Joining Iwagakure

Yichen continued, "Aside from this, Hyuga Hiashi never considered why he could inherit the Main Family, or why he could arbitrarily decide who would be the next head of the Main Family."

Neji was taken aback. Back in the Hyuga Clan, he had heard the branch family members mention more than once that his father became a branch family member because he was born a little later than his uncle.

Previously Neji only felt regret about his father's birth time. Now, after hearing Yichen's words, an uncontrollable thought arose: Yes, why?

Why is my uncle Main Family? Why isn't my father a Main Family? Why can't children from other branches of the family be members of the Main Family?

"This is the biggest mistake of the Hyuga Main Family and branch family system. The descendants of the Main Family will always be the Main Family, and that is unfair. That is the real source of your resentment."

"If the Main Family's choice isn't based on who the father is, or who was born first, but on fair competition, would you still harbor resentment after the division of the family?"

"If every generation of the Hyuga Clan children underwent a talent test, and the strongest one became the Main Family, would you branch family members still harbor such hatred?"

"Just like choosing the Hokage, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, made a name for himself with the Flying Thunder God Minato Namikaze, so he was the Hokage. Which other ninja hated the Hyuga Branch Family as much as you did?"

Like Qingtian, Neji almost fell to the ground, but fortunately he had already started training and managed to brace himself with his hand.

"Yes, why is he the head of the Main Family, and why can't I be the Main Family?" Neji muttered to himself.

He had seen regret in his father's eyes more than once, and he had heard his father say more than once, "With your talent, it would have been better if you had been born into the Main Family."

If the Main Family's choice was based on talent, and if his father was not as good as his uncle, Neji wouldn't be so upset.

If his cousin Hinata Hyuga's talent surpasses his, then why would he complain about having to protect the Main Family for the rest of his life?

After a long while, Neji finally recovered from his excitement. He said wearily, "Lord Tsuchikage, I understand. I understand why I was unwilling. I understand the source of the grievances in the hearts of us branch families."

After he Neji speaking, Neji's spirits seemed to wane considerably.

But Yichen's brainwashing wasn't over yet. He said, "You think that's all?"

Neji was stunned; he really thought he understood everything.

"You've never understood one thing: Caged Bird actually serve two purposes: first, to protect their Byakugan, and second, to enslave those who want to leave the family."

"Protecting the Byakugan is a good thing, but why enslave the branch family?"

"After your children are born into the divided family, they're treated like Caged Bird. Why should they Main Family and listen to the Main Family in everything?"

"Can't you, who have been subjected to the Caged Bird, live in various corners of Konoha just like ordinary civilians and ninjas?"

"If we don't treat the Main Family masters, will we lose our Byakugan? If we don't become slaves to the Main Family, will we be targeted by enemy countries? If we don't suffer the punishment of the Caged Bird Cursed Seal, will the Hyuga Clan and Konoha suffer any loss?"

"The Caged Bird is sufficient to protect the Byakugan; it can completely limit the branch family's ability to punish them. Why doesn't the Konoha High-ranking officials restrict the Main Family's right to use the Cursed Seal?"

"This is the most inhumane mistake of your Main Family and branch family system."

After hearing Neji, Neji couldn't help but tremble. Yes, they kept saying they would protect the Byakugan, but what they did was enslave the branch family. They kept talking about the Will of Fire, but they never considered the feelings of the branch family.

Thump~

Neji hold on and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Seeing this, Yichen nodded in satisfaction. "That's more like it. How could I, a dignified Tsuchikage, not even be able to change the mindset of a little brat like you?"

In the distance, Uzumaki Riori, who was desperately practicing the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, heard the commotion, glanced curiously in this direction, and was then greatly surprised, so she quickly ran over.

"Teacher Yichen, what happened to Neji?" Uzumaki Riori asked anxiously.

Yichen wanted to say that his worldview had been shattered, he couldn't bear the blow, and he fainted.

"He was thinking of his father and was so upset that he fainted. Please take good care of him." After saying that, Yichen summoned the Medical Ninja.

Yichen couldn't possibly entrust the task of taking care of Neji to Uzumaki Riori; otherwise, Neji, who had finally been brainwashed by him, might never wake up again.

Neji was unconscious for quite some time this time, during which he also developed a high fever and became seriously ill.

He's still just a child, and the emotional impact he suffered was too great.

However, the Medical Ninja said that Neji was just mentally exhausted and would be fine after a few days of rest.

When Neji recovered, he was already at the Iwagakure hospital. Seeing Uzumaki Riori sleeping soundly beside his bed, Neji was somewhat moved.

When he had a fever and was delirious, he woke up several times in a daze, and each time the first person he saw was Uzumaki Riori. This shows that Uzumaki Riori had been by his side these past few days.

Hearing Neji's movement, Uzumaki Riori rubbed her eyes and woke up.

"Neji, you're awake again!" Uzumaki Riori shouted happily.

Hearing the commotion, a masked ninja came in, glanced at the scene, and then quickly left.

A moment later, the Anbu entered with a Medical Ninja.

