74. Securing The Promise From The Patriarch

74. Securing The Promise From The Patriarch

Hinome soon made her way back into the lobby, but now also transformed in appearance. She had changed into elegant, mostly white robes, a traditional attire that highlighted her unmistakable Hyuga clan affiliation.

The refinement of her outfit marked the significance of the upcoming meeting with the Patriarch.

And white was her favorite color, Hikari noted a long time ago, probably due to her profession.

Hikari's eyes met Hinome as she re-entered, offering her a nod of appreciation. This small gesture, seemingly insignificant, caused Hinome to blush and fidget slightly under his gaze, revealing her nervous anticipation.

Despite the change in her clothing, some things remained constant—her shoulder-length dark brown hair that always seemed a touch disheveled, her striking Hyuga clan bright eyes, and her symmetrically pretty face that bore the youthful glow of collagen.

Her physique had matured into a graceful 'S-shape,' emblematic of her transition into young womanhood. The heavy bangs that framed her face still discreetly covered the Cursed Seal.

"Let's go, Hinome. Just be yourself. My relationship with the Patriarch is quite strong; he's always been friendly towards me, so I expect he'll be the same with you...", Hikari said, signaling for them to head out.

His words, confident and reassuring, seemed to ease some of Hinome's apprehension. She nodded in response, her thoughts still swirling but comforted by Hikari's steady presence.

As they made their way out of the compound, walking side by side, Hinome found herself observing Hikari with a sense of wonder.

It was astonishing to see how much he had changed over the past year. Puberty had ushered in a rapid growth spurt, and now, despite being two years her junior, Hikari stood taller than Hinome.

She speculated about his eventual height, given his already impressive stature that belied his young age of only thirteen.

Hikari's appearance was distinguished by his traditional dark blue Hyuga robes, a color that matched the hue of his slightly unkempt, short hair—an unusual trait for a member of the Hyuga clan, known for their meticulousness.

Overall his mature-like stature and demeanor, along with his elegant attire, added to the aura of maturity that surrounded him, making him seem at least a few years older than he was.

Opting to leave any attendants behind, Hikari and Hinome made their way alone through the Main Branch area towards the Patriarch's Estate. This journey was particularly significant for Hinome, marking her first venture along this path within the heart of the clan's territory.

Her previous experiences within the Main Branch living area had been limited to visits with Hikari to see his sensei, Takumi, the Fifth Elder, and his family.

Those visits, facilitated by Hikari's close relationship with Takumi, had, however, also unintentionally and subtly altered how the Main Branch perceived her even more, showing her as some kind of Hikari's companion and thereby further elevating her status even more.

As they moved through the estate, Hinome took the opportunity to observe her surroundings, taking in the elegant architecture.

Meanwhile, all the Main Branch members they came across, greeted Hikari with deference, but they also addressed Hinome with a respectful "Hinome-san," acknowledging her presumed closeness to Hikari.

However, understanding the nuances of timing and respect for Hikari's priorities, he had refrained from broaching the subject directly in front of him. The fact that Hikari had initiated this conversation himself now was, hence, a truly welcome turn of events for the Patriarch.

Additionally, the prospect of specifically Hinome herself becoming Hikari's marriage partner was a highly favorable development in the eyes of the Patriarch considered since a long time ago. So, even if they didn't bring this matter themselves, the Patriarch himself would've started promoting this kind of union between the two of them a few years into the future.

From the standpoint of the entire clan higher-ups, Hinome represented the most suitable match for Hikari. Her Byakugan was considered to have the highest level of 'purity' next to Hikari's, a trait the Patriarch held in highest esteem.

Despite Hinome's focus on leveraging her extraordinary genetic gifts towards research and scientific pursuits, the inherent purity of her Byakugan remained undiminished in the Patriarch's evaluation and it couldn't be questioned. It was also a very rare and highly advanced special ability that didn't appear many times in the past.

The potential union between Hikari and Hinome, in the Patriarch's view, therefore, promised to produce offspring with exceptionally strong genetics, perhaps surpassing even Hikari's.

One of the Patriarch's fundamental responsibilities, in every shinobi clan, was to oversee the maintenance and enhancement of the clan's bloodline purity, as well as its overall prosperity and advancement. The union of two such genetically endowed individuals as Hikari and Hinome aligned perfectly with these objectives, promising significant positive development.

In the Patriarch's, the clan's main matchmaker's eyes, he saw no more fitting match for Hinome other than Hikari, and similarly, no one more deserving of Hikari than Hinome.

As the meal progressed and the conversation flowed casually under the Patriarch's improved mood, Hinome found herself reflecting on her fortunate circumstances.

Her meeting with Hikari had not only been a turning point in her personal life but also a pivotal shift in her destiny within the clan.

With her sharp intellect, she fully grasped the implications of her unique position as a Side Branch member endowed with significant talent and Byakugan purity.

In the Hyuga clan, while Side Branch members typically had the freedom to choose their partners from within the Side Branch or even from outside the clan, if the Patriarch approved it, such freedom came with its conditions. Those who did not display notable talent or purity of Byakugan were granted this leniency.

However, for those like Hinome, who possessed exceptional bloodline-based abilities and genetic traits, their fate in the matters of marriage was traditionally not in their own hands.

Within the order of the Hyuga clan, the Main Branch consistently sought to maintain and enhance its supremacy, particularly through the strategic marriage 'acquisition' of the most talented members from the Side Branch every generation. This practice was a calculated effort to preserve the Main Branch's genetic excellence and superiority up to indefinitely.

As for the specific Main Branch, they were to marry, it was usually determined by whom the Patriarch deemed most fitting in the end and who could offer the most in the intricate political battles within the Main Branch itself between the different lineages at that time.

This understanding was not lost on Hinome. She recognized that, in a world where Hikari didn't exist or where she hadn't met Hikari whom she also wanted to marry herself, whom she actually liked, and whom he liked to a certain extent back, her fate would have likely been sealed by the clan's elders, chosen to enhance the Main Branch's genetic pool rather than to secure her personal happiness.

Realizing this, Hinome couldn't help but view Hikari with an even deeper sense of gratitude and affection. His influence had not only hypothetically saved her entire personal freedom but also significantly altered her standing and future within the clan dynamics upwards.

Meanwhile, as the meal progressed, the conversation navigated effortlessly through various topics—from Hinome's various groundbreaking research in the past or the ongoing research to the broader preparations of the Hyuga clan for the imminent conflict alongside Hikari's expected significant role in it.

Eventually, the time came for Hinome and Hikari to take their leave. The impending war lent a sense of urgency to their departure, as each member of the clan, including the Patriarch, was deeply involved in the extensive preparations required for the challenges ahead.

With respectful farewells exchanged, Hinome and Hikari left the Patriarch's Estate, making their way back to their residence.