Caged Bird, When Will You Fly

"Monster..."

Having heard that Akimichi Denji had been practicing the "Strength of a Hundred" for less than a week, Hyuga Neji silently raised his estimation of the boy.

He had once thought himself a genius, the likes of which the Hyuga Clan had not seen in a decade.

Before, he had viewed himself as one looking at the moon from the bottom of a well; now, facing Akimichi Denji, he felt like a mayfly gazing up at the vast blue sky.

If only...

If only I could master the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

With the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, perhaps I would have the strength to put up a fight.

But that was the secret, non-transferable technique of the Main House, and as a member of the Branch House, I have no way to be taught it.

Relying on watching others, I have barely managed to learn four of the palms.

I still need time.

Akimichi Denji waited for Shizune to finish healing Hyuga Neji before attempting to open a conversation: "Your taijutsu is impressive! I've also faced Hyuga Hinata, and her Gentle Fist didn't seem as brilliant as yours."

"Of course it wasn't!" Mentioning this, a trace of pride entered Hyuga Neji's tone. "In this generation of the Hyuga Clan, if I claim to be second, no one dares to claim first—not even the Hyuga Main House."

The current Hyuga Neji was still young; although he already harbored resentment toward the Main House, he was not yet as deeply embittered as he would be in the original story, still possessing a child's innocence.

Once he was older and had been ruthlessly broken by the Main House, he would likely no longer be so proud.

Akimichi Denji feigned ignorance: "What Main House and Branch House?"

Hyuga Neji raised an eyebrow: "You don't know?"

Akimichi Denji kept his expression neutral and began to bluff:

"Ask anyone outside and they'd know; I just returned to Konoha. I was in the Land of Rain before this."

Hyuga Neji nodded, half-believing, though he did not question it. This information was common knowledge to anyone who asked, and Akimichi Denji had no reason to hide it.

He hesitated for a moment before explaining:

"The Hyuga Clan is divided into the Main House and the Branch House. The Lady Hinata you mentioned belongs to the Main House, while I am of the Branch House."

His words were still full of courtesy toward Hinata. Akimichi Denji could see that the boy before him had become twisted by the conflict between the houses and did not know how to interact with her.

It was only later, under the daily confinement of the Caged Bird, that he would develop a lingering resentment toward her.

"Sounds like we're in the same boat. I'm not exactly welcomed back since returning from the Land of Rain. Maybe it's because my physique doesn't look like the rest of the Akimichi Clan," Akimichi Denji said, trying to bridge the distance between them.

"You're from the Akimichi Clan?" Hyuga Neji asked, shocked.

The Hyuga Clan was quite insular within the village, and news traveled slowly, especially for him as a member of the Branch House, whose daily life consisted only of teaching the Main House children.

Even the fact that Akimichi Denji was apprenticed to Tsunade was likely known only to the Main House.

"Guaranteed, and because of this, I was even stashed away in a remote corner of the clan for a while," Akimichi Denji said, recounting their shared points of struggle.

Seeing that the boy before him shared a similar plight and seemed to have a difficult time within his own clan, Hyuga Neji felt as if he had found a kindred spirit.

Hyuga Neji nodded: "Being discriminated against within one's own clan is indeed uncomfortable."

Akimichi Denji asked a question he already knew the answer to: "You don't look like you've been discriminated against much! You even perform the Gentle Fist so well."

No matter how well the Gentle Fist is performed, no matter how high the talent, what use is it when one is a member of the Branch House...

They were peers, yet Hyuga Neji had been subjected to a dimensional strike by his opponent.

The similar experiences and their status as geniuses gave him the urge to confide in this boy for the first time.

Hyuga Neji hesitated for a moment, then slowly unwound the white headband from his forehead, revealing the ugly, "X"-shaped seal.

"As members of the Branch House, our destiny is to protect the Main House. The Hyuga Clan divides us into Main and Branch based on bloodline proximity and birth order. Those of the Branch House are branded with the 'Caged Bird' destiny. The 'Caged Bird' seal protects the Byakugan of our Hyuga Clan from leaking out and preserves our Kekkei Genkai."

"Doesn't sound as miserable as my situation," Akimichi Denji said, seemingly provoking him.

Hearing this, Hyuga Neji's face twisted:

"What do you know? The Branch House must obey every order from the Main House, even if it means being told to die!"

He seemed to recall past events: "If we don't obey, the Main House can use the Caged Bird to punish the Branch House. That feeling is worse than death."

"I don't get it?" Akimichi Denji shrugged, looking at the clear blue sky outside the wooden hut. White clouds drifted by, and birds perched on the branches, seemingly seeking shelter from the sweltering summer heat.

