None Will Escape

The weather grew colder and colder, a sign that winter was approaching.

Shin could not help but put on another layer. What a pity Ayari no longer wore skirts, so he could no longer see her long, beautiful legs.

The two were strolling through the market together. Shin followed behind her with the bags in hand, feeling rather sentimental.

"Shin, can you cook eggplant?"

"I can."

"What about fish?"

"I can."

"How do you know how to make everything?"

Ayari suddenly turned around ahead of him, holding an eggplant in one hand and a fish that kept wriggling in the other.

"Then let's have these two for dinner tonight?" she asked with a smile.

"Sure." Shin smiled faintly.

The fish was simply cleaned by the vendor, then put into a bag with the other ingredients and seasonings, all of which Shin carried.

Ayari was quite relaxed. She even ran to the roadside to buy two cans of soda, opened one herself, and took a drink with a thoroughly satisfied sound.

She tossed the other can to Shin, forgetting that he had no free hands to catch it. By the time she realized it, the soda had already left her hand.

"Shin, watch out!"

The soda can flew straight toward Shin's head. A metal can full of liquid could easily leave a nasty bump if it struck him.

Yet when it reached Shin's forehead, it seemed to hit some sort of barrier and dropped straight down into one of the bags he was carrying.

Ayari was astonished. "What happened?"

"A Chakra control technique," Shin said. "If you want to learn, call me Teacher and I can teach you."

Ayari merely rolled her eyes at him. "In your dreams."

With that, she turned and walked ahead again, soda in one hand, looking utterly carefree. Sometimes she carefully stepped on the paving stones beneath her feet; other times she skipped along, humming a tune and spinning as though dancing in place.

What a pity she was not wearing a skirt. Otherwise, that pose would surely have been beautiful.

"Shin."

"Yeah?"

"Do you know what marriage feels like?"

"Daily necessities and a complete mess."

Ayari snickered. "You little brat, pretending to know what you're talking about."

Shin did not argue. He only said, "If you know I don't understand, why ask me?"

Ayari smiled but said nothing more. Her gaze drifted toward the distant sky as she walked slowly onward.

After some thought, Shin asked, "Do you want to get married?"

Ayari looked back at him again. "I'm getting married soon."

"To Lord Hizashi?"

Ayari found that amusing. "Who else would it be? You?"

Shin nodded. "Sure. I wouldn't mind."

Ayari gave him a look of utter disdain. "A little brat like you wants to marry me?"

Shin added, "Lord Hiashi and Lady Ayano still aren't married."

"That's why I have to get married before them," Ayari said. "That way, Hizashi's and my child can protect the Main Branch in the future."

After saying that, she looked ahead again, seeming somewhat wistful.

Shin suddenly recalled what Hizashi had told him at the hospital that day.

The Hizashi brothers and the Ayari sisters had grown up together since childhood. Though their fates differed, their bond ought to have been very deep.

"Do you want to get married?"

"Why are you asking again?" Ayari laughed.

"You didn't answer before."

"There's no question of wanting to or not. This was decided long ago."

Ayari spoke as she walked.

"Lord Taikei suddenly told Hizashi and me yesterday that it was time to prepare for our wedding."

Among the Hyuga, marriages had always taken place within the clan to preserve the purity of the bloodline. If one's status was particularly special, the clan would directly decide one's marriage.

Besides, the Hyuga were currently dwindling in number and needed to reproduce even more.

Ayari suddenly turned to look at Shin behind and to the side. Seeing that he was looking at her too, she smiled. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Shin said. "I just don't want you to get married."

Ayari laughed, then fell silent for a while before lightly saying, "I don't think Natsu is interested in Kamado either. You still have a very good chance, so make sure you seize it."

"Oh, right. Have you finished reading those books? Once you have, I'll find some more for you."

"Okay."

"Let's hurry home. I'm getting a little hungry. I want to try your cooking again."

"Okay."

After finishing her soda, Ayari threw the empty can into a roadside trash bin. Walking ahead, she began to feel a little uneasy. She kept feeling that Shin was watching her from behind, though she had not felt that way earlier.

Yet whenever she glanced back out of the corner of her eye, she found that Shin was only quietly watching the distant sunset.

Night fell.

Shin had already prepared to rest after dinner when Hizashi suddenly came to visit.

"Lord Hizashi, what brings you here so late at night?"

Ever since that conversation with Hizashi at the hospital, Shin had not bothered to put on a respectful act around him in private.

Sibi on the sofa was also watching this rarely seen man.

"Ayari and I are getting married soon," Hizashi said.

"I know."

"My marriage was arranged long ago. It isn't something I can control," Hizashi continued.

"Did Lord Hizashi come all this way specifically to explain himself to me?" Shin asked with a faint smile. "I'm truly honored."

Hizashi frowned slightly. "That day... I truly was grateful for what you said to me."

"Grateful that I let you stay in the cage?"

"Staying in this cage... is still better than being a stray dog," Hizashi said slowly. Such a self-deprecating attitude surprised Shin slightly.

Shin walked over and sat down on the sofa, gesturing to the seat beside him.

Hizashi went over and sat down, watching the boy pour him a cup of water.

He could not help asking, "Shin, do you hate this system?"

Shin placed the tea before Hizashi and replied evenly, "Did I say that?"

Hizashi frowned. "Don't you want to cast off these shackles?"

"I already have."

"You've only cast off a curse mark. But the Main Branch still exists. Sooner or later, he'll brand the Caged Bird Seal onto you again!"

"I'll have my own way when that time comes."

"You..."

Watching him open his mouth yet remain speechless, Shin asked in return, "Does Lord Hizashi hate this system?"

Without hesitation, Hizashi said, "Of course I..."

But the words stopped after only a few syllables. If he hated this system, why had he once coveted the status of the Main Branch so desperately?

Wouldn't saying such things before Shin now be utterly laughable?

He sat there without a word. After a long silence, he suddenly picked up the cup and drained it in one gulp.

Hizashi let out a heavy breath. "Shin, you see right through me."

"What I hate is my father. My brother and I were born of the same mother, yet he gave everything to my brother."

"I hate my brother. He doesn't have even the slightest brotherly affection in his heart! He simply takes me as his servant without a shred of guilt!"

"I don't hate this system. I only hate that I have no freedom! If I were placed in the position of the Main Branch, I truly would not change any of this."

"But the reality is that I am not the Main Branch. I am Branch Family, so I have to find every possible way to change all this!"

By the end, Hizashi's expression had become faintly twisted.

Shin remained calm after hearing him. "Lord Hizashi's answer is truly unexpected."

To reveal his darkness and desires so freely—he had come to pledge allegiance.

Or rather, to pledge allegiance to Orochimaru, who stood behind Shin and would soon become Hokage.

Hizashi did not want to waste time on such useless talk. He said directly, "Shin, I know your ambitions are great. You surely want to change all this, don't you? You surely want to rebuild this clan, don't you?"

"Shin, let's do this together! No matter what you and Lord Orochimaru want to do, I can help you."

"As long as you can free me from these shackles, whether it's Ayari, Natsu, or even the status of the Main Branch, all of it is yours!"

Shin was unmoved. He even found Hizashi somewhat foolish.

Even without Hizashi offering them, anything that was meant to be his—none of it would escape.

"Since Lord Hizashi is so sincere, why not offer a token of loyalty?"

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