The Gradually Decaying Hyuga

At the very center of the Hyuga clan's compound stood the Hyuga Clan Head's residence. From the outside, it looked like a grand estate, but inside it was unremarkable—just a few ordinary two-story buildings, with a fish pond of several dozen square meters and a training ground of several hundred square meters in the courtyard.

Hyuga Hiko, as the current Hyuga Clan Head, was not particularly qualified. Compared to his father and grandfather, one could say each generation was worse than the last.

The Sealing Technique, originally meant to protect the clan's eyes, had been twisted by these three generations into a tool of class distinction and punishment—the Caged Bird.

It had left the entire Hyuga clan lifeless, with strict hierarchies. The united Hyuga of the Warring States Period had gradually declined after the strong of the village-founding era fell.

The First and Second Shinobi World Wars produced almost no notable new-generation elites.

In the living room, father and two sons sat facing each other. This was Hyuga Hiko's weekly time to pass down governance philosophy and training experience to his two sons.

But this time, an argument broke out.

"Father, why must there be a distinction between Main Family and Branch Family? How am I inferior to big brother!" Hizashi Hyuga said angrily, venting his dissatisfaction at Hyuga Hiko.

As Hyuga Hiashi's twin brother, he had been branded with the Branch Family mark simply for being born a few seconds later.

Even as the clan head's son, to maintain authority and give the beneficiaries higher status, Hizashi was destined to be sacrificed.

"Slap! A Branch Family member should not question the clan head's decision! As my son, you should not question the clan's rules!" A crisp slap landed on Hizashi's face. Hyuga Hiko stared at his son expressionlessly, showing not a trace of fatherly warmth.

Hyuga Hiashi, kneeling beside Hizashi, watched it all calmly, saying nothing.

Hizashi's eyes reddened, tears swirling in his white pupils. His arms were stretched straight, fists clenched tightly on his knees, his face full of resentment and humiliation.

"I hope this is the first and last time. If you ever speak so disrespectfully again, I won't hesitate to have your elder brother discipline you!" Hyuga Hiko said coldly to Hizashi.

"Then what about Grandpa Shin? He was originally a Branch Family member too—why wasn't he branded with the Caged Bird!" Hizashi Hyuga forced down his anger, his voice hoarse and strained as he asked the soul-searing question.

"How dare you! Where did you hear such rumors? Who sent you to question me? Speak!" Hyuga Hiko's face turned stern. In an instant, he formed a hand seal and activated the Caged Bird.

"Ahhh—" A pain like drilling into his marrow made Hizashi Hyuga wail uncontrollably!

His body couldn't maintain the kneeling posture and collapsed onto the wooden floor, arching like a shrimp.

Watching his brother suffer, Hiashi's face flickered with a trace of emotion, as if he felt pity, but in the end, he said nothing.

Because he knew that if he pleaded for mercy, it might cause Hizashi to suffer again—most likely at his own hands.

After the punishment, Hyuga Hiko released the seal and coldly looked at his second son, without a shred of pity.

"No matter what grievances you have, your destiny is already set. Serve your elder brother well—that is your fate! The clan's will cannot be defied!" Hyuga Hiko's words left no room for doubt about upholding the clan's rules.

With that, he flicked his sleeves and rose to leave.

Then Hiashi also got up and left, offering no extra comfort. He knew that anything he said now would be an invisible mockery to his brother.

A few minutes later, Hizashi recovered from the aftereffects of the Caged Bird. Staring at the empty hall, tears slid down his face. He returned to his room, utterly dejected.

The next day, a rumor spread through the entire Hyuga Branch Family.

"Shota, did you hear? Young Master Hizashi was punished by the clan head—something about him expressing dissatisfaction with the Main Family and Branch Family system." Two middle-aged Hyuga men, watching a training session at the clan training ground, were discussing the rumor spreading among the Branch Family.

In the training ground, their sons, around thirteen or fourteen, were sparring hard. Both had brands on their foreheads.

