Naruto: Systematic Shinobi Chapter 317: Monkey On Hold - 5

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Awkward.

That was the most fitting word she could conjure to characterize the quiet that had settled over the primary dining hall of the Hyuga clan estate.

Aside from the occasional faint chime of bowls, not a single utterance was exchanged between the four of them.

As yet.

She stole a glance at her father, positioned at the head of the table. With his eyes closed and an aura of utter tranquility, he ate from his own bowl with slow, elegant movements. Her gaze shifted to the opposing end of the table, where Neji was seated.

He remained rigid, a state he had been in all week since her father initiated these brief communal meals where they gathered to break bread together.

As a unit of 'family.'

Fixated on his bowl, Neji refused to meet anyone's gaze unless directly addressed.

And Father would not utter a word until his meal was concluded.

Decorum, after all, held immense significance within the Hyuga clan. To converse while eating was considered profoundly uncivilized.

Utter foolishness, she mused internally.

'It's because of such trivialities that the clan has deteriorated to this state,' Hinata considered, daintily folding her napkin as she, too, concluded her repast.

Nevertheless, she refrained from shattering the silence. She simply possessed no understanding as to why her father had instated these small gatherings. Each time, his contributions had amounted to little more than stilted pleasantries. Inquiries about their training, how their days had transpired, and similar mundane topics.

"This is tedious."

However, she was not destined to be the one to break the quiet, as her younger sister possessed no such qualms. Hinata observed her sister, who, much like herself, had undergone a significant transformation in the months since her association with Daiki-kun had deepened into friendship.

Daiki-kun, who now held the distinguished position of Hokage.

'My Daiki-kun, you truly are a man of perilous ambition, aren't you?' Hinata giggled inwardly, resting her cheek on her hand.

She looked toward her younger sister, who was playfully swinging on her chair, seemingly indifferent to the palpable awkwardness of the silence or her own disregard for conventional etiquette.

Her sister, mirroring Hinata's own metamorphosis, had evolved not only in disposition but also in appearance since being brought under Daiki-kun's tutelage as his 'disciple.'

Hanabi had always exhibited a more daring and bold spirit than Hinata, even though she typically adhered strictly to the clan's traditions. They were, after all, Konoha's most formidable clan. Why would one not strive to emulate their esteemed lineage and live at such an elevated standard?

That was the entirety of her known world, until the advent of Daiki-kun.

Her father let out a sigh, gently placing his chopsticks atop his bowl before opening his eyes. "Hanabi," he stated plainly, the tone clearly one of gentle admonishment.

Hanabi offered a shrug, her hair now cascading down, much like Hinata's own had. The long bangs framing her face were adorned with petite pink bows. Her attire was a stark departure from the simple, yet robust, navy short-sleeved top and trousers that once comprised her wardrobe – the standard training attire of their clan.

Instead, she now sported a fashionable short yellow kimono top with flowing wide sleeves, paired with a pleated black skirt that covered her legs. Mesh armor was visible peeking from the hem of the skirt, protecting her thighs, with an equipment pouch secured over her right thigh.

Their grandfather had been utterly apoplectic upon witnessing her clad in such an ensemble. Hinata recalled the day Hanabi had unveiled this new look, her hair having grown considerably from the shoulder-length bob she'd sported that very morning.

'!'

She vividly remembered the incandescent rage that had contorted her grandfather's face as he berated Hanabi. In response, Hanabi had merely raised an eyebrow at him, a smirk playing on her lips as she faced her grandfather.

'.'.

The sheer fury etched onto her grandfather's purpling face at her younger sister's retort made Hinata believe he might very well suffer a cardiac event, despite his considerable remaining vitality for his age.

However, his bluster quickly dissipated. How could he possibly direct that ire towards the Hokage himself? Especially after witnessing Daiki-kun's true might during the public broadcast.

The same strength that had enabled him to single-handedly repel an entire invading force.

"It is, Father," Hanabi replied, rolling her eyes and pushing her chair back to its proper position. "I could be honing my skills at this very moment, or perhaps seeking out Aniki. I haven't seen him since he ascended to the position of Hokage."

Their father sighed again. "I suppose you are not incorrect," he conceded with a slight nod, a gesture that visibly surprised Hinata, and indeed, everyone present if Neji's astonished upward glance and Hanabi's momentary blinking were any indication. "I admit, I am not adept at these matters." he added.

This statement utterly bewildered Hinata.

Adept at what precisely? What had he been endeavoring to achieve with these peculiar family assemblies each day?

"Not adept at what?" Hanabi inquired directly, tilting her head to the side.

