An Anomaly in the Caged Bird

"Hyuga Yu."

"This name... it carries an ominous meaning."

"One of your two teammates was severely injured and retired, while the other was killed in action during the Chunin Exam. You are the only one left."

"Furthermore, you should be well aware that your natural talent is not suited for continuing in the shinobi profession."

The sun set in the west.

A draft blowing through the courtyard lifted the hair from the forehead of the youth standing at the end of the veranda, revealing a pair of slightly hesitant white eyes.

"Yes."

Having spent thirteen years in this world, Hyuga Yu nodded sullenly, his body hunched as he forced himself to perform the humble gesture toward the elder before him—a gesture he still had not grown accustomed to.

"However, according to the rules of the Hyuga Clan, I will employ you."

"Take a look—"

The elder sitting on the veranda platform pushed a document forward.

Hyuga Yu knew what was written on it:

Hyuga Clan Shinobi Lifetime Appointment Letter

It was an employment contract intended for the mediocre shinobi of the Hyuga Clan.

Six days of work, one day off, room and board included; and whenever the big shots of the Main House were in a good mood, one might occasionally be gifted some small, valuable trinkets.

The total salary was thirty thousand ryo per month.

That was equivalent to three hundred thousand yen, or roughly fifteen thousand yuan.

The job duties were merely serving tea, pouring water, and running errands, perhaps even being assigned to prune the flowers and plants within the vast mansion of the Main House—tasks that were trivial for a shinobi.

To be honest, this was a cushy job that outsiders would break their necks to obtain.

Hyuga Yu had no reason to refuse.

He was a genin, a genin who had lost his teammates in last year's Chunin Exam.

Having failed to promote to chunin during what could be called the easiest Chunin Exam held in the 48th year of Konoha, and having suffered a crushing defeat against a Dead Last like Uchiha Obito, his career as a shinobi was essentially a closed coffin—

Hyuga Yu had no talent as a shinobi.

Continuing to be a shinobi at this juncture in the 49th year of Konoha meant the risks far outweighed the rewards.

At this moment, It was the third year since the outbreak of the Third Shinobi World War.

A stalemate had formed with Iwagakure, Konoha, and Sunagakure locked in fierce combat around the Land of Rain.

Under the orders of the Third Mizukage, Kirigakure was continuously expanding westward, invading small nations like the Land of Waves and preparing to launch a major offensive on the east coast of the Land of Fire.

Currently, the main force of Konoha was spread across the long, grueling front lines in the River Country, the Land of Rain, and the Land of Grass.

Facing the attacks from Kirigakure, the east coast front of the Land of Fire was in dire need of manpower.

If nothing went wrong, Konoha would soon issue mobilization orders, requiring clan shinobi led by the Uchiha and Hyuga to head to the east coast front to defend against the enemy.

Hyuga Yu vaguely remembered that in this war, the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan had been leaked, resulting in heavy losses.

To continue as a shinobi at such a critical moment meant he would likely soon be transferred to this meat grinder of a battlefield.

And at this moment, Hyuga Yu was merely a genin; even with the Hyuga name, he was at best nothing more than qualified cannon fodder.

However, Looking at the black-and-white text before him, a contract that would essentially buy out the rest of his life, Hyuga Yu hesitated.

"Hyuga Yu, did you not hear what I said?"

"Yes, Elder, I am listening."

The elder before the platform was silent for a moment, then said indifferently:

"Then sign it quickly, and go submit this appointment letter to the Main House. Once you return, settle down and work for the Main House. Also, you need to fix that habit of yours—you can never seem to keep your back bent."

"Your parents once saved my life, so I will not hold this against you, but to be so disrespectful before the Main House—do you wish to taste the Caged Bird again?"

Hyuga Yu suddenly pushed the appointment letter back, and after a long silence, he spoke:

"I apologize, Elder. How about we just not sign it?"

"Are you dissatisfied with the terms?"

"No."

The elder was stunned for a moment, then knitted his brows as he looked over: "Then what do you mean by this?"

"Nothing. I just feel that I might not be able to bend my back or kneel down."

Watching Hyuga Yu begin to stand up, the elder finally lost his last shred of patience, his face darkening as he barked:

"Do you understand what you are refusing?!"

"Hyuga Yu, you have absolutely no talent as a ninja!"

"Even if you did, even if you became a Chunin, a Jonin, or an Elite Jonin, your situation would not change in the slightest!"

"As a member of the Branch House, for the sake of the clan's continuation, you are born to bow your head to the Main House, to kneel before the Main House, and to die for the Main House—"

"Just like your parents did!"

Hyuga Yu pressed his lips into a thin line and retorted:

"Then what about the Hokage?"

"If I become the Hokage, what will happen?"

The old man suddenly laughed, a laugh born of anger; he looked at the insolent Hyuga Yu as if he were watching some kind of joke, then slowly raised his hand to form a hand seal.

In the next instant, Hyuga Yu felt a violent pain surge from his forehead, As if his head were about to be crushed, ready to splatter red and white matter all over the ground.

Immersed in this agony, Hyuga Yu instantly lost all ability to resist.

He clutched his head, his whole body trembling as he bit down on his molars, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth.

Yet even so, Hyuga Yu did not let out a single sound; he simply stood stubbornly in place like a rod, staring at the old man before him, baring his teeth in a grimace as he tremblingly and defiantly asked:

"Elder... if... I become the Hokage, what will happen?"

Seeing this, the old man fell silent for a moment, closed his eyes with a sense of listlessness, released the seal, and scoffed:

"You will never become the Hokage. Even if you train to your limit in this life, you will be nothing more than an ordinary Genin, and you know this better than I do."

"If you want to die, then go ahead and try."

Afterward, the old man turned his back on the platform, waved his hand, and left behind one final, desolate remark:

"Don't blame this old man for not warning you—"

"That old thing, Hyuga Sousuke, is currently looking for clansmen who know Medical Ninjutsu."

The pain of the Caged Bird came quickly and left just as fast.

The more critical reason was that this lonely old man, whom Hyuga Yu had served for ten years and lived under the same roof with, did not actually want to take his life.

Hyuga Yu's face was pale, his body swaying slightly as he looked at the old man who had already turned away, having lost all interest in further conversation.

He remained silent for a while, knowing that the other party was actually helping him, but after enduring such humiliation—being treated like a pig or a dog with a leash around his neck—words of gratitude could not be spoken no matter what.

In the end, he turned silently and walked out of the opulent residence.

Like a bird breaking free from its cage, he crossed the long corridor, traversed the courtyard, and took a large stride out of this prison where he had lived for thirteen years.

That was right, There was nothing wrong with what the old man had said.

Having been in this world for thirteen years, Hyuga Yu could also understand with exceptional clarity—

He had no talent as a ninja, He had no innate golden finger, And he certainly had no illustrious or noble status.

It was as if he were born to be a servant of the Main House, existing merely as a sparrow protected by a cage.

However, Even among sparrows in a cage, there exist outliers who are unwilling to spend their whole lives bowing their heads to peck at rice.

And Hyuga Yu, Was just such an outlier.