It's a Hyuuga heavy chapter this time.

Chapter 65: Would you die on that hill (or would you just tumble off)?

Sasuke exited the Hokage Tower via the door that led to the courtyard. Green grass cushioned his sandaled feet as he marched forward to take a seat on the bench, uncaring of its other occupant.

Shikamaru's drawn out sigh was, frankly, offensive.

"Kakashi asked me to join the Akatsuki task force," Sasuke said without so much as glancing over at the other shinobi to acknowledge him. Fortunately, Shikamaru wasn't the type to get hung up on propriety.

"I figured he would," Shikamaru replied, keeping his own gaze fixed upwards at the sky.

"I don't want to," Sasuke said bluntly.

Shikamaru took a drag of his cigarette and then, exhaling, said, "Did you tell him that?" The phrasing was that of a question, but the lack of inflection suggested he knew the answer.

Feeling a prickle of irritation, Sasuke glared into the distance. "Ninja don't get to refuse the Hokage," he said, not quite sidestepping.

"If you want to be pedantic about it, ninja can respectfully request alternative assignments and it's within the Hokage's discretion to grant them," Shikamaru remarked. "And we both know Hokage-sama wouldn't force you. So there's another reason why you didn't say no." He flicked the ashes away from the cigarette, the dying embers landing by their feet. "I can hazard a guess, but you could do us both a favour and just say it."

Sasuke pressed his lips into a tight line as he considered the tangled emotions inside of him. "…I'm supposed to be past making other people clean up my messes," he said after a minute. It was the most straightforward explanation he could provide.

"Pretty arrogant to take responsibility for all of their bad deeds when you were a member for what, a week?" Shikamaru said wryly. "The Akatsuki did a lot of damage here that no one is going to soon forget." Shikamaru paused, voice strained with emotion. When he spoke again, that emotion was absent, like the slip had never happened. "But if you asked anyone in Konoha about them, I guarantee your name wouldn't come up."

Shooting a sidelong glance at the other shinobi, Sasuke saw Shikamaru's fist clenching and unclenching, something metal glinting between the tight grip of his fingers.

"Maybe not my first name," Sasuke said.

Shikamaru's knuckles relaxed, blood rushing back to the skin. "So that's it…" he mused. His fist uncurled completely, revealing the lighter cradled in the palm of his hand. In a matter of seconds, Sasuke's perfect recall placed the lighter, calling forth dozens of episodes that unfurled in his mind's eye.

Sarutobi Asuma: picking up Team Ten from the academy at graduation, flicking his lighter on and off coolly; chatting with the sandaime when Team Seven was reporting in for a D-rank, leaning half-out the window with a lit cigarette and lighter in hand; walking side by side with Kurenai on the streets of Konoha, the curly haired jounin playfully stealing the lighter before he could light his cigarette; joking around with Gai and Kakashi at the chuunin exams with a cigarette hanging from his lips, tucking his lighter back into his pocket.

Uncomfortable, Sasuke averted his gaze. Clearing his throat, he said, "Itachi…he took responsibility for me. Bargained for my life and then taught me to survive by making himself a goal to be overcome." They were surrounded by vibrant green, the branches of the trees in the courtyard were heavy with large leaves and on the ground the grass sprouted up thick and healthy. Inevitably Sasuke's eyes were drawn to the one anomaly: the barren patch by the bench where Shikamaru's cigarette dangled from his fingers, the result of habitual sprinkling of ash. "Itachi was meticulous. If he had been around for the dissolution of the Akatsuki, there would be no loose ends. But he's not…because of me. Now it's my turn to take responsibility."

Shikamaru made a considering noise. "The children who will carry Konoha on their shoulders, they are the Black King," he murmured, thumb rubbing against the edge of the lighter. Then, louder, he said, "It's a fine line, saying the children are the future. It can be motivation, driving us to do our best to leave a better future for those who come next. But it can also be a burden, leaving the things we failed to accomplish on their shoulders. The meaning depends on the person." Sasuke felt the weight of Shikamaru's gaze move to him and, unable to back down from a challenge, turned to face him. "How would you interpret it?" Shikamaru asked, voice heavy with meaning, "How would your brother?"