The Medical Ninja examined Neji and then happily told Uzumaki Riori and the Anbu, "Neji. He can be discharged after two more days of rest in the hospital."

Uzumaki Riori was overjoyed and said, "Neji, that's great! Get well soon! I can't wait to take you to see the village. It's been so long since I've fought those guys!"

Neji:...

A while later, Yichen, who had received a report from the Anbu, also arrived at the hospital.

Upon seeing Yichen's arrival, Neji. He first bowed slightly to Yichen, then said, "Lord Tsuchikage, I, Neji Hyuga, request to join Iwagakure. I am willing to become an Iwa ninja and fight for the village."

"When I have the strength in the future, I will change the Hyuga Clan, and I will correct the mistakes of Konoha and the Main Family."

Yichen smiled slightly, "Very good, very good."

The first point is very good because it addresses Neji's attitude towards Iwagakure; joining voluntarily and joining passively are different.

Especially for such geniuses, if they harbor resentment, they might turn around and retaliate against Iwagakure.

The second good point is about Neji's talent. Neji's serious illness made him a true ninja in terms of mentality. That's what makes a genius.

In the original story, Itachi Uchiha achieved this at the age of three because he witnessed the cruelty of the Ninja World at the end of the Third Shinobi War.

Yichen accomplished this when he was attacked by an intelligence ninja from Kirigakure while studying at the Ninja Academy.

Neji achieved this at the age of two, living up to Yichen's high expectations; he truly is a top-tier genius.

"Focus on recovering first. Once you're healed, I can give you a few options regarding your accommodation: First, you can live alone. I'll arrange a small house for you. Don't worry, it won't be as big as the Hyuga Clan's, but you won't be shortchanged."

"Secondly, you can live with Sokai Uchiha of the Uchiha Clan in the home of our Third Tsuchikage."

"Uchiha?" Neji asked, puzzled. Although he was only two years old, as a member of Konoha, he knew about the Uchiha. He didn't understand why there were still Uchiha clan member in Iwagakure.

Yichen, knowing Neji's thoughts, said, "That's right, Uchiha. Sokai Uchiha much older than you; he'll be graduating from the Ninja Academy soon."

"I stole him from Konoha. However, I've now reached a secret agreement with the Uchiha Clan leader. You don't need to know too much about this."

"Besides the Uchiha, the Third Hokage's household also includes a child from the Yuki Clan of Mist ninja, who is a bit older than you. You'll have a relatively tough time there, because everyone there is a genius."

"Thirdly, you can stay at my house. It's just me and my sister at home, but we're often on missions, so we're not home much. Unlike the Third Hokage's house, there are people to take care of your lives, and ninjas to guide your basic training."

"Fourth, you can choose to live with Uzumaki Riori, but," Yichen looked at Uzumaki Riori, rubbed his temples, "You should know what kind of personality Uzumaki Riori has."

Uzumaki Riori looked completely bewildered. What did that mean? What's wrong with my personality? She felt a little wronged.

Neji didn't hesitate much. He said, "I choose to stay at the Third Lord's house. I want to see the geniuses of the Uchiha Clan and Yuki Clan."

"Okay." Yichen didn't mind. "You should rest well first. Once you're rested, focus on your studies and cultivation. When you have time, you can go out and play with Riori."

"Changing the Hyuga Clan is a matter for the future. You just need to work towards that goal; there's no need to keep talking about it."

"Furthermore, I don't understand the principle behind the Caged Bird Technique, and the Iwa ninja don't have the ability to solve it either. The only way for you to break free from these constraints is to continuously become stronger."

"I believe that if your strength reaches a high enough level to surpass me and all previous Kage, you too can break the Caged Bird with your own power."

"In the Ninja World, there is nothing that powerful forces cannot do."

"Finally, I have a suggestion. The Byakugan is the Byakugan, Gentle Fist is Gentle Fist. Gentle Fist is a fighting style developed by your Hyuga Clan's ancestors based on the characteristics of the Byakugan."

"But your Hyuga Clan has never produced anyone who surpasses the Kage of all time, so I don't have high hopes for Gentle Fist. You are a genius; you should learn like a normal ninja, then surpass your ancestors and create powerful Ninjutsu that is even more suitable for the Byakugan. Don't let your vision limit your future."

Neji's heart skipped a beat. He had been worried about what would happen to Gentle Fist after leaving the Hyuga Clan. Developing Gentle Fist would inevitably waste a lot of his time.

But after hearing Yichen's words, he suddenly stopped panicking. He told himself, "Yes, I am a genius. I can completely abandon the Gentle Fist and forge a different path."

Yichen was very satisfied with Neji's mental state. A genius who hasn't been defeated has unlimited potential, and hardships will only become the source of their strength.

"Finally, if you have any questions, feel free to come to me anytime." With that, Yichen turned and left the ward.

After Yichen left, Uzumaki Riori was furious. She grabbed Neji's ear and asked him why he didn't choose her family, and what Teacher Yichen had just said about her personality. What was wrong with her personality? Why did a two-year-old like him look so agreeable?