Capture Squad

Hinata was very good at fighting.

She had none of the major abilities Hashirama had or anything comparable to a Sharingan. However, she was very good at using what she had, and her techniques were extremely effective. Flames could be deflected by it, as could wood style. And in melee, Madara had several of his chakra points sealed.

It was entertaining to fight her.

Madara had to admit he was enjoying his time here far more than expected. However, it was not purely Hinata's abilities to fight that interested him. It was her ability for manipulation. Even now, they were in an indoor garden, and Hinata had coaxed a bird to land on her hand.

"I've always thought it is good to understand nature," said Hinata to Hashirama. "Only by understanding nature can we truly hope to understand ourselves. I learned that from some of the Inuzuki prisoners we captured."

"For my part, I have always been far more interested in people," said Madara. "You seem to have a very good knowledge of how they break, Hinata."

"Madara, what do you mean that?" asked Hashirama.

"It was merely a compliment of her skill as a warrior," said Madara, not wanting to blow her cover. "Her gentle fist is quite... effective."

And the principles of the gentle fist seemed to be one Hinata lifted by. Small, seemingly harmless strikes that destroyed someone inside could be done with words. Hinata looked up and noticed.

"Is something wrong, Hinata?" asked Hashirama.

"Nothing, I simply..." Hinata paused. "I'm concerned for my brother. When we were children, we got on so well. But over time, we've grown apart and were forced to compete against one another. Only one of us could become the Heir.

"I...

"I feel as though I'm becoming a monster."

"You cannot control your clan's traditions, Hinata," said Hashirama. "I am certain you did all you could."

Her acting was very good, and Madara wondered if she was using her genuine emotions. Or if she was pretending to have them. "In that, we can all agree.

"What precisely do you plan to do about the Caged Bird system you claim to loathe so much?"

"...I don't want my own children having to go through what Neji and I did," said Hinata. "I would prefer the Hyuga to be a family, where everyone takes care of one another. But one cannot change traditions overnight.

"Others have tried, and often they fell from power.

"I... I do not think I have the strength for it on my own."

"You need not worry, Hinata," said Hashirama, missing the subtext as usual. "Such a dream is worthy of achieving, and I would gladly aid you in it however I could."

"Hashirama..." said Hinata, clasping his hands.

"Hinata..." said Hashirama.

Privately Madara wondered if Hashirama was really this dense. Or if he pretended to be to be underestimated. Either way, a member of the Branch Clan entered and came to Hinata. "Milady."

"Yes, Ko, what is it?" asked Hinata.

Hinata had something whispered into her ear. Madara frowned as Hashirama saw the expression on her face. Hinata looked concerned, but Madara thought it was an act.

"Is something wrong?" asked Hashirama.

"I... we have a problem," said Hinata. "Neji has made a break for it. He slipped past the guards while they were celebrating and... and now we're after him."

"This seems a great deal of mobilization for one of your serfs," said Madara.

"Neji is my family!" said Hinata, with more heat than was best. So it was somewhat genuine. "He's angry, and confused, and now he's trying to escape into the wilds!"

"...Have you considered letting him escape," said Hashirama. "I mean..."

Good objection.

If Hinata loved her brother so much, she had to let him go, didn't she?

"You don't understand! Neji has been trying to take his own life!" said Hinata. "He tried to commit suicide today, and tried... he tried to provoke the Main Clan into killing him. I'm concerned he'll put himself in a position to be killed!"

Nicely done. Instead of denying Neji had a right to freedom, Hinata sidestepped the issue. She said that he was not in a good mental state, which allowed her to deny his freedom. And since Hashirama would be gone from this place in a few weeks, it would never come up again.

She was quite good at this, wasn't she?

"Well then, we'd best help in the search, Madara," said Hashirama.

Madara wasn't sure he was interested enough for that. "This seems a rather pedestrian thing to waste our time on, isn't it Hashirama?"