The corners of Sasuke's lips twitched, threatening to pull into a frown as he mulled the words over. Shikamaru said nothing, simply going back to smoking, his cigarette on its last legs.

Finally, Sasuke asked, "Would you say no?"

Shikamaru raised his eyebrows. "Putting aside that I wouldn't be the best choice for this — I'm not a tracker or a fūinjutsu expert — I don't have a reason to."

Sasuke's frown won. "…what about the Suna girl?"

"A mission like this wouldn't change our status quo much," Shikamaru said lightly, an amused expression on his face. "We're both the independent type anyway. You wouldn't understand."

It occurred to Sasuke that the last time he'd broached the topic of Shikamaru's relationship, the Nara had outright refused to discuss it. Then Shikamaru's words caught up to him and he sneered, "What does that mean?"

"I remember seeing your brother pick you up after school. You were a clingy brat," Shikamaru said mildly, stubbing out his cigarette.

Sasuke jerked back and then scowled. "I just remembered why I hate you."

Shikamaru huffed out a laugh. "Look, your reasons for not wanting to do this are your own. If there was an immediate danger or you were the only ninja capable of accomplishing this mission, that would be one thing. But as it stands, you're not doing anyone any good by forcing yourself to something you don't want to." He raised his chin, face angled up towards the bright blue sky. "There's a whole village full of ninja to rely on. It's not all on you."

Sasuke's frown faltered, eyes widening.

"It's not all on you."

Wasn't it?

The person who had to take down Itachi, avenge his clan. If not him, who?

The person who had to punish the village, to burn down the corrupt system. Who else would have the guts?

The person who had to right his wrongs, to atone. Who else had the responsibility?

"If I could have taken all your pain… onto myself to comfort you, I would have…"

Sakura's face, smudged with dirt and screwed up in pain.

"I've seen my share of troubles. You're not the only one who knows what it's like to lose somebody."

Kakashi putting on a nonchalant air even as he went out of his way to convince Sasuke to stay on the right path.

"I will shoulder your hatred and die with you! Because I'm your friend!"

Naruto's dogged determination, ready to put his life on the line.

"Tell me…I'll hold it safely for you. Here."

Hinata's warm hands and beating heart.

Slowly, Sasuke turned his gaze away from an unconcerned Shikamaru, sitting there unaware of the upheaval he had just caused. He looked upwards, squinting.

The sun was too bright, it stung his eyes.

But it was warm.

The usacha was warm against Hinata's lips, brewed to perfection by the workers in the Hyuuga kitchens, but the atmosphere was cold.

Hinata's knees dug into the tatami floor of her father's office. She set the cup down soundlessly on the table. The tea had been prepared elsewhere and brought in with no accompanying meal nor offerings of wagashi.

This was not one of the tea ceremonies they'd been hosting monthly at the Hyuuga compound.

There was no Sasuke, sliding his untouched sweets to her.

Instead there was her father and grandfather stone-faced across from her.

But she had Neji and Hanabi at her side, the former composed as ever and the latter tapping a frenetic rhythm on her thigh underneath the table. Hinata remembered a Hanabi who walled off her emotions behind a mask, mimicking what she'd seen from their father, having never had the opportunity to see their mother charm the world with her sweet features. Somewhere along the way, however, under Hinata's attentive gaze, Hanabi had shed Hiashi's teachings and, still without the influence of their mother, had become herself.

For her part, Hinata sat patiently while Hiashi and Hiroto sipped their tea, waiting for Hiroto to open the conversation.

Finally, setting his own cup down on the table, Hiroto did. "I trust you have made the adjustments we discussed?"

"Yes, grandfather." Hinata reached for the scroll, but Hiroto stopped her with a raised hand.

"We are at the point where we cannot further discuss the seal in this forum. The final details will remain with the head of the clan," Hiroto said.

"But Hanabi and Neji—" Hinata started, thin brows drawn together, only for Hiroto to cut her off.

"You understand, of course, that if this is to mark the skin of every member of the Hyuuga clan, it is of the utmost importance that it remains confidential. For every additional person that knows of its workings, the seal loses its ability to protect and, rather, puts that person in danger for that knowledge," Hiroto said calmly. "Would you put the burden of that knowledge on your sister and cousin?"

