Caged Bird

Chapter 1: Caged Bird Seal

When Hyuga Xiao opened his eyes, a familiar, sharp pain throbbed at his forehead.

It was the Caged Bird Seal reminding him of his identity—a member of the Hyuga Branch House and a slave to the Main House.

Year 37 of the Leaf Village, autumn.

Morning light spilled through the paper sliding doors into this tatami room of less than ten mats, the air drifting with a mixed scent of aged wood and ink. Xiao sat up from his futon, raised a hand, and touched the diamond-shaped, cyan mark on his forehead. The skin touched by his fingertips grew slightly warm, like an unhealable brand.

"Xiao, it's time to go to the Main House estate."

The voice of his mother, Hyuga Rei, came from outside the door, carrying a trace of unperceived exhaustion.

"Understood."

Xiao gave a response, his voice calm enough that no emotion could be heard.

He put on that uniform light-gray kimono of the Branch House, sorting out his appearance before the corner bronze mirror. The youth in the mirror possessed the Byakugan characteristic of the Hyuga Clan, his features refined, yet his brows and eyes revealed a composure unsuited to his age. Only he himself knew that within this thirteen-year-old body resided a soul from another world.

Three months.

Having transmigrated to this world where bloodline decided everything for three months already, he woke up in fear every day.

The Caged Bird Seal—the curse mark used by the Hyuga Main House to control the Branch House. So long as the Main House wished it, a single thought could cause Branch House members to suffer brain death. What was even more terrifying was that this curse mark would automatically destroy the Byakugan upon death to prevent the bloodline from leaking out.

The meaning of the Branch House's existence was to become the shield, tools, and consumables of the Main House.

"I'm heading out."

Xiao pushed open the room door, and his mother stood under the veranda, holding a food box in her hands. That was the breakfast that needed to be sent to the Main House estate, the fixed daily chore for Branch House women.

"Be careful on the way," Ling said softly, worry hidden in her gaze.

Xiao nodded and took the food box. When his fingertips touched his mother's rough palms, he could feel those hands trembling slightly.

Walking out of the Branch House residential area and crossing two streets was the district where the Main House estate was located. The buildings here were obviously much more magnificent, precious pines and cypresses were planted in the courtyards, and the scent of sandalwood drifted in the air.

"Stop."

At the entrance of the estate, two Branch House guards intercepted Xiao. The Caged Bird was likewise carved onto their foreheads, yet their gazes were even more ferocious than the Main House's dogs.

"Lady Ling is feeling unwell today, so I am delivering the meal in her place." Xiao lowered his eyelids, his tone respectful.

The guards sized him up for a few seconds and let out a cold snort. "Go on in. Don't look around, don't wander off."

"Yes."

The instant Xiao stepped into the Main House estate, the curse mark on his forehead sent over another wave of sharp pain. This was the curse mark's induction of the Main House's chakra—the entire estate was shrouded by the Main House's barrier, and the Branch House had to be careful even when breathing here.

Crossing the long corridor, he arrived before the main house.

The paper sliding doors stood wide open, and the crying of a child came from within.

"Lord Hinata, please partake in breakfast."

Xiao knelt outside the door, placing the food box on the veranda. With his line of sight lowered, he could only see the edge of the tatami mats inside.

The crying stopped.

A little girl wearing a pink kimono poked her head out from the room. She looked only around four or five years old, her white eyes large and round, with tear droplets still hanging at the corners of her eyes. This was the young miss of the Hyuga Main House, Hinata Hyuga.

"You... who are you?" Hinata asked timidly.

"Branch House, Hyuga Xiao," Xiao still kept his head lowered. "Ordered to deliver a meal for the young miss."

Hinata stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly said in a small voice, "Does your forehead... hurt?"

Xiao's body stiffened slightly.

This was the first time in three months that someone had asked him this question.

People of the Main House would not ask; they viewed the Caged Bird as a matter of course. People of the Branch House dared not ask; that was a taboo carved into their very bones. Yet this young young miss of the Main House touched the most cruel reality with the most naive tone.

"It doesn't hurt," Xiao heard his own voice reply calmly.

"However..." Hinata still wanted to say something when another voice came from inside.

"Hinata, come back."

Hiashi Hyuga—the current head of the Main House and Hinata's father—walked out from the inner room. He wore a deep blue kimono, his expression stern, with no warmth whatsoever in his white pupils.

