The Main House's Test

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

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

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

The door slid open with a soft sound.

When 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, with a smooth forehead unmarred by the Caged Bird Seal. His steps were steady, each one seeming measured with a ruler.

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

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

The silence lasted about ten seconds.

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

"I heard you've been going to the Ninja Academy lately," Ko Hyuga said, with no emotion audible in his tone. "And serving as a temporary teaching assistant."

Here it comes.

Xiao kept his head lowered. "Yes. Lord Third Hokage is implementing educational reforms and needs the clans to provide assistance. The Branch House received orders from the Main House and sent me there."

"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, wearing an appropriately puzzled expression. "Elder Qing conveyed it to me. He said it was the Main House's intention and told me to gather intelligence on the younger generation of every 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 from the Uchiha Clan, Sarutobi, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Nara, and other clans."

Ko Hyuga accepted the scroll and unfurled it.

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

Ko Hyuga read for a full five minutes.

Throughout that time, Xiao's breathing remained steady. He could feel his heartbeat—once, twice—its rhythm controlled as precisely as a clock. The Caged Bird Seal on his forehead faintly heated up, a response to Main House chakra—Ko Hyuga was using some method to determine whether he was lying.

But Xiao had long since prepared for this.

Ninety percent of the scroll's contents were true. Only the section concerning Kurenai Yuhi had been deliberately made vague. He had indeed observed all the children, and he had indeed recorded their information. As for his "real purpose" for going to the Ninja Academy? That had merely been a system task completed along the way.

"You've put some thought into this." Ko Hyuga finally rolled up the scroll, a trace of warmth entering his voice. "Gathering intelligence is the Hyuga Clan's duty. The Byakugan's insight should be used where it matters."

"Yes." Xiao lowered his head again.

"However." Ko Hyuga's tone suddenly 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 said, enunciating every word. "Everything you see, hear, and think belongs 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 connections."

He stressed the last two words heavily.

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

"Very good." Ko Hyuga stood. "Continue your observations. Report directly to me next time. There's no need to go through Qing."

"Yes."

Ko Hyuga walked toward the door, the hem of his kimono whispering against the floor.

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

His vision instantly pierced through flesh, bones, and chakra pathways—

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 chakra network and bright chakra points. But near his heart, Xiao saw something abnormal.

Black chakra.

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

What was that?

Xiao's pupils contracted slightly.

Ko Hyuga seemed to sense something and suddenly turned around.

Xiao instantly deactivated his Byakugan, keeping a respectful expression on his face.

"Is something wrong, Elder Xiao?"

Ko Hyuga stared at him for two seconds, then shook his head. "Nothing. Remember what I said."

The door slid open, then shut again.

The footsteps gradually faded away.

Xiao remained kneeling where he was, completely still.

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 his clothes were already soaked across the back.

For that brief moment, he had nearly been discovered.

But it had been worth it.

[System Notification: Abnormal Curse Mark energy fluctuations detected. Analyzing...]

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

[Warning: This Curse Mark shares an energy-origin resonance with the Caged Bird Seal. It is presumed to have been created by the same person.]

Xiao lightly tapped his fingers against his knee.

The Heart-Binding Seal?

Monitoring emotions? Mental suggestions?

And its caster possessed higher authority than the Caged Bird Seal... That meant the Curse Mark on Ko Hyuga had most likely been planted by an even more central member of the Main House. Perhaps even... Hyuga Hiashi himself?

No, that wasn't right.

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

The true creator of the Caged Bird Seal...

A secret from a thousand years ago...

The system's notification sounded again:

[Side Quest Triggered: Investigate the Origin of the Hyuga Clan Curse Marks]

[Quest Description: The Hyuga Clan's Curse Mark system is more complex than it appears. The Main House's control over the Branch House may only be the tip of the iceberg. Discovering the origin of the Curse Marks may reveal a crucial clue to completely removing the Caged Bird Seal.]

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

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

Xiao slowly rose to his feet.

His knees had gone numb from kneeling so long. He flexed his ankles and walked over to the window.

Outside lay the Hyuga Clan's courtyard, where several Branch House servants were trimming flowers and plants. The Caged Bird Seal was engraved on every one of their foreheads. They moved carefully, not daring to make too much noise.

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

Two worlds.

Xiao slowly clenched his fist.

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

But the good news was that they did not yet suspect the system, nor did they suspect his true purpose. The Main House merely regarded him as a "somewhat clever Branch House member trying 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 Ko Hyuga, and its contents were much more detailed. It included the children's interpersonal networks, their teachers, their parents' positions in the village, and even some insignificant personal habits.

Xiao intended to keep this intelligence for himself.

The system required him to intercept women with great fortune and change their destinies. To do that precisely, he had to thoroughly understand Leaf Village's power structure and interpersonal relationships.

Kurenai Yuhi was only the first.

There would be many more after her.

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

Every one of them was a chess piece, and every one was an anchor.

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

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

Those women were the anchors keeping him in the human world.

A cruel line of reasoning.

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

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

Xiao pushed open the window.

The evening wind blew in, carrying the distinctive scent of vegetation from the Leaf Village forest. In the distance, the outline of Hokage Rock glowed golden beneath the setting sun, its three faces silently watching over the village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tobirama Senju, Hashirama Senju.

Leaf Village's founders, protectors, and also... maintainers of the system.

In this village, the Hyuga Clan was a chess piece used to balance the Uchiha Clan, the Branch House was a consumable 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 curled into the faintest smile.

He shut the window and turned to leave the reception room.

The corridor was long, and the candle stands on both sides had already been lit. Firelight cast swaying shadows along the walls. Xiao's footsteps were soft, soft enough to be nearly inaudible.

When he reached a corner, he stopped.

His Byakugan activated again, his vision piercing through the wall to reveal two people speaking in low voices at the far end of the corridor.

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

"...That kid really does have some ability," Hyuga Qing said. "His intelligence gathering is detailed, better than anyone else we sent."

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

"I understand. I'll arrange for someone to keep an eye on 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 trace of disloyalty..."

He did not finish the sentence.

But Xiao already understood.

Test his loyalty?

Xiao sneered soundlessly.

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

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

Xiao pushed open the door to his small room and lit an oil lamp. The dim yellow light illuminated the narrow 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 somewhat childish but neat.

"Teacher Xiao: Meet at the usual training ground tomorrow at three in the afternoon. 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 Emotional Anchor Count: 1]

[Divine Erosion Resistance Coefficient: +0.5%]

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 itself—oppressive, cramped, suffocating.

But soon.

Xiao closed his eyes.

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

Those numbers flashed through his mind.

He still needed more Destiny Points, needed to intercept more women with great fortune, and needed to grow stronger faster.

The next Chunin Ninja Exams, the Konoha Crush Plan, the 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 many more to come.

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

But deep within his consciousness, the system interface remained lit, displaying endlessly scrolling data streams and that side quest's constantly ticking countdown—

[Investigate the Origin of the Hyuga Clan Curse Marks]

[Time Remaining: 89 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes]

Time was running out.