Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 206 Hiashi Hyuga, I am different from you!
"You're welcome."

Faced with Hyuga Hizashi's respectful attitude, 'Kage' simply chuckled and said, "This is what you deserve."

One of the "gifts" he mentioned from a long time ago was, of course, absolute control over Hiashi Hyuga himself.

Hyuga Hizashi could not and would never impersonate Hyuga Hiashi and sleep with his sister-in-law, so the 'Shadow' handed over control of Hyuga Hiashi to Hyuga Hizashi.

From then on, daytime belonged to Hyuga Hizashi, who walked in the sunlight wearing the skin of the clan leader, while at night he changed into Hyuga Hiashi and played the role he was assigned in the darkness.

With the Tenseigan's ability to control puppets, plus the illusionary power of "Mirror Flower, Water Moon".

Hiashi Hyuga not only couldn't convey information to others through hints or other means, but everything he said and did was under the control of the 'Shadow' and Hizashi Hyuga.

Moreover, since Hiashi Hyuga's wife is now pregnant, there is no longer a need to let Hiashi Hyuga go out.

The other gift was... the seal of the "Caged Bird Curse".

Although the ugly scar on his forehead could be used as an excuse to cover it up with a bandage.

However, Hyuga Hizashi couldn't stay wrapped in bandages at home forever, so the 'Kage' simply used points to seal him with a cursed seal.

Yes, it's just a seal, not a release.

Hyuga Hizashi raised his hand and gently touched the bandage on his forehead, as if he could feel the cold, dormant curse mark beneath it. His expression subtly darkened.

"Lord Shadow," he couldn't help but ask, "Is the Caged Bird Seal truly impossible to completely eradicate?"

All the branch families, including Hyuga Hizashi, once naively believed that death would free them from the Caged Bird Seal.

But in fact, even after Hyuga Hizashi was resurrected by Yakushi Kabuto using the Impure World Reincarnation technique, the ugly Caged Bird Seal still remained, mocking the futility of their life and death.

and so……

"The Caged Bird Seal is intricately connected to the nerves in your eyes and brain. Even if Tsunade were to perform surgery, it would be impossible to perfectly remove the Byakugan."

"Not to mention, the Caged Bird Seal has already pierced the depths of your souls."

The Shadow's voice was calm and unhurried: "At present, I can only help you seal the external manifestation of the curse mark through sealing."

This is of course a lie; he could forcibly erase the Caged Bird Seal with points, but he wouldn't do that.

"..."

Hyuga Hizashi, of course, didn't know he was lying; upon hearing his words, his eyes only grew more gloomy.

He never imagined that the Caged Bird Curse was far more vicious than he and the other branch family members had thought. Even death could not free him from the cage, nor could it escape the fate of a caged bird.

The thought that he had even considered dying in place of Hiashi Hyuga to escape his fate as a caged bird...

The thought that many branch family members who died protecting the main family believed they would find release after death...

"Ah."

A low, hoarse laugh, filled with self-deprecation and bitterness, escaped from his throat.

This is a feeling of injustice for one's former naiveté, for the loss of those branch family members, and for despair and helplessness regarding Neji's future.

If even this mysterious 'Shadow' cannot break the Caged Bird Seal, does that mean Neji is truly unable to escape the fate of the Caged Bird, unable to break free of his cage even in death?
"but……"

Just as a heavy gloom was hanging over Hyuga Hizashi's heart, 'Kage' suddenly changed the subject and said, "I know how to break the Caged Bird Seal..."

"Hizashi!"

Before he could continue, Hiashi Hyuga said in a deep voice, "Are you really going to believe his nonsense?"

"This guy is the culprit who attacked the village, a madman who stirred up chaos throughout the entire ninja world!"

"He must have some ulterior motive for helping you. Why are you still working for this madman?!"

Although his words and actions were strictly restricted, he was able to learn a great deal from his wife.

This includes the 'Kage' and 'Espada' who severely damaged Konoha, as well as the 'Hollow' that is now affecting the entire ninja world.

Neither Hiashi nor Hizashi could believe that the Konoha attacker was the same 'Kage' after hearing his appearance.

A mysterious being whose strength is unknown and unfathomable, causing headaches for the entire Hidden Leaf Village and even the entire ninja world.

How could he possibly interfere in the affairs of the Hyuga clan?

What is it about the Hyuga clan that they value?

Hyuga Hizashi was also thinking about it, but...

"I don't care." He looked at Hiashi Hyuga, his tone unusually calm. "At least, he's gradually fulfilling his promise to me, while you..."

"Hishashi!" Hiashi Hyuga roared, "You've been the clan leader for so long, you should understand my predicament, understand that everything you've gone through was out of necessity!"

"You can die if you want, you can kill me if you want, it's up to you! But you can't drag the entire Hyuga clan down with you!!"

"..."

Hyuga Hizashi didn't say anything; he was thinking of Hinata and Neji.

He knew that Neji did not resent Hinata; Neji only resented the Caged Bird Seal, resented his own fate as a caged bird, and hated the main family's abuse of the cursed seal.

Even if this is not what Hinata wants, she is still a beneficiary of the system.

In Neji's view, the reason Hinata had never used the cursed seal was simply because she was too young and had not yet learned how to activate it.

