Hiashi's wife had died of illness a few months after Hanabi was born.
His father had also been a useless... mediocre clan head, lacking the courage to fall out with the other branches of the main family.
Hiashi had searched through ancient texts and found a pretext to use against the other branches, preparing to carry out a relatively peaceful plan to protect both his daughters from receiving the Caged Bird Seal.
He had poured all his devotion and hopes into his two daughters.
He had watched them grow from swaddled infants into graceful young women, becoming outstanding ninja...
They were the most important pillars of his life, the ones who would carry it forward.
And now, the two most precious jewels in his life were about to be "plucked away" by the same person.
Although that person was outstanding enough, although this might be the best future for his daughters, he was still their father. Behind the pride of watching his girls grow up, the ache and emptiness of knowing they would eventually belong to someone else's family were all too real and powerful.
"Both my daughters, handed over to that brat..."
Hiashi forced the words through his teeth, his voice muffled and thick with resentment.
Though he had begun preparing himself long ago, constantly convincing himself this was a good thing, now that he was witnessing it firsthand, the emotional impact still left the old father's heart steeped in bitter jealousy, an ache he could scarcely put into words.
Inoichi Yamanaka watched his old friend and sighed in understanding, giving up on persuading him.
He knew that at a time like this, any words of comfort would ring hollow.
He could understand something of the complicated feelings that came with marrying off a daughter.
He patted Hiashi's shoulder,