The Core of the Caged Bird

"What experiment are you conducting now? It made such a commotion—aren't you afraid someone will notice?"

Faced with Hizashi's complaint, Menma explained, "I can't help it. The quality of this equipment is too poor. I've already done my best to keep things safe."

As he spoke, he took a Sealing Scroll from his clothes, spread it open on the ground, and formed hand seals with both hands.

Bang!

After a cloud of white smoke dispersed, several expensive research instruments appeared on the spot once more.

However, these instruments were all relatively small, which was why they could fit inside a scroll.

As for the larger equipment...

"This is already the third time you've replaced your equipment this month!"

Hearing his explanation, Hizashi looked troubled as well.

Menma scratched his head, then raised his left hand and placed it against Hizashi's forehead.

"In that case, let me show you the results of my research over this period."

"What?"

Before Hizashi could say anything, a sudden tremor surged through his heart.

Menma formed a hand seal with one hand, and a familiar fluctuation radiated from his body.

He had used the Caged Bird Curse Mark on Hizashi again.

"You...!"

Hizashi instinctively shut his eyes. His body trembled violently, and his features twisted at once.

But unlike last time, the pain never came.

"How is that possible?!"

The Caged Bird Curse Mark had actually failed to activate?!

Realizing this, Hizashi abruptly opened his eyes, his face filled with disbelief.

How long had it been? Had the man before him already broken the Caged Bird Curse Mark?!

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

Menma picked up a mirror from nearby and handed it to Hizashi, shattering his fantasy.

"I only used a special method to temporarily block your Caged Bird Curse Mark. After an hour, it will still take effect as usual."

Despite what he said, Hizashi stared blankly at the smooth forehead reflected in the mirror.

When he came back to his senses, the veins around his eyes bulged.

"Byakugan! Activate!!"

It was gone...

That sliver of blind spot was gone?!!

"Enough!! This is enough! Hahaha!!"

Was this what freedom felt like?

To go where his heart desired, to act as he pleased—free and unfettered. This was what he had always longed for!

The joy made Hizashi completely lose the composure he had always maintained. He threw back his head and laughed wildly, his laughter utterly unrestrained and crazed.

Tears even welled up at the corners of his eyes from laughing.

Watching his loss of composure, Menma's lips curled up slightly.

A bird that had once lost its freedom had now regained it.

Having experienced the vast sky, how could it willingly return to a cramped cage?

"When a ship is in danger of sinking, and external or internal forces scuttle it completely, leaving everyone stripped of all their possessions with only their bare lives remaining, people often unite, cast aside all status and selfish desires, and save themselves."

That was the Sunken Ship Effect Menma wanted.

There was no need for brainwashing, no need for curse marks, no need for any means of control at all. It would be enough to make every member of the Branch Family devote themselves wholeheartedly.

"According to my research, there seems to be a core connecting the recipients and users of the Caged Bird Curse Mark—a relay, in other words."

Menma said meaningfully, "If we can figure out what that relay is, perhaps we'll find a way to free every bird trapped in a cage."

Hizashi grinned. Combined with the bulging veins on his face, he looked even more sinister.

Without the slightest hesitation, he asked decisively, "What do you need?!"

"I need the Hyuga Clan's family genealogy, as well as ancient texts concerning the Caged Bird."

"...What?"

Hearing Menma's words, Hizashi looked as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over him, his expression going blank.

The Hyuga Clan's ancient texts concerning the Caged Bird...

Those texts were kept in the Hyuga Forbidden Ground alongside the clan's secret records and rare treasures, guarded by the Main Family generation after generation.

The Forbidden Ground was patrolled every day, and a Main House Elder with the strength of an Elite Jonin stood guard day and night.

Breaking into the Forbidden Ground was something that had never happened in the Hyuga Clan for nearly a century.

It was absolutely impossible to enter the Forbidden Ground without anyone noticing!

Seeing the struggle in Hizashi's eyes, Menma continued to tempt him. "I can guarantee that the secret of the Caged Bird is in the ancient texts."

Huff!

Hizashi's gaze shifted uncertainly. At last, he gritted his teeth. "Give me a little more time. Just a little more time, and I'll find a way to steal the ancient texts!"

"Then, I wish you success."

After saying that, Menma did not speak with him further.

Instead, he turned around, neatly arranged the various research instruments, and began a new experiment.

At the same time, that ugly Caged Bird mark emerged on Hizashi's forehead once more.

And in his originally flawless 360-degree Byakugan vision, a blind spot spread out again from a tiny point directly behind his first thoracic vertebra.

The joy on Hizashi's face instantly froze, and a trace of ferocity flashed through his eyes.

Having something he once possessed, regaining it after losing it, only to lose it again—it was an unbearably painful feeling.

"I'll find a way! I'll also find a way to get more advanced research equipment!"

With that, Hizashi turned and headed toward the exit.

Under the shadow covering Menma's face, a smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"To the Branch Family, freedom is like opium. Once they have tasted it, they can never let it go."

This time, Menma only took out the container holding Naruto's blood and placed it into the instrument for testing.

Yet when he saw the data displayed on the machine, he was slightly taken aback as well.

"Damn, Naruto's cell activity is increasing way too fast. It's only been a few days, and it's doubled again? Is this the true value of the Uzumaki Clan?"

No.

Menma suddenly shook his head.

He himself was an Uzumaki Clan member.

But at most, his vitality was somewhat stronger. He did not possess such freakish cell activity.

"It should be the combined effect of the Uzumaki bloodline, Asura Chakra, and Nine Tails Chakra."

Menma suddenly thought of something. Rubbing his chin, he muttered, "But if Naruto's cells are already this monstrous, wouldn't Hashirama Cells be even more outrageous?"

"Seems the Senju Clan's thin bloodline alone isn't enough. I need Uchiha Clan corpses and Hashirama Cells."

At that thought, Menma's eyes narrowed slightly.

The Uchiha Clan, and Hashirama Cells...

It was now Year 55 of Konoha.

When had that Shisui bastard died again?

That Mangekyō Sharingan with the "Strongest Genjutsu" seemed worth planning for.

And that Danzo bastard—he had not contacted him since the Cloud Village incident.

He should still be frantically searching for my whereabouts, right?

"When the time comes, I'll pay our Lord Danzo a visit. I'm sure Lord Danzo won't mind if I take one of his arms."

Oh, right. If Shisui's death was approaching, then the Night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre did not seem far off either.

Itachi Uchiha, and that Obito Uchiha...

Using the Infinite Tsukuyomi to make the entire world sink into a false, beautiful illusion?

Bang!

His thoughts drifted nonstop, causing him to accidentally add too much reagent. The test tube in his hand instantly exploded.

He tossed the test tube into the trash can. With his eyes lowered, Menma chuckled softly.

"Really, fate just doesn't agree with me, little Obito."

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