Hyuga Compound.
Main House meeting room.
Hinata made her way through the long halls of the main house, passing by paintings and house staff watching her movements, the Hyuga heiress has lost her shy nature, no longer was there a young girl who kept her head down to avoid socialising, in her place a confident young woman, coming into her own through harsh training but support on standby such as her sisterhood with Ino Yamanaka and Tenten. The mentorship of her sensei Kurenai has gotten stronger through their neutral desires to eliminate the thoughts of those who have underestimated them and her biggest motivation is to best the bloody swordsman of the Leaf.
All that can blossom over time, this current matter has to be addressed before it's too late.
"You wanted to speak with us, Lady Hinata?"
An elderly Hyuga woman spoke softly, her pupilless eyes carrying years of experience dealing with clan politics to the point her wrinkles have expressions.
"What is it that you would like to discuss ?" An elder man chimes in.
"I would like to discuss the clan's segregation. " Hinata spoke out, her voice projected with assertiveness that left many taken aback.
Hinata sat on her knees in the middle of the polished wooden floors. Around her in an organised semi-circle is the council of elders responsible for managing the Hyuga clan.
The Main family are no different from any other noble family, they are the face of their respective kin but do not govern the clan fully, each sector of importance has an elder to advise the clan head on the best proceedings.
This is a reality that has settled in Hinata's mind since the first time she saw the cursed seal marked on the branch families.
The bird cage is a seal placed on all non-main family members to separate the direct descendants of Hamura Ōtsutsuki and the rest of his branches. The curse seal gives the main family the ability to destroy the brain cells of those marked with it.
A horrifying ability she witnessed firsthand when her father and clan head, Hiashi Hyuga used the seal activation on her cousin Neji Hyuga.
"For decades our clan has lived in a state of false unity, we treat each other differently based on the merits of birthright and strength, we are so adamant on depending on the taijutsu style of the gentle fist and heavenly palms technique that we restrict the learning of elemental affinities and ninjutsu available for all Konoha without bloodline limits. " Hinata calls out her concerns.
The rejection of the idea was evident before she finished her words, the looks of being repulsive and thinning of lips to show discomfort of challenging clan laws.
"Lady Hinata, these words you speak can be seen as harmful. "
"How so, elder Konabei?" Hinata moves her gaze to the elderly woman responsible for clan reproduction, a job she has dominated for half a century.
Haruki clears his throat, "You are insinuating that the ideals that have kept our clan strong are flawed."
"Flawed is too light a word, the clan is run out of fear of mental determination or death to any branch member who disobeys the laws. This isn't sustainable for the next generations of Hyuga." Hinata proclaims.
Elder Konabei lets a chuckle that vibrates across the tense room.
Hinata's eyebrow twitches at the sight.
"Does this humour you, Elder Konabei?" Hinata growls.
"Forgive my outburst Lady Hinata, but you have no right to question our laws." She speaks flatly, the humour gone from her voice.
"I am the next heiress of the clan!" Hinata snaps at them, Byakugan flaring to life, a gust of chakra flows across the room, making the elders stiff and droplets of sweat form on their foreheads.
"Y-You are not worthy of leading the Hyuga. " Haruki grits out, eyes holding fear and a bit of defiance. "Your father has been transparent about his lack of faith in your strength to be a leader. Your younger sister is more suited to be the next clan head. " He spat out, his own Byakugan flaring to life.
"You old fools are quite stubborn. "
"WATCH YOUR MOUTH –GIRL!" Konabei slams her fist against the wooden floorboards.
"You dared to summon us just to spew nonsense that only branch members think daily! Your only blessing in this world is that you were born a child of Hiashi, nothing else about you is worth acknowledging. " She said each word with venomous intentions.
Hinata balls up her fists to the point she bleeds. Her Byakugan glaring daggers at her clansmen.
"If strength is the only way to make you all listen, then I wish to challenge my father for the title of clan head."
"What!?"
"She has lost her mind!"
"How pathetic..." Konabei shakes her head, a grin on her face." You seem to take pleasure in humiliating yourself, Lady Hinata."
Hinata didn't fall for her bait, with cold piercing eyes, she emits more of her chakra.
Rumble....
The ground trembles with her release of chakra, and many of the elders gasp out in shock at the immense pressure.
"I will repeat myself. I demand to challenge my father for the title of clan head, it is my birthright. " Hinata cemented her desire.
"...very well. " Haruki gives in to her demand.
The rest of the elderly council bow in agreement, even Konabei swallows her pride.
"Just be aware, your sister can demand to challenge you for the right to face your father. If you fail to beat her or your father, just know this incident will come with consequences. "
"I am willing to risk it."
---
Hashirama's botanical garden.
"I can't believe you called them fools ~" A feminine voice teases Hinata.
"Masami..."
"Don't be shy now, tell me exactly how you said it." Masami giggles softly.
A soft-spoken woman with pitch-black hair flowing to her lower back, skin snow-white and no signs of blemishes, pouty pink lips that curl into a mischievous smirk and the characteristic pupilless eyes of the Hyuga.
Unlike Hinata, Masami is wearing Anbu gear with the moderation of a kimono top hiding her breast plate and the most striking feature is her dermal piercing on the right side of her face just by her lips. The Konoha headband is framed by her black hair .
Masami Hyuga, codename 'Owl' is a member of Anbu Black Ops and the only woman, Lady Konabei is pushing to marry Neji Hyuga in hopes of strengthening the servants of the Main house.
"Why are you wearing a kimono top?" Hinata looks at her relative with a suspicious look.
"Because, I have a date with Neji in a few hours." Masami fixes the collar of her kimono, humming a soft tune
"It's strange to think my older sister-figure could be engaged to my cousin. " Hinata sighs.
"That's just clan business. " She shrugs the idea off.
"How are you so calm about this?" Hinata's voice rises in frustration.
Masami smirks at her, "Why should I worry when I know you're going to beat your dad and finally change these stupid laws."
Tapping the metal of her headband, Masami lifts it to expose the curse seal.
"This mark is a constant reminder that my life belongs to those old pricks! Even with the slightest hope of you winning is worth my life." Masami confesses.
"M-Masami??" Hinata's face blooms a deep shade of red at her sister's faith in chances.
"You can't just say such things..."
"There goes the confidence. " Masami smirks, walking over to the blushing heiress, she envelopes her in a warm hug.
Hinata stiffened at the contact for a second before returning the gesture.
"I'll try my best," Hinata whispers.
"That's all I want."