MY OATH
I am aware that I am less than people prefer me to be
But most people are unaware
That I am so much more than what they see
-Hyuuga Hinata
Chapter 5: Decisions
(1st person: Neji)
It's been a month since Hiashi-sama left. Everything that's going on around the household is very unusual but comfortable as well. Never did I imagine that this day will come, the day that at least the Head family would show at least a little respect for the Cadet branch. There's also something that surprises me a lot, those eyes, whenever they were set upon us caged members were usually full of annoyance, proud, and their power among us, but it somehow changed, even a little bit, maybe a good improvement, again, all thanks to her – Hinata-sama.
Our past trainings are getting better, much better when I first trained her. Everyday, she always improved, and if ever I'll compare her to that Yamanaka, Haruno and Tenten, she could get past them, but again, this is Hinata, she's the heiress, and if ever she would be officially crowned as the clan leader, every thing, especially those missions that we were working all of our life would be forgotten. I can see right through her that she's determined to be our clan leader, and again, to pursue her dream that no one would be branded, and make the Hyuuga a family. I trust her with those ambitious plans, I always will, and just like my promise to my father when I was a child, I'll protect her no matter what, especially now that I've realized why my father wanted me to be her defender, because Hinata-sama is a jewel, a jewel in which a long-forgotten power was incased, and if ever used, it would make great changes, might be a good one or bad. I, for one, being her older cousin promised to be her guardian, her protector, to keep her away from those tainted hands that would most likely put dirt on her pure soul.
The investigation about the suspected Kumo-nins is still in progress, I just sure hope that whatever calamities that would heat our clan, we could survive, and it's a must.
The past hours strained me a lot. Our ritual of early morning sparring is surely exhausting, especially when those heiresses are teamed up. Today, I just found out that Hinata-sama is planning to have a combination attack with Hanabi-sama. Funny as it may seem, their characters are little odd to be put together, but again, this is Hinata, every gap would have a filling, and that's always possible.
I first took a shower and then after that, changed into a navy blue short-sleeved robe patterned with a light blue obi and black capri. After combing my hair and tying it on a low pony-tail, I put on my hitai-ate. Just when I was about to put on my sandals, I heard a knock from my door. I quickly put on my sandals and hurried to the door, opening it and was taken aback when I saw the maid of one of the elders.
(End of POV)
"Neji-sama, Hiroto-sama wants to speak with you immediately." The maid bowed and then looked up to him again
"Why?" Neji ask, giving the maid a dubious look, Hiroto is clearly known as one of those people who are greedy for power, next to Hideaki, so being called by him would mean something
"Gomenasai Neji-sama, but I don't know why." And then she bowed again
"Hn, where would we meet?" as he steps out of his room and locks the door.
"On his office Neji-sama…" and then give the Hyuuga prodigy a nod as a sign for him to follow. Neji tailed behind the maid as he walks past through the other rooms.
As they reached the fourth corner of the main household, they turned around and on the first door is Hiroto's office. The maid knocked and ordered to come in together with Neji.
"Give us some tea." Hiroto commanded the maid who followed immediately, his eyes fixed at the young genius in front of him.
"Hiroto-sama, you called for me? ", though it sounded more like a statement
"Hai, Neji-kun, I just need to talk to you for a while…" giving a small smile to him, but not as convincing for him to say that it's just a simple conversation
Neji looked at the elder with much interest, though being skeptic on why he just called him for just a talk. Politics inside the clan is all what Hiroto knows, and for a genius like Neji, that's the only topic that the elder wants to discuss about.
The maid came in, giving them their tea. Before Hiroto speaks, he took a sip from his cup and then looks at Neji, scrutinizing his features, and by far, he is surely convinced and irritated that a branch member is a genius, not just like the current heiress.
"Neji-kun, how's Hinata-sama?" Hiroto started, while placing his cup of tea back to the wooden table. If it's possible, Neji could have been raising one elegant brow at the question, but being a respectful cadet family member that he is, he decided to answer.
"She's fine Hiroto-sama." And then look intently at his tea as if inspecting it just by looking if there's some kind of poison in there.
"Please tell me how fine she is." ordered by the elder. At this point, Neji is now convinced that there's some hidden agenda in the elder's mind. For Hiroto to talk about Hinata without any kind of trash judgment about her.