"Father." Hinata quickly drew her head back.

Hiashi's gaze landed on Xiao, as if looking at an object.

"Put down the food box and withdraw."

"Yes."

Xiao got up, retreated three steps, and turned to leave. Throughout the entire process, he did not raise his head to look at Hiashi once, his posture respectful to the point of near-servility.

Until he walked out of the Main House estate's gates and arrived at a deserted alley did Xiao halt his steps.

He leaned against the cold earthen wall and slowly exhaled a breath. His right hand clenched involuntarily, fingernails digging into his palm to leave deep marks.

It doesn't hurt?

How could it not hurt.

That fear of having one's life pinched in someone else's hands gnawed at his nerves every single minute and second. If the Main House became displeased, he would die. If the Main House needed a sacrifice, he would be the first chess piece pushed out. Just like Hizashi Hyuga in the original work, forced to die for his older brother for the sake of the so-called "greater picture."

"I don't want to die..."

Xiao muttered in a low voice, his words echoing in the empty alley.

He wanted to survive, wanted to control his own destiny, wanted to tear apart this damned class cage. Yet how could he achieve it? The Branch House's Byakugan was restricted by the Caged Bird, forever unable to evolve. No matter how strong his taijutsu was, it couldn't surpass a single thought of the curse mark. Defection? Leaving the Leaf Village? Putting aside whether he could escape the Main House's pursuit, just the malice of the entire Shinobi World that he would have to face after losing the village's protection was enough to leave him dead with no burial site.

Despair.

Profound despair rose from the soles of his feet like a cold tide, drowning over the top of his head.

At this very moment—

[Host's strong will to rebel against fate detected]

[System binding in progress...]

[Binding successful]

[Welcome to use the "Fate-Breaking System"]

A cold mechanical voice resounded in his mind.

Xiao froze.

A semi-transparent blue light screen floated before his eyes, upon which several lines of text emerged:

[Host: Hyuga Xiao]

[Identity: Hyuga Branch House]

[Bloodline Purity: Ordinary Byakugan (Caged Bird Sealed)]

[Current Destiny Points: 0]

[Main Quest: Break the shackles of the Caged Bird (0/100%)]

[System Description: This system aims to help the Host break established destiny. By intercepting the fate nodes of high-luck female characters and altering their tragic endings, Destiny Points and bloodline purity improvements can be obtained. Destiny Points can be used to exchange for temporary abilities and special items. When bloodline purity increases to 100%, the Byakugan will evolve into the Tenseigan]

Xiao's breathing grew rapid.

A golden finger?

No, this was a straw to clutch at for dear life.

He stared fixedly at the text on the light screen, every single word like a red-hot branding iron burning into the bottom of his eyes.

"Intercept... high-luck females?" Xiao muttered to himself.

New information surfaced on the light screen:

[Detectable interception target: Hinata Hyuga]

[Fate Node: Three years later, on the day of Hinata's fourth birthday, due to her inability to activate the Byakugan, she is publicly reprimanded by Hiashi, leaving a severe psychological shadow and making her personality cowardly and inferior from then on]

[Interception Method: Before the node occurs, help Hinata activate the Byakugan in advance]

[Success Reward: Byakugan purity +10%, Caged Bird Seal lifting 5%, Destiny Points +100]

[Failure Penalty: None (but will miss the optimal interception timing)]

Xiao's pupils contracted.

Hinata.

That little girl who asked him "does it hurt" just a moment ago.

In the original work, Hinata indeed failed to activate the Byakugan on her fourth birthday, was publicly reprimanded by Hiashi, and henceforth became extremely inferior. This incident became the turning point of her personality and the beginning of her tragic destiny.

If he could change this node...

"Three years later?" Xiao frowned. "Too long."

He needed power right now, needed to immediately lift even the tiniest bit of the Caged Bird's shackles. For every 1% more that was lifted, he gained one more fraction of a possibility of surviving.

The light screen seemed to sense his thoughts, and the text changed once again:

[Novice quest issued]

[Quest Content: Establish initial trust with Hinata]

[Quest Time Limit: Seven days]

[Quest Reward: Byakugan purity +1%, Destiny Points +10]

[Failure Penalty: None]

1%.

Though little, this was solid and real, not requiring a three-year wait for an opportunity.