Where this made Hinata hesitate, it spurred Neji to speak. "It is my duty to protect Hinata-sama. Whatever dangers she may face are mine to face as well."

Hiroto's eyes were chilly, sparing only a quick glance at Neji before turning his attention back to Hinata. "The duty of the head of the clan — and of an heir — is a solitary one, not comparable to that of an ordinary member," he said, addressing Hinata though it had been Neji who spoke. "You have already received the biggest concession. It would do you well to know when to pick your battles. This is not one you will win."

Although she wanted to take in the expressions of Neji, Hanabi and even her father, Hinata did not dare break eye contact with Hiroto. She nodded. "I understand, grandfather."

Hiroto did not acknowledge his victory, taking it for a given and shifting the conversation along at his own pace. "Then let us speak of the handling of the sealing. We have already discussed the practicalities of performing the juinjutsu, but not of the announcement. Hiashi's warnings to Hayate have not been entirely useless, but regardless there are rumblings and the Sōke are on edge. How this is introduced to the clan will be critical." Hiroto paused here to take another sip of his tea. Then, shooting her a searching look over the edge of the cup, he said, "Tell me, Hinata, how do you intend to convince them?"

Hinata's thoughts stuttered to a halt. "I-I…"

"What do you mean convince them?" Hanabi asked, voice lilting with confusion.

Hiroto's eyes grew a fraction warmer as he looked at Hanabi. "The Sōke have never been sealed. Do you expect them to accept it easily?" he said. "Unless the intention is for this new seal to be involuntary. And then how would it be enforced? When the Kago no Tori no Juin was first introduced, the Bunke embraced it per our records."

"Per records written by the Sōke, serving as propaganda," Neji countered. He managed to maintain his calm, but there was an edge creeping into his voice. "No one has every walked willingly into subjugation."

"Subjugation," Hiroto repeated mockingly. "The Bunke speak like that about their protection and you thought there would be no need for convincing, Hinata."

"Um. Well. There have always been certain obligations to living in the compound," Hinata said, trying and failing to hide how flustered she felt. "Such as abiding by the schedules of common areas, providing a portion of any earnings towards clan funds…" She trailed off, leaving Hiroto to happily pick up the thought in a much less favourable manner.

"Then you would throw them out of their homes if they didn't comply? More ruthless than I would expect from you," Hiroto said with a tinge of dark amusement. "But not a sufficiently compelling deterrent, I think. And a mass exodus from the Hyuuga compound would weaken our standing in the village."

"That's not…" Hinata's fingers lost the battle against her mind's will, tangling into the fabric of her pants. "That's not what I meant," she said, shakily.

Hiroto hummed condescendingly, taking another sip of tea. "Intentions and outcomes do not always run parallel."

"Father," Hiashi said, disapproving but lacking substance. Hiroto shrugged him off easily.

"If there are no consequences for denying the seal, then there is no motivation for the Sōke to submit to it. That will only sow more discord with the Bunke, if they are asked to undergo another sealing of their own volition and do not see reciprocation from the Sōke. Seeing as we can hardly remove the Kago no Tori no Juin without a replacement, that leaves us where we began."

"It's interesting," Neji started, voice tight, "That in the scenarios you pose, the Sōke are afforded full rights to refuse the new seal, but the Bunke are not extended that same courtesy."

"Well, after so many years with the Kago no Tori no Juin, there's a level of compliance with…subjugation," Hiroto said simply.

Neji's eyes flashed, mouth opening with venom heavy on his tongue, but Hinata got there first.

"Grandfather," she said sharply. Her fingers had stilled, the press of her nails biting into the skin of her thighs, dulled only slightly by the cloth separating them. "I can accept you voicing your opposition to my ideas, but if you cannot communicate civilly then this…is a waste of all of our time." She paused, swallowing thickly at the look of icy affront that crossed her grandfather's face, before deciding to push forward regardless. "Neji-nii-san…he's your grandson. Birth order didn't change the blood running through his veins. It's the same as mine or Hanabi's. So I ask that you afford him the same respect as your other grandchildren."

