On Caged Birds and the Spirit of Rebellion

Hizashi Hyuga's second round of special training mainly focused on testing gains and sowing the seeds of ideology.

Lighting a guiding beacon for Branch Family Members lost in confusion.

But time was too short, and war heavily impacted the transmission of ideas.

Struggling on the edge of life and death every day, who had the energy to dwell on the rotten business of the Main Family versus the Branch Family? Surviving was what mattered.

Just like when a person is starving to death, they have no thoughts, ideals, or faith—because at that point, hunger fills their entire being.

So Hizashi's training prioritized survival on the battlefield, with ideology as a secondary goal.

The current soil wasn't very suitable for spreading concepts.

But undeniably, any seed that could take root and sprout under these conditions would grow into a towering tree, fighting for ideals and faith in the future!

Hizashi Hyuga was fully confident of that.

He had already planned it out—even if the seeds wouldn't sprout, he'd force them to!

It was just a matter of whether the methods were aboveboard and how long it took.

As Hizashi Hyuga expected, the battlefield situation changed!

Danzo—what a ruthless, black-hearted bastard!

He couldn't hold back even half a month, expanding the war to deny Hizashi more time to influence his and Hiruzen Sarutobi's plans.

All clan members were sent to the front lines.

He even actively sent word to the Hyuga Main Family about Hizashi Hyuga's presence on the battlefield, stirring up trouble for him!

Ever since the village was founded, Hizashi Hyuga had been an unstable factor for the Main Family line—no secret to Konohagakure's higher-ups.

When Hyuga Hiko got the news, he was so furious he wanted to rush to the battlefield and kill that old bastard!

Fear of what might come—the Main Family had always downplayed Hizashi Hyuga's existence and done everything in their power to prevent the Branch Family from learning about him.

They publicly claimed he was just an ordinary Hyuga clansman.

And Hizashi played along, causing no major trouble for over thirty years.

But now, at the last moment, he pulls a big one!

After discussing it, Hyuga Sōki and his son Hyuga Hiko sent word to Danzo, hoping he'd arrange for Hizashi Hyuga to be dealt with—give him a dignified end! The Hyuga Clan would be deeply grateful!

To the Main Family, that old relic Hizashi Hyuga should have already bowed out.

If he'd just waited quietly to die, Hyuga Sōki and Hyuga Hiko wouldn't have bothered with him—he didn't have many years left anyway.

But Hizashi had to court death! So they'd just send him off early!

As for Hizashi Hyuga, when he made his decision, he could already guess their next moves.

But he didn't care about the thoughts of these insects—a bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well, how could they know the might of a true immortal!

Over the next ten-plus days, despite the fierce fighting, Hizashi Hyuga, who had been touched by Hizashi's training, came to seek advice whenever he had free time. Hizashi was happy to water and fertilize.

He even upped the dose of inspirational medicine, because he sensed his time here was running out—unless he was willing to reveal his strength.

But that wasn't in his plans.

Another day passed, and the result of the war's expansion was a steadily increasing death toll among ninjas.

Even reconnaissance squads saw a rise in casualties, and the Hyuga Clan was no exception!

In war, squads with Hyuga members had the lowest death rates—they had natural advantages, and their missions rarely required close combat.

But Hizashi came to report that two clansmen who had undergone the training had already died.

That number was still impressive compared to other squads.

Hizashi Hyuga guessed they'd likely been sold out—that was the whole point, after all.

By evening, Hizashi Hyuga, after a full day of combat missions, finally returned to camp.

After a quick meal, he dragged his tired body to Hizashi's tent.

Because after over half a month of guidance, he found spiritual cleansing and comfort here.

He was drawn to the rich life philosophies Hizashi shared, learned more training techniques for the clan's inherited jutsu, and was convinced by his analysis of the clan's fractured roots.

"Elder Shin, sorry to disturb you!" Hizashi Hyuga lifted the tent flap and entered.

"Hizashi, no need to be formal—sit!" Hizashi Hyuga sat cross-legged on the ground, warmly greeting him.

"Elder, I'm bothering you again today!" Hizashi said apologetically.

"It's fine! No bother at all. I'm happy to see a motivated young man like you." Hizashi didn't hold back his praise.

