Naruto: Ren the Sealmaster

Naturally, nobody came forth to challenge Hinata after that display. The Elders were too shaken, and none of them wanted to end up like Hiroto, with their dignity destroyed.

Death, they could handle. It was a constant in their world. They were used to it. But humiliation like that? How could they live that down? There was no chance Hiroto could hold onto his position as the Leader of the Hyuga Elder Council with something like that under his belt. 

The meeting came quickly to an end, and Hinata smugly left with Ren under the worried, wary gazes of the sickened elders, who were actually happy Hinata didn't insist on fighting more.

It couldn't be more obvious to Ren that the matter was far from over, however. 

The Elders were disturbed right now. But that shall pass, and with time, the scheming old foxes will grow courageous once more. Hinata might have defeated one of the best in their clan. But Ren wouldn't be surprised if they came to the conclusion that she had used 'underhanded means'. She had not shown any real proficiency with the Gentle Fist. Somebody might think she just got lucky!

The Hyuga Elders looked like people who would come up with a deluded self-justification like that after they had a moment to consider things.

This was not the end. No. This was just the beginning of the friction between the Hyuga clan and Hinata. And as he gazed at the back of the humming girl who was skipping in front of him, something told Ren this was content with delaying the inevitable for now.

She could have beaten Hiroto in a proper Gentle Fist match. She could have beaten them all, because they thought the four Jonin were actually chunin, which made them look down on her and underestimate her. She could have quickly asserted her dominance and forcefully grabbed the authority within the clan. She was strong enough to get her way.

But Hinata didn't do that.

Ren wondered why.

"My sister, dummy." Hinata said, her voice pulling Ren out of his reverie.

"Eh?" He almost stumbled on the even ground. He quickly checked the telepathy seal to see if he forgot to close the connection, only to find it properly closed. His eyebrows scrunched.

"Your thoughts are displayed on your face." Hinata rolled her eyes with a giggle, grabbing Ren's arm. "Whenever you get thoughtful, your facade slips."

"Really?" Ren said, surprised. And he thought he was good at it. 

Maybe that was why Danzo didn't like him? Did he somehow leak his disdain for him during one of their meetings? Did he reveal that he thought him a twat?

"Hm." Hinata nodded. "I live, eat, and sleep with you. And I am Hyuga. We pride ourselves on our observation capabilities. I know you better than you know yourself." She humbly boasted while watching his face expectantly.

Realizing what she wanted, Ren grinned.

"Cheeky girl."

Despite knowing that the elders most likely still observed them, Ren pulled Hinata into a heated kiss, sticking his tongue into her mouth. Something she eagerly reciprocated.

They made out for a few minutes, right there in the middle of the street, uncaring about the awkward passersby, the outraged aunties, or the kids who started making gagging noises when they saw them.

Ren liked to imagine the Hyuga Elders would react similarly to the kids, so he pretended he was hearing them, and it made his day.

They pulled away a bit later with smiles on their faces. Grabbing each other's hands, they decided to go back to Ren's apartment. Midway on their way there, Ren finally stopped basking in the aftertaste of the kiss and decided to ask. "So, what about your sister?"

Hinata only uncaringly shrugged, "I could have beaten them all into submission. But they would still plot and scheme against me. Being heavy-handed would just show them they couldn't beat me with force."

"And they would target your family instead. Your sister." Ren nodded as the realization struck him.

Eh, nobody could fault him for not coming to that conclusion sooner. He didn't really put much thought into the Hyuga clan affairs. It was Hinata's issue. She spent her days considering every angle. He rightly didn't care that much.

"This rebellion of mine is far more complicated than it first sounded." Hinata tiredly sighed. "I can't move rashly. I can't just take over and abolish the Caged Bird Seal either." She added in a disgruntled voice, showing how much it bothered her. Raising her gaze, her eyes met Ren's and she awkwardly asked, "I will need you to make a better seal for our eyes than the Caged Bird one. Could you please do that?" She timidly asked, feeling very embarrassed about it.

If there was one thing Hinata disliked, it was dragging Ren into her problems. But Ren expected this to happen sooner or later. He hadn't put much effort into deciphering the Caged Bird Seal so far. He thought he had years before it became relevant, and he had other, more pressing, projects almost all the time.

But since Hinata requested it...

"Alright." Ren easily agreed, hoping it would help her because he didn't enjoy seeing her so dismayed.

"Mhm. Thank you." Hinata flashed him a slight smile.

And as much as he didn't want to be that guy, Ren decided to break the fluffy atmosphere between them and remind Hinata of a small issue. One, she might be overlooking.

Politics were vicious, and Hinata was young. He'd rather address it now than regret not speaking out later.

"... They may still target Hanabi." He glanced at Hinata as he said that, noting how her expression became conflicted upon hearing it.

Hinata's happy mood soured. She moved her free hand in a 'so-so' gesture, "Maybe. Hopefully not. I haven't touched their bottom line, their authority, so they should recognize it for what it is and not touch my bottom line." There was a helpless undertone in her voice, however. Because who could really tell? Desperate people did stupid things.

There was no guarantee that the Hyuga clan would play according to the unspoken rules. Ren knew that this whole thing could backfire on Hinata spectacularly. Her plan was solid, but it didn't account for human stupidity.

There was going to be some stupid consequence from today's actions. He could feel it in his bones. The Murphy Law practically demanded it.

Hinata took a deep breath, resolve flooding her eyes. "If they do harm my sister, I will make Itachi's actions look paltry in comparison to what I do to them." She whispered with unbending determination.

Only to realize what she had said, and her expression twisted in worry a moment later as she timidly glanced at Ren with a fearful look.

Ren reassuringly chuckled. "Don't look at me like that. I am with you, my young padawan. I am not going to abandon you because of your traitorous thoughts." He snorted at the surprised expression that slipped through her facade.

"How did you say it? I live, eat, and have sex with you? I know you better than you know yourself." He teased her. "Of course, I am aware of your more asinine ideas you didn't share with us." He huffed, ruffling her hair, causing her to shyly smile back in gratitude.

Honestly, Ren would rather not have to defect from Konoha. That would make things more difficult for him. But there was more than one way to skin a Hyuga. Whatever issue cropped up with Hinata's clan, he was sure that he, Ino, and Hinata could handle it without shouldering heavy repercussions. 

Especially now that they had that nuclear option available and could simply throw a triple S-rank tantrum until they got their way.

"Alas!" Ren dramatically sighed, his tone having an obvious teasing tilt as he swished his hand through the air, "I have been seduced by you, you vile Hyuga temptress! The poor me no longer has a choice but to support you! How pitiful!" He mock sniffed, causing Hinata to involuntarily giggle at his antics. Leaning a bit closer to her, Ren continued. "I shall need compensation, my fair kunoichi! You shall serve me according to the old ways, won't you?"

Hinata's lips twitched as she barely stifled her laugh. "Well, there certainly are easier ways to ask for sex." She lightly remarked as they reached the door of Ren's apartment.

"But yes. I shall be your kunoichi. Tonight." Deciding to play along, she playfully fluttered her eyelashes. "And for life. My poorly seduced Lord." She finished in a saucily simpering voice, only to let out a small, surprised but happy shriek a moment later when Ren grabbed her around the waist before carrying her through the door, heading toward the bedroom.

Well, she had agreed to it, so no take backsies!