Chapter Text
“Hinata-sama, you are expected in the council room.”
So close. Hinata raised a hand to a strap of her backpack as she slowly turned around to face Natsu. She was only a few steps away from the gates of the compound. “My team must be waiting. Could you tell the council that I can’t make it?”
The apologetic wince on the retainer’s face was answer enough. Hinata had to wonder what Natsu was doing up so early in the morning. “Someone has been sent to replace you. You must come, these are Hiashi-sama’s orders.” As if to compensate she added more quietly, “he and the elders don’t seem to be in a bad mood, it’s probably nothing serious.”
Hinata nodded with a matching wince; that was unlikely, but hoping didn’t hurt. With a knowing look Natsu outstretched her hand expectantly and Hinata grudgingly handed over the backpack before turning away. “Thank you, Natsu. I’ll see you later.”
With each step Hinata had arrived at a different conclusion as to why her presence was required so urgently. The first was the seal. Her status as heiress had been revoked and yet her forehead remained clear; it was a very unusual combination. The second was Neji. Perhaps the council was bored and decided to call her out for training so often with him. The third conclusion didn’t make much sense after a moment of thought and neither did the following explanations her mind had offered.
When her name was announced to the council she steeled herself with a deep breath and straightened her back. “Honorable council,” Hinata greeted with a bow.
“Welcome, Hinata-sama.” A shiver ran up her spine when she rose from the bow. Any sign of a Byakugan being used was promptly erased. “Please take a seat.”
What was rather surprising about the ordeal was seeing heads both covered and uncovered sitting amongst each other. A lack of orderly seating meant that the gathering was informal and by default of no importance. Hinata was ultimately left without a good guess to explain the situation.
She scanned the room, finding Neji's gaze. He tilted his head towards the empty spot by his side almost imperceptibly. With a grateful smile she took the offered seat, uttering a hushed greeting.
After that everything proceeded as usual. The complaints presented by members of the clan were announced and solved or ignored, new requirements to ascend to genin were mentioned. Recent changes in nearby countries were discussed.
“There is also the coup,” one of the elders mentioned.
“It was Kawa no Kuni, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, apparently the daimyo’s wife was… unhappy with some matters. She is the current lord as of a few days ago.”
That was news to her. She glanced at Neji who lightly shrugged at this. “It would be foolish of this lady to interrupt our usual roads of commerce within Kawa no Kuni,” he murmured. “This change is of no consequence.”
Hinata leaned in with a whisper. “Yes… I suppose it would be foolish to risk the steady income we provide so early in her leadership.” As an afterthought she added, “although now may be a good time to request lowered tariffs for the use of Kawa no Kuni roads.”
Up in the front, Hiashi rose from his place. “In other news, the council and I have decided that it would only be appropriate to give our greetings to this new daimyo.”
“Speaking of which, might I suggest that we send my son, Hiso—”
Hiashi turned to his daughter. “ You will go meet with Asami-sama and make a good impression. Lower tariffs for our imports and exports in that area would not go unappreciated, Hinata.”
Hinata pressed her lips together and dipped her head. “Yes, father. I will do my best.”
“I know you won’t disappoint,” he said plainly. “This meeting is adjourned.”
Neji could already see her stiffening lightly. Her fingers twitched and he knew her nervous habits of finger poking and playing with long strands of hair would soon make an appearance. He offered a gentle nudge, prompting her to rise from her place.
As the rest rose to their feet, the same elder who offered his son muttered, “taking your current capabilities into consideration, I suggest you bring a guard of your choosing with you. New governments often have enemies running amok for for a while”
Hiashi made no comment against the suggestion, leaving the meeting room with a sweep of his haori. The rest of the council followed suit.