The forest beyond the Hidden Leaf Village lay silent, its canopy thick and unbroken.
Dappled sunlight filtered through the branches above, scattering gold across the underbrush.
A lone figure moved beneath it—quiet, deliberate.
Neji Hyuga walked without a destination.
The wind stirred gently against his cloak, but it brought no direction, only doubt.
He had left the village behind, yet hadn't decided whether to travel across the shinobi world or seek out Genya.
His mind, like the path ahead, was split.
A few days ago, Genya had spoken of a breakthrough—a specialized cellular serum.
Tailored for Neji.
But volatile. Dangerous.
The success rate, Genya had warned, was under ten percent.
Still, if it worked, the leap in power would be transformative—more than a step forward, a rebirth.
And Neji wanted that strength.
He always had.
But not like this.
Not when the Uchiha clan and the Konoha higher ups stood on the edge of conflict, their alliance was already threadbare.
He couldn't risk pulling the Hyuga clan into that fire.
He wouldn't let his personal ambition tip the balance—or worse, place Genya in the line of scrutiny.
That, above all, was why he hadn't gone to him.
Not yet.
And now... what was left?
Years of harsh training had built his body into a blade.
But for what?
He had been waiting—waiting for Genya to find a way to free him from the cursed seal, the Caged Bird mark etched on his very soul.
That hope had kept him moving forward.
But how much longer could he wait?
And was that moment truly coming?
The silence pressed in, broken only by the crunch of leaves beneath his feet.
For the first time in years, Neji felt something he loathed:
uncertainty.
Then— a flicker in the air.
Movement.
His eyes snapped upward.
A team was approaching fast.
Neji inhaled sharply and activated his Byakugan.
Veins bulged at his temples, chakra flowing sharply through his body.
His vision pierced through the trees like glass—
He saw them clearly.
Their chakra coils blazed with strength.
Who were they?
Allies? Enemies?
He shifted his stance without thinking, instinct rising where certainty failed.
Whatever lay ahead, he would meet it as he always had—calm, sharp, and ready.
Even if the path forward was still unknown.
"What…?"
"Are these people… from the Hyūga Clan?"
Neji Hyūga's eyes narrowed, a trace of disdain coloring his voice.
"Heh… Looks like even after I escaped, you people still won't let me go."
Slowly, Neji stood up, preparing to head in a different direction.
Right now, he had no intention of confronting them. Those people knew how to activate the cursed seal of the Caged Bird. He wasn't their match—not like this.
If only…
If only he weren't shackled by the Caged Bird Seal, he would've erased these pursuers long ago.
But just as he turned to leave, his steps faltered.
A sharp pain throbbed at his forehead.
He froze.
The pain intensified with each step the pursuers took toward him.
"Damn it… they can trigger the Caged Bird Seal from this far away?" Neji muttered bitterly. He clenched his teeth, trying to walk away.
But the closer they came, the stronger the pull became.
The pain grew unbearable, and his movements began to falter. His limbs felt heavy, sluggish. He knew—he wouldn't make it out.
So he stopped resisting.
He sat back down, waiting quietly for them to arrive.
As the group drew closer, the searing pain contorted Neji's face. The corners of his eyes twitched uncontrollably.
This pain—it was far worse than anything the Hyūga elders had ever inflicted on him.
Whoever was coming... their chakra control and mental force far surpassed even the clan's main house enforcers.
Step. Step. Step...
The sound of approaching footsteps grew clearer.
Neji slowly opened his eyes.
A middle-aged man was walking toward him, hands forming seals as he advanced. A look of disdain twisted his face into a mocking sneer.
It was none other than Hyuga Chōryū — the father of Hyuga Sousuke.
"Heh... Were you thinking of escaping just now?" Chōryū stopped in front of Neji, his tone dripping with contempt. Without warning, he lashed out with a brutal kick.
"You're quite resilient. I activated the Caged Bird Seal, and yet you still managed to stay calm!"
