Bird in a Cage (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

By the end of July, the weather was growing increasingly sweltering, yet within the Hyuga clan compound, a sense of desolation surged in the heart of Hideichi Hyuga.

"So impressive, Hideichi! Truly worthy of a secret technique; both the clan head and the Hokage have been praising your performance lately."

"I wish I were as talented as Hideichi!"

"You still have the chance to learn the Eight Trigrams Palms, keep working hard, Hideichi."

"Hideichi, you are our pride..."

Within the branch family, everyone who encountered Hideichi Hyuga would offer loud praise, and whenever they mentioned the secret technique bestowed upon him by the main house, they would puff out their chests with pride.

Hideichi Hyuga wore a humble smile on the surface, but once he was out of sight of his clansmen, he subconsciously clenched his fists, his turbulent emotions nearly triggering his Byakugan directly.

"Hideichi, don't let others see you looking like that."

Hizashi Hyuga, who had pulled open the sliding door, offered a reminder. Hideichi Hyuga took a deep breath before stepping into the room, and after sitting down, neither of them spoke for a long time.

In the branch family, even those with outstanding talent were forbidden from learning the secret techniques of the Hyuga clan.

Most branch family members had no objections to this, but a small minority felt humiliated; they shared the same bloodline and the same eyes, yet they were treated as inferior.

"What were your thoughts on this mission?"

Hizashi Hyuga looked at the youth bowing his head before him. The latter slowly raised his head, then spoke in an envious tone:

"Whether it is Shu or Kakashi, their talent is exceptionally brilliant."

"They are free to learn anything they wish, while I can only submit to the decaying clan system. This 'favor' from the main house feels more like charity."

Presenting a useful "tool" to the village to demonstrate their stance—that was how Hideichi Hyuga perceived his acquisition of the Rotation.

Hizashi Hyuga did not offer an immediate evaluation, instead asking with a calm expression:

"Has Shu Furukawa been paying attention to the Hyuga clan?"

"I cannot be certain of his attitude. Shu gives me an indescribable feeling; his talent might far exceed what the village imagines."

Hideichi Hyuga responded in a low voice, recalling their time together, and could not help but remember those words: "Stay alive."

"As expected, one should not pin their hopes on the next Hokage."

"Perhaps this is the fate of the branch family. Hideichi, do not show your emotions in front of the main house."

"This world is just like this; there are always things that cannot be changed. Just live on with hope."

Hizashi Hyuga offered a low word of encouragement. He did not want to offer empty promises; as a member of the branch family, he could change nothing.

Seeming to have anticipated this result, Hideichi Hyuga nodded slightly in response. Thinking of the role ordinary ninja played in war, he whispered with self-mockery:

"Thank you, Lord Hizashi. At least I am still a precious tool."

As night fell, the commercial district became exceptionally lively under the colorful lights, with several new izakayas having recently opened in the village.

"Ha..."

Tsunade let out a soft cry after downing a drink, then immediately slammed her glass onto the table, causing the fair, rounded curves visible within her sleeveless top to bounce:

"Another few rounds! When the weather is this hot, one should drink refreshing beer like this!"

Shizune felt a bit worried seeing her tipsy teacher, but Shu Furukawa was already used to it; with Tsunade's ability to manipulate chakra, it was simple for her to avoid getting drunk.

Taking the opportunity to pour Tsunade another glass, Shu Furukawa raised his oolong tea to toast and asked with a smile:

"Teacher, aside from the Hyuga clan, how can ordinary ninja release chakra from the acupuncture points all over their bodies?"

Under normal circumstances, Tsunade wouldn't have answered, likely just flicking his forehead and telling him to focus on the basics. However, having reached a high spirits, the situation was entirely different; she squinted her eyes and replied:

"Another one of these profound questions!"

"Controlling the acupuncture points across the entire body to release chakra? Aside from the Hyuga clan, no one can do it."

"Did you see the Rotation? Even with that secret technique, the effects vary depending on the user."

"Being able to stably and rapidly extract chakra from the meridians and release it from the acupuncture points is something even few within the Hyuga clan can fully master."

"Unlike the elemental Kekkei Genkai of Iwagakure, the Hyuga clan's Kekkei Genkai was not developed; it is an innate talent."

"..."

Shu Furukawa nodded thoughtfully, then revealed a smile. While pouring more wine, he greeted Shizune:

"The fried food at this shop is quite good!"

Seeing that Tsunade was indeed clear-headed, Shizune felt relieved. The girl ate the freshly served Tempura and soon praised it happily:

"Shu, this is really delicious!"

"But I still prefer the food you cook. Teacher Tsunade has even complained a few times recently..."

"Pour the wine!"

Tsunade interrupted the girl's chatter. Having lived a life of comfort for too long, she had indeed developed some dependency, but as a teacher, she could not show that side of herself.

Shu Furukawa smiled and continued to fill Tsunade's glass, while signaling the shopkeeper to bring a new round of appetizers. This mission had ultimately been upgraded to S-rank by Jiraiya, so it counted as a small profit.

No longer asking about ninjutsu, Shu Furukawa simply shared some interesting anecdotes from his mission, which soon brought a smile to Shizune's face, even prompting Tsunade to join in with some playful banter.

Drinking until late into the night, a flushed Tsunade left the shop satisfied under the staff's respectful send-off, squinting her eyes at the entrance to ask:

"Shu, is the short blade handling well?"

"The conduction and storage effects are excellent; it is thanks to your gift, Teacher Tsunade, that I was able to return safely."

Shu Furukawa respectfully offered this "flattery," and Tsunade, no longer asking for mission details, leaned in to flick his forehead and whispered a warning:

"I don't want to see you at the Memorial Stone in a few years, so don't you dare slack off—finish the Strength of a Hundred Seal as soon as possible."

"Teacher, hasn't the follow-up development for that technique not been completed yet?"

"You little brat, you really aren't cute at all..."

In early August, Shu Furukawa, now on vacation, continued to condense Sage Technique chakra at home according to his routine; with the quantity of "Essence" secret medicine increased, his progress had accelerated once more.

Katsuyu, perched on his shoulder, remained motionless until Shu Furukawa, sitting in meditation, finished his refinement, at which point she praised him in a cheerful tone:

"Lord Shu, the progress of your Strength of a Hundred Seal has improved again!"

"Once this technique is completed, I will be able to assist Lord Shu in entering Sage Mode, and subsequent refinement of Sage Technique chakra will become much easier."

Shu Furukawa merely nodded, then lowered his voice to ask:

"Katsuyu, you mentioned before that Hagoromo Otsutsuki and Hamura Otsutsuki inherited different powers; did the initial chakra influence the Sage of Six Paths more?"

"Yes! The power of the Sage of Six Paths has been passed down to this day, and the influence of that chakra manifests every few years."

Katsuyu wiggled her antennae and slithered onto his knee, and after a moment of thought, Shu Furukawa suddenly asked again:

"Can you sense the chakra passed down by Indra and Ashura?"

"I can, Lord Shu, but it requires the other party to awaken that power."

Shu Furukawa was unsure exactly what those two streams of chakra were like, but he knew they must exist within the Uchiha "Dance King."

The Byakugan might not be obtainable through [Collection], and Shu Furukawa did not want to get too close to the Hyuga clan, but those two streams of chakra were things he was determined to acquire:

"I may have to trouble you in the future, Katsuyu!"

"No problem, Lord Shu; I am very much looking forward to your path of evolution."

"..."