(Previously: the author increased Hanabi's age in this book by two years.)
Neji and Hinata quietly peeked around the corner.
Hiashi keenly noticed his nephew and daughter arriving, but said nothing and continued playing shogi with Hizashi across from him.
"Daddy might lose."
Hinata spoke softly to Neji.
Neji nodded. The family head really wasn't as good at shogi as his father, though ordinarily they would probably end in a draw!
The two little ones kept glancing between the board and the delivery room.
A little girl ran over.
"Lord Head of the Family, the elders are here."
Hiashi flipped over the king piece in his hand.
Waiting had already left him anxious and irritable. Why had those old fossils all come over now?
Hizashi pursed his lips and silently began putting the board away.
His older brother was a lousy shogi player, and the kind who loved playing despite being terrible at it.
What could he do? He was his little brother, after all. He might as well let him have his way.
After putting away the shogi set, Hizashi stood up.
The six elders came over as well.
"Congratulations, Clan Head."
The First Elder smiled and cupped his hands.
Hiashi put on a beaming smile and returned the greeting.
"Oh, you're all my elders. I should have brought the child to visit you after the birth."
"Now, that's not right. This child may well be the future heir to our clan. Of course we should come to see him."
The Sixth Elder patted Hiashi on the shoulder.
"Let me congratulate you in advance on the birth of a son, Hiashi."
"Haha, thank you, Sixth Uncle."
Hiashi looked delighted on the surface, but was already considering how to spare Hinata from receiving the Caged Bird Seal.
Hinata was his