"Yes, Madara is right, Hashirama. You wouldn't be able to find him anyway," said Hinata.

"What?" said Madara, looking to her.

"Well, he is an infiltration specialist after all," said Hinata. She was smiling at Madara behind Hashirama's back. "Neji has never been caught on a mission. The Hyuga will have a hard time-"

"Nevermind," said Madara. "You've piqued my interest. Let's see if we can flush him out, Hashirama." She was fully aware that Madara had seen through her mask. And she'd been using that awareness to attract his attention.

Before, she'd had Madara's interest. Now she had his attention.

Hashirama was completely unaware of any of this or playing a game far above either of their heads. So as they made their way out to the gates, Madara put a hand on Hinata's shoulder. "Hinata, you and I should go as a group. Tobirama, perhaps you and Hashirama can move together."

"I would prefer that," said Hinata as Tobirama objected. "Madara doesn't have a sensory type with him. Is that alright, Hashirama?"

"Yes, of course," said Hashirama.

Tobirama glared but then turned away, and off they went.

Hinata led them away, and Madara was content to follow behind. He had to check his speed; of course, she wasn't quite as fast as he was. But he took the opportunity to admire her body with the Sharingan.

"Madara," said Hinata. "I see Hashirama and Tobirama some ways off. I can see them with my three hundred and sixty-degree vision."

Playful, wasn't she? "...You are a deceptive little minx, aren't you?"

"I don't know what you mean," said Hinata.

Madara increased his speed to be slightly ahead of her. "And I would hazard a guess that he is the reason you are so well informed about us. In fact, I think you manipulated him into the state where he wanted to kill himself."

"Well, a ninja must learn to make use of all her resources," said Hinata. "Especially political enemies. It's a matter of ensuring they aren't wasted."

So to Hashirama, Hinata was an incorruptibly pure woobie. And to Madara, she was a conniving, manipulative monster in human flesh. Madara wondered if he'd ever find out which one was real.

"Oh really?" asked Madara. "And what use did you make of him?"

Hinata shrugged. "Father has always favored me for my talents. I put him to work observing your battles with Hashirama. It seemed an easy way to keep him safe and out of the way."

"You obviously had never seen Hashirama or me in action," said Madara.

"Well, yes, we'd heard the stories," said Hinata. "But the reports we got from him were dramatic. So dramatic that Father disbelieved them.

"Fortunately, this was the perfect excuse to keep Neji watching you."

"How strange," said Madara. "You feel no guilt at enslaving your own brother."

"It was inevitable that one of us would bear the Caged Bird Seal," said Hinata. "If I had not enslaved him, he would have enslaved me. So why shouldn't the strongest rule?"

Madara smiled. "I think I rather like you, Hinata.

"I wonder if you might prefer a more intimate form of alliance."

"I'm afraid I must keep my options open a while longer. You have quite a rival," said Hinata.

"So I do," said Madara. "So, how are you tracking him? And why haven't we caught him by now?"

"What makes you say I am?" asked Hinata.

"We've been heading in one direction, and you've known exactly where to go this entire time," said Madara. "In fact, the only thing you've been looking for is Hashirama and Tobirama."

"Tobirama has been following us," said Hinata.

"You could have caught him at any time," said Madara. "But you want to observe Tobirama and Hashirama in action, don't you?"

"Neji never directly saw or was seen by Tobirama," said Hinata.

"Well, I hate to ruin your fun, but I came here to fight," said Madara. "And I have learned sensory abilities of my own." Putting together his hands, he honed his senses, looking for chakra. "I sense a chakra...

"No, it is faint."

It was very faint, fainter than any of the other Hyuga, and almost unnoticeable. It moved swiftly through the lands and continually outpaced the Hyuga. Even so, they were fanning out to encircle him.

"Hmm, he keeps dodging and weaving," mused Madara. "He is very fast, isn't he?

"No matter.

"The Sharingan is a far superior form of visual prowess. As he will soon learn."

