Chapter 54: Hanabi Comes to Apologize in Person
The Hyūga residence.
As soon as Hyuga Hiashi returned, he was informed that the elders wanted to see him, and that Hanabi was to come along as well.
"Hyuga Hiashi, you've caused trouble again. Speak."
The aged Hyūga elder sat in a dimly lit room. When he saw Hyuga Hiashi open the door and step inside, he spoke slowly.
Hyuga Hiashi entered and recounted everything that had happened earlier that day to the elder in full detail.
"Hmph!"
"So the branch family thinks they can use this kind of method to escape the main family's restraints, to flee the rules of the Hyūga clan?"
When the elder heard Hyuga Hiashi mention that someone from their clan had formed a relationship with an outsider during the Third Shinobi World War and even had a child, he immediately concluded, without hesitation, that it must have been someone from the branch family trying to evade the fate of the Caged Bird Seal.
"Elder, what should we do about this?"
Hyuga Hiashi knelt on the floor, lowered his head, and asked.
"Hyuga Hiashi, have you already forgotten the lesson I taught you last time?!"
The elder barked sharply.
"This…"
Hyuga Hiashi stiffened. "Elder, you mean…?"
"The matter of Hizashi, back then, I praised you. Yet it seems you've already forgotten why I praised you."
"No matter what the Third Hokage is thinking, no matter what decision he ultimately makes, you, as clan head, representing the Hyūga clan, can only express one stance. Do you understand?!"
"Since you've forgotten, I'll teach you again!"
"If you choose resistance, and the Third Hokage ultimately chooses resistance as well, then it means the Hokage bowed to the Hyūga clan's power."
"If you choose resistance, and the Third Hokage chooses compromise, then it becomes conflict, enmity!"
"If you choose compromise and sacrifice, and the Third Hokage chooses resistance, then that is the Hokage's benevolence, his concern for every individual in the village."
"If you choose compromise and sacrifice, and the Third Hokage also chooses compromise, then that is the Hokage respecting the Hyūga clan's decision."
"Do you understand?!"
"We Hyūga are not the Uchiha clan. They had no brains, and that's why they were wiped out!"
The elder's scathing lecture left Hyuga Hiashi drenched in cold sweat.
Words like these, so reminiscent of political scheming, might have felt out of place elsewhere, but within the Hyūga clan, the most feudal family in the shinobi world, they were anything but strange.
As for Hanabi, her small head simply couldn't contain so many matters from the filthy world of adults. She was already starting to feel dizzy just listening.
"Hyuga Hiashi, do you understand now? No matter what decision the Third Hokage makes in the end, you must be prepared."
As the elder finished speaking, his gaze shifted to Hanabi, who was standing behind Hyuga Hiashi.
"…Y-yes."
Hyuga Hiashi nodded with a bitter expression.
"Then have you made your decision? Who will inherit the main family? We've given you leeway for many years now, Hyuga Hiashi. It's time you give us an answer and carry out the Hyūga clan's rules."
Seeing Hyuga Hiashi nod, the elder was clearly satisfied.
Back then, Hyuga Hiashi and his younger brother Hizashi were born only minutes apart. Hyuga Hiashi, born first, became the heir of the main family; Hizashi, born later, became the heir of the branch family.
At the age of three, Hizashi had the Caged Bird Seal carved onto his forehead.
If Hinata and Hanabi had been born as twins, the outcome would have been the same.
But Hinata was five years older than Hanabi.
In every aspect, the abilities Hinata displayed were far inferior to those of Neji, who trained alongside her.
When Hizashi was still alive, thinking of this filled him with sorrow and resentment. As a result, Hyuga Hiashi activated the Caged Bird Seal, causing Hizashi to collapse to the ground in agony, right in front of Neji.
Later, when Neji was four years old, Hizashi became Hyuga Hiashi's substitute sacrifice.
When Neji once harbored resentment during a sparring match with Hinata, Hyuga Hiashi again activated the Caged Bird Seal, letting Neji experience pain worse than death.
But this also made Hyuga Hiashi and the clan elders realize Hinata's shortcomings.
