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Qianyu was watching Uzumaki Kushina lecture Kakashi when a knock sounded at the door.
He stood to answer it. Seeing a visitor, Kushina paused her impromptu lesson.
Kakashi let out a long, relieved breath. Saved.
Opening the door, Qianyu found Hyuga Hizashi, the adorable Hyuga Neji cradled in his arms.
"Oh, little Neji!"
Kushina's face lit up. She immediately began cooing and making faces at the baby in Hizashi's hold. Neji giggled in response.
"Kushina, don't block the doorway. Let Lord Hizashi in. Kakashi, pour some tea for our guest."
Kushina hurriedly stepped aside, and Hizashi entered with a smile. "My apologies for intruding. A small gift, for your hospitality."
He offered the package to Qianyu.
"Lord Hizashi, your visit is gift enough," Qianyu said politely, accepting it nonetheless.
"But of course it's necessary," Hizashi replied, his tone earnest. "This is Neji's first visit to his future teacher. Proper etiquette is required."
"Then thank you. Please, have a seat."
As Kakashi went to make tea, his gaze drifted to the tiny baby. Kushina had mentioned it—Qianyu was taking on another student, a child from the Hyuga clan. So this was the one. But… he was so small.
Hizashi turned to Kushina. "Kushina, would you mind holding Neji for a bit? I'd like to speak with Qianyu properly."
"Of course! I'd be delighted!"
Kushina practically snatched the opportunity, already reaching for the baby. In her eyes, little Neji was the most delightful thing. She cradled him, beaming, as Qianyu and Hizashi sat down.
Kakashi returned with two cups of tea, offering one to Qianyu and the other to Hizashi. "Please have some tea, Lord Hizashi."
"Thank you, Kakashi."
Both men took a sip. Hizashi set his cup down. "Qianyu, Neji is still very young. Once he turns three and can begin proper training, we can hold a formal apprenticeship ceremony."
Qianyu waved a dismissive hand. "I've no interest in ceremonial fluff. You've agreed to let him be my student. That bond is already formed. A ceremony is unnecessary."
At those words, a final thread of tension left Hizashi's shoulders. He sighed, a mix of relief and melancholy. "With you as his teacher, I won't have to worry about him so much in the future."
Qianyu's eyebrow quirked. "The worry you speak of… is it for after Neji receives the 'Caged Bird' seal?"
Hizashi looked surprised. "You know of it?"
Then he shook his head, understanding dawning. "Right. The division between the Hyuga main and branch families is common knowledge in Konoha. Someone of your standing would know."
The practice of controlling clan members with the Caged Bird was a shameful secret, one the Hyuga never spoke of openly. But secrets this old never stayed completely buried, not from someone with Qianyu's influence.
"Correct," Hizashi admitted, his voice heavy. "It's his fate. Unavoidable. And it's my fault as his father, dragging him into this life…" He trailed off with another sigh. There was no point in pretty lies here. Qianyu was his son's teacher now, an ally.
While Qianyu knew, Kushina did not. "Caged Bird?" she asked, confusion plain on her face.
Qianyu shook his head slightly. "Kushina, it's better not to ask."
Hizashi raised a hand. "It's alright. Kushina is Neji's teacher's wife. She'll find out eventually." He took a steadying breath. "To understand the Caged Bird, you must first understand the Hyuga's main and branch family system.
To protect our Kekkei Genkai from outsiders, the Hyuga clan is divided. The main family are the true heirs, responsible for protecting and advancing the clan. The branch families are their guardians, sworn to protect the main line.
Only one child from the main family's generation can inherit the title. Any other siblings become part of the branch family. This means across a thousand years, there is only ever one main family line. The branches exist solely to guard it. It is… a ruthlessly efficient system of preservation.
Members of a branch family receive the cursed seal 'Caged Bird' on their forehead at the age of three. It suppresses the Byakugan's power. More than that, it allows the main family to control and… to destroy the brain nerves of a branch member. Our lives are in their hands."
Kushina stared, horrified. "But you're all one clan! I understand wanting to protect your bloodline, but… this? There's no other way? It's so… cruel."
"What can we do?" Hizashi's voice was thick with helpless frustration. "We resent it. Of course we do. But we cannot change it. Not when they hold the key to our very survival…"
Kushina's heart clenched. She looked down at Neji, who was gurgling and smiling up at her. Such a sweet child. To think his life would forever hang by another's thread…
A long silence stretched before Qianyu spoke, his voice low and certain. "He is my student. As his teacher, if it is within my power, I will not let him be trapped with no choices. This 'Caged Bird' will not be the chain that binds his future. I will give Neji a choice. To accept the fate he's handed… or to break its hold and carve his own path."
Hizashi looked at him, puzzled. He didn't understand.
Qianyu clarified. "You know this, Lord Hizashi. The Uzumaki clan's sealing arts are unmatched in the shinobi world. The Caged Bird may be potent, but for an expert like Kushina here, finding a method to dismantle it should be… straightforward."
Kushina blinked, utterly lost. She had a method? A seal that could control and destroy brain nerves sounded incredibly complex.
Qianyu turned his gaze to her, a slight, knowing smile on his lips. "Isn't that right, Kushina?"
Under his expectant look, Kushina could only stammer, "…Uh. Y-yeah. Mhmm."
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