Madara shot forward after him, zooming forward toward him and then-

Nothing.

At some point, the fool had slipped beneath his notice. "...He moved again. How did he escape me?" Looking around, he saw that same energy heading up into the hills, blending well with the forest. "He's heading up into the hills now.

"Like a serpent, isn't he? This is actually entertaining."

And so began the game of cat and mouse. It became apparent that the Hyuga were simply too far behind. Neji had slipped away faster and more effectively than Hinata had calculated. If indeed she had wanted him to slip away, of course.

Madara often would hone in on him. Yet Neji's chakra would always blend with the surroundings, and he'd lose track. On and on it went, and several times Madara almost opted to start throwing fireballs. Then he remembered he was a guest.

In the end, Neji got into the hills. And here was where Tobirama and Hashirama were moving to cut him off. Madara stopped in irritation as Hinata arrived.

"Did you enjoy chasing my brother?" asked Hinata.

"The chase had its moments," said Madara. "But now Tobirama and Hashirama have used me to cut him off. The hunt, it seems, goes to them. Come, I'd at least like to see the capture."

'These Hyuga are entertaining.' though Madara.

'And Hinata, at least, knows how to dance.'

They got there just as Neji Hyuga was sprinting to the crest of the hill. Hinata and Madara stayed just beyond sight as Hashirama made his entrance. He stood at the crest of the hill like some god in human form. Very dramatic, and it seemed to impress Neji.

"Neji Hyuga," said Hashirama. "You should not be going this way."

"...Hashirama," said Neji taking a stance. "Get out of my way."

"You're very brave to try and fight me, but you will not be able to defeat me," said Hashirama.

"I have nothing to lose," said Neji. "I'd prefer death to return to that place."

"Are you willing to throw away your life and family just for the sake of your pride?!" asked Hashirama.

My, he was tone-deaf, wasn't he?

"Of course I am," said Neji. "I'd rather die than be a slave to that witch!"

"Your sister loves you, Neji. Your family has mobilized to search for you," said Hashirama. "They are concerned for your well-being. Do not destroy yourself."

"You don't know the first thing about this den of vipers!" said Neji. "They hate me or want to use me as a tool! I've got a slave brand she put on my head that prevents me from ending my own life for fear she'd lose her plaything!

"Get out of my way!"

And Neji attacked.

At this point, Madara expected Hashirama to grab him in wood style and for it to be the end of it. Instead, however, Neji dodged before he'd even completed the jutsu. He attempted to sprint around Hashirama. The wood grew up fast enough to block him, but Neji maneuvered around it expertly.

Madara stared in what might have been awe as Neji Hyuga maneuvered around Hashirama. He almost made it look like he was the one in control. Hashirama used other techniques, of course, but Neji countered them. It was as if he knew what Hashirama was going to do before he did it.

"...Fascinating, I've never seen someone evade wood-style so effectively," said Madara. Himself included.

"Neji has memorized Hashirama's movements," said Hinata. "If you look, you'll see he started moving before Hashirama even completed the jutsu."

"And completely undetected," mused Madara. "Very impressive for the Hyuga. You get all the credit, of course. And Hashirama doesn't see the obvious because he doesn't want to."

"Does Tobirama know?" asked Hinata.

"I do not think he cares," said Madara. "Tobirama is not the sort to have empathy for another's suffering."

Hashirama, by now, was becoming frustrated. He'd blown a normal person's level of chakra several times over. But Hashirama was a monster in terms of chakra, so Neji dodging was wearing him down. Glancing back, Madara saw the searchers watching with awe.

Oh, and there was a veritable forest growing up here.

"...This is..." said Hashirama. "You're good. You're very good to have evaded my moves as long as you can. But you must realize that you can't escape from this place.

"What do you think you'll do out there with no family, no friends, and no name?"

"I can live in the wilds," said Neji. "And failing that die."

"Now is my cue," said Hinata.

