"It hasn't been easy for the Hyūga clan to maintain its position in Konoha. It's only through the combined efforts of the Main House and the Branch House that we've managed to preserve it."
"The Main House develops the clan, and the Branch House protects the Main House… that is the guiding principle behind the Hyūga clan's prosperity…"
Hyūga Dema spoke earnestly, trying to persuade Akira.
Akira, however, stared off into space, clearly thinking about something else entirely.
He still had more than thirty thousand experience points saved up.
He planned to keep them in reserve—just in case.
A full recovery from leveling up could sometimes turn the tide of battle.
Right now, each level required over twenty thousand experience.
Just two more levels, and he would reach Awakening, unlocking his own personal Nen ability.
He planned to save up to fifty thousand and jump straight to level 36.
He wondered how much stronger awakening would actually make him.
At present, he was already close to jōnin level, though he still lacked experience in certain techniques and ninjutsu variety.
Genjutsu was another weakness he needed to address.
If he remembered correctly, synthesizing Yin Release required ten max-level genjutsu.
Dema's voice continued droning in his ears like the buzzing of flies.
"…and therefore the Branch House must—"
"Are you even listening to me?!"
Dema slammed the table, splashing tea from the cup.
Akira blinked and came back to himself, letting out a yawn.
"Elder Dema," he said lazily, "has the Main House ever really thought about the Branch House?"
Dema's smile stiffened.
"The Branch House protects the Main House—"
"You keep repeating the same thing," Akira interrupted. "Can't you come up with something new?"
He leaned back in his chair.
"If you want to brainwash yourself with that line, go ahead. Just don't say it to me."
"The Main House treats the Branch House well," Dema said, his expression darkening.
As an elder of the Branch House, he had long since internalized the clan's ideology.
"Sure," Akira replied calmly. "But what does that have to do with me? What favor have I ever received from the Main House?"
Dema fell silent.
The Hyūga clan did indeed take care of its Branch members—arranging their lives, their marriages, their livelihoods.
From cradle to grave, nothing was neglected.
All they had to do… was remain obedient servants.
But Akira had always been an anomaly.
Since childhood, he had lived off his parents' inheritance, refusing every benefit the clan offered.
Dema himself had covered up this open defiance for years, preventing the Main House from finding out.
But once Akira became a ninja, that was no longer something he could hide.
The only reason Akira was even tolerating this lecture now was because Dema had once treated him with a measure of kindness.
Otherwise, Akira wasn't exactly known for respecting his elders.
"But—"
"There is no 'but,'" Akira cut him off. "I don't owe the Main House anything. And I'm not about to bow my head and live as their servant."
He leaned forward, his voice turning cold.
"The Main House and Branch House share the same blood. So why are we divided into masters and slaves?"
A faint sneer appeared on his lips.
"Is the Caged Bird Seal really meant to protect our Byakugan… or to ensure we can never rise up?"
"Impudent!"
A furious shout rang out—this time, not from Dema.
Figures burst from hidden positions around the room.
Several Hyūga ninja surrounded Akira in an instant.
The leader glared at him, face filled with anger.
"Do you realize what treasonous nonsense you're saying, Hyūga Akira?"
Dema slowly closed his eyes.
He had tried everything he could to persuade the boy.
What came next was no longer within his power to control.
Akira gave a short laugh.
"So even arresting me requires sending Branch House members? What's wrong—did all the Main House members die out?"
He looked directly at the leader.
"What exactly are you angry about? That I spoke the truth?"
The man inhaled slowly, suppressing emotions that were difficult to name—anger… or perhaps something else.
"The Main House orders you to return and report."
Akira could tell from the lack of rebuttal that this man, too, harbored dissatisfaction toward the clan.
Even without activating the Byakugan, his Nen perception told him the man was a jōnin.
Any Branch member who reached jōnin rank was undeniably talented.
They had endured the oppression of the Main House countless times… and in the end, still chosen obedience.
"Return?"
Akira lifted his teacup calmly despite being surrounded.
He had already assessed their strength.
He might not be able to kill them all—but leaving safely would not be difficult.
So he remained completely at ease.
"And did you ask them first?"
As soon as he spoke, masked figures appeared silently inside the room.
Blades were drawn—aimed directly at the Hyūga clan members.
"ANBU…"
The Hyūga jōnin frowned.
Why were the ANBU here?
"This is an internal matter of the Hyūga clan."
"Apologies," one of the masked shinobi replied calmly. "We have orders. Hyūga Akira is required to assist with an investigation. You do not have the authority to take him."
The Hyūga jōnin sighed.
With ANBU interference, there was no way to take Akira by force.
He looked at Akira one last time.
"You can't escape forever, Hyūga Akira."
The Caged Bird Seal ensured that any Hyūga who tried to flee would be stopped.
The Main House was the cage.
The Branch House… the birds inside it.
Akira simply smiled in response.
The Hyūga group withdrew, taking Dema with them.
Only then did Akira realize something.
…How exactly had they entered earlier?
He frowned slightly.
This time, he had truly torn off the last veil with the Main House.
His earlier clashes with Hiashi could still be dismissed as childish disputes.
But openly refusing the Main House's summons… that was open defiance.
They had never expected him to comply willingly—hence sending people to capture him.
Dema had volunteered to persuade him.
It hadn't worked.
What they also hadn't expected… was ANBU intervention.
Of course, that was because they didn't know about Root.
Root currently had numbers—but very few elites.
That was precisely why they operated in deeper secrecy.
Akira turned to the masked leader.
There were no obvious identifying features.
Root operatives of this era weren't well known, so he couldn't guess the man's identity.
"Are you taking me to the Root base?" Akira asked.
The man shook his head.
"Lord Danzō has issued orders. We are to protect you—and deliver your first assignment."
He raised a hand, and the other operatives vanished.
Then he clapped once.
Another Root ninja appeared, holding a uniform and a mask.
"This is your combat gear and mask. You may choose your own codename."
Akira took the mask.
Red markings covered its surface, forming the shape of a demon's face.
He put it on.
Only his pale Byakugan eyes were visible through the eyeholes.
"Call me… Player."
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