Bird in a Cage

On the desolate land, as Hyuga Kanjin and the others hastily departed, only Uchiha Yuan and the other two were left.

"Yuan, thank you all."

Hyuga Kagami sat on the ground, leaning against a large rock, and said sincerely to Uchiha Yuan and the other two.

Senju Gen's face showed indignation, and he said, "I've heard of the Hyuga clan's Cage Bird Seal, but I didn't expect it to be so vicious. The lives of your Branch Family members are completely controlled by their Main Family."

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Kagami could only offer a helpless wry smile.

Uchiha Yuan sighed softly, "This is an internal affair of the ninja clan, and even the village cannot interfere."

"But to target and bully you just because you lost to me last time, hmph, that's too much."

Hyuga Kagami shook his head, a look of unwillingness on his face, "That's just Hyuga Kanjin's superficial reason. The real reason is that he almost lost to me in the clan's competition."

Hearing this, Uchiha Yuan frowned and asked doubtfully, "Kagami, in my opinion, Hyuga Kanjin's strength is not as good as yours. How could he have won the match against you?"

Hyuga Kagami gave a bitter smile and said, "He activated the Cage Bird Seal at the last moment."

"Despicable!"

"Shameless!"

Upon hearing this, Senju Gen and Hatake Harukaze simultaneously cursed.

Hyuga Kagami continued, "Because of this, the elders of the Branch Family were very dissatisfied, so the Main Family confined Hyuga Kanjin for three days as punishment. After his confinement was lifted, Hyuga Kanjin began to target me relentlessly."

Senju Gen said, "Kagami, in my opinion, you are more qualified to be the Hyuga Main Family than that Hyuga Kanjin."

Uchiha Yuan said in a deep voice, "Gen, what you said is not entirely correct. In my opinion, the Hyuga clan's rules for dividing the Main Family and Branch Family are problematic. The Main Family are masters, and the Branch Family are slaves whose lives are completely controlled. Such a division is truly unacceptable."

Senju Gen scratched his face and said, "But the Cage Bird Seal is to protect the Hyuga clan's Byakugan. It is precisely because of the Cage Bird Seal that other ninja villages have not obtained the Hyuga's Byakugan."

Uchiha Yuan said, "The problem lies here? If the Cage Bird Seal is to protect the Byakugan, then why does the Hyuga Main Family control the activation of the seal to control the Branch Family?"

He paused, then looked at Hyuga Kagami and continued, "I think the people of the Hyuga Branch Family cannot accept the Cage Bird Seal itself, but rather they cannot accept their own lives being completely controlled by the Main Family. Kagami, what do you think?"

Hyuga Kagami looked at Uchiha Yuan, and a sense of kindred spirit arose in his heart. He hadn't expected that the person who understood him the most would be Uchiha Yuan. Uchiha Yuan was right. For the sake of the clan, he could accept being branded with the Cage Bird Seal; as a member of the Branch Family, he would also be willing to sacrifice his life to protect the Main Family. However, he truly could not accept his own life being manipulated by others.

Hyuga Kagami's expression softened, and he revealed a carefree smile as he said to Uchiha Yuan, "Yuan, it seems you were still hiding your strength during our last match. Facing Hyuga Kanjin's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, you were actually able to redirect all the palm force into the ground beneath your feet. Truly impressive."

Uchiha Yuan said nonchalantly, "That guy was just too weak."

He paused, then asked Hyuga Kagami, "Kagami, do you want to become stronger?"

Hyuga Kagami nodded heavily, a look of determination on his face. "I do."

"If you're willing, you can join us. We train at the Hatake Clan Land after school."

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Kagami first looked at Senju Gen in surprise. He hadn't realized when Senju Gen had started hanging out with Uchiha Yuan and the others.

Then, his expression turned solemn as he nodded, "Of course, I'm willing."

Two days later, at the Hatake Clan Land.

Senju Gen and Hatake Harukaze were sparring. They advanced and retreated, and for a time, neither could gain the upper hand.

Not far away, on the edge of an open space, Hyuga Kagami was observing the two intently with his Byakugan activated. This was his first time participating in Uchiha Yuan's private training.

"Although Harukaze has less Chakra than Gen, his techniques for attacking and exerting force are far more refined than Gen's. I estimate they'll decide a winner within the next ten moves."

Beside Hyuga Kagami, Uchiha Yuan sat cross-legged, his gaze fixed on the two sparring in the field, observing the openings and flaws revealed in their movements.

"Three more moves. It looks like Harukaze will win today," Uchiha Yuan said.

As soon as he spoke, they saw Senju Gen dodge an punch from Hatake Harukaze with a sidestep, then stomp his foot down hard.

The ground cracked and collapsed under the immense force, and Hatake Harukaze immediately lost his footing.

Seizing the opportunity, Senju Gen used a Body Flicker Technique, appearing behind Hatake Harukaze with one hand held like a blade at his neck.

However, Hatake Harukaze's figure exploded into scattered leaves and disappeared. It was a Clone Technique.

At the same moment, Senju Gen felt his feet being grabbed.

The next second, he was violently pulled into the earth, only his head remaining above ground.

It was the Double Suicide Decapitation Technique.

Hyuga Kagami retracted his Byakugan, his face unable to hide his astonishment.

Both of their performances far exceeded his predictions, especially Hatake Harukaze. He hadn't even noticed when the Clone Technique had been used, let alone how it was combined with the Substitution Technique.

Uchiha Yuan chuckled, "I thought Harukaze would lose, but I didn't expect him to coordinate his Clone Technique and Substitution Technique so skillfully in the end."

Just then, Senju Gen and Hatake Harukaze walked over.

Senju Gen patted the dust off his body and said with a look of annoyance, "Harukaze's Blade Technique is getting sharper and sharper. It forced me to concentrate fully, or I wouldn't have been fooled by his Clone Technique."

Uchiha Yuan chuckled, "Gen, losing is losing. There's no need for so many excuses."

Hyuga Kagami stood up and walked to Senju Gen, saying, "Gen, you were always the one I most wanted to spar with, but I never had the chance. Today, let's have a match right here."

Senju Gen let out a hearty laugh, "Haha, I've also wanted to experience the power of the Hyuga Gentle Fist for a long time."

Night, Uchiha compound.

The surrounding houses were brightly lit, and the voices of clan members could be heard from time to time.

Uchiha Yuan walked along a secluded path to a warehouse located in a remote corner of the compound.

At the side entrance of the warehouse, Uchiha Yuan formed a hand seal. Ripples instantly appeared in the air, followed by a gate of light like a curtain of water.

At this moment, a barrier enveloped the warehouse. Passing through the gate of light, Uchiha Yuan entered the warehouse.

As soon as he entered, shouts could be heard. In the cleared space in the center of the warehouse, a group of Uchiha youths stood in neat formation, holding a horse stance and practicing Straight Punch Thrusts in sync with a special rhythmic breathing.

"Big Brother."

Uchiha Daishi, who was standing at the very front of the formation practicing Straight Punch Thrusts, stopped his movements upon seeing Uchiha Yuan and walked over to greet him.