Work Text:
Hiashi quietly surveys the man in front of him. He's never seen the KMPF commander this disorderly before and his chakra is slightly frenzied. He huffs out through his nose and stands straighter. He isn't afraid of the Uchiha. Little need for the sharingan when the Byakugan renders these things useless.
So, when Fugaku is acting odd and pitiful, does Hiashi feel guilt for measuring up them. Hiashi tells himself a Hyuga must be untouched by everything and steels his face.
Fugaku is a test in patience and Hiashi snaps awake because nothing is going to routine - wait, why is he here, if not for a bragging report on any Hyuga who might've gotten apprehended?
"My clan will be in debt of yours - you can - no, I can help you, what did you want to see in our archives? I'll tell you if you would-" Fugaku removes his jonin vest and pulls out a scroll, the rest falling out in disarray.
"Calm down! What's this - what are you going on about?"
"You never failed to boast the Hyuga is the greatest, the best - the strongest clan," Fugaku grabs onto Hiashi's shoulders and his breath is warming. It's cold outside.
"Is this about clan pride -" Hiashi fumbles to say, disoriented by the overwhelming fear in Fugaku's eyes.
"No! Help me. Help my clan, save my people, Hiashi! If Konoha won't listen to the Uchiha... No... The Uchiha means nothing to Konoha... but your clan..." Fugaku swallows thickly, like there's a word lodged in there, one he refuses to submit to. "I'll let you do anything. Even take the Uchiha as one of your shoot-offs! The Hyuga are the ones spreading about where the sharingan come from... I'm sure, I'm sure Konoha will believe us if you -
"I..." Fugaku drops onto his knees and Hiashi doesn't know why he's reaching out to catch him because Hiashi knows what it looks like when someone is about to die. When someone is about to die for clan. Family. "I'll do anything..."
Fierce hope. Desperation. Knowing where he's going, confused but sure. Eager. Grim.
Hiashi, at times, feels like the Hyuga are both the strongest and weakest clan, there's a shallowness in how real it feels to see his face and be alive, and the clamoring has not died down.
Now the Uchiha clan head is on his knees asking for his clan to be saved and Hiashi wonders - is another man about to die?
... and... if he fails, if he turns a blind eye, will that wound in his chest open up again?