Bird in a Cage and Citrus

Bird in a Cage and Citrus

Tsunade raked a hand through her hair, trying to explain herself:

"My grandmother, Lady Mito Uzumaki, was the most renowned genius of the Uzumaki Clan. It's perfectly reasonable for me to teach my disciple sealing techniques..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said nothing. He merely gazed at Tsunade calmly.

He was neither tall nor particularly handsome. Usually, he liked to hold a pipe between his teeth and speak to others with a smiling expression, no different from a friendly uncle next door.

But when Sarutobi Hiruzen was truly angered, he exuded a terrifying, oppressive weight, as though one were staring into a boundless abyss that could swallow them at any moment.

He was the Hokage, one of the world's "Five Poles." Every word and action of his could determine the life or death of countless people.

When his wrath descended, a million corpses could fall. That was no exaggeration.

Tsunade pressed her lips tightly together, no longer daring to act flippantly before her teacher.

"Tsunade..." Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, calling his disciple by her full name.

"In the name of the Hokage, I order you not to teach Hyuga Yuto the Uzumaki Clan's advanced sealing techniques."

"Teacher..."

"In this office, you should address me as Lord Hokage," Sarutobi Hiruzen said calmly.

"Tsunade, you are the granddaughter of the First Hokage and Lady Mito Uzumaki. No one in the village understands the power of sealing techniques better than you do."

"Those who have only begun to grasp them can seal another person's body and chakra. Those who master the art can even bind [souls]. The greatest sealing techniques can accomplish inconceivable things, nearly surpassing the scope of ninjutsu itself."

"The Hyuga Clan's Bird in a Cage can seal the visual nerves of branch family members. It is stubborn and secure, forever etched into both flesh and soul... The Second Hokage once said that when he used Impure World Reincarnation to summon someone from the Hyuga branch family, that person's forehead still bore the Bird in a Cage."

"If there is a way to remove Bird in a Cage in this world, then I believe sealing techniques powerful enough to reach the utmost limit could accomplish it."

"But we absolutely, absolutely cannot let the Hyuga Clan develop the thought that 'the Hokage wants to remove Bird in a Cage.'"

"Even if Hyuga Yuto's chance of escaping Bird in a Cage through sealing techniques is infinitely slim, we must snuff out this possibility... It is a source of disaster capable of overturning the village."

"The foundations of the Hyuga Clan are the Byakugan and Bird in a Cage. The foundations of the Hidden Leaf Village are the powerful ninja clans, including the Hyuga Clan, and the Ninja Academy."

"For the sake of the village, Bird in a Cage must exist."

After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, the Hokage's office fell silent.

After a long while, Tsunade finally spoke hoarsely.

"But... but I'm Yuto's teacher. If he has talent in this area, then I have an obligation..."

"What you teach is your choice," the Hokage said softly.

"But at that point, I would regard him as a [potential factor in disrupting the village's peace]. Aside from fulfilling my duties as Hokage, I would likewise have no other choice."

—If you dare teach him advanced sealing techniques, I'll kill him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was soft, but the blonde woman knew this was practically her teacher's final ultimatum.

"Fine..." Tsunade closed her eyes and said with difficulty, "I will obey your order... Lord Hokage."

"You have made the right choice, Tsunade. Peace is everything to the village... even if it is built upon sacrifice." Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. Perhaps feeling that he had been too harsh with his disciple, he softened his tone.

"Of course, Tsunade, aside from advanced sealing techniques concerning souls and even more mysterious matters, I will not restrict your teaching."

"You may teach Hyuga Yuto the Yin Seal, Strength of a Hundred, and Creation Rebirth."

"These will already be enough for him to become an outstanding ninja capable of standing on his own."

"As you command, Lord Hokage." Tsunade's expression remained cold.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had a headache. Helplessly, he said, "Tsunade, stop dwelling on it. I will never yield on the matter of sealing techniques."

Tsunade continued staring at him with a blank face, refusing to leave the office no matter what.

Sarutobi Hiruzen finally understood. She was demanding compensation from him on behalf of her beloved disciple.

"Fine, fine, fine, Tsunade. In a few days, it will be time for Hyuga Yuto and the others' assessment, won't it? I'll find an excuse to reward him."

"Hmph..."

Having finally secured some benefits for Hyuga Yuto, Tsunade gave a soft snort and turned to leave.

Inside the room, Sarutobi Hiruzen drew deeply on his pipe and exhaled white smoke. His whispered monologue drifted away with it.

"Pitiful Bird in a Cage... Forgive me. It is all for the village..."

Hyuga Yuto once again immersed himself in tedious, complicated training.

The Yin Seal, Monster Strength, medical ninjutsu, and the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist were his daily required courses. Beyond that, physical conditioning as a ninja specializing in taijutsu, studying medical theory, and training his Byakugan were all essential daily exercises as well.

Though training was arduous, Hyuga Yuto enjoyed it. The exhaustion and busyness of body and mind made him realize that he was moving forward along the path before him, even if that path was filled with bloodshed and death.

"Why did the power behind your punch scatter?" On the back mountain of the Senju Clan Grounds, Tsunade grabbed Hyuga Yuto's arm and violently hurled him aside. The branch family boy's body smashed through a massive boulder. His blood and chakra churned, and even his chakra flow was thrown into disarray.

Stars filled his vision as he sucked in cold breaths through clenched teeth.

"Yuto, you're confusing Gentle Fist with Monster Strength!" Tsunade crouched beside him and lightly tapped his forehead protector with a finger. Metal struck against the woman's finger with soft tapping sounds that were rather pleasant to hear.

"The essence of Monster Strength is not brute force, but the coordination between the body and chakra!" Tsunade pulled Hyuga Yuto to his feet, then stood behind him and grasped the branch family boy's wrist. Guiding him hand over hand, she led him through a punch.

"What do you feel?" the blonde beauty asked.

You smell nice. Are you wearing citrus perfume today? Hyuga Yuto thought, but he would not dare say such a thing even if it killed him. After pondering for a moment, he could only shake his head.

Tsunade said softly, "Remember this: when it comes to Monster Strength... I am the chakra, and you are yourself."

Hyuga Yuto's eyes lit up. He was genuinely intelligent, and he immediately understood what Tsunade was trying to convey.

"Teacher, you mean chakra should lead the body?"

"Hmph... You're fairly quick-witted. Since you understand, keep practicing."

Tsunade let go of him and walked over to sit on a boulder. Propping her head up with an arm, she looked elsewhere.

Hyuga Yuto glanced at his teacher, finding her somewhat strange.

Over the past few days, the branch family boy had instinctively noticed that Tsunade was avoiding him. She always kept her distance, seemingly sulking by herself, and there was always a subtle evasiveness in the way she looked at him... as if she felt guilty toward him?

Strange... Has she done something to wrong me? Hyuga Yuto could not figure it out. He simply set aside his teacher's unusual behavior and continued training.

A breeze swept through the mountain forest, passing over leaves, rocks, and the woman before finally drifting into the boy's nose.

It's definitely citrus, he thought.

(End of Chapter)