Tick. Tock.
The slow ticking of a clock echoed in Hyuga Arin's ears.
Time passed little by little.
When the door to his house finally opened, two members of the Hyuga clan stood outside.
"Hyuga Arin. The main family has summoned you. Come with us," the Hyuga woman in the lead said coldly.
Hyuga Arin slowly opened his eyes and rose from the meditation cushion.
"Let's go."
The main family's precious heir had been wronged—he knew these people wouldn't come late.
As Hyuga Arin stepped outside, the two flanked him front and back, escorting him like a criminal.
Well, to the main family, he was a criminal.
Branch family members along the way couldn't help looking over.
Some who recognized Hyuga Arin whispered in confusion.
"What happened to Hyuga Arin?"
"Didn't he just become a ninja?"
"They're heading toward the council hall."
Murmurs spread, then gradually quieted as people realized what this meant.
Some couldn't help feeling worried.
After all, Hyuga Arin was a genius of the branch family—and he was always friendly toward them.
Many were familiar with him.
Of course, that was mainly because Hyuga Arin had been trying to see whether a quest system existed, hoping to trigger missions.
He hadn't found any quests, but he'd built up plenty of goodwill.
Still, this involved the main family.
No one dared intervene.
Hyuga Arin himself wasn't counting on anyone.
His ninja status was his protective talisman.
As long as he wasn't killed or crippled, he truly wasn't afraid.
If they really dared to risk being questioned by the Hokage's faction and kill him—
At worst, he'd test whether a resurrection mechanic existed.
The game he'd entered before transmigrating did have resurrection—though you'd lose levels.
Besides, they wouldn't dare.
Not because they couldn't—but because it wasn't worth it.
The two escorted Hyuga Arin into the council hall.
Calling it a "hall" was generous—it was really just a tatami room.
Four elderly men were already kneeling on cushions along both sides.
At the front sat a middle-aged man who resembled Hyuga Hiashi, kneeling in the seat of honor and facing Hyuga Arin.
Hyuga Arin glanced around.
Hyuga Hiashi wasn't present.
But he recognized everyone here.
The elders of the Hyuga main family.
The Hyuga clan had a total of five main-family lineages, each responsible for different duties.
Hyuga Hiashi's lineage was the clan head's line, controlling the entire clan.
The others were responsible for:
– Safeguarding the Byakugan
– Maintaining the final line of retreat
– Managing the clan's private assets
– Overseeing weapons and ninTechnique
Aside from the clan head's line, the other four lineages did not join Konoha's regular ninja forces.
In some ways, they had it even worse than the clan head's line.
Unless absolutely necessary, they were not allowed to leave Konoha for their entire lives.
They would spend their whole existence confined within the village.
All of this was to prevent the Byakugan from leaking out.
In later eras, when other main-family members appeared among Konoha's ninja—
Setting aside the hatred between main and branch families—
It only showed how far the Hyuga clan would go to protect their eyes.
From an outsider's perspective—
The Hyuga clan was honestly pretty miserable.
The branch family had no freedom and lived under the main family's control.
The main family, meanwhile, could never leave Konoha and had to live like turtles inside the village.
Everyone was tormenting each other.
The only ones who were truly free were the clan head's lineage.
They had no restrictions at all.
Hyuga Hiashi's first mission outside the village after two years wasn't because of restrictions—
It was simply the clan head protecting his son.
As for why other main-family members appeared in later generations—
There was only one explanation.
Under pressure from the Hokage, the Hyuga clan gradually lost its autonomy.
Most clans' internal conflicts were caused by outsiders.
Only the Hyuga were different.
Their suffering was inflicted by their own people.
"Hyuga Arin!"
The elder on the left, Hyuga Huo, shouted angrily.
"Do you know what you did wrong?"
"What did I do wrong?" Hyuga Arin asked calmly.
"Still unrepentant," another elder on the right, Hyuga Fangxiang, said coldly.
Hyuga Huo glared at him.
"You repeatedly talked back to the young clan head and even injured his hand by acting on your own. Are you denying that?"
Hyuga Arin sneered.
"How weak is the young clan head, exactly? Can't even handle a few words of disagreement?"
"And getting injured in combat—what's wrong with that? He attacked me first during the mission."
"The young clan head attacked you, and you dared to fight back?"
Hyuga Fangxiang questioned sternly.
"Have you forgotten that you are from the branch family?"
"Can someone who can't even win against a freshly graduated ninja really be qualified to serve as young clan head?"
Another elder on the right, Hyuga Huangku, suddenly turned the questioning toward Hyuga Hiashi.
"The branch family exists to protect the main family,"
the elder on the left, Hyuga Fu, said heavily.
"What does that have to do with whether Hyuga Hiashi is qualified?"
"Don't change the subject," Hyuga Huangku snapped.
"Hyuga Hiashi has been a ninja for two years, yet he still lost to a newly graduated kid like Hyuga Arin. Doesn't that make you feel ashamed?"
This made the clan head, Hyuga Masayuki, frown.
Hyuga Hiashi was his son.
He said in a low voice, "Elder Huangku, today we are here to question Hyuga Arin. A branch family member has already broken the rules."
Hyuga Huangku snorted and said nothing more.
Hyuga Arin finally understood.
It seemed the elders were dissatisfied with the clan head's lineage as well.
After all, the clan head's line enjoyed far more freedom than they did.
Hyuga Masayuki looked at Hyuga Arin.
The boy's face was calm, as if the discussion had nothing to do with him.
Masayuki frowned slightly.
"Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Hyuga Arin shrugged, his expression mocking.
"What's the point of defending myself? I'm just a branch family member, after all."
He'd only come here to go through the motions.
Hyuga Masayuki said coldly,
"Hyuga Arin defied the Hyuga main family and attacked a main-family member without authorization. He will be confined for ten days as a warning."
Two figures appeared beside Hyuga Arin, moving to seize him.
At that moment—
The doors burst open.
Hyuga Hiashi rushed in and knelt beside Hyuga Arin.
"Father! It was only a momentary conflict. There's no need for such a severe punishment," Hyuga Hiashi said urgently.
Ten days of confinement wasn't just "being locked up."
It was the Hyuga clan's special punishment chamber—a small black room meant for mental torment.
No food was provided during confinement.
Only ninja could survive ten days without eating or drinking, but the hunger would still be unbearable.
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Hyuga Masayuki's face—gone in an instant.
Hyuga Arin's lips curled slightly in mockery, but he didn't speak.
Not being locked up was better.
He still needed to farm EXP.
The elders of the main family all fell silent.
Everyone waited for Hyuga Masayuki's decision.
Hyuga Masayuki spoke heavily.
"Clan rules cannot be abolished."
Hyuga Hiashi continued,
"Hyuga Arin is still a member of my squad. Without him, our team won't be able to carry out missions. I ask Father to forgive his disrespect."
Beside him, Hyuga Arin let out a quiet sigh.
Circumstances were stronger than people.
But one day—when he became strong enough—
He would make these people understand.
If their roles were reversed—
He would show them what true cruelty meant.