The Main House's Test

The reception room of the Hyuga Main House estate was filled with the scent of sandalwood.

Hyuga Xiao knelt on the tatami with his back straight and his hands resting flat on his knees. He had maintained that posture for a full twenty minutes, his breathing so steady he seemed asleep. Only the faint flutter of his eyelashes proved that he was still awake.

The reception room was meticulously arranged—portraits of past Hyuga Clan heads hung on the walls, armor from the Warring States era stood in the corners, and ninja tools were displayed on wooden racks. Every item silently declared: this was Main House territory, the center of power.

The door slid open with a soft sound.

As Ko Hyuga entered, Xiao caught sight of his shadow from the corner of his eye. This Main House elder was around fifty, dressed in a dark blue kimono, his forehead smooth and unmarked by the Caged Bird Seal. His steps were steady, each one seeming measured by a ruler.

"Xiao." Ko Hyuga sat in the seat of honor across from him, his voice as flat as if he were reading aloud.

"Elder Xiao." Xiao lowered his head until his forehead nearly touched the tatami.

The silence lasted for about ten seconds.

Ko Hyuga picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, then set it down. The sound of porcelain touching wood was especially clear in the quiet room.

"I heard you recently went to the Ninja Academy." Ko Hyuga spoke without any detectable emotion. "And became a temporary teaching assistant."

Here it comes.

Xiao maintained his bowed posture. "Yes. Lord Third Hokage is advancing educational reforms and needs the clans to send people to assist. The Branch House received orders from the Main House and sent me."

"Orders?" Ko Hyuga lightly tapped the rim of his teacup. "Why don't I recall the Main House issuing such an order?"

The air in the room seemed to freeze for an instant.

Xiao slowly raised his head, revealing just the right amount of confusion. "Elder Hyuga Qing conveyed it to me. He said it was the Main House's will and told me to gather intelligence on the younger generation of each clan."

"Qing?" Ko Hyuga's brow lifted slightly.

Xiao took a scroll from his robe and offered it with both hands. "These are the observations I recorded during my time at the Ninja Academy. They include the abilities, personality tendencies, and preliminary chakra nature assessments of children of suitable age from the Uchiha Clan, Sarutobi Clan, Yamanaka Clan, Akimichi Clan, Nara Clan, and others."

Ko Hyuga accepted the scroll and opened it.

The handwriting on the scroll was as neat as print, every line categorized and clearly marked. The Uchiha Clan's children excelled at Fire Release, but were generally weak in taijutsu; the Sarutobi Clan's children possessed abundant chakra, but lacked precision in ninjutsu; the coordination of the three Pig-Deer-Butterfly Trio clans had already begun to take shape...

Ko Hyuga read for a full five minutes.

Throughout that time, Xiao's breathing remained even. He could feel his own heartbeat—one beat, then another—its rhythm controlled like a clock. The Caged Bird Seal on his forehead grew faintly hot, responding to the Main House's chakra—Ko Hyuga was using some method to determine whether he was lying.

But Xiao had prepared for this long ago.

Ninety percent of that scroll was true. Only the section concerning Kurenai Yuhi had been deliberately obscured. He had indeed observed all the children and recorded intelligence on them. As for his "real purpose" in going to the Ninja Academy? That had merely been a system mission completed along the way.

"You have been diligent." Ko Hyuga finally closed the scroll, a trace of warmth entering his voice. "Gathering intelligence is the duty of the Hyuga Clan. The Byakugan's insight should be used where it matters most."

"Yes." Xiao lowered his head once more.

"But." Ko Hyuga's tone abruptly turned cold. "Xiao, you must remember one thing."

Xiao raised his head and met Ko Hyuga's eyes.

There was no emotion in those pure white pupils, only scrutiny, as though he were looking at a tool.

"The Branch House's eyes may only see for the Main House." Ko Hyuga enunciated every word. "What you see, hear, and think all belong to the Main House. Without the Main House's permission, you may not form your own judgments, take your own actions, much less have your own... personal relationships."

He heavily emphasized the final two words.

Xiao's back tensed for a moment before swiftly relaxing. He showed a humble smile. "I understand. My life, my eyes, everything I have belongs to the Main House."

"Good." Ko Hyuga stood. "Continue observing. Report directly to me next time. There is no need to go through Qing."

"Yes."

Ko Hyuga walked toward the door, the hem of his kimono making a soft rustling sound against the floor.

