LEGACY

Sepuluh

Chapter 10

Fumiko was not in the village when she heard that Orochimaru had attacked her brother. To say she was beyond pissed was an understatement. She kept sending glares at Sandaime as he awkwardly sat on his chair.

"So," Hiruzen cleared his throat, "Sasuke will be fine as I made several ANBU watch him right now in his hospital room."

Fumiko's face turned into a blank one. "Is that all?"

The Hokage flinched at her cold voice. "Yes, you may leave."

Fumiko turned her back on Hiruzen. "Sandaime."

"Yes?"

"You keep getting on my bad side. This time, I'll let it slide. But next time..." Fumiko did not finish her words as she flashed him her sharingan and body flickered away.

She was now stood up in front of Hyuga compound. As the gate guard noticed her, he immediately brought her to the main house. She was told to wait in the living room, as he fetched Hiashi. Fumiko sat rigidly when Hiashi came and sat down in front of the girl.

Fumiko bowed. "I'm sorry for my sudden notice, Hiashi-sama. I just found the time to meet you."

"It's alright." Hiashi's face was stoic. "To put it bluntly, I want to form an alliance between Hyuga and Uchiha."

"And how do you suggest we form this alliance?"

"By marrying off, of course."

"Which means, either you'd marry Hinata to Sasuke or someone to me."

Hiashi nodded. "However, I prefer if it was you rather than your brother."

"And who would you—,"

The sound of footsteps cut her words off. A teenager around her age came in and bowed down to his knees. When the boy looked up, his almost-white eyes went wide at the sight of Fumiko.

"F-Fumiko-sama,"

"Neji-kun." Fumiko gave him a rare smile. "It's been a while."

"I-it does." Both Fumiko and Hiashi knew right away that Neji tried to control himself as emotions hit him like a truck. "I didn't know you survived the massacre."

Even though the said boy whispered the last words, Fumiko still catch it. "I was on a mission when the massacre happened. I thought Fugaku-sama let you know that I am indeed alive."

"N-no, I'm sorry." Neji once again bowed.

Fumiko looked up at Hiashi who watched their interaction in silence. "So, Hiashi-sama, why's Neji-kun here?"

"I'd like to marry Neji off to you, Fumiko-sama." Hiashi said curtly, making Neji froze in shock.

"Then, you know that Neji-kun will marry into an Uchiha, not the other around, right, since I'm the head of the Uchiha clan?" Fumiko raised her eyebrow.

"I'm very well aware of it." Hiashi nodded. "It is for the sake of alliance between Hyuga and Uchiha."

Fumiko casted a glance toward Neji. "What do you think of this, Neji-kun?"

It took a while for Fumiko's words reached Neji. The boy bowed once again and said, "It'd be an honor for me, Fumiko-sama."

Fumiko watched Neji for quite some time before looked back at Hiashi. "Then, once I'm 17, we can marry. With one condition, though."

"What is it?"

"Neji will be an Uchiha in a few years." Fumiko stated carefully. "I can't have any Uchiha member being weak, especially if it's the head of the clan's spouse."

"I assure you, Neji is not weak."

"No, but his power is being surpressed." Fumiko glared back at Hiashi. "If you want this alliance, Hiashi-sama, lift off the curse mark on Neji-kun's forehead."

Both Hiashi and Neji froze. They could not believe what the young Uchiha had said. After a long tense silence, Hiashi nodded his approval. "Very well, after your marriage, we will perform the lifting justu for the curse mark."

Feeling satisfied, Fumiko nodded. "It's good to make a deal with you, Hiashi-sama."

"Likewise."

"Is there anything else you want to add?" Fumiko asked politely.

"A year into your marriage," Hiashi looked up at the girl, "let Neji live with you. So the both of you can adapt first."

Fumiko nodded her head. She then turned to Neji. "Please take care of me."

Neji, who was in daze, quickly bowed his head down. "Please take care of me too, Fumiko-sama."

"Do we need to make an engagement party, Fumiko-sama?" Hiashi asked.

"No." Fumiko shook her head. "I'm too busy at the ROOT right now. Just make an official statement that we're being engaged is more than enough. We can celebrate for the weddings though."

"Alright."

"Now, if I may take my leave, there are still things I need to attend to."

Hiashi nodded. "Thank you for this alliance."

Fumiko nodded and body flickered away. She landed near Sasuke's hospital bed. The said boy jumped in surprise before scoffed away.

"You're late." Sasuke said, irritated. "I'm not allowed to leave without you."

Fumiko rolled her eyes. "Let's go, we need to train your sharingan."

"We will?" Sasuke's eyes went wide.

Fumiko nodded. "Yes. I won't let you embarrass Uchiha clan by being beaten down in the last exam."

Sasuke snorted, nevertheless a rare genuine smile grazed his lips. Finally, he got time to spend with Fumiko.