Danzo. She pulled a vile out her pouch, showing that she had created a serum to take him out. Danzo looked at the bottle before he slid to the ground on his knees. "Does the Hokage know you are using her medical skills for such evil?"

So, there was a reason Hinata accepted the medical program from the Hokage. To take out the council members she targeted. There was always a reason for everything she did. Hinata was no longer the little girl never in control.

Hinata frowned at this and finally back handed Danzo with all her might, until he fell completely to the ground. Just like he got on top of her, she got on top of him and even though she was not someone that used her knuckles and closed fists to hurt someone. For him she'll make an exception.

She scrunched her face in pain from the first two hits. She channeled chakra to her hands to make this as painful as possible for the immobilized man. It was a sedative, not poison. Hinata wanted him to believe he was dying, when in reality he'd only be immobile for a few hours. Plenty of time to kill him. She just had to hang on long enough for it to settle in.

She kept her Byakugan active. In case any ROOT-nin came her way, she'd swiftly kill Danzo before they killed her. She figured they were so robotic, that they didn't move yet because Danzo didn't tell them to. Hinata never gave him the chance.

His blood splattered as she pummeled his face. Hinata was hoping his ears were ringing just as much as hers were. "Does the Hokage know what you have done? The Uchiha massacre being your mischief. All the blood and corrupt voting done by you. If she found out, you would be in a much worse position than me Danzo-sama."

Hinata stopped hitting him as she realized his face was coated ruby red. Instead she wrapped her hands around his neck and pressed her thumbs into his throat. Listening to him gargle on his own blood in his mouth. Gasping for air. Hinata's done this before in Mist village, she could do it again now. "You…ruined my life. You ruined so many people's lives. You need to die and I will not care if death is my punishment."

She trained for this. Worked hard for this. To be able to look at someone in their eyes as she took their life. To be emotionless for this moment. All Hinata could feel was the satisfaction of vengeance. The veins in her body slowly showcasing the dark chakra consuming her mind frame.

Her arms shook as she choked him. Feeling a rush from watching his eyes become blood shot. "Hinata. Stop."

She did not stop when she heard Kakashi. "Neji shouldn't have told you."

Who else would give her sensei intel that she was out here. In the middle of the night, during heavy rain. Kakashi stood behind Hinata with his hands in his pockets. Yet, close enough to take out her or Danzo if it came to it. "You're only going to regret this Hinata."

"I don't think I will." Hinata watched as Danzo's feet weakly started to kick. Showing that he was losing this battle of getting air. Hinata turned and looked at Kakashi. He could see the black chakra pulsating around her visible face. The dark chakra feeding off from her evil deed. Encouraging Hinata, in her head, to kill Danzo. Kakashi could still see it in the rain, how Hinata had fallen.

At this point. With the corruption and murders Hinata has done. What made her any different than the man she was choking?

This time around. Neji wanted to stop Hinata from the madness. Hiashi wasn't going to stop her, because in reality, Hiashi wanted this. Hinata and Hiashi wanted the same things and that WASN'T okay. Hinata was better than this.

So, Neji reached out to Kakashi. The only person right now that Hinata would listen to. Her true father figure, because even though Hiashi held the DNA as Hinata's father. Neji saw it entirely different.

In the beginning. Neji has never seen an outsider from their family be so…caring. Yet Kakashi was there for Hinata. Through her addiction. Her mentorship. Taking her in his household when he didn't have to. Kakashi saw signs of struggle in Hinata that, as an adult, he helped Hinata with that a father was supposed to do and Hiashi didn't.

When Hinata pushed Kakashi away, he was still always there on the sidelines for her.

When she made Jonin. Kakashi was there. Encouraging Hinata to smile for a picture. When she made Anbu, Kakashi was there to honorably pin her himself. Those are the pictures Hinata held close to her. None with her actual father, because in Hinata's eyes. Kakashi was her actual father and she would forever respect him for everything he's done.

So, who else was better for Neji to ask for help? No one.

"Hinata. I'm not going to stop you, but I want you to really take a look at yourself. Is this you?"

