Malachite

Haruno Kizashi truly does not know what to do when he wakes up because someone is pounding on his house door. He jack knifes up in bed, Mebuki right alongside him, both still fighting the sweet embrace of sleep.

“Kizashi-sama! You must come to the compound gates immediately!”

Judging by the voice, it must be Hasu, one of the night guards.

He and Mebuki rush out of their bedroom, Kaede right behind them.

Sacchan must still be sleeping, he muses quickly and appreciatively. Glad to not have woken the youngest in the house. The girl, tiny as she is, has a temper when woken up prematurely.

By the time their group makes it to the front door to open it, he finds the young man with almost pearl white pink hair, far lighter than even Sakura’s, at his door looking frazzled. Kizashi tightens his robe around him for good measure and places a hand on Kaede’s shoulder. Mebuki stands to his right, looking just as pissed at the interuption.

“What’s wrong? It’s only…” A quick glance at the sky lets him know it can’t be even 6 am yet, “5 o’clock in the morning.”

Before the young man can even say a word, Fugaku walks up. His usually stoic face pinched tighter than usual, and three Uchiha officers flanked him. Kizashi, while not on active duty anymore, is no less a shinobi now than he was then, so he can pinpoint the four ANBU operatives that have definitely trespassed.

“Fugaku,” He warns, navy eyes narrowed in indignation, “You better have a good reason to be here. With trespassers at that.”

Mebuki’s chakra hums, and Kaede stiffens, tensing for anything.

Kizashi can spot the apology in the younger man’s eyes before it disappears, replaced by stoic duty.

“Haruno-sama, Mebuki-sama.” He nods in greeting, “Your presence is requested at the Hokage Tower immediately.”

He and Mebuki share eye contact, confusion clear in their gaze. Their eyes quickly flit over the various shinobi visible and hidden in their front yard before looking back at his kohai and friend, “Of course. But what on earth for?”

Fugaku furrows his brows and something decidedly vengeful flashes through his tired onyx eyes, “There has been an attempt to kidnap the Hyūga heiress, Hyūga Hinata, an hour ago. That which was thwarted.”

Kizashi knows he is not the only one gaping at Fugaku on the Haruno side. The words he just said were downright preposterous. He stays quiet, hoping for the Uchiha head to uncharacteristically say ‘Sike! Gotcha. It was a joke!’ to no avail. 

The Uchiha officers stand behind Fugaku, equally pissed but solemn. The reason for their anger is obvious. Anyone attempting to kidnap a Hyūga or an Uchiha would only do it for one reason: dōjutsu theft. And while the two clans are rivals, due to their shared visual prowess skills, they have a healthy respect for each other's dōjutsu. That was why the Uchiha clan stays out of any argument people make against the detested and worst-kept secret of the Hyūga: their accursed Kago no Tori no Juin.

(And the Uchiha clan hates that seal. He's seen many an Uchiha spit and talk shit about that seal and how inappropriate it is. But they stay out of it.)

But none of that explains why they need him to go to the Hokage’s office. Clearly having seen that he figured out the barebones, Fugaku informs him of the missing piece. 

Something in his tone is wary, though, when he states, “Your presence is needed because the one who thwarted the attempt was a member of your clan. A Haruno.”

Now he desperately wants the younger man to say it's all a joke. Because there is no reason for a Haruno to be anywhere near the Hyūga compound. Especially at this time of night. But as clan head, he has a duty to uphold. And being the highest power within the clan means showing up for cases like this. 

So he sighs, running a hand through his flat mauve pink locks and down his face tiredly, “I’m coming. Give me a moment to change.”

Fugaku sighs and nods, the tension in his shoulders loosening, if just slightly. But Kizashi is already looking at his wife.

“Honey, I’ll be back. I was supposed to take Sacchan to the workshop to show her where we make the omamoris for omamoris for Hatsumode, but can you take her in my place when she wakes up?” He definitely isn’t pouting because he is losing precious time with his little petal. 

Mebuki gives him a knowing smirk, “Of course, dear. Go get ready-”

“My apologies,” Fugaku interrupts. When they look back at him, he looks pale and a little sick. Like he doesn’t want to say the words about to leave his mouth but has to any- “The Haruno Clan member who thwarted the kidnapping is Sakura. Haruno Sakura.”

... 

“... What?”