"She's doing good, especially being one of the top kunoichi on the whole village. She's the best in stealth and espionage and most of all, applying the Hyuuga taijutsu skills to every non-Hyuuga taijutsu one. And his intellect were soon find out to be almost leveling to the Nara genius and chakra control is much more like Haruno Sakura, the Gondaime's apprentice. Apart from that she's also a good medic." He answered, feeling proud for his cousin for her achievements.
"I see, meaning that she may go beyond your skills Neji-kun…" hitting a nerve on the prodigy, like taking in the advantage to make Neji's head go round by him.
"It might happen Hiroto-sama." Answered Neji, and calming down at the thought that his younger cousin might overpower him. He took in a deep breathe, and then reminded himself once again that at least, he's Hinata's personal trainer, and him being that would be a good accomplishment. He also reminded himself on how happy Tsunade on knowing that her student surpassed her in just a period of time, how Gai looks at Lee with so much interest because of time with hardwork they were equals, and how happy Hizashi looks up to him because of training Hinata out of his concern for the young heiress.
"Do you like her improvement?" Hiroto asked again, sighing after seeing Neji put up a small smile before answering his question.
"Hai, Hiroto-sama." Neji answered, while his eyes fixed the elder's white ones, taking any hints of disapproval or whatsoever kinds of feeling that Hiroto might portray.
Hiroto take a thoughtful pose, trying to convince himself that Hinata was indeed improving and her abilities would most likely benefit and would bring honor to the whole Hyuuga. He took in another deep breathe and another question rose in his playful mind.
"If you'll be asked Neji-kun, would you like to have a chance to be a head family member? I mean, that the seal be removed on you?" and with that, he saw the prodigy tighten his lips, eyes moving sideways, trying to find any interesting things to be stared upon…
"Why are you asking me that, Hiroto-sama?" he asks, that if ever he's just being tested or just being asked by a curious old man.
"Well, I just want to ask, that's all, is there something wrong with that? So Neji-kun, would you, or wouldn't?" repeating his question again.
"Hiroto-sama, it might be a surprising answer but no, I don't want to be a head-family member…"
"Even if I know how to break the seal?" and then put on a triumphant smile because of Neji's change in reaction. To be shocked is understatement, Neji knew that the technique to remove the seal was far long been gone, but this is Hiroto, the Hyuuga's smartest member, the bookworm who could always enhances his skills just by reading, and what if what he found out on how to remove the seal and he'll do it for him, would he accept it or not?
"Would you give me some time before I answer that question, Hiroto-sama?" yes, Neji for once, can't find any answer to that. Sure he was ashamed to have this seal carved on his forehead and sometimes he wished that he had none, but then looking at Hinata, she might be a head-family member but still undergoes the same pressure that he's having, and if he would compare himself to her, with or without the seal, they are just equal.
"Sure Neji-kun, I'll give you three days to decide, and if ever you want it to be removed, I'll do it just exactly on the day that you want me too.", and then dismissed him. He stands up and walks towards the room, his mind pondering on the question.
He exited the elder's office and headed quickly to his room.
"Hinata-nee-san is getting good" Hanabi thought aloud, contemplating on what had happened on their training just a few hours ago.
She tied her hair up into a high-ponytail as she puts on a beige kimono with an orange lining with bamboo leaves embroidered on it patterned with a dark orange obi. Her maid told her that her mentor, Hideaki wants to talk to her after their training, and being an obedient that she is, she hurried after slipping in her slippers and exited her room.
Their meeting place is her personal training grounds, and because of that, she didn't take any suspicions on what the elder's have in mind. She walks on the memorized path to her grounds and reach it just in time.
She opened the door but felt something unusual. She activated her kekkai genkai and scanned the whole room if ever her mentor planted traps for her to start her training with him. After a few minutes, she heard a clap and then turns around and saw her mentor eyeing her proudly.
"It's true that there are traps planted there, and again, I am proud that you feel it before you fell into it.", and then crossed his arms above his chest.
"Hideaki-sama, you called for me? Are we going on for training?" she asks and then looks to her mentor's eyes intently.
Hideai shook his head sideways, earning a confuse look from Hanabi. He walks ahead while ordering his student silently for her to follow him. Hanabi being Hanabi is not use to asking questions but rather obeying them first and then tried to find the answers to herself.
