"Hizashi Hyūga, as a Branch House member, haven't you ever questioned whether the Caged Bird Seal is an unjust existence?" Chonghuo Hyūga said.
"You're the Clan Leader's son, yet because you were born just moments later, you were branded with the Caged Bird Seal. Don't you feel any pain?"
"Your talent is clearly far superior to your older brother Hiashi Hyūga. Everyone acknowledges this."
Chonghuo's words struck like daggers to Hizashi's heart.
Didn't he himself, as the Clan Leader's son, understand this all too well?
Of course he did.
Just for being born slightly later, he had been marked with the Caged Bird Seal and condemned to serve the Main House with his life.
He was clearly the more talented one, yet his father had never acknowledged him, going so far as to ruthlessly suppress him for his elder brother's sake.
Still, Hizashi believed that Satori Hyūga's actions were wrong and posed a threat to the Hyūga Clan.
Satori Hyūga said, "The Caged Bird Seal exists to protect the Byakugan and the Main House members. It is a jutsu passed down since the Warring States period. How could it possibly be wrong?"
"If not for the protection of the Caged Bird Seal, Branch House members would suffer far worse fates."
"As soon as we step outside the village, we'd become targets for capture by rival villages and ninja—our Byakugans gouged out, with consequences too obvious to imagine."
These were the very words his father had often whispered in his ear, and they formed the doctrine widely accepted within the clan.
Hizashi had always believed them to be truth, using them to comfort himself.
With this belief, he managed to suppress the growing resentment within him.
"The Caged Bird Seal is both a restraint and a protection, warding off countless would-be attackers."
"Lord Satori, your actions will make every Hyūga Clan member a target for capture by other Hidden Villages and ninja."
There was some validity to Hizashi's words, but they conflicted with Satori's interests—and equally with the desires of other Branch House members.
Therefore, the crowd showed little reaction.
Seeing Hizashi's stubbornness, Chonghuo's eyes flickered with cold murderous intent.
He turned toward Satori and requested, "Lord Satori, Hizashi Hyūga refuses to change his ways. Should I... eliminate him?"
Chonghuo mimed slicing his throat.
Satori shook his head, disagreeing.
Although Hizashi was a Branch House member with significantly lower status, he was still the biological son of the Clan Leader.
If he were to die mysteriously within the clan, it wouldn't be a small matter.
Investigations afterward could lead to unpredictable troubles.
When Hizashi saw Chonghuo's gesture, his pupils constricted and he instinctively took several steps back.
Looking at him, Satori smiled slightly and said, "Hizashi Hyūga, you needn't worry too much. If I'd wanted you dead, you wouldn't be standing here now."
Seeing doubt on Hizashi's face, Satori continued calmly, "After all, I'm a Main House member who has mastered the activation of the Caged Bird Seal. With a single thought from me, I could make you wish you were dead."
Hizashi's face paled, his heart dropping like a stone into an abyss.
He looked at Satori Hyūga, whose warm and amiable expression masked his true intentions, passionately proclaiming the need to reform the Hyūga clan and grant dignity to the Branch House. For a moment, he nearly forgot that Satori was a Main House member himself.
A wave of regret washed over him—why had he stepped forward?
Now it seemed like he might not even make it out alive.
At this point, he could only hope his father and elder brother would see through Satori's schemes and ambitions.
"Hizashi, honestly, I quite like you. If you're willing to join us, we'll make sure everything works out."
Satori approached slowly, yet each step brought immense pressure upon Hizashi Hyūga.
"Don't be on edge. I said I wouldn't hurt you, and I won't. I just want to talk with you about the Caged Bird Seal."
"You claim the Caged Bird Seal exists to protect the Byakugan—but then why create a distinction between Main House and Branch House?"
Hizashi replied, "The existence of the Main House naturally has its reasons. It's meant to safeguard the Byakugan and our clan, ensuring our family thrives for generations."
"Oh really?" Satori stretched his tone slightly, offering Hizashi a faint smile.
"But have most Main House members truly fulfilled that duty? Is the use of the Caged Bird Seal really for the sake of the clan, or is it just protecting personal interests?"
"As the son of the clan head, you should've seen more of the darkness within our family."
Hizashi fell silent. Naturally, he knew far more than the average Branch House member.
Corruption and rot festered within the Hyūga household.
Many Main House members used their status to oppress Branch House members, plundering their wealth with impunity.
And those daring to resist were quietly erased by the clan.
He had personally witnessed Branch House members challenging the elders and the clan head—yet they either suffered endless torment or simply vanished without a trace.
The clan was like a monstrous beast, devouring lives without mercy and draining the very vitality from its own bloodline.
Seeing Hizashi speechless, Satori continued:
"Even you, as the clan leader's son, have endured your share of injustice. Imagine how much worse it must be for ordinary Branch House members."
"Think about it—can you endure such shame and pain yourself? What about when your son is born? Your grandson? They too would live under the Main House's yoke, trembling daily, afraid to even breathe wrong around them."
"Think about it. Is such a clan really worthy of existing? Is the Caged Bird Seal really worth preserving?"
Hizashi swayed slightly, letting Satori's words take root.
He could endure shame now—but what of his children? Would they face the same fate?
"But without the Caged Bird Seal, how are we supposed to protect our precious Byakugan?"
Hizashi pressed a hand to his eyes, the Byakugan bringing both honor and shame upon him.
"Without the protection of the Caged Bird Seal, we'd be completely powerless to defend ourselves."
At this, Satori let out a loud laugh, gazing at Hizashi with pride.
"Is the prestigious Hyūga clan of Konoha truly so fragile?"
"Let alone others, consider the Uchiha clan—they wield the Sharingan, another dojutsu. Have they ever worried about someone coveting their eyes?"
"They aren't afraid just because they're powerful. Anyone who dares to covet the Sharingan ends up hunted down and killed."
"If the Uchiha clan can do it, why not the Hyūga? Don't we have the strength or capability?"
As is well known, both the Sharingan and Byakugan are among the Three Great Dojutsu.
The Sharingan possesses tremendous power and abilities, allowing vision beyond normal limits, copying techniques, and creating genjutsu.
Although there are drawbacks—such as being unable to close one's eyes after transplantation and high chakra consumption—many still desire it.
Even Kakashi, the elite Jonin known as the "Copy Ninja" in the original series, earned his title solely through the Sharingan.
So why did no one dare covet or scheme for the Sharingan until the Uchiha clan fell?
Because everyone who ever set their sights on the Sharingan ended up dead.
Of course, Satori was only speaking figuratively.
Satori fully understood that the Hyūga clan's combat endurance was definitely no match for the Uchiha clan's.
He patted Hizashi's shoulder and said, "I'm not suggesting we should match the Uchiha clan. I'm just trying to say one thing—the Caged Bird Seal doesn't have to exist."
"At least in my opinion, the Main House punishing Branch House members shouldn't even be a thing."
"Why not treat the Caged Bird Seal like a vaccine—keeping only its ability to protect the Byakugan?"
In Satori's view, limiting the seal to activate only upon removal of the eyes or at death sounded reasonable enough."
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