"Neji, Yako!" Hizashi Hyūga tightly embraced his wife Yako and Neji after learning the details from his older brother. After dying once before, he now held his family bonds even closer.
"Hizashi, your [Caged Bird Seal]!" Hiashi Hyūga suddenly exclaimed. He hadn't noticed it earlier, but just now when Hizashi went to hug Neji, he abruptly realized that Hizashi's forehead was completely smooth—the Caged Bird Seal that restricted the Branch House members had vanished.
"What?" At first, Hizashi didn't understand, until he noticed Hiashi staring intently at his forehead. Then he reacted accordingly, instinctively activating his Byakugan, and immediately cried out in shock as well.
The [Caged Bird Seal] was a forbidden sealing jutsu used by the Main House to control the Branch House. It not only allowed the Main House to control the Branch House members' lives at any moment, but also limited the Byakugan abilities of the Branch House, preventing their vision from achieving full 360-degree coverage or seeing as far as the Main House could.
However, upon activating his Byakugan just now, Hizashi discovered that his vision range had significantly increased, and his previous blind spots were gone—proving his [Caged Bird Seal] had disappeared entirely.
"That monstrous [Caged Bird Seal] shouldn't exist anymore!" Sakura shot back. "It's an evil invention created by brainless idiots! And don't give me that nonsense about 'preventing enemies from stealing the Byakugan of the Branch House'? If you truly wanted to prevent your Byakugan from being stolen, why not focus on strengthening your own power? The Byakugan, which shares the same origin as the Sage of Six Paths, has been reduced to this pathetic state—it wouldn't surprise me if your ancestor, the Sage, rose from his grave just to beat the hell out of all you unworthy descendants!"
Sakura abruptly stopped talking here. Although Hamura Ōtsutsuki, the ancestor of the Hyūga clan, was dead, his soul apparently hadn't completely dissipated. A portion of his power still remained, waiting for Hinata, the Byakugan Princess, to claim it in order to defeat the unworthy descendant Toneri Ōtsutsuki. While his condition couldn't compare to the Sage of Six Paths, that ghostly presence was real.
At that thought, Sakura couldn't help but offer a prayer for the Hyūga clan—your ancestors really are watching over you.
"Um... I was wondering if Miss Sakura Haruno might be willing to help with something?"
Hizashi Hyūga's expression looked conflicted as he stared at Neji's forehead, his eyes filled with bitterness.
"I know what you want to say, Uncle Hizashi. It's really no big deal!" Sakura snapped her left fingers, and a flash of red light passed by. "For you guys, removing the [Caged Bird Seal] is practically impossible—but for me? I *am* [REALITY]!"
"Hmm, my head doesn't hurt anymore." Neji didn't yet realize what had happened. He only felt that the constant dull ache from the [Caged Bird Seal] had suddenly vanished.
"Sweetheart..." Hyuga Yako's face was filled with shock, quickly followed by tears of joy. She couldn't help but notice Hiashi Hyuga's smooth forehead—she knew exactly what it meant. After hearing Hizashi Hyuga's earnest words to Sakura, she naturally felt very excited. When the pressure from the Caged Bird Seal that had always weighed on her body disappeared, her happiness overwhelmed her and she couldn't help but cry.
No one wants their freedom and life controlled by others. As the saying goes, "Life is dear, love is dearer, but freedom is dearest of all—worth life and love together."
"Hizashi, for now don't reveal that the Caged Bird Seal has been removed," Hiashi said solemnly as he watched his younger brother's happy expression, determination solidifying in his eyes. "We'll announce it when the timing is right."
"Brother, what are you planning?" Hizashi asked warily, frowning slightly at Hiashi's tone.
"It's time we changed our clan's outdated traditions," Hiashi declared gravely. Seeing his younger brother's rare moment of happiness had moved him deeply. So many Branch House members were doomed to live their entire lives trapped in this cruel system.
"But Brother, with our current strength..." Hizashi wanted to abolish the Caged Bird Seal too, but there was a problem—it marked every member of the Branch House, giving the Main House total control over their lives. No matter how powerful they might be, rebellion was impossible. Even though Hiashi was the clan leader, he still had the Elder Council—an assembly of stubborn old men—to contend with.
"If you ever need my help, don't hesitate to ask, Hiashi! This old man still has a little strength left in him!" The Third Hokage said with a warm smile. He fully supported abolishing the Branch House system, knowing full well how many promising talents the Caged Bird Seal had destroyed—and how much it had indirectly weakened Konoha overall.
"That's right too! If Uncle Hiashi needs help, just let me know! Things like the Caged Bird Seal have no place in this world—it's an inhumane practice!" Sakura chimed in. Family should be loving and united, yet this rotten system turned them into bitter enemies. Such a cursed tradition had no business existing.
"Just let me know whenever you're ready, and I'll remove those seals for you!"
Hiashi bowed respectfully. "On behalf of my family, I sincerely thank Lord Third Hokage and Miss Sakura Haruno for your assistance." He especially appreciated Sakura—who had made this critical step toward reform possible.
"If Uncle Hizashi really wants to thank me, then let Neji come help out at my shop sometime. That way he can meet some new friends too!" Sakura grinned, already plotting. Someone like him had once met a fate far too tragic to bear. Especially that long black straight hair—it would make the perfect disguise for some cosplay fun without even needing a wig.
Chapter 21: Muscleheads From Cloud Village
"Hey, why do I have to wear something like this?!"
Neji held up a French maid outfit, veins throbbing at his temples in frustration—as if his Byakugan had activated on its own.
"Because you're the guest host now, right? You've gotta look cute so people will like you more!"
"Sakura pointed at Sasuke beside her and said, 'Come on, even Sasuke is wearing it. What's stopping you from wearing it too?'"
"The Hyūga Clan will absolutely not wear this kind of clothing!" Neji argued strenuously. Sure, Sakura had saved his father and helped break the Caged Bird Seal that had bound their clan, but there was no way he was putting on such a shameful outfit.
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Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** on the weekend!