"I will break the Caged Bird with my own strength!"
That still somewhat youthful voice exploded through the room like sudden thunder.
Hizashi's entire body trembled when he heard it.
He turned around in disbelief and saw Neji—who had appeared at the doorway at some unknown moment—walking toward him with tears streaming down his face, yet with utterly unwavering determination.
Neji's appearance at the door was, of course, Hoshiyomi's doing.
Hoshiyomi had deliberately released a trace of his chakra pressure outward, allowing those outside to sense his anger.
Coupled with his intentionally amplified voice, every word he said had reached Neji's ears as the boy rushed over in alarm.
Seeing his son's resolute eyes and the arm extended to help him up, Hizashi could no longer hold back—
his tears burst forth like a broken dam:
"Neji… Father was foolish. I was foolish!
I almost ruined you.
If I had gone through with it just now… your life would have been over."
As Neji helped him up, his own eyes reddened slightly, but he forced himself not to cry.
Instead, he turned to Hoshiyomi, tore off his forehead protector, and revealed his bandage-covered forehead.
Under everyone's confused gazes, Neji reached back and pulled loose the knot of the bandage behind his head.
As it slowly unraveled, the Caged Bird curse mark—hidden since he was four years old—was exposed completely before everyone present.
Enduring the crushing pressure Hoshiyomi had deliberately released, Neji looked straight into Hoshiyomi's eyes, bowed deeply, and then declared, word by word:
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Hoshiyomi.
I understand now.
The Caged Bird is only a cage placed by the Main Family on the Branch's flesh.
But the thing that truly imprisoned me… was my own fear of facing it.
That was the real cage—of the mind.
From today onward, I will never cover it again.
So what if I bear the Caged Bird?
Five years.
In five years, I will use my own strength to shatter its chains!"
Hearing his declaration, everyone in the room was stunned.
Even Tsunade looked at Neji with respect and admiration.
Because of Hizashi's earlier behavior, she had subconsciously lowered her expectations of Neji.
But now, with his actions, Neji regained all her respect.
To expose a flaw he had hidden for over ten years—
and to boldly challenge an unbroken rule that had shackled every Hyūga branch member since the Warring States era—
what kind of courage did that take?
For that alone, he was worthy of Tsunade's respect.
Hizashi wept even harder, feeling he was utterly unworthy of being Neji's father.
Hoshiyomi looked at Neji with deep satisfaction.
This was the Neji he remembered—the true genius who deserved his place in the world of Hokage.
Originally, he had planned to take Tsunade's cue, say something about accepting Neji as a disciple, and then gradually work toward removing the seal.
But after hearing Neji's declaration, he immediately changed his mind.
Looking at Neji's unwavering gaze, Hoshiyomi threw his head back and laughed.
He clapped Neji firmly on the shoulder.
"Good.
With ambition like that, you deserve to break the so-called Caged Bird.
Since you said five years, I'll give you five years.
If, in five years' time, you become one of the brightest among your generation—
Then you won't need anyone to speak for you.
I will personally take responsibility for having your Caged Bird removed.
But what I'd rather see…
is you, five years from now, defeating every clansman who stands in your way.
Show them that a genius like Hyūga Neji should never be chained by the Caged Bird!
Now—take your father and let him rest.
Don't disappoint me."
After bowing deeply again, Neji left the room with his father.
No one knew how tremendous a vow the young boy silently made in his heart as he walked away.
...
After Neji and Hizashi left, Hiashi—overjoyed—also bowed to Hoshiyomi:
"Lord Hoshiyomi, with just a few words, you lifted the great weight that has burdened my heart for years. I cannot thank you enough."
But unlike before, Hoshiyomi didn't continue lecturing or offering inspirational words.
Instead, he returned to his usual relaxed demeanor and smiled:
"Today's outcome honestly had little to do with me. It was Neji himself who proved his worth…
But if I'm being frank, I've thought from the beginning that sooner or later, you Hyūga would end up removing Neji's Caged Bird anyway."
Hiashi blinked in confusion.
He instinctively asked:
"Why would Lord Hoshiyomi say that?"
Hoshiyomi chuckled:
"Isn't it obvious?
You, as clan head, have only two daughters.
Since your Hyūga clan doesn't enforce that forced matrilocal marriage tradition anymore, daughters eventually marry out.
So ten years from now, when both your daughters marry into other families, by bloodline, proximity, and succession arguments…
Neji will inevitably have his Caged Bird removed and succeed as the next Hyūga clan head."
Hiashi froze.
His first instinct was to retort:
"Nonsense! Who said I plan to marry both my daughters out?"
But before he could speak, he suddenly realized that Hoshiyomi's words seemed to carry an additional hint.
He fell silent, stunned, lost in thought—forgetting to respond at all.
Seeing this, Hoshiyomi exchanged a look with Tsunade, both of them smiling slightly.
The hint is already crystal clear.
If Hiashi still can't understand… he might as well hand the clan head position straight to Neji now.
Having said everything that needed to be said, Hoshiyomi stood and cupped his hands politely:
"It's getting late. We should take our children home.
We'll visit again another time."
Without waiting for Hiashi to respond, he left the room with Tsunade.
By the time Hiashi snapped out of his daze and hurried outside, Tsunade and Hoshiyomi were already far away with Ryūshin and Rinne.
Hiashi opened his mouth but, seeing the distance between them, decided against shouting after them—he still had his dignity.
Instead, he turned and looked at his two daughters standing in the courtyard, each lost in their own thoughts.
After hesitating for a long moment, Hiashi's eyes settled on Hanabi.
"Hanabi, those two children who visited today…
Did you become good friends with them?"
Hanabi froze, then hesitantly nodded.
She didn't notice her father's expression at all.
She tapped the ground lightly with her toe, tracing little patterns, then suddenly seemed to make up her mind.
She lifted her head and said:
"Father, I think the first-year classes at the academy are so boring…
I already learned all that at home.
And none of the kids at school can last more than three moves against me.
I want to skip a grade and see what third-year students are like.
May I?"
...
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