"Don't get what?" Hyuga Neji frowned, wondering if this boy had sacrificed his intelligence for the sake of raw power.

"You just said the Caged Bird is destiny, right?" Akimichi Denji turned his head, his red eyes fixed on Hyuga Neji.

"Yes, everyone has their own destiny. The Caged Bird is the destiny of the Branch House. No one can escape it, just like... those who are destined to become Hokage are born with that fate. And the son of a scapegoat can only ever be a scapegoat."

"But from your description, I can't help but feel that the Caged Bird is just a Sealing Jutsu, isn't it?" Akimichi Denji asked, puzzled. "Since it's a ninjutsu, there must be a way to break it, right?"

Akimichi Denji grinned at Hyuga Neji, revealing a mouthful of sharp white teeth. The smile was unrestrained and brilliant, and his tone was as casual as saying "people have to eat when they're hungry."

That smile, however, appeared exceptionally dazzling in Hyuga Neji's eyes, his red hair like flames flickering within the empty, white pupils.

"It's not destiny at all, is it? It's just a seal."

"You don't understand. If you try to undo the Caged Bird, you'll be targeted by the entire Hyuga Main House," Hyuga Neji gritted his teeth.

"Aren't you supposed to be a genius? Why are you admitting defeat before you've even done anything?" Akimichi Denji looked at Hyuga Neji with a hint of disdain. "You really do love giving up, don't you!"

"That is the entire Hyuga Clan we're talking about; it's simply impossible." Hyuga Neji felt a spark of irritation.

"Nothing is impossible. With my build, it should be impossible for me to become the head of the Akimichi Clan. Someone from the Land of Rain shouldn't be able to become Hokage, either." Akimichi Denji looked at Hyuga Neji calmly, his eyes steady, as if he were stating facts he was destined to achieve.

"But watch me. I will become the head of the Akimichi Clan, and I will become Hokage."

The certainty in his eyes told Hyuga Neji that Denji wasn't talking about fate; the things that came out of Denji's mouth were the only fate that mattered.

"I don't understand this 'fate' you speak of, but if it truly is as you say—that despite sharing the same blood, people are divided into Main House and Branch House simply because of lineage proximity or birth order..."

"Then what is there to care about regarding such a Main House? They are nothing but vermin."

The words landed in Hyuga Neji's ears like a stone dropped into a calm lake, sending ripples that refused to settle for a long time.

Under the shade of the trees, a few birds resting suddenly flapped their wings, skimming lightly over the eaves and charging into the clear, washed-blue expanse of the sky.

They circled and chirped, as if announcing a belated discovery—it wasn't raining outside at all.

Hyuga Neji looked at the sky beyond the eaves and let out a long breath.

"Breaking the Caged Bird... insulting the Main House... do you know what you're saying? Even if you are Princess Tsunade's disciple, even if you are the son of Akimichi Choza, if this reaches the ears of the Hyuga Clan, you'll be found dead tomorrow with several kunai in your back."

Akimichi Denji knew his words had taken effect; otherwise, Hyuga Neji would have turned and walked away instead of saying all this.

"Identity is nothing but an empty name."

"Join me. Let's make Konoha better together. If you can't stand the flaws of Konoha, then throw yourself into building it, into reforming it. Don't just sit there complaining."

His tone rose sharply, carrying a fervor and determination bordering on that of a martyr, and he threw his arms wide as if to embrace the entire sky:

"Let this scarred village be truly healed by our hands!"

He looked at Denji, his eyes complex. "'We'? ...We... does this count as an organization?"

"Of course." Akimichi Denji's reply was ironclad.

"What is it called?"

Akimichi Denji looked at the few leisurely, pristine white clouds drifting outside the window and said, "Let's call it the Azure Cloud Sect!"

"Azure Cloud, Azure Cloud..." Hyuga Neji murmured, chewing on the two words. He gazed at the flowing clouds, a faint, relieved smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He liked the name very much.

Hyuga Neji had to admit that he had been persuaded.

Even though his reason reminded him that the red-haired boy before him was the direct disciple of Princess Tsunade, a core member of the Hokage's inner circle.

Yet, the path described by the other, those inflammatory words, had a core that was shockingly rebellious.

This Akimichi Denji from the Hokage's faction was even more radical than he, a member of the Hyuga Branch House!

Ding! Hyuga Neji's long-cherished wish [Caged Bird, When Will You Fly] has been activated.
Complete the first stage [Gently Awaken the Sleeping Heart] to receive a chance to randomly draw from Hyuga Neji's ability panel.

A notification appeared on the panel that Akimichi Denji had never seen before.

The Wish Achievement System seemed to have undergone a slight change; when it involved complex propositions like long-cherished wishes, it would grant rewards based on the completion of phased goals.

