New Konoha, Uchiha Clan Compound.
Lord Jin's estate.
Even though it was already deep into the night, Uchiha Jin still received Hyuga Hiashi.
The reason? Simple.
Although the Hyuga Clan is currently a sorry sight, its potential is still solid—after all, they're descendants of Hamura Ōtsutsuki.
"Hiashi, welcome aboard."
"But my terms remain non-negotiable. New Konoha refuses to meddle in the internal affairs of the clans, yet the Hyuga's Bird in a Cage is utterly repulsive."
"It must be abolished—no room for discussion."
Uchiha Jin spoke with absolute gravity.
He wasted no words, stating his bottom line outright.
Right now, he alone embodies the greater good.
He never forced the Hyuga to join New Konoha; the decision was entirely theirs.
Likewise,
this was precisely why he chose to build New Konoha. Had he simply seized power in Old Konoha, he would have inherited every mess left by the previous Hokage. Starting fresh let him write his own rules.
"I understand."
"Since we've chosen to join New Konoha, the Hyuga will comply."
"Still, I must ask: why is Lord Jin so harsh toward the Hyuga alone?"
Hyuga Hiashi nodded.
Having cast his lot with New Konoha, he had long braced himself for this.
Yet
he still couldn't grasp why Jin was doing this.
New Konoha had stood for two years; even civilians knew its stance, let alone the Hyuga.
He was keenly aware that the Village supported the clans and otherwise left them alone.
But, inexplicably, Jin treated the Hyuga with severity.
Why?
Had Jin been a branch-house Hyuga, it would make sense—but the man was an Uchiwa. Why single them out?
Meanwhile,
seeing Hiashi merely question without resisting the rule, Jin admired his own wisdom; had he taken power by force, subduing the Hyuga would never have been this smooth.
Setting down his teacup, Jin pondered briefly.
After a moment's thought he answered plainly, without evasion.
"Because the Hyuga's potential is immense."
"Enemies of the Village will be formidable; I must prepare in advance, and the Hyuga are one of my pieces."
"Back in the Sengoku era your clan, though slightly behind the Uchiha and Senju, still topped the second tier."
"Have you ever considered when the Hyuga began to decline?"
"I'll tell you outright: it began with the creation of the Bird in a Cage. It protected the Byakugan bloodline, yes, but it also strangled the clan's growth."
"Now it's merely a tool for the main house to rule the branch houses. Under such a system, why would branch members strive to grow stronger?"
"Your clan may still produce geniuses, yet the sealing technique clips their wings,"
"and in the end they fade into mediocrity."
"Thus the Hyuga have grown ever more decayed."
"While the Byakugan bloodline appears preserved, the clan has lost all right to climb higher."
"Fortunately we live in the era of hidden Villages, where the basic abilities of the Byakugan still matter; otherwise your clan would have been wiped out long ago."
"But now things are different."
"Since you've chosen to join New Konoha, I wish for true geniuses to emerge among you, adding more chips to my future plans."
Jin hid nothing.
He couldn't reveal the full truth, but a veiled reminder cost him nothing.
The Hyuga, as Hamura's descendants, would surely have produced a Tenseigan or two by now were it not for that absurd cage.
By contrast,
why does the Uchiha remain so strong, every generation yielding powerhouses?
Because they have no Bird in a Cage. Though many die each era in brutal struggle, such crucibles forge true strength.
Meanwhile,
hearing Jin's words, Hiashi stood stunned.
He had imagined countless possibilities—yet never this one.
All this… merely to birth more Hyuga elites?
And the Village would face some great foe?
A threat so dire that even Jin must prepare far in advance, to the point of cultivating the Hyuga?
Of course,
such matters were distant; if a storm came, Jin would be the lightning rod.
So
what occupied him now was Jin's assessment of the Hyuga.
Yet, moments later,
he had to admit Jin was right.
The Bird in a Cage, while protecting the Byakugan, had stunted the clan's growth; the main house's absolute control left the Hyuga stagnant and rotten.
Even if the branch houses couldn't rebel, they could still choose to coast.
Realizing this, Hiashi gave a bitter smile.
His fists clenched, he trembled slightly.
After a long silence he asked solemnly, "Lord Jin, what future do you envision for the Hyuga?"
"Let nature take its course," Jin replied calmly. "Let each person choose."
"Clansmen willing to brave hardship and risk assassination by enemies need not be branded with the cage."
"But if they die, they can only blame their own weakness."
"Those who fear death may accept the seal."
"Yet every member must be told: the cage may protect, but it will also suppress their bloodline, ensuring they can never become truly strong."
"Give the choice to each individual, and let them decide."
"Of course, the control scripts inside the Bird in a Cage must be removed; only the core remains—destroying the Byakugan upon death."
Hearing Jin's plan, Hiashi frowned, his mind racing.
In the end
he had to concede: this was indeed the best arrangement possible.
Complete freedom—and each bears the consequences of life or death.