Hyuga Ryosuke froze completely.
"You mean..." His voice was dry, his Adam's apple bobbed, every word coming out with immense difficulty.
"The Main House's Curse Mark is useless against us?"
This question was like a stone cast into stagnant water, stirring up massive waves in the hearts of Hyuga Kamon, Hyuga Go, and Hyuga Shin.
Aokawa looked at the four of them.
Their faces were a mix of extreme longing and deep-rooted fear.
It was the reaction of a bird imprisoned for too long, seeing a crack in the cage door for the first time.
Wanting to rush out, yet fearing it might be a trap.
"No, it's not that simple."
Aokawa shook his head, pouring cold water on them, which also helped cool their feverish minds a bit.
He walked to the center of the Barracks and pointed to the back of his neck.
"Do you think the Caged Bird Seal is just a technique carved into the forehead?"
The four looked at each other, confused.
"Isn't it?" Hyuga Kamon subconsciously asked back.
"That's just the surface, the lock."
Aokawa's voice was steady, but carried a coldness like someone dissecting a corpse.
"The real keyhole is on your own bodies."
He turned around, facing away from them.
"Activate the Byakugan."
Though puzzled, the four did as told, veins bulging around their eyes.
"Now, sense me, or sense each other."
Aokawa continued.
"Does every one of you have an absolute Blind Spot at the position corresponding to the first thoracic vertebra behind you?"
These words were like a thunderclap.
Hyuga Ryosuke's body trembled violently.
Hyuga Go and Hyuga Shin's breathing instantly became heavy.
A Blind Spot!
For the Byakugan, which claimed a 360-degree field of vision without Blind Spots, this was the greatest disgrace and a "defect" accepted by all Branch House members.
The Main House explained that it was due to impure Bloodlines and proof of insufficient cultivation.
Over time, everyone had accepted this explanation.
But now, why did Aokawa specifically mention this?
"That Blind Spot isn't a defect left behind when the Caged Bird Seal was carved."
Aokawa slowly turned around, his Byakugan calmly watching each of them, taking in every subtle change in their expressions.
"Instead... it's because certain Visual Nerves were intentionally severed."
"What?!" Hyuga Kamon cried out in shock.
"The Main House told us since we were kids that this defect was because of the Caged Bird Seal! They were lying to us?!"
Hyuga Go's fists clenched until they cracked, his teeth biting his lip until blood seeped out.
A surge of anger from being deceived for over a decade, or even decades, erupted from everyone's chests.
"Why would they do that?" Hyuga Ryosuke forced himself to calm down, though his voice still trembled.
"To turn you into blind men," Aokawa's answer was simple and cruel.
"Blind men specifically for the 'Caged Bird Seal' activation signal."
"They severed the Visual Nerves in your eyes responsible for receiving that specific Chakra frequency."
"So, no matter when or where the Main House activates the Curse Mark, your eyes can't'see' that Chakra signal, so naturally, you have no way to defend against it."
"And the surgical incision is hidden right in that Blind Spot we all consider a disgrace."
The truth was presented before them, bloody and raw.
Inside the Barracks, there was a deathly silence.
Only the four increasingly heavy sounds of breathing.
It wasn't about insufficient cultivation.
It was an invisible knife plunged into the back of their heads from birth.
"Since it's a physical severance..." Hyuga Ryosuke looked up abruptly, an astonishing light erupting in his bloodshot eyes.
"Then it can be reconnected!"
"Exactly," Aokawa nodded.
"Then why, for thousands of years, has no Branch House member been able to break free from the cage?" Hyuga Kamon asked.
"Because in such a fragile place, bypassing layers of optic nerves to cut away the atrophied parts and then treating it with superb Mystical Palm Technique..."
"The requirements for the surgeon are too high: high-precision sensing, high-level healing ability, and a very steady hand. Even Lady Tsunade couldn't do all of these at once."
Hearing this, they felt some disappointment, but then quickly looked up.
Since Aokawa said he would handle it, he must have a way—and hadn't he just been immune to the Caged Bird Seal?
"That's right!"
"Currently, in the Five Great Nations, I am the only one who can do all of those at once!"
"Using precise Chakra control combined with the Mystical Palm Technique, I can reconnect that severed nerve for you."
"Allowing your Byakugan to recover a true 360-degree field of vision."
Boom!
The four's minds completely exploded.
It can be recovered!
They can escape!
That wild joy of suddenly seeing a brilliant light from the abyss of despair almost drove them mad.
"Me! I'll go first!" Hyuga Go was the first to shout, his face flushed with excitement.
"Don't be in such a hurry."
Aokawa raised his hand, stopping their impulse.
"But there is a prerequisite."
Everyone instantly quieted down, looking at him nervously.
"This repair only allows your 'eyes' to see that signal frequency again."
"In other words, the Caged Bird Seal only becomes ineffective against you when you have your Byakugan active and catch that Chakra signal in advance to defend and counter it."
"If you are ambushed by the Main House while your Byakugan is deactivated, the Curse Mark will still activate."
The wild joy that had just peaked cooled down a bit instantly.
This wasn't a once-and-for-all liberation.
It was more like being given a mirror in a duel that lets you see the trajectory of a bullet, but you still need to dodge it yourself.
Seeing the flash of hesitation on their faces, Aokawa added calmly.
"This is only the first step."
"It's to give us the qualification to flip the table." His gaze swept over everyone, his voice not loud but incredibly firm.
"After some time, my Chakra control will improve again, and then I will turn this damn Curse Mark into a pile of true scrap metal."
These words completely shattered the last bit of hesitation in their hearts.
Is that so.
This was already a dawn they hadn't dared to dream of!
Being able to see hope and have a weapon to resist was enough!
Poof.
Aokawa formed hand signs, and a new Shadow Clone appeared beside him, starting to take out precise Medical Instruments from a Storage Scroll.
Disinfecting, preparing.
A solemn atmosphere once again enveloped the Barracks.
Aokawa's original self looked at the four of them, his voice calm and steady.
"Who goes first?"
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