Xiao's gaze changed.

The despair, fear, and powerlessness from just now receded like a tide. Replaced in their stead was a cold, nearly cruel sobriety.

He had to survive.

For that, he could do anything.

Utilize a four-year-old little girl? Morality? Conscience?

Faced with the fatal threat of the Caged Bird Seal, those things were as light as dust.

Xiao straightened his posture and dusted off the fabric of his kimono. The expression on his face recovered back into that meek and numb look characteristic of the Branch House. Only in the depths of those white pupils, a gloomy fire burned.

He stepped out of the alleyway and walked toward the Branch House residential area.

On the way, he ran into a few peers from the Branch House who were gathered together practicing the Gentle Fist. Seeing Xiao, someone sneered, "Well, isn't this Xiao who went over to the Main House to fawn? What, went to play the dog again?"

Xiao stopped in his tracks and looked at the person who spoke.

Hyuga Ken, the boy with the best taijutsu in this generation of the Branch House, frequently bullied the original body.

If it were the former Xiao, he might have lowered his head and walked away quickly. But the current Xiao only looked at him calmly and said, "What the Main House orders naturally must be done well. Could it be that Ken-kun has an opinion regarding the commands of the Main House?"

Hyuga Ken's expression changed.

Having an opinion on the Main House—this sentence was a fatal accusation in the Branch House.

"What are you spouting nonsense about!" Hyuga Ken said angrily, "I just said you..."

"Said what about me?" Xiao interrupted him and took a step forward.

His height was half a head shorter than Hyuga Ken's, yet his presence forced the other party to back up. Those white eyes stared at Hyuga Ken like two deep, bottomless pools of ice water.

"Said that me earnestly completing the work assigned by the Main House is acting like a dog?" Xiao's voice was very soft, yet it made the surrounding Branch House boys hold their breaths. "Then what is Ken-kun practicing the Gentle Fist diligently every day for? Isn't it also so that one day you can be noticed by the Main House, become a guard, and better serve the Main House?"

"All of us—" Xiao's gaze swept over every Branch House boy present, "were born to be tools of the Main House. The only difference lies in some tools being sharper, and some tools being blunter. But no matter how sharp a tool is, it cannot change the fact that it is a tool."

The air was dead silent.

Hyuga Ken opened his mouth, but could not make a sound. Xiao's words were like a knife, dissecting the truth they had always been unwilling to face head-on.

"So," Xiao glanced at Hyuga Ken one last time, "don't put on any sense of superiority in front of me. We are all caged birds, so who is any nobler than whom?"

After finishing, he turned and left, leaving a few pale-faced boys standing in place.

After walking a distance away, Xiao let out a light breath.

That speech just now was intentional.

He needed to establish his authority. The interior of the Branch House was also a small society, where weak people were bullied, and he currently had no time to deal with these trivial matters. More importantly—he needed to start cultivating his own "persona".

A meek Branch House boy suddenly turning tough would arouse suspicion. But if this change was progressive and was an "outburst" after being bullied, it would be much more reasonable.

Starting today, Hyuga Xiao would no longer allow himself to be bullied at will.

Returning home, his mother Ling had already returned and was busy preparing lunch in the kitchen.

"Xiao, you're back." Ling poked her head out of the kitchen with a gentle smile on her face. "The Main House side didn't give you a hard time today, did they?"

"No." Xiao shook his head, walking up to the kitchen doorway. "Mother, I want to go to the training ground this afternoon."

Ling's hand cutting vegetables paused. "The training ground? Haven't you always disliked going there?"

"I want to become stronger." Xiao said, his voice very soft. "At least... strong enough to protect you."

Ling turned around, her eye rims somewhat red. She reached out and touched Xiao's hair. "Silly child. In the Hyuga Clan, no matter how strong the Branch House is, it's useless. As long as the Caged Bird Seal is still around..."

She didn't continue with the rest of her words.

Xiao grasped his mother's hand. "We have to try at least."

Lunch was simple miso soup and rice balls. While eating, Xiao asked as if casually, "Mother, when you usually go to deliver food to the Main House, can you see Lady Hinata?"

"Occasionally I can see her." Ling was somewhat puzzled. "Why suddenly ask this?"

"When delivering food today, the young lady asked me if my forehead hurt." Xiao lowered his head to eat. "She... is somewhat different from the other Main House people."

