Interest in the Caged Bird

Hyuga Clan Territory.

As always, Rin was practicing Soft Fist.

The Wooden Stake was covered in marks from her training. Sweat streamed down her flushed face and into her collarbone, soaking her clothes, but she seemed tireless.

She kept striking the Wooden Stake as though it were not wood, but the frustration and resentment in her heart.

At last, exhausted, she dragged herself home.

The Branch Family and Main Family lived in separate quarters. To reach one from the other, she had to pass through the courtyard between them.

Rin trained in the Branch Family's grounds. Now she was going to the Main Family's.

Breathing hard, she walked through the courtyard toward the Main Family's quarters while members of the Hyuga Branch Family hurried past her.

They saw her but paid her no attention, as though she were invisible.

Only after she passed did the whispers begin.

"She's Branch Family, but she still hasn't been marked with the Caged Bird. What a disregard for the rules."

"Well, she has a good uncle. He's our elder, after all."

"Sure, she comes from a good family, but she's still Branch Family. She'll be marked with the Caged Bird eventually. Then she'll be just like us."

"Heh, exactly. A maid is always a maid, and Branch Family is always Branch Family."

Rin's senses were sharp, but then, none of them had bothered to lower their voices.

The Branch Family had to serve the Main Family. The Branch Family had to be marked with the Caged Bird.

And those who had already been marked envied Rin for escaping it, even if only for now.

Rin's eyes reddened. She nearly broke into a run.

She crossed the courtyard and headed for the Main Family's quarters.

The Main Family's quarters were better than the Branch Family's, though not by much. They had to maintain the appearance of one close-knit family and did not dare make the difference too obvious.

But in status, they were worlds apart.

Those Mental Shackles and restraints could nearly drive the Branch Family mad. What good were better quarters?

They would still be under the Main Family's control.

Rin's eyes were red, her heart full of resentment and confusion.

She did not dare look up at the Main Family members along the road. They must see her, a member of the Branch Family, as beneath them.

She thought she heard faint snickers. Not daring to linger, Rin hurried straight to the Main Family's main residence.

She pushed open the door and looked at the middle-aged man inside, her reddened eyes on the verge of tears.

"Uncle."

"Rin."

The Hyuga Elder had been about to scold whoever had barged in without manners, but his expression softened the moment he saw Rin. He reached out with trembling hands, pulled her into an embrace, and comforted her.

"Rin, what happened? Who bullied you? Your uncle will make them pay."

The elder had no children and no younger relative but Rin. Naturally, he lavished all his affection on her.

He had even defied clan rules to delay the day she would be marked with the Caged Bird.

He wanted little Rin to have a happy childhood, or at least some good memories.

But now even that childhood seemed far from perfect.

"Uncle, I don't want to be marked with the Caged Bird."

She could no longer hold back her tears. Remembering Raikou's face and the Branch Family's gossip, Rin felt terribly wronged.

Why did she have to be marked with the Caged Bird? Why did she have to serve the Main Family? Why did there have to be a Branch Family and a Main Family?

Why?

Lost and confused, she felt as though she were walking alone through the dark, with no one beside her. She had never felt so lonely.

"My Soft Fist is better than the rest of the clan's. I can beat the clan's Genin, and I'm sure I can beat its Chunin too.

"Why do people of the same clan have to be marked with the Caged Bird?"

Rin truly could not understand. Her heart was full of questions and resentment.

She did not want the Main Family controlling every part of her life. She wanted to be a free bird. If they controlled her, would she still be herself?

It would crush her spirit and wipe away her entire future.

"I'm sorry, Rin. I can't stop it. All I can do is delay the clan's decision."

The Hyuga Elder sighed.

He had considered comforting Rin with a kind lie, but that would have been irresponsible.

Rin was too strong-willed. There was a fierce streak deep in her bones.

To become first in her class, she had trained until her hands bled and still refused to stop. She could keep it up day and night.

If he lied to her, he feared that when the Caged Bird was finally branded onto her forehead, she would be so devastated that she might kill herself rather than submit.

So he could not lie. He could only tell her the truth and let her come to terms with it.

At his words, Rin seemed to lose her soul. She stood and left the Main Family's quarters.

She walked out of the Hyuga Clan Territory and wandered the streets without a destination.

Only when her stomach growled did she remember that she had not eaten all day.

Inside an upscale barbecue restaurant.

Yayoi and Yan walked in, and a server came over to take their order.

Yayoi declined the eager server's offer of help, took the menu, and prepared to order.

"Rin?"

In a corner of the restaurant sat a little girl with Byakugan eyes.

Yan looked over and tugged at Yayoi.

"Rin."

Yayoi watched Rin nibble at her barbecue, and a strange feeling stirred in him.

Could he imagine a little girl coming alone to the Akimichi Family BBQ Restaurant for barbecue?

He could not, but there she was.

"Want to eat together?"

A mischievous glint appeared in Yan's eyes. She had noticed Miyoshi-kun's deskmate before and thought the girl seemed interesting.

"Sure."

Yayoi had no reason to refuse Yan's suggestion. He had sat beside Rin for a year; if he ran into her while he was out, he ought to at least say hello.

After placing their order, the two walked over to Rin.

"Rin, long time no see."

Yayoi greeted her.

"Mind if we share your table?"

Perhaps it was a kinship between lonely people, or perhaps it was because Yayoi had been her deskmate for a year. Rin said nothing, merely nodded.

"Rin-chan, are you feeling down?"

Yan suddenly spoke up. Rin lifted her head to look at her.

This was the opponent she had trained three months to face.

Rin remembered her well. She should have known that wherever Yayoi was, Yan would be there too.

"Training got boring, so we came out for barbecue. Is that why you're here too, Rin?"

"Mm."

Rin nodded, then lowered her head and went back to her barbecue.

When Rin said nothing more, Yayoi did not press her. Once the server brought their order, he and Yan dug in.

The barbecue was expensive. Almost only Ninja, with their high-paying work, could afford it.

But Yan had helped clear up his questions, and Yayoi was not going to be stingy over a little money.

The barbecue aside, he really was worried about how little money he had left.

Yayoi's parents had left him a decent amount in savings, and he had received a substantial payment after being orphaned. But buying equipment had already used up most of it.

What remained was not enough to support his next plans. It was a serious problem.

As a researcher, the simplest answer to a funding problem was usually to find investors.

But this was Konoha. Yayoi feared that the moment he tried to pitch a project, a masked Ninja would appear and drag him away.

Then he would have to give everything he had for the Will of Fire, before his body was hung up in a laboratory to provide one last bit of value.