Last night, a heavy snowfall blanketed the entire Land of Fire. By morning, the world had been transformed into a canvas of white. The bare branches of ancient trees bowed under the weight of snow, creaking softly in the cold wind. Their swaying carried a sense of desolation and solitude, as if nature itself whispered of sorrow.
Within the Konoha training grounds, a young boy stood in the snow, his dark hair tied neatly, his expression calm yet serious. He pressed his palms together, took a deep breath, and spoke softly.
"Byakugan, activate!"
At once, veins bulged prominently at the sides of his eyes, and the milky-white pupils of the Hyuga clan shone faintly. His vision shifted. The world was no longer bound by normal sight. His field of view spread into a flawless three-hundred-and-sixty-degree panorama.
Every falling snowflake became clear. The sparrows perched on skeletal branches were visible in perfect detail, their feathers ruffling with each gust of wind. Even the faint movements of villagers hurrying hundreds of meters away appeared within his sight. Nothing could escape the gaze of the Byakugan.
Neji Hyuga's eyes narrowed. He shifted his stance, gripped the short blade in his hand, and suddenly lunged forward.
"Eight Trigrams… Twelve Strikes!"
His body moved like a startled rabbit, swift and precise. Chakra gathered within his arms, flowing through his meridians into the weapon. The blade sang as it cut through the air, his movements sharp and fluid. Snowflakes that dared drift too close to him were shredded instantly, scattering into countless glittering fragments.
"Haaah…"
Exhaling a long breath, his white fog dissipated into the frigid air. A deep fatigue washed over his young body. He was only four years old, after all.
The Gentle Fist—his clan's signature taijutsu—was renowned throughout the shinobi world. It gave Hyuga shinobi a formidable edge in combat, especially at the genin, chunin, and even jonin levels. Yet, Neji already knew this strength alone was not enough.
Against towering powers like Susanoo, Tailed Beasts, or Sage Mode, the Gentle Fist faltered. Poking at tenketsu would do little against chakra defenses on such an immense scale. To climb higher, to reach the summit of shinobi strength—the Kage and beyond—he needed more.
That was why Neji had begun forging a different path.
His Byakugan, combined with swordsmanship, produced results. The training of the past year had allowed him to blend precise vision with slashing strikes. After all, a blade cutting deep into flesh was far more decisive than mere taps on chakra points.
Closing his eyes, Neji focused on the golden finger that resided within his consciousness—his "cheat," the gift of his transmigration.
Name: Hyuga Neji
Ability: Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence (Effort always brings results, whether one is ordinary or a genius.)
Age: 4 years old
Bloodline Limit: Byakugan Lv. 1 (241/500)
Chakra: Genin
Chakra Nature: Yin, Fire, Earth, Water
Taijutsu: Eight Trigrams, Twelve Strikes Lv. 1 (154/500)
Yes—he was a transmigrator.
In his previous life, he had died abruptly after the cursed seal of the Hyuga's Branch Family was inscribed upon him. That was when he seized an opportunity: his soul had merged with the infant Neji's body, awakening the Byakugan earlier than anyone in clan history. He had broken records, displaying the Hyuga's power at only three years old.
The Main Family, impressed, delayed placing the Caged Bird Seal on him. But Neji knew this reprieve was temporary.
Sooner or later, that cursed seal would burn its mark into his forehead.
Unconsciously, Neji's fingers brushed against his smooth skin. A sense of gloom settled in his chest. In the original timeline, he remembered, Neji would grow into a remarkable shinobi. He would create the Spinning Heaven technique on his own, attain the rank of jonin by fifteen, and become a ninja whose strength rivaled even Kakashi, Minato, or the legendary Sannin.
Yet now, armed with foresight and his golden finger, he believed he could reach even greater heights. The Byakugan held endless potential. Perhaps one day, he could evolve it into the Tenseigan, the Jougan, or something beyond—an ocular power at the level of the Sage of Six Paths himself.
His future could be limitless.
But his freedom was not.
"In half a month…" Neji whispered under his breath, his voice trembling. "It will be Hinata-sama's third birthday."
On that day, the Caged Bird Seal would be carved into her forehead.
