No More Caged Birds in the World

Does he really think he's something special?

If it weren't for the need to let this matter ferment within the entire clan, to allow the sentiment to spread throughout both the Main and Branch Houses and stir up an even greater commotion, he would have already taken action!

Hyuga Hiashi stared intensely at Hyuga Kagami!

Hyuga Kagami did not avert his gaze, meeting Hyuga Hiashi's eyes directly!

The atmosphere was tense to the breaking point!

Everyone around them was drenched in cold sweat, their adrenaline surging!

Yet, alongside the tension, there was even more excitement! Thrill! Blood-pumping fervor!

"Hyuga Kagami! You... good! Very good!"

Hyuga Hiashi's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

He let out a cold snort, turned around, and left!

An hour later.

Hyuga Clan Ancestral Hall.

The Council of Elders had gathered.

Everyone looked at the grim, ink-dark expression on Hyuga Hiashi's face, unable to suppress their confusion. Hyuga Hiashi was usually a master of composure; this was the first time they had ever seen him so furious.

It was practically an impossible occurrence!

"There is only one purpose for today's meeting!"

Hyuga Hiashi's gaze swept across the elders.

"From this moment on, no one is to take action against Hyuga Kagami in the open!"

Hyuga Hiashi's expression remained somber.

He was incredibly frustrated.

He had finally realized that this guy, Hyuga Kagami, was completely unreasonable and went out of his way to defy him!

But because of Hyuga Kagami's importance, he simply could not lay a hand on him!

"Why!"

The Great Elder stood up abruptly, his face looking extremely ugly: "Clan Leader, Hyuga Kagami not only murdered a member of the Main House but also spoke to you with such insolence. A Branch House member like that should be punished!"

"Even if we killed him, it would be no more than he deserves!"

His eyes were filled with malice!

As the Great Elder, being bullied by a member of the Branch House was something he absolutely could not tolerate.

"What! As a member of the Branch House, he actually murdered someone from the Main House? This is absolutely intolerable!"

The elders' expressions changed drastically.

They looked furious, like cats with their fur standing on end!

The dignity of the Main House could not be challenged; anyone who dared to provoke the Main House... had to die!

Hyuga Hiashi's face was grim. He pondered for a long while before slowly speaking: "Do you think I don't want to?"

He sighed: "The Third Hokage just summoned me to the Hokage's Office!"

"He promised that from now on, the Hyuga Clan will receive his full support!"

All the elders were stunned.

Their expressions turned to surprise!

They couldn't believe it!

"Has the sun risen in the west? The Third Hokage, who has always been obsessed with power, is actually going to support our Hyuga Clan?"

"This is wonderful! With the Hokage's support, our Hyuga Clan will become the number one clan!"

Everyone was filled with excitement.

To become the number one clan in Konoha, surpassing the Uchiha Clan.

This had been their hope for many years!

Now, with the Hokage's support, that goal was within reach!

The Great Elder frowned, asking in confusion: "Clan Leader, this is a massive boon for the Hyuga Clan, but what does it have to do with Hyuga Kagami?"

He didn't quite understand.

"Hyuga Kagami is merely a member of the Branch House; how could he possibly be related to this?"

Hyuga Hiashi sighed and slowly explained: "While executing a mission in the Mist Village, Hyuga Kagami became close friends with the Mizukage, even swearing brotherhood! Furthermore, he facilitated the alliance between Konoha and the Mist Village!"

His face was twisted in agony.

Right now, if he were to lay a hand on Hyuga Kagami, the first person to fly into a rage would be Sarutobi Hiruzen!

"What!"

This group of old fogies, all averaging over forty years of age, gaped in unison, their faces etched with disbelief.

This was... absolutely ridiculous!

"I have already made the situation clear to you all; from this moment on, no one is to lay a hand on Hyuga Kagami!"

Hyuga Hiashi said in a cold voice.

Everyone nodded.

The atmosphere was heavy.

They understood the gravity of the situation; everything was for the development of the Hyuga Clan, and as of now, Hyuga Kagami... was the Hyuga Clan's most prized asset!

Hyuga Hiashi's expression was grim.

"There is one more thing: although Hyuga Kagami is a member of the Branch Family, none of our cursed seals have any effect on him!"

This matter was even more serious!

The Caged Bird Seal had failed.

If Hyuga Kagami had broken the Caged Bird Seal himself... that meant other members of the Branch Family could potentially break it too!

"If left to develop, Hyuga Kagami will become a threat to the entire Hyuga Clan!"

