Hey! We're family

Early the next morning, Yu crawled out from under the covers and stretched.

"Huh?" He turned and spotted four-year-old Neji peeking through the gap in the sliding door, half his little head showing as his big eyes studied Yu curiously!

He had almost forgotten that Neji was his older brother now!

Though, if they went by his real age, he was old enough to be Neji's uncle!

Still, Yu waved his little hand in greeting. "Ohayo~! Onii-chan [good morning, big brother]~!"

For Neji, waking up to find that he had a little brother felt like a dream!

But a child's world was simple and beautiful. He wouldn't dwell on how messy the adult world was. All he knew was that, after always being an only child, he was a big brother starting today!

A big brother had to act like one.

Neji pushed the door open and entered, announcing solemnly, "Pleased to meet you. My name is Neji, and I'm your elder brother. You should address me as 'Nii-san,' not 'Onii-chan'!"

Seeing him act like a little grown-up made it impossible to resist teasing him!

Yu said, "Got it, Neji Nee-san [big sister]!"

Neji stressed, "It's Nii-san, not Nee-san!"

Yu said, "Got it, Nii-chan!"

Neji stammered, "Y-you, you're doing that on purpose!"

Any more teasing, and Neji might start biting.

Yu corrected himself. "It's nice to meet you, Nii-san!"

"Hehe." Neji grinned happily. "Call me Nii-san around other people. When we're alone, you c-can call me Onii-chan."

As everyone knew, every cool, aloof heartthrob had been an adorable, slightly prickly little boy once.

"I'm full, Father."

After breakfast, Neji had to go train at the Main Family's dojo. As the eldest son of the Branch Family, his schedule was packed.

Yu asked, "Won't you stay and play with me?"

At the entryway, Neji put on his shoes and socks. "I can't. I need to get stronger quickly so I can ease Father's burden."

He wrapped a white bandage around the green mark on his forehead, neatly placed the wooden sandals he had taken off on the rack, then stood and told Yu behind him, "Be good, little brother. I'll play with you when I'm done training."

Yu nodded. "It's a promise, then. I'll take you out to play tonight~."

"Yeah, it's a promise..."

Neji felt that something wasn't quite right, but decided to let it go.

Of course, Yu wasn't really desperate to play. He was looking after Neji in his own way.

As a prodigy and the eldest son of the Branch Family, Neji was bound to have a lonely childhood.

But things would be different now. Yu was here.

Hizashi came over. "Did you sleep all right last night?"

Yu smiled. "Hehe, like a log~."

"Really? That's good."

Hizashi himself hadn't slept well all night.

"Let's go for a walk. You can get to know Konoha and the clan while we're at it."

"Okay."

Hiashi and Yu stepped outside together. Along the streets of the Hyuga compound, passing clan members cast them surprised looks.

"Lord Hizashi really did have a child outside..."

"Lord Hiashi ordered us not to discuss this, whether inside the clan or outside!"

"Wow, he's so tiny, and so cute!"

"Well, he is Young Master Neji's little brother!"

"Mom, look! That kid has horns!"

"Shh. Good children learn to look the other way!"

There was no gratifying scene of everyone jeering at him here.

Setting aside the conflict between the Main and Branch Families, relations within the Hyuga Clan were quite harmonious.

Even members of the Branch Family received proper respect.

No one would truly be foolish enough to rob someone of control over his life and then trample his dignity, too.

At least, scum like that had no place in the Hyuga Clan. Such was the upbringing expected of a distinguished clan.

Of course, in reality, the people who could take your life were often the very ones who greeted you with smiles.

"Lord Hiashi is here...!"

Across the street, Hiashi approached in gray robes, and people willingly cleared a path.

Hizashi stopped. "Brother, I'm showing little Yu around the place he'll be living from now on."

"Mm."

Hiashi nodded, his sleeves held together, his expression stern.

As clan head, he naturally had more to consider than the average clan member.

He instructed Hizashi, "Make sure you explain the clan rules to him clearly. If anything goes wrong, I'll hold you responsible."

