A Mother's Love

64. A Five Pound Bag Of Salt

"Gabrella, please come into my study."

She looked at her father a bit nervously. He was using that tone, the one he used whenever he was going to talk to her about something unpleasant. "Actually dad I was just about to go. Can we talk about this later?"

He shook his head. "We've put this off long enough. You've had months."

"But…"

"In my study please."

"Yes father." Gabrella trudged into the study behind her father.

Sitting behind his desk he waited for his daughter to take a seat before beginning. "You'll be turning eighteen in June, just a couple months away."

"Yes." She eyed him nervously.

He decided to come to the point. "We need a decision on who you intend to marry by then."

"Why?" She demanded. "Dad I'm only going to be eighteen most girls don't get married until they're in their twenties. Why am I getting forced into this? Why can't I just make my own decision in my own good time?"

"You already know the answer to that."

"Because I'm an Uchiha." She grumbled.

But her father shook his head. "No, because you are ninja and because you are in a clan. Honey, you should understand this perfectly. You never even knew your mother. No matter how skilled we may be a ninja's life is always uncertain. We are not afforded the luxury of taking our time if we wish to have children. Also as you are a part of a clan you bear the additional responsibility of providing future members of the Uchiha clan."

"Well now we really come down to it." She took on a stubborn look. "This is all about Haku isn't it?"

Again her father shook his head. "What this is about is identity and family. The clan needs to know whether after you are married if you will be an Uchiha or a Momochi."

"Why does it matter?"

He leaned back in his chair. "Tell me something daughter, who is the clan heir of the Hyuga?"

"Hyuga Hanabi."

"Yes, but her older sister Hinata was the one originally designated. Now why do you suppose Hiashi changed the designation?"

She could see where this was going. "Because Hinata was betrothed to Namikaze Naruto."

"And why was she not permitted to remain clan heir?"

Gabrella sighed. "Because once she is married she and her children will not be considered Hyuga but Namikaze."

"True, now what if she had married a ninja who was not a clan member or married a rich merchant or minor noble?"

"Then her husband would likely have changed his name to Hyuga. Hinata would have become heir and her children would have been part of the Hyuga clan."

Her father again nodded. "So you can see it is not really because you are an Uchiha, but rather that you are a member of a ninja clan. Now you have been given a great deal of lee way in the matter so far. But as an Uchiha and especially as clan heir you have certain responsibilities that you will not be allowed to put off indefinitely. You need not marry immediately, but the clan requires that you come to some sort of decision by the time you are eighteen. I am not speaking just on my own behalf, the elders are also insistent in you reaching a decision."

"What if I refuse to make a decision? What will you do? Throw me out of the clan?"

Riyuki sighed. "Don't be so melodramatic. Do you think you are the first or last clan kunoichi to ever be in this situation? No one wants to expel you, but you will no longer be designated the heir. I know how strong your feelings for Haku are and that they are returned. Have the two of you discussed marriage?"