A Bird and Hope

"Then we'll celebrate tomorrow. Rin, come by tonight."

Yayoi's expression immediately turned serious when he heard Rin's words.

Yan's smile also faded as she looked at Rin with concern.

There was no other reason—the curse of being a Caged Bird for all eternity was simply too infamous.

Thinking that her teammate would be branded with such a vicious curse mark, Yan could not help feeling some sympathy.

Yet at the same time, she felt an inexplicable curiosity.

What kind of mindset would allow someone to accept such a tragic fate so calmly, even frankly?

Or was there something anchoring her heart, allowing her to feel so at ease, as though there was nothing in this world to fear?

It truly made one both pity her and wonder.

What followed was Teacher Utsugi's final lesson as their instructor.

He taught the students how to survive on the battlefield.

Only Teacher Utsugi's voice could be heard in the classroom, while the students listened with utmost attention.

After sensing the atmosphere of the battlefield, few people could avoid thinking about their own futures.

Yayoi removed the Konoha forehead protector from his head and looked at the one he had received yesterday after the simple Three Basic Jutsu exam.

For some reason, he always felt that something was missing from it.

Maybe it's missing a slash.

The setting sun hung low between the mountains at dusk.

Like a decrepit old man, it was nearing its end.

A bird soared through the sky before landing on the roof of the Ancestral Hall.

The little bird seemed to be watching Rin.

Rin walked through the Hyuga Clan Territory toward the Main Family's Ancestral Hall.

Hiashi, the chosen next-generation Clan Leader, was waiting for Rin at the entrance to the Ancestral Hall.

"You're here."

"..."

"As a member of the Branch Family, you've delayed this for far too long. Your graduation today is the final deadline."

Seeing Rin remain silent, Hiashi sighed as well.

"Follow me."

The elders of the Main Family were seated within the Ancestral Hall.

Rin's uncle was among them. But after glancing at Rin once, he turned his head away, as though he did not dare look at her.

After leading Rin into the Ancestral Hall, Hiashi stood to one side. On the other side stood his younger brother, Hizashi.

Hizashi's gaze upon Rin was filled with complicated emotions, as though he were looking at himself.

However, Rin was far luckier than he was. She would not receive the Caged Bird until now.

It was precisely because of this exceptional case that they, the future leaders of the Main Family and Branch Family, had come specifically to observe.

"Rin, because you suffered psychological trauma in the past and could not properly awaken your Byakugan, Jiren pleaded on your behalf.

"But now, according to clan tradition, you must receive the Caged Bird."

The Old Man spoke with authority.

He was the elderly Great Elder of the Hyuga Clan.

"Begin."

Rin did not want to say anything more. The time had come; it was inevitable.

To remove the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird, she first had to be branded with it.

The Great Elder extended an aged finger and pressed it against Rin's forehead.

Under the Great Elder's technique, the curse mark slowly took shape. A large X was being branded onto Rin's forehead.

Sweat poured from her smooth, fair skin due to the intense pain.

Yet Rin never cried out. She merely clenched her teeth, thinking of the day Yayoi had met her.

Rin was fortunate. In her heart, she possessed faith and hope that the other members of the Branch Family did not have.

Holding onto that hope, she endured without a sound.

At last, one minute later, the curse mark was complete.

"Rin."

Hyuga Jiren turned his head and looked at Rin. Seeing the Caged Bird on her forehead, he fell silent.

"Elder, may I leave now?"

Rin's eyes were filled with calmness, without even the slightest trace of emotion.

Even the Elder was somewhat surprised.

Whenever a Branch Family member received the Caged Bird seal, they would resent it—sometimes even hate the clan and the Main Family.

Yet this girl named Rin had endured to such an extent. Even after accepting the Caged Bird, her expression had not changed, and she did not even seem resentful.

He was a good judge of character, and he believed he truly saw no hatred in Rin's eyes.

"Go back, child. But please remember that the Branch Family and the Main Family are both children of the Hyuga."

After thinking it over, however, the Elder did not dwell on it too much and gestured for Rin to leave.

Hyuga Jiren, who was beside her, had just started to rise when Rin stopped him with a look.

Then Rin turned around without hesitation and walked toward the door.

At that moment, Hizashi inexplicably followed after her as well.

Hiashi Frowned and followed them.

Then they witnessed an unbelievable sight.

A bird flying through the sky landed on Rin's hand.

Dressed in white Ninja attire, with her smooth long hair falling down both sides, she seemed to be draped in a layer of golden light beneath the glow of the evening sunset.

"Fly, little bird."

Those were the first words Hiashi and Hizashi heard from Rin that carried any emotion.

As though it bore the world's most beautiful hopes, the bird spread its wings and flew freely through the air.

Seemingly noticing that someone had followed her, she cast a glance behind her before looking away again.

There seemed to be light in those eyes. Her former indifference and calmness faded away, revealing the deepest beauty within them.

Rin left, and no one knew where she went.

Hiashi and Hizashi watched her leave step by step, walking away from the Main Family's Ancestral Hall.

Perhaps she wanted to stroll through the village and relax, or perhaps she would hide in some corner and cry in secret.

That was what Hizashi thought, but he soon laughed at himself.

Because that was impossible.

What kind of eyes were those? They were filled with hope, as though they contained every beautiful thing in the world.

Such eyes could never appear in the Branch Family, yet there she was, standing right before them.

Hizashi did not know why Rin could still be so full of hope after receiving the Caged Bird, a seal that robbed her of control over her own fate.

But at that moment, he felt as though he had found redemption.

Redemption for the Branch Family. He began to anticipate what this clanswoman would do.

It was as though all the unwillingness and resistance of his childhood had been entrusted to this unfamiliar girl.

"There is a kind of bird in this world that can never be caged, because every feather on its body shines with the light of freedom."

"The Caged Bird cannot bind you. This is my promise, and I will fulfill every promise I make."

Yayoi looked at the girl sitting beside him and stroked her head.

Gently, as though he were smoothing a bird's feathers.

"I believe you."

Rin merely looked at him with unwavering eyes, filled with confidence—confidence in him.

"Let's collect some data."

Yayoi smiled and gently brushed across Rin's forehead, lifting a strand of hair.

"Mm, I'll cooperate."

Next, Yayoi tried to collect Rin's physical data and compare it with the previous data.

After years of research with Orochimaru, they had discovered that, strictly speaking, the Caged Bird curse mark was merely an ordinary curse mark.

However, perhaps because of Yin-Yang Release, it possessed a special property.

It used the Byakugan as its foundation and acted upon the nerves.