She followed him until they both reached the west wing of the household where Hideaki resides. Hideaki might be her mentor but never did she reach this part of the household.
They walk in inside his room and then sat down at the tatami mats. He ordered his maid to give them tea and then Hideaki started talking.
"Hanabi-sama, you know that if ever Hinata would be crowned as our clan's leader, you'll be branded." and then looks at his student, trying to see if ever she changes expression, and much to his surprise, her face is stoic as ever, just like her father.
"I am fully aware of that Hideaki-sama." She retorted while fixing her eyes to her mentor's.
"I know you don't like that Hanabi-sama, so why aren't you taking action?" his curious glare penetrates the cold- behavior of his student.
Hanabi take in a deep breathe. She doesn't want to be a branch member but she knows that that's the tradition and she must go with it.
"Taking action for what Hideaki-sama?" she asks, still spell bounded on whatever her teacher is talking about.
Hideaki scrunch up his nose in slight annoyance and can't believe that his student can't get what he meant. This only made Hanabi look at him in bewilderedly.
"What I mean Hanabi-sama, you know for once that you have the exclusive rights to be the heiress, our future clan leader not your sister! I also mean that I just want to secure your future to be one of Konoha's most powerful women! Don't you get it Hanabi-sama?" and then looks at her again in disappointment, because he fully know that Hanabi once planned to take over the Hinata's position as an heir, and whatever changes her mind is something that Hideaki doesn't fully understand.
"Being an heir or the clan leader is already not in m priorities Hideaki-sama." She stated bluntly, making her mentor slammed his clenched fist to the mats with aggravation, but she didn't even flinch.
"State your reasons Hanabi!" he ordered as she tried to calm down himself again to make the conversation much more professionally mannered.
"To be the best Konoha kunoichi is all what I have in mind, secondly, to serve Hinata-sama in all her pure ambitions for the good of the clan. Gomenasai Hideaki-sama if I didn't comply on your plans for me." And then stands up, and walk towards the door, but then stopped when Hideaki speaks again.
"You want to be leveled with Neji, the gaki that your foolish father appointed to train your weak sister!!!" shouted Hideaki making Hanabi glared at her with too much ferocity.
"To say my father is foolish is true!" she shouted back making Hideaki put up a victorious smirk.
"Foolish because, he assigned you to be my sensei! A mindless and a heartless sensei!!!" and then slammed the shogi door shut!!
Sure she doesn't want to be branded, but she fully knows that Hinata won't let that, so she decided to believe on her sister's undying determination rather than to listen on whatever false teachings of her mentor's untruthful mind.
Hinata looks at her former teammates who visited her just right after her training. It's been a long time that they saw each other, since Kiba was assigned in the Konoha Police as its head and Shino is busy on his clan's businesses. Their visit means a lot to her, and she knows why, not only because of the much-awaited reunion but because of something much more important – the Kumo-nins.
Akamaru laid his head on Hinata's lap, much to Kiba's displeasure. Hinata groomed the hound's head who loved it very much. A butterfly perched on her right hand as if looking at her intently.
"Ogenki desu ka Hina-chan?" inquired Kiba, seeing that Hinata is not that glowing as she used to be.
"Is everything alright?" ask Shino which surprises his other two teammates a lot, knowing that he only talks minimally.
"I'm alright Shino-kun, Kiba-kun. It's just that our training is quite exhausting." And then eyed them meaningfully, making her cue to talk.
"You see Hina-chan, I found these pearls, a dozen of them on the west bay of Konoha, and then five quartz given to me by otou-san. I just want to give you this golden anklet Hina-chan." And then put it on her, making Hinata blush and smiled at him.
"Shino-kun, how about you? What's going on with your life now?" she ask, as she eyed the butterfly on her hand intently.
"Everything's alright Hinata. I see that you've grown your garden beautifully. Your orange blossoms, its twigs are thorny as usual. Especially those water lilies, I never thought that the butterflies loved to go around them. Much more surprising are your lilacs, they are all good." And then nods at her, telling her his observation.