Hizashi answered respectfully, "Understood, Brother."

Hiashi added, "Also, for now, he may only move around within the Hyuga Clan's compound. You are not to take him outside."

"Yes."

Hizashi agreed, holding Yu's little hand as he stepped aside for Hiashi.

After Hiashi left, Hizashi said, "Yu, don't think your uncle is heartless. He's the clan head. He has to oversee every matter in the clan, great or small, and take responsibility for everyone who lives here. He's actually an honorable man. You'll understand someday."

"Okay, I understand."

Yu nodded as though he only half understood.

Of course he understood. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come here even if his life depended on it.

The Hyuga Clan's grounds weren't all that big. After all, how big was Konoha itself? The Hyuga occupied only one corner of it.

But they weren't small, either. The Hyuga were a major clan, after all. Their grounds were twice the size of other clans', with a full range of amenities.

That way, even with his movements partly restricted, he wouldn't feel too cooped up.

That day, Hizashi took Yu to visit practically every household, greeting people, telling them where Yu had come from, and introducing him to the clan's elders and younger members so they could get acquainted.

Humans were social creatures, and navigating relationships was a required lesson.

Even if it meant exposing his embarrassing past over and over, Hizashi still hoped this unexpected son of his could walk openly and proudly among the clan.

Yu noticed it all. He cooperated with his father Hizashi, greeting the clan members like a well-behaved, considerate child, then committing their names and faces to memory.

By the time they finished visiting the clan members, evening had fallen.

Father and son sat on the grass beside the river in the Hyuga compound.

Looking at the river shimmering in the twilight, Hizashi told Yu about the ties between Konoha and the Hyuga.

It was all familiar history, so Yu treated it as a review.

Any discussion of the Hyuga inevitably led to the Byakugan, and any discussion of the Byakugan inevitably touched on the grim division between the Main and Branch Families!

"The Hyuga are a distinguished clan in Konoha because we possess a kekkei genkai called the Byakugan. The Byakugan is an ancient visual jutsu and Konoha's most precious asset. Preventing it from falling into outside hands is a duty every generation of Hyuga must fulfill!"

"And so... the Hyuga established the Main and Branch Family system. The Main Family carries on the Hyuga's rightful lineage, while the Branch Family protects the Main Family's lifeline!"

"Yu, I'm truly happy that you've come to me. But... in truth, I didn't want you to come!"

Rip!

At that, Hizashi reached up and tore off the bandage around his head, exposing the mark of his Caged Bird Seal!

Clutching the middle of the bandage, his face full of bitterness, he said, "The Branch Family's fate is to become a bird in this cage! Once you're branded with this mark, not only is the Byakugan's power sealed, but the Main Family can use this cursed seal to damage the Branch Family's cranial nerves whenever they please. Whether you want to or not, you'll become the Main Family's puppet!"

His Byakugan stared intently at Yu, almost pleading. "Yu, now that you know all this, are you still willing to stay? If you're not, I'll take you away from the Hyuga and out of Konoha tonight!"

Afraid Yu might hesitate out of concern for him, he didn't mention that doing so would make him a criminal in the eyes of both the Hyuga and Konoha!

Hizashi was deeply conflicted. He wanted to watch his child grow up beside him, yet feared that he would be hurt. Otherwise, he wouldn't have introduced him to the clan only to offer to take him away that very night.

After a moment's thought, Yu clenched his little hands. "Dad, let's go..."

Hizashi's eyes trembled. "You want me to take you away from here?"

Yu stood and brushed off his backside. "I'm hungry. Let's go home for dinner."

Hizashi froze. "You..."

"Hehe..."

In the evening breeze, Yu stood atop the raised embankment and gave Hizashi a brilliantly radiant smile.

"You really are something, kid..."

His eyes reddening, Hizashi shook his head helplessly, wrapped the bandage around his forehead again, and took Yu's little hand to lead him home.

At that moment, Hizashi had no idea.

His own fate, Neji's fate, and the fates of so many people in the Hyuga Clan, Konoha, and the Shinobi World would all change beyond recognition because of this child's arrival.