Hinata picked at the cuticle of her nail. Her hands were folded in her lap and she sat across the tea table from her father. She also began to chew at her lip as she ran the names through her head once more.
Mizutani Zenshi
Hyuga Hotaru
Uchiha Sasuke
Uchiha Sasuke. That name on the list felt the most surreal. The first matter that her father had been keen to discuss in regards to Hinata taking over the clan had been arranging a marriage for her. Particularly a marriage that could provide an heir to the main family. Hinata had known this was coming but it felt far too soon all the same, so when her father sat her down for tea and gave her her options, she couldn't help but fidget.
The Mizutani were a small yet well-respected clan hailing from the hidden mist. A Hyuga had married into the clan a generation ago, and the son of the resulting union was Mizutani Zenshi. It also happened that Zenshi had not inherited the byakugan from his mother. He also happened to be nearly fifty years old.
The second option that had been given to Hinata was Hotaru, and while he was a more reasonable age of thirty-two years old, Hinata had memories of him babysitting her around the village as a toddler. So while on paper this was preferable, Hinata felt even worse about it.
The last option was completely unexpected. Hinata never got the impression that Sasuke cared much for marriage or relationships. She had a childhood full of witnessing the way he turned both Ino and Sakura down at every turn. But maybe that was a part of it. Everyone knew that Sasuke was the last of the Uchiha clan, and if he wanted to restart his clan, he would need a wife. So in reality, an arrangement would be the most practical path forward without having to actually form a bond with someone. This thought made Hinata very hesitant about the Uchiha as an option. She didn't mean to be naive about her marriage, but she had hoped at the very least she could become friends with her future husband, rather than an icy marriage entered into solely for gain.
"And you're saying all three have already agreed to this type of arrangement?" Hinata gripped her hands into fists to stop her picking. She took a sip from her cup of tea but she wasn't sure if she actually tasted it. She was preoccupied with watching her father take his own sip of tea. Hiashi could often be very straightforward in conversation when he was agitated, but when he was relaxed, he verged into the realm of roundaboutness. Hinata did not appreciate him taking this particular attitude during this discussion of all things. He finally spoke.
"Yes, once you make your choice a proper agreement can be drafted, and then the wedding planning can commence," the man drawled out. Hinata felt that this confirmed her suspicions about Sasuke's intent towards a marriage with her. But this didn't make the choice any easier. She would likely prefer someone more her age even if it wasn't the most practical option. Hinata believed her views were skewed by her parents' own marriage. Hiashi and Hiyori had been married through an arrangement as well, but this had been set up between the two when they were very young. With the knowledge that they would be married eventually, the two took the time to grow close and come to love each other even before their marriage. Hinata held onto this hope that her own arranged marriage would yield the same outcome for herself. But looking at her own options, she was unsure this was still a possibility.
"Who do you think is the best, Father?" Hinata felt as though her best option may well be Sasuke, but her father may have gotten a better feel for the situation since he was the one who put forth the proposal to the men directly. Hiashi set down his cup on the table and placed his hands on his lap. Mirroring Hinata's own position as he looked at her with a serious expression.
"I think that you deserve a chance at a loving marriage like me and your mother had," he paused, "And whoever you think could possibly give that to you should be your choice. I've already chosen them as acceptable options for marrying into our family, all that is left is your opinion." Hinata looked down at the teapot and nodded.
"I would choose Uchiha-san then," as the words left her mouth a blush brushed across her cheekbones. It was a bit embarrassing to declare something like that aloud, regardless of her choice.
"Then you should go let the young man know so we can make an agreement," Hiashi said this as he picked his teacup back up and took a sip with his eyes closed. Hinata could see the minuscule quirk of the corner of his mouth betraying his amusement.
"You want me to go tell him?!" Hinata startled as the redness in her cheeks deepened and her eyes widened. She had assumed that the arrangement of the marriage and wedding would largely be handled by her father. She hadn't been prepared to face Sasuke herself so soon.
"If you are to marry the man, having a conversation would probably be a good start," Hiashi replied, fully smirking now. Certain expressions her father made looked just like Neji, and this was one of them. It made her happy. But she was still salty about the job of delivering the news being thrust upon her.
"I should get going then," Hinata ended the conversation pointedly, listening to the chuckle Hiashi released at her antics as she stood and exited the room. Hinata proceeded to exit the compound and enter the town. As her annoyance faded she soon realized that she doesn't know where Sasuke lives. And that she also isn't familiar with his chakra signature so she would be unable to locate him with her byakugan. But she had a pretty good sense of who would know of his whereabouts, Sakura. That same thought caused her to pause. This was also the same Sakura that had been in love with Sasuke for years and would likely be at the very least surprised by their potential marriage. Hinata shook the thoughts from her head. She knew Sakura better than that, her fellow kunoichi was no longer infatuated with the Uchiha and as they had grown closer, Sakura also understood her position as a clan heiress. Sakura would support both her and Sasuke in this decision.
Having decided, Hinata activated her byakugan to look for Sakura. She felt the distinctive pushing of her veins to the surface of her skin as the mass of chakra rushed into her eyes. She scanned in the direction of Sakura's apartment and saw no signs of the woman. Hinata began to turn her gaze towards the hospital but paused when she saw Sakura's chakra signature at a ramen stand. And right next to hers was also Ino's. Hinata sighed as she deactivated her byakugan and began on her path toward the two girls. Talking to Sakura was one thing but talking to Ino about this was a completely different game. The girl was a notorious gossip monger; not exactly in a harmful way but she would be very keen to hear more about why Hinata was looking for Sasuke of all people.
Before she realized it, Hinata found herself approaching the pair. Ino picked up on her presence very quickly, being a fellow sensory ninja, and paused the excited chat she and Sakura were sharing to turn and wave at Hinata.
