You'll regret this, Hiruzen!

A few days later, Hyuga Hane and the ninjas accompanying him came to a halt, slowly emerging from the mountain forest.

Ahead, three massive stone faces came into view, and as their gazes shifted downward, a vast complex of buildings sat neatly arranged together.

Konoha, the starting point of everything.

"It's been a while since I've been back to the village; it feels so nostalgic."

A female ninja relaxed her expression, her white pupils scanning her companions as she asked softly, "Um, what do you think the Main Branch will do?"

The surrounding Hyuga ninjas exchanged glances, none of them daring to voice their true thoughts.

"Since the curse seal has been leaked, they should consider removing it entirely, right?" The female ninja pressed her palm against her forehead, right over the area hidden by her ninja headband. "To be honest, this mark is a bit ugly..."

"So, you hate it that much?"

A Hyuga Jonin suddenly appeared, staring at the frozen girl as he said coldly, "Go find the Lord and accept your punishment."

"...Yes!" The girl lowered her head deeply.

"Do not think this accident will bring about change. Once a Branch Family member, always a Branch Family member!"

The Hyuga Jonin swept his gaze across the group of Hyuga ninjas, and only after seeing them all lower their heads did he continue, "Those who wish to have the Caged Bird removed, follow me now."

No one responded.

Seeing this, the Hyuga Jonin nodded with satisfaction.

"The improvement of the Caged Bird technique requires your assistance. It is voluntary; those who wish to go, go."

With that, his figure vanished from the spot in an instant.

The atmosphere among the remaining Hyuga ninjas was deathly silent; no one dared to be the first to walk into that village that "symbolized home."

Do the high-ranking officials of Konoha approve of the Hyuga clan improving the technique, rather than completely abolishing the Caged Bird?

That makes sense. If they were to remove the Caged Bird from the Branch Family now, it would be equivalent to unleashing a source of instability.

The Hyuga Branch Family are slaves to the Main Branch, and the ninjas of Konoha have always adopted an attitude of ignoring the suffering of these branch members.

Companions?

True companions would never watch their own be fitted with slave collars.

The Hyuga Branch Family not only has conflicts with the Main Branch, but they have also never truly been accepted by Konoha.

Hyuga Hane observed the clenched fists of several ninjas, whispering to himself.

However, to improve the technique, the Hyuga clan must hand over the Caged Bird technique.

What will the person who obtains it do?

As a technique for controlling others, the advantages of the Caged Bird go without saying.

Improving it will only serve to indulge the ambitions of certain people.

Anyone with foresight will inevitably study a way to break the Caged Bird.

"Danzo, what do you intend to do by taking the Caged Bird technique from that side?"

Hokage Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the old man opposite him, his expression grave.

"The power of the Root is already sufficient; do not continue to expand it!"

Danzo said coldly, "Hiruzen, you are too nervous. I simply need the Caged Bird to strengthen my control over my subordinates."

"Most members of the Root are excellent tools; they do not need the Caged Bird."

"But some of my subordinates only wish to live ordinary lives. I must completely sever those thoughts."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes shifted slightly. "What do you intend to do to Nonō and Kabuto?"

Danzo said with profound meaning, "They are members of the Root. They only need to become emotionless spies."

"No, they are members of Konoha and inheritors of the Will of Fire."

"Nonō has already gathered enough intelligence for Konoha; let her enjoy the rest of her life in peace!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone was firm. "And Kabuto—hand him over to me once he completes his mission."

"Hiruzen, you are too soft-hearted." Danzo shook his head. "If you had let the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki join the Root back then, I could have turned her into a perfect war machine long ago and ended the Third Shinobi World War."

"Instead of how it is now, using fragile emotions to bind the Jinchuriki."

"Nonō is a perfect spy who possesses too much information, and she is not as foolish as Kushina. When dealing with her, one must never be soft-hearted. Her only fate is..."

"Danzo!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes were sharp as he spoke to interrupt him.

"I am the Hokage, and I have an obligation to ensure everyone in this village lives a happy life."

"Kabuto is a good child, and Nonō has long since grown weary of the life of a spy."

"Konoha's victory does not require them to make sacrifices."

Danzo stared at Sarutobi Hiruzen, looking at his aged face as he neared fifty, "You have become increasingly naive."

"You will regret this, Hiruzen!"

Having said this as if to vent his anger, Danzo could only retreat in frustration.

Hokage, it was always the Hokage.

Every time Hiruzen brought up the Hokage, no matter how many reasons he had, they were useless.

In Konoha, the Hokage was the pinnacle of power.

Whether he, the Hokage Assistant and leader of Root, could continue in his position depended entirely on a single word from Hiruzen.

Therefore, if he wanted Konoha to operate according to his own vision, he had to become the Shadow!

The Caged Bird Seal, the most successful ninjutsu in the history of the Shinobi World for controlling others; he hoped it would not disappoint him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Danzo depart and took a melancholy puff from his pipe, "Otsu."

"Present!"

An Anbu wearing a cat mask appeared via Body Flicker.

The Caged Bird, even with every precaution, after this, it will inevitably fall into the hands of certain shinobi clans. Danzo will not remain quiet, so there must be a way to break it.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Go find Tsunade, tell her to return to Konoha, and say..."

He paused before continuing, "It is the request of her teacher."

"Yes!"

The Anbu acknowledged the order and departed.

With Tsunade and me, plus the assistance of clans like the Yamanaka and Hyuga, it should be possible to break the Caged Bird Seal.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly.

I hope the day never comes when I have to play this card, Danzo.

As a member of the Branch Family, life in Konoha was monotonous.

Executing missions on schedule, going to the "Caged Bird Research Group" organized by Konoha for check-ups, living each day mechanically.

Hyuga Hane simply added Shadow Clone shifts, training, and research on top of this routine.

Like ordinary members of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Hane did not often appear outside the clan, nor would he, like some warm-hearted Uchiha, show his enthusiasm to the villagers.

They were slaves in all but name, the Hyuga Branch Family, enduring the "cold eyes" and strange gazes of their peers.

Among such people, if someone were to suddenly appear with a smile on their face, wanting to inherit the Will of Fire, they would only be seen as having ulterior motives.

Therefore, Hyuga Hane never thought of gaining the trust of the Hokage or other high-ranking officials; he simply played the role of a Hyuga Branch Family member.

"Kid, what is the relationship between your Hyuga clan and Orochimaru?"

In the laboratory of the Caged Bird Research Group, a female ninja who felt somewhat strange yet familiar to Hyuga Hane asked:

"Aside from my teacher, that guy actually went out of his way to write me a letter to come back, and it was for the sake of the Caged Bird; it doesn't seem like something he would do."

She wore a coat with the character for "Gambling" on the back, her golden twin-tails tied behind her head, and her entire being radiated an imposing aura.

Senju Tsunade, princess of the Senju clan, one of the Sannin.