Main House, Branch House

Unaware of the truth, Hinata looked at Hizashi with eyes full of anticipation upon hearing Neji's words.

Hanabi, however, felt as if her secret thoughts had been laid bare; her cheeks flushed red, and she quickly turned her head away, feigning indifference.

Yet, the gaze she cast from the corner of her eye betrayed her true feelings, revealing a deep longing.

Hiashi nodded slightly, and seeing this, Hizashi bowed his head and smiled. "Forgive me, I almost forgot. Happy birthday, Lady Hanabi."

There were no congratulations, only a simple "happy birthday."

Hinata and Hanabi both broke into smiles.

At that moment, Hiashi glanced at Neji and said, "Very well, Hizashi, bring Neji to me."

Hizashi's expression stiffened. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Understood."

With that, he looked down at Neji. "Go with Lord Hiashi. Remember the duties of our Branch House."

"Yes! Don't worry, Father, I will keep it in mind." Having been instilled with the ideology of protecting the Main House since birth, Neji felt no resistance; in fact, he felt a sense of anticipation.

Hizashi, who understood exactly what that meant, sighed inwardly.

Yet, like Neji, he did not offer any strong resistance.

After all, his brother's other child was just as talented as Neji, yet faced the same fate, did they not?

Hyuga Ancestral Shrine.

The Caged Bird seal was carved into Neji.

At this moment, he was still excited to be the first of the Branch House to receive it, feeling honored to protect the Main House like a warrior. He did not realize that his future would not be as glorious as he imagined; like the name of the curse mark, he would become a bird in a cage, losing the right to his own thoughts and the freedom to soar. Even his life would be held in the hands of others, subject to their whims, reduced entirely to a slave of the Main House.

Once Neji had left, one of the elders presiding over the ceremony spoke up. "Very well, Hiashi, bring Hanabi in."

Hiashi, however, replied, "Elders, please grant me more time."

"Hinata's talent is mediocre and her personality is timid; I worry she cannot shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the Main House."

"Hanabi, on the other hand, is exceptionally gifted. I need more time to weigh the options between the two sisters."

Upon hearing this, one elder expressed immediate dissatisfaction. "Hiashi, the Hyuga Clan has never had a precedent for bypassing the eldest in favor of the younger."

Hiashi countered, "I do this for the sake of the Main House's bloodline, and I hope to choose the most capable successor."

Another elder spoke up. "Hiashi's concerns are not without merit. Hinata is indeed ill-suited..."

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

Hiashi felt a tightening in his chest, but the Traditionalist Faction elder insisted, "No, the Hyuga have no such precedent."

The progressive faction retorted, "How many years has it been since the Hyuga Clan produced a powerful ninja? I believe choosing the most capable successor is essential to optimizing the Main House bloodline."

"Hinata is only timid in personality now, but she is still young; that does not mean she won't change in the future. Besides, even if she doesn't change, she can be married off early to raise the next generation."

"The fear is that this personality will be inherited. The Main House is the face of our Hyuga Clan. If we lack even the most basic backbone, how will outsiders view us?"

Watching the elders debate, Hiashi felt a sense of relief.

Ever since the twins were born, he had been reminded of himself and Hizashi.

As the sisters grew older and he witnessed their deep bond, he did not want Hinata and Hanabi to grow distant or harbor resentment because of the divide between the Main and Branch Houses, repeating the tragedy he and Hizashi had lived through. Thus, he had been considering how to prevent Hanabi from being branded with the Caged Bird.

Hinata's mediocre talent and timid nature, contrasted with Hanabi's consistent excellence, provided him with the perfect excuse.

Just as one elder had said, the Hyuga Clan had not produced a powerful ninja in a long time, and some elders were already anxious about this, which gave him an opening.

Today's situation was the result of having sounded out certain elders in advance.

Of course, fearing that he might not succeed, he had prepared another excuse.

"Furthermore, my wife and I are still trying to conceive a son to inherit the Main House. Therefore, I hope you can grant me a little more time."

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

If he could produce a son, then the issue of bypassing the eldest for the younger would naturally vanish...

After all, favoring a male over a female and the eldest over the younger was the complete system of succession for the Main House.

And since they feared he might not have a son, delaying the branding of the Caged Bird was not impossible; such things had happened several times in the history of the Main House, and it was not entirely inflexible.