Once she becomes the clan leader and gains access to the cursed seal, she will likely become ruthless, just like her father, Hiashi Hyuga, in order to suppress the branch family and maintain her own authority. Therefore, Neji sees Hinata's attempts to befriend her as meaningless.

Even Hyuga Hizashi wasn't sure if Hinata would become the second Hyuga Hiashi if she became the clan leader in the future.

Don't say he has a soft personality or a good relationship. He and Hiashi Hyuga were very close brothers when they were young, but they are still like strangers after they grow up.

Even if Hinata doesn't use the cursed seal on Neji, does she do the same to the other branch family members?
Without the "Caged Bird Seal" as a sword hanging over her head, how could she, with her weak strength, suppress the branch family members?
If the branch family is allowed to replace the main family as the legitimate branch, the bloodline of the Hyuga clan's descendants will gradually become diluted.

The Hyuga clan is not the Uchiha clan, and their Byakugan, unlike the Sharingan, cannot be awakened through mental stimulation, nor do they have a method for purifying their bloodline.

If a clan's bloodline becomes extremely diluted, then the Byakugan will truly disappear completely.

On one hand, there is the responsibility of the clan leader and the inheritance of the family; on the other hand, there is personal desire and self-interest.

Who knows what Hinata Hyuga will choose in the future?

This is the distortion of the "Caged Bird Seal." In order to maintain and continue the pure bloodline, the main family needs to separate and protect and support the lineage.

This led to their own strength and experience becoming weaker and weaker, and the weaker they became, the more they needed the caged bird to suppress the division.

This is an endless loop.

As long as the Hyuga clan still cares about the inheritance of bloodlines, the hierarchy between the main family and the branch family cannot be broken, and brothers and sisters are destined to become enemies.

There is absolutely no other possibility...

Indeed, as Hiashi Hyuga said, the longer one remains in the position of clan leader, the more one can feel the predicament the Hyuga clan is in, a situation that no one person can change.

However, this does not mean that he has forgiven Hiashi Hyuga in his heart; on the contrary, he feels even more disgusted with this twisted clan.

"Yes, you are the clan leader, and you belong to the main family!"

Hyuga Hizashi stared intently at Hyuga Hiashi, his voice hoarse as he said, "You think you're doing this for the greater good, you're so great, you're so noble, you're so entitled!"

"But why should we be the ones sacrificed, trampled upon, and branded with shame?"

"Based on what you call fate?"

Upon hearing this, Hiashi Hyuga's face twitched slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "This was decided from the moment we were born. It was a result that no one could choose. This is fate!"

"So, if we're born this way, must we always be this way?"

Hyuga Hizashi's lips gradually curled into a smile as he said, "I had no chance to change my fate in the past, so I could endure it and even deceive myself."

"But now, fate stands before me, why should I give up? Why can't fate favor us, why can't it be Neji?"

Looking at the 'Kage' standing behind Hyuga Hizashi, Hyuga Hiashi finally couldn't hold back his anger and rebuked, "But you shouldn't have sacrificed your entire clan for this..."

"You can choose to abandon us for the sake of your clan, so why can't I abandon my clan for Neji?!" Hyuga Hizashi interrupted.

"You are the head of the Hyuga clan, that's true, but I am also Neji's father, and all I want to do is be a father!"

"Do you think your choice is more noble than mine?!"

At this point, Hyuga Hizashi was almost roaring, his chest heaving violently, breathing rapidly, his eyes filled with ferocity and madness, his roar echoing in the secret room.

But soon, the terrifying madness in his eyes faded, replaced by a cold indifference.

"Hyuga Hiashi, I am not like you."

He spoke slowly, his voice deep and clear: "For the sake of the Hyuga clan's legacy, you were willing to abandon your own younger brother and harden your heart to activate the Caged Bird Seal."

"In order to make Hinata Hyuga a qualified clan leader, he forced his own daughter into such a cowardly state."

"Even after realizing that Hinata was not qualified to be the clan leader, you planned to abandon your daughter and repeatedly suggested having another child to put a curse mark on Hinata!"

"Didn't you ever think that if Hinata were put in the Caged Bird Seal, she and your future child would end up in the same situation we are now?"

No, you've thought about it! But you don't care!

"Even if they see each other as enemies, kill each other, and torment each other in pain, it doesn't matter, because in your eyes there is only the inheritance and continuation of the Hyuga clan's bloodline!"

Hyuga Hizashi stared intently into Hyuga Hiashi's eyes and said, word by word, "Hyuga Hiashi, I've used your name and your identity to disguise myself for all these years, and I've seen too much helplessness."

"But this only makes me more certain..."

"I am different from you!"

"I can't be as cold-blooded as you with my own child. The only person I've ever cared about is Neji!"

Hiashi Hyuga's face was ashen, and he opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word.

Hyuga Hizashi stopped looking at him and turned to the 'Shadow' who was watching with great interest, saying, "Please tell me, what is the way to break the 'Caged Bird Seal'?"

"No matter the cost, as long as it's something I own and something I can do, I don't care about anything else."

From the moment he chose to replace Hiashi Hyuga, from the moment he knew that Neji was the murderer of the main family but kept it a secret, he had already decided to give up everything for Neji.

Regardless of name or identity, family or village, life or future.

Now, he has no way out.

He only hoped that Neji could gain the opportunity and power to break free from his cage and soar through the skies.

(End of this chapter)