Plan Change

Hyuga Clan Grounds.

Servants in wooden clogs hurried through the corridors, the paper lanterns in their hands lighting up one by one.

Today was the third birthday of the Hyuga Main Branch heir.

It was also the day the other Branch House children would have the Caged Bird seal carved into them.

In the center of the courtyard, three-year-old Hinata Hyuga was surrounded by maids, who were putting the finishing touches on her attire. She wore a pale pink kimono embroidered with the Hyuga clan crest, her porcelain-like cheeks flushed slightly by the glow of the sunset.

A maid knelt on one knee to tie a pale purple sash around her waist.

"Young Miss, please hold your breath."

Hinata obediently pulled in her little tummy. This movement caused her to look up slightly, and in that instant, she caught a fleeting glimpse of something darting past the end of the courtyard.

Yet, hidden beneath the courtyard corridor where her gaze could not reach, two boys were tucked away in the shadows of a pillar, looking incredibly suspicious.

"Neji, that's your cousin, right?" Hyuga Kiyonari lowered his voice, his eyes filled with teasing. "I told you she was cute, didn't I?"

Neji Hyuga's gaze flickered, but it quickly returned to calm. He then turned away, feigning indifference, and said in a tone that suggested it was none of his business, "Let's head back. We shouldn't keep Father waiting too long."

However... the setting sun caught the corners of his tightly pressed lips, leaving them nowhere to hide.

Hyuga Kiyonari could swear to the heavens that since he had met Neji a year ago, this was the first time he had seen the corners of Neji's mouth curve so noticeably!

"Pfft! Hahaha..."

He couldn't hold it in after all. Hadn't he gone through all that trouble to drag Neji to peek over the wall just to see this?

Just as Hyuga Kiyonari prepared to make a few more jokes, Neji, who knew his true nature all too well, had already run off. In the blink of an eye, Kiyonari was left alone outside the courtyard.

He reached up to touch the cloth band tied around his forehead, looked in the direction Neji had disappeared, and followed at a leisurely pace.

"The Caged Bird, huh..."

My name is Hyuga Kiyonari, age 3, living in a single-room apartment in the northeastern part of the Hyuga Clan Grounds, single.

I don't have a system, nor do I have outstanding talent; my bloodline can only be described as slightly better than the average person's.

My parents are both deceased, and the pension issued by the village isn't much—I suspect some people skimmed off the top. But fortunately, the Hyuga clan is relatively generous, providing a monthly living allowance for orphans of the Branch House, so I've let the pension matter slide.

Of course, I'm only telling you this to let you know that I don't have any grand ambitions.

I don't want to become Hokage, nor do I have a desire to compete or win. This is my attitude toward life in this world, and I know this is my version of happiness.

In short, I'm checking out!

If my talent is average, so be it.

Anyway, most Hyuga ninjas are scouts. Even if I go to the battlefield, as long as I'm cautious, I can always avoid those dangerous entities. Pick the weakest opponents, take the safest missions, and when Pain attacks Konoha, I'll apply for an out-of-village mission in advance.

If it's the Caged Bird, then so be it.

At worst, after graduation, I'll just avoid the Main Branch, try to lower my presence, and live as a transparent person. If that doesn't work, I'll apply for a transfer to become a Guardian Ninja at the Daimyo's palace. After all, we're all just trying our best to live.

Hyuga Kiyonari suddenly stopped and patted his forehead. "Almost forgot, I still need to prepare a birthday gift for Hinata."

Even if the Main Branch might not necessarily look at his gift, as a member of the Branch House, he had to show the proper heart and attitude.

The Konoha commercial district was as bustling as ever. Hyuga Kiyonari stopped in front of a ninja tool shop, squinting at the exquisite tools displayed in the window. The silver-bright blades shimmered under the lights, but the price tag next to them made his eyes twitch.

"Tsk..."

He clicked his tongue and decisively turned toward the stationery shop next door. Pushing the door open triggered a crisp chime of wind bells. The shop was small but kept in perfect order, with various stationery items arranged neatly from lowest to highest price.

As the saying goes, when giving a gift, you should choose the item with the lowest cost-performance ratio.

Hyuga Kiyonari stared at the top row of labels as he walked inside, quickly finding his target: a notebook priced at three hundred ryo.

Three hundred ryo could buy the most expensive notebook in the shop—a gold-stamped cover, elegant paper scent, and an ultra-thin profile; it looked like a high-end item at a glance. But if he had chosen a planner or stationery set, three hundred ryo would only buy a generic version without even a nice pattern.

Walking to the counter, he grabbed a common blue gift box, the kind that would disappear into a pile of other gifts in the blink of an eye.

The proprietress smiled as she quoted the price: "Three hundred and eighty ryo in total."

Hyuga Kiyonari counted out three banknotes from his wallet, calculating to himself: I saved twenty ryo on the budget, so I can go to Ichiraku Ramen later and add a fried egg.

Just then, the proprietress handed him an adzuki bean cake. "Little one, make sure to look after big sister's business in the future."

Hyuga Kiyonari replied quite smoothly, "Once I start school, I'll definitely introduce my classmates to your shop."

As he walked out the door, he suddenly remembered something, ran back to borrow a pen from the proprietress, and wrote with a flourish on the inside cover of the notebook:

"Happy Birthday to Young Miss Hinata

--Hyuga Kiyonari"

"Perfect! Saved the money for a greeting card too!"

He tucked the notebook and the adzuki bean cake into the gift box, tied a ribbon, and it was a job well done!

Hyuga Kiyonari clapped his hands in satisfaction and headed toward the Hyuga Clan Grounds.

It wasn't until the lively banquet gradually dispersed that Hinata Hyuga was finally able to slip away from the crowd's gaze, hiding in the shadows of the corridor corner, and impatiently loosened her sash.

"Whew..."

Hinata Hyuga let out a soft breath, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Suddenly, a faint "rumble" emanated from her stomach. Hinata hurriedly clutched her belly, glancing around to ensure no one had heard.

In the main hall, Father was still conversing with several clan elders, and the guests were gathered in small groups. If she went back to get food now, she would definitely be discovered... At this thought, Hinata's eyes suddenly lit up.

That's right, the gifts! Everyone had brought so many presents; perhaps there would be something delicious among them!

She tiptoed, slipping into the side hall where the gifts were stored as lightly as a kitten. The mountain of gift boxes seemed to shimmer like treasure chests under the lamplight.

Hinata Hyuga began to rummage through them cautiously. Most of the boxes contained exquisite kimonos, jewelry, or ninja tools.

After opening a few, she discovered a pattern—the more luxurious a box looked on the outside, the less likely it was to contain anything edible.

Hinata Hyuga blinked her pure white eyes, her gaze sweeping across the pile of gifts until it landed on a simple, light blue box on the floor not far away.

She trotted over and picked up the box. As soon as she pried it open, a rich aroma of red beans wafted out. Inside lay a red bean cake wrapped in oil paper, with a black notebook pressed underneath.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Hyuga Clan Grounds, in a cramped single room.

Hyuga Kiyonari was sprawled out on his bed in a star shape. Just as he was drifting off into a hazy sleep, a cold, mechanical voice rang out in his mind.

[Ding! Suitable actor detected. Grand Director System activating...]

"Huh?!"

Hyuga Kiyonari bolted upright, his eyes wide and all traces of sleepiness vanished: "Wait! The plan has changed!"