On the second day of the New Year in Year 58 of Konoha Calendar, the unmelted snow lay across the village as rare sunlight broke through the clouds, casting soft light over the white landscape.
Hinata, bundled in a new snow-white winter coat with a fluffy orange scarf, stood at Menma's doorstep. Her face was flushed pink from the cold, and she had gathered all her courage to be here.
She knocked softly, her heart beating rapidly with a mix of anticipation and shyness.
The door opened to reveal Menma himself. His black spiky hair was slightly messy, and he wore comfortable dark home clothes, suggesting he'd recently finished morning training.
"Happy New Year, Hinata," Menma said, recognizing this was the shy Hinata rather than her more assertive counterpart.
"Me-Menma-kun..." Hinata's voice was barely audible. She nervously twisted her fingers in her coat, "New Year... the weather is nice today... I was wondering... would you like to build a snowman in the park?"
After speaking, she seemed to want to hide her face in her scarf.
Menma glanced at the unusually warm sunshine outside, then at the visibly flustered Hinata, and considered for a moment.
With Kanon and Hikari handling affairs in the Land of Stars, he didn't need to be constantly involved. His main body could use some relaxation.
"Sure," He nodded, "Let me change first."
"O-okay!" Hinata's eyes immediately brightened as if filled with stars.
Soon, Menma emerged wearing his familiar black and red-trimmed tracksuit. They walked to the park together, one following the other in comfortable silence.
The park was already filled with playing children.
Most noticeable was Naruto in his bright orange coat, having a loud snowball fight with Kiba. Both were shouting and throwing snowballs, covered in snow but laughing joyfully.
Among the children in the park, Kiba was one of the few who didn't care about Naruto's 'demon fox' reputation and played with him freely.
"Hey! Menma! Hinata! Over here!" Naruto spotted them and waved enthusiastically.
Kiba turned and grinned, "Yo! Menma, Hinata! Come join us! I'm going to show Naruto what I can do today!"
Menma sighed at the two energetic boys but walked over with Hinata anyway.
At Naruto and Kiba's enthusiastic (and noisy) invitation, the four started building a snowman together.
Naruto and Kiba focused on rolling snowballs and general mischief while Menma and Hinata handled the finer details.
Naruto remained as lively as ever, chattering constantly about jokes and his grand dream of becoming Hokage.
Kiba added his own commentary, their playful banter easing any awkwardness.
Hinata occasionally smiled at their antics, carefully shaping a snow rabbit's ears.
Menma worked quietly, his gaze occasionally drifting to the boisterous Naruto and quiet Hinata.
His deep blue eyes remained calm, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
After completing a large, somewhat lopsided snowman, Naruto and Kiba ran off to continue their snowball fight, their carefree laughter echoing through the park.
Hinata and Menma stood by the snowman as the atmosphere grew quiet.
Hinata stole a glance at Menma's calm profile, her cheeks reddening again. She took a deep breath and spoke slightly louder than before.
"Menma-kun... Big Sis wants to talk to you."
Immediately, Menma noticed a subtle shift in Hinata's demeanor.
The timid quality faded away, replaced by a more direct, almost feisty presence.
She straightened up, placed her hands on her hips, and though her face remained the same, her eyes became bold and direct. She kicked at the snow and scowled.
"Hey, Menma!" Her voice cleared, carrying a hint of impatience, "That stupid clan banquet yesterday was so boring!"
Big Sis Hinata had taken over.
Menma didn't seem surprised, merely raising an eyebrow, "Oh? What happened?"
"Same old rules!" Big Sis Hinata snorted, then frowned thoughtfully, "The old man made me spar with that cousin Neji. There's something strange about that kid."
She rubbed her chin as if trying to recall, "He's completely different from the Neji in my world! My Neji might be a pervert who peeps in the women's baths, but at least he's open and kind of silly. This Neji..."
"He's gloomy, and the way he looks at people... like he's hiding something. Like some kind of villainous little boss! Little Hinata didn't notice during the spar, but I could tell he was holding back. So boring!"