Hiroto's irritation melted into disdain. He shook his head. "That boy…since his father began teaching him katas in the dojo, I have known that he would be the ruin of the clan as we know it. He was too powerful. Before him, Hizashi had never questioned his place." Out of the corner of her eyes, Hinata saw her father flinch. "The only hope was an heir that would prove the wisdom of the two-branch system, reinforce the superiority of the Sōke. But," Hiroto said, eyes sweeping between Hinata and Hanabi. "That heir came too late. Hinata, you and your cousin are an ill-fated duo, the very reason we find ourselves in this current predicament. Do not confuse my presence here for approval. My only goal is to prevent the Hyuuga from falling too far."

If Hinata had ever been the recipient of any coddling from her father or grandfather, she may have been left reeling by this speech. But she was no stranger to their judgment nor to disparagement, had expected them even. So she raised her chin and said, "Then please stop derailing the conversation. You speak of consequences, and you're right, we should have a plan of what to do if people refuse the seal. But if we approach it from that angle then we are doomed to fail." Carefully pushing her hair behind her ears, Hinata wiped away the make up until her indigo seals showed proudly against her skin. "The purpose of this seal is protection. That is what we need to focus on when we introduce it. We don't need deterrents against refusal, we need motivation for acceptance. That is the only thing we will speak of." When it looked like Hiroto would protest, Hinata continued, "If, after we introduce it, there is any hesitancy, we can implement restrictions on missions that extend beyond the borders of the village and perhaps higher taxation in proportion to earnings. But I do not wish to bring these up when we present the Hikō no Tsubasa no Juin to our people for the first time."

Hiashi's eyes widened minutely. "Hikō no Tsubasa no Juin?" he asked.

Hinata exchanged a look with Neji, smiling faintly at him and seeing some of the defensiveness their grandfather had roused drop. "Yes."

"…a fitting name," Hiashi said.

Hiroto's expression twitched with displeasure, but then softened when Hanabi spoke for the first time since entering the room. "Grandfather…you said you would help us," she said plaintively.

Hiroto sighed. Then, he said, "Our clan is an honourable one, and prideful. Appealing to the pride for our dōjutsu, and its protection and preservation above all else will be the best approach."

Hinata nodded. "The sharingan…it was unprotected and coveted by Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo…" she said delicately.

"It would be effective to be frank about the realities of an unprotected dōjutsu," Neji agreed. "And it would inspire confidence if we had demonstrable support from people our clan, both Bunke and Sōke, look up to."

It was something the three of them, Hinata, Neji and Hanabi, had discussed before and so their eyes naturally drifted to Hiashi. Noticing this, Hiashi's gaze scanned over Hanabi and Neji before ultimately landing on Hinata's and she met it steadily.

Hiashi wore his usual sternness like a cloak, but beneath that Hinata could sense a kernel of something else. An emotion she had rarely seen directed at her. "Neji and I, then," he deduced. "The prodigy of the Bunke and the head Sōke being the first to receive the new seal."

"I volunteered, but we didn't think it would be as impactful," Hanabi said, a little put out. "But I'm next in line."

"There's a certain poetry to it. The past and the future," Hiashi commented, his voice giving no clue as to his feelings on the matter. Finally, he nodded.

Upon seeing her father's agreement, Hinata let out a soft exhale, having no recollection of holding her breath. But the rush of relief she had hoped for was more of a trickle. "Thank you, chichiue," she said, "But…" Hinata could feel Hanabi and Neji turn to her in surprise, but she kept her face forward, lavender eyes trailing from her father's perplexed expression to her grandfather's almost anticipatory one.

Hiroto chuckled. "Me? Oh, Hinata, you certainly continue to surprise me."

Steeling herself, Hinata explained. "You've made it clear that you…disapprove of how chichiue has dealt with things. I know there are others who hold the same opinion. Those who do not like that I was left unsealed. Those who remember when you were head and who were dissatisfied when you stepped down. The Sōke who chichiue would appeal to are the same faction that already sympathetic to myself and Hanabi. We won't gain any new supporters." Hinata released her grip on her thighs, instead propping her hands on her knees to lean forward. "Because of your stance on the two-branch system and your legacy in upholding it, if you were to take part in dismantling that system…there is no one who would speak against it." Hinata bowed her head. "Forgive my insolence in asking this of you grandfather, but, for the good of the clan, will you be the first Sōke to take the seal?"

It was silent for a minute and Hinata waited it out with bated breath.

