Among the Hyuga Clan, there was a rule: in each generation, only one member of the Main Family could become the true heir of the Hyuga Clan. That person would also become the next clan head, and would be the only member of the Main Family.
Those who were not chosen would be assigned to the Branch Family between the ages of three and four. The Hyuga Clan's secret technique, the "Secret: Caged Bird," would then be applied to their foreheads.
(The heir, or "Main Family" member, was chosen before the age of four. At age four, those assigned to the Branch Family would receive the "Caged Bird" technique.)
Some people might ask, "Why weren't Hinata and Kamizuki assigned to the Branch Family?"
That's right, they weren't. This was mentioned earlier in the story. Hiashi had begun to question the "Caged Bird" technique.
He felt that after the Hyuga Clan had adopted the "Caged Bird" Cursed Seal, it hadn't just restricted the abilities of Branch Family members. This technique had limited the strength of the entire Hyuga Clan.
As a result, the Hyuga Clan had grown weaker with each passing generation.
For years, Hiashi had refrained from choosing whether Hinata or Kamizuki would inherit the Hyuga Main House. It wasn't because he didn't know who would be the better choice. In fact, when the two children had just turned two, Hiashi had already made up his mind. His choice, of course, was the monstrous genius, Kamizuki.
Although he had made his choice, he also wanted to abolish the clan rule requiring the "Caged Bird" Cursed Seal, so he had kept putting off announcing who would inherit the Main House.
Over the years, Hiashi had made many efforts, continually trying to persuade the clan elders.
After all these years of Hiashi's tireless efforts, the clan elders had finally agreed yesterday, at a Hyuga Clan meeting, to abolish the "Caged Bird" Cursed Seal.
After the proposal passed, Hiashi and his younger brother Hizashi, who had always supported him, were both overjoyed.
In the midst of his good mood, Hiashi had announced at the meeting, "Today, in my capacity as the fifth clan head of the Hyuga Clan, I hereby declare that Hyuga Kamizuki will be my heir." (The "fifth" here is entirely something the author made up; there's no basis for it.)
When all the Hyuga Clan members attending the meeting heard that Hiashi had chosen Hyuga Kamizuki as his successor, they all smiled with relief.
The scene returned to the two little ones standing in the main hall, waiting for Hiashi to speak. Oh, right—Kamizuki was holding a little one, too.
Hiashi looked at the two children standing in the middle of the hall. His face was as stern and imposing as ever. He coughed lightly twice and cleared his throat before speaking:
"Children, there's something your father needs to announce today."
He glanced at the two children standing there, who showed no great reaction, then continued, "From this day forward, my second child, Kamizuki, will be the future heir of the Hyuga Clan."
Hinata, who was adorably bashful, didn't react much. She was more than happy for her monstrous-genius little brother to be the heir. If she had to do it herself, she'd be devastated.
Kamizuki didn't react much either. He just felt the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders growing heavier.
Over the years, as he'd grown up in the Hyuga household, he'd clearly sensed how much Hiashi expected of him. So when he heard the news, he wasn't particularly surprised.
As for the little girl in Kamizuki's arms—well, let's leave her out of it. She was only three; what could she possibly understand? She wasn't like Kamizuki, who had been reincarnated. Her only job right now was to grow up happily and carefree.
Seeing that the children all acted as if they'd known the result in advance and barely reacted, Hiashi thought about it for a moment. He decided there was nothing to feel conflicted about. After all, who could blame him for having such a monstrous son?
At the thought, Hiashi felt a little smug.
Hiashi continued, "There's one more thing. With the unanimous agreement of the clan elders, our clan will abolish the 'Caged Bird' Cursed Seal from this day forward.
(Just to clarify, abolishing the Caged Bird means that from now on, the seal won't be applied to Branch Family children. However, if a clan member commits a wrongdoing or refuses to obey the clan, the technique may still be used to keep them in check.)
Hinata and Kamizuki were both stunned when they heard the news.
They hadn't imagined that a clan rule passed down for so many years would be abolished just like that. They had no idea how much effort Hiashi and Hizashi had put in before they finally managed to abolish it.
Kamizuki had been planning to wait until he was a little older before asking Hiashi to abolish the "Caged Bird" Cursed Seal. He'd even found a method for removing it among Hamura's Inheritance.
He hadn't expected Hiashi to abolish the "Caged Bird" Cursed Seal so soon.
The next day, news that Kamizuki had been appointed heir to the Hyuga Clan spread throughout Konoha Village, reaching both the great and small clans as well as the various Konoha departments.
In the dark underground of Konoha, an old man stood on a bridge. His body was wrapped in bandages, leaving only half his face exposed. He was about the same age as the Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and he was listening as one of his subordinates reported the news.
The subordinate respectfully reported something to the old man.
After reporting for about ten minutes, the subordinate kneeling before the old man, wearing a mask that resembled a raccoon's, finally finished relaying all the information.
Once his subordinate had finished, the old man wrapped in bandages waved him away.
The subordinate who had been kneeling, his face hidden behind the raccoon-like mask, rose and bowed respectfully to the old man. With a "whoosh," he vanished into the darkness.
A moment later, the old man seemed to come back from his thoughts. At some point, a cane had appeared in his hand. He stood on the bridge, leaning on it, and a hint of a sinister, crafty smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. It was so faint that you'd hardly notice it unless you looked closely.
He couldn't help murmuring, "Hyuga Kamizuki... Hyuga Kamizuki... Hyuga Kamizuki. Heh... What an interesting little brat."
Uh... why does it seem like whenever it's time for the author's note, I always start with the word "sorry"? (The author is embarrassed...)
The ending might be a little messy. Sorry about that.
All right! No more rambling. I'm late, so I'll keep it short!
Before you continue