Cloud Village's Declaration of War! Hyuga Shin Becomes a Prisoner!

Now.

Fugaku was twenty-eight, powerful, and rich in combat experience.

He had married and fathered a child. His wife, Mikoto, was a civilian genius of considerable strength, and their first son, Uchiha Itachi, was now one year old.

Yet... something felt off to Fugaku.

The Hyuga Clan had always been the type to play it safe and stay out of trouble.

As the current clan heir, Fugaku had gained a certain breadth of vision, but the more he pondered, the more he hesitated. He was keenly aware of how the Uchiha Clan was being ostracized in the village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other village higher-ups... Fugaku didn't know whether to show them strength or goodwill.

"Miya... you can talk more with Hyuga Shin." Uchiha Fugaku said to the newly risen Three Tomoe ninja within the clan.

"Mm, I will, Fugaku-brother." Uchiha Miya replied earnestly.

"Let's go."

Uchiha Fugaku led his men away, ending this visit of condolence.

But then.

A shocking piece of news reached Uchiha Fugaku.

Kumogakure had sent a declaration of war.

Though war was already underway, this declaration unmistakably escalated the conflict.

The Third Raikage stated bluntly in the letter: his son, A, had been killed by a Hyuga ninja from Konoha. Hand over that ninja, or Kumogakure would fight Konoha to the death.

"Hyuga Shin. The Main Family summons you."

Hyuga Family training ground.

Hyuga Shin was training in Gentle Fist as usual.

But someone came to summon him.

"..." A sense of unease stirred in Hyuga Shin's heart, but he still went.

Along the way, the other Branch Family members watched his back.

After he left, they whispered among themselves.

When he arrived at the Main Family estate.

Hyuga Shin saw the Hyuga Clan Head—a middle-aged man with graying temples, his back slightly hunched. Seated beside him was Hyuga Hiashi.

Hizashi Hyuga was nowhere to be seen.

Observing all proper etiquette, Hyuga Shin sat down on a cushion.

"Clan Head-sama, is there something you need from me?" Hyuga Shin asked in a docile tone.

The Hyuga Clan Head stared at Hyuga Shin.

Countless thoughts raced through his mind.

He thought of how a Branch Family member had stolen the spotlight, of Hyuga Shin's long-standing reputation as a goody-two-shoes, and of the news the village had just received.

"On the battlefield, it's normal to develop killing intent toward an enemy." The Hyuga Clan Head spoke. "You're still young. You don't yet understand the Hyuga Family's way of survival."

The Clan Head's tone was neither harsh nor gentle—it carried a weight of authority.

Hyuga Shin: "?"

He didn't understand.

Still, he listened obediently.

"Shin... you said you passed out, didn't you?" the Hyuga Clan Head said.

"Huh? Ah, yes... yes. When I was fighting A, I think I blacked out. When I woke up, A was lying on the ground unconscious." Hyuga Shin said.

"Did you really pass out?! Shin!!" Suddenly, the Hyuga Clan Head activated his Byakugan!

A crushing pressure fell upon Hyuga Shin!

At the same time.

A technique that was a nightmare for every Branch Family member activated—

The Caged Bird!

The secret technique the Hyuga Main Family used to control the Branch Family—the Caged Bird!

"Ugh?!" Hyuga Shin felt a searing heat erupt from his Byakugan!

He writhed on the ground!

And his Byakugan fell into a state where it could no longer be activated!

"Aaaaah!" Hyuga Shin screamed in agony!

Before him.

The Hyuga Clan Head and Hyuga Hiashi both sat upright, watching this scene unfold.

Behind the folding screen, a group of clan elders from the Hyuga Main Family watched the scene calmly.

"I see."

Amid the Sea of Corpses and Blood.

Su Nuo rubbed his chin, observing Hyuga Shin's suffering.

"This curse mark has two parts—one on the eyeball, the other on the cranial nerves."

"Even if the eyeball is discarded, the curse mark can still control a Branch Family member."

"And once activated, both the brain and the eyeball can be destroyed."

"This is the Caged Bird..."

All of this fell within Su Nuo's calculations.

Hyuga Shin's battle record was indeed outstanding.

But.

He was a Branch Family member.

Moreover, his report read too much like a "con job."

What did it mean to say he passed out, woke up, and the enemy was already on the ground?

There were only three possibilities.

First, he was caught in a genjutsu.

Second, Hyuga Shin was lying.

Third, something else.

And the first two were the most likely.

After an examination, Hyuga Shin showed no signs of genjutsu, so it had to be the second.

Hyuga Shin was tortured to the brink of death.

He didn't know how much time had passed, nor why he was suffering this.

The adulation he received during the day stood in stark contrast to the torment he endured at night.

In the end, Hyuga Shin passed out cold.

No matter how much they questioned him, his answer was always: "I passed out."

Over at the Hyuga Main Family.

The Clan Head, the Heir, and the Hyuga Clan Elders were all discussing the matter.

"The Third Raikage of Kumogakure's son was killed. The Raikage is furious, and he'll likely vent his anger on the Hyuga Family."

"How about... we voluntarily hand over Hyuga Shin?"

"No way. The war has just begun—how is that any different from surrender?! You fool!"

"Then we can't let the Hyuga Family stand at the center of the storm!"

"We absolutely cannot kill Hyuga Shin outright or hand him over openly. We must make some arrangements."

Hearing the elders in the clan discussing handing over Hyuga Shin.

Hyuga Hiashi gradually couldn't bear it anymore.

He was still young at the time and indeed belonged to the more open-minded sort. He couldn't help but cry out, "Father! Uncles! Allow me a word!"

"What is it, young master?" an elder said.

"Hyuga Shin is a good child. He's always been loyal to the Main Family! He's never harmed anyone! This time, he achieved great merit and even saved members of the Sarutobi Clan. Isn't that good for the Hyuga Family too?"

"Everything you say is correct, but Hyuga Shin is a Branch Family member. Moreover, past loyalty doesn't guarantee present loyalty. You saw it yourself—his story is that he passed out, and then an A-ranked ninja at least at jonin level just happened to collapse unconscious in front of him? He says he handed the unconscious A over to Kumogakure, but Kumogakure claims A was already dead by then!"

"This could be a scheme from Kumogakure! Unbelievable... Are we going to dispose of our own clansman—a hero who bled for the Hyuga Family—just because of the enemy's anger?"

"This is the Branch Family's duty! The Branch Family was born to serve the family! Once we grow strong, we will naturally lift the Branch Family up with us. That is the Hyuga Family's way of survival—the trunk is the core, the branches are the periphery. Young master, you are no longer a child. You should understand the Hyuga way of survival!"

Hyuga Hiashi clenched his fists, rendered speechless.