"This was always the obvious choice, but I must confess, I did not believe you would have the nerve to come to that conclusion, let alone pursue it," Hiroto said. When Hinata chanced a glance upwards, he seemed to be entertained. "Very well. I did promise young Hanabi that I would help, after all. I suspect I only have a few years left in me. Why not use those years to, as you so graciously put it, extend my legacy further? It would be more interesting than my daily rounds in the garden."

When Hinata finally left the Hyuuga compound, she was both mentally and emotionally spent, to the point that it was affecting her physically. Her limbs were heavy with fatigue, but nevertheless she set a brisk pace to her destination.

Neji and Hanabi had departed an hour earlier, dismissed by Hiroto in advance of starting the work to finalize the Hikō no Tsubasa no Juin. They were waiting for her now, as arranged, and although Hinata regretted the decision to set the meetings right after each other, she knew she couldn't delay it any further.

The Naka Shrine was not a place Hinata had ever visited before, it being firmly Uchiha territory. Then, after the Uchiha incident, though the shrine had seen no bloodshed, there had been no interest from anyone to lay claim to it.

As such, when Hinata had told Sasuke she needed somewhere to speak privately with Neji and Hanabi, Sasuke had offered it up as the perfect location.

The shrine itself looked much like any other shrine Hinata had seen, save for the Uchiha clan symbol on the gate. Perhaps if Hinata were not so used to the Uchiha district, she might have felt uneasy. Instead, she was able admire its architecture. The sound of the nearby river to which it owed its name could be heard, granting the shrine a sort of mystical tranquility.

Upon entering the building, Hinata let the doors swing shut behind her. Sunlight filtered weakly through the slated wood, leaving three quarters of the room in darkness.

Hanabi was standing in the light, talking animatedly to Sasuke, shrouded in darkness but listening intently, and a distracted Neji, also sheltered in the shadows, but positioned closer to Hanabi.

Sasuke's eyes found hers first, but it was Hanabi who greeted her. "Nee-sama!"

"Sorry for the wait," Hinata said, coming to a stop next to her sister. She smoothed her hair down over her temples self-consciously though she'd made sure to reapply the makeup over her seal.

"Hinata-sama, what was it that you wanted to speak with us about?" Neji asked. He was still wound up from their grandfather's provocations, no patience left for pleasantries. Hinata thought he might also feel a little uncomfortable by their surroundings, the cursed history of it. "I had thought it would be related to…clan matters, but…" Neji's eyes cut across to Sasuke as he trailed off meaningfully.

Hanabi rendered that subtility pointless. "Sasuke-san was at the hospital, so it's not like he doesn't know about the seal."

Neji frowned. "Still, Sasuke has not partaken in our previous discussions regarding the seal. I cannot guess at why his presence would be required now. Nor this additional layer of secrecy," he said, tilting his head to indicate the shrine currently housing them.

"Is it about the seal?" Hanabi asked.

"In a way…" Hinata hesitated, glancing at Sasuke. He nodded reassuringly. "The day that I sealed myself…there was something else that happened."

Neji's eyes sharpened. He took a step forward, half out of the shadows. "Were you injured elsewhere?" he asked.

Hinata shook her head. "It's my eyes…"

Hanabi made a noise of concern, her smaller hand finding Hinata's. "Nee-sama?"

Confusion and worry warred on Neji's face. "They can't be damaged. You would never have moved forward with the seal in that case. "Then what else…?"

Hanabi's hand squeezed Hinata's as realization struck her. "Oh! But I thought only an Ōtsutsuki could unlock that…"

"Ōtsutsuki," Neji echoed. He was not able to follow along as easily, having not been on the mission. Though they had filled him in, neither Hinata nor Hanabi had been eager to get into the traumatizing details. Finally it dawned on him, his eyes widening in disbelief. "The tenseigan?"

Hinata nodded.

"But Ōtsutsuki was only able to get them because he had Hamura chakra," Hanabi said. "I know you were given some to stop him, but that wasn't…it wasn't permanent, right?" At Hinata's guilty look, Hanabi shrieked. "Nee-sama! Why didn't you say anything? That's so freaking cool!"

