Inside Chinya's home.
Chinya lashed out at Hizashi Hyuga fiercely.
If it were anyone else, Chinya wouldn't have bothered saying so much—he wouldn't even acknowledge them.
But ever since Hizashi Hyuga had agreed to take Neji Hyuga as his disciple during Minato Namikaze's wedding ceremony, Chinya had already regarded Neji as his own apprentice.
So upon seeing how stubborn and short-sighted Hizashi was, Chinya hoped he could talk some sense into him—maybe even shock him awake with a few hard truths.
As a father, one's influence on their child is the greatest.
Just like the course that Neji Hyuga had followed.
Bitter and resentful toward the Main Family, yet still accepting of his fate.
Even though Hizashi had sacrificed himself when Neji was only four, for his ill-fated elder brother, from that moment onward, Neji developed a pessimistic view of destiny, clinging tightly to fatalistic beliefs.
Chinya deeply despised such gloomy fatalism.
Chinya wasn't even sure whether he would still accept Neji as his disciple in the future.
So if it was possible to reason with Hizashi, then all would be good. But if not, then it simply meant there was no destined connection between himself and Neji.
Hizashi was now trapped in deep internal conflict.
Was the Hyuga Clan worth it? Were the Main Family worth it?
Hizashi could answer immediately—absolutely not worth it.
To preserve the bloodline, the Hyuga Clan divided the family into the Main and Branch Families, creating a serious rift among people who should have been united. They even established the Caged Bird, a cursed seal used by the Main Family to control the Branch Family.
And the Main Family never saw the Branch members as equals, as kin or companions, but merely as subordinates and servants.
A life might be short, but its effects can last forever.
If he gives in to this fate, Neji will follow the same path he did—and then Neji's child, and his child's child… forever trapped in the same cycle.
Is this truly what he wished for?
Ever since receiving the Caged Bird seal at age three, Hizashi had been taught to always protect the Main Family and be ready to sacrifice himself for them.
From initial confusion, to anger later on, and finally to reluctant acceptance.
Now was he going to implant the same ideology into his beloved son, the one he had high hopes for?
If the ultimate goal was still to serve the Main Family, then why did he bother placing such expectations on Neji in the first place?
Aren't the results going to be exactly the same in the end anyway?
Hizashi felt deeply conflicted.
What Chinya said was indeed true. He harbored resentment toward the oppression from the Main Family, yet lacked the courage to resist.
Like the conversation he'd had with Hiashi just days earlier—he clearly showed dissatisfaction toward Hiashi in words, but never actually considered rebellion.
Come to think of it, what exactly were those "expectations" he had placed on Neji?
Was it about gaining strength? Or something else?
If these are true expectations, of course they mean hoping Neji could accomplish what he himself never managed to do.
Suddenly, Hizashi shuddered slightly.
Something he had never done… naturally meant controlling his own destiny.
He wanted Neji to control his own fate.
But what exactly was he doing?
He wanted to crush that possibility himself—to eliminate any chance that Neji Hyūga could ever control his own fate.
Hizashi Hyūga smiled bitterly. "It's truly unfortunate for Neji to have someone like me as a father..."
Looking sincerely at Chinya, Hizashi continued, "But meeting you as his teacher is definitely his good fortune."
Chinya grinned and asked, "So it seems Clan Head Hizashi has finally seen reason?"
Hizashi nodded. "I've finally seen reason. And I'm horrified—how close I came to ruining Neji's life. Chinya, I hope that when Neji grows up, he can continue following your guidance and learning from you."
Chinya raised an eyebrow. "Following me forever? Are you sure about that? Under my education, Neji might feel no sense of belonging toward the Hyūga clan—and may even come to hate it. After all, even as his father, your own life within the Hyūga hasn't been easy."
Hizashi replied helplessly, "I'd rather he hate the Hyūga than become someone like me—weak and resigned to his fate without resistance. Whatever choices he makes in the future, I will fully support and respect them. So Chinya, please educate Neji however you see fit."
Chinya nodded in agreement. "Since Clan Head Hizashi has spoken thus, I promise I'll do everything I can to guide and nurture Neji into a capable person."
Kushina Uzumaki watched as Chinya and Hizashi reached an understanding, and couldn't help but smile.
Neji Hyūga seemed to catch Kushina's joy too, stopping his tears and joining her with a smile.
After exchanging a few more words, Hizashi rose to take his leave.
As Hizashi and Neji departed, Kushina eagerly asked, "Chinya, why did you say earlier that I know how to remove the Caged Bird Seal? I really don't know how!"
Chinya chuckled softly. "There's no need for you to know. Because I know how to use the Sealing Technique."
Kakashi looked puzzled. "If you know how to do it, Teacher, why did you previously say it was your wife who could remove the Caged Bird Seal?"
Chinya shrugged. "To them, I'm not known for being skilled in the Sealing Technique. If I said I could do it, they wouldn't believe me anyway."
Kushina pouted slightly. "So I'm just a pawn in your plan then?"
She sighed afterward. "Still, the Hyūga clan really is complicated. They're supposed to be family within the same ninja clan, yet they created such a divisive system."
Chinya scoffed disdainfully. "That system is the most idiotic ever devised. That's exactly why the Hyūga have always been overshadowed by the Uchiha—even now, with the Uchiha severely weakened, the Hyūga still can't hold a candle to them.
This structure causes terrible internal strife. The Main Family holds absolute authority—even if a Main Family member is utterly talentless, the Branch Family must still protect them with their lives. On the surface, the Branch Family shows deep respect for the Main, but in reality, they loathe them completely.
The conflict between the Main and Branch Families breeds distrust within the clan and stifles genuine talent. A clan like that has no hope of ever truly rising—it may be ancient and traditional, but it has neither potential nor creativity."
In this system, if a prodigy comes from the Main Family (the dominant branch of the clan), they're smothered by the Branch Family (subordinate members) so much that they never get a chance to grow — and end up as someone totally inactive, like a Mui.
And if a genius is born into the Branch Family? They spend their whole life serving the Main Family and wind up like Hizashi — trapped, burdened with inner turmoil, and stripped of any true sense of self-worth.
"I despise the Uchiha Clan with everything I have — but I've never looked down on them. There's definitely a reason why Uchiha Ninja are stronger than Ninja from other clans."
Kushina Uzumaki and Kakashi both nodded in agreement. Chinya's words truly made sense.
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