Hinata growled at him. She turned back to Danzo and felt like choking him to death was taking too long. She pulled a kunai out her pouch and held it to Danzo's neck. She was breathing hard as she pressed the sharp blade against his throat.

"He's…going to keep hurting people sensei. He'll go after my family, even though they have nothing to do with this. If I just kill him now, I will be punished, but not my family. They will be okay. They can finally heal in peace."

Kakashi kneeled beside Hinata and placed a hand on her shoulder. "What about Naruto and Sasuke? They'll never heal. You made a promise that you would do better for them. You promised me you'd get better. Danzo cannot go after you and hurt you Hinata. You both at this point need each other alive to hold your secrets in. Just wait a little longer and life will make its judgement on men like Danzo. Trust me."

Kakashi could feel Hinata shaking. Her mouth was closed, but he heard her scream to herself before she let go of the sharp blade. "I hate him sensei."

Kakashi took the kunai and held Hinata's hand as he helped her up. Assessing the damage Danzo did to her. If she had not injected him with that sedative. Danzo would have surely killed her.

Hinata knew that. She planned this. She knew his skills were unknown, and she planned to do this to him all along. How else would she just have this vile in her pouch. How long had she planned on doing this?

"I know Hinata. Believe me. I feel the exact same way as you do." Kakashi looked down at Danzo, watching as the elderly man turned to spit blood out of his mouth. Still dazed and out of it. Kakashi looked out into the darkness and saw silhouettes. They were ROOT members. They were definitely going to kill Hinata if she continued on to strangle Danzo. If he never arrived Danzo and Hinata both would be dead.

Hinata was now the perfect ninja. Willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good. Yet, Kakashi didn't feel proud at this moment. If anything, he felt like a little tongue lashing to Hinata and Danzo was needed.

"If I were you Danzo. I would stand down from the Hyuga clan. Especially from my student. There is far too much that Konoha and the rest of the world is going through right now to worry about internal conflict. Place your focus on protecting the village instead of destroying it. If you keep this up. If both you and Hinata keep this up. I'll turn you both in to the Hokage and no one wants to make her angry."

Kakashi didn't wait for Danzo or Hinata to answer. He gave Hinata that stern look he gave her when he first told her she'd be living with him. That he knew about her drinking and grounded her. That very look still scared Hinata, and right now shocked her into silence. "Let's go Hinata. Now."

The rain started to clear Neji noted as he watched Hinata arrive to their home with Kakashi in tow. Kakashi let her walk, probably because Hinata requested to. Even though she was wobbling and stumbling along the way. Neji was thankful that their home was in a quiet area, away from prying eyes.

Tenten stood up from the porch and immediately opened the front door for Hinata. Neji stood up and watched as Hinata avoided looking at him as she walked inside the house. She was angry, he could clearly tell from that. Neji looked at Kakashi and nodded his head. "Thank you. Hinata has this fixation on torturing this man, and doesn't care in the slightest that he could crush her."

Kakashi looked at Hinata as she went to the kitchen sink and removed her mask to clean off her face. "Well, she definitely had the upper hand and was moments away from ending Danzo's life when I arrived. She shot him with an arrow laced with a sedative. It immobilized him after a while. All she had to do was take a pounding for a few minutes until the sedative kicked in."

Neji looked at Kakashi confused. "How would she know to bring a sedative and lace it with her arrows? She doesn't know Danzo and that's not something she takes on missions. She doesn't even train in it." Realization slowly started to come to Neji and he was slowly starting to become infuriated. Kakashi watched as Neji stormed in the house. He wasn't far behind him.

Neji reached for Hinata and forced her to look at him. Hinata whipped around and pushed off his hold, but Neji had grabbed her jaw firmly. "You've been spying on this man on your own? Without any backup? Are you fucking stupid?! That man could have had you killed!"

Neji searched Hinata's eyes. She could see he was hurt, but she needed him to understand. "It doesn't matter. He already knew. Everything about me, and I know he knows about you brother. I…I cannot lead the clan like this Neji. I am not fit, I barely could control myself tonight. I want to talk to father. Have me and your roles reversed, I need to stay in the shadows of our clan. Do things like this, because I cannot be the face."