Just as he was about to slide the door open, Xiao silently activated his Byakugan.

His vision instantly penetrated flesh, bone, and meridians—

Ko Hyuga's chakra flow appeared before Xiao's eyes. It was the chakra capacity of a standard Hyuga Clan Elite Ninja, with a developed meridian system and bright chakra points. But near his heart, Xiao saw something abnormal.

Black chakra.

It was not ordinary Yin Release chakra. It was darker, thicker, like congealed blood. It coiled around the meridian nodes near the heart, slowly writhing as if alive. Even stranger, faint and intricate runes surfaced across the black chakra—seventy percent similar to the runes of the Caged Bird Seal, yet more complex and ancient in structure.

What is that?

Xiao's pupils constricted slightly.

Ko Hyuga seemed to sense something and suddenly turned around.

Xiao instantly deactivated his Byakugan, maintaining a respectful expression.

"Is there anything else, Elder Xiao?"

Ko Hyuga stared at him for two seconds, then shook his head. "No. Remember what I said."

The door slid open, then shut again.

The footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Xiao remained kneeling where he was, utterly motionless.

Only after confirming that Ko Hyuga had gone far away did he slowly let out a breath. Fine cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and the clothes on his back were already soaked through.

For that brief instant, he had nearly been discovered.

But it had been worth it.

[System Notice: Abnormal curse seal energy fluctuations detected. Analyzing...]

[Analysis Result: This curse seal is a variant of the "Heart-Binding Seal." Its function is to monitor the bearer's emotional fluctuations and trigger mental suggestions under specific conditions. The caster's authority exceeds that of the ordinary Caged Bird Seal.]

[Warning: This curse seal has an energy-origin resonance with the Caged Bird Seal. It is presumed they were created by the same person.]

Xiao lightly tapped his fingers against his knee.

The Heart-Binding Seal?

Monitoring emotions? Mental suggestions?

And the caster's authority exceeded that of the Caged Bird Seal... That meant the curse seal on Ko Hyuga had most likely been placed by an even more central member of the Main House. Perhaps even... Hiashi Hyuga himself?

No, that was not right.

Xiao recalled the rune structure he had just seen. It was too ancient to have been created by a contemporary ninja. It seemed more like something passed down from the Warring States era, or even earlier.

The true creator of the Caged Bird Seal...

A secret from a thousand years ago...

The system's notification sounded again:

[Side Mission Triggered: Investigate the Origin of the Hyuga Clan Curse Seals]

[Mission Description: The Hyuga Clan's curse seal system is more complicated than it appears. The Main House's control over the Branch House may be only the tip of the iceberg. Discovering the origin of the curse seals may reveal the key clue to completely removing the Caged Bird Seal.]

[Mission Reward: Destiny Points ×500, Byakugan Purity Enhancement Opportunity ×1]

[Current Clues: 1. The abnormal curse seal on Ko Hyuga; 2. Ancient secret texts passed down by the Main House may record relevant history; 3. The Leaf Village Book of Seals may contain clues.]

Xiao slowly rose to his feet.

His knees were a little numb from kneeling for so long. He rolled his ankles and walked over to the window.

Outside lay the Hyuga Clan courtyard, where several Branch House servants were trimming flowers and grass. Every one of their foreheads bore the Caged Bird Seal. Their movements were cautious, and none dared make too much noise.

Farther away, the Main House children were practicing Gentle Fist, their shouts clear and crisp.

Two worlds.

Xiao slowly clenched his fist.

Ko Hyuga's test was only the beginning. The Main House had already noticed his unusual movements—going to the Ninja Academy, contacting Kurenai Yuhi. All of it was within their surveillance.

But the good news was that they did not yet suspect the system or know his true objective. The Main House merely regarded him as a Branch House member with "a little cleverness and ambitions to climb higher."

That perception could be put to good use.

Xiao took another scroll from his robe.

This scroll was thicker than the one he had handed to Ko Hyuga, and its records were more detailed. It included the interpersonal networks of the children from each clan, who their teachers were, their parents' positions in the village, and even some insignificant habits.

Xiao intended to keep this intelligence for himself.

The system required him to intercept high-destiny women and alter their fates. To do that precisely, he had to understand Leaf Village's power structure and interpersonal relationships inside and out.

Kurenai Yuhi was only the first.

There would be many more.

Tsunade, Mei Terumi, and even... the future Sakura Haruno, Ino Yamanaka, and Tenten.