His face darkened.

"Therefore, we must be the first to bring Hyuga Kagami into the Hyuga Main Family!"

"To that end, even if we have to give him the position of Branch Family Head, it is a sacrifice we can make!"

All the elders nodded.

Compared to the glory and authority of the Hyuga Main Family, the position of Branch Family Head... was something they did not care about at all!

The meeting concluded.

Hyuga Hiashi turned and left, his face icy.

"Heh."

"The young do not understand that the tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind."

"Arrogance will cost you your life!"

For this period, Hyuga Kagami had indeed been riding high, untouchable by anyone.

But as time passed, it would be perfectly normal for Hyuga Kagami to die on a mission or on the battlefield, wouldn't it!

When Hyuga Kagami woke up again.

It was already the next morning.

The quality of his sleep had been excellent.

"Hyuga Hiashi didn't come to disturb me all night; it seems this guy knows about my business with the Mizukage."

Hyuga Kagami splashed some water on his face.

Otherwise, given Hyuga Hiashi's underhanded nature, he would surely have moved against him, either openly or in the shadows!

Just like... how he had moved against Hyuga Hizashi back then!

"Huh?"

At that moment, Hyuga Kagami suddenly looked toward the doorway, where a small figure was kneeling.

"Brother Kagami, can you teach me how to become a powerful ninja?"

Hyuga Neji's young face was resolute.

He had been waiting here all night, just to beg Hyuga Kagami to take him as a student so he could become a powerful ninja!

"I don't want to be bound by the Main Family anymore; I want freedom and powerful strength!"

Hyuga Kagami's performance yesterday.

Had left him in awe!

Even the aloof and arrogant Hyuga Hiashi.

Couldn't even get a word in edgewise in front of Hyuga Kagami!

And he couldn't even use the cursed seal to control Hyuga Kagami. This was the most exciting thing for Hyuga Neji—could it be that... he could also break the Caged Bird Seal?

"What a pitiful child."

Hyuga Kagami sat on the edge of the steps with a helpless expression, stroking Hyuga Neji's soft hair, beneath which lay a stubborn little face.

Hyuga Neji.

What a genius!

It was just a pity that he died so miserably in the original story. As the strongest of the Konoha 11 in the early stages, he was completely obscure during the Fourth Shinobi World War, dying just to block some hidden weapons—it was utter nonsense!

But to win over Hyuga Neji, that alone was not enough.

He needed to fan the flames!

He said indifferently, "Neji, do you know how your father actually died?"

If he remembered correctly.

Hyuga Neji knew that Hyuga Hizashi had died for the Main House, but he did not know that he had been a scapegoat!

"Brother Kagami... you know?"

Hyuga Neji's eyes trembled.

His gaze was filled with hope and agitation!

From the day his father left, he had been searching for any trace of him, but there hadn't been a single word!

His father... had vanished completely!

He had no way to find his father ever again!

"This filthy, wretched clan should have been changed a long time ago."

Hyuga Kagami said calmly, "Let me tell you a story first. Two months ago, Konoha and the Cloud Village formed an alliance."

With a distant look in his eyes, he continued, "The ninjas from the Cloud Village ostensibly came to sign an alliance treaty, but in reality, they were after the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan. They tried to kidnap Hyuga Hinata, but they didn't expect to lose their own lives instead; they were killed in retaliation!"

"The Cloud Village turned around and slandered Konoha, claiming they had murdered their ninjas, and demanded that the person responsible be handed over."

"And your father became the Hyuga Clan's scapegoat, offered as an apology to the Cloud Village."

Naturally, this story had some omissions.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to manipulate him.

Hyuga Neji's entire body trembled; he couldn't believe any of this!

"I... I thought... my father died on a mission for the Main House, that he was a glorious hero... but I never imagined he was just a scapegoat!"

His eyes turned blood-red!

He gritted his teeth!

He looked like a young beast that had lost its mind!

His father had died so indignantly; how much pain must he have been in at the moment of his death!

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, as Hokage, did not stop the Cloud Village's atrocities, and Hyuga Hiashi, as the head of the Hyuga Clan, chose not to protect his own kin. This Hyuga Clan, this Konoha, has long since become utterly pathetic."

Hyuga Kagami's expression remained indifferent as he untied the headband on Hyuga Neji's forehead.

The four-year-old boy looked devastated, turning his head away in shame!

That Caged Bird Seal was a prison!

"From this day forward, the Caged Bird will no longer be your shackles."

He placed his palm against Hyuga Neji's forehead.