"I see, thank you for your appreciation Shino-kun. I just hope that I can still manage to entertain you, because I still have meetings with the clan's elders. So will you please excuse me Kiba-kun, Shino-kun, I have to leave now." And then smiled at them and then they all stand up and bid their good-byes.
After a few minutes, Shino and Kiba exited the manor after transferring the needed message to Hinata. Much top their surprise, the Rokudaime walk past them after a small greeting. He walks towards Hinata's meeting room, just where she, Kiba and Shino met up.
Just when Hinata was about to exit her room, she saw an orange-clad Hokage, looking seriously at her. She nodded in greeting and then asks him to go inside the room. She called one of her maids and then asks her to summon Hanabi and Neji.
After a good 15 minutes of waiting, all three of them bowed in unison on their village leader. The talk is most likely the request that Hinata asks for the Kage – removing the Caged Bird seal, but without the knowledge of her sister and cousin.
"Have you found any Naruto?" she inquired while Neji and Hanabi look at them with curiosity.
"Gomenasai Hina-chan but my research still has nothing worth for your request. It was said that the library was burned after the Kyuubi attack our village, so all the scrolls about seals, especially the caged bird seal is already gone." Naruto answered seriously, since he doesn't like failures especially when it comes for just a simple research.
"You mean Hinata-sama, you're looking for a way to remove the seal?" asked Neji as he pondered Hiroto's question on the back of his mind.
"Hai Neji-nii-san. Sadly, even I tried to research otou-san's secret library; there are still no informations on how to remove the seal. Gomenasai neji-nii-san if I failed you once again." and then bowed shyly to her cousin,
"But I'll never give up Hina-chan! I'll try to send some shinobis to other countries where some Hyuugas live. They might have some of the necessities for us to solve our problem." said Naruto encouragingly, which lighten the somber atmosphere in the room.
"Okay then, we better have to research more, right Neji-nii-san?" ask Hinata to the spacing-out Neji.
"Ha…Hai, Hinata-sama." Answered the genius, while Hinata looks at him with much more interest.
Hinata, Hanabi and Neji stand up and then take a bow to the retreating Hokage who did the same. As soon as Naruto leaves, Hinata took in her usual place and then eyed her cousin and her sister.
"What's the problem?" She asks the two of them. Obviously, then it comes to her only, Neji is spacing out and Hanabi is aggravated.
"Hiroto-sama said that he had found the way to remove the seal." Answered Neji which surprises Hinata and Hanabi
"How could that be?" Hanabi asks, as she and her sister fully understand why Neji is like that
"I don't know…" and then he trailed off, as he bowed his head lower than before…
"Do you believe that Neji-nii-san?" inquired the younger kunoichi, while Hinata looks at him much more intently
"Before, I don't know if I would, but hearing Naruto's word is enough to know that he's making a lie. I could play along on what just I suspected, it's a dirty trick." Said Neji which lighten up the heiress much more
"What about you imooto?" and then fixed her eyes on Hanabi
"Hideaki tried to order me to annihilate you and I declined, to be honest, I've tried once and otou-san never stopped me, which is really a surprise. I started on planning my agendas to do that to you until I discovered that you're not worth killing for." Hanabi, being Hanabi is not really good on choosing words, but it makes Hinata's heart jump with glee but with a bit curiosity on why she said the last statement.
"What do you mean by that Hanabi-chan?" the heiress asks as she looks at her sister amusingly
"Nee-chan, I only saw our mother in the picture, and she really looks like you. Whenever I tried to execute my plans, I can see her. Maybe that's why otou-san never stopped me, it's because he knows that I can see the same way he sees you, loving just like our mother." As she tried to hold back her tears.
"I see. What's the best plan for this? Ah… Neji-nii-san, go on what your plan is, and you Hanabi, apologize to Hideaki for your actions and act as if you'll do it. Then we'll know…" and then received their agreeing nods.
"Hinata-sama, news about them?" Neji asks,
Hinata brought out a piece of paper and writes:
Raikage with four ANBUs – south boundaries. 12 jounins west side, and four disguised as Hyuugas roaming around the whole household. Watch out for Hideaki, he killed Hitoshi.
Glossary: Ogenki desu ka Hina-chan - How are you Hina-chan?
A/N: Gomenasai for the late update!!!!
I know that this chapter is lame but still I love it… I hope that you'll love it too!!!