A knowing smile touched Menma's lips, "Opposite personalities are normal. In your world, the Hyuga Clan's [Caged Bird] serves more as protection, and the main and branch families aren't as divided as here."
"Caged Bird..." Big Sis Hinata repeated the term with clear disgust, "That disgusting Cursed Seal should have been thrown out long ago!"
She looked sharply at Menma, "So... you mean he hates us? The main family?"
Menma nodded, his gaze drifting toward the distant Naruto, "Yes. And after I gave him a taste of freedom last time, that hatred has probably grown stronger. He likely knows about my visit to the Hyuga Clan's compound as Shura, taking the elders' eyes in front of everyone."
Big Sis Hinata inhaled sharply, then relaxed, "So troublesome... Are they just pieces on your board?"
She asked directly, her eyes burning into Menma.
Menma chuckled, his tone casually authoritative, "If I wanted, I could easily turn him into an avenger filled with hatred for the main family and Konoha, a proper villain. Even make him the [Clan Destroyer]…'"
He paused, his eyes meeting Big Sis Hinata's, "But since he's my brother-in-law, I'll let it be."
"Brother-in-law..." Big Sis Hinata's face reddened briefly before she glared at him, "You'd better!"
Menma continued, "Don't worry. Soon, not just Neji, but Uncle Hizashi and other branch family's members worth saving will be free from the Caged Bird. This isn't about chess pieces… it's necessary change."
Big Sis Hinata looked into Menma's deep eyes, finding unexpected reassurance in their confidence and strength.
She nodded, smiling as she clenched her small fist, "Okay! I believe you! I'll find a way too! When I have more influence later, I'll push the main family to abolish that horrible Caged Bird system! I won't stand for rules that hurt our own people!"
In the sunlight, the girl's eyes shone with determination and the will to create change.
…
After nightfall.
The Hyuga Clan's branch family compound lay silent.
Neji finished his evening practice and lay quietly in bed.
The day's training, the clan's oppression, and his deeply buried desires and hatred swirled through his mind.
The Caged Bird on his forehead seemed to throb in the darkness, reminding him of his identity and shackles.
As his consciousness blurred toward sleep, the air in his room seemed to twist slightly.
A figure appeared silently by his bedside.
Neji jolted awake, sitting up instantly, his Byakugan nearly activating on reflex!
But when he saw the familiar black robes and strange white three-eyed fox mask, he froze.
'Shura!'
His heart raced… part fear, but mostly indescribable excitement and anticipation.
He quickly rose to kneel on his bedding, bowing his head respectfully, "Shura-sama."
Menma stood silently, observing the precocious, repressed child through his mask.
He could feel the vibrant Chakra and deep-seated resentment within Neji.
"Hyuga Neji," Menma's masked voice sounded deep and authoritative, "Last time, I gave you a taste of momentary freedom. Now, tell me your choice. Will you remain a caged bird bound by the Cursed Seal, living mediocrily, dying pointlessly for the main family? Or-"
"Will you pay any price to pursue true power, control your own destiny, even if the path is filled with thorns and darkness?"
Neji looked up sharply, intense fire blazing in his white eyes!
He didn't hesitate, his voice firm with desperate yearning, "I choose power! I choose freedom! Whatever the cost! Please teach me, Shura-sama!"
"Good." Menma seemed to nod in approval.
He extended his hand. The ancient, blank [Red Moon Scroll] bamboo scroll materialized in his palm, emitting a hazy, eerie light.
"Then experience in advance what power true despair and struggle can create-"
The scroll's light suddenly intensified, enveloping Neji completely!
Neji felt his consciousness blur as the world around him twisted and transformed!
When he 'awoke' again, he found himself in an incredibly 'real' world.
It was still the Hyuga Clan's compound, but the atmosphere felt even more oppressive.
In this [Small Limited Tsukuyomi] Genjutsu World created by the Red Moon Scroll, Neji experienced an extremely realistic nightmare cycle:
He 'saw' his father, Hyuga Hizashi, forced to become the scapegoat for his brother Hiashi, who had 'accidentally killed' a Kumogakure's envoy.