Neji let go of Hinata and backed away. "What?" Hinata eyes were wide and unstable. The dark chakra had taken over every vein on her face, neck and whole body. Neji ignored all of that, he was more concerned that she was going to relapse.

"Look at me Neji! Look at what I am! I will scare the clan. They will fear me and NEVER respect me. I am a freak. I am a modified impure monster. You are the clan heir. The first born. This is yours. I am simply making the position rightfully yours. Once the caged bird seal is abolished and done with the council. Leadership will be yours. I will be under you. I will do what you cannot do."

At this point, that's all Hinata felt like she was good at. Just doing horrible things. Hinata hasn't felt like she's done a good deed in over three years.

Hinata was burnt out.

Neji let out a heavy breath. She was pushing so hard for him? All this time. She thought she was unworthy of the position. She was PERFECT for this position. "I'm not letting you do such a stupid thing. Your reasons are invalid. You should have asked me. Talked to me first. Every Hyuga knows about the dark chakra, they know about Naruto and Sasuke. They accept you Hinata. You won't let them accept you. You keep pushing everyone away because YOU feel undeserving."

Hinata shook her head and insecurely wrapped herself in her arms. "I'm…turning into the man that I swore I would never be Neji."

Every day she looked in the mirror, all she saw was Hiashi. Angry, bitter, cold blooded Hiashi.

Neji shook his head and smiled at Hinata. "Unfortunately you were already like him Hinata. Embrace it, I have embraced my similarities to him. You can't hide who you are anymore. Especially after the stunt you pulled tonight. We have to get you prepared for Danzo now."

Hinata ran her hands through her wet hair. She flinched at how sore her face was. She felt Kakashi lightly touch her chin and turn her to look at him. "Yeah. You're face is tore up pretty bad. Not a very delightful welcome home sight Naruto and Sasuke would like to see. Even if you did heal it, you'll still have marks."

Hinata let out a sigh. "He's a monster Neji. His body is modified severely. He has the Sharingan in his eye that's covered, and he even has Sharingan's embedded in his skin. All over. I don't know what he could do with those. His chakra network isn't authentic anymore. It's mixed in with others that he modified into himself. Even with his old age, he's very dangerous."

Neji folded his armed across his chest. "I see that. Maybe if you sat down and talked to me about your spying and what information you discovered before you went out to be a vigilante, we could have figured something better out."

Hinata puffed her cheeks and ignored the pain and how it would push blood out from the cuts on her face. "I…do not feel as if I was wrong Neji. "

Neji shook his head and frowned at Hinata. "You're 18. I get you're still a young leader, but nevertheless, you are still a leader. Whether you want to be or not. It's your title. I won't accept any more nonsense like this from you Hinata Hyuga. No more temper tantrums. Do I make myself clear? Don't make me question following you. You do not want me to be angry with you."

Hinata looked like a kicked, wet dog. She looked at the ground and nodded her head in understanding from Neji. She was getting a lecture from both Neji and Kakashi, she felt absolutely awful right now. Kakashi had lectured her all the way back from Danzo's cottage.

Kakashi watched the scene and looked nothing other than amused. Hinata fitted the profile of a young leader that didn't want the position, but was 100% perfect for the position of clan heiress. Having her trusted right-hand man there to keep her in line. This was an amusing sight to watch.

Neji continued to look at Hinata. Not satisfied with her mute answer, "And I'm telling Naruto and Sasuke if they ask what happened to you."

Hinata snapped her head up and looked at Neji. "No! You can't!"

End of chapter.

So, it ended sweetly. This chapter was needed because it'll help the flow of the future chapters.

Hinata still has her insecurities about leading the Hyuga clan, but Neji is there to guide her. As he has always been there to guide her. So, while Naruto and Sasuke are away. They have no clue Hinata is down this bad. She's not sharing that with them completely. She doesn't want them to worry over her. However, they will see that Hinata can't hide her flaws. She's going to try, and succeed short term, but in a few chapters they'll see the real Hinata breakdown that Neji has seen over the years.

S/N: I love Neji and Hinata family moments, and Kakashi acting as a father.

See you all tomorrow!