29 She didn't even talk to Me
Shikaku moved a piece on the shogi board and waited for his friend Inoichi to make his move. Their other friend, Choza, watched the match with interest, holding a bag of potato chips in his hand. Although the winner of the game was predetermined from the beginning, it was still enjoyable to watch.
The three clans were very close to each other and held meetings periodically to discuss their future. Today was one such day for their meeting.
Meanwhile, their children played in the garden a few meters away.
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Shikaku glanced at the kids for a brief moment and then made his move. "Kids grow too fast," he commented.
"Indeed," Inoichi replied, making his move.
Shikaku brought up the topic of the academy. "What are your thoughts on the academy? Should we wait a few years or send them this year?" Even though they were aware that it was not the ideal time for the academy, but they took suggestions from each other.
Inoichi pondered for a moment. "We should send them next year. By the time they graduate, they will be around 12 years old."
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"Hmm..." Shikaku nodded. It was a mutual understanding between them to enroll their kids at the same time so they could form the infamous trio. This was the tradition of their alliance.
"You lost again," Shikaku said with a chuckle.
"Have you thought about who will be their Jonin sensei?" Choza asked from the sidelines.
"We will see that later; we have many years to consider," Inoichi replied. There were no problems for them to put their kids in the same team and choose their team leader.
Even though it was said that the Hokage had the right to choose the teams based on the students' performance, everyone knew that the clan heads could make changes. This rule only applied to civilians who held no power.
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"So, Inoichi, how was your trip to the Hyuga clan?" Shikaku asked curiously.
Even though he had stopped suspecting Hinata, this was only to confirm his doubt.
"Nothing special, between two unreasonable brats, parents have to suffer," he said, looking at Ino.
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Shikaku hadn't told Inoichi that he still suspected Hinata. He was a reasonable guy who didn't create disputes between clans. "Did something happen there?" he asked.
"Nothing much. Hiashi's daughter apologized when she was being forced by her mother. She is more bratty than Ino, a spoiled brat," Inoichi shared what had happened at the Hyuga clan, at least that's what he thought.
Shikaku nodded in understanding. From Inoichi's information, he now felt relaxed; his mind was at ease.
He believed what she wanted him to believe.
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"That's what happens when you spoil your child too much," he said with a slight laugh. He was very thankful that his son was mature and didn't cause him any trouble. 'It would be troublesome if Shikamaru behaved like Ino or Hiashi's daughter.'
"Why don't we go to the park?" Shikamaru suggested. He just wanted to sleep on the grass and watch the clouds.
"I don't want to go to the park. What if that white-eyed freak comes and steals my chips again?" Choji said, squinting his eyes.
"Didn't she become our friend?" Shikamaru asked.
"Hmph... who wants to be friends with her? Let's play here," Ino said with a smug face, but deep down, she was slightly scared of her. She didn't want to get bullied again. She just wanted to stay away from her as much as possible.
"Okay," he said.
---
One day before Hinata had left...
In the Hyuga compound, an ANBU ninja stood in front of Hiashi. He was there to deliver the Hokage's message. "Clan leader, Hokage-sama instructed me to convey the message that Ranmaru Hyuga had died on the mission," he respectfully said.
A look of concern and a frown appeared on Hiashi's face. "Where is the dead body?" he asked.
"It was burnt on the spot by the enemy," the ANBU ninja replied.
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Hiashi gazed at the ANBU with intensity and suspicion, making him uncomfortable. "This is too suspicious," Hiashi said. Until now, one of the elders approached him.
"Why don't you go and ask for a proper explanation from the Hokage?" the elder suggested.
Hiashi considered the elder's advice and turned to the ANBU. "Tell the Hokage to arrange a meeting tomorrow."
"I will deliver your message to Hokage-sama, clan leader," the ANBU ninja said and disappeared instantly.
"So, Ranmaru has died," the elder said with a chuckle.
"Let's see what the Hokage has to say in this matter. Who will he blame?"
---
Next day...
Hiashi sat on the chair, and in front of him was the Third Hokage with his grandfatherly aura surrounding him.
Shikaku stood there as his advisor, and the two teammates of Ranmaru, Isomu and Akira, were also brought from the hospital to attend the meeting. Finally, Danzo was present; he couldn't miss something like this.
Hiashi looked at the Uchiha whose eyes were red, with some injuries here and there. "Tell me what happened."
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Isomu began explaining everything in detail for the second time. All of them listened carefully. After he finished his story, Hiashi looked at the Hokage, a look of suspicion starting to appear in his eyes. "Don't you think it's too suspicious, Hokage-sama?"
"What do you mean by that?" Hiruzen asked calmly, as if he didn't understand what Hiashi meant.
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"Look at these two; they are perfectly fine with no internal injuries or anything, and a member of my clan was dead, and his body was burnt. If this is not suspicious, then I don't think anything is suspicious, Hokage-sama," Hiashi asserted.
"We have sent a team of elites to investigate the matter, Hiashi. If anything is found, I will inform you," Hiruzen said with the same calmness while puffing out smoke.
"Information? What will I do with that? I want the culprits, Hokage-sama," Hiashi expressed his displeasure. A member of his clan had died, and he had to face his family with this news.
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"First, the incident of Kumo ninjas trying to kidnap my daughter, and now this, only a member dying on a mission," Hiashi spoke in a low voice, but everybody heard it clearly.
His displeased tone clearly indicated dissatisfaction with the Hokage's perceived incompetence, challenging his authority and way of ruling. This was the underlying purpose of the meeting.
"I hope you find the culprits, Hokage-sama," Hiashi stood up from his chair and walked out of the meeting room.
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Hiruzun looked at Danzo, and Danzo looked at Hiruzen in the same way he looked at him.
Both of them had similar thoughts, they were suspecting each other.
To Danzo it was a very good opportunity, the Hyuga clan was becoming displeased with Hokage's rule, and after eliminating the Uchiha clan, it would be very easy for him to overthrow Hiruzen with the Hyuga clan supporting him. And after becoming Hokage he will also exploit them.
---
Hiashi reached his clan, and everything had gone according to plan. After discussing and explaining the situation with clan elders, he walked towards his house.
"The house is very calm without my princess," he said while sitting on the sofa.
"You're right. It's only been one day, and it feels like all the glory of the house has gone with her," his wife said, serving him tea and sitting beside him.
"How was your meeting with the Hokage?" she asked, she was out of all these schemes. To her, it was just a normal meeting, and she was not involved in clan matters.
"Nothing special," he said while sipping his tea. She nodded to him, and for some time, there was silence between them.
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"Why are you so sad? Did anything happen?" he asked his wife.
"I am just worried about her, and she didn't even talk to me before going," she said, visibly sad. Hinata hadn't spoken to her after that incident; she just ignored her. This was hurting her, and now she regretted slapping her, but she was too unreasonable, and it was her duty to teach her daughter.
"She will forget about it in some time," he assured her.
She nodded to him, "I hope so."
"But you shouldn't have done that," he added.
She looked at him and asked, "Are you still angry with me?"
Hiashi didn't say anything. "Now now, don't you too behave like your daughter," she said, grabbing his hand and walking towards their room.
"If you are still angry, you can vent out your anger in the room," she said with a seductive smile.
"You..." he wanted to say something but followed her into the room before closing the door.
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