Author's Note: This is a sequel to "Form of Freedom." It should be understandable without reading that story first, but I do recommend that you read "Form of Freedom" before "Existence and Uniqueness," just to get a better appreciation of the background and abilities of the OC mentioned here.

Shopping

Lord Hiashi Hyuuga had no time for frivolity. As a man he was strong, handsome, cold. As a father he was stern and demanding, and though Hinata knew him to be capable of deep feeling she also knew that nothing, not even his own daughters, was so important to him as the Hyuuga clan and its kekkei genkai. Hiashi possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of the shinobi world and understood the politics of the Fire Country as least as well as the Hokage, but unlike the Hokage he classified everything he knew according to how it pertained to his clan. Outside of that narrow focus he had no real interests.

Which was why Hinata could scarcely understand what he was saying to her now.

"I . . . was just about to begin my morning training, Father," she said confusedly, looking up at him from the central courtyard of their mansion. He stood outside his workroom, ramrod-straight with folded arms. When he'd first come out, Hinata had thought for one thrilling instant that he intended to oversee her training; usually the best she could hope for was a few comments called carelessly through the door. But it seemed Hiashi's true intent was altogether stranger.

"That can wait, Hinata. In five minutes we will depart for the festival. Meet me at the front door." Then he turned and strode briskly away, his footsteps as precisely timed as a metronome.

Training can wait? She'd never thought to hear those words from her father, whose affection for his daughters extended exactly as far as the range of their Byakugan. And Hinata couldn't remember the last time her father had attended Konoha's annual Art Festival; somehow she couldn't picture him strolling casually through the crowd, eating a candied apple and buying trinkets.

Yet it seemed that this year he meant to go, and he wanted her to accompany him. Hinata had already made plans to meet up at the Festival with Shino and Kiba later. With her teammates she felt as comfortable as she ever did, able to (mostly) forget her confidence issues and simply be herself. The same was certainly not true of her father. But one did not say no to Lord Hiashi, and his invitation to the Festival had not been phrased as a request.

In five minutes exactly she met her father by the door, and was surprised to see that they were alone – Hanabi was nowhere to be seen.

"Um, won't Hanabi be joining us, Father?"

Hiashi shook his head and started down the street. "No," he replied, "your sister went earlier with some friends."

So he'd allowed Hanabi to go alone but insisted on Hinata's company? That was very peculiar, as Hiashi openly preferred his younger and more powerful daughter. Hinata stayed silent, however, for just as one did not refuse Lord Hiashi, one did not question him, either.

In no time at all they had reached the Festival, sprawled through the streets surrounding Konoha's central administration building. Tiny tents and booths were set up everywhere, and a trickle of people moved among them, examining the food and wares on display. It was still early, and not yet crowded. Most of those booths not selling food were hung with various arts and crafts – jewelery, lacquerware, pottery. On this day each year Konoha's artisans, both amateur and professional, competed with one another for the attention of the public.

Hiashi moved briskly through it all, so that Hinata had to hurry to keep up. Her father didn't spare a single glance for the food, which wasn't surprising given that they had both eaten breakfast less than an hour before. But he didn't look at anything else, either. Why would he have come to the Art Festival if not to see art?

"There it is," she heard him say quietly to himself, on catching sight of a knot of people gathered around the entrance to a tent that seemed somewhat larger than the rest. Just what was in the tent, though, she couldn't say – there were too many people in the way to see clearly.

Hiashi came to an abrupt halt, and as Hinata stopped beside him he muttered, "Byakugan!" She looked up at him in shock – using his kekkei genkai here?

"Hinata," he said without looking at her, "engage your Byakugan and examine the tent."

"Um . . . yes," she answered uncertainly, raising her hands to make the necessary hand signs. A few passers-by looked at her uneasily when they saw that she was performing ninjutsu – Konoha's civilian population did not exactly dislike their resident shinobi, but were understandably wary when they displayed their skills in public. Hinata felt bad for the discomfort they were provoking, but Hiashi didn't seem to notice.

"Byakugan!" she whispered, and immediately the gaudy sights of the Festival faded around her, to be replaced by a simpler world of shining blue.