Ling was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Lady Hinata is indeed a kind child. But Xiao, you must remember, no matter how kind the Main House is, it is still the Main House. We and them have never belonged to the same world."

"I know," Xiao said.

He knew.

But he knew even more that that kind little girl was his first step in breaking through fate.

In the afternoon, Xiao went to the Branch House training ground.

That was an open space surrounded by woods, with the Eight Trigrams Formation used for practicing the Gentle Fist drawn on the ground. There were a few Branch House adults guiding the children in practice, and seeing Xiao arrive, they were all somewhat surprised.

"Xiao? Why did you come?" The elite ninja instructor Hyuga Takashi asked.

"I want to learn the Gentle Fist." Xiao said respectfully.

Hyuga Takashi sized him up for a few glances and sighed. "Your chakra volume has always been on the weak side, and your taijutsu talent is also ordinary. Rather than forcing yourself to practice the Gentle Fist, it's better to learn some basic ninja tool throwing and taijutsu; in the future, you might be able to secure a position in the logistics forces."

This was the tactful way of putting it.

Bluntly put, it was: you have no talent, don't waste time.

Xiao did not argue, only saying, "Please let me try."

Hyuga Takashi shook his head and pointed toward the edge of the training ground. "Go over there and practice your basic stances. Remember, the core of the Gentle Fist is using chakra to attack the opponent's meridian system, not relying on brute force."

"Yes."

Xiao walked to the edge of the training ground and assumed the starting stance of the Gentle Fist.

His body truly possessed no talent. His chakra meridians were narrow, his refinement efficiency was low, and his taijutsu coordination was also ordinary. If it were the original Xiao, practicing for a lifetime would probably only amount to a Genin level.

But now it was different.

Xiao closed his eyes, sensing the chakra within his body.

Faint, but it truly existed.

Following the methods in his memory, he condensed chakra into his palms. Around his white pupils, cyan blood vessels slightly bulged—this was the precursor to the Byakugan activating, but the Branch House Byakugan was restricted by the Caged Bird Seal and could never truly activate, only achieving this degree of "pseudo-activation."

He pushed out a palm.

The air emitted a slight hum.

Not far away, Hyuga Takashi, who was instructing other children, suddenly turned his head and looked in Xiao's direction.

That palm just now... the speed of chakra condensation was faster than ordinary Branch House children by more than thirty percent.

Was it an illusion?

Xiao did not notice Hyuga Takashi's gaze. He was immersed in a wondrous sensation.

After the system binding, his chakra control precision had improved. Although the total amount had not increased, the same amount of chakra could now unleash stronger effects. More importantly—he could sense that the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead seemed to have loosened by a fraction.

Although it was only an insignificant fraction, it had indeed loosened.

Is it because of the impact of the system binding, or because of the change in my mindset? Xiao pondered.

Regardless, this was a good thing.

He continued to practice, palm after palm. Sweat soaked the back of his kimono, and his palms grew slightly numb from repeatedly condensing chakra, but he did not stop.

To become stronger.

He must become stronger.

Only by becoming strong enough to tear apart this cage could he truly live.

Practicing until the sun slanted west, the people on the training ground gradually dispersed. Only then did Xiao stop his movements, panting as he sat beneath a tree.

"Here."

A bottle of water was handed before him.

Xiao looked up; it was Hyuga Takashi.

"Thank you, Instructor Takashi." Xiao took the water and drank a large mouthful.

Hyuga Takashi sat down beside him, was silent for a moment, and said, "Your chakra control today has improved a lot compared to the last assessment."

"Maybe I suddenly had a breakthrough," Xiao said.

"A breakthrough?" Hyuga Takashi gave a bitter smile. "In the Hyuga Clan, having a breakthrough is useless. The upper limit of the Branch House was predestined from the day we were born."

The hand holding the water bottle tightened.

"Instructor Takashi," he suddenly asked, "do you hate the Main House?"

Hyuga Takashi's body stiffened.

For a long time, he finally said in a low voice, "Such words, don't say them again in the future. You'll die."

"I just want to know," Xiao looked at the distant sunset, "has anyone ever thought about... changing all of this?"

"Changing?" Hyuga Takashi's voice carried deep exhaustion. "How to change? The Caged Bird Seal is carved into the soul; a single thought from the Main House can make us die. Resistance? Defection? Don't be naive. It's not like the Hyuga Branch House has never produced geniuses in history, and it's not like no one has tried. Their ends are all written in the family's taboo archives."

