A Mother's Knight

Part 42

Mikoto wasn't excited in being in the Council chambers; it was always very taxing in here. Clan politics were something else entirely. In some occasions, the Godaime Hokage joined them to be the referee when there were tense discussions. Sometimes even insults could be thrown around the table. She had her sparring days with the Hyuga. The Uchiha was no longer glorious and mighty as it had been in the days of the old, but they were regrouping. They would return to the strong days. But things had to be difficult. She would not stand things that were done when the Sandaime was still alive. The clan was being pushed away and cut off from political positions in the village.

She didn't want the clan to feel like it was being pushed away once more. It was enough that they suffered when the leaders thought of rebelling against the Leaf and taking over Konoha – just that once was enough. If the clan had such thoughts in the future, it would not survive.

There was one person who was in the meeting today, Naruto. It had truly taken a lot of politicking just to get him in this chamber. The Godaime Hokage had been firm in recognizing the Uzumaki, even though some people thought a clan that was extinct didn't deserve to be here. Naruto hadn't said much during the intense negotiations. He hadn't even fought much about it. Perhaps, it wasn't his main concern. He had been busy focusing on training the young ones in her clan and making business in selling seals.

"Should we get this meeting over with?" Tsunade asked with impatience.

Hiashi nodded. "We should," he said. "But we must first congratulate the Uzumaki on joining us. There isn't much they can offer the village, but perhaps in the next ten years there will be something that they can give to the village."

Naruto stared at the man for a moment before breathing in tiredly. He had been silent when the man said his things. Their last conversation had been fruitful. Perhaps they had worked out the animosity the man had for him. But the suspicion, watchful gaze was still there. He could sit with Hinata and talk to her but the man didn't want any business with the Uzumaki and certainly had a very low opinion of them. Naruto wasn't concerned with how a small person thought of his clan. Hiashi's thoughts were irrelevant. The man had his thoughts, and yet, he was still here.

"There is really no need to start things like that, Hiashi," Tsume said with a glare towards the Hyuga. "Throughout our discussions your attitude towards the Uzumaki has been very disappointing. It is almost sad seeing the 'mighty' Hyuga trying to bully a clan of a handful of members. Or are you just perhaps threatened?"

"Threatened?" Hiashi asked with surprise. "By the Uzumaki? The Hyuga is Konoha's most powerful clan and there is nothing that the Uzumaki can do to threaten it."

"Then why the hostility?" Inoichi asked. "There was no need for those comments. The Uzumaki suffered in the past and they are now trying to revive, you cannot simply just say words like that."

Hiashi shrugged subtly. "Don't you have anything to say?" He asked Naruto.

"Why should I waste my time engaging in pointless chatter that isn't going to get me anywhere?" Naruto asked in a calm tone. "You have your opinions and I have mine. Though, the great Hyuga seems to be forgetting that it is the symbol of the Uzumaki clan that Konoha's shinobi carry around. I'm certain if we took advantage of this, we should be pretty famous."

Hiashi frowned at the thought. He could not ignore the fact that the Uzumaki was once a great clan. For history, it was something worth talking about. It was still just history, wasn't it? "There is no need to stick with past glories."

Naruto shrugged. "Perhaps," he said. "But you cannot forget it. In any case, that isn't why we are here today. I thought the agenda was introduction of the Uzumaki, the talk of Military Police, and the Uzumaki clan's contribution to the village as with every clan."