A chance to change fate?
Neji, head bowed, found the question grating.
"Fate can't be changed," he said, fists clenched, striving for calm. "From birth, your fate is set. No one can alter that destiny."
The elders' faces shifted slightly.
Normally…
They'd be pleased to hear this, as it showed Neji accepted his branch family fate.
But now, in Shen Mo's presence…
"Neji."
An elder couldn't help but speak, but after two words, he froze, horrified, unable to continue.
Not silenced.
But as if his body no longer belonged to him.
Expression, movement, even gaze—all uncontrollable.
Not just him.
The other elders were the same.
Fear, panic, emotions surged within.
Yet outwardly, they could do nothing.
Even wore kind smiles.
"Fate can't be changed—given your position, that's not wrong," Shen Mo said, nodding as if agreeing. "Like a bird locked in a cage, unable to escape."
Tsunade looked at Shen Mo, surprised.
This didn't match his usual stance on changing fate.
Neji kept his gaze lowered.
Caged Bird.
The name of the curse seal on his forehead, like its namesake, brutally trapped his fate—and his father's—in a cage.
No resistance, let alone change!
Hatred simmered in Neji's heart for those who'd decided his destiny from birth: these elders, Hyuga Hiashi.
"A Caged Bird can't defy what cages it, be it man or fate," Shen Mo said slowly, then pivoted. "But—if a being stronger than that exists, couldn't they open the cage, letting the bird soar to chase its own fate?"
"…"
Neji slightly raised his head.
This man, these words.
What did they mean?
"You've probably never imagined such a scene," Shen Mo said, his smile widening.
Then, an elder stepped forward.
Thud.
He knelt before Neji.
"Elder, you…" Hiashi gasped.
Neji instinctively recoiled several steps.
Everyone was shocked.
Hanabi covered her mouth, eyes wide.
This was an elder, a symbol of status and power in the clan.
Now…
Kneeling to a branch family genin?
The elder's heart ignored shame, overwhelmed by fear. Unable to control his body, he could only "watch" himself weep. "Neji, I failed you. I suggested your father die in Hiashi's place. It's my fault, my fault…"
Shen Mo wasn't framing him.
Back then…
He had proposed it, though Hiashi rejected it, and Hizashi agreed willingly.
And…
From his mind-reading, Shen Mo knew Hiashi had prepared funds for Neji, but the elders would object. A little pressure on them wouldn't hurt.
Shen Mo wasn't gentle with those blocking his profits.
Neji faced the sobbing, repentant elder kneeling before him.
His face was full of disbelief.
Why?
He'd fantasized countless times about making those who caused his father's death regret, suffer.
But such an unrealistic fantasy—how could it happen before his eyes?
A dream?
No…
"It's you!" Neji snapped toward Shen Mo, trembling. "But you… how is this possible…"
He couldn't tell if he felt thrilled, vindicated, or terrified. This surpassed his imagination.
The lofty elder…
Really knelt before him, weeping for his father's death?
"What you thought impossible just happened, didn't it?" Shen Mo spread his arms like eagle wings, smiling. "Because I'm strong—very strong. Strong enough to shatter your cage, change your fate. Now, do you still think my offer is impossible?"
Gulp.
Neji's throat bobbed.
He looked at the silent Hiashi, the other two elders with their kind smiles, and finally at Shen Mo's faint smile.
He had to admit…
This was real.
This stranger might truly have the power to free him from this cage, to give him a real chance to change his fate.
"So, answer me!" Shen Mo's voice rose. "Do you want to soar?"
Do you want to soar?
For the first time since Neji's birth, this question, this choice, echoed in his ears.
"I… want to fly!" Neji shouted, as if using all his strength, eyes red, facing Shen Mo with a fierce, youthful expression. "I want to break free from this Caged Bird fate!"
He knew what shouting this meant.
But he didn't care.
Though he'd claimed fate was unchangeable, that was just pessimism.
Faced with real hope…
He instinctively wanted to seize it, to escape his father's fate!
"Brother… Neji," Hinata said, seeing him like this for the first time.
She felt a twinge of fear.
Neji had always disliked her, but now, his expression held hatred.
"It seems you've found the desire to change your fate," Shen Mo said, lowering his arms, clearly pleased. "Now, the next question: where do you want to fly?"
"…⊙_⊙…"
Neji's gaze froze.
Paired with his fierce expression moments ago, it looked almost comical.
Fly where?
He'd never thought he could fly, so how could he know where to go?
"Hahaha," Shen Mo laughed, shaking his head. "Just wanting to change fate isn't enough. You need to decide what fate to pursue. Soar like an eagle breaking through the sky, or crawl like a chicken on the ground? Different choices, different outcomes."
Shen Mo was truly curious about Neji's decision now.
Leave the clan, even Konoha, to chase freedom?
Or, like in the original story, stay, protecting the main branch?
Different choices…
Meant different series for Shen Mo to prepare.
Either way, the result was the same for him.
He gave Neji the choice partly out of curiosity, partly because Neji's original redemption was altered the moment Shen Mo sold cans to Naruto.