"I didn't…"
Hyuga Natsu quickly denied it.
Kiyoshi continued,
"Do you think wearing a forehead protector makes you no different from the main family?"
His tone was gentle, even tinged with pity.
"But you clearly know that the 'Caged Bird Seal' is your true identity."
"Here's what we'll do. To show your sincerity, let me see your seal."
Kiyoshi disliked such a naturally cursed mark existing. Yet, if it were him placing it on someone else, that would be different. He was aware of his double standards and made no pretense of being a good person.
He would repay kindness, but never betray it. But for those who held bias or hostility against him, he bore no restraint. After all, the phrase "naturally evil Uchiha" exists for a reason.
First, he had to observe the seal's form and details—so he could replicate or bypass it if necessary.
Natsu's pupils constricted sharply. She looked up at him, disbelief written across her face.
"Th… this isn't possible," she said tightly, "I can't let anyone else see it…"
"Cannot let anyone else see it?"
Kiyoshi repeated softly.
"You mean… I am an outsider?"
Natsu froze, lips slightly parted, her throat clogged with words she could not voice. She had not expected Kiyoshi to frame it this way.
He did not push, only patiently watched her struggle, as if enjoying the sight of her conflict.
A ripple of chakra appeared in his eyes.
At this moment, Natsu seemed like a helpless lamb.
After a long pause, Kiyoshi spoke slowly,
"I only want to see the 'Caged Bird Seal.' Will it take a piece of your flesh?"
Would a branch family member really be this magnanimous, willing to sacrifice for principle? The secret of the Byakugan must remain protected within the Hyuga. If so, it should be displayed openly, a symbol of guardianship and heroism. Yet in reality, all branch members concealed their seals, covering them with forehead protectors or cloth.
Natsu's fingertips trembled as she lowered her head deeply, lips turning pale. She knew this well.
"My patience is limited, and you wouldn't want this matter to collapse, would you? After all, you said you wanted to make amends."
Kiyoshi's voice remained calm. One hand rested on Natsu's soft shoulder, instinctively making her want to recoil, but her back was against the cold stone wall—nowhere to go. The other hand moved toward her forehead.
Natsu clutched her sleeve tightly, knuckles white. She knew she had no choice.
Finally, the ninja forehead protector was removed.
A dark seal pattern sprawled across her forehead.
Kiyoshi's eyes narrowed slightly as he carefully examined it. The pattern matched the anime version rather than the manga. He reached out, fingertips brushing her forehead. Natsu shivered violently, eyes closed tight, hands clenching.
"I see…"
Kiyoshi muttered softly, a trace of contemplation flashing in his gaze. Quietly, he activated his Sharingan, memorizing every detail of the seal.
"All done."
Natsu's eyes snapped open, staring at him, full of humiliation and grievance.
"I have received your sincerity. Now, what about Hyuga Ginka's apology and sincerity?" he asked with a smile.
"I… isn't this my sincerity?"
Natsu was stunned. She had removed her forehead protector, fully exposing the seal, yet Kiyoshi claimed there was still Ginka's part?
"You are making amends for your own passive bias and distance toward the Uchiha. Regarding Ginka, I never said that matter was resolved."
Kiyoshi shook his head.
"Or do you think the 'Caged Bird Seal' is so rare, so priceless, it cannot be seen?"
Lowering his head, he brushed aside a strand of her dark green hair, whispering near her ear.
The "Art of Speech (White)" quietly activated.
During the Chunin Exams, Neji had revealed his seal to everyone to prove a point. Natsu's heart clenched, and tears she had tried to hold back finally slid down her cheeks.
She could say nothing.
Kiyoshi looked away, turning to leave the cave.
As the night wind swept in, bringing a chill, his figure vanished into darkness, leaving only faint sobbing echoing in the cave—restrained, suppressed, like a cry abandoned by the world.
"Natsu?"
Outside the cave, Hyuga Tetsu sensed something wrong. As he rushed forward, he saw Kiyoshi and Natsu walking side by side.
"Why so long?"
Yuuhi, holding half-eaten grilled fish, puffed her cheeks.
"A bit long," Kiyoshi replied. His pre-prepared skewers of fish were nearly cold.
"Tetsu, what did you two discuss?"
Pulling Natsu aside, he whispered.
Her lips trembled, yet no complete sentence came out.
"Nothing… just a small matter," she said hoarsely.
Tetsu's brow furrowed, suspicion and worry in his gaze. Natsu lowered her eyes, unwilling to speak further.
The night was deep. Her shadow trembled under the firelight, seemingly swallowed by darkness.
...
The next day, at dawn, footsteps echoed in the distance.
"This area is the last unchecked zone," Tomei Mei said. A team followed her, many ninja temporarily allied, hoping to seize bloodline limits or scrolls.
"Someone's coming."
Kiyoshi opened his eyes, staring in a direction, Yuuhi keeping watch beside him.
"Who?"
"Enemies."
Kiyoshi stood without further comment. Bloodline abilities attracted outsiders; just as Yumin had abducted Kushina, the risk was clear.
"So that's why we didn't encounter Sharingan or Byakugan users—they were traveling together."
Kaguya Shoya spoke slowly. Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow.
By this account, they hadn't met Tetsu's small team. This commotion also roused Natsu and the others.
Tears still dried on Natsu's cheeks. She quickly wiped them away, noticing a group that had somehow surrounded them.
In the second exam round, no rules forbade team-ups. Being able to unite with others even when all squads are technically enemies also demonstrated skill.
Yuuhi, seeing such a formation for the first time, felt fear and tugged at Kiyoshi's sleeve.
(End of Chapter)