Snow drifted gently from the sky, wrapping Konoha in a quiet white veil.
Within the Hyūga compound, the branch family residences sat along the outer edge, their placement forming a clear ring around the main house at the center. The layout alone said everything about the clan's internal order.
Inside one of the wooden homes, steam rose softly from a teapot.
Hyūga Hizashi poured the tea with deliberate care. His posture was straight, his movements precise, every gesture shaped by generations of rigid discipline.
"Please," he said, setting the cup forward.
Uchiha Yoru smiled faintly. Though he had come with a purpose, etiquette mattered. Courtesy between great clans was not optional.
"Thank you," Yoru replied, lifting his cup in return.
They sat in silence, watching the snow fall beyond the open doorway while savoring the warmth of the tea. For a moment, it truly felt like nothing more than a quiet visit.
Yoru closed his eyes slightly after a sip."Your tea is excellent, Hizashi-san. Refined."
"You flatter me," Hizashi answered evenly.
Their exchange was flawless. Polite. Distant. Every word measured, as though both men were representatives rather than individuals.
Several cups later, the atmosphere remained calm.
But Yoru had no intention of lingering.
A year had passed since the Nine-Tails disaster. Itachi was already six, nearing seven. And Yoru remembered exactly when the Hyūga incident would occur. When it did, Konoha would be shaken badly enough for the Cloud to make its move.
Such instability required something extreme.
Something like Orochimaru's defection.
"Your son," Yoru said casually, setting his cup down. "How old is he now?"
Hizashi's expression did not change."Neji will turn four after the New Year."
"Four already," Yoru said lightly. Then, just as calmly, he continued,"The main house heir will be three, won't he? Orochimaru-sensei mentioned he was curious about the branch family's seal. The Caged Bird."
The world tilted.
Hizashi's hand trembled. Tea spilled over the rim before he noticed. He froze, then quickly wiped the table, forcing his breathing steady.
"My apologies," he said stiffly. "That was careless."
"You're too polite," Yoru replied smoothly. "I'm the one intruding."
Outwardly, the calm returned.
Inwardly, Hizashi's thoughts were in chaos.
Three years old.
When the main house heir reached three, Neji would be marked.
No matter how deeply he buried that resentment, no matter how carefully he hid it behind obedience and tradition, the words Caged Bird tore it back open.
And the name that triggered it was Orochimaru.
One of the Sannin. A genius without equal in forbidden research. A man who ignored boundaries others dared not cross.
What if he really could…
Hizashi gripped his teacup, unaware his hand was shaking. The tea tasted bitter now.
The images came unbidden. Branch members screaming in agony. Bowing, broken, stripped of dignity in front of the main house.
Then Neji's face appeared in his mind. Small. Smiling.
The cup slipped from his fingers and shattered against the floor.
"I've been rude again," Hizashi said quickly, standing and bowing, sweat beading on his brow.
Yoru rose as well, returning the bow with perfect courtesy."I should be the one apologizing."
He turned to leave.
Hizashi hesitated, half-reaching out, but stopped. There were no words he could safely say.
At the doorway, Yoru paused and glanced back with a mild, knowing smile.
"Hizashi-san," he said softly, "a cage can't be escaped unless you understand how it's built. Sometimes, you have to see the door yourself."
Hizashi's breath caught.
"One more thing," Yoru added, as he slipped on his sandals. "Orochimaru-sensei's research is… expensive. And today, many eyes were watching."
With that, he bowed once more.
"Thank you for the tea. I'll take my leave."
Snow swallowed Yoru's retreating figure.
Hizashi stood frozen, expression unreadable.
"Father?"
A small voice broke the silence.
Hizashi turned sharply. Neji stood there, looking up at him with concern.
For a moment, Hizashi could not speak.
The thought Yoru had planted took root and spread, unstoppable.