Chapter 270 — The First Chance Encounter with Naruto and Sasuke
The members of the Hyūga branch family had lived their entire lives under the Caged Bird Seal. To them, it was normal—something they simply accepted.
Hyūga Iwa exhaled slowly.
"This isn't something I can decide on my own. Whether you can receive a pair of ordinary eyes still needs approval from the branch family head."
Hyūga Jō felt his stomach drop.
This also required clan approval?
If he asked the clan directly… they would absolutely refuse.
He was a Hyūga. Rejecting the Byakugan to request ordinary eyes?
Unthinkable.
He tried clinging to one last thread of hope.
"Father… can we not tell them? We can do the ordinary eye transplant quietly. I'm just a Genin—there's no need to report this to the clan, right?"
But Hyūga Iwa shook his head bitterly.
"Jō… your father truly cannot make this decision."
Despair washed through Hyūga Jō, though he didn't blame his adoptive father.
Even as a chūnin—
Even if he were a jōnin—
A branch member had no authority, no freedom, no rights.
Hyūga Iwa tried to soften his tone.
"I will speak with the branch family head later. We will see what can be done."
"…That's all we can do."
Hyūga Jō sighed.
He refused the Byakugan completely.
If they forced him… he would rather live blind than return to being a branded caged bird.
A life with light but no freedom meant nothing to him.
The group fell silent—until a pair of childish voices drifted past.
"Sasuke! Tomorrow's the graduation ceremony! Aren't you excited?"
"Sasuke, I'm waking up at six tomorrow! Should I come wake you up too?"
"Shut up, idiot Naruto. You're too noisy."
"Hehe!"
Then a gentle female voice called from behind them:
"You two, don't run off too far."
"Coming, Kaa-san!"
The voices faded.
Hyūga Jō's heart tightened.
Sasuke. Naruto.
He had run straight into the two protagonists.
After the initial shock, he felt a wave of regret. Judging by their voices, the boys weren't older than nine or ten. Too young to rely on. If this had been Sage Mode Naruto? Perfect—he could've begged for protection from the Hyūga clan.
But children this young were still powerless.
A moment later, another thought struck him.
Naruto waking Sasuke up?
Why were they even living close enough for that?
And… Sasuke's mother was alive?
Wasn't the Uchiha massacre supposed to happen before Sasuke graduated?
"Did the timeline change…?"
Hyūga Jō muttered silently.
Before he could dwell further, they arrived at Konoha Hospital.
Hyūga Iwa, Hyūga Asa, and Hyūga Rin rushed him in.
After registering, Hyūga Iwa searched for Tsunade, hoping she could handle the examination personally—only to learn she wasn't at the hospital.
He returned just as Jō finished being examined.
The medical-nin said calmly,
"He's fine. He simply needs rest."
Relief washed over the entire family.
Then the doctor added casually,
"Do you want to arrange eye replacement surgery? We have stock in the hospital."
Hyūga Jō wanted to scream yes, but he couldn't.
Hyūga Iwa refused at once.
"No need, Doctor."
The medical-nin was puzzled—until he saw their Byakugan.
Ah. A Hyūga child. That explained everything.
"You may collect the medicine downstairs. No need to return."
Hyūga Rin grabbed the report and thanked him repeatedly. The family prepared to head home.
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Late Night — Uchiha Clan District
Fugaku's Residence
After returning from the training grounds, the three boys bathed.
With the graduation ceremony tomorrow, Naruto and Sasuke were both excited—though Naruto showed it far more.
Fugaku rubbed his temples.
"Naruto, want to play a game?"
Naruto perked up instantly.
"Yes!"
Fugaku tossed him a phone. Naruto immediately sat down, absorbed by the screen.
Peace at last.
A moment later, Uchiha Mikoto came out from her bath, the faint scent of soap drifting with her.
She glanced at Naruto.
"Naruto, bedtime. You need to wake up early tomorrow. If you wake up early, you should sleep early, okay?"
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