The civilians clustered near the tent were reduced to neon line drawings of their chakra networks. The chakra in their bodies was dull, quiescent, unrefined. Looking past them, Hinata saw the outline of a squat chubby man standing near the entrance to the tent and a woman seated in its interior, laboring over some as-yet-indeterminate form of clay. The woman's chakra was many times brighter than that of the man or the crowd, and her network was subtly displaced from the usual position. In her right arm there seemed to be no network at all.

Instantly Hinata understood. This was the Yakuho tent, and the woman seated inside was Benihiko Chyoubi.

"Hinata," said Hiashi, "do you see the young woman inside the tent?"

"Yes."

"Do you know her?"

"Yes."

When Hinata failed to elaborate further Hiashi deactivated his Byakugan and looked at her sharply. "How do you know her, Hinata?"

Hinata also deactivated her Byakugan, but did not return her father's probing stare. Instead she looked at the ground. "I, um, had a mission involving her a while ago."

"Was this the mission six months ago, from which you returned injured?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

Hinata winced. Her father was a jounin; he knew better than that. "I c-can't tell you," she whispered. "The Hokage ordered us not to talk about it."

For an agonizing moment Hiashi did not speak, just kept staring at her. "I understand that," he said at last. "But I am a jounin, Hinata, and privy to certain things. I will tell you what I know or suspect, and you will confirm or deny it by nodding or shaking your head. That shouldn't violate the Hokage's orders, right?"

Hinata wasn't so sure, but her father's voice had taken on a tight, insistent tone. It would be dangerous to refuse him. A small part of her was also glad and proud to be able to help him in some way, to have something he deemed of value.

Hiashi didn't wait for her to agree. "Six months ago," he began, "you went on a mission with Neji, Sakura Haruno, Rock Lee, Tenten, and that woman in the tent, whose name is Benihiko Chyoubi."

Hinata nodded. That much, at least, was widely known.

"Your goal on that mission was to eradicate Benihiko Chyoubi's clan, who were guilty of attacking several merchant caravans outside the village."

Another nod.

"The Chyoubi clan possessed a kekkei genkai which allowed them to sculpt their own blood into various weapons."

Nod. How did he know all this? The details of the Chyoubi clan's jutsu were one of the things the Hokage had been most concerned about concealing.

"The entire clan was wiped out, except for that woman in the tent."

Nod. Hinata had been unconscious at the time, but according to Sakura they had gone all at once, ripped apart painfully from within. Hinata was glad she hadn't seen it.

"Before they died, the Chyoubi were responsible for the deaths of several ANBU squads. They also came very close to killing you, Lee, Haruno, and Tenten."

Hinata nodded. She still had scars on her shoulder from the hole made there by a Chyoubi projectile. It had taken her weeks to fully recover, despite all of Lady Tsunade's skill.

"It was your team that took out the Chyoubi clan."

Hinata tensed, eyes still glued to the ground. The answer to this one was no, and she had a horrible suspicion that Hiashi knew it. But telling him that the team of Leaf shinobi dispatched by the Hokage had not been responsible for the death of Benihiko's clan would lead naturally to questions about who was responsible, and that was very dangerous ground indeed. Especially for her father.

"I-I can't—" Hinata began uncertainly, before her father cut her off.

"That's enough," he said. "If the answer had been 'yes,' you'd have just said so. Clearly the answer is 'no.'"

She flushed. Now, as always, he saw right through her, without any need for his Byakugan.

"That woman in the tent," continued Hiashi mercilessly, "possesses the kekkei genkai of her clan."

That one she really shouldn't answer, but pierced by her father's unblinking gaze, she had no choice. She nodded.

Hiashi let out a breath and narrowed his eyes fractionally. "She possesses it rather strongly," he said.

Nod. Just a few more questions, and he would know everything.

But that seemed to be all he had. Hiashi nodded a few times in satisfaction, then looked back at the crowded tent. "Just as I thought," he said. "I can see from here that she is powerful. But what happened to her right arm?"

Hinata stayed resolutely silent. She would not say any more. Seeing this, her father gave an odd small smile and said, "Well, if you won't tell me, I'll just have to find out for myself. Shall we go in?" He started pushing his way toward the tent.

