Half a month later, Hyuga Main House, council chamber.
The air was heavy with the stale scent of old wood and incense. Five members of the Hyuga main family, including clan head Hyuga Hiashi, sat in a circle, every wrinkled face wearing the same displeasure.
"Neji has missed five consecutive sparring sessions with the main family, as well as two clan meetings." The eldest elder spoke in a dry voice, like two rotten pieces of wood grinding together. "Where does he think he is going? To heaven?"
"Hmph, it is more than mere absence." Another elder slammed his teacup onto the table, splashing several drops of tea. "He joined Root under that Uzumaki Naruto without permission... This is an open provocation against the rules of the Hyuga Clan! Since when do branch family members get to choose their own masters?"
Anger swiftly spread through the stifling air.
"He must be severely punished!"
"Exactly! If we do not beat him into submission, will not every brat in the branch family start thinking they can turn the heavens upside down?"
An elder with a sinister face and high cheekbones flashed a cruel glint in his eyes. "This is easy. Has he not tasted the pain of the Caged Bird? Is he not supposed to be strong-willed?"
He swept his gaze across the room, his voice low and vicious. "He can endure half a minute, perhaps a minute. But what about half an hour? An hour? I refuse to believe anyone's bones can be harder than the Curse Mark!"
As soon as he said that, even the other elders felt he had gone too far.
Hyuga Hiashi, seated at the head of the table, furrowed his brow tightly. At last, he spoke, a trace of barely perceptible concern in his voice. "Too long