If you wanna read ahead of my stories, you can check out the advanced Chapters on my subcribestar, at the same username - 0Jordinio0

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Awkward.

That was the best word she could think of to describe the silence that descended over the main dining room of the Hyuga clan compound.

Beyond the slight ringing of bowls every so often, not a single sound was traded between the four of them.

Yet.

She glanced at her father sitting at the head of the table. Eyes closed, and calm as could be he slowly and gracefully ate from his own bowl. She glanced at the opposite end of the table, where Neji was sat.

He was tense, as he had been all week since her father started calling them for these little get togethers where they would all eat breakfast together.

As a ’family’.

Gazing directly down at the bowl before him as he ate, Neji was not going to look up at any of them unless he was directly spoken to.

And father would not speak until he was finished eating.

Manners were very important in the Hyuga clan after all. And speaking while eating was highly improper.

Absolute nonsense she thought.

’It is because of nonsense like this, the clan has turned out like this.’ Hinata thought, primly folding her napkin as she finished eating herself.

She would not break the silence though. She simply had no idea why her father had started these little get togethers. Each time, he had only indulged in awkward small talk. Asking of their training, how their days had been and such.

"This is boring."

She however did not need to break the silence, for her sister had no problem in doing so herself. She looked at her younger sister, who much like herself had changed a great deal in the months since she had become ’friends’ with Daiki-kun.

Daiki-kun who was the Hokage now.

’My Daiki-kun, you really are a dangerously driven man aren’t you?’ Hinata giggled to herself as she cupped her cheek.

She looked at her younger sister who was swinging back and forth on her chair, uncaring of the awkward silence or her lack of propriety.

She much like herself, had not just changed mentally, but physically as well since she had been taken under Daiki-kun’s wing and become his ’apprentice’.

Hanabi had always been more courageous and bold than her, despite usually being one to completely adhere to the clans ways. They were the strongest clan of Konoha after all. Why would she not emulate those of their clan and live at such a lofty level?

That was all she had known after all, until she met Daiki-kun.

Her father sighed, placing his chopsticks down atop his bowl neatly and opened his eyes, "Hanabi." he said simply, as a scolding.

Hanabi shrugged, her hair now grown out like her own. And the long bangs framing her face adorned with small pink bows. She had changed entirely from the simple, yet sturdy navy short sleeve top and pants she used to fill her wardrobe with, the standard training clothing of their clan.

Instead, she now wore a stylish short yellow kimono top with long wide sleeves, and a pleated black skirt covering her legs. Mesh armour peeked out of the bottom of the skirt covering her thighs, with an equipment pouch over her right thigh.

Their grandfather had been absolutely outraged to see her in such an outfit. She remembered the day she had returned with it, her hair grown out from the shoulder length bob it had been that very morning.

’No granddaughter of mine will dress like such a harlot! You shame the Hyuuga clan girl! Get rid of that ridiculous clothing right now!’

She remembered the rage on her grandfathers face as he shouted at Hanabi, only for Hanabi to raise her brow at him and smirk at her grandfather.

’No I don’t think I will grandfather. After all, these clothes are a gift from aniki. He said to tell anyone who has a problem with how I want to dress, to take it up with him. So you can go direct your demands at the Hokage.’

The purpled face of rage her grandfather had made at her little sisters reply, made her think he may just have a heart attack despite being very strong still at his age.

But the wind left his sails quickly. For how could he hope to direct that rage to the Hokage himself? Especially after they had all seen Daiki-kun’s true strength through that broadcast.

After he had crushed an entire invasion by himself.

"It is though father," Hanabi replied, rolling her eyes, forcing her chair back into its upright state, "I could be training right now, or going to see if I can meet up with aniki. I’ve not seen him since he became Hokage."

Their father sighed, "I suppose you are correct," he nodded slightly, surprising Hinata, and them all really if the way Neji looked up staring oddly at him and the way Hanabi blinked were anything to by, "I am I admit, not the best at these things." he added.

And completely throwing Hinata for a loop.

The best at what? What had he been trying to accomplish with these odd family get togethers each day?

"The best at what?" Hanabi cocked her head to the side and asked bluntly.

Ah, she looked quite cute like that. What a cute little sister she had. She was so glad Daiki-kun had brought this side of her out.

It was gladdening to see her so freed from the weight of their clans expectations.

"Apologising," Hiashi sighed, one hand raising up almost on reflex towards his hairline, before he caught himself and lowered his hand back to the table, "And...emotions too I suppose."

The three of them were silent as they looked between each other, then back at Hiashi.

"That is one of the powers of the Hyuga clan," Hanabi nodded sagely, "Alongside the Byakugan and female Hyuga’s being incredibly busty." she added, before looking directly at Hinata herself.

Or rather, her chest.

Ara?

Hinata tilted her chest. Why did her little sister look so pleased with herself as if her own rather substantial chest was proof of her words?

"Eh?" Neji blinked, looking at Hanabi as if she’d grown another head.

"Hanabi!?" her father actually gaped at her in disbelief, showing rare incredible emotion and blatant shock, "Where or how did you come up with such a thing!?"

"Aniki." Hanabi shrugged.

Ah...yes, that sounded like Daiki-kun indeed.

Hinata had to stop herself from goggling as her father outright palmed his face, "What is Hokage-sama saying to a girl your age?" her father groaned into his palm.

"I’m only two years younger than Aniki." Hanabi shrugged again, as if that made it okay.

