Hyuga Clan Compound.
Inside the main family courtyard.
Hizashi picked up Little Neji, whose forehead was wrapped in bandages. He stroked his son's bandaged head and asked softly:
"Does it hurt, Neji?"
Neji frowned and shook his head: "Father, what is the Caged Bird Seal?"
Although he had already been branded with the Caged Bird Curse Seal, Neji's understanding of the Caged Bird Seal was not deep enough.
Hizashi's expression was somewhat dark: "I'll tell you slowly later."
Neji nodded, half-understanding.
He followed Hizashi into the inner room.
At this moment, young Hinata was being specially trained by Hiashi. Hiashi wore a stern face, constantly sparring with Hinata.
Hiashi saw Hizashi and Neji enter, merely glanced at them, and continued his special training with Hinata.
At this moment, Little Hinata stumbled, retreating repeatedly.
Hiashi immediately shouted: "Your footwork isn't keeping up! How exactly are you practicing?!"
"Yes!"
Hinata bit her lip and charged forward again.
"Your hands are too scattered, straighten your arms!"
"Use your waist!"
Although Little Hinata was working very hard, Hiashi's words were merciless, constantly scolding Hinata.
Hizashi sat aside, remembering how he had trained Neji the same way when Neji was three years old.
But at that time, Neji's performance was clearly much better than Hinata's current performance.
It was just a pity that Neji was a child of the branch family.
Hizashi glanced at Neji, only to see Neji staring intently at Hinata.
Little Neji didn't think Hinata was bad; instead, he felt that Hinata was very hardworking, charging at Hiashi with renewed spirit again and again.
Hizashi said in a deep voice: "Neji, remember, you were born to protect Young Lady Hinata of the main family, and to protect the Hyuga Clan's bloodline."
"Yes, Father, I remember."
Hizashi looked down at Neji's relaxed demeanor and felt a surge of irritation in his heart.
He turned to look at Hinata, who was already running out of strength, and unconsciously compared her to Neji.
[If only Neji were from the main family...]
Veins bulged around Hizashi's Byakugan.
"Killing intent!?"
Hiashi, who was training Hinata, suddenly stopped, his expression changing drastically.
He shielded the unaware Hinata with his right hand, while his left hand formed a seal at his chest: "Hup!"
Hizashi suddenly awoke, an intense pain from the depths of his soul radiating from his brain.
"Ugh... Aaaah..."
Hizashi immediately clutched his head, howling in agony.
"Ugh... Aaaah, aaaah..."
"My head... it hurts so much...! Aaaah...!"
Even after years of battles, he couldn't withstand the excruciating pain of the Caged Bird Curse Seal, and he collapsed to the ground.
Neji, standing nearby, had no idea what was happening and watched in panic as the mark on Hizashi's forehead glowed.
"Father, what's wrong?!"
Hiashi held the seal in his hand, his face icy as he looked at Hizashi lying on the ground, completely disregarding the painful wails, even though it was his own younger brother.
"You can go back."
"I won't dwell on your foolish behavior, but don't let it happen again."
"Don't forget your destiny."
With that, he released the Caged Bird Seal in his hand and turned to walk out.
By this time, Hizashi was in so much pain that he had lost consciousness, tears, snot, and saliva streaming down his face.
Neji looked at his father's pitiful state, his eyes filled with heartache and pain.
[Is this the Caged Bird Seal?]
Hinata stood hesitantly, looking at the collapsed Hizashi and the pained Neji, unsure whether she should follow her father or not.
"Hinata."
"Yes!"
Hiashi's cold voice came from behind Hinata. Hinata replied fearfully, then immediately followed his footsteps.
Hizashi had now fallen unconscious, and young Neji was somewhat at a loss.
Neji looked around; there was no one else in the room.
He gritted his teeth and ran towards the dining area outside.
Soon, he saw Aoran, Hayato, Yuehua, and the others.
"Brother Aoran, Brother Hayato!"
When Neji's voice rang out, Aoran was tying up a bag.
Many of the branch family members who came here were not really here to eat; they simply ate a few bites and left the table, with a lot of food untouched.
Aoran couldn't stand this at all. If he didn't pack it up, could it still be considered a feast?
So, he ignored everyone's stares and directly poured the dishes into a transparent bag.
Hearing the sound, Aoran turned his head and saw Neji, his eyes brimming with tears.
Aoran's heart sank: "What's wrong, Neji? Where's Uncle?"
"Father he... Father he..."
Neji saw so many people around him and didn't know if he could say these things out loud.
Aoran immediately stopped Neji's words.
"Alright, you don't need to say it, I know. Hurry and take us there."
"Brother Hayato, let's go together. Sister Yuehua, you all don't need to come."
Aoran decisively divided the group into two.
Hizashi's current condition was unknown, and having too many people go was indeed not very suitable.
Hayato was still struggling with the Kakuni (braised pork belly) at this time. Although he didn't know what had happened, his concern for Hizashi made him swallow the meat whole.
He grabbed a nearby tissue and hastily wiped his mouth: "Neji, quickly take me there."
Aoran fell back a step, carrying the packed dishes, and followed behind.
Soon, Hayato arrived at the room where Hizashi had collapsed. He helped Hizashi up:
"What happened to Lord Hizashi?"
Little Neji's expression showed resentment. He pointed to the Caged Bird mark on Hizashi's forehead.
"The clan head used the Caged Bird Seal on Father."
Hayato's expression turned very ugly: "Damn it! How could he...!"
At this moment, Aoran, who was a step behind, also arrived, but the packed food in his hand had disappeared.
"First check Lord Hizashi's condition, then take him home to rest."
Hayato had no time for anger. He quickly checked Hizashi's state.
"Mental trauma, needs rest."
Then Hayato reached out and effortlessly lifted Hizashi onto his back.
"Aoran, Neji, keep up."
With two quick movements, he disappeared.
Aoran looked at the pained and conflicted Neji and asked: "Why did Hiashi use the Caged Bird Curse Seal on Uncle?"
Neji's somewhat disordered mind began to think. He shook his head, seemingly trying to clear his thoughts:
"I... I don't know."
"The clan head suddenly said 'killing intent' and then used the Caged Bird Curse Seal on Father."
Aoran pondered for a moment and then remembered that this was a story that was bound to happen.
He asked in a deep voice: "Did Uncle ever explain what the Caged Bird Seal is?"
Neji's expression was somewhat blank: "Father only told me that once the Caged Bird Seal is applied, the Byakugan won't be lost, and it will be destroyed after death."
"And... with the Caged Bird Seal, we must obey the main family. This is the destiny of our branch family."
Aoran patted Neji's shoulder and sighed: "The so-called Caged Bird Seal is a death threat from the main family to the branch family."
"As long as one is branded with the Caged Bird Seal, the branch family becomes a slave to the main family."
"From then on, life and death are no longer in one's own hands."
"The main family's filth and ugliness will be revealed to you from now on. This is just the beginning..."
...