A Way to Change Things
Neji stared at Fujimoto Tōma, eyes wide.
For the first time, fear crept into his chest.
"So… is that your goal?" Neji asked sharply.
Mark the Main Family with the Caged Bird Seal?
How would that even work? If the Hyūga knew how to remove the seal, carving it onto the Main Family would be meaningless. For the seal to function, the method of removal would have to be altered and kept out of Hyūga hands entirely.
And who could hold that authority?
Only the Hokage standing in front of him.
At that point, Main and Branch would be equal, yes, but their lives would still be controlled by someone else. Worse, by an outsider.
Tōma tilted his head, mildly amused by Neji's sudden intensity. "My goal? Go on. Tell me what you think it is."
In truth, his motive was simple. He was fixing something that had always irritated him. Back then, he lacked the power. Now, he didn't.
"Hokage-sama," Neji said carefully, laying his thoughts bare, "forgive me if I'm wrong… but isn't this about placing the Hyūga clan's life and death in your hands?"
Tōma laughed softly. "Control the Hyūga's life and death? You've got a vivid imagination."
"Is that not the case?" Neji frowned.
"If I wanted that," Tōma replied calmly, "I wouldn't need the Caged Bird Seal."
A trace of pressure leaked from him, subtle but crushing.
"Don't you agree?"
Sweat beaded on Neji's forehead. He couldn't refute it. Every display of Tōma's power proved the same truth. If the Hyūga relied only on what they showed publicly, even their entire clan wouldn't be able to stop him.
"Hokage-sama… you might not need it," Neji said through the pressure, "but future Hokage might not be as strong. Or might not be as kind."
"That's fair," Tōma nodded, withdrawing his aura.
Neji exhaled, steadying himself.
Tōma knew who would likely follow him. Naruto. Sasuke. Neither would care about the Caged Bird. But after them? Power always declined. People changed.
"Let me ask you something," Tōma said. "What if the Caged Bird didn't need to control life and death at all?"
Neji froze.
That thought had never crossed his mind. To him, the seal had always meant absolute control.
Tōma continued, "From the village's perspective, there's only one real concern. Preventing the Byakugan from falling into enemy hands."
"The life-and-death function? Completely unnecessary. Honestly, the village would prefer it gone."
He paused, then added, "Imagine this. The Hyūga clan head and the Hokage are in conflict. A Branch Family member has the seal. Who do they obey? And even if they choose the Hokage… would the Hokage trust someone whose life can be ended by another's will?"
Neji slowly nodded.
"That power serves no one," Tōma said. "And limiting the Branch Family's Byakugan is even more pointless. The stronger you are, the stronger Konoha becomes."
He took a sip of tea.
"In truth, the only function that benefits the village is the failsafe. The seal destroying the Byakugan upon death. Everything else is excess."
Neji remained silent.
"If the Hyūga had been careless," Tōma went on, "the village might have intervened long ago. But in all these years, only one Byakugan ever slipped out. They've done well enough."
Neji's thoughts churned.
If the seal were reduced to its most basic function… he could accept that.
"…What should I do?" Neji asked.
"That," Tōma said evenly, "is for you to decide."
Neji looked up sharply.
"My authority lets me remove the seal from one person," Tōma continued. "That's all. This is a Hyūga matter. Unless the Byakugan becomes a liability, I won't force the clan to change."
He set the cup down.
"If the Hyūga are to change, it has to start from within. From you."
Neji felt dizzy.
The freedom he'd dreamed of for so long was suddenly right there.
"Hokage-sama," he asked slowly, "if your idea was to seal the Main Family… why free me?"
"Because if you're still bound," Tōma replied, "you'll never be qualified to change anything."
He met Neji's eyes.
"And if it proves too heavy, you can stop. The Hyūga's current state isn't collapsing. No one is openly rebelling."
Tōma smiled faintly.
"But even if you do nothing, your example alone matters. It tells the Branch Family that strength opens doors."
Neji understood.
Even if he failed, even if he gave up, something would still change.
Memories surfaced. His father screaming in agony, dignity shattered by the seal. The resentment Neji had always felt but never voiced.
He inhaled deeply.
"I understand," Neji said firmly. "I'll try."
Tōma nodded. "Whatever you choose, I'll remove your seal."
Neji bowed. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
He hesitated, then asked, "Why help me at all?"
Tōma smiled. "Because some ideas deserve a chance to exist."
Neji clenched his fist. For the first time since his father's death, light returned to his eyes.
Tōma watched him go, satisfied.
If Neji succeeded, the future would change.
If he failed, Konoha would gain an even sharper blade.
Either way, Tōma lost nothing.