"Closer to three actually," Hinata corrected her, "You are eleven and Daiki-kun will turn fourteen in just two weeks."

"How do you know that? I didn’t even know Aniki’s birthday," Hanabi pouted at her, before jutting her chin out at her, "It’s less than two and half, my birthday is in march, only five months after Aniki’s then."

Oh right, she had forgotten to take into account how soon her sisters birthday was.

No wait, why did she feel the need to try and correct her sister in the first place? It was not a competition.

"I see why he said not to even bother trying to deny the rumours of being a womanizing playboy," her father groaned again, sliding his hand down his face, before sighing, "If nothing else, I suppose I can praise the fact that even bringing up a conversation with him can break the ice of such an awkward gathering."

Ah right.

Father had been called to a council meeting the day Daiki-kun was officially sworn in as Hokage. And had been called to multiple since then as well.

There was an energy in the village right now, excited and filled with anticipation. It felt livelier than she could ever remember.

"Hiashi-sama," Neji spoke up, "Just...what has this all been about?"

While he was hesitant to speak and awkward, there was a lot less coldness between her cousin and father these days. Her father had taken him aside and had a talk with him after they’d returned to the compound after the Chunin Exam finals.

Whatever they’d spoke about, had much changed their cousin. Between that, and how Daiki-kun had got rid of the Cage Bird Seal atop his brow, Neji-niisan had even been quite kind to her the few times they had spoken alone since then.

Her father sighed again, before nodding and looking at all three of them in the eye, one by one.

"War is approaching." her father declared.

Eh?

"War?" Neji furrowed his eyebrows, "I was under the impression that few of the other villges would have the courage to face us. Not after Hokage-sama’s complete routing of not only the Sand but the Sound and Orochimaru himself."

"Usually you would be correct Neji," her father nodded, "However, it is Hokage-sama who desires war."

He looked directly at her then, and she felt a shiver go up her spine, "Hokage-sama has took extreme exception to the attempted kidnapping upon you Hinata," he said, and she felt her cheeks warm up. Daiki-kun, desired war...just because of her? Her father then turned back to Neji, "He has made demands of Kumo, to return your fathers body, and for them to beg the Hyuuga clans forgiveness and bow their heads in apology. Among a few other things."

Neji’s eyes widened slightly, "I see...Hokage-sama truly is one who keeps his word, is he not?" he mused, a smile quirking at his lips, touching at the green vest he had taken to wearing lightly.

The vest signifying his promotion to Chunin.

He deserved it. Though, Hinata could not say she was not disappointed herself to have not been promoted.

He looked at the vest for a moment, before back to her father, "And if they refuse?" he asked.

"War." her father confirmed with a simple nod.

Hanabi snorted, "Yeah that’s aniki for you, this does a bunch of things for him doesn’t it father?" she asked.

Hiashi nodded, "Yes, I suppose seeing as you are his personal student, you would understand his ways." he replied, and if Hinata was not mistaken she detected an iota of pride in his voice.

Something squirmed in her chest, "What else did this accomplish for him?" she found herself asking.

She did not understand.

Hanabi grinned at her, "If they refuse, it gives aniki a legitimate reason for him to declare war on them. And then he can go and take the two bijuu that those Cloud Monkeys have in their possession," she said proudly, puffing her chest out, "And return them to Konoha where they belong!"

She grimaced slightly.

Her sister seemed so eager for it. But war...so many people would die. For all everyone had celebrated Daiki-kuns absolute victory over the Sand and Sound. They forgot just how many poor souls had been eradicated that day.

Of course they did not deserve the mercy, for they had been attempting to invade and kill them all. But over a thousand had died that day. It was a massive loss of life.

She still remembered the piles of bodies being shown off in that broadcast. Multiple of them, hundreds of feet high.

All piled by Daiki-kuns own hands.

In a true war, how many would die?

’Stop being so weak.’ she scolded herself. She could feel sorry for them, but she could not allow herself to find their fates undeserving.

Still, she looked at her sister.

’Cloud Monkey’.

An insult for those from Kumo. It had spread through the village over the last few days rapidly since Daiki-kun became Hokage and gave his speech, and called them it.

She’d even overheard Kiba-kun saying it as well just last night in a discussion with Shino-kun. And Shino-kun responded in kind!

’She knows Daiki-kun better than me.’ she thought, eyeing her sister. Tenten and Sakura-chan were already her competition.

And even Ino had been flirting with Daiki-kun.

Was even her own younger sister a rival?

"Indeed, that is completely correct Hanabi," her father nodded, "I suppose then some of the silent worries I was carrying were for nothing."

Her father reached into his kimono, before pulling out the oddest kunai Hinata had ever seen. It looked almost like a trident with two extra prongs on each side of the main blade, and the main blade had been widened to twice the width of a normal kunai.

It was oddly familiar too.

He placed the kunai on the table, before sliding it over to Hanabi, "What is this for father?" her younger sister picked it up in one hand, testing its balance.

"It is a very special kunai," her father explained, "It was given to me by your teacher, alongside this." he added, before reaching into his kimono once more and pulling out-

She felt her mouth drop law, at the same time Hanabi-chan gasped and went wide eyed as their father pulled a very familiar headband with blue cloth from his top, the symbol of konoha emblazoned on the top.

"Hokage-sama has personally approved your early graduation and ascent to the rank of Genin," Hiashi declared, presenting the headband to her, "And has declared you as his official student and member of...Team Grind."