Blood extraction, analysis, genome observation, and synthesis of cell culture fluid
several hours passed in what felt like the blink of an eye.
When the pre-set alarm finally rang, Tahara Rokuro stopped the group.
"Alright, that's enough for today. Experiments require absolute concentration. Pushing through fatigue only increases the chance of error."
The three others put down their instruments and began to wrap up. Once finished, Rokuro used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport everyone back home.
When they pulled open the curtains, the sun was already rising.
"If everything goes smoothly, we'll have results within half a year. Of course, that's only if the Hyūga clan's bloodline refinement can truly awaken the Reincarnation Eye. Otherwise… it's all for nothing."
Rokuro stretched his neck, then activated Lightning Release to stimulate his cells, dispersing the stiffness caused by hours of repetitive motion.
Just then, Uchiha Ashikaga walked in carrying milk and bread.
"Eat first," she said. "By the way, Rokuro, while we're busy experimenting here, what about the Hyūga clan's Caged Bird seal?"
Rokuro took the glass of milk and downed half of it in one gulp.
"Don't worry, Mom. The Caged Bird is just a jutsu from more than a hundred years ago. Sure, the one who created it was talented in sealing arts, but a century later, that level of technique is hardly impressive. Not to mention me—even you, if you focused your research for a year or two, could probably crack it yourself."
Ashikaga sighed, shaking her head. "The fact that the Hyūga Main Family still treats such a relic as a trump card is laughable. And the Branch Family… how can they be so stubborn? Hasn't anyone tried to study it?"
At that moment, Uchiha Kei, who had already finished her breakfast, joined the conversation.
"There used to be a Hyūga Branch girl in my class," Kei said. "She told me that all Branch Family children start serving as guards for the Main Family from the age of six. They leave at dawn, return only at night—the whole day belongs to the Main Family. Even in the evening, they can be summoned anytime. Under that kind of pressure, how could anyone have the time or energy to study sealing arts?"
Ashikaga exhaled softly. "Clearly, the Main Family knows that the Caged Bird will be broken sooner or later. They're just trying to delay the inevitable."
Rokuro crossed his arms. "A decaying system always heads for extinction. The Hyūga's Caged Bird isn't protection—it's self-amputation. As long as there are those within who still resist, the clan still has a future. But the day they all accept fate… that's when the clan truly ends."
Drawing from both the original records and intelligence obtained from Hyūga Hizashi, Rokuro knew that the Main Family didn't just suppress the Branch through the Caged Bird—they also monopolized the clan's secret techniques.
The so-called Eight Trigrams One Hundred and Eight Palms and Rotation were exclusively taught to the Main Family. In the original accounts, the reason Hyūga Neji could perform them was twofold—his extraordinary talent and his own deductive reconstruction through observation.
And of course, being Hizashi's son helped. Hizashi himself had been an elite jōnin on par with Hyūga Hiashi. It was almost certain that Hizashi had mastered those techniques—and might have taught them to Neji before his death.
Unfortunately, Hizashi died too soon. Neji never completed his training, forcing him to finish it alone later on.
Kei frowned. "But… if the Caged Bird remains intact, wouldn't that keep the system stable? The Main and Branch structure could continue indefinitely, right?"
She didn't like the system, but she did recognize its stability.
This time, Ashikaga answered before Rokuro could.
"That's exactly the problem—it's too stable. Think about it, Kei. If you were a Branch member, knowing you'd never learn the clan's secret arts, never have true freedom, would you still put in the effort to improve?"
"Of course not! What's the point of working hard if it gets you nowhere?" Kei shot back immediately.
"Exactly. When enough people think that way, the Branch weakens. Meanwhile, the Main grows complacent. They don't need to worry about survival, don't face real danger. With Branch members guarding them day and night, why bother training?
And when both sides stop growing—the Branch losing hope, the Main losing drive—tell me, what's left of the Hyūga clan? A ninja clan without strong warriors… how long before it's erased from history?"
Ashikaga's words left Kei speechless. Rokuro added calmly,
"And as for the Main Family's excuse—that the Caged Bird protects the Byakugan from being stolen—that's the most absurd logic of all. Sealing your own eyes to 'protect' them? That's like a beautiful woman carving scars on her face because she's afraid of being harassed. How stupid do you have to be to think that's a solution?"
He scoffed, setting down the glass.
"If someone dares steal a Byakugan, it doesn't matter who they are—hunt them to the ends of the earth. Once you've made enough examples, people will stop trying. That's how a clan earns respect—and revives its fighting spirit."
Rokuro's thoughts drifted to the Hyūga Incident in the original records—the kidnapping of Hinata and the ensuing "life-for-life" deal.
Some claimed it was the Hyūga showing noble restraint, sacrificing one to prevent war between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire.
"Utter nonsense," he muttered. "Diplomacy built on appeasement? The things you can't win on the battlefield, you'll never get through negotiation. Only a clan already in decline would believe such drivel."
And as for Konoha's upper brass who went to "negotiate" with the Hyūga afterward—Rokuro could only sneer.
"They were just taking advantage of the situation, using it as a pretext to suppress the Hyūga."
He stood, glancing out the window as dawn light washed over the village.
"In the end, the fact that there are still Hyūga willing to resist the Caged Bird means there's still hope for them. Let's see if they can seize that chance."
For the next seven days, Rokuro and his family followed a strict rhythm—resting by day, experimenting by night.
On the seventh night, they finally completed the first batch of Hyūga genetic fusion serums, injecting all one hundred test mice.
Using Medical Ninjutsu, Rokuro accelerated the integration process
But out of a hundred mice, ninety-seven died. Only three survived.
Even so, those three were half-dead.
One was paralyzed from the waist down, dragging its hind legs as it crawled.
Another remained in a coma—alive only by heartbeat.
The last one was relatively healthy… except it kept smashing its head against the wall. Tests revealed it was blind.
Even the survivors were failures. Rokuro's mood soured immediately.
"Is Hyūga Hizashi's bloodline too strong? The mice can't handle it? Maybe I should try another Hyūga sample… but Hizashi's is all I've got."
He frowned, tapping his finger on the desk.
"It's been seven days. Why hasn't Hizashi come yet? Don't tell me… something's gone wrong."
END OF CHAPTER
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