A/N – Hinata's POV. Let's see what's going on with her.

An Hour and a Half Ago

Hinata was woken up by a cool breeze brushing gently against her face. There was a strong smell of iron that made her nose twitch, and she rubbed her eyes as she sat up.

The window was open (it was too warm a night to have it closed), although... she had only opened one windowpane, not both.

Ever since her kidnapping on her third birthday, it had been a silent rule for the windows to remain closed in her and Hanabi's rooms (and they had to inform the guards beforehand if they were going to open them, so they could be extra alert).

Hinata rubbed her nose as her eyes adjusted to the soft moonlight coming through the window. Her period was not due yet, why was she smelling blood?

Hinata swung her feet to climb down from her bed, then yanked them back towards herself in startled confusion when they hit something. Whatever it was, fell to the floor with a dull thud.

Hinata scurried to the window, drawing back the curtains to let some more light into the room.

She went to look at whatever had fallen down.

It was Oda Mamoru.

His head, more specifically.

'Why is his head on my bed?'

Hinata hesitantly stepped closer. She didn't want to touch anything, but she had to figure out what had happened to him.

The neck was severed neatly, and there were only a few spots of blood on her sheets, not nearly as much as one would expect from something like this. His face was twisted into a pained grimace, eyes wide open in fear.

She went back to the window and looked out. Whoever left it was probably gone already, and she couldn't activate her Byakugan without guards storming in.

She checked her windowsill. No footprints. She shivered and checked the frame. No handprints there either.

Hinata bit her lip when she heard faint shuffling from outside, cutting her observations short.

'Right, someone could come in.' Hinata looked back at the window, her hand coming up to press against her collarbone in a self-soothing motion. 'How to handle this?'

An heiress would call for the guards, and take point. She would demand punishments for what had happened, and demand an investigation, stubbornly pushing down fear at the idea of someone breaking into her room without her (or anyone else's) knowledge.

That is what would be expected from her...

_

Present

Hinata sat on the living room sofa, a cotton shawl draped over her shoulders (more for comfort than for warmth). She had been handed a mug of tea to sooth her nerves, which she sipped slowly. Hanabi's head lay in her lap, the girl sleeping soundly (she had tried to stay awake, but she had just returned from a mission to Hachō village, and was exhausted). Given the intrusion, they had decided to keep both girls under guard in one room till they had a concrete plan.

Neji was pacing around the room, interrogating the guards on duty. The answers remained the same.

No, they did not move from their position; no, they were not sleeping on their watch; no one entered the Estate (except that they clearly did).

Hinata idly gave them a sympathetic smile, trying to communicate that there were no hard feelings. She did not think they caught it, busy as they were trying to placate Neji.

Hinata had taken a calculated risk with her reaction (the Elders would see it as just another reason she was not worthy of being heiress, cementing Hanabi's position), but now she was suffering some anxiety, unsure what the consequences of it would be.

Her father had rushed out to see the Hokage, and she was not entirely relishing the idea of a guard on her at all times (she had things to be doing, and the thought of having to explain why her Byakugan was activating sporadically was not pleasant).

"Hiashi-sama has returned."

Hinata put the mug of tea down, her hand moving to comb through Hanabi's hair.

Hiashi entered soon after the announcement, followed by...

... Kakashi!?

'Oh no!'

He was wearing a tight black shirt (his sculpted biceps were very eye-catching, which was not good, while her father was in the same room), and sleep pants. His eyes were sleepily half-open, and the scar over the left one made him look roguishly handsome.

Hanabi made a low disgruntled noise, and Hinata realised that she had accidentally pulled on her hair too hard.

She quickly lowered her eyes, and tried to think about horrible things to keep down the traitorous blush trying to rise up on her face.

"Hinata, come with me." Hiashi's command snapped her out of her thoughts, and she gently moved Hanabi's head onto a cushion. "Neji, send for Kayako."

"Y-Yes, Otou-sama."

"Right away, Hiashi-sama."

Hinata followed her father to his study, pulling the shawl tighter around herself. Remembering that she was wearing a, not particularly substantial, nightgown (on account of the warm night), had her turning pale in a way that was more acceptable, given the night's events.

