Inside the Hyūga clan compound, within Hiashi Hyūga's room.
Hiashi Hyūga and Hizashi Hyūga sat on the tatami mats. Though they were blood brothers, an uncomfortable silence filled the space between them.
Hizashi's expression appeared troubled, as he had already guessed why Hiashi had summoned him.
After a long pause, Hiashi finally spoke, "Hizashi, you've overstepped."
Upon hearing Hiashi directly accuse him of overstepping, Hizashi inwardly confirmed it was about Chinya wanting to take Neji as his disciple.
Hizashi, keeping his face emotionless, asked, "Overstepped? Lord Head, what exactly do you mean by that? The Branch Family has always upheld its responsibilities. There doesn't seem to be any line we've overstepped."
Hiashi looked at Hizashi intently before saying, "You know perfectly well how complicated Chinya's identity is within Konoha. And yet, you agreed to let him take Neji as his disciple. Isn't that already overstepping?"
Hizashi replied in confusion, "I sought a teacher for my own son—is that considered overstepping? The Main House shouldn't have the authority to meddle in personal family affairs of the Branch Family, should it?"
Hiashi slightly furrowed his brows and said sternly, "Hizashi, I'm your older brother. Is it really necessary to speak to me with such sarcasm?"
Hizashi sipped his tea before responding calmly, "However, Clan Leader, you started off immediately accusing me of misconduct. That doesn't sound like a conversation between brothers—it sounds more like a reprimand from a superior to an inferior."
Hiashi's voice carried great dissatisfaction: "That's because you refuse to understand—you've brought serious trouble to our entire Hyūga clan!"
Locking eyes with him firmly, Hizashi responded, "Oh? Trouble for our clan? I don't even know what kind of 'trouble' you're referring to, Clan Leader. All I know is Chinya holds great prestige and formidable power in Konoha, and there's no hostility between him and our clan. For him to notice Neji is Neji's fortune.
"When Neji turned three, you intended to mark him with the Caged Bird Seal and bind him to serve the Main House forever. As head of the Branch Family, my only role is to protect the Main House—not my own son. So all I hope is that when Neji serves the Main House and ends up in danger, he'll have the strength to protect his life.
"So, did I really do anything wrong by agreeing to Chinya's proposal?
"If you believe I've made a mistake, then punish me—after all, isn't that the Main House's prerogative?"
Hiashi snapped, "Hizashi, what nonsense are you spouting?! I'm not trying to blame you—I simply want to remind you that Chinya is not a simple man. Moreover, he has targeted the Uchiha Clan recently. If you get too close to him, sooner or later you'll be dragged into danger—and our entire clan might be pulled down with you! Don't you see I'm concerned for you?!"
A faintly mocking smile crept across Hizashi's lips as he said, "Then thank you, Lord Clan Leader, for your concern. Rest assured, my relationship with Chinya will extend only so far as making him Neji's instructor. I won't allow you—or the Hyūga clan—to face any difficulty because of this."
Hiashi Hyuga gazed at Hizashi Hyuga's face, nearly identical to his own, and sighed. "Hizashi, we were born of the same blood. Why has such a rift grown between us? The division between the Main and Branch Families is an ancient tradition of our clan. I can't change that."
Hizashi's expression was equally complex. "I wish I could be close with my older brother, sharing everything. But ever since you became Head of the Main Family, every conversation we've had has been nothing more than orders from a superior to a subordinate. Brotherhood ended the moment the Caged Bird Seal [Bird in a Cage] was carved into my forehead.
I am the Head of the Branch Family. My entire life is dedicated to sacrificing for the Main House—even though I hate every second of it.
Sometimes I really wonder—we were born so closely together, only moments apart, yet your fate was decided simply because you were born slightly earlier.
I don't understand why those from the Branch Family are always Branch members, and those from the Main House are forever above. Even my child's future is already decided, without any hope of escape.
You probably see the unconditional sacrifices made by the Branch Family as completely natural, don't you, Clan Head? We're nothing more than fellow clansmen from different houses. I don't expect or even want anything close to brotherhood from you anymore.
So then, Clan Head, do you have anything else? It's getting late, and I need to check on Neji."
Hiashi silently nodded.
Hizashi rose from the tatami mat, bowed deeply to Hiashi, then exited the room.
The moment he stepped out of Hiashi's chamber, Hizashi let out a heavy sigh.
He felt deep disappointment toward Hiashi. If Hiashi had remained the same person after becoming the head of the Main House, he wouldn't feel this way.
He recalled words Hiashi once told him:
"Hizashi, after I become the Head of the Main House, I will definitely change the relationship between the Main and Branch Families. I won't treat the Branch Family like they've always been treated before. We'll remain the best of brothers forever."
That youthful promise had long been discarded. In the end, Hiashi had become exactly the kind of person he once vowed never to be.
Thinking of Neji, Hizashi felt inexplicable sadness.
He wanted a better future for his son—one where Neji wouldn't be trapped by fate like he was.
But even those hopes were nothing more than dreams out of reach. Born into the Hyuga Clan as part of the Branch Family, one's destiny would forever be dictated by the Main House.
Still, Hizashi clung to a sliver of hope. Maybe, with Chinya around, Neji could escape his fate—just a little.
A few days had passed since that bitter conversation...
Chinya sat on the sofa across from Kushina Uzumaki and Kakashi.
Kushina smacked Kakashi hard on the head. "Kakashi, you're so slow! I've explained it multiple times—controlling chakra needs precision! You mess up every time you try channeling it, which is why your Yin Sealing Technique still hasn't succeeded. Not even a hint of the mark has appeared on your forehead!"
Rubbing the bump forming on his head, Kakashi shot Chinya on the couch a helpless look.
He wasn't dumb or anything. Kushina's explanations were just way too abstract. Most of the time, Kakashi couldn't understand them at all—either he'd have to guess or secretly ask Chinya afterward to figure out where things went wrong.
As for questioning Kushina? Kakashi didn't dare.
Because Kushina would literally beat him up.
Once, when Chinya tried to speak up for Kakashi, Kushina got flustered and snapped, "Do you think I can't teach Kakashi properly? Don't interrupt my lesson!" Back then, Chinya almost got beaten up by Kushina too.
So when Kakashi gave Chinya a helpless look, Chinya could only shrug back just as helplessly—he didn't dare interrupt Kushina's lessons either.
Even though he'd dodged a beating that time, he still couldn't sleep in his bed that night—ended up spending the whole night on the sofa instead.
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