Under 'persuasion' from the main family's elders and Konoha Village's leadership, for the 'village's stability', Hizashi 'voluntarily' accepted his fate and committed seppuku in tragic, humiliating atonement!
He watched his father's corpse helplessly, the Caged Bird preventing him from even crying out in rage!
The seed of hatred grew wildly in that moment!
Time accelerated in the Genjutsu World.
Neji, carrying this deep-seated hatred, began to endure and train with desperate intensity!
He channeled all his grief and anger into power!
In this world, his talent reached its peak. His strength grew rapidly, surpassing all his peers!
Years passed. He felt he had finally gained power exceeding Hiashi!
He believed he finally had the means to rebel!
So he chose to launch his rebellion against the main family one night!
He would avenge his father, shatter this damned cage!
But just as he was about to succeed, as his hand nearly touched Hiashi...
The main family's elder watching from the shadows coldly activated the [Caged Bird]!
"Gyaaaaah-!!!"
No matter how strong he became, no matter how refined his Gentle Fist, the soul-deep agony carved into the Caged Bird's very being instantly stripped him of all power!
He curled on the ground in agony, watching helplessly as all his efforts and hopes turned to dust under absolute control!
Each rebellion brought only deeper despair and crushing pain!
Time in the Genjutsu World seemed to loop endlessly.
Neji relived his father's death again and again, endured and trained relentlessly, completed countless difficult missions, fought various powerful enemies until he reached his peak!
And again and again, at the critical moment of rebellion, the [Caged Bird] shattered all hope... Each cycle tortured his spirit, but each cycle, the pain of failure and craving for power, like the cruelest whetstone, tempered his will and combat instincts!
Through endless cycles, he experienced thousands of battles against Genjutsu World's elite Ninjas and his own despair!
His practical experience accumulated unbelievably fast. His techniques were honed through countless life-and-death struggles into concise, ruthless efficiency!
In the real world, only one night passed.
As dawn tinged the horizon, Neji's eyes snapped open!
His pupils contracted violently, forehead slick with cold sweat, breathing ragged as if emerging from a drowning nightmare.
The endless cycles and pain of the Genjutsu World felt utterly real, branded into his soul.
But he took several deep breaths, forcibly steadying himself.
His white eyes held residual pain and despair, but more importantly, a tempered determination and a sharp, nearly tangible aura!
He clenched his fist, feeling the power within and a deeper understanding of Gentle Fist… instincts honed through countless 'deaths' and 'battles'.
During morning training-
Hoheto looked at Neji, who seemed unchanged from yesterday, and smiled, "Neji, let's continue practicing yesterday's Gentle Fist sequences."
"Yes, Hoheto-sensei." Neji bowed calmly.
But the moment they engaged, Hoheto's smile froze!
Slap!
Neji's palm techniques were no longer yesterday's standard forms.
The angles turned tricky, speed increased, power concentrated… every move seemed tempered through thousands of trials, striking directly at vital points!
His combat anticipation and adaptability were completely unlike a child's, more resembling a battle-hardened veteran from the Third Great Ninja War!
Hoheto had to focus completely, raising his power and control to Chunin-level to barely withstand Neji's storm-like assault!
Their figures blurred across the training ground, palm winds whistling, chakra collisions thudding dully.
After over a dozen exchanges, Hoheto seized an opening to leap back. His face showed shock and disbelief as he stared at the slightly panting but cold-eyed Neji.
"Neji! You... what happened?! Just one day… how can you improve this much?! Your techniques, your combat experience-"
He felt Neji had been completely reborn. Though his Chakra hadn't increased much, that combat awareness and ruthlessness belonged to a war veteran!
Neji slowly retracted his stance, calming his boiling Chakra. He lowered his head, hiding the complex light in his eyes, and answered calmly with his prepared excuse:
"Sorry, Hoheto-sensei. Perhaps New Year's reflections. I didn't sleep well last night and thought a lot about training."
Hoheto scanned Neji with his Byakugan, confirming his identity, and thought to himself, 'Is this what genius means?!'