Chapter 20: The Shift in Hiashi's Heart
"What a tangled mess…"
Sakura cast a sidelong glance at Neji's mother, who was still in shock and hadn't recovered from the scene she'd just witnessed. For some reason, Sakura thought she could almost see a faint green aura rising from the woman's hair.
Wait a second… Hiashi and Hizashi… is this some kind of German taboo drama?!
"Even though I've experienced this once before, it still feels completely surreal," muttered the Third Hokage, exhaling a ring of smoke. "To reverse death… this kind of terrifying power wasn't even something we saw in the First Hokage, who was called the God of Shinobi."
"Grandpa Third, could you put that pipe out?" Sakura wrinkled her nose. "We've got a patient who just came back from the dead here."
"Ah—right, that was careless of me," the Third Hokage coughed awkwardly and tucked his pipe away.
"Hizashi, Masako…" Now aware of everything that had transpired thanks to his older brother, Hizashi pulled his wife and son into a tight embrace. Having brushed so closely with death, he felt a renewed appreciation for the bond of family.
"Hizashi—your Caged Bird Seal…" Hiashi's eyes went wide in shock. He hadn't noticed before, but when Hizashi walked over to hug Neji, it became clear—his forehead was completely clean. The curse seal used to control branch family members had disappeared.
"What?" Hizashi was confused at first, until he noticed Hiashi staring intently at his forehead. He instinctively activated his Byakugan—and gasped.
The Caged Bird Seal was a secret technique used by the main Hyūga family to control the branch family. Not only could the main house end a branch member's life at will, the seal also suppressed the full capabilities of their Byakugan. Branch members were never able to achieve the 360-degree field of vision or the extended range of those in the main family.
But now, as Hizashi activated his Byakugan, he realized not only had his range expanded, but the usual blind spot had vanished completely. The seal was truly gone.
"The Caged Bird Seal is a disgusting, inhumane thing that should never have existed," Sakura said with disdain. "A bunch of brain-dead morons made it under the excuse of 'protecting the Byakugan from enemy theft.' If you're worried about that, then get stronger! The Byakugan is a legacy of the Sage of Six Paths' brother, and you've degraded it to something like this? If your ancestors could see this, they'd probably claw their way out of the grave just to beat you all senseless."
Sakura suddenly paused.
The Hyūga clan's ancestor, Ōtsutsuki Hamura, might have died, but his soul hadn't vanished. It was said he'd preserved a part of his power, waiting for Hinata—the "Princess of the Byakugan"—to receive it and destroy the unworthy descendant, Toneri. Though Hamura's state was far from his brother Hagoromo's, his ghost still lingered.
With that thought, Sakura mentally lit a few sticks of incense for the Hyūga clan. Your ancestor really is watching, you know.
"Um, Miss Haruno Sakura… may I trouble you for something?"
Hizashi looked conflicted, his gaze drifting to Neji's forehead, filled with bitterness and guilt.
"I know what you're about to ask," Sakura replied casually. "It's no trouble."
She snapped her fingers, and a brief red light shimmered in the air.
"To you, removing the Caged Bird Seal might seem impossible. But for me? I am the impossible."
"Huh? My head… doesn't hurt anymore…" Neji blinked, still unaware of what had happened. Ever since the seal had been applied, he'd felt a faint, persistent headache—but now, the pain was simply gone.
"Dear…" Masako, Hizashi's wife, stared in shock—then broke down in joyful tears. She had seen the clean skin on her husband's forehead and knew what it meant. Hearing Hizashi humbly ask Sakura for help, she'd been filled with hope. And now, feeling the oppressive weight of her own curse seal vanish, her heart overflowed with joy.
No one willingly accepts having their freedom or life placed under someone else's control. As the saying goes: Life is precious, love is priceless, but for freedom—both can be sacrificed.
"Don't tell anyone that your Caged Bird Seal has been removed—at least, not yet," Hiashi said, his expression firming as he watched his younger brother's family revel in joy. "Wait until the time is right."
"What are you planning, big brother?" Hizashi asked with a frown. He could sense the determination in Hiashi's eyes, and it made his heart skip a beat.
"This outdated system in the Hyūga clan… it's time for it to change." Hiashi's voice was calm but resolute. Hizashi's joy had stirred something in him, and the thought of all the other branch family members still shackled under the same cruel system filled him with guilt.
"But even if we want to abolish the Caged Bird system… do we have the power?" Hizashi knew better than anyone how deep the problem ran. Every member of the branch family carried the cursed seal. As long as it was there, the main family held their lives in their hands. Resistance was nearly impossible. Even as clan head, Hiashi was still under the thumb of the conservative Elders' Council.
"If you ever need the help of this old man, just say the word," the Third Hokage chimed in with a warm smile. "I've still got a bit of strength left to lend. Frankly, I've always thought the Caged Bird Seal has cost Konoha far too many talents—and weakened us overall."
"That's right!" Sakura added firmly. "Uncle Hiashi, if you need my help, just ask. That cursed seal is inhuman. Brothers who should've grown up close end up as enemies, all because of a rotten system. It's time that ended."
"Whenever you're ready," Sakura continued, "just let me know. I'll help you remove every last Caged Bird Seal."
"Then Hizashi and I offer our deepest thanks to both Lord Third and Miss Haruno Sakura," Hiashi said solemnly, bowing deeply. This was the first—and most critical—step toward real change in the Hyūga clan.
"If Uncle Hizashi really wants to thank me," Sakura said with a playful smile, "then let Neji come help out at my shop sometime. It'll be a good chance for him to meet some new friends."
And honestly, she thought to herself, Neji's such a tragic character in my past life. With that long, sleek black hair, he wouldn't even need a wig to pull off cross-dressing…