"Kusuo-kun, have they all learned the Breathing Style?" Shion whispered, tugging at the corner of his clothes.
"Yes." Kusuo nodded. This was something he had promised the Hyūga clan before. Since Hiashi Hyūga had boldly entrusted his daughters to him, he would naturally return the favor. Most importantly, the Hyūga clan members would be of great use to him, both as future recruits for the Demon Slayer Corps and for genetic research on life's fundamental levels.
"I can't believe how much you've all grown in just a few short years," Hiashi Hyūga said in the main hall, looking at the much more mature Hinata and the small, adult-like Hanabi with a sigh.
"Father~" Hanabi called out sweetly, making Hiashi chuckle.
"And this is?" Since moving into Kusuo's home, Shion had mostly stayed in, only occasionally going out shopping with Hinata. Hiashi had no impression of her at all from the past few years.
Kusuo showed no guilt of being caught with another woman, his expression perfectly calm. "This is the former priestess of the Land of Demons. After the village helped resolve the Mōryō crisis, she has been living in seclusion in Konoha. She lives with us now," he explained briefly.
"Oh," Hiashi replied with deep meaning, his heart sinking. He felt that something was not quite right. But given the formidable reputation Kusuo had built over the years—a reputation that suggested not just the Hyūga clan, but perhaps the entire village of Konoha was no match for this young man—he wisely chose not to ask further.
After some more greetings and catching up, they finally started talking business. Kusuo stated his purpose for coming. "Actually, our main purpose for coming this time is to select some promising clan members, check on the progress of their Breathing Style training, and also, to discuss the future direction of the Hyūga clan." His words were direct, with no beating around the bush.
Hiashi Hyūga immediately sat up straight, ready to listen intently to what this legendary young man had to say.
Kusuo continued, "Lord Hiashi, you must know many secrets of the ancient era of the ninja world, as well as many secrets about the dōjutsu clans, right?"
Hiashi nodded, not denying it.
"Then," Kusuo's tone suddenly changed, "do you know the origin of the Hyūga's 'Caged Bird' seal?"
The Caged Bird!? Hiashi's heart leaped in shock. He didn't understand the meaning behind Kusuo's words. The Caged Bird was the Hyūga clan's most profound and characteristic forbidden jutsu. It both strengthened the main family's control over the branch family and effectively prevented the Byakugan from being stolen, greatly protecting the clan's security. To this day, the only Byakugan known to be outside the clan was that of Ao from Kirigakure.
"Of course, I know," Hiashi said in a deep voice. His curiosity was completely piqued by Kusuo, and a mix of apprehension, anticipation, and anxiety flashed through his mind. His eyes were now fixed on him.
The next words from Kusuo sent a chill down his spine. "Then, Lord Hiashi, do you know what kind of chakra is required to control a forbidden jutsu of the Caged Bird's level? In other words, with the Hyūga clan's abilities alone, is it possible to control the life and death, the very destiny, of the branch family members for hundreds, even thousands of years?"
This casual, rhetorical question from Kusuo sent a jolt through everyone present. Hinata looked helplessly from her father to Kusuo, her heart in turmoil. As the former heiress of the main family, she knew all too well the devastating impact of this question on her father. Hanabi was also confused. What's going on? Why did the atmosphere suddenly become so heavy? At her age, she was still relatively innocent, filled only with a strong competitive spirit and a deep love for her sister and brother-in-law.
It wasn't just Hinata and Hanabi; even Shion clearly sensed the shift in everyone's emotions. As the priestess of the Land of Demons, who had suppressed the demonic Mōryō for generations, Shion was extremely sensitive to emotions. She could clearly sense that Kusuo's mood hadn't changed, but the serious old man across from him seemed very unsettled. 'How strange~!' she thought, playfully sticking out her tongue, not liking the atmosphere.
"Please, enlighten me." After a long silence, Hiashi Hyūga bowed deeply, his waist bent at a ninety-degree angle, begging Kusuo for an explanation. His action shocked the two sisters, Hinata and Hanabi, even more.
"There's no need for such formality. Since I came today, I naturally intend to tell you everything," Kusuo said with a faint smile. "Actually, I said years ago that the Hyūga clan possesses one of the world's most precious treasures, a treasure comparable to the Rinnegan." With that, he gently instructed Shion, "Release the seal on Hinata."
A seal? Hiashi was completely lost.
Shion nodded obediently. A surge of pure, holy chakra erupted from her body, so immense that it made the entire room tremble. The sheer volume of this chakra shocked Hiashi. What level of chakra is this? Even the previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki wasn't this powerful, was she? He had only seen the prowess of the First Hokage's wife once in his childhood, and the memory had stayed with him for life. He never thought he would witness such a burst of chakra again today.
The house trembled, emitting a dazzling white light that, despite it being daytime, outshone the sun outside.
"What's happening?"
"What's going on at the clan head's place? Why is there such an astonishing chakra fluctuation?"
The Hyūga clan members on guard and gossiping outside were all stunned, staring at the main hall in shock.
"Could it be that Lord Kusuo has had another breakthrough?"
"But why would he do it inside the house? I don't think so. Lord Kusuo is clearly a swordsman. This chakra feels very warm and pure, without that sharp, cold sword intent," an experienced elite ninja analyzed the situation.
The other clan members thought his reasoning was sound and nodded in agreement, but the shock in their eyes did not diminish. This level of chakra definitely didn't belong to their clan head, nor did it seem like Lord Kusuo's. That left only two possibilities: either it was Lady Hinata, or the other young woman Lord Kusuo had brought with him!
At this moment, inside the Hyūga main hall, Shion slowly released the seal on Hinata's eyes. A pair of pale purple, mesmerizing, ripple-patterned eyes appeared in Hinata's sockets.
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