The exclamation had Hinata's lips tugging into a weak smile, but it didn't last. "It was…too much. I couldn't use it and it was interfering with my control. It was…" Embarrassing. "I was hoping it wasn't permanent," Hinata said instead. "And even then, I never expected to awaken the tenseigan."

"How did it happen? You have to tell us everything!" Hanabi said, shaking Hinata's hand to and fro.

Again her little sister's excitement brough a smile to Hinata's face, this one more substantial, only to deflate at Neji's angry scoff.

"That mission was over a year ago," Neji said, furious. "And the seal…it has been a month that you've kept it from us." His eyes blazed. "You lied to me! You told me that you would rely on me. Our promise — did that mean nothing to you?"

Hinata reared back, stricken. "Nii-san…" A movement to the side caught her attention and she shook her head, shooting Sasuke a pleading look. Unhappily, he stayed where he was.

Meanwhile, Hanabi had put herself between Hinata and Neji. "Nii-san, that's not fair. You've both kept things from me — and I've been mad about it! — but this…this isn't the same," Hanabi said, almost scolding. "Hamura chakra, the tenseigan…it's not like I'm happy nee-sama didn't tell us, but…isn't it kind of personal? Even if we wanted her to rely on us…could we really help with something like this? I don't know about you, but even after having my eyes stolen for it, I still don't know anything about the tenseigan."

"And he does?" Neji demanded, gesturing at Sasuke.

Sasuke quirked a brow, but refrained from responding and so it was Hanabi who pointed out, bewildered, "Uh, yeah? He does. More than us, for sure."

Neji faltered, as if just remembering that Sasuke had the rinnegan. He crossed his arms against his chest. "Perhaps we could not have helped," he allowed, "But it isn't solely about that. It's a matter of trust." He looked pained. "Hinata-sama, I thought…you trusted me."

"Nii-san…" Hinata reached for him, hand stopping short of making contact. "I do trust you. Both of you. So much." She bit her lip. "…I'm telling you now."

"After months of lies," Neji retorted, unmoved. He shifted backwards, falling into the dark once more, expression half-hidden by shadows, almost enough to conceal the hurt, but Hinata could still see it and it made her heart ache.

"Okay, that's a bit much," Hanabi said. "Nee-sama didn't lie. And these changes happened to her, not us. So if she needed time to process this on her own…then I'm glad she put herself first for once in her life rather than forcing herself to talk about something she didn't want to just to soothe your ego."

"My ego?" Neji spluttered.

"Hanabi," Hinata said, softly but firmly. "Neji-nii-san is worried. And I'm very grateful to be someone he worries about. But, nii-san," she said, turning to Neji, "Hanabi is right. This is something I needed to deal with on my own. And now, you're the first people I'm sharing it with."

"Hardly the first," Neji said petulantly.

With a glance at Hinata, Sasuke said, "I just happened to be there." Which was…not entirely true, but Hinata appreciated his attempt to defuse the situation. It seemed to work, Neji's frown fading a little.

"…why now?" Neji asked, finally. "What changed?"

Hinata tucked her hair behind her ear. "The Hamura chakra was one thing, but the tenseigan…that's something else entirely. It's a dōjutsu. Our byakugan has already been targeted for it before and now…the potential for danger is much higher. I wouldn't keep that from you." She offered Neji a timid smile. "Because we promised to protect each other."

At that, all the anger seemed to leave Neji's body at once. He moved closer, brown hair shining as he joined Hinata and Hanabi where they were standing fully in the light. "I'm assuming you have a plan. How can we help?"

Hands clasped to her chest, Hinata let out a sigh of relief. "To be honest, it's not much of a plan…" She turned to Sasuke, eyes beckoning.

Pushing himself off the wall, Sasuke approached, his features growing clearer with each step he took. He stopped short of crossing into the section of the room bathed in sunlight, but close enough that Hinata could feel his warmth, distinct from that of the sun, even with the few centimeters between his arm and hers. When she looked up at him, his pale eye glinted, managing to reflect the light even in the shadows.

Edging closer until their skin came into contact, her arm falling half into the shade, Hinata's next breath was the most unburdened one she'd taken that day since stepping into her father's office.

Hikō no Tsubasa no Juin means Wing of Flight vs the original Caged Bird

Thanks as always to everyone who has been sticking with me on this long(er than expected) journey.

MVH