What?! The Eldest Young Lady Has Been Kidnapped?

The Cloud Village ninjas sensed someone staring at them, but when they turned their heads—well, look at that! Isn't that someone from the Hyuga Clan?

The mere thought of what they were planning to do in the coming days made them want to laugh.

However, they had undergone strict and professional training.

They generally didn't laugh, unless they couldn't help it.

Besides, one look told them it was just a member of the branch house; useless to them.

After a glance, they stifled their laughter, turned their heads back, and continued ordering their food in a boisterous manner.

But this act of suppressing laughter left Ning Xue feeling bewildered.

Are they sick in the head?

Do they really find looking at us funny?

There's nothing on my face, is there?

Ning Xue carefully checked his plain kimono; aside from the bandage on his forehead and his striking white hair and eyes, there didn't seem to be anything particularly ridiculous about him.

Thus, he reached a conclusion.

They're sick. A bunch of lunatics.

"Don't keep staring at others, it's impolite."

At this moment, Hyuga Ning gently patted Ning Xue's little head and whispered a reminder.

Ning Xue withdrew his gaze, though he was still muttering to himself.

How bizarre. Do the people from the Cloud Village really have such low thresholds for humor?

Meanwhile, those muscular men were busy calculating how to use the cover of night to infiltrate the Hyuga Main House and kidnap their young lady, Hyuga Hinata.

The almost irrepressible mirth was actually born from their anticipation of the plan's success and their mockery of the Hyuga Clan's defenses, which appeared solid but were actually vulnerable.

The barbecue feast drew to a close in a somewhat subtle atmosphere.

Hyuga Ning paid the bill, and the family of three left the noisy restaurant.

Night had already fallen, and the lights of the Leaf Village flickered on one by one, revealing a scene of prosperity. The evening breeze carried a hint of chill, blowing away the scent of grilled meat from their clothes.

Ning Xue was held in his father's arms, and as the fullness settled in, drowsiness began to take hold; his head bobbed up and down.

It couldn't be helped; this body was still only three years old, and his consciousness couldn't overcome the fatigue.

He leaned against his father's broad shoulder, his eyelids beginning to flutter. Beside them, Hyuga Yuki gently adjusted Ning Xue's collar, which had been ruffled by the wind, her eyes filled with tenderness.

The flow of people on the streets was thinner than during the day, but patrol squads of ninjas could still be seen.

Hyuga Ning held his son, walking side by side with his wife on the way home, enjoying this rare moment of peace and warmth.

They chatted about daily life, discussing where they might go on their next day off, as if the small episode with the Cloud Village ninjas had never happened.

Returning to the Hyuga compound, the surroundings were noticeably quieter and more solemn.

After gently placing the fast-asleep Ning Xue into his small bed and tucking him in, Hyuga Ning and Yuki stepped out of the room on tiptoe.

"Did you have a good time today?" Hyuga Ning asked his wife softly.

"Yes, very happy, especially seeing Ning Xue laugh so much."

Hyuga Yuki nodded with a smile, but then a trace of worry appeared.

"It's just... those people from the Cloud Village..."

"Don't worry," Hyuga Ning said, pulling his wife's shoulder close. "The village will handle it. Let's just try to go out less during this time."

Anyone paying attention to the news lately could see that the Cloud Village's delegation had come with ill intent.

Besides, did that even look like a negotiation?

But in any case, the Hyuga wouldn't be participating in any talk of alliances.

Because the very next day was the birthday of the Hyuga young lady.

The entire clan would be attending, though Ning Xue's family would only be able to sit far away.

The next day—

The family returned home after attending the event, but trouble broke out that night.

Enemy attack! The young lady has been kidnapped!!!

This shout woke many people up. When they learned that someone had infiltrated the Hyuga compound and abducted the young lady, everyone panicked, scattering in all directions to search for the enemy.

And they all shared the same thought: What a disgrace. This is an absolute disgrace!

