Releasing the Caged Bird

This time, the Hyuga Great Elder's actions caused Hyuga Hiashi to lose face in front of his peers. Everyone present was a clan head, and all intended to support Uchiha Izuna in his Coup d'état.

Yet, in his own territory, an incident of high-level eavesdropping occurred. If you can't even control your own Hyuga Clan, what face do you have to lead, and what right do you have to host everyone!

Just like that, a major event occurred in the Hyuga clan that night. Countless members of the Main Branch belonging to the Great Elder's faction were branded with the Caged Bird seal and relegated to the Branch House.

The reasons were varied: entering the door with the left foot first, sleeping too loudly, not completing missions for a month, or failing an audit.

Although the others didn't quite understand, they all gave Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi a thumbs-up.

The Great Elder's faction had long bullied the Branch House, mistreated clansmen, and plundered resources, committing every evil imaginable, but there had never been definitive evidence to take him down.

Furthermore, as he represented the upper echelons of the Hyuga, Hyuga Hiashi had been suffering from a massive headache over having such an old fossil in his family.

Back then, it was he who had led Sarutobi Hiruzen into the clan head's reception room and brought out Hizashi Hyuga to accompany the meeting.

During that meeting, he had hinted both overtly and covertly that Hizashi Hyuga and Hyuga Hiashi were born of the same mother, twins who looked exactly alike.

In the end, this planted a seed of suspicion in Sarutobi Hiruzen, who wanted Hizashi to die to trade for peace and ensure the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan would not leak out.

Hyuga Hiashi had always remembered, remembered the sycophantic face of that old man back then.

"Close the doors! Cripple their tendons and hamstrings! Leave no one behind!" Hyuga Hiashi even personally used the Gentle Fist to cripple Hyuga Rin with a single strike.

After finishing all this, Hyuga Hiashi went to the lounge to apologize to Uchiha Izuna: "Zhan, I..."

Uchiha Izuna reached out a hand: "It's fine, Senior Hiashi. Which family doesn't have a few traitors? Just a few days ago, someone named Uchiha Katsumi colluded with Root, wanting to leak the news of my clan's Coup d'état."

"I was also furious and executed him! Besides, this might not be a bad thing, right? After this purge, Senior Hiashi can better control the Hyuga, can't you?"

Uchiha Izuna's words brought relief to Hyuga Hiashi, and at the same time, his loyalty to Uchiha Izuna increased even further!

"However, Senior Hiashi, now that the internal divisions of the clan are resolved, I must remind you of one thing: Neji Hyuga's father was your brother, and you share the same blood."

"It is time for you to remove the Caged Bird from that child. He is a genius; he shouldn't be bound in a cage."

"Of course, this is your freedom. I'm just saying it casually; the final decision rests in your hands."

After Uchiha Izuna finished speaking, he looked at Hyuga Hiashi with a beaming smile. Hyuga Hiashi began to reflect at this moment. After about ten minutes, he took a deep breath.

"I understand, Zhan. I will remove his Caged Bird now." Hyuga Hiashi had someone bring Neji Hyuga to the lounge.

Neji Hyuga had just finished his epiphany and was planning to sleep when someone knocked on his door.

"Who is it, knocking at this late hour?" Neji Hyuga got up and pushed the door open, only to find Hinata Hyuga. His eyes softened for a fleeting moment before immediately turning fierce.

"Heh, not sleeping in the middle of the night, what does Miss Hinata intend to do?" Neji Hyuga said coldly.

This time, Hinata Hyuga did not feel inferior; instead, she looked up at him: "Brother Neji, Father has something to see you about. It's a good thing!"

"Uncle?" Neji Hyuga frowned, pondering slightly: "If so, lead the way!" Saying this, he straightened his clothes, prepared to follow Hinata Hyuga to see Hyuga Hiashi.

At this moment, Neji Hyuga suddenly discovered that Hinata Hyuga seemed to have changed, becoming confident and brave. This made him feel relieved in his heart; as the heir to the Hyuga Clan, how could she be cowardly and inferior!

His goal had been achieved. Could he be a little gentler to Hinata Hyuga from now on? Thinking of this, the corners of his mouth turned up.

Unknowingly, the two arrived at the lounge where Uchiha Izuna and his group were staying.

Hinata Hyuga knocked on the door, and soon, Hiashi opened it. Seeing his daughter, he smiled slightly: "Where is your brother Neji?"

"Clan Head!" Neji Hyuga stepped forward, showing respect to Hyuga Hiashi.

Although he was of the Branch House, because the Clan Head was his uncle, he enjoyed the resources of the Main Branch, and his uncle was relatively lenient with him regarding missions.

He knew all of this, so for this reason, he had to be respectful toward his uncle.

"Neji, no need for formalities, come in first. Hinata, close the door." Hyuga Hiashi said gently.

Hinata Hyuga nodded obediently. After closing the door, she saw Uchiha Izuna waving at her from the bed. Her eyes lit up, and she scurried over to Uchiha Izuna's bedside.

"I want a hug!" She stretched out her hands, looking at Uchiha Izuna expectantly.

Uchiha Izuna smiled and picked Hinata Hyuga up, holding her in his arms while looking at Neji Hyuga.

Neji Hyuga was struck as if by lightning: "Little thief, let go of my sister!" He couldn't care less about why Hyuga Hiashi had called him over; seeing his little sister in Uchiha Izuna's arms, his anger soared to the heavens!

Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui couldn't help but laugh. The two were discussing something, and this scene was seen by Neji Hyuga, who had activated his Byakugan: "Two seniors! What are you laughing at!"

"My wife is about to give birth!"

"Mine too!"

Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi had been corrupted by Uchiha Izuna; these lines were all learned from him!

Neji Hyuga's face turned bright red: "Is this very funny?" His blood surged, and his complexion shifted from fair to crimson!

"Yo, you've overheated. We generally don't laugh."

"Unless we can't help it!"

Neji Hyuga felt a bit dizzy. Listening to the teasing from Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi, and seeing Uchiha Izuna's dog paws touching his sister, his heart felt as if it were being clawed by a hundred cats!

Finally, Neji Hyuga looked at Hyuga Hiashi: "Uncle, you..."

Before he could finish, Hyuga Hiashi stopped him: "Neji, tonight, Uncle will remove your Caged Bird!" As soon as these words were spoken, Neji Hyuga's pupils constricted.

"Wh... what? Un... Uncle, you!" Neji Hyuga looked at his uncle in disbelief. He hadn't expected his uncle to be willing to do such a thing!

"Alright, don't be surprised. If you want to thank someone, thank your Brother Zhan! It was his brother who executed the Hyuga Great Elder, allowing me to fully master the Hyuga." Hyuga Hiashi laughed.

Hyuga Hiashi stared at Uchiha Izuna in disbelief, but Uchiha Izuna ignored him, instead pinching Hinata's little cheeks and praising her, "How are you so cute!!!"

Hinata turned into a steam engine and didn't reply, though her earlobes were as red as a ripe apple.

Hyuga Hiashi didn't give Neji Hyuga time to react and began chanting, placing his right hand over his chest and circulating his chakra for about a minute.

The green Caged Bird seal on Neji Hyuga's forehead began to twist before finally shattering!

Neji Hyuga felt his spirit soar, and immediately, his chakra erupted!