His words had successfully triggered the first stage of Hyuga Neji's wish.

Akimichi Denji was very satisfied with this result.

He had thought he would have to completely fulfill the wish to get a reward, but having it broken into stages was even better. Even if he didn't manage to fulfill the wish in the end, he wouldn't be at a total loss.

He couldn't help but think of Uchiha Itachi. He was certain that Uchiha Itachi also had a long-cherished wish, but it hadn't been revealed to him yet—perhaps at this point in time, the wish wasn't strong enough.

Akimichi Denji shifted his gaze to the panel, where the ability roulette wheel belonging to Hyuga Neji had appeared.

It really was a lottery.

"1. Gentle Fist (Master Level)"

"2. Hyuga Neji's Chakra Reserves (Current Stage)."

"3. Caged Bird Byakugan."

"4. Three Body Technique (Proficient Level)"

"5. Ninja Tool Throwing (Proficient Level)"

Hyuga Neji's Three Body Technique and Ninja Tool Throwing were both at the Proficient level, which was the standard for most Genin and Chunin.

The Gentle Fist had already progressed to the Master level, which presumably did not include the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

Otherwise, the proficiency wouldn't be this high.

No matter how much of a genius Hyuga Neji was, he hadn't yet learned the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms belonging to the Main House.

In addition, two new abilities had appeared—Chakra Reserves and Caged Bird Byakugan.

Akimichi Denji understood; these were likely drawn based on Hyuga Neji's current capabilities. If the Caged Bird were broken in the future, would he be able to obtain a complete Byakugan?

Akimichi Denji clicked on the draw, and the wheel began to spin.

After a while, it stopped on the words "Gentle Fist (Proficient Level)."

Akimichi Denji nodded in satisfaction, quite pleased with the result of the draw.

The Byakugan's abilities were far too conspicuous and difficult to explain away. Obtaining it would do more harm than good for Akimichi Denji.

Furthermore, Hyuga Neji had yet to reach his full potential, and his chakra reserves were pitifully small. That meager amount of chakra was, for him, barely better than nothing.

He couldn't help but look forward to the moment his wish was fulfilled; he estimated that the version of Hyuga Neji he would summon then would be the fully realized one.

"If we want to break the Caged Bird, I don't think we have enough," Hyuga Neji asked Akimichi Denji.

Akimichi Denji nodded. His Wish Points could only grant him proficiency in a specific ninjutsu, but the Caged Bird was controlled by the elders of the Hyuga Main House.

If he had the training manual for the Caged Bird, he could use his Wish Points to deduce it to a sufficiently high level, and naturally, a way to break it would emerge.

He immediately extinguished this thought; it was nothing but nonsense.

The Hyuga Main House viewed the Caged Bird as their exclusive property; anyone who dared to touch it would surely face a brutal reckoning.

"Two methods," Denji said, pulling his thoughts back and holding up two fingers.

"Which two?" Neji pressed, his brow furrowing slightly.

"The first," Denji lowered his first finger, "is to recruit like-minded allies. We find partners who share our goals and possess profound mastery in soul ninjutsu and Sealing Jutsu, then pool our wisdom to collectively analyze the seal structure of the Caged Bird."

Neji was silent for a moment, a bitter smile touching his lips: "As difficult as ascending to heaven."

He analyzed it: "First, the Caged Bird itself is the highest-level secret curse seal of the Hyuga Clan, and its complexity far exceeds ordinary ninjutsu."

"Second, this is the lethal forbidden zone of the Hyuga Main House! What expert proficient in this field would dare risk becoming an enemy of the entire Hyuga Clan just to meddle in this forbidden territory?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Denji and himself with self-deprecation: "As for us... at the very least, in the fields of soul and sealing, I fear our talent is mediocre."

"Feel free to belittle yourself, but don't drag me into it," Akimichi Denji glanced at Hyuga Neji and said, "I actually have quite a brain."

He tapped his temple, where world-shaking wisdom was supposedly hidden.

Neji: "..." He took a deep breath, deciding to ignore the other's self-assessment.

"...Fine, then what is the second method?"

Akimichi Denji grinned, revealing a set of White Fang-like teeth, his smile so bright it was nearly dangerous:

"We simply pick a 'good day,' hold a blade to the throat of Clan Head Hiashi or some other Main House member of sufficient weight, and force them to hand over the method to undo the Caged Bird!"

The veins on Hyuga Neji's forehead twitched uncontrollably.

"Let's stick to considering the first method."

He was now even more convinced that Akimichi Denji had put all his talent into taijutsu, and that his brain was likely filled with nothing but muscle.

"Are you really not going to consider the second one? You can't act because of the Caged Bird's restrictions, but I can."