As Senju Gen's words fell, the hall fell into sudden silence.
After a long pause, Hatake Harukaze spoke first, disbelief written across his face.
"The Third-sama… is really returning to power?"
He turned toward Uchiha Yuan.
"Yuan… your prediction actually came true."
Gen's expression was equally complicated.
"Even with Orochimaru's defection, the village still had candidates for Fifth Hokage…"
Harukaze's face had gone pale.
"Then… my father really was driven to his death by the village?"
Yuan had previously analyzed the political maneuvering of the high-level leadership centered around the Third Hokage. He had speculated about the hidden calculations behind both the previous and current Hokage succession struggles.
But at the time—
It had only been speculation.
There had been no hard evidence.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi had always maintained the image of a benevolent elder. It was difficult to reconcile that kindly façade with ruthless political scheming.
Gen and the others had been half-convinced at best.
But now—
Events had unfolded exactly as Yuan predicted.
The Third Hokage was reclaiming power.
Which meant Yuan's analysis had likely been correct.
Complicated emotions filled the room.
Meeting Harukaze's gaze, Yuan spoke calmly.
"For the sake of power, even a Sannin like Orochimaru could be forced into defection. Compared to that… what is driving a rival to suicide?"
"Even if that rival was the White Fang of Konoha."
Silence deepened.
Later — Night
A crescent moon hung in the sky.
Konoha glowed with lights.
Wind stirred fallen leaves along a dim path as two figures walked side by side.
"Yuan… I'm sorry about today," Hyūga Kagami said quietly. "Because of me, you had to endure Kuanren's disrespect."
"Kagami, don't dwell on it," Yuan replied lightly. "Kuanren means nothing to me. In my eyes, he's just a frog at the bottom of a well."
They walked on in silence.
Then Yuan suddenly stopped.
"Kagami… are you content?"
Kagami looked into the distance.
"As you said… there are countless eyes coveting the Byakugan. The Caged Bird Seal binds us—but it also protects us."
Yuan turned and studied him carefully.
Suddenly—
Kagami's expression twisted.
"…No. I can't convince myself."
He looked at Yuan bitterly.
"I'm not content."
"As a Branch member, I'm willing to die protecting the Main House. But I cannot accept being treated not as family—but as a servant."
He tore off the cloth from his forehead.
The Caged Bird Seal was revealed.
"Every day I train, I feel it. No matter how hard I try… my life is locked inside a cage."
"This is the fate of all Branch members."
"Unbreakable."
"Unescapable."
The bitterness drained from his face.
He composed himself.
At that moment—
Yuan suddenly grabbed Kagami's wrist.
The world spun.
When Kagami regained his bearings, they stood within a vast underground chamber.
"Yuan… where are we?"
"My private training ground."
Kagami instinctively activated his Byakugan.
He froze.
Above them burned two blazing spheres of fire—
Within them, immense figures of chakra.
Shadow clones.
The scale of chakra was staggering.
"So that's your true strength…" Kagami thought, shaken.
Yuan met his eyes sharply.
"Kagami. Let me help you break your chains."
Kagami stiffened.
Then—
Pressure exploded outward.
A golden radiance ignited at Yuan's brow.
Chakra surged like golden flames, forming a colossal divine avatar dozens of meters tall around him.
"Yuan…!"
Kagami stared in shock.
"Let me see the truth behind the so-called unbreakable seal."
"Heavenly Eye—Open!"
The golden light flared.
A single golden eye opened upon Yuan's forehead.
Kagami felt a chill run down his spine.
A beam of golden light shot forth, landing upon the Caged Bird Seal.
In Yuan's mind—
A three-dimensional projection of Kagami's brain appeared.
Azure lines illuminated, weaving into an impossibly complex spatial seal.
The Caged Bird.
It was fused intricately with neural pathways.
Moments later—
The golden eye closed.
The towering chakra avatar dissipated.
Yuan exhaled slowly.
"No wonder it's called the most difficult seal to break. It's nearly integrated into the brain itself."
He looked at Kagami steadily.
"But there is no seal without a flaw."
"I will find a way to break it."
Kagami nodded solemnly.
"I believe you."
Meanwhile — Senju Residence
The gathering had ended.
The hall was quiet.
Senju Yuki sat alone beneath moonlight, a cup of tea before her.
Footsteps approached.
Gen entered.
"Did you escort Izumi home?"
"Yes. To the gates of the Uchiha compound."
He paused, noticing something.
"Big sis… what are you thinking about?"
Before Yuki lay two glass vials filled with pale azure liquid.
They were left behind by Yuan before his departure.
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