And Hinata surged forward within the full view of her various servants. She was the very image of a concerned sister. "Neji!"

Neji turned and visibly panicked, stepping back like a cornered animal. He took a stance. "Stay away from me, you harlot! I won't go back! I will not-"

And then she moved, faster than he could respond.

Hinata caught him by the chest and sent a pulse that reduced him to unconsciousness. He fell forward, over her. "I'm sorry, Neji. I can't let you hurt yourself."

...Very clever.

If Hinata had not planned this, she had taken full advantage. Madara had heard that Neji Hyuga had put up a good fight against her. Obviously, she had hidden her full power at the time. But now that she had shown she was far stronger than him, she'd get points for her mercy.

More importantly, the context was everything.

The sheep back there were in awe of the scale of Hashirama's abilities. He'd created entire forests while trying to catch Neji. Which seemed to elevate Neji in terms of power. Of course, if Hashirama had wanted him dead, he would be. But that did not matter.

What mattered is that the audience was going to think Hinata was as strong as Hashirama. And in the same moment, Hinata would gain a reputation for her mercy. That, and her kindness, and ruthlessness and also being a woman wearing a queenly mask.

All while having her hands completely clean.

Madara decided he was in love.

"...Was all this really necessary?" asked Hashirama as Hinata kneeled over Neji's fallen form.

Was she... crying? "...We were always pitted against eachother since we were young. Father would often have us spar. And Neji... Neji would always lose. He trained hard, but he was never as talented and never has the same skill level.

"And it just drove us further and further apart. We used to be siblings but now... because of Father. No, because of this seal, we're enemies."

"You aren't enemies, Hinata," said Hashirama, kneeling by her. "No enemy would cry tears like this. I... tradition binds us all. But bonds between friends and family can transcend this world. I think... no, I know that you can be a family again someday."

The sheep seemed to find it touching. Madara found it somewhat saccharine, but he could respect the quality of her work. Tobirama, however, seemed to dislike it and moved away. Madara found himself walking over to him. "Touching, so, Tobirama, why the silence?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Tobirama.

"Spare me. You're not that dense," said Madara. "You know exactly what is going on here, don't you? You've chosen not to inform Hashirama of it."

"Father ordered me to secure a marriage alliance. I expect you have similar orders," said Tobirama. "Taking issue with how the Hyuga handle their internal affairs would doom our mission."

"Such a poor brother, keeping his own flesh in the dark," said Madara.

"Hashirama doesn't know because he doesn't want to know. It would destroy his preconceived notions about Hinata and the world in general. He had all the same information we had, and he is more than intelligent enough to know the truth.

"If he wishes to stay willfully ignorant, I am only too happy to let him. It makes the mission achievable.

"Although I admit, I think our target had her pegged right."

"Oh definitely," agreed Madara. The idea of throwing Hinata onto a bed and tearing off her clothes had a certain appeal. To break her as she did other people. "However, I find it all rather attractive."

"Admiring how one breaks another's will is something only an Uchiha would do," said Tobirama.

"And who precisely are you to pass judgment on Hinata or me, Tobirama?" asked Madara, irritated. "You might express horror at her actions, but you have done nothing to stop them. Indeed, you approve of them and have positioned yourself to benefit from them. By what ground do you presume to speak down to me?

"At least I admit that I do not care. I am merely expressing admiration for the artistry of her efforts. I make no pretensions to righteousness, unlike you."

"That is the usual excuse the Uchiha use for bad behavior, isn't it?" asked Tobirama. "'At least I admit it.' As though aspiring to nothing save power for its own sake is somehow noble.

"A salvageable hypocrite is preferable to a murderer."

"And I suppose you consider yourself salvageable?" asked Madara, remembering why he hated Tobirama.

"I'm not interested in moral judgments," said Tobirama. "Merely in an efficient society and the eradication of its enemies. Ideology is nothing more than a means of motivating people without proper education.

"It should be made whatever is necessary to suit the needs of the many."