Hinata watched him for a moment and felt a queasy desire to flee. Somehow her father had found out about Benihiko and planned this whole outing in order to learn more. Hinata was only here because her relationship with the sculptor could give Hiashi an 'in.'

She was being used to get at Benihiko. And there was absolutely nothing she could do about it. She followed her father into the crowd.

By the time she caught him he had reached the tent's entrance, a rectangular opening which framed a balding old man with muscular forearms and delicate artist's hands. "Master Yakuho," said Hiashi respectfully, bowing to the little man.

"Hyuuga-sama," replied Yakuho, bowing back. "It has been some time since you last bought from me. Don't tell me you broke one of my creations and need a replacement?"

Hiashi didn't care one whit about art, but he did care about status, and so he had seen to it that his mansion was tastefully decorated with multiple works by Yakuho, Konoha's most revered – and expensive – sculptor. What he'd spent on Yakuho's sculptures could have fed all of Konoha for a year.

"No, of course not, Master Yakuho," replied Hiashi warmly with a small smile. He could be quite charming when necessary. "But I have heard rumors about your new apprentice. Supposedly she is the reason you are participating in the Festival this year?"

"Ah, yes!" Yakuho exclaimed, and his face broke open into a huge smile that displayed his yellowing teeth. "Benihiko! The best thing that ever happened to me! I admit I'd given up finding an heir in this no-talent town, but I was wrong! Almost all the works here today are hers – I'm grooming her to take over the studio in a year or two." Yakuho paused and looked speculatively at Hiashi. A big sale today would boost his disciple's reputation. "Would you like to come in and take a look?" he asked slyly. "Your daughter too, of course." He waved carelessly in Hinata's direction. They'd actually met before, but she doubted he remembered.

"Yes, thank you," replied Hiashi, before ducking gracefully into the tent. Hinata followed.

Within it was cool and shadowy, and smelled of damp earth. Wooden shelves and tables lined the sides of the tent, and were filled with pottery and sculptures – tea bowls, flowers, small animals, and a few sharp-edged clay weapons. All of them displayed Benihiko's characteristically delicate workmanship. Hinata felt sure that, if she held them up to the sunlight streaming down outside the tent, they would prove to be translucent.

"Exquisite," murmured Hiashi as he cast a cursory glance at the wares on display. But then his attention focused sharply at the rear of the tent, where Benihiko was seated behind a long table.

She'd looked up as they came in, and immediately ceased working on the half-finished piece in front of her. Hinata saw her hastily shaking her right sleeve over her hand, then tucking the hand out of sight under the table. She wore the same shapeless brown shift as always, and her brown hair was piled in a messy knot on top of her head. Her eyes, green and sharp, flicked from Yakuho to Hiashi to Hinata.

"Hinata," she said in surprise, and smiled. "It's been a while."

Indeed it had. Hinata had been in the hospital for some time after her injury, and after that had been told that Benihiko was in seclusion, working tirelessly away in Master Yakuho's studio and not seeing visitors. Hinata had supposed it was grief and given the sculptor her space.

"Hello, Beni," she said quietly. "How are you?"

Benihiko's eyes flickered and her smile slipped briefly, but then she waved her left hand around and said with forced cheerfulness, "Busy, as you can see. I've been sculpting day and night to get ready for this Festival. How about you?"

Before Hinata could answer Hiashi laid a hand on her arm and said, "Aren't you going to introduce me, Hinata?"

"Um, yes . . ." said Hinata, squirming a bit in her father's grip. "Father, this is Benihiko Chyoubi. Benihiko, this is my father, Hiashi Hyuuga."

Benihiko rose and bowed respectfully, still keeping her right hand hidden inside her sleeve. "Pleased to meet you, Hyuuga-sama."

Hiashi bowed just as deeply and said, "And I am pleased to meet you, Chyoubi-sama."

Benihiko started in surprise at being addressed this way. Hinata supposed it made a twisted sort of sense, though – Benihiko was technically the leader of her clan, since everyone else was dead.

"Master Yakuho has told me of your skill," continued Hiashi, "and now I can see what he means. You are truly a worthy successor to him."

