The Dead Need Have No Reservations

"The Moon Ōtsutsuki sent an envoy to secretly contact the high-ranking members of the Hyuga Main Family on Earth, proposing a deal—"

"The Moon side hopes that the Hyuga Clan on Earth can regularly send Byakugan energy to the Moon to maintain the stable operation of the Giant Tenseigan. In return, the Moon side is willing to provide the Hyuga Main Family with higher-level Dōjutsu knowledge."

"And the high-ranking members of the Hyuga Clan Main Family on the ground—"

After hearing the proposal, they thought, "This is a good opportunity."

"Because they've always had a hidden worry."

"The branch family members are growing in number and strength, and some branch families have even evolved their Byakugan purity to a higher level than the Main Family —this makes them feel threatened."

"They feared that one day, the branch family would overpower the Main Family and overturn the existing order."

"They need a means—a means to permanently lock down the power relationship between the Main Family and the branch families."

Hyuga Yo's fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of the operating table.

"Therefore, the terrestrial Main Family chose to abandon higher-level Dōjutsu and instead presented the lunar envoy with a condition—"

"The moon will work with them to modify the Caged Bird, allowing the Main Family to have complete control over the life and death of the Main Family's position will never be shaken; in exchange, the Hyuga Main Family on Earth will continuously transfer the Byakugan energy of the branch family members to the moon through the Caged Bird."

"The Moon Ōtsutsuki agreed almost without hesitation—because for them, this meant a stable source of Byakugan energy."

"The two sides quickly reached an agreement. The Moon Ōtsutsuki sent their most skilled elder in Sealing Jutsu, while the Main Family on Earth handed over all the Byakugan research data accumulated over hundreds of years. The wisdom of both sides was combined, and after several years of research and experimentation, they finally succeeded in modifying the Caged Bird."

Uchiha Jun extended his right hand, pointing his index finger at Hyuga Yo's forehead. "And that version, which is the current Caged Bird."

Hyuga Yo's body jolted violently.

The design concept of "The Caged Bird" has only three aspects --

"First, to provide a stable source of Byakugan energy for the Giant Tenseigan on the moon."

"Secondly, it provides the Main Family on the ground with a tool that allows it to maintain perpetual control over the branch families."

Third, ensure that no Byakugan rolls) are seen outside the eyes.

"To achieve these two goals, the Caged Bird technique was designed from the beginning to be a 'soul-level' binding—not a simple physical seal, but a technique directly imprinted on the soul."

"In this way, no matter where the family members are—even if you escape to the ends of the earth, even if your soul leaves your body after death— the Caged Bird will follow you like a maggot clinging to a bone."

"That's why even though I Impure World Reincarnation you, you still carry the Caged Bird you."

Hyuga Yo's face was terrifyingly pale.

"When the branch family members are alive, the Caged Bird acts like a filter—it continuously and slowly draws energy from your Byakugan and Chakra, transmitting it through the spatial channels of the technique to the Giant Tenseigan on the moon."

Uchiha Jun's voice was devoid of emotion, "This absorption is extremely subtle, and you can't feel it at all while you're alive. But over time, at least one-fifth of your Byakugan energy will be transferred to the moon."

"And when a member of the branch family dies—the second function of the Caged Bird will activate, and in the last moment before your soul dissipates, it will suddenly take away your remaining Byakugan power and send it back to the moon along a pre-set passage."

"That's why you felt something being pulled out of your body when you died."

Hyuga Yo's body trembled violently.

It wasn't out of fear, but out of anger.

He clenched his teeth so tightly that his fingernails dug into the skin of his palms—it turned out that every day he lived, his strength was being secretly drained by this Cursed Seal.

His decades of arduous training, his tireless practice day and night, and every breakthrough he achieved at the cost of his life—one-fifth of which was silently sent to the moon, becoming nourishment for that Giant Tenseigan!

He was completely unaware of all of this.

Even the entire Hyuga Branch Family remained completely unaware of this for hundreds of years.

"... And what about the Main Family?" Hyuga Yo's voice was hoarse, like the sound of sandpaper being rubbed. "What did the Main Family gain from this technique? Was it just the power to control us?"

"Of course not." Uchiha Jun shook his head. "The benefits that the Caged Bird brings to the Main Family are far greater than you can imagine."

"First of all, the absence of Caged Bird means pure bloodlines, unrestrained souls, and higher potential than those from other families. Of course, there are many other examples, and the possibility of genetic mutations or atavism cannot be ruled out."

