"I've heard you've been in contact with Sasuke" he started, arms crossed and posture as imposing as always. Hinata resisted the urge to glance down, and just nodded. Her father clicked his tongue. "Use your words, Hinata. Surely even you can do that?"
"Y-Yes, father" she winced at her stutter, and her father sighed.
"Why didn't you tell me anything?" he asked, wanting to continue with the conversation. Hinata took in a deep breath, preparing herself as best she could to explain her reasons.
"I… I didn't really think about it father" she started. Slowly, measured. "After… after that… time" she referred to last year, when Sasuke kicked her out of his district on the day of the anniversary of his clan's demise; "we didn't speak again… but then he came and… and he wanted to know why I s-stopped bringing him bentos… and since then we continued… talking…"
She gulped, anxious under her father's piercing stare. She made herself continue. "After that… we just became closer… I-I'm sorry father, I did not mean to… to keep it from you…!"
"Enough" Hiashi stopped his daughter just as she was getting more and more worked up. Hinata clamped her mouth shut, fisting her pants as she waited for what her father would say. What came out of his mouth was something she didn't expect. "Do you know why I asked you to do this, Hinata? Why I asked you specifically to bring bentos to Sasuke and befriend him?"
Hinata gulped, wondering if she was finally going to be told the reason her father worried so much over Sasuke. She shook her head, before realizing her mistake and quickly saying "no, father."
"The two of you are the same age, and are classmates as well. It was convenient because you would be able to be there for him more than anyone else. But above all else, it's because of who you are" Hinata blinked, surprised and a bit confused at his words. "Yes, Hinata. I know you and I see you, regardless of what you might believe. You resemble your mother a lot, not only in looks, but also in personality. I knew that your kindness and patience would be ideal to help the boy and allow him to heal. You share that ability with Himawari" he confessed, his body and expression softening even though he still had his arms crossed.
Hinata didn't know what to say to that. She felt warmth spreading from her chest to every part of her body, to the tips of her fingers. All her life, she had been told that her kindness was a weakness, that it was something better getting rid of, but now, and by her father's own admission at that, her kindness was something necessary, something useful.
She felt her eyes getting misty, and blinked repeatedly to keep the tears at bay. She would not cry, not here, not now, not over something good.
"I am not angry with you because you kept it from me, Hinata" Hiashi continued, unaware or uncaring of what his words had caused on his daughter. "I find it perfect, actually. I just wanted to make sure that what I heard was the truth. Please continue getting along with Sasuke from now on" he asked. Hinata nodded determinedly.
"Yes, father."
It wasn't until later, when she was back in her own room, that Hinata realized her father never told her exactly why he wanted her to be friends with Sasuke so much.
I never watched Boruto, but I heard that Himawari Uzumaki was named so after Hinata. If that's true (and even if it isn't) I thought it would be sweet if Hinata's mother's name was also Himawari. Hinata was the sunny place to her mother's sunflower.