He stood up and patted Xiao's shoulder. "Practice well, and in the future become a qualified guard, living peacefully to old age—that is the best ending for the Branch House."

After finishing, Hyuga Takashi turned and left.

Xiao sat beneath the tree, watching his back disappear into the woods.

Live peacefully to old age?

In a world where he could be sacrificed by the Main House at any moment, this in itself was the greatest extravagant hope.

No.

He did not want this kind of ending.

Xiao stood up and walked in the direction of home. The setting sun drew his shadow very long, like an obstinate scratch imprinted on the soil of the training ground.

Returning home, his mother had already prepared dinner.

While eating, Xiao suddenly said, "Mother, tomorrow when I deliver food, can I bring some pastries for Lady Hinata?"

Ling was stunned. "Pastries? Why?"

"The young lady seemed to be in a bad mood today," Xiao said. "I thought... perhaps sweets could make her happy."

Ling looked at her son, her gaze complex. Finally, she sighed. "There are still some red bean cakes in the kitchen, you can bring them tomorrow. But Xiao, remember—"

"I know my limits," Xiao interrupted her. "I'm just doing a favor to smooth things over. A little goodwill from the Main House young lady has no downsides for us."

Ling nodded and didn't say anything more.

Late at night.

Xiao lay on the tatami mat, his eyes open as he stared at the ceiling.

Within his mind, the system light screen surfaced once more:

[Novice Quest: Establish a preliminary trust relationship with Hinata (In Progress)]

[Time Remaining: 6 days 23 hours]

Trust relationship.

How should he build trust with a four-year-old little girl?

Xiao recalled the parenting knowledge he had read in his past life, recalling Hinata's personality traits from the original work.

She was kind, sensitive, craved recognition, and was afraid of disappointing her father.

Then the entry point was—

"Recognition."

Xiao murmured softly.

Early the next morning, Xiao came to the head family estate once again.

The guards at the gate had changed today, but they were still patrolling very strictly. Xiao handed over the food box and the paper-wrapped package of red bean cakes: "These are snacks for Lady Hinata."

The guard opened the oiled paper to inspect them, and only let him pass after confirming there was no problem.

Arriving in front of the main house, Hinata was already waiting on the veranda. She was wearing a light purple kimono today, and her eyes were somewhat red and swollen, as if she had been crying.

"My lady, your breakfast." Xiao knelt down and pushed the food box forward.

Hinata said in a small voice: "Thank you."

Xiao paused for a moment and took the package of red bean cakes out from inside his tunic: "This... is for you."

Hinata was stunned: "For me?"

"You seemed a bit unhappy yesterday." Xiao said with his head lowered, "Sweet food can make people's moods better. These are red bean cakes made by my mother, and I hope you won't disdain them."

Hinata took the paper package and opened it to take a look. The red bean cakes were exquisitely made, with sesame seeds sprinkled on top.

"Thank you." Her voice was a bit louder, carrying a trace of excitement: "What is your name?"

"Hyuga Xiao."

"Xiao..." Hinata repeated it once, and then said in a small voice: "My name is Hinata."

"I know." Xiao said.

Hinata blinked her eyes: "How do you know?"

"The entire Hyuga clan knows that the eldest young lady of the head family is named Hinata." Xiao's tone remained respectful, but it held a trace of unperceived gentleness.

Hinata lowered her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her kimono: "But... Lord Father said that I brought shame to the clan."

Xiao's heartbeat skipped a beat.

The opportunity had arrived.

"Why?" he asked.

"I... I cannot activate the Byakugan." Hinata's voice carried a crying tone: "Lord Father said that the heir of the Hyuga head family must activate the Byakugan at four years of age. But I tried so many times and couldn't do it. Lord Father was very angry, saying that I am not worthy of being the eldest young lady of the head family..."

As she spoke, her tears fell once again.

Xiao fell silent for a few seconds, and then said: "My lady, did you know? The children of the branch family cannot activate the Byakugan the moment they are born."

Hinata raised her head and looked at him blankly.

"The Caged Bird seal seals our Byakugan." Xiao pointed to his own forehead: "That is why we can only ever achieve a 'pseudo-activation', and can never possess..."