In front of the Hyūga main estate, Neji turned to his teammates, Lee and Tenten, who had followed him all the way there.
"Lee, Tenten, you both should head back," Neji said quietly.
Lee blinked in confusion, his wide eyes growing even wider. "You don't need our help?"
Tenten's face was etched with worry.
"This is a family matter," Neji replied softly, his tone final.
Lee scratched his head, clearly unsure. "But if you need anything, Neji, make sure to ask. We're teammates."
He raised his hand, and Neji, expressionless but obedient, raised his as well, bumping fists with him.
Lee grinned, his laugh as goofy as ever.
Tenten stayed silent, watching as the two of them entered the gate.
As Lee was about to leave, he noticed Tenten hadn't moved."Tenten, aren't you coming?" Lee asked, puzzled.
Tenten shook her head, forcing a smile. "You go on ahead. I don't have anything pressing right now."
Lee nodded with an "Oh," understanding but still feeling a twinge of reluctance. This mission had been unlike anything they'd ever experienced. Even though they had spent only a short time in the past, less than half a day, what they had witnessed left him eager to tell Guy-sensei everything.
He had met the Fourth Hokage! And even the young Fifth Hokage!
"I'll be back soon," Lee said, giving an energetic wave before sprinting away.
Inside the Hyūga main estate, a branch family ninja greeted Neji and Hinata with a cheerful tone. "Neji and Hinata-sama have returned after completing the mission."
But the moment he noticed Neji's forehead, his words caught in his throat. His eyes widened, and he was left speechless.
For every member of the branch family, the "Caged Bird" was a symbol of their suffering.
The Konoha ninjas they had passed on their way hadn't noticed anything unusual about Neji. But this branch family ninja saw it immediately—the "Caged Bird" was gone.
He lifted a trembling hand. "You..."
"The Caged Bird has been removed," Neji said softly but with firm resolve.
The branch family ninja spun on his heel. "I'll gather the branch family members..."
Neji, who had been promoted to jōnin a year ago and was widely respected among the branch family for his skill and defiance, stopped him with a raised hand. "Don't rush."
The branch family ninja looked back, confused.
"I don't have time right now to remove the Caged Bird for everyone in the branch family," Neji said, looking up at the main house. "If we all gather together, it will only bring trouble."
As he spoke, a figure landed nearby.
"Young Master Neji, Hinata-sama," said a young ninja wearing a headband. "Hiashi-sama requests your presence."
He was Kō Hyūga, a jōnin from the main family. His gaze lingered on Neji's unmarked forehead.
"Sharp as ever," Neji remarked with no emotion. "Or should I say... does the main family care so much about holding onto power?"
Kō Hyūga didn't respond, simply gesturing for them to follow. He led them to the meeting room.
The breaking of the Caged Bird was a matter of grave concern for the Hyūga clan. In addition to the clan head Hiashi Hyūga, the other elders were also present.
The room was large, but not a single window was open, and the lights were off, leaving the space thick with the acrid smell of smoke from countless oil lamps.
"Hinata, come here," Hiashi beckoned.
But he quickly wore an expression of surprise. His usually obedient, timid daughter stood still, not moving an inch.
"Hiashi, the Caged Bird issue is urgent," an elderly man reminded him.
Hiashi nodded, turning his attention away from his daughter, and instead, focusing on Neji. "Neji Hyūga, how dare you return?"
"Who removed the Caged Bird?"
The Hyūga clan had its share of talent in ninjutsu, but the Gentle Fist technique was where they truly shined, utilizing the full potential of the Byakugan. Neji had trained in these traditional techniques, and his mentor, Might Guy, was a taijutsu specialist, not a master of sealing techniques.
Hiashi was convinced that Neji couldn't have mastered such powerful techniques on his own.
"Don't try to hide it," another elder scolded, his tone severe, laced with a threat. "Even if we have to call on the Yamanaka clan, we will pry that person's identity from your mind. Such a person who undermines the foundation of our Hyūga clan cannot be forgiven!"
Neji didn't flinch. "It was Naruto-sama."
The room grew tense. Who? Naruto?
Was it the Naruto they knew?
Neji smirked mockingly. "It was Naruto Uzumaki-sama. The one who single-handedly defeated the Cloud Village, wiped out the Akatsuki, and took down the wielder of the Rinnegan."
The tension in the room deepened. It really was that Naruto.
