Pillars of the Hyuuga

[Drak]

It seemed an innocent enough gathering. Three young men sharing a drink in an office tucked away deep within the walls of the Konoha University. The eldest of the three slid the door closed. Out of sight, but subtly hinting that there was something more to this gathering, a series of fuuin came alive, protecting the room from any snooping ears or eyes.

“That should do,” Akito said, removing his hand from the door and turning to face Takeshi and Kokou. “I will cut straight to the chase. I am worried about the Hyuuga clan. We are one of the three founding pillars of Konoha, and yet we have produced few notable shinobi in recent years. I would go so far as to say that all of them are in this room.”

Akito let his white eyes drift over Takeshi and Kokou before he started pacing in front of the door.

“The Hyuuga elders seem more interested in keeping the blood pure and the clan unsullied by outside entanglements that too many of us ignore their duty as shinobi. The Head is an ineffectual old man, unable to do much more than prattle on about duty and togetherness while the elders manage the clan’s affairs. Not only are we the most powerful of the Hyuuga, but we are also the outcasts: half-breeds and mutants. At first, and for many years, I thought that we were so in spite of our states. However, after seeing the state of the Hyuuga’s inner circle – of our so-called pure cousins – and their continual stagnation, I no longer think that. We have reached our heights: a Bannin, the dean of the University, a noted defender of the village not in spite of our status, but because of it. The clan is in bad shape, and the next generation is in no shape to lead. The presumptive heiress is still a chuunin at twenty, and her grandfather is knocking on death’s door.”

Painting the picture, Akito stopped his pacing and turned to face the other two.

"Add to this one more crucial and most unexpected element," Akito let himself pause again, as if weighing one last time whether he should reveal this. "With my recent elevation in rank, the council and clan head seem to have suffered a last minute change of heart and see fit to treat me as a full member of the clan. After a decade of saying that they will make me a match tomorrow, I have forged my own path with regards to romance. I trust you both, so this should come as no surprise to either of you. What will come as a surprise is why this matters. Hikaru -- or more likely his puppeteers have seen fit to offer me the hand of Tsuki."

His words hung in the air like rocks, sailing gracefully down before landing with great commotion. Akito raised his hand to stop his fellows from interjecting.

"I have someone. More interestingly, so does Tsuki. Even more interestingly, from my observations within the clan compound there is little chance her partner is someone within the clan. In any case, although her hand provides an easy path to the headship, I have little desire for that particular match anymore."

With a whoosh of fabric, Akito swept his haori out behind him and gracefully came down to a kneeling position.

“From that, you may have figured out what I am asking. I should lead the Hyuuga clan, and I wish to attain the station without Tsuki's hand. If either of you seek Hikaru's seat, or think me unworthy of it, speak now. I wish to hear why. This path will involve politicking, subterfuge, and perhaps even violence. If you do not want to be involved I will not think less of either of you if you stay out of the affair. Otherwise...”

Akito placed his hands on the floor, then his forehead, going into a dogeza.

“...I humbly ask for your support. I cannot do this alone, but together, I know we can move mountains.”

[Izanagi]

The university was larger than Takeshi had expected. He had passed it by countless times, knew in detail the research that was being conducted and often sent others to retrieve texts from their extensive libraries but somehow over the near decade of its existence, he had never actually walked its halls. An oversight perhaps, the young prodigy had never been the most studious, preferring to hone his body through relentless training, studying strategy and engaging targets in the field rather than being cooped up in dusty rooms. And yet he couldn’t deny the value of research, it was for that very reason he had relied on Akito so extensively over the years, trusting him as a special consultant for Konoha’s black ops, the elusive ANBU. Though Takeshi and Akito were cousins and by all right’s close friends, they had managed to keep their connection largely under the radar. It was curious then, when Akito called him in for a meeting within his office rather than communicate over coded messages delivered drop locations or proxies and then meeting up in some dingy bar or remote location for anything that required a face-to-face conversation.

Takeshi was a broad young man, at only 21 years old, he filled out his tight black shirt as if he was a bodybuilder rather than a shinobi. His rippling back muscles and forearms were especially prominent from his countless hours of honing archery. Walking the halls of the university and now standing within Akito’s orderly office, he seemed quite the anomaly among the multitude of lithe, mild-mannered scholars. The Commander certainly drew more than a few surprised glances his way, though despite being known by many as the son of the departed 17th Hokage, Takeshi’s service record was average at best. An unremarkable Jounin, his records showing a series of patrol work and guard duty, typically remaining close to the village, though with a few exceptions for handling occasional investigative work. Of course, Akito knew him better than what his public record displayed. The truth was he was among the most skilled and decorated shinobi the hidden leaf had at its disposal.

Yet as the young Anbu commander looked between the other Hyuuga gathered, he recognized that he was not alone in his exceptional talent. Hyuuga Kokou, the Dean of the University, a genius that had founded such an ambitious undertaking at only 15 years old, and of course, Hyuuga Akito, the first Hyuuga Bannin since Takeshi’s own mother Hyuuga Aina had been awarded such a title over 20 years ago. Takeshi dipped his head slightly, observing Kokou cautiously, unlike himself and Akito, Kokou did not bare the cursed seal of the Branch family. He was more closely related to Takeshi, having been robbed of Aina’s true main family lineage for being a half breed, the second oldest half-breed Hyuuga in Konoha, the first being Akito himself. For centuries the main family culled such so called ‘abominations’, now it seemed they only cursed them, binding them to their will, able to incapacitate or kill them at will with only a simple series of secret hand seals passed through the main family line. For years Takeshi had dabbled with the idea of recruiting Kokou, though ultimately the risk of a main family member serving under him was too great, already Keriku had shown to be largely problematic, though a necessary risk. Taking in a second would only stoke the fires of insubordination.

