Caged Bird, When Will You Fly

It had been over a month since his direct confrontation with the Nine-Tails. Genichi had returned to his routine of school, training, and sleeping—a simple, three-point line that was both peaceful and fulfilling.

"Ah, I can't do it anymore. Ninja abilities have their limits. I've learned one thing from my brief time in school: the more you obsess over study, the more you realize that ninja abilities have limits. You end up falling into unexpected dilemmas and losing all your progress, unless you transcend being a ninja."

Genichi, who had been secretly reading up on sealing techniques during class, sighed to himself.

During this period, Genichi had to integrate Tobirama's Lightning Release techniques into his physical conditioning, cut leaves and stones to practice the nature transformation of his Wind Release chakra, and swim through the vast, ocean-like knowledge of sealing techniques—using breaststroke, freestyle, and everything in between.

Minato turned his head back: "Genichi, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"I'm done being a traditional ninja, Minato."

Genichi was satisfied with his progress over this period, but he was also clearly aware that ordinary ninjas had their limits. Without the bloodline of the Six Paths, he would likely be stuck at the level of a Five Kage-tier ninja during the Fourth Ninja World War, or perhaps just a tiny bit beyond that.

But what would be the point of that? Transmigrating here, working hard for decades, only to go and clear out cannon fodder in the Ninja World War?

Whether he continued to research the secrets of chakra or sought a way to break through the limits of the flesh, an excellent medical ninja was essential.

I choose you—Pika-Hana.

The deeper he delved into various fields of knowledge, the more time and energy they consumed. Genichi knew he could no longer balance medical studies with his other research, so he had to choose to cultivate an excellent medical ninja to act as his assistant.

Genichi turned his head and said to Hyuga Hana: "I gave you all the training method for the Rasengan a long time ago. How is it that you still haven't learned it? Fortunately, I've prepared a final little prop and my secret technique for you. Come to my house after school to get them."

Hana looked at her desk-mate, who was wearing an incredibly serious expression, wanting to say something but holding back. In the end, she nodded.

After school, they arrived at Genichi's home.

In truth, she had already learned the Rasengan, but she was afraid that the Main Branch would see the new jutsu and demand that the Branch Family hand it over. Moreover, the Rasengan looked quite a bit like a miniature version of the Main Branch's secret technique, the Heavenly Rotation. With the Caged Bird Seal hanging over her head, Hyuga Hana really didn't want to provoke the sensitive nerves of the Main Branch.

He closed the door, just as she was preparing to explain the situation.

"You don't think I called you here for something as trivial as the Rasengan, do you? What I want to talk about is the Caged Bird Seal." Genichi stood at the intersection of light and shadow, his face indifferent, his tone devoid of fluctuation.

She was caught off guard by the sudden shift in her desk-mate's temperament.

During her time at school, Hana had considered it the happiest period of her life. She couldn't remember much of her childhood; ever since the Caged Bird Seal was planted, her life had lost its color.

Within the Hyuga clan, things were strict and rigid, with a clear hierarchy of status. As a lowly member of the Branch Family, her life was held in the hands of the Main Branch. She spent her days living in fear of the unknown future, numbing herself with the Hyuga clan's cumbersome etiquette and reciting the ancestral teachings, as if it were only natural for the Branch Family to have the seal carved into them to protect the Main Branch.

Only when she left the clan grounds and arrived at school could Hana take a light breath. Away from the rigid Hyuga clan, it felt as if the mission of the Branch Family had been set aside.

Looking at the lively, vibrant classmates around her, she felt as if she were just as free as they were—like a bird that had flown out of its cage.

The elders in the clan always said that as a member of the Hyuga Branch Family, one should feel honored by the mission of the Branch.

Hana couldn't understand it; she had never felt happy about being a Hyuga.

"You know, some birds are destined not to be kept in a cage. Every one of their feathers shines with the brilliance of freedom," Genichi continued to recite his lines with cold indifference.

"Do you intend to return to the cage, gradually becoming the very elder you hate the most right now, and then pass this despair inherited from above down to the next generation of the Branch Family?

Or are you willing to roar against this injustice and prove to this world that you once existed? The falling of cherry blossoms signifies death, but they bloom nonetheless—that is their refusal to be bound by the branches.

Do you have a goal you would pursue even if it meant death?"

"But... the Caged Bird Seal is unsolvable. Every member of the Branch Family who has rebelled has died. This is the fate of the Branch Family," Hana lowered her head, answering in a helpless, low voice.

"This was never a rebellion; you simply chose to be loyal to your own heart.

Do you know? There is no such thing as fate in this world. Only those who stumble due to ignorance and fear fall into the muddy currents of worldly affairs, being swept along for the rest of their lives."

"But... why are you helping me?" The development was too shocking; Hana's mind was still a mess.

"If you must ask, it is both a whim and a long-planned scheme. Now, it is time to make a decision. Hana, do you want to join my side?"

The familiar scene made Hana feel as if she had returned to the first day of school. At that time, how could this be?

"Is your usual self just a disguise?" Looking at the desk-mate before her, whose image didn't match her memories at all, Hana looked at him in disbelief.

Genichi hadn't expected that the invitation lines he had spent days preparing to establish a strong, cooperative image would be so different from his usual self—making him look like a mastermind villain from the Ninja World—and that it would scare his desk-mate so badly.

But things had reached this point, and the atmosphere was set, so Genichi had no choice but to maintain the act. He reached out a hand toward Hana:

"The sky, in fact, is colorless. It didn't deceive you; it was your own eyes deceiving yourself. Likewise, I have no intention of deceiving you; you simply haven't understood my true face yet.

So, what is your answer?"

Hyuga Hana let out a long sigh, gripped Genichi's outstretched hand tightly, and said firmly:

"Give me liberty, or give me death."