"Any problems or questions with your training lately?" Hizashi took the initiative to ask.

"No, Elder. You've taught me thoroughly these past days—I've gained a lot." Hizashi's gratitude was plain on his face.

"Then what do you want to ask about today?"

"Elder, with your vast knowledge, have you studied the Caged Bird?" Hizashi Hyuga asked seriously.

"Why do you ask about the Caged Bird? Do you have some thoughts on it?"

"You said that in the Warring States Period, as long as you were strong enough, you could break the Caged Bird's restrictions. Can the Hyuga do that now?" Hizashi waited expectantly for Hyuga Shin's answer.

"Ah. You already had the answer in your heart, didn't you?" Hyuga Shin sighed, his face full of regret.

"Really! There's really no way!" Hizashi's fists clenched, his voice trembling, his face twisted with unwillingness!

"Absolute power leads to absolute decay."

"The Hyuga have already rotted at the root." Hyuga Shin said with a look of deep feeling.

"Then are we supposed to be bound by the Caged Bird generation after generation! What future is there! What are we even fighting for now!" Hizashi forced down his anger, asking in a hoarse voice.

"Do you think it's the Caged Bird that binds you, or is it fear and rules that fetter you?"

"Your thoughts have been bridled by the rules instilled in you since childhood. Your will has been eroded by the fear of the Caged Bird, constantly crumbling."

"You want to rebel against the injustice of fate, yet you still submit to the Caged Bird."

"In the Warring States Period, the strong could break the Caged Bird and become true powerhouses—that was indeed a prerequisite."

"The same applies even now!" Hyuga Shin's tone was seductive as he coaxed Hizashi step by step.

"But didn't you just refute what I said, Elder?" Hizashi looked confused.

"That's because, in my view, you don't understand what a true powerhouse is."

"Martial power, vision, wisdom, character, scope—you fall far short in all of them."

"A true powerhouse never yields to fate or rules. They are the masters of their own destiny and the makers of rules."

"When you possess these things, even the Caged Bird cannot bind you." Hyuga Shin pointed out the key.

"Then what would you do if you were in my position, Elder?" Hizashi pressed on. He was the type who wouldn't stop until he got his answer.

In his mind, even Hyuga Shin would probably be helpless in such a situation.

That was exactly what Hyuga Shin valued in him.

"Fight for equality, and equality survives. Beg for equality, and equality perishes."

"The best way to overcome fear is to face it."

"If the rules restrict you, then break the rules."

"A frog at the bottom of a well will never see the vastness of heaven and earth."

"Sometimes, necessary sacrifices are acceptable." Hyuga Shin hinted meaningfully, setting another trap.

"Then what should I do, Elder Shin? Please teach me! I beg you!" Hizashi listened to Hyuga Shin's explanation, lost in thought.

"Don't yield to so-called fate. Dare to fight."

"Forge your own heart of a powerhouse. Put away your mercy and weakness."

"Develop your own guiding principles, win the support of the majority, and dare to break the shackles of rules."

"The path forward will not be smooth. Sometimes, the greatest obstacles are the people closest to you." Hyuga Shin continued his seduction, afraid the fire wasn't hot enough.

"I'll stop here, Hizashi. Think it over yourself. What you gain is entirely up to you."

"I may be leaving soon. Sign your name on this contract—I have something to leave for you." Hyuga Shin pulled out a scroll and handed it to Hizashi.

"Elder Shin, you're leaving?" Hizashi's disappointment was obvious.

"This old man's time is short. I want to see more of the Shinobi World and leave something behind."

"This contract is for a one-time Summoning Beast. I've already arranged it. You can retrieve what I've left only after the war ends."

"And this book—it contains my insights on the clan's jutsu training. I'm giving it to you as well." Hyuga Shin spoke as if settling his final affairs.

"Thank you for your kindness, Elder Shin. I am deeply grateful!" Hizashi dropped into a Dogeza, bowing in thanks.

"Alright, go back and rest early." Hyuga Shin patted Hizashi's shoulder like a father caring for his child.

"Thank you, Elder. Then I'll take my leave!" Hizashi stood up, bowed slightly, and withdrew.

"The seed has been planted. Time to move on to the next place. It's not easy!" Hyuga Shin couldn't help but sigh with deep emotion.

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