A Hard Truth
Hyuga Hizashi stared in shock when he heard Sora suggest that Uzumaki Kushina could potentially remove the Caged Bird seal.
Sora calmly picked up his teacup and took another small sip, allowing Hizashi a moment with his thoughts. The Caged Bird seal must have been particularly unique to have endured for so many generations without being broken. Surely others had attempted to disable it before and failed. It was only natural for Hizashi to be surprised at the suggestion that a solution might exist.
What Sora didn't expect, however, was Hizashi's response after a moment of stunned silence.
"No, you can't do this."
Sora's brow furrowed slightly.
"Why not?" Kushina asked, confused by Hizashi's reaction.
Kakashi also looked at Hizashi with surprise.
Just moments ago, Hizashi's tone had been full of regret that Neji would soon be marked with the Caged Bird seal and controlled by the main family. Now that a chance to remove it presented itself, logic suggested he should be overjoyed.
Sora studied Hizashi's face, waiting for an explanation.
"Although everyone in our branch family is dissatisfied with the Caged Bird seal," Hizashi said bitterly, "this is the established rule of the Hyuga clan. I am a member of the Hyuga clan and the head of the branch family. I cannot break these rules. If Neji's seal were removed, it would likely cause unrest throughout the clan. If that happened, both Neji and I would become traitors to the Hyuga."
Kushina and Kakashi still didn't understand, their expressions showing clear confusion.
"So it's about honor and belonging to the clan?" Sora asked with a hollow laugh.
Hearing this, Hizashi thought Sora understood his position. "Yes, Sora. It seems you understand me."
"I don't understand at all," Sora replied with cutting honesty. "On the contrary, I think you're being incredibly foolish!"
Based on Hizashi's behavior, Sora had concluded he was a traditional, rigid person with rules etched into his very being. Such people often suffered from a dangerous trait—blind loyalty. Not loyalty to any specific person, but as Sora had just suggested, a misplaced sense of honor and belonging that led to foolish devotion.
Hizashi was loyal to the Hyuga clan above all else.
People like Hizashi feared change. Even when they recognized the injustice of their current situation, they would struggle desperately to maintain it.
Hearing himself called "incredibly foolish," Hizashi stared at Sora in shock.
Sora placed his teacup back on the table and met Hizashi's astonished gaze.
"I admire your loyalty to the Hyuga clan," he said, "but in my opinion, you're being stubborn and shortsighted. From what you said earlier, I thought you were deeply dissatisfied with your current status and would welcome any chance to change it. What I didn't expect was that when such an opportunity presented itself, you would choose to run away from it.
"You keep saying you worry about Neji's future. You claim to be concerned that he'll live under the main family's control, without freedom or the ability to choose his own path. Yet when I offer him that very chance, you reject it on his behalf.
"If you're so afraid of change and don't want Neji's destiny altered, then what was the point of allowing me to become his master? It's not like you don't know who I am. In many people's eyes, I'm an uncontrolled rebel who refuses to be bound by convention.
"You hope for change but fear it at the same time. Did you think that as Neji's master, I would protect him if the Hyuga clan caused trouble for him in the future? If that's your intention, abandon it now.
"As a master, I would naturally help a disciple facing difficulties. But if you expect me to help a disciple who willingly accepts injustice without resistance, I'm sorry—I will never act. Even if I did help such a person once, I would afterward treat them as if they had never been my disciple at all."
Hizashi stared at Sora blankly, his lips moving but no words emerging.
Kakashi lowered his head slightly. Though Sora's words were harsh, Kakashi couldn't help but agree with them. A person who willingly accepted an unjust fate wasn't qualified to receive help. After all, they had already accepted their destiny, hadn't they?
At that moment, little Neji, still in Kushina's arms, suddenly began to cry. Kushina hurriedly tried to comfort him.
Sora continued, his tone serious as he addressed Hizashi. "Master Hizashi, don't fault me for speaking harshly. In my view, you've been kneeling before the Hyuga clan for so long that your spine has bent and your spirit has broken.
"Facing the main family's oppression, you feel dissatisfied but lack the courage to resist. While inwardly condemning them for not treating you as a human being, you obey their orders loyally like a trained dog.
"I feel I no longer need to accept Neji as my disciple, because what would be the point? Under your guidance, Neji will become a second version of you—someone who resents his circumstances but lacks the courage to change them.
"I don't need such a timid disciple. I would be ashamed to have one. Master Hizashi, you should know my journey. If I had been willing to accept my fate, do you think I would be where I am today?"
Hizashi clamped his mouth shut and lowered his head, his thoughts in turmoil. Neji's crying only intensified his feelings of irritation and guilt.
Sora's words were no longer merely unpleasant—they were a direct condemnation. Yet Hizashi had no grounds to object, because Sora spoke the truth.
He was indeed dissatisfied with his situation but lacked the courage to change it. And if this continued, his son Neji would likely become just like him.
Looking back on his life since becoming part of the branch family, each day had been filled with quiet desperation.
When Neji's mother had given birth to him, the war was still raging—Cloud and Sand shinobi were jointly invading Konoha. She had returned to the battlefield after only a few days of recovery, because as a branch family member, she was obligated to fight in place of the main family.
That was how Neji's mother had died—on the battlefield.
At that time, Hizashi had felt intense hatred toward the main family, but... hatred alone accomplished nothing. He still worked diligently for them because he dared not resist.
Hizashi realized that even without the Caged Bird seal restricting him, he probably wouldn't have the courage to stand against the system.
Sora sighed deeply. "Master Hizashi, life is truly short. All our efforts are meant to make our brief existence meaningful. Having faith in something is admirable, but only if what you believe in is worthy of your devotion. Think carefully about what you've gained from your loyalty."
Hizashi's breathing grew irregular, his fists clenched tightly as his face contorted with emotion.
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