Main House and Branch House

Hinata, who didn't know what was going on, heard Neji's words and looked at Hizashi expectantly.

Hanabi, meanwhile, blushed as if her thoughts had been seen through. She quickly turned her face away, pretending not to care.

But her eyes, glancing back from the corners, betrayed her longing and revealed how she really felt.

Hiashi gave a slight nod. Seeing this, Hizashi lowered his head and smiled. "I almost forgot. Happy birthday, Miss Hanabi."

He didn't say congratulations, only happy birthday.

Hinata and Hanabi smiled, too.

Then Hiashi glanced at Neji. "All right, Hizashi, hand Neji over to me."

Hizashi's expression stiffened. He took a deep breath, then nodded. "All right."

He looked down at Neji. "Go with Lord Hiashi. Remember the duties of the Branch House."

"Mm! Don't worry, Father. I'll remember." Neji had been taught to protect the Main House for as long as he could remember, so he didn't resist at all. In fact, he was looking forward to it.

Hizashi, who knew what it meant, sighed inwardly.

But like Neji, he didn't resist too much.

After all, his older brother's other child was just as talented as Neji, yet faced the same fate, didn't she?

Hyuga Ancestral Shrine.

Neji was branded with the Caged Bird.

At that moment, he was still excited to become the first true member of the Branch House, and honored to one day protect the Main House like a warrior. He had no idea that his future wouldn't be as wonderful as he imagined. Like the name of the Cursed Seal, he would become a bird in a cage, lose the right to think for himself and soar freely, and even have his life placed in another's hands, to be taken or spared at their whim. He would be reduced entirely to a slave of the Main House.

After Neji left, one of the elders who had presided over the ceremony spoke. "All right, Hiashi, bring Hanabi in."

Hiashi spoke up instead. "Elders, please give me more time."

"Hinata's talent is average, and she's timid. I'm worried she won't be able to bear the heavy responsibilities of the Main House."

"But Hanabi is exceptionally talented, so I still need time to carefully weigh the matter between the sisters."

At this, an elder immediately objected. "Hiashi, the Hyuga Clan has never had a precedent of passing over the eldest child in favor of the youngest."

Hiashi replied, "I'm doing this for the sake of the Main House's bloodline, so I hope we can choose the more capable heir."

Another elder spoke up. "Hiashi's concerns aren't without merit. Hinata really isn't very suited to the role..."

Hearing this, another elder said indifferently, "Then just bring Hinata in."

Hiashi's heart tightened, but an elder from the Traditionalist Faction said, "No. The Hyuga Clan has no such precedent."

The reformists argued back, "How many years has it been since the Hyuga Clan produced a powerful ninja? I think choosing the more capable heir is essential. It will help optimize the Main House's bloodline."

"Hinata is only timid for now. She's still young; that doesn't mean she won't change in the future. And even if she doesn't, she can start having children early and raise the next generation."

"The real danger is that this timid nature will be passed down. The Main House is the face of our Hyuga Clan. If they don't even have the most basic backbone, what will outsiders think of our clan?"

Watching the elders debate, Hiashi felt relieved.

When the twins were born, he had immediately thought of himself and Hizashi.

As the sisters grew older, Hiashi saw how deep their bond was. He didn't want Hinata and Hanabi to grow distant because of the Main House and Branch House, or even develop a rift, only to follow in his and Hizashi's footsteps. So he had kept considering how to spare Hanabi from being branded with the Caged Bird and prevent the tragedy from happening again.

Hinata's talent was average and she was timid, while Hanabi had always excelled. That gave him a good excuse.

As one of the elders had said, the Hyuga Clan hadn't produced a powerful ninja in a long time. Some of the elders had been worrying about it, giving him an opportunity.

Today's events had also been arranged after he'd discussed things in advance with certain elders.

Of course, worried that he might not succeed, he had prepared another excuse as well.

"Besides, my wife and I have also been trying to have another son to inherit the Main House. So I hope you'll give me a little more time."

Hiashi's words immediately silenced the Traditionalist Faction elders who had opposed him.

If he had another son, then there would be no question of passing over the eldest child in favor of the youngest...

After all, the complete rules of succession for the Main House were to favor sons over daughters, and the eldest over the youngest.