Ah, she appeared so charming in that pose. What a delightful younger sister she possessed. Hinata felt immense gratitude that Daiki-kun had been instrumental in revealing this side of Hanabi.

It was profoundly gratifying to witness her liberation from the oppressive burden of their clan's expectations.

"Apologizing," Hiashi let out a sigh, his hand instinctively rising towards his hairline before he stopped himself and returned it to the table, "And...emotions too, I suppose."

A moment of silence passed between the three as they exchanged glances.

"That is one of the Hyuga clan's inherent abilities," Hanabi stated with a knowing nod, "Alongside the Byakugan and the fact that the female Hyuga possess incredibly ample bosoms." She added this last part while looking directly at Hinata.

Specifically, at her chest.

Ara?

Hinata tilted her head, puzzled. Why did her younger sister seem so pleased, as if her own rather substantial chest was undeniable proof of her statement?

"Eh?" Neji's eyes widened, staring at Hanabi as if she had suddenly sprouted a second head.

"Hanabi!?" Her father gaped at her, a rare display of profound shock and disbelief on his face, "Where on earth did you concoct such a notion!?"

"Aniki," Hanabi replied with a shrug.

Ah... yes, that certainly sounded like something Daiki-kun would say.

Hinata suppressed a gasp as her father buried his face in his palm, groaning, "What is Hokage-sama even saying to a girl your age?"

"I'm only two years younger than Aniki," Hanabi shrugged again, as if that explained everything.

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

"How do you know that? I didn't even know Aniki's birthday was coming up," Hanabi pouted, before defiantly sticking out her chin, "It's less than two and a half years, my birthday is in March, only five months after Aniki's then."

Oh, right. She had momentarily forgotten how soon her sister's birthday was.

Wait, no, why did she even feel the need to correct her sister in the first place? This wasn't a competition.

"I now understand why he warned me not to even attempt to deny the rumors of him being a womanizing playboy," her father groaned once more, sliding his hand down his face and letting out a weary sigh, "If nothing else, I suppose I can commend the fact that simply engaging in conversation with him can break the ice of such an awkward gathering."

Ah, right.

Father had been summoned to a council meeting the very day Daiki-kun was officially inaugurated as Hokage. He had been called to numerous others since then as well.

There was a palpable energy pulsing through the village right now, vibrant and filled with eager anticipation. It felt more alive than she could ever recall.

"Hiashi-sama," Neji spoke up hesitantly, "Just... what is all of this about?"

Although he still spoke with a touch of awkwardness and hesitation, the biting coldness that once existed between her father and her cousin had significantly diminished these days. Her father had taken Neji aside for a private talk after they had returned to the compound following the Chunin Exam finals.

Whatever transpired during that conversation had profoundly changed Neji. Coupled with Daiki-kun's action of removing the Cage Bird Seal from his forehead, Neji-niisan had even displayed a notable kindness towards her during the few times they had spoken alone since then.

Her father sighed again, then nodded, meeting the eyes of each of them in turn.

"War is approaching," her father declared solemnly.

Eh?

"War?" Neji's brows furrowed in confusion, "I was under the impression that few of the other villages would dare confront us. Not after Hokage-sama's decisive victory over not only the Sand, but the Sound and Orochimaru himself."

"Ordinarily, you would be correct, Neji," her father acknowledged with a nod, "However, it is Hokage-sama who now desires war."

He turned his gaze directly to Hinata, and a shiver coursed down her spine, "Hokage-sama has taken extreme offense to the attempted kidnapping of you, Hinata," he stated, causing her cheeks to flush. Daiki-kun desired war... simply because of her? Her father then shifted his attention back to Neji, "He has issued demands to Kumo: the return of your father's body, and for them to formally beg the Hyuga clan's forgiveness with bowed heads in apology. Among several other stipulations."

Neji's eyes widened subtly, "I see... Hokage-sama truly is one who upholds his word, is he not?" he mused, a slight smile tracing his lips as he lightly touched the green vest he had recently adopted.

The vest was a symbol of his promotion to Chunin.

He had earned it. Although, Hinata couldn't deny a pang of personal disappointment at not having been promoted herself.

He gazed at the vest for a moment before looking back at her father, "And should they refuse?" he inquired.

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

Hanabi let out a snort, "Yeah, that sounds just like aniki. This accomplishes quite a few things for him, doesn't it, Father?" she asked.

Hiashi nodded, "Indeed. I suppose, as his personal student, you would have a better understanding of his methods." he replied, and Hinata detected a faint, almost imperceptible hint of pride in his voice.

Something stirred uneasily within her chest, "What else does this accomplish for him?" she found herself asking.

She genuinely 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 open, 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 it.

"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."