The Caged Bird Seal and Hanabi

The Hyuga Clan Compound is unusually lively tonight, all because a trial is taking place here.

The cause was the Chunin Ninja Exams the day.

Hinata Hyuga, the legitimate daughter of the head of the Main Family and a promising heir to the Hyuga Clan, was severely injured by a ninja from the Branch Family. This was an absolutely unforgivable act in the hierarchical Hyuga Clan.

Even if one of them is the child of Hizashi Hyuga, the younger brother of Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the main Branch Family Main Family.

Because of the complexity of the identities of both parties, this trial attracted the attention of everyone in the Main Family and the Branch Family, and almost all the powerful figures were present.

Given the Hyuga Clan's current state of affairs, if someone were to destroy this place in one strike, the Hyuga Clan would likely be nearly wiped out.

In the Hyuga Shrine, the flickering candlelight made the solemn and sacred place feel even more oppressive, with only the family crests adorning the walls emitting a ghostly glow like flames.

Led by Hyuga Hiashi, the members of the Hyuga Main Family and Branch Family arrived at this ancient building with solemn expressions.

At the command of the head of the Main Family, the members of the Hyuga Clan sat down on either side, clearly separated from each other.

Under the dim yellow light, nearly a hundred black-haired, cold-faced men sat silently like soulless puppets, making the whole scene incredibly eerie.

"The Hyuga Clan has so few deformed individuals!"

The black snake, standing in a corner of the shrine's corridor, gazed at the Hyuga clan members, who almost all wore the same face, and uttered this sigh, "Perhaps it's because their minds are too stable that the Byakugan has such difficulty in achieving the conditions for evolution like the Sharingan!"

"Neji Hyuga!"

Seeing that the clan chief had not given any instructions, an old man with white hair and beard spoke first. However, his condescending tone, as if judging a criminal, revealed his status as an elder of the Main Family.

The indifferent, Byakugan young man stood alone in the center of the hall. His solitary posture, in the eyes of the Branch Family, resembled that of a wizard being judged by the papacy in the Middle Ages, a tragic sight.

Neji Hyuga heard the elder's stern shout, he merely raised his head slightly and stared directly at the old man without lowering his head.

The young man's cold and sharp gaze deeply stung the old man, who slammed his hand on the chair and abruptly stood up.

"Neji Hyuga, do you still remember your responsibilities as a member of the Branch Family?"

Neji Hyuga remained silent for a long time, the words his deceased father had carefully instilled in him flooding his mind. Of course, what he found even more unforgettable was his father's secret guilt and sigh when he saw the Cursed Seal solidified on his forehead.

He then gathered his thoughts, and the words, almost instinctively etched into his being, flowed from his lips.

"To protect Hinata, the head of the Main Family, and to defend the honor of the Hinata Hyuga Clan lives."

Unexpectedly Neji's fluent words only enraged the old man further. "You, you actually know that!"

"As a member of the Branch Family, how dare you attack the Main Family and even attempt to kill the patriarch's eldest daughter! You deserve to experience what it's like to be Caged Bird Seal!"

"Ban!"

The old man gave a soft shout and formed a hand seal with one hand.

Almost simultaneously, Neji Hyuga felt his Byakugan immediately sealed, and at that moment, the Cursed Seal that was not covered by the ninja Forehead Protector also flashed with a blue light.

As the Caged Bird Seal Cursed Seal was activated, Neji Hyuga collapsed to his knees in agony, clutching his head with both hands. The veins all over his body bulged, and the throbbing blood vessels were a dark red.

The excruciating pain, like being cut by knives and pierced by needles, emanated from the depths of his soul, turning his face as pale as paper, with large beads of sweat constantly rolling down his cheeks.

The stubborn boy clenched his teeth tightly, refusing to open his mouth and utter a single cry of pain or plead for mercy, even as his lips bled crimson.

However, Neji's attitude only fueled the old man's anger. His eyes swept over all the Branch Family, and he tightened the grip on the Caged Bird Seal.

As the blue light from the Cursed Seal on his forehead grew even brighter, his eyes seemed to pop out of their sockets. Even Neji couldn't help but roll on the ground, his mournful howls reaching the ears of everyone present.

Almost all the members of the Branch Family looked at the tormented boy, their eyes flashing with empathy and fear, but deep down, a burning rage was raging.

"Neji- nii!"

In the corridor of the shrine's main hall, a little girl, only a few years old, stood quietly, watching Neji Hyuga tumbling around, a fleeting look of pity in her eyes.

"Miss Hanabi! This is not a place for you!"

A girl dressed as a maid approached the little girl, looking at her with a hint of nervousness, as if afraid that the scene in the room would frighten the young lady.

Unlike her timid older sister, Hinata Hanabi Hyuga her side, she suppressed the worry on her face and instead showed a bright smile.

"Sister Xia, I'm just here to find friends!"

As they were talking, the little girl picked up the small black snake under the eaves and showed it to the girl as if to show it off.

The little girl's actions startled the young woman; after all, what young lady would consider a snake her friend?

"Friend? How come I didn't know you kept a snake, Ms. Hanabi? That's too dangerous!"

The maid named Natsu Hyuga asked a stammering question, but her body trembled as she took a step back in fear.

Upon hearing the girl's words, the black snake stuck out its tongue in dissatisfaction, only to be stroked by the fearless little girl the next moment.

"Sister Xia, don't worry about me. Go and take care of your sister. I'll be back in a little while."

Natsu Hyuga hesitated for a moment but then listened to Hanabi Hyuga's words, telling her not to run around before hurriedly returning to the inner quarters.

At that moment, a cold command was issued from inside the room.

"Enough, Sōja!"

Hyuga Hiashi, let out a sharp shout, stopping the old man from Neji Hyuga.

The old man glared at Neji unwillingly, but the patriarch's order still made him stop the hand seals used to activate the Caged Bird Seal.

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes swept over the expressions of everyone present, and he finally put on a stern face.

"Under no circumstances will Branch Family member offend the Main Family; this is an ironclad rule of the Hyuga Clan!"

"Today I will forgive that idiot Neji Hyuga, but only for today. Everyone, never forget the destiny of the Branch Family!"

As soon as Hyuga Hiashi finished speaking, it immediately aroused the dissatisfaction of many Main Family. Several elders, relying on their seniority, even stood up and criticized Hiashi in his punishment.

The Main Family's determination to pursue the eldest son of the Branch Family head finally provoked the discontent of the Branch Family ninjas who had been patiently enduring the situation.

For a time, the entire shrine was filled with noise, which even Hyuga Hiashi found difficult to quell.

"Actually, this isn't the first time I've seen Caged Bird Seal like this!"

Hyuga Hikaru, quietly holding the black snake, stood in the corridor, murmuring Hanabi Hyuga. The black snake could even feel the little girl's trembling as she spoke.

"They are clearly relatives of the same clan, yet they have become like this. How ironic!"

"That's right, in this respect, they are far inferior to the Uchiha Clan!"

The black snake in Hanabi Hyuga's arms nodded in agreement, but the sound made the little girl freeze.