"I wonder if you are the worst person I've ever met, Tobirama," said Madara thoughtfully. "I've killed quite a few people, but I don't think I've ever met someone so contemptible.

"You don't even care if something is right or wrong so long as it works."

"Well, no," admitted Tobirama.

"So, if you could kill a tenth of the world's population to ensure the rest lived in paradise, would you?" asked Madara.

"Of course," said Tobirama in a heartbeat. "People die all the time. They are easily replaceable as individuals. So as long as I ensured those that died were from the surplus population, there would be no issue."

Madara found himself shocked at another person's callousness. "...Well, I don't need to wonder anymore, do I?"

Neji woke up and could hardly move. Vaguely he was aware of being carried on a stretcher. He could not move, even without his hands tied. On either side was the Branch Clan.

"Why isn't he being punished?" asked one. "You know what would happen to us if we tried that."

"Lady Hinata was in tears over his departure," said another. "She was upset about what happened to him and... well..."

"Yes, we'd thought he'd been getting the people who went with him killed recklessly. Nobody had seen Hashirama and Madara in action before," said another. "We...

"Well, we may have driven the boy to it a bit."

"Let's just accept it," said another. "If Lady Hinata wants to let the matter pass, we should trust her judgment. No one was hurt, and he did do all his work."

Neji passed out away.

When he came to, he was on his bed again, only he was tied there. Hinata was leaning over him again, just like before. Her face was the perfect mask of kindness and concern that she always wore.

What was she going to do to him?

"Neji..." said Hinata, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "Please don't look so afraid of me, Neji. I care about you, I really do I... I think I've had a very bad way of showing it.

I was just afraid that if you were in the limelight, you'd be humiliated.

"I never dreamed that what I was doing would hurt you like this."

Neji met her gaze. And behind her eyes, he saw nothing but a puppet master, manipulating her own mind and body. Her emotions were a slave; her body was a slave, everyone around her was a slave. Every act of kindness, every small cruelty, had just been manipulation.

It had always been like this.

"...You're a liar, Hinata," said Neji. "Even to yourself."

Hinata shifted, and Neji dared to hope she would kill him. She looked over him with a look of conflict. But really, she was analyzing her options, her emotions, and how to use them. "...I know you don't trust me, Neji.

"Maybe I don't deserve to be trusted by you. But... I've interceded on your behalf with the other members of the Branch Clan. If you rebuff me, it could cause you serious problems.

"Lee is gone, Neji. He disappeared right after you left, which means I'm the only friend you have."

Neji knew that much. He just hoped Lee was alright. "What do you want from me, Hinata? Why are you keeping me around?"

Was it lust? Some sort of desire for revenge?

Hinata shifted. "I would like to be a family again. I enjoyed our time together before... all this.

"But I know that's not possible. Neither do you. So, why don't you just pretend to believe I care about you and have a horrible way of showing it. And I'll be kind to you and make sure nothing bad happens to you. I'm sure I can find other observation missions which could be a good fit for you.

"You might be able to become a very valuable asset to the Hyuga Clan. And maybe we will become family again.

"But right now, you have to be nice. Or it will only cause you even worse problems later on. I can't protect you forever.

"Father was already very angry with you, you know.

"Do you understand, Neji?"

It was not a threat.

It was a promise.

There was no way out of this for him. Hinata would not kill him, and he could not drive her to it without becoming a monster himself. He could not escape this place; somehow, she had tracked him down. Probably a marking on his seal, and he could not kill himself.

His only chance was to submit and become whatever she wanted him to be. "...Yes."

"Good," said Hinata, breaking his bindings. "Then why don't we practice." Pulling him close into an embrace, she held him tightly. "Are you alright, Neji?"

Before he could stop himself, Neji burst out sobbing. He cried as he had not cried since he was only a child. He sobbed uncontrollably as he felt all hope die in him.

By the time he stopped, Neji was whatever Hinata wanted him to be.