Hyuga Branch Family, Clan Head Hyuga Tensei

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Hyuga Branch Family, Clan Head Hyuga Tensei

Hyuga Clan, Branch Family.

Hyuga Tennin sat facing his younger sister. After taking a sip of the freshly brewed tea, he looked at her delicate yet utterly expressionless face and let out a silent sigh. "Sister, even I cannot help you remove the Caged Bird. It is a secret technique the clan has passed down for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. It may only disappear at the moment of death."

To ensure the Hyuga Clan's safety and distinguish the different statuses of the Main Family and Branch Family, the Hyuga Main Family branded a special sealing technique known as the "Caged Bird" onto the foreheads of Hyuga Branch Family ninja.

This sealing technique specifically targeted Hyuga ninja who possessed the Byakugan.

Once a Hyuga Branch Family ninja fell into enemy hands, a Hyuga Main Family ninja could activate the Caged Bird and use the seal to destroy the Branch Family ninja's brain in an instant, turning the incomparably precious Byakugan into lifeless dead flesh and leaving the enemy no possibility of obtaining the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan.

Although this secret technique ensured that the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai would not fall into outsiders' hands, to Hyuga Branch Family ninja, it was like being a bird imprisoned in a cage and stripped of its freedom. Their lives and deaths rested entirely in the hands of the Hyuga Main Family.

Hyuga Tensei said quietly, "Brother, I understand. This is my fate. I have accepted it."

For a time, neither of them spoke.

Listening to the maple leaves outside as they drifted down from the branches, laughing with the wind, Hyuga Tensei seemed to recall something. "Brother, I really have accepted it. This is my fate. And you already killed Father, so my hatred vanished along with his death."

Hyuga Tennin nodded. "All right. I understand."

"Brother, you did not come just to sit here with me in silence, did you? Is there something you need my help with?"

"Yes. There is something I need you to do."

"Uchiha?"

Hyuga Tennin was somewhat surprised. He had not said anything, yet his sister had already guessed it. He could not help thinking that if not for the Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family system, his sister would have become an outstanding ninja.

But it was a pity. Once branded with the Caged Bird, her future had been locked away.

Like a bird in a cage.

"The clan issued a mission to the Uchiha Clan. News of it has already spread everywhere. Whether it is me or an ignorant child, everyone knows the clan went to the Uchiha Clan."

Hyuga Tensei spoke blandly.

She only knew that the clan had issued a mission to the Uchiha Clan. As for why they had done so, Hyuga Tensei did not know and could not guess.

Without enough information, there was no way to analyze it.

Hyuga Tennin said, "I want to lead the Hyuga Clan into joining the Uchiha Clan. Do you think that is the right decision?"

"Join the Uchiha Clan? Now? Isn't it too early?"

Smart people did not need to know much. One sentence was enough for them to infer the general picture. The moment she heard her brother's question, Hyuga Tensei analyzed many things. Combined with the current situation in the Warring States Ninja World, she roughly guessed the answer.

Hyuga Tennin asked in return, "Why do you say it is too early?"

Hyuga Tensei pondered for a moment. "I would not find such a decision strange, but this timing is indeed too early."

"Uchiha and Senju Clan have fought for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. They have fought all the way to the present. The support and allegiance of a few ninja clans alone cannot produce a decisive effect."

"Even if the Hyuga Clan stands on Uchiha's side and Uchiha might defeat Senju Clan in war, do not forget that Senju Clan also has other clans relying on them. Their strength has never truly pulled apart from the Uchiha Clan."

"I know you intend to place your bet early, so the returns will be greater. But you must also consider how great the losses will be if the Hyuga Clan, with its current strength, joins the war between Uchiha and Senju Clan."

Hyuga Tennin pondered. "So you mean we should wait? Wait until we determine which is stronger, Uchiha or Senju Clan, then choose one?"

"That is right. The Hyuga Clan cannot withstand more turmoil. After all, under Father's leadership, we suffered too many losses and are already close to being surpassed by other clans. If we rashly join the war between Uchiha and Senju Clan now, we will only invite disaster."

"I thought you would advise me not to choose the Uchiha Clan."

"Uchiha and Senju Clan are both acceptable. There is not much difference. Perhaps in many people's eyes, Senju Clan has the better reputation, but among ninja who grew up in the Warring States Era, who is truly merciful?"

"I have considered what you said, but I still insist on choosing the Uchiha Clan now."

Hyuga Tensei frowned, raised her eyes, and asked, "Why?"

Hyuga Tennin said, "Dead Bone Pulse."

"When Uchiha and Senju Clan fought before, there was an Uchiha ninja named Uchiha Jobu. Not only did he possess the Sharingan, he also possessed the Kaguya Clan's Kekkei Genkai, the Dead Bone Pulse."

"That is impossible!"

"It is true."

"How could that be possible?"

The Ninja World's established understanding was that Kekkei Genkai were inherited through bloodlines. To preserve their clans and maintain bloodline purity, many ninja clans married only within their own clans and would not marry members of other ninja clans.

After all, they feared their own Kekkei Genkai would be obtained by other ninja clans.

Even when a clan lacked enough members for intermarriage, ninja clans would only select people with ninja talent from among refugees for reproduction.

Thus, for hundreds of years, no one had ever heard of anyone possessing not only their own clan's Kekkei Genkai, but also a Kekkei Genkai belonging to another ninja clan.

Hyuga Tennin nodded. "So now you understand why, even after hearing your reasons, I still say I want to choose the Uchiha Clan now?"

Having heard the answer, Hyuga Tensei understood. She said in strong agreement, "That will work. This way, the Hyuga Clan's future will be much easier. As long as we advance and retreat alongside the Uchiha Clan and completely defeat Senju Clan, all the Land of Fire's resources will be shared between us and Uchiha."

"That is right. That is also why I came to see you. I want you to examine him carefully and confirm whether Uchiha Jobu truly possesses the Kaguya Clan's Kekkei Genkai, the Dead Bone Pulse!"

"Understood. Leave this matter to me. Even if it were not for the clan, I would complete this mission well for you, Brother."

Hyuga Tennin left.

There were still things left unsaid, but they did not need to be said. Hyuga Tensei understood that if it was confirmed Uchiha Jobu truly possessed the Dead Bone Pulse—

The Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan would no longer merely be cooperating.

There would also be...

Hyuga Tensei murmured, "You want me to marry into the Uchiha Clan? Is that what you want, Brother? I will do it, to repay the debt I owe you for killing Father."