"But what?"
Orochimaru looked at Qingyu with a smile:
"But there is a roundabout way. I can trigger your Caged Bird Seal myself, but it might not take your life. It will only destroy your Byakugan."
"Destroy my Byakugan?"
Qingyu was startled. He had not expected Orochimaru to come up with a solution after taking only such a simple look.
"Your eyes or your freedom. You can choose one."
Orochimaru's tone was full of temptation:
"If it succeeds, then without the Caged Bird, the Main House will no longer be able to control you. You could even leave your homeland and find somewhere the Main House couldn't reach, where you could start a family and carry on your bloodline."
"Even if your descendants awakened the Byakugan, the Main House wouldn't be able to brand them with the Caged Bird by striking their heads."
Qingyu's entire body trembled, and a yearning light shone from his eyes.
Among the bloodline-limit clans of the Shinobi World, nothing mattered more than the continuation of their bloodline.
But Qingyu's grandfather had been Branch House, and his father had also been Branch House, so he was Branch House as well.
His grandfather had died on the battlefield while taking a blade for the Main House. His father had been cursed to death by the Caged Bird because he had failed in his duty as a guard.
Qingyu did not want his family to serve as slaves to the Main House generation after generation.
"But there are dangers involved."
Orochimaru changed tack, seemingly trying to dampen Qingyu's enthusiasm.
"If it fails, you will die."
Qingyu froze for a moment, then slowly began to ponder. His expression shifted constantly.
Orochimaru watched with great interest. Seeing these people struggle between human nature and desire was an extremely pleasurable thing.