Takeshi remained silent, assessing the situation with practiced calm as Akito explained the reasons for such a gathering. ‘We are certainly the strongest of our generation’ his thoughts echoed. Though the Hyuuga clan wasn’t lacking for skilled Jounin, among the clans the number of elite shinobi was rivaled only by the Awai and the Senju, though last he checked the Hyuuga still boasted over 50 active Jounin, and several dozen Special Jounin. Among the list of Jounin were his own uncles; Fusashi and Nobu, each retaining their main family status. The former of which had recently become a clan elder, he had heard. His eyes narrowed, casting a judgmental gaze at the pink-eyed Hyuuga as Akito lumped him in with half-breeds. Certainly, Kokou was an oddity among the main family, though not truly an outcast to the same extent. He had never been exiled like his mother had, named the Usurper and blamed for the former clan leader’s death when she had been taken hostage by Enma 23 years ago. Takeshi had been born into a shadow held over his family name, a black spot that refused to be cleansed no matter how much time and effort he had invested into conforming and redeeming his mother’s name. Now, he accepted the shame, shaving the sides of his head and refusing the Hyuuga’s prim and proper attire and customs at every opportunity and for that and his choice of lovers he too, like his mother had been named an exile, denied training or access to Hyuuga grounds and rites. For a moment Takeshi’s lavender hue gazed flared with anger as his deep-seated resentment clawed to the surface.

With a slow, even exhalation, Takeshi focused his rapt attention back on Akito, emboldened by his much more distant cousin’s words. His thoughts drifted to Tsuki, his 2nd cousin, yet a woman he had never exchanged more than a few sentences with, in his youth. He knew little about the woman she had become, though he trusted Akito’s assessment of her. She had seemed quiet and kind when they were children, dutiful like most Hyuuga but those traits did not always make for good leaders. Yet, Akito’s marriage arrangement and proposition surprised Takeshi, he had known Akito had long strived for Bannin and to be recognized by the main family, but this was the first he was hearing of ambition for leadership, at least beyond vague drunken musings, thought to be meant in jest. “It’s a great opportunity” Takeshi said simply, assessing Akito’s resolve. He might be required to marry Tsuki, if only as a formality and as a stepping stone.

Yet as Akito spoke of Tsuki’s involvement with someone outside the clan, Takeshi’s eyes widened slightly, a moment of realization. Not a week prior he had received a visit from an old family friend, a young man from the same academy year as himself who found himself in a predicament with a Hyuuga lover beyond his reach. He hadn’t named her specifically, but it made sense with the way Yoshinori acted. Naturally Takeshi had vowed to assist his family friend where he could, in honor of his mother who had showed him the value of leading with one’s heart, no matter the obstacle. Takeshi winced slightly, a moment of regret for his suggestion only moments ago, to even consider choosing power and status over love seemed contrary to everything his parents had taught him. If Akito truly loved Inokara, he deserved to hold her heart alone, and though Takeshi’s own relationship with a Yamanaka counterpart had fallen through, he wished to see his dear friend and cousin achieve his goals while retaining his integrity.

Takeshi steeled himself, his gaze resolute as he felt determined to support both Akito and Yoshinori, to fight for love and to change the Hyuuga clan in the ways his mother had dreamed of when she had pursued the title of clan leader. ‘Perhaps this is the path forward, Akemi’ the young man considered, thinking of his newest lover of two years, a woman from the Nara clan. Surely if they failed the half-breeds of the clan would be made an example of, likely even killed unless the Hokage intervened. The 19th Hokage, Sarutobi Taiga was a man that Takeshi admired and respected, though he had no stake in such matters beyond protecting powerful assets to the village. Yet in times of uncertainty and potential re-igniting of the sparks of war with Iwa, that was likely to be enough.

The son of the 17th Hokage exhaled slowly, centering himself as a warrior might before heading into battle. “There was a time I wished to become clan leader, to succeed where my mother failed, to change the Hyuuga to be accepting of those such as us and to remove these damn cursed seals entirely.” He grit his teeth at that, he wore the mark defiantly, never covering the teal curse seal across his forehead, yet every time he met the eyes of a main family member, he felt his resentment swell inside him. Nakano had ignited something in him, a sense of individuality and freedom he wouldn’t have ever experienced if he had continued to conform to the Hyuuga ways, the clan would never accept someone like him as a leader, yet Akito, he spoke like them, dressed like them and had finally clawed his way into their acceptance, if only superficially. He could achieve what Aina and Takeshi could only dream of. “But I have too much of my mother in me. I have no taste for politics, of pretending to be something I’m not. I will support you Akito, my cousin, my friend. For better or worse we are in this together now. I tie my fate to yours” he pledged, then considering a moment, his mind raced as he navigated the complexities of the situation. “So long as no harm comes to Tsuki, we must sway her to our cause at any cost” he stipulated. He would see to it that he honored the promises he made to both Yoshinori and Akito, and would utilize every resource and connection at his disposal to see them fulfil their dreams.