Time flew by. Another six months had passed, and Uzumaki Sōnagi was already two years old.
Chinya and Kushina Uzumaki had already started letting Sōnagi try training.
After all, children in the Shinobi World developed very quickly, especially those from ninja clans who began training at a very young age.
Take Kakashi, for example—he graduated from the Academy when he was only five years old.
It was said that Sakumo Hatake had started teaching Kakashi how to train when Kakashi was just one year old.
However, Sōnagi's current training was supervised by Kushina Uzumaki.
Because Kushina wanted to see what it was like to train a student.
Although she taught Kakashi the [Yin Seal], since she only ever taught that single sealing technique, Kushina didn't feel much sense of accomplishment.
Even though Kushina always stayed under Chinya's protection, her current strength firmly placed her among the Jonin ranks. Combined with her sealing techniques, Kushina's combat ability definitely belonged to the upper echelon of Jonin.
As for Sōnagi, he truly inherited the outstanding talent from both Chinya and Kushina.
Honestly speaking, Chinya found Kushina's teaching methods somewhat hard to describe.
Back then, Kakashi struggled to understand the [Yin Seal] because of Kushina's teaching style, often sneaking out to secretly ask Chinya for explanations before finally grasping it.
Even with Kushina's questionable teaching approach, Sōnagi still progressed very smoothly.
As for the Heritage Power granted by the System—Sōnagi might inherit any talent-related abilities currently or in the future possessed by Chinya, although nothing had manifested yet.
Chinya figured it was probably because Sōnagi was still too young.
Meanwhile, inside the Hyuga Clan's ancestral hall,
Hizashi Hyuga tightly held Neji Hyuga in his arms, his own expression extremely grim.
Neji's forehead was wrapped in a white cloth.
Just moments ago, the Main Family Elders of the Hyuga Clan had branded the three-year-old Neji with the [Caged Bird Seal].
Now, Neji had already fallen unconscious.
Hiashi Hyuga approached Hizashi and said, "Hizashi, take Neji home and care for him well. He'll wake up soon."
Hizashi stood up slowly, looked at Hiashi silently for a moment, then left the hall without saying a word.
Since the last time Hizashi went to congratulate Chinya on the birth of his child, Hiashi and the Elders of the Hyuga Clan had issued a house arrest order against Hizashi, forbidding him from leaving the clan grounds.
Back home, Hizashi looked at the unconscious Neji, his eyes dark and unreadable.
After a deep breath, Hizashi murmured softly, "It's about time."
When Neji slowly opened his eyes, a sharp pain surged through his head.
Holding his head painfully, Neji weakly cried out, "Father, my head hurts so much."
With a heavy heart, Hizashi gently massaged Neji's temples, hoping to relieve some of his pain.
He himself had also been branded with the [Caged Bird Seal]—how could he not understand the unbearable agony of receiving it for the first time?
After Neji Hyuga had slightly recovered, Hizashi Hyuga spoke to him, "Neji, do you still remember what I told you earlier—that I've found a master for you?"
Neji nodded, "Of course I remember. My future master is Chinya, the Crimson-Eyed Asura."
Hizashi smiled and shook his head, "No, remove those two words 'Konoha.' Chinya doesn't belong to Konoha. Your father isn't capable enough to protect you. I can only watch helplessly as you're branded with the Caged Bird seal. But your master has the power to protect you."
"It's time for you to meet your master now. You'll start training with him. Here's an address. Go see your master tomorrow by yourself—I won't accompany you."
Although Neji was merely three years old, he was extremely intelligent and had long realized that his father had been placed under house arrest and could not leave the clan grounds.
He also understood that as members of the Branch Family, they were essentially second-class citizens within the Hyuga Clan—without any status whatsoever.
In his childhood, Neji had once naively asked Hizashi why such a system existed when they all belonged to the same ninja clan and shared the same bloodline.
Hizashi didn't lie or hide anything from Neji. He explained the truth clearly.
Back then, Neji couldn't understand it, and even now, he still couldn't.
Hizashi never really expected Neji to understand completely.
Because even Hizashi himself, as head of the Branch Family, neither understood nor agreed with it.
Hizashi instructed Neji carefully, "Once you become Chinya's disciple, you won't be forced into decisions like I was. I won't push you toward any choice, but whatever decision you make in the future, I hope it comes from your heart—a decision you will never regret. Understand?"
Neji nodded gently, "I understand, Father."
Hizashi affectionately ruffled Neji's hair and whispered, "I hope you can walk a different path than mine..."
...
The next noon.
After lunch, Hizashi handed Neji an address to Chinya's home.
The Hyuga Clan had only placed Hizashi under house arrest; Neji had no such restriction.
Hiashi Hyuga never imagined that Hizashi would send Neji alone to meet Chinya.
Therefore, everything looked official enough, and the Hyuga ninja guarding the main gate allowed Neji to leave when he said he wanted to go out to Konoha Street.
Following the address given by Hizashi, Neji headed toward Chinya's home.
When Hiashi learned that Neji had left the clan grounds alone, he immediately went straight to Hizashi's residence.
Upon seeing Hizashi, Hiashi immediately demanded, "Hizashi! Why did you let Neji leave the clan grounds?!"
Without showing the slightest emotion, Hizashi calmly took a sip of tea before responding, "Neji hasn't been restricted like I have. So what's wrong if he wants to leave the compound?"
Hiashi's expression darkened, "Did you send him to meet Chinya?"
Placing his teacup back on the table, Hizashi replied, "Neji has grown up. It's time he met his master."
Enraged, Hiashi Hyuga lunged forward and grabbed Hizashi by the collar, his Byakugan activating instinctively as he glared furiously at his brother. "Do you even realize what you're doing? The Third is currently purging all unstable elements from Konoha.
Kakashi, a student of Chinya, has already been recruited by the Third into Anbu. Orochimaru just defected from Konoha and is now a wanted criminal. Right now, Chinya is completely isolated in Konoha. Obviously, Chinya will be next on the list. And yet, you want Neji to become Chinya's disciple? Are you trying to hand the Third proof that our Hyuga Clan is working with Chinya?!
If we proceed like this, our Hyuga Clan could easily become the Third's next target. Do you want us to suffer the same fate as the Uchiha?!
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