"Hinata! Great timing! We just ordered, come join us!" Ino greeted enthusiastically as she ushered Sakura and herself over a stool to make room for Hinata next to them.
"I'll have to decline Ino-chan, I'm already preoccupied," Hinata turned down her offer as politely and swiftly as possible, "I actually came to ask if Sakura-chan knew where Sasuke-san lives."
"Well, I could tell you that too," Ino smirked, "but why would you need to know that?" Yep, Ino definitely would get a kick out of this. Hinata opted to try her best to avoid telling the girls before anything was confirmed, but she knew this would be a difficult task.
"Of course, we can tell you where he lives," Sakura said as she elbowed Ino sharply, the other girl pouting back, "but I'm also curious why you wanna know if I'm being honest." Hinata had to come up with something reasonable, and fast.
"There are some clan matters that Sasuke-san and my father are discussing. I just need to go give him an update," Hinata was impressed with herself. She was able to tell them without lying in any way. But when Ino's smile widened further, Hinata knew she was in danger.
"So it has nothing to do with the two of you getting married then?" Ino asked with all the innocence of a spider talking to a fly in its web.
"What!?" Sakura exclaimed, turning her head between Ino and Hinata rapidly, waiting for one of them to explain. Hinata had no clue as to how Ino knew about any of this, but if Ino knew, then soon would the rest of the rookie nine.
"M-my father is arranging my marriage and Sasuke-san i-is one of the options," Hinata mumbled out, looking askance. She had mostly moved past her childhood stutter, but it would rear its ugly head on occasion when Hinata became flustered enough. Ino snorted. Sakura had a blank face but her body started to shake lightly which concerned Hinata. She thought that she had maybe read the situation between Naruto and Sakura wrong and she perhaps wasn't over Sasuke. Was she mad at Hinata? Or did the news make her sad? Sakura barked out a laugh.
"I'm sorry Hinata," Sakura said in between giggles, "it's just so absurd picturing Sasuke just getting married like that,." Ino laughed along with her.
"Now picture him living the domestic life," Ino pitched in, "Like full on apron and washing the dishes." Ino started fully guffawing at her visualization of Sasuke. At this comment, Hinata joined in on their laughter. It made a very silly sight, she had to agree. The former wanted criminal in a frilly apron just cooking or washing the dishes with his usual sour look on his face. As the laughter died down, Sakura addressed Hinata once more.
"We don't mean to offend Hinata, that was just. . ." Sakura looked for the correct word, "Unexpected, to say the least."
"That's an understatement," Ino interrupted with her signature smirk. Sakura fixed her with a stern glance.
"Well I think that your marriage is your business to handle," Sakura poked Ino in the ribs to make a point, "and if it comes down to you and Sasuke-kun we'd be there to support you." Sakura finished off with a warm smile.
"Yeah, we'll be there to watch Sasuke-kun be totally socially inept," Ino snickered, earning another jab from Sakura. The interaction made Hinata feel fuzzy inside. She always appreciated the unwavering loyalty of the girls, even if they liked to poke fun at Hinata's expense on occasion.
"Yes, thank you," Hinata was about to turn to leave before she remembered, "and um. Where does Sasuke-san live again?" They had completely sidetracked Hinata from her original goal.
"Oh! Right!," Sakura replied, clearly having forgotten the original point of the conversation as well, "He's living in a house on the Uchiha clan grounds."
"And if he's not there just give a look around for Sai, he's currently working as Sasuke-kun's probation officer," Ino added on. And it clicked for Hinata why Ino would know about their proposed marriage. If Sai was hanging around Sasuke constantly then there was a high chance he overheard the discussion between her father and Sasuke. And everyone knows that Ino and Sai were practically married themselves at this point.
"Thank you for your help," Hinata paused, "And I'll update you guys on how it goes later." Hinata finally turned to take her leave.
"You better!" Ino yelled after her, "Sai never gives enough detail!" That was the last comment that the pair gave to Hinata as she once again activated her byakugan and looked towards the Uchiha clan grounds. Sure enough, she spotted Sai's chakra signature outside of a house with a more foreign signature inside the same house. Hinata supposed she would likely have to get used to its appearance. The Hyuga were the only shinobi capable of seeing the distinct nature and shape of a person's chakra and looking at Sasuke's she could see it had a purplish hue and a turbulent, fiery current which contrasted against the unnaturally smooth and clear appearance of Sai's chakra.
Hinata continued her journey, soon arriving at the entrance to the Uchiha clan grounds. The entry arch had been rebuilt and repainted and Hinata felt a pang of nostalgia, feeling the wisps of memories of visiting with her father as a young girl. Looking into the grounds gave a far more depressing impression. Every house had been taken down soon after the massacre, leaving behind some foundation and rubble here and there. There was also an overgrowth of plants in the places where the homes used to reside. For the first time, Hinata considered the marriage from Sasuke's point of view. This would be the start of a new Uchiha clan if all went well. This thought gave Hinata a feeling of great pressure, but it was soon followed by a feeling of determination.
Hinata approached the only rebuilt house in the district, but she was perturbed by the sight before her. Sai was laughing so hard that he was hinged over and he had tears in the corners of his eyes. This was an unusual site for Hinata seeing as how the only time she has seen Sai having this much fun was when he was making fun of Naruto.
"What the hell are you laughing about now?" Sasuke said as he stepped out of his door, looking over at Sai. He immediately glanced away to look at Hinata and their gazes met. The two stood in silence as Sai continued laughing to himself. To Hinata, it felt like they looked at each other for ages before either spoke.
"Hyuga," Sasuke blurted out.