They were all elders of the Main House, and their own descendants would face the same issues in the future. If they were not flexible, would they not be cutting off the path for their own kin?

The Great Elder, who had remained silent, seemed persuaded as well. He lifted his eyelids and asked, "How much time?"

Hearing this, the heavy stone in Hiashi's heart finally lifted. "Until they graduate from the Ninja Academy."

"If my wife and I cannot produce a son by then, we will decide the Main and Branch House roles based on the sisters' strength."

This answer, which still left open the possibility of bypassing the eldest, clearly did not satisfy the Traditionalist Faction. Just as they were about to speak, a voice rang out.

"Hanabi, no!" A voice filled with urgency, yet deliberately lowered and tinged with fear, echoed through the room.

Suddenly, Hanabi burst in. She looked at her father and said, "Father, I... I... don't want to compete with my sister for the status of the Main House. Just let me become the Branch House and protect her!"

In her heart, perhaps the Branch House was just like the servants who took care of the Main House's daily life and provided protection. To her, a girl who loved her sister dearly and enjoyed clinging to her, she saw no problem with this.

You have no idea what the Branch House really is! Seeing his carefully laid plans about to collapse, Hiashi's face turned livid. He pointed toward the door and shouted sternly, "Eavesdropping on a clan meeting and barging into the ancestral shrine—I don't remember raising you to act this way! Now, get out at once!"

"No!" Hanabi shook her head violently, her expression stubborn. "Father, I really don't want to compete with my sister! Even if I become the Branch House, I am willing!"

"You!" Hiashi pointed a trembling finger.

Hearing her father's stern voice and realizing his anger had reached a breaking point, Hinata felt a tightening in her chest. Hiding outside the Ancestral Hall, she dared not enter, only peeking her head in to anxiously wave at Hanabi: "Hanabi, come out quickly..."

The stark contrast between the two sisters—one timid and the other deeply loyal and righteous, daring to defy their father even in front of the gathered elders—stirred the hearts of those present, their gazes flickering.

When combined with their respective aptitudes, it was clear who was superior and who was inferior.

Suddenly, the Great Elder seemed to reach a decision and spoke: "Hiashi, proceed as you have said. You may all leave."

The Traditionalist Faction frowned instinctively, but considering the possibility that Hiashi might still father a son, and given that it was the Great Elder who had spoken, they did not offer further rebuttal.

Meanwhile.

The Great Elder's sudden decision caught Hiashi off guard, as he had assumed his efforts were in vain, but he quickly realized the underlying reason.

Worried that Hanabi might speak out of turn again, he first shot her a fierce, stern glare, then bowed slightly to the elders before pulling Hanabi out of the Ancestral Hall in a hurry.

Stepping out of the doorway, Hiashi's anger flared even hotter when he noticed Hinata hiding by the side, looking timid and fearful.

Then, seeing Hyuga Natsu and Hinata's maidservant who had only just arrived, Hiashi roared: "You didn't even know the young ladies were eavesdropping on a clan meeting and trespassing in the Ancestral Hall? Is this how you watch over them?"

!!! Trespassing in the Ancestral Hall??

Their pupils constricted. Hinata's maidservant immediately explained: "I am sorry, Lord Hiashi, we were just playing hide-and-seek with the two young ladies; we truly did not know..."

Playing hide-and-seek?

And they dared to say they didn't know?

Seeing them still trying to make excuses, Hiashi's rage surged from his heart, his malice rising: "It seems my kindness has made you forget your place!!"

With that, he let out a sharp shout, formed a seal with one hand, and activated the Caged Bird!

!!! Immediately!

"Aaaahhh~! My head! My head!"

It felt as if a blunt object were striking their skulls, or as if a thousand needles were piercing their brains. The intense, stabbing pain forced Hyuga Natsu and the maidservant to cry out, clutching their heads with both hands.

"Lord Hiashi, we know we were wrong!"

"Please, I beg you! Spare us!"

"We will never do it again! Please, stop!"

Before them.

The sight of Hyuga Natsu and the other maidservant rolling on the ground in agony, begging for mercy and even slamming their heads against the floor to alleviate the pain, struck a heavy blow to the young, fragile hearts of Hinata and Hanabi.

In that moment, they seemed to realize what the Main House truly was, and what it meant to be a Branch House...