Each one was a chess piece, and each one was an anchor.

Xiao remembered the system mentioning "Divine Erosion." As his Byakugan purity increased and his Otsutsuki Bloodline awakened, he would gradually lose his humanity and become a cold, indifferent cosmic god.

To resist that erosion, he had to establish enough emotional bonds, deep enough bonds.

Those women would be his anchors to the human world.

It was cruel logic.

But in a world where bloodline determined one's limits and class divisions were rigid, gentleness and kindness would only make people die faster. Ko Hyuga's words had made it very clear—everything belonging to the Branch House belonged to the Main House, including their lives and their thoughts.

If he wanted to survive, if he wanted to control his own fate, then he had to be more ruthless than everyone else.

Xiao pushed open the window.

The evening wind blew in, carrying the scent of grass and trees unique to the forests of Leaf Village. In the distance, Hokage Rock glimmered gold beneath the setting sun, its three carved faces silently overlooking the village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tobirama Senju, Hashirama Senju.

The founders and guardians of Leaf Village, and also... the protectors of its system.

In this village, the Hyuga Clan was a piece used to balance the Uchiha Clan, the Branch House was a disposable resource for the Main House, and war orphans were cannon fodder that could be sacrificed at any time.

Everyone had been assigned a place. Everyone had to live according to the predetermined script.

Unless...

Someone overturned the chessboard.

The corner of Xiao's mouth lifted into the faintest curve.

He closed the window, turned, and left the reception room.

The corridor was long. The candle stands on both sides had already been lit, and firelight cast wavering shadows on the walls. Xiao's footsteps were soft, so soft they were almost inaudible.

When he reached the corner, he stopped.

His Byakugan activated once more. His vision passed through the wall, revealing two people talking quietly at the end of the corridor.

They were Ko Hyuga and another Main House elder, Hyuga Qing.

"...That kid really does have some ability." Hyuga Qing's voice was low. "His intelligence gathering is thorough, better than anyone else we sent."

"The more capable he is, the more he must be controlled." Ko Hyuga's voice was icy. "The Branch House may be useful, but they cannot be allowed to have ideas. Do you understand what I mean?"

"I understand. I'll arrange for someone to watch him."

"Not just watch him." Ko Hyuga paused. "Find an opportunity to test his loyalty to the Main House. If he shows even the slightest disloyalty..."

He did not finish the sentence.

But Xiao already understood.

Test his loyalty?

Xiao sneered silently.

He withdrew his chakra, deactivated his Byakugan, and turned down another path.

By the time he returned to the Branch House residential area, night had fully fallen.

Xiao pushed open the door to his small room and lit an oil lamp. The dim yellow glow illuminated the cramped space—a bed, a table, a wardrobe. That was all he owned.

A letter lay on the table.

Xiao picked it up and opened it.

It was written by Kurenai Yuhi. The handwriting was a little childish, but neat:

"Teacher Xiao: Meet me at the usual training ground tomorrow afternoon at three. I'll have my ninja tools ready. Also... thank you for speaking up for me in front of Elder Xiao today. Kurenai."

Xiao folded the letter and tucked it into his robe.

The system notification sounded:

[Kurenai Yuhi's Favorability Has Increased to the "Trust" Level]

[Current Number of Bond Anchors: 1]

[Divine Erosion Resistance Coefficient: +0.5%]

It was not enough.

Far from enough.

Xiao blew out the oil lamp and lay down in the darkness.

The ceiling was low enough to touch with an outstretched hand. This room was like the Caged Bird Seal—oppressive, narrow, suffocating.

But soon.

Xiao closed his eyes.

Byakugan purity: 6%. Caged Bird Seal removal progress: 0.1%...

Those numbers flashed through his mind.

He needed more Destiny Points, needed to intercept more high-destiny women, and needed to increase his strength faster.

The next Chunin Exams, the Konoha Crush Plan, Uchiha Clan Massacre Night...

Every event was an opportunity.

And before then, he had to continue playing the role of the "loyal Branch House member."

Ko Hyuga's test was only the first hurdle.

There would be more to come.

Xiao's breathing gradually steadied as he entered a light sleep.

But deep within his consciousness, the system interface remained illuminated, displaying constantly shifting streams of data and that side mission counting down—

[Investigate the Origin of the Hyuga Clan Curse Seals]

[Time Remaining: 89 Days 23 Hours 59 Minutes]

There was not much time left.