The "X"-shaped Cursed Seal emitted an ominous light in Aokawa's palm.
Aokawa looked at the "X" Cursed Seal in his palm, representing slavery and humiliation, with no pity in his eyes.
"Don't you like putting dog leashes on others?"
"Today, I'll let you taste the feeling of being branded with a mark of shame."
He raised his hand and slowly but firmly pressed that mass of ominous Chakra against Hyuga Zetsu's forehead!
Sizzle—
The moment the special Chakra touched Hyuga Zetsu's forehead, a faint burning sound was heard.
"Aaaaaah—!"
A heart-wrenching scream erupted from Hyuga Zetsu's throat, so shrill it didn't sound human.
His whole body trembled violently, his limbs pinned down, and he could only watch as that power representing slavery and humiliation branded itself inch by inch into the depths of his Soul.
Hearing this familiar scream, Hyuga Ryosuke's body trembled imperceptibly; a flash of complex emotion crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.
Hyuga Go and Hyuga Shin, who were pinning down Hyuga Zetsu's legs, grinned with undisguised pleasure.
The other Branch House youths inside and outside the Barracks activated their Byakugan one after another, scanning the surroundings alertly, their hearts in their throats.
They didn't know what to do, only instinctively standing guard for this unprecedented "rebellion."
A moment later, the light faded.
The branding was complete.
Aokawa watched as the "X" on Hyuga Zetsu's forehead slowly faded until the skin returned to its smooth state, then spoke nonchalantly.
"I've modified the Cursed Seal; it only appears when activated."
"This design wasn't difficult at all. I really don't know what the Main House Elders who designed the Caged Bird Seal were thinking."
"Did they intentionally leave this ugly Rune to constantly remind the Branch House that they are dogs?"
On the ground, Hyuga Zetsu's screams stopped, leaving only heavy panting.
Hearing Aokawa's words, he acted as if he had caught a final lifeline, struggling to get up and rushing to a basin of water nearby.
The basin reflected a smooth forehead.
He breathed a long sigh of relief and slumped down.
Seeing this, Hyuga Go curled his lip in dissatisfaction.
"Lord Aokawa, why hide the Cursed Seal?"
"That bastard should have to bear that ugly mark and taste the pain we in the Branch House have suffered all these years!"
Aokawa shook his head.
"If the Rune isn't hidden, once the Main House discovers it, it will mean all-out war."
"Right now, we still need to accumulate strength."
Hyuga Shin frowned: "But even if it can't be seen, this bastard will definitely tattle when he gets back."
"Not necessarily."
A meaningful smile curled at the corners of Aokawa's mouth.
He formed hand seals.
A special frequency of Chakra rushed silently toward Hyuga Zetsu.
Hyuga Zetsu's face changed drastically, and he activated his Byakugan almost instinctively!
In the next instant, just as that Chakra was about to touch him, it was interfered with by another weak burst of Chakra released from his eyes and instantly dissipated.
Aokawa smiled at the sight.
"I almost forgot."
"I still need to perform a small surgery on you."
As a member of the Main House, Hyuga Zetsu instantly understood the meaning of those words, and the last bit of color drained from his face.
His pupils dilated from extreme fear.
"No! You can't do this! My eyes... You dare touch my Byakugan!"
"My grandfather is an Elder! If you ruin my eyes, the entire Hyuga Clan won't let you off!"
"Stop! Stop it now!"
He screamed incoherently, pleading and threatening.
But Hyuga Ryosuke, Hyuga Kamon, and the others pinned him firmly to the ground again without hesitation.
At Aokawa's fingertips, a blue Chakra Scalpel silently emerged.
"Don't worry, my medical skills are very high."
He leaned down, his voice as steady as if he were stating a trivial matter.
"I use the Chakra Scalpel with great precision. The Hospital often asks me to help with delicate tasks they can't handle."
"It will be over quickly."
Before his voice had even faded, the Chakra Scalpel sank into Hyuga Zetsu's wide-open right eye.
"Ah—!"
A scream even more shrill than before echoed through the entire Barracks.
Hyuga Zetsu twitched in pain, waves of intense agony from the precise cutting radiating from his eyeball.
He gritted his teeth hard, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth.
"Aokawa... I'll remember you..."
"As long as I can get back... I will definitely have my grandfather kill all of you, and your families! Tear you into a thousand pieces!"
The surgery was over.
Aokawa stood up, and the Chakra Scalpel at his fingertips dissipated.
Hyuga Zetsu shoved everyone aside and immediately activated his Byakugan.
He tensely pushed his vision to the limit, checking the 360-degree panoramic view behind him.
It was still there!
The complete field of vision was still there!
A hint of relief had just risen in his heart.
The next second, his expression froze.
On the left... at the far left edge of his vision, a blind spot of about one degree had appeared!
Not behind him!
It was actually on the left?
An unprecedented surge of rage and humiliation overwhelmed his reason.
He clenched his fists, his teeth chattering.
"You dare... you dare to create a one-degree blind spot in the noble eyes of the Main House!"
He looked up, glaring at Aokawa with those flawed eyes.
Aokawa didn't care about his anger; he just spoke calmly.
"Then let's test the results."
With that, he formed hand seals again.
"No!"
Hyuga Zetsu screamed in terror.
This time, he could no longer catch the frequency of the incoming Chakra.
A piercing, bone-deep pain suddenly exploded in his brain!
"Aaaaaah!!"
He clutched his head, rolling frantically on the ground, roaring and wailing.
Aokawa glanced at his Shadow Clone.
The Shadow Clone understood, his hands moving quickly across the walls of the Barracks as invisible Runes spread out.
The Soundproofing Barrier was complete.
From the outside, the heart-wrenching wails inside could no longer be heard.
Seeing that Hyuga Zetsu had nearly reached his limit, Aokawa stopped the Cursed Seal.
He didn't want to kill this useful "tool" just yet.
Hyuga Zetsu lay on the ground like a dehydrated fish, gasping for air, his eyes looking at Aokawa with nothing but deep-seated malice.
Aokawa looked down at him and spoke slowly.
"You should know that once the Caged Bird Seal is branded, trying to erase it from the brain requires an insanely high level of Chakra control. So, don't expect those trash in the Main House to be able to undo it for you."
He paused and continued.
"The frequency I used when branding the Cursed Seal just now was specifically modified; it's different from all the other Branch House members. You've also noticed that your blind spot isn't behind you, but on the left."
"In other words, the hand seal gesture that can activate the Caged Bird Seal on your head is unique."
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