Just as everyone was preparing to set off to search, they were informed that the young lady had been found and the enemy killed, causing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

Naturally, this commotion woke Ning Xue from his sleep.

When he learned that someone had kidnapped the Hyuga young lady, he was stunned.

Are you kidding me? Our Hyuga Clan at least has the Byakugan, an ability that can see through things—and even with that, someone managed to sneak in?

What's even more ridiculous is that they actually succeeded in kidnapping the young lady.

Our security is useless... no, wait, we don't seem to have any security. What about the Konoha Military Police Force? Are they just eating for free?

No, that's not it! Perhaps even they never imagined that someone could infiltrate the Hyuga Clan.

Are you kidding me, brother? How did they get in? Can you give me a tutorial?

The next day, a stifling atmosphere shrouded the entire Hyuga compound. The adults who were better informed wore exceptionally grave expressions. From his parents' hushed, abruptly interrupted conversation, Ning Xue vaguely caught snippets.

Words like "Cloud Village," "negotiations," "corpse," and "accountability" drifted through the air.

Hyuga Ning's face was particularly unsightly; his lips were pressed into a thin line, his eyes a tangle of fury and a profound sense of powerlessness.

Sure enough, not long after, envoys from Konoha's upper echelons arrived directly at the Hyuga Main House. Led by the Hokage Advisor, the high-ranking officials maintained a hardline stance.

The Cloud Village had seized upon the discovery of their leader's corpse within Konoha's borders to stir up trouble, flatly denying the kidnapping, counter-accusing Konoha of sabotaging the peace talks, and demanding extremely harsh terms.

While the Konoha side remained resolute, in order to quell the incident and avoid the resumption of war, the Hyuga Clan was expected to voluntarily hand over the culprit to provide Cloud Village with an explanation.

The pressure ultimately poured down entirely upon the heads of the Hyuga Clan.

The elders of the Main House held an emergency meeting. Although Hyuga Ning, as a member of the Branch House, could not participate in the core decision-making, his increasingly heavy expression said it all.

Ning Xue watched his father open his mouth to speak several times, only for it to end in a silent sigh. He felt that something truly terrible was about to happen.

During the meeting, the elders argued fiercely, but in the end, reality crushed everything else.

To maintain the absolute safety of the Main House and the overall interests of the Hyuga Clan, and to satisfy the demands of the Cloud Village leadership, a cruel decision was made.

Someone had to take responsibility for killing the Cloud Village leader.

And that person, under no circumstances, could be from the Main House.

"Lord Hiashi is the head of the Main House; he must not suffer any harm," the Great Elder's voice was cold and resolute.

"The duty of the Branch House is to protect the Main House, even unto death. Now is the moment for someone to fulfill that duty."

The news quickly spread in private.

The Hyuga Clan had decided to hand over the culprit to appease the Cloud Village's fury. And the choice of candidate was almost self-evident.

It was Hyuga Hizashi, Neji's father.

He was also the twin brother of the clan head...

Ning Xue stood with his father at the entrance of the Main House, watching as Hyuga Hizashi, expressionless and even carrying a trace of resolve and calm, followed the men who had come for him toward the Main House.

The surrounding Branch House members all kept their heads bowed; the air was thick with silent grief, indignation, and immense humiliation.

This was also his first time seeing Hyuga Neji, the genius boy who, according to his friend, was never meant to die.

He also realized for the first time that this Hyuga Hizashi was his father. The man who was usually so friendly to everyone in the clan had ended up with such a result.

He didn't understand. It was clearly the Cloud Village people who had struck first.

Yet in the end... why was it the victim who had to pay with their life? Why did it have to be Uncle Hizashi?

He looked at his father, Hyuga Ning, whose fists were tightly clenched, and the silent tears sliding from his eyes.

A cold chill spread from the bottom of his heart, more bone-piercing than the exhaustion after any training session.

He truly realized the meaning behind his friend's words.

Caged Bird! A curse mark that controlled life and death, forever shackled freedom, and turned all Branch House members into servants of the Main House—it was the inescapable fate of the Branch House.