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"The Inuzuka?" Hiashi asks his daughter, voice dripping with disdain. "You must be joking."
"I'm very serious, father."
He is none too fond of the nerve his eldest has developed over the last year or two. She may no longer be a weak, timid disappointment, but if Hinata believes that she has any real power within the Hyuga family while he's still alive, well— that's a misunderstanding he needs to correct.
Hiashi fixes her with a stern glare. “Under no circumstances will I give my blessing for that union,” he says coldly. “And you would do well, Hinata, to remember that you will wed someone that I approve of, someone vetted by the elders—”
To his absolute horror, she laughs— a delicate giggle, smile hidden behind the sleeve of her kimono.
Her face is neutral again when she lowers her hand to speak a few moments later, voice clear but not loud, never loud. “I've already slept with him.”
He breaks into a cold sweat. "You're bluffing.”
She keeps eye contact, looking serene and resolute. "Again, I'm very serious.” Hinata leans forward a bit and lowers her voice. “I'll make certain the entire village is aware of it if his proposal is refused by the elders. It may prove harder to find me a suitable match after a scandal like that.”
Hiashi is still frozen with shock as his daughter stands and bows deeply, leaving without another word.
He could, in theory, remove her from the clan entirely for such an indiscretion— but then, many of the branch members adored her and only barely tolerated him. What kind of mess would he have on his hands if he were to do that? Nothing that couldn't be suppressed, of course, but then, the optics of using the seal to subdue members of the branch family are worse and worse by the day as more citizens in Konoha poke their noses into his business—
He's furious, and annoyed, and underneath it all, a little proud— which just makes him annoyed all over again.
Impertinent!
Insubordinate!
And the traitorous voice in the back of his mind...
Cunning.
Ruthless.
She is a bit like you, after all.
In the end, Hiashi is too old and too tired of conflict to die on this hill. Things could always be worse, he tells himself. You could be facing the Uzumaki as a son in law instead. Surely this is at least better than that.
Finally, he rises and pours himself a drink. He'll need one before bringing this to the elders.