The elder who had spoken harshly now hung his head, wishing he could disappear.
"So, it was Uzumaki-sama," another elder, an old man with sparse hair and beard, said calmly. "The Uzumaki clan is known for its sealing techniques. The Caged Bird is a curse mark outside the Uzumaki clan's traditional seals. It's normal for Uzumaki-sama to be interested in it. Since it's him... let him study it. He is destined to be a ninja who will change the times, and perhaps he will even develop a new jutsu based on the Caged Bird technique."
His words, though not the best reason, were the most convincing at the moment. The room remained silent, the elders grappling with the realization that Naruto Uzumaki had broken this technique, signaling that Neji was under his protection.
This was a problem.
Hiashi Hyūga pondered for a moment, his tone softening. "Since it was Uzumaki-sama's will, Neji, we won't hold you accountable for your mistake this time..."
Neji interrupted, "How is breaking the Caged Bird a mistake?"
"Neji Hyūga, don't push your luck," one elder scolded. "Even if you are under Uzumaki-sama's protection, you are still a member of the Hyūga clan!"
Neji wasn't backing down. "So, can anyone answer my question? How is breaking the Caged Bird a mistake?"
Hiashi's face darkened. "Neji, what are you trying to do?"
"I want to free all the branch members from their bonds," Neji said calmly.
An elder, panicked, stood up. "Did Uzumaki-sama give you the method to break the Caged Bird?"
Neji nodded.
"Outrageous!" another elder yelled, quickly catching himself. "I mean Neji Hyūga... not Uzumaki-sama."
"And what if we refuse?" another elder asked, his tone ominous. "Freeing the branch family from the Caged Bird... this couldn't possibly be Uzumaki-sama's intention, could it?"
Neji assumed a Gentle Fist stance. "Then I'll have to make you agree in my own way."
Was he really about to fight? But the concern remained—if they injured him and Naruto came for revenge, how would the Hyūga clan handle it?
"Neji, you may not understand," said the eldest elder, speaking slowly. "The Caged Bird is a restraint for the Hyūga clan, but it is also a form of protection."
"I've already heard that ridiculous reason," Neji sneered.
The elder shook his head. "No, Neji, you don't understand. This is an old legend, one that few in the current Hyūga clan know."
Neji stayed silent.
The elder lowered his voice. "Naruto Uzumaki's capture of Itachi Uchiha made us aware that the Sharingan has the potential to evolve further. When I was young, there was a legend within the Hyūga clan that the Byakugan also has the potential to evolve."
Hiashi glanced sideways, surprised, and the other elders were just as taken aback.
Neji's expression remained stoic.
"But unlike the evolution of the Sharingan, the rumored evolution of the Byakugan is extremely cruel," the elder continued. "It requires the accumulation of the Byakugan's power from clan members, and one pair of eyes isn't enough. It would take the sacrifice of many clan members to achieve this evolution."
"The creation of the Caged Bird was precisely for this reason—to protect the Byakugan from both external threats and from those within the clan who might covet this power."
The elder shook his head, unsure if this evolution was real or just a story. But if the Sharingan could evolve, then perhaps the Byakugan could too.
And more importantly, this explanation might be enough to deal with Neji Hyūga.
Neji was stunned, staring at the elder. Could this really be true?
If it was, then...
He opened his mouth, but his resolve to remove the Caged Bird from all branch family members faltered.
Standing beside Neji, Hinata clenched her fists. If Naruto-kun agreed to Neji's request, it meant he wanted the branch family freed from their bonds. Something wasn't right here.
She tried to think it through... What would Naruto-kun do in this situation?
"Hinata, I know you've always hated the Caged Bird, but now you should understand that it is indeed a form of protection," Hiashi said softly, his tone sincere. "I've already apologized for the mistakes made years ago. And now I'm willing to apologize again."
"And I will personally decide, as the head of the Hyūga clan, to welcome you and your children into the Hyūga main family from now on. So that you will no longer suffer..."
Hinata's eyes lit up—she figured it out!
She shook her head, summoning all her courage. "No, Father!"
"What you're saying is wrong."
All eyes turned to the usually timid heiress of the Hyūga clan.
She instinctively shrank back, feeling a bit scared, but Karin's words from that night and Naruto's face flashed in her mind. They reignited the small spark of courage in her heart, making it leap up once more.
"Father, what you just said is completely wrong."
~~~
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