Straightened up now, Benihiko regarded him carefully, clearly not sure what to think. "I wouldn't go that far," she said at last. "And it's Yakuho."

"I'm sorry?" asked Hiashi politely.

"My name. It's Yakuho. The Master adopted me last month, so that I can officially inherit his practice."

"I see," said Hiashi, raising an eyebrow. "Congratulations." He did not sound congratulatory, however – throwing away one's clan name clearly didn't sit right with him, though he was unwilling to say so.

Hiashi's disapproval was not lost on Benihiko. Her mouth twisted into a wry smile as she asked, "Do you like sculpture, Hyuuga-sama?"

Hiashi nodded. "I do. But I already own a number of Master Yakuho's works. I'm more interested in your own unique style. For example, can you tell me about that piece you're working on right now?"

Hinata's attention shifted to the table in front of Benihiko, which she had not properly noticed during the sculptor's tense exchange with her father. She felt a vertiginous jolt of recognition – the unfinished sculpture was of an arm, crooked at an angle that somehow looked painful, erupting in sharp-edged shapes like spines.

According to Sakura, this was the exact way Benihiko's entire family had died.

"It's an arm," said Benihiko flatly, clearly thrown off by Hiashi's prescient change in topic.

"And the shapes emerging from it?" asked Hiashi smoothly, overlooking her rudeness. "They look like kunai."

"They are."

"What an odd choice," observed Hiashi, his white eyes fixed on the sculptor's green ones. "What does it mean?"

"It doesn't mean anything," Benihiko retorted. "It's just art. I meant it to be disturbing."

"Yes, yes," Master Yakuho interjected loudly, "some of that modern stuff. I told you, girl, that the public won't buy it, no matter how good it is. They're all too stupid, they want cute little bunnies and the like." He laughed and clapped his hands together. "Though that piece there is brilliant. Don't know where you get these ideas . . ."

So he didn't know. Hinata really couldn't blame Benihiko for keeping her past to herself. She'd changed her name, started a new life as an artist – obviously she wanted to leave her old life behind. But judging by the piece she was sculpting now, she was having some trouble on that front.

"Surely, Master Yakuho, you didn't mean that I am too stupid to appreciate fine art?" asked Hiashi smoothly, turning to look at the little man. "After all the lovely pieces I've bought from you over the years?"

Yakuho colored. Hinata would have bet that he did in fact think that Hiashi, and every single other resident of Konoha besides himself and Benihiko, was an uncouth moron. Still, it was bad form to say so in front of a long-time customer.

"Of course not, Hyuuga-sama. I was only referring to the common rabble."

"I see," said Hiashi. "I was about to say that, far from preferring 'little bunnies,' I think the piece your apprentice is working on now is remarkable. I would like to purchase it when it is complete."

Master Yakuho looked taken aback. "Really? It won't exactly fit with your current décor."

Hiashi smiled again. "Well, if that's the case, I'm sure you'll be able to recommend several other pieces that might complement it nicely, and show me how best to arrange them. In fact, since she's the artist, why don't you send your apprentice over with the finished piece when it's done, and allow her to decide how it should be displayed?"

It was very well done. Hiashi's money gave him influence over Master Yakuho, and in offering to buy Benihiko's most idiosyncratic piece and asking for her assistance in displaying it, Hiashi was giving the old man a chance to gain profit for himself and prestige for his disciple. Master Yakuho could hardly refuse.

Not that he wanted to. "All right then!" the old man exclaimed excitedly. "Benihiko works fast – she should have that piece done within two weeks, at the most. I'll contact you to make the arrangements when the time comes. You won't regret it, Hyuuga-sama –Benihiko will soon be the most famous artist in the Fire Country, and you'll be able to say you bought one of her first big works!"

"I look forward to it," said Hiashi. "I'll take my leave then, and wait for your message." He bowed to Master Yakuho and Benihiko in turn, then exited the tent. Hinata followed, casting a desperate look back at Benihiko before she went. In her friend's eyes she saw the same realization now sinking heavily into the pit of her own stomach – that Benihiko had just become ensnared in some plot of Hiashi's, and that the only way out was through.