Hiashi knew that Kagen was the catalyst for Misa's desire to grow. She needed to be on his genin team in order for Hiashi to be confident in her continued growth. Her placement on Kagen's team would also present opportunities for the Hyuga Clan as a whole.
Though distantly, Misa was related to his daughter, the future head of the Hyuga Clan. After she had risen to prominence among the ranks of Konoha's nin, Misa would be a prominent figure in both the Hyuga Clan and Konoha itself.
Kagen Nara was not from a prominent family in the Nara Clan, but he had attracted the personal attention of the Clan head and received regular instruction from the Nara Clan's matron. In several years, Kagen would be one of the Nara Clan's most prominent figures.
Throughout both Misa and Kagen's time as nin, they would have helped elevate one-another. Such foundations were exemplary to betroth the two. Misa would need to join the Nara Clan in full, but Hiashi did not foresee the girl having any issues with this arrangement.
By marrying a relation of the future Hyuga Clan Head to the Nara Clan, Hiashi would secure a powerful alliance. By creating bonds of friendship with the Nara Clan, it would be near trivial to extend those bonds to the Akimichi and Yamanaka Clans, ending the Hyuga's isolation and uniting them with three of Konoha's prominent Clans in a single move.
Hyugas needed more support in Konoha council and having three other big clans of Konoha support them would be nice.
And if their child would have Byakugan, he would become a part of the Hyuga clan. The elders would not let the other clan have access to their prized dojutsu or its secrets.
Seeing that Misa had returned home without incident, Hiashi deactivated his byakugan and began walking towards the Hyuga Clan Compound's gate. He had other engagements this evening.
The gate guards bowed to him as he exited the Compound, and Hiashi offered them a polite nod as he passed. The short walk to the village proper was swift and relaxing, Hiashi had always enjoyed the vast, towering trees surrounding his home.
Hiashi cut through the village until he was once more outside it, taking the fastest route towards his intended destination. When he arrived at the gates of the Nara Clan Compound, the two gate guards were standing alert for once and focused on his arrival. They bowed shallowly as he approached.
"Hyuga-sama," one of them greeted. "Shikaku-sama is expecting you. Please proceed."
Hiashi nodded to them. "Thank you." He proceeded into the Nara Compound without another word.
Hiashi walked at a reserved gait, allowing the Nara Clan civilians and shinobi alike to see him within the walls of their Compound.
It was important they grew to see such visits as regular occurrences if he wished to ally the Nara Clan with his own. It would take time, but he had several years yet before Misa and Kagen were old enough to wed.
He would continue his meetings with Shikaku in that time to let the Nara Clan grow used to seeing Hyuga within their Compound.
Hiashi wove through the roads of the Nara Compound, taking an indirect route to his destination and politely nodding at those he passed. When he finally reached the largest home in the Compound, he walked up the steps to the porch and lightly knocked on the door.
Within moments, the door was open. A man with bushy, spiked black hair stood in the doorway, his shoulders slumped, hands in the pockets of his light brown jacket. "Hiashi," Shikaku greeted. "I'd invite you in, but Shikamaru drew clouds on the walls when we wouldn't let him outside and my wife is… Would you mind sitting on the porch with me?"
Hiashi motioned towards the small table and pair of zabuton on the porch. "Not at all." Being visible at the Clan Head's home speaking cordially with the Clan Head himself would only work in his favor.
"Thanks. Have a seat. Yoshino should have some tea out in a few minutes." Shikaku said, leading the way over to the small table and sitting on one of the cushions.
Hiashi joined him, his back straight and posture perfect, a stark contrast to Shikaku Nara's lax demeanor.
"Is something the matter, Shikaku? Something aside from your son's art?" Hiashi asked, seeing the creased lines on the other man's forehead. He seemed troubled.
Shikaku sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Several patrols we sent out a while ago are late reporting back. The first one wasn't all that concerning, but now there's three that haven't checked back."
Hiashi frowned. "Has ANBU been dispatched?"
Shikaku frowned, irritated. "I'm getting push back from the Elders. I have to wait another two days before I can petition the Hokage again."
Hiashi did not bear as much responsibility in Konoha as Shikaku did as the village's Jonin Commander, but he was familiar with the feeling of those removed from the field dictating what should or should not be done in the field.
The Elders had his utmost respect of course, but they had not seen a battlefield for many years now. He believed they should be more open to the reports and opinions of those on the front line, but that was neither here nor there.
"If there is any assistance I can provide, you need only to ask." Hiashi offered.
Shikaku raised an eyebrow at him. "I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, you didn't come here to listen to me drone."
Before Hiashi could speak, the door to Shikaku's house opened, and a woman with a fair face and her dark hair tied back emerged. Yoshino Nara, Shikaku's wife, was wearing a simple pink kimono and had a tray with tea in her hands.
"Hiashi-sama," she greeted. "Please help yourself."
"Thank you." Hiashi said simply, retrieved the pot and a cup.
Yoshino returned to the house after leaving the tea.
Shikaku picked up his own cup and filled it. "Shall we?" he said with a raised eyebrow.
Shikaku was no fool. On the contrary, Hiashi believed he was one of the most intelligent men in all of Konoha. Shikaku knew that Hiashi's goal in coming here was not to discuss Clan matters as he had stated, but both men allowed for the polite fiction to exist. Since Shikaku had accepted this meeting and had not openly called out Hiashi's goal of allying with his Clan, Hiashi accepted that to mean that Shikaku approved of his goal.
For the next several hours, the two men made small talk, having an in-depth conversation that would not amount to much. They would do the same in a week's time when Hiashi hosted Shikaku at his own home.
The Hyuga would soon have the support of the Nara, Akimichi and Yamanaka clan and Hiashi would make sure of that.
---------Author Notes--------
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