No matter how strong a Branch Family member became, once branded, their destiny was shackled. They became tools, expendable pawns for the Main Family. Even if resurrected through Edo Tensei, the cursed seal's control remained absolute.
A heavy weight pressed against Neji's young heart. His eyes, though bright and pure, reflected worry that seemed far too mature for a four-year-old.
"If I remain in the clan, I can't escape the fate of being caged. But if I run… even if I succeed in leaving Konoha, how will I survive in this cruel shinobi world?"
He clenched his fists. The Byakugan was not just a bloodline—it was a treasure coveted by every hidden village. A child wandering the world with such a gift would be hunted relentlessly. His fate might end even more tragically than Nagato's.
After hours of fruitless thought, Neji finally left the training grounds, frustration simmering beneath his calm mask.
On the streets of Konoha, villagers greeted him warmly.
"There's the Hyuga prodigy!"
"A genius like Uchiha Itachi, they say. Amazing!"
Neji forced a polite, shy smile. He concealed his inner turmoil behind the mask of a dutiful child.
The Main Family had deliberately spread his reputation. By elevating his genius, they balanced the prestige of the Uchiha clan. And though it was manipulative, Neji recognized it also benefitted him. A famous genius would receive better treatment in the village.
But deep down, he wondered: Will this 'genius' still end up as nothing more than a caged bird?
His lips curled into a self-mocking smile.
As he walked, his steps unknowingly carried him closer to the Hyuga compound. That was when he heard it.
"Where's Dad? Where's Tokuma? Where am I?"
A soft, childish voice carried through the snow. Neji turned his head and saw her.
Hinata Hyuga.
She wandered with uncertain steps, looking around curiously. This was her first time outside the compound, and she marveled at the world beyond. But her excitement quickly turned into nervousness.
Ahead, three boys around five or six years old were roughhousing in the snow. Their eyes fell upon the tiny girl with unusual white pupils.
"Look! A little boy!"
"Wait, why are his eyes all white?"
"Haha, a monster!"
They circled Hinata, curiosity laced with cruelty.
Hinata's small hands clutched her scarf tightly. Her pale eyes filled with tears as her body trembled.
"Is she gonna cry?"
"Hahaha, coward!"
"What if we stuff dirt into her eyes—will they still stay white?"
The cruel suggestions made Neji's eyes sharpen. His steps faltered.
There—this moment.
He remembered it from the original story. Hinata had sneaked out of the compound on her third birthday, only to be bullied by three children.
But… wasn't the timing off? He frowned.
As the young lady of the Main Family, Hinata should have been heavily guarded. How had a child not yet three slipped away? And for Neji to just so happen to encounter her on his way back?
This isn't coincidence…
A Branch Family member witnessing the Main Family's heiress in distress could not hesitate. To pause even for a second would bring disastrous consequences.
Realizing this, Neji rubbed his eyes, pretending as though he had just noticed her. His expression hardened.
"Let her go!" he shouted.
The three boys turned. The leader sneered.
"Look, another white-eyed freak!"
He gestured for his friends to surround Neji.
Pat, pat, pat!
Neji's movements blurred. Though not yet enrolled in the Academy, his training was far beyond theirs. With a few sharp strikes, he knocked them down one by one. The bullies burst into tears and fled.
Neji stepped forward quickly, offering a hand to the sobbing Hinata.
"Are you hurt, Lady Hinata?" he asked softly.
Hinata wiped her tear-streaked cheeks with her tiny fists. Her voice trembled as she said, "Nii-san… don't look. They're ugly."
Neji froze. His gaze reflected in her milky-white eyes. Slowly, he smiled.
"Lady Hinata," he said gently, "the Byakugan is the pride of our clan. You must never be ashamed of these eyes."
Hinata blinked, her large eyes brimming with confusion and innocence. She was too young to understand words like "clan" or "pride." But children sensed emotion keenly. She felt the heaviness in Neji's voice, the distance in his tone.
Though his words were correct, befitting the role of a Branch Family member, a strange sadness lingered.
At that moment, Hinata realized something her young mind couldn't fully grasp: between herself and Neji, there already existed a thick, invisible barrier.
A barrier built from bloodlines, from tradition, from fate itself.
And it was tragically unbreakable.
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