The laboratory was silent for a full minute.

Hyuga Yo lay on the operating table, staring intently at the ceiling, his chest heaving violently.

The humming sound from the fluorescent lights seemed to become exceptionally loud, striking Hyuga Yo's eardrums with each beat.

He lay on the operating table, staring motionless at the ceiling. After a long while, he slowly spoke:

"So... even if I die, I can't escape this thing?"

Hyuga Yo's voice was calm, but beneath that calmness lay an almost overflowing despair.

Uchiha Jun did not answer the question, but instead walked to the experimental table and began to check the condition of the Chakra Scalpel.

"Not necessarily. At least with my current skill level, I'm fairly confident I can crack the Caged Bird."

Hyuga Yo's eyes suddenly lit up.

"But—" Uchiha Jun raised his hand, his tone becoming serious, "There are risks."

"I just analyzed the state of your Reanimated Body."

"The Caged Bird has not only bound your soul, but has also created some kind of synergy with your Reanimated Body."

"This means that if I forcibly manipulate your soul, it might trigger a rejection reaction from the Reanimated Body, causing your soul to fluctuate violently in a short period of time—"

"In other words, you might die—no, it shouldn't be called death—you are already in a state of death, or more accurately, your soul has dissipated, and even the Impure World Reincarnation cannot bring your soul back."

"To draw an analogy, it's like when I had you guard those Mangekyō Sharingan in the Sky Fortress. After the Mangekyo is cultivated, those inmates' souls will dissipate, and they won't be able to be summoned even using the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu."

Hyuga Yo's pupils contracted slightly.

His soul was scattered and his spirit was destroyed.

That was an end more complete than death.

Hyuga Yo fell silent.

He looked down at his cracked hands—a characteristic of the Reanimated Body, a mark of the dead returning to the world of the living.

He has already died once.

That time, he didn't die painfully—his heart was pierced, and he lost consciousness within seconds; he didn't even have time to feel the fear of death.

But this time is different.

This time, he faced "complete death".

They often suffer inhuman torment before they die completely.

But then, Hyuga Yo suddenly thought of his daughter—the little girl who had just turned eight this year.

She inherited the Byakugan, and soon she will also inherit the fate on his forehead.

Hyuga Yo clenched his fist tightly.

"... Lord Chun"

"Um?"

"Please do it!"

"Interesting."

"I thought you would back down and have reservations."

"There's no need to worry about the dead." Hyuga Yo gave a bitter smile.

Uchiha Jun nodded and said nothing more.

Consciousness sank deep into the mind--

[Ninja Template System - Loaded]

[Current template: empty]

[Pain - Human Path + Dan Katō]

[Load?]

Without hesitation, Uchiha Jun pressed the confirmation button with his mind.

Buzz--

Uchiha Jun slowly opened his eyes.

Uchiha Jun's pupils had turned into pale purple circles— the Rinnegan characteristics of Pain's Human Path were emerging.

"Next, I will use Senjutsu Chakra and Spirit Transformation Technique to observe and modify your brain and soul."

Upon hearing Hyuga Yo, Hinata's pupils contracted slightly. "The brain... needs to move too?"

"Hmm." Uchiha Jun nodded. "I previously thought the Caged Bird only bound to the soul, but after further analysis just now, I discovered that it also left a corresponding neural imprint in your brain."

"This mark is the anchor point of the soul chain on the body. If this neural imprint in the brain is not also removed, even if the soul-level chain is severed, the physical Cursed Seal will re-bond with your soul."

"This is the most ingenious aspect of the Moon Ōtsutsuki's design— Soul-Flesh Dual Anchors. If only one layer is broken, the other will automatically repair itself. Only by simultaneously targeting both the soul and the brain can a truly permanent removal be achieved."

Hyuga Yo was silent for two seconds, then took a deep breath. "Then please, sir, move along."

"No problem moving it."

"But the risks also increase accordingly—operating the soul and brain simultaneously means that your consciousness will switch back and forth between two different dimensions of pain. At the soul level, it is an essential pain that feels like being torn apart and shredded, while at the brain level, it is the physical pain of nerves being burned, cut, and reassembled."

"Using this two-pronged approach, the success rate can be increased to 70%—but there's still a 30% chance that you'll completely collapse under the dual impact on your mind and soul, your soul scattered, and even the Impure World Reincarnation won't be able to revive you."

"Even if you succeed, the whole process will be extremely painful."

"Get ready."

"Lord Chun! Come on! There's no need to hold back on a dead man!"