Insufficient ability, and insufficient temperament.
At just that time, Hyuga Hiashi's wife became pregnant again and gave birth to Hanabi.
Hyuga Hiashi proposed to the elders that Hanabi be allowed to grow first, whoever proved superior would inherit the main family, while the loser would receive the Caged Bird Seal and become the branch family member.
In truth, when the seal was about to fall upon his own children, Hyuga Hiashi found himself unable to bear it.
And Hanabi did not disappoint him. In both talent and temperament, she displayed qualities far more suited to inheriting the position of clan head than her elder sister Hinata.
Originally, this matter could have continued to be delayed.
Delayed until some future day when the elder passed away, or until a newly appointed Hokage decided to forcefully reform the Hyūga clan's rules, perhaps then no one would need the Caged Bird Seal at all.
But unfortunately, due to the recent incident involving Amegakure, the issue was dragged back into the open. Hyuga Hiashi could no longer avoid it.
"Before the Chūnin Exams end, before the Third Hokage makes his decision, I will give an answer."
Just as Hyuga Hiashi was about to speak and prepare to abandon Hinata, Hanabi tugged at the corner of his sleeve. Seeing his youngest daughter's stubborn expression, Hyuga Hiashi spoke helplessly.
After that, the father and daughter left the elder's residence and returned to the courtyard from that morning, where they began to talk.
"Hanabi, I know you've liked your sister since childhood, but your sister truly isn't suited to be clan head."
"Setting strength aside, her personality is simply too weak. Do you understand?"
Hyuga Hiashi spoke earnestly, trying to persuade her.
Hanabi shook her head vigorously.
"This was clearly my fault. How can I let my sister suffer in my place? Father, surely you've always blamed yourself for Uncle Hizashi's sacrifice, haven't you?"
"…"
Hyuga Hiashi's expression turned somewhat ashamed.
Not shame toward his brother Hizashi, but rather because, truthfully, he hadn't blamed himself all that much.
After all, if he truly felt deep guilt, he wouldn't have used the Caged Bird Seal on Neji as a warning.
Yet at the same time, it wasn't as though he was utterly shameless and believed branch family sacrifice was only natural.
Hearing Hanabi ask him this still made him feel ashamed.
Human beings are complicated creatures.
"Father, during this Chūnin Exam, let's go watch my sister's next match. If she can show initiative and determination, then Father, please don't drag her into this."
Hanabi clenched her small fists tightly and looked up at Hyuga Hiashi.
"…Alright."
Helpless, Hyuga Hiashi agreed.
Though he didn't believe Hinata would show much initiative, if she could avoid disgracing the Hyūga clan, that would already be enough.
The second round of the Forest of Death scroll-grabbing exam ended.
The one-on-one individual elimination matches were about to begin.
Hinata returned home and, not seeing Hanabi, asked her father softly, "F-Father… where is Hanabi?"
"Hmph."
Hyuga Hiashi snorted coldly and did not answer.
After dinner, Hanabi had gone out.
Originally, he had wanted to remind her not to wander around and to stay at home.
But thinking of the pressure Hanabi was under, Hyuga Hiashi softened. He had Hyuga Natsu follow from afar to guard her, letting Hanabi go out alone to relax for a bit.
So where did Hanabi go?
After asking around, she found the residence of the Amegakure village leader.
Knock, knock.
Shiromo opened the door.
Hyuga Hanabi stood timidly at the entrance, holding a bundle in her arms.
"Um… I came to apologize. I also brought a medical kit. Where is the one-armed big brother who was hurt by my father?"
"He's returned to the village."
After letting Hanabi inside, Shiromo closed the door.
As for Hinata Natsu outside, she had her Byakugan active and was monitoring the area, but she could only see what was happening, not hear anything.
"Actually, no one was hurt yesterday. You don't need to blame yourself."
Once seated inside, Shiromo went straight to the point.
"Eh?"
"W-what do you mean, no one was hurt?"
Hanabi took a sip of the hot tea Karin handed her. Hearing Shiromo say this, her small face was filled with confusion.
(End of this chapter)