Only after hearing Hiashi's words did Hatake Ziyan nod and ask, "What is your request? Let's hear it."
"I only hope that you won't teach anyone else how to remove the Caged Bird Seal, Lord Ziyan! And please help keep the removal of Neji's Caged Bird Seal a secret!" Hiashi said cautiously.
Hatake Ziyan glanced at Neji, whose expression had turned odd, and said, "That's two requests, you know?"
Hiashi's expression stiffened. He said nothing, merely giving a few ingratiating chuckles.
"Don't worry! Even if I wanted to teach my method, no one else could learn it! Besides, I have no interest in telling anyone about something so trivial!" Hatake Ziyan said.
Hearing Hatake Ziyan agree, Hiashi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you, Lord Ziyan!"
"All right! If there's nothing else, I'll take Neji and leave!" Having accomplished what he had come to do, Hatake Ziyan said to Hiashi.
"Lord Ziyan, why not stay for lunch? It would give me a chance to thank you for taking the trouble to teach these two children of mine!" Hiashi offered sincerely.
Hatake Ziyan motioned for Neji to follow him and told Hiashi, "No need to go to the trouble. I have other things to do, so I'll be leaving!"
With that, Hatake Ziyan led the way outside. Neji hurriedly bowed to Hiashi, then quickened his pace to catch up with Hatake Ziyan!
"Take care, Lord Ziyan!" Hiashi said, bowing to his retreating back.
Once Hatake Ziyan disappeared from view, Hiashi sank onto the ground as though all his strength had been drained, then burst out laughing!
Then he spoke toward the shadows. "Hizashi, now you can rest easy, can't you? He doesn't have to end up like the two of us, separated into the main and branch families by