And if they were worried he might not have a son, it wasn't unreasonable to delay the Caged Bird. This had happened plenty of times in the Main House's history, so it wasn't as if they couldn't make an exception.

They were all elders of the Main House themselves, and their own descendants would face the same issue in the future. If they refused to make an exception now, wouldn't they be cutting off their own descendants' options?

The Great Elder, who had been silent all this time, seemed persuaded as well. He raised his eyes. "How long?"

At last, Hiashi let go of the stone weighing on his heart and replied, "Until the sisters graduate from the Ninja Academy."

"If my wife and I still haven't had a son by then, we'll decide who belongs to the Main House and who to the Branch House based on the sisters' abilities."

This answer still left open the possibility of passing over the eldest in favor of the youngest, so it clearly didn't satisfy the Traditionalists. They were about to speak when, suddenly—

"Hanabi, don't." A voice rang out, urgent yet deliberately hushed, tinged with timidity.

Then Hanabi rushed in and looked at her father. "Dad, I... I... I don't want to fight my sister for the position in the Main House. Just let me join the Branch House and protect her!"

In her mind, perhaps the Branch House was just like Big Sister Natsu: responsible for caring for the Main House's daily needs and protecting them. For a girl who cherished her sister and loved sticking close to her, that didn't seem like a problem at all.

You have no idea what being part of the Branch House means! Hiashi, who had watched his excellent plan nearly fall apart, was furious. Pointing toward the door, he barked, "Eavesdropping on a clan meeting and barging into the Ancestral Hall—I don't remember teaching you to do that! Now get out! Immediately!"

"No!" Hanabi shook her head fiercely, her face set with determination. "Father, I really don't want to fight my sister. I'd be fine with joining the Branch House!"

"You!" Hiashi's finger trembled.

Hearing her father's stern voice and realizing his anger was about to boil over, Hinata's heart tightened. Too afraid to enter the Ancestral Hall, she could only peek in from outside and anxiously beckon to Hanabi. "Hanabi, come out..."

The stark contrast between the sisters—one timid, the other so loyal that she dared defy her father even in front of all the elders—stirred something in their hearts. Their gazes flickered.

Combined with the sisters' talents, it was obvious which one was superior.

Then the Great Elder seemed to reach a decision and spoke. "Hiashi, proceed as you suggested. All of you, leave."

The Traditionalists frowned instinctively, but when they considered that Hiashi might still have a son, and that it was the Great Elder who had spoken, they didn't argue further.

At the same time.

Hiashi, who had thought his plan was about to fall apart, was stunned by the Great Elder's sudden decision. But he quickly understood the reason behind it.

Worried that Hanabi might say something else reckless, he first shot her a fierce, stern look. Then he bowed slightly to the elders and hurried out of the Ancestral Hall, taking Hanabi with him.

As soon as he stepped outside, Hiashi noticed Hinata standing timidly beside the door, and his anger flared all over again.

Then he saw Hyuga Natsu and Hinata's maid, who had only just arrived. Hiashi snapped, "You didn't even know that the young ladies were eavesdropping on a clan meeting and barging into the Ancestral Hall? You just stood by and watched them?"

!!! Barging into the Ancestral Hall??

Their pupils contracted. Hinata's maid hurriedly explained, "I'm sorry, Lord Hiashi. We were just playing hide-and-seek with the two young ladies. We truly didn't know..."

And they were playing hide-and-seek?

And they still dared to say they didn't know?

Seeing them try to make excuses, Hiashi grew even angrier. "Looks like my kindness has made you forget your place!!"

Then he shouted and formed a hand seal, activating the Caged Bird!

!!! At once!

"Uwaaaaah! My head! My head!"

It felt as though a blunt weapon were pounding their heads, or thousands of needles were piercing their brains. The intense pain forced Hyuga Natsu and Hinata's maid to cry out as they clutched their heads.

"Lord Hiashi, we were wrong!"

"Please, please! Forgive us!"

"We'll never do it again! Please, stop!"

Before their eyes.

The sight of Hyuga Natsu and the other maid clutching their heads as they writhed on the ground and begged for mercy, even repeatedly banging their heads against the floor to ease the pain, struck Hinata and Hanabi's young hearts hard.

At that moment, they seemed to understand what the Main House truly was, and what the Branch House really meant...