Tick. Tock.
The steady sound of a clock echoed in Akira's ears.
Time passed slowly.
When the door to his home finally opened, two Hyūga clan members stood outside.
"Hyūga Akira," the woman in front said coldly. "The main house summons you. Come with us."
Akira slowly opened his eyes and rose from the cushion.
"Let's go."
The main house's precious heir had been hurt—he'd known they wouldn't take long.
As Akira stepped outside, the two flanked him, one in front and one behind, as if escorting a criminal.
Well—
To the main house, that was exactly what he was.
Branch family members along the way couldn't help but look over.
Those who recognized him whispered.
"What happened to Akira?"
"Didn't he just become a ninja?"
"They're heading to the council hall…"
The murmurs gradually died down as people realized what this meant.
Some looked worried.
Akira was a rare talent among the branch family—and he treated fellow branch members warmly.
Many were familiar with him.
Of course, the real reason he'd been so friendly back then was simple—he'd been testing whether a quest system existed.
No quests.
But the goodwill he'd farmed was considerable.
Still, this involved the main house.
No one dared interfere.
Akira didn't expect anyone to.
His current ninja status was his shield.
As long as he wasn't killed or crippled, he truly wasn't afraid.
If the Hyūga clan really wanted to risk Hokage-faction accountability just to kill him—
Then fine.
He'd see if this world had a revival mechanic.
The game he'd come from certainly did—just with a level penalty.
Besides, they wouldn't.
Not because they couldn't.
Because it wasn't worth it.
They brought him into the council hall.
Calling it a "hall" was generous—it was a tatami room.
Four elderly men knelt on cushions to either side.
At the head sat a middle-aged man who bore a strong resemblance to Hyūga Hiashi, facing Akira directly.
Akira glanced around.
Hiashi wasn't here.
But he recognized everyone present.
The Hyūga Main House Council.
There were five main-house lineages in total, each responsible for different aspects of the clan.
The clan head's lineage—Hiashi's line—held overall authority.
The others were responsible for:
The Byakugan's preservation
The clan's final contingency measures
Private clan assets
Weapons and ninjutsu stockpiles
Aside from the clan head's line, the other four did not serve as Konoha ninja.
In fact, they lived even more restricted lives.
Unless absolutely necessary, they were never allowed to leave the village.
Their entire existence was confined to Konoha.
All to prevent the Byakugan from ever leaking outside.
In later generations, more main-house members would appear among Konoha's ninja ranks.
That wasn't because the Hyūga grew enlightened.
It was because they gradually lost autonomy under Hokage pressure.
Ironically—
Other clans' internal conflicts were usually caused by outsiders.
The Hyūga clan was different.
They crushed themselves.
The only ones truly free—
Were the clan head's lineage.
Which was why Hiashi's first mission outside the village after two years wasn't a restriction at all.
It was protection.
"Hyūga Akira!"
The elder on the left slammed his palm down. "Do you admit your wrongdoing?"
"What wrongdoing?" Akira asked calmly.
"Unrepentant," the elder on the right said coldly.
"You repeatedly insulted the young clan head," the left elder continued angrily,
"and even injured him without authorization. Do you deny this?"
Akira sneered.
"So the young clan head is that fragile? A few words and he breaks?"
"As for the injury—he attacked me first during the mission. Are ninjas not allowed to be hurt in battle?"
"You dare strike back when the young clan head attacks you?" another elder snapped.
"Have you forgotten you are branch family?!"
Akira's gaze sharpened.
"If he can't handle verbal conflict, and can't defeat a newly graduated ninja in combat—"
"Does Hyūga Hiashi truly deserve to be the clan's heir?"
One elder on the right suddenly turned the question on Hiashi instead.
"Branch family exists to protect the main house," the elder on the left countered.
"What does this have to do with Hiashi's competence?"
"Don't change the subject," the questioning elder pressed.
"Two years as a ninja—and he loses to a rookie. Shouldn't that be shameful?"
The middle-aged man at the head—the clan head—darkened visibly.
Hiashi was his son.
He spoke firmly.
"Elder Huangku, we are here to judge Hyūga Akira. A branch member has violated clan law."
Elder Huangku snorted and fell silent.
Akira understood.
Even within the main house, resentment simmered—
Especially toward the clan head's privileged lineage.
The clan head looked at Akira, who remained completely calm, as if the discussion had nothing to do with him.
His brows furrowed.
"Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Akira shrugged, mockery plain on his face.
"What's the point? I'm just branch family."
This was a formality.
Nothing more.
The clan head's voice turned icy.
"Hyūga Akira defied the main house and assaulted a main-house member.
He is to be confined for ten days as punishment."
Two figures appeared beside Akira, moving to seize him.
At that moment—
The door burst open.
Hyūga Hiashi rushed in and dropped to his knees beside Akira.
"Father!" he said urgently.
"It was only a verbal conflict. This punishment is too severe!"
Ten days of confinement wasn't just imprisonment.
It was the Hyūga clan's black chamber—designed for psychological torment.
No food. No water.
Only a ninja could survive ten days.
And even then, hunger would carve into the mind.
A fleeting trace of approval crossed the clan head's face—gone in an instant.
Akira's lips curled slightly.
If he didn't have to be locked up, all the better.
He still needed experience.
The elders fell silent.
All eyes turned to the clan head.
He spoke heavily.
"Clan law cannot be abolished."
Hiashi pressed on.
"Akira is a member of my squad. Without him, we can't carry out missions.
I ask that you forgive his disrespect."
Akira sighed inwardly.
Power decided everything.
One day—
When he was strong enough—
He would make them understand.
If their roles were reversed—
They would learn what cruelty truly meant.