They sat down, and Hiashi (to her immense surprise) pulled out a bottle of sake and poured himself a cup.

'What happened at the Hokage's Office?'

"Otou-sama..."

There was a knock at the door, and Hiashi permitted the person to enter. It was Kayako, followed by Neji. They both bowed upon entering.

"How may I serve, Hiashi-sama?"

"Kayako, prepare Hinata's bags. She will be moving out of the Estate for the foreseeable future."

A stunned silence took over everyone in the room.

"Right away, Kayako." Hiashi emphasized with a stern look.

"Of course, Hiashi-sama!" Kayako bowed hastily. She gave Hinata a discreet look of pity, then left to follow his command.

"Oji-sama – " Neji began, falling silent when Hiashi raised a hand to stop him.

Hiashi looked up at Hinata, who was unsure exactly what expression was on her face.

Could the way she had handled the situation convinced him to throw her out!?

Whatever Hiashi saw in her face, had his expression softening imperceptibly (to people outside the Hyūga, it was as good as nothing. To the Hyūga, it was a weakness that could not be shown).

"Hinata," He pursed his lips, looking unhappy. "An intruder somehow managed to break in and leave a severed head in your room. They have targeted you for a reason unknown to us, and while we are trying to find out why, the Estate is not safe for you."

Realisation hit Hinata, and she smiled comfortingly at him. "I understand, Otou-sama."

She really did understand. It was not about her at all.

If she had been targeted for some reason, then being in the Estate would put Hanabi in danger as well, which was, understandably, unacceptable.

"I shall be leaving for Kurenai-sensei's then." Hinata bowed, ready to take her leave. It would be nice to spend some time with Kurenai and Mirai (she was sure Kurenai would not mind another pair of hands with a toddler running around the house).

"You will not be staying with Yūhi-san."

Hinata blinked in surprise and straightened back up. 'I am not...?'

"Hokage-sama has put Hatake-san in charge of your safety." Hiashi explained, face impassive as he did.

"What!? Oji-sama that's – "

Neji's words faded out as her father's words stuck in her mind.

She would be staying with Kakashi. In his house. With him.

She would be staying in his house with him!

Hinata decided to check back into the conversation (the panic would have to be left for later).

" – would we even explain this, without bringing Hinata-sama's honour into question!?"

That was a good question actually.

"Hatake-san is to begin his training as the next Hokage, but Nara Shikamaru and Shizune will be busy with Tsunade-sama." Hiashi explained to them, giving Neji a warning glare when he reared up to complain again. "Hinata will be his assistant. If anyone raises any questions, we will say that their cohabitation is to get them used to working closely, on and off the clock."

"Why is this even necessary?" Neji vibrated in place, a fierce scowl making its home on his face. "We could increase her security within the Estate, or – "

"Nii-san, please – "

"Hiashi-sama, you cannot agree with this!" Neji implored, trying to get him to see sense. "Hinata-sama living alone with a man – "

"Enough, Neji!" Hiashi barked, throwing back another cup of sake. Despite his attempts to show otherwise, he looked just as displeased as Neji was about this situation. "The position of the Hokage's assistant is not something to scoff at. The prestige it will bring to the Hyūga will be immense, and a shinobi of his calibre will be more than capable of keeping her safe while we find out who is responsible for this. I will not discuss this any further."

Hiashi sighed, and stood up, prompting the other two to follow.

"Hinata, make sure you will have everything you need. You will leave with Hatake-san immediately." He same closer, standing before her stiffly, with his arms in his sleeves. "And if you have need of us for anything, simply ask."

"I will, Otou-sama." Hinata bowed, smiling at him. She would absolutely not do that. She was just realising the risk she had taken with this gamble, and she would not be giving the Elders any more ammunition against her (at least for a while). "And regardless of why I got the position, I will do my best to make the clan proud."

Hiashi gave a stern nod, a small smile pulling his lips up. "I trust you will."

A/N – Hinata, all the time: Is what I am doing going to be beneficial to Hanabi?

The Elders are already looking to marry Hinata off and they definitely plan to seal her, if they were going to give her to a civilian family, so it makes more sense for her to do 'heiress' things, but then Hanabi would be in danger of being sealed, so Hinata fell on the sword (of course, it will work out for her, but still).