"What can we do about it? And think about it—who do you think leaked this? Hayato, you should look deeper." Shota crossed his arms, responding expressionlessly.

"Wasn't it a Branch Family member who works as a servant in the clan head's residence? Is there some deeper meaning?" Hayato was simple-minded and didn't like to think—the Main Family liked people like him.

"Do you think a Branch Family member would dare leak such news without the clan head's approval?"

"The purpose is to intimidate the Branch Family. Haven't you noticed how angry everyone is? Even those two kids are affected." Shota glanced at Hayato, a little envious of his foolish clansman.

Sometimes being too smart was painful too.

"Yeah, the Caged Bird really hurts when it's activated." Hayato was still as single-minded as ever.

"Father, is our fate as Branch Family members predetermined?" The two boys who had finished sparring walked over together, and one of them asked Shota.

"Sawano, you're still young. Don't think about such deep issues. Focus on getting stronger—that's what you should be doing." Shota placed a hand on Sawano's head, offering comforting words. He had no better way to guide him.

"But are we supposed to be trampled by the Main Family forever? Punished for mere words! Brother Hizashi is such a kind and gentle person!" Sawano's words were full of resentment.

"Uncle Shota, does the Branch Family have a future?" the other boy asked.

"Sawano, Naoto, you are the Branch Family's future. Being cautious with words is a necessary skill for Branch Family members. I hope you can control your emotions and not let the shadow of the Caged Bird cloud your minds." Shota was at a loss, only able to offer comfort.

"Yeah, Naoto, don't let emotions rule you. Just do your best." Hayato also advised his son.

Though the two boys listened to their fathers' teachings, their faces were still filled with resistance and dissatisfaction.

"Alright, that's enough training for today. The situation is getting tense. Don't dwell on useless things. Improving your strength is what matters. Go home." Then, together with Hayato, they took the two boys and left.

A gust of wind stirred up by the Main Family became a turbulent wave within the Branch Family, but in the end, it was just stagnant water, lifeless.

In a quiet room of the clan head's residence, Hyuga Hiko sat facing his father, the former clan head Hyuga Sōki, discussing the fallout from punishing Hizashi.

"After the news spread, did the Branch Family have any extreme reactions?" Hyuga Sōki was very concerned about this, given his years of effort.

He was nearly sixty, but his body looked not much younger than Hyuga Shin, who was over eighty.

The aging of the Chakra system accelerated rapidly after a certain age.

"No, it was all within expectations. Under the threat of the Caged Bird, no Branch Family member dares disrespect the Main Family. At most, they complain in private." Hyuga Hiko had anticipated all this.

"What do you think of Hyuga Shin?"

"He's not that simple. Are you thinking something?"

"I believe he is an unstable element within the clan, and he is old and frail." Hyuga Hiko said calmly.

"Not worth it. Uzumaki Mito is dead, and he doesn't have many years left. It's enough to wait patiently for him to die."

"But his existence will inevitably influence Hizashi. How can we then trust Hizashi to serve as the branch family head and assist Hiashi in the future?"

"You should know that your grandfather and I have tried. He hides too deeply! Even the Second Generation, Tobirama Senju, as clever as he was, admitted he couldn't see through him."

"Set aside matters concerning him for now. With Sand Village amassing troops at the border, what did that child Hiruzen Sarutobi say to the major clans?" Hyuga Sōki had more pressing concerns.

"It's highly likely war is coming. The mobilization order will be issued tomorrow. The Hyuga are assigned as a reconnaissance squad to depart early, seven days from now."

"Any movements from the other hidden villages?"

"Rock Village, Cloud Village, and Kirigakure are all stirring. They seem poised to join the fray. If war breaks out, Konohagakure may face enemies on all sides." Hyuga Hiko's tone conveyed his worry about this war, as the situation could escalate at any moment.

"If the main family must take the field, arrange for branch family guards to protect the Byakugan at all costs and prevent it from falling into outside hands. Go make the arrangements." Hyuga Sōki instructed.

"Understood." Hyuga Hiko replied, then rose and left the quiet room.