Thinking of this, a long-dormant feeling of guilt began to spread in his heart.
He felt he had failed Hinata, this kind child.
To some extent, Hinata's current timid and unconfident personality was intentionally or unintentionally fostered and "cultivated" by him.
Because, in a little while, according to clan rules, it would be time to brand his second daughter, Hanabi, with the Caged Bird Seal.
He absolutely did not want the tragedy that befell him and his younger brother Hizashi to happen again to his two daughters!
The tragedy where the Elder brother inherits the Main House, while the younger brother is forced to bear the Caged Bird Seal, becoming a Branch House member and ultimately dying in place of his brother.
Wasn't one such tragedy enough?
At this time, Hiashi could not fully control the Hyuga Clan; there were still several Elders above him, all of whom were Hiashi's seniors.
That is why he resorted to this risky move.
He deliberately cultivated Hinata to be less than excellent, even acquiescing to or creating the impression in certain situations that she was inferior to Hanabi.
This way, he could use the reason that "the eldest daughter's performance is subpar and her temperament is unstable, while the second daughter Hanabi is more talented and has greater potential" to lobby hard at the Clan Elder Council, striving to exempt his younger daughter Hanabi from being branded with the Caged Bird Seal.
And Hinata had already passed the age for branding the Caged Bird Seal, and there was no precedent in the clan for the first child to be branded with the Caged Bird Seal.
Otherwise, the Main House throughout history should only have one bloodline inheritance, and the Elders themselves used various methods to avoid being branded with the Caged Bird Seal and becoming part of the Main House.
This was the only perilous path he could devise as a father under the strict clan rules.
After those old fogeys survived their own difficulties, they could no longer empathize with the younger generations of the clan, because they were the upper echelon of the Hyuga Clan, the exploiters.
Exploiters do not sympathize with the exploited.
Hiashi was even gambling on time.
He calculated that after a while, when the few stubborn Elders in the clan who insisted on the old rules died of old age, and once he had complete control over the Hyuga Main House and held absolute power, he would naturally have enough strength to abolish this cruel rule.
By then, Hanabi naturally wouldn't have to worry about being branded with the Caged Bird Seal anymore.
...Thank you, Naruto-kun.
Hiashi sighed deeply, as if shedding a massive burden, and spoke solemnly to Naruto, "Your words have given me much to think about. When I return, I will certainly... carefully consider how to instruct Hinata."
He nodded, his gaze becoming distant, as if penetrating the walls to see the Hyuga Residence, which was outwardly grand but internally thoroughly corroded by archaic rules.
In his eyes, the entire Hyuga Clan was, in a sense, a massive and magnificent prison.
Countless "birds" possessing the Byakugan were born here, grew up here, and were trapped here, unable to gain true freedom.
His thoughts drifted toward the ancient cursed seal—the Caged Bird Seal.
It represented absolute restriction and control over the Branch House members, stripping them of their freedom and even their right to their own lives.
There was no doubt about this.
However, when this cursed seal was first established, its original intention might not have been oppression.
In the ancient times of constant warfare, the Byakugan, as a powerful Bloodline Limit, was an object coveted by various forces.
The Caged Bird Seal back then was more likely a measure of necessary protection.
It ensured that even if clan members were captured, the power of the Byakugan could not be stolen by the enemy, thus protecting the secret and continuation of the bloodline.
However, as time passed and the era of peace arrived, the taste of power began to ferment.
This mechanism, which might have originally been protective, gradually mutated, and strict internal hierarchies emerged, forming the superior "Main House" and the "Branch House" dominated by it.
Protection turned into control, and a necessary measure became a means to maintain privilege.
Moreover, this system continuously solidified and twisted over the long years, slowly and step by step transforming into its current form: one that shackles fellow clan members and creates tragedy.
Thinking of the weight of this history and the helplessness of reality, a deep weariness flashed in Hiashi's eyes.
Children have their worries, and adults have their helplessness.
"It's late now, so I won't continue to bother Naruto-kun here."
Hiashi said, slowly rising to his feet and looking toward Naruto's room.
"Hinata, Hanabi, it's time for us to go home."
His tone was no longer as cold and authoritative as when he arrived; instead, it carried a hint of imperceptible gentleness, and a trace of... relief.
The room door was gently pushed open, and Hinata and Hanabi walked out hand-in-hand.
Hinata still seemed hesitant to look her father directly in the eye.
Hanabi, meanwhile, looked curiously at her father, then at Naruto.
Hinata bowed slightly toward Naruto, her voice soft yet clear: "Naruto-kun, goodbye. Thank you very much for today."
Little Hanabi also vigorously waved her small hand, her face beaming with a happy smile: "Goodbye, Big Brother Naruto! I want to come back and eat your food next time!"
After watching the father and two daughters leave, Naruto let out a long sigh.
The Ninja World, this place is truly too exhausting to complain about.
A thousand threads of thought ultimately condensed into one exhausted complaint.
There are too many tragic cycles here, too much helplessness, too many rules and constraints, making one feel powerless even to be angry.
Rather than sighing over this and regretting that, it would be better to become strong enough to change things.
This thought was like lightning cutting through the darkness, instantly dispelling the haze of powerlessness in his heart.
His eyes regained their sharpness and determination.
Thinking this, Naruto didn't delay further. He immediately returned to his room, sat cross-legged, and began carefully recalling and analyzing the Gentle Fist techniques, force application skills, and the unique way Chakra circulated through the meridians that he had witnessed from Hinata and Hanabi at the training ground.
The Gentle Fist, relying on its characteristic of striking Acupoints and blocking Chakra, is ingenious in the current Ninja World, but it is certainly not the strongest technique and has its limitations.
But!
The superior form of the Gentle Fist is extraordinary; it is the ultimate state that surpasses the scope of ordinary Taijutsu, called—Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack!
It is the Secret Taijutsu Technique used by Kaguya.
That is the technique of refining Chakra to the extreme, then materializing countless powerful fists, which can be used for both offense and defense, truly achieving integrated offense and defense with no weaknesses.
This is the ultimate secret technique of Taijutsu!
It is a terrifying power that transcends the Bloodline Limit and even Kekkei Tōta!
It is a Taijutsu that can only be used by those who have mastered Kekkei Mōra.
Although Naruto cannot use the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack, he should be able to simplify it into a Vacuum Attack imbued with a single elemental Chakra nature.
In the later stages, when the Ōtsutsuki Clan from outer space invades, conventional Ninjutsu, especially elemental Elemental Release that rely on Chakra nature transformation, will be greatly reduced in effectiveness, or even directly absorbed, when facing enemies possessing the Rinnegan.
However, Taijutsu and Senjutsu, these two types of techniques, have a power source and operational method that prevent them from being directly absorbed by the Rinnegan!
Taijutsu relies on pure physical strength and speed, while Senjutsu integrates Natural Energy, transcending the scope of ordinary Chakra.
These two will be the key powers for combating the Ōtsutsuki Clan in the future!
Therefore, investing energy now to develop a simplified Vacuum Attack, as well as the Senjutsu that he must practice deeply in the future, is not merely pursuing personal strength, but constitutes a vital strategic reserve for dealing with the coming battle for survival.