Thud—
Neji was knocked to the ground. Yet not a single sound escaped his lips.
But—
His bloodshot eyes locked onto Hyuga Chōryū with a cold, unyielding stare. It was a gaze that seemed to carve Chōryū's face into his mind — a gaze filled with burning hatred.
Not just personal hatred.
The deep, long-standing resentment of the Branch House toward the Main House surged within that stare.
"Your eyes... they piss me off," Chōryū growled, slamming his foot down on Neji's head.
Just moments ago, that look in Neji's eyes had sent a chill down Chōryū's spine — an eerie, unnerving feeling he couldn't shake.
How dare someone whose life he could snuff out at any moment dare look at him like that?
He was asking for death.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud—
Chōryū vented his fury with a flurry of savage blows, raining them down on Neji without mercy.
Only then did he finally step back.
But his hands — still forming the seal — never relaxed.
He finally motioned to the people behind him. "Lift him up. He can't die yet—I still have questions for him."
At these words, two people stepped forward and hoisted the struggling Neji up, bringing him before Hyuga Chōryū.
However, Neji's eyes were filled with defiance. If it weren't for the curse of the Caged Bird seal suppressing him, these people wouldn't be a match even for one of his hands.
Those hateful main family members—did they really think they could bully the branch family only because of the Caged Bird?
"Speak. Was it you who hurt my son, Sosuke?" Hyuga Chōryū asked, looking at the stubborn Neji and speaking each word clearly.
"Yes!" Neji nodded.
"My son can also activate the Caged Bird curse. How did you manage to hurt him?" Chōryū frowned and looked at Neji again.
"Is there someone else behind you? Tell me... who? How could a useless person like you, limited by the Caged Bird, possibly harm Sosuke?"
To Hyuga Chōryū, it was obvious that Neji had someone backing him. He wanted to find that person and take revenge for his son.
"Your son is a weakling. His spiritual energy is even weaker. Hurting him... was easy!" Neji laughed harshly, though his eyes were bloodshot from pain.
"But not just him—you're nothing but a bully who uses the Caged Bird to oppress the branch family. If you dare remove that seal, I'll kill you within ten moves!"
"Haha... You say I'm a useless failure? I think it's the main branch of the Hyūga clan that's the real parasite—sucking the life out of the clan, like termites, parasites..."
Neji laughed loudly.
Those parasites in the Hyūga clan... with them around, the Hyūga clan is doomed to decline sooner or later.
Beside Hyūga Chōryū stood both members of the main branch and the branch families.
Among them, the main branch looked extremely displeased, but the branch family members looked gloomy...
Parasites. Neji was right. The main branch was the true parasite of the Hyūga clan, devouring the roots of their own clan.
Though it felt satisfying inside, no one dared say this aloud in front of the main branch.
Otherwise, they would suffer the same Caged Bird agony that Neji endured.
"Well then, you brat actually dared to say such blasphemous words. It seems you've long been dissatisfied with the main branch."
Hyūga Chōryū kicked Neji away with force, tightening his hand seals.
A surge of spiritual energy rushed out.
Neji's pain only worsened.
"Beat him until he submits!"
"And Neji... you better reveal who your accomplices are, or I'll make your life a living hell!"
Hyūga Chōryū roared in anger, glaring at Neji.
"Hyūga Neji, the clan leader who could help you is nowhere to be found and cannot save you. Let's see how long you can hold on!"
Hyūga Chōryū acted without any restraint.
The hand signs to activate the Caged Bird Technique shifted from one hand to both hands. He was determined to make Hyūga Neji suffer worse than death.
How dare he hurt his child... Such an offense demanded punishment!
But Neji lay on the ground, his eyes turning blood red. Even in such excruciating pain, he did not utter a sound.
Click...
Just as Hyūga Chōryū grew more reckless and wild, a figure suddenly appeared before him. Then, a hand grasped both of Chōryū's hands, which were still forming seals.
"Enough... The farce ends here!"
****
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