Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 220 Neji's Ambition

On a chilly early morning in the 58th year of Konoha, the massive mansion of the Hyuga clan had already awakened.

The neat courtyard was swept spotless, and the dry landscape garden exuded a silent Zen-like tranquility in the morning light, yet it also carried a lingering sense of solemnity.

In a room in the separate family's residential area, Hyuga Neji slowly opened his eyes.

Those pure white eyes, no different from those of the main family, seemed to possess a calmness and precocity beyond their years the moment they opened.

He stood up briskly, changed into clean training clothes, meticulously straightened his clothes, and after washing up, stared blankly at the blue caged bird mark on his forehead in the mirror for a while.

Only then did he leave the room.

Inside the hall, the father, Hyuga Hizashi, and the mother were already seated.

Neji stepped forward, knelt down respectfully, and performed a standard bow: "Father, Mother, Happy New Year."

Hizashi looked at his son, especially at the caged bird tattoo that stood out prominently on Neji's forehead, with a complex expression.

He nodded, his voice as steady as ever: "Yes, get ready, it's time to pay our respects to the main family."

Neji's mother gently straightened his already neat collar, her eyes full of concern.

Neji waited in silence.

He knew that on the first day of the new year, the branch family had to pay their respects to the main family. This was a rule that had been followed for countless years and was a hierarchical order ingrained in their very bones.

However, as he grew older, and after witnessing the suffering of the branch family members who had carved the image of the caged bird, Neji's hatred for the main family grew stronger and stronger.

Upon arriving at the main family's even more magnificent mansion, the atmosphere was noticeably different.

The air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and the aroma of food, but also with an invisible pressure.

Many of the families who had separated from their original households had arrived and were waiting quietly on the porch.

Neji immediately spotted his cousin, Hinata Hyuga, the eldest daughter of the main family, timidly following behind her father, Hiashi Hyuga, dressed in a gorgeous New Year's kimono, her little face showing some nervousness.

Finally, it was the Hizashi family's turn to enter the main hall to pay their respects.

The hall was covered with thick tatami mats, and Hyuga Hizashi sat upright in the main seat with a serious expression.

Slightly behind him on either side sat four elders of the main family.

Neji's keen eyes noticed that these four long-unseen elders of the main family were all wearing black eye patches, covering their eyes!

'As expected... those rumors circulating in private among the branch families are true...' Neji's heart sank suddenly, followed by an indescribable surge of emotion.

'That mysterious Asura... he actually took the eyes of four main family elders right under the noses of the Hokage, my father, and so many elite Konoha Jonin... as easily as taking candy from a baby!'

What kind of strength is this?
How utterly unscrupulous!

The entire Hidden Leaf Village couldn't do anything to him!

This concept struck Neji's young but already thoughtful mind like a heavy hammer.

He felt an indescribable complex emotion towards the "Shura" who had granted him a day of freedom, but deeper still, he felt a sense of awe, even a hint of longing, that he himself was not yet fully aware of.

The greeting process was mechanical and silent.

Hijiri and his family bowed and said auspicious words, while Hijiri nodded slightly in response and asked a few questions in a ceremonial manner.

Throughout the entire process, the four blindfolded elders remained silent, like four silent statues, yet exuding a suffocating majesty.

After the greetings, the main family held a New Year's morning banquet.

The banquet was held in a larger hall, but the seating arrangement was clearly divided, like an invisible chasm.

The clan head, Hiashi, and the four elders naturally sat in the head seats, where they had the best view and the most exquisite food.

When families split up, only a very small number of families are eligible to be seated, and all of them are arranged in the lower seats, away from the main seat and near the door.

The Hizashi family was ranked last because Hizashi was the head of the branch family and had higher power and status.

Many more members of the branch family didn't even have the right to enter the banquet hall.

Neji knelt behind his parents, head bowed, eating the food in front of him in small bites, finding it tasteless.

He could clearly feel the scrutinizing gaze from above, subtle yet palpable.

The main family and the branch family, simply because of their different births, are destined to be worlds apart from the moment they are born.

This pervasive sense of hierarchy made him feel suffocated, and a trace of resentment and hatred flashed deep within his white eyes.

The atmosphere at the banquet appeared peaceful on the surface, but was actually oppressive.

It wasn't until near the end that Hyuga Hiashi seemed to remember something, turning his gaze to the Hizashi family below, or more accurately, to Neji.

"Neji," Hiashi's voice rang out in the hall, carrying the authority of the head of the family: "I heard that your grades at school have always been excellent, and you have never slacked off in your training in taijutsu and judo."

Neji immediately put down his chopsticks, bowed respectfully, and replied, "You flatter me, Clan Chief. Neji dares not slack off and still needs to work hard."

Hiashi nodded, seemingly satisfied with his attitude, and then looked at Hinata, who was a little nervous beside him: "Hinata, you should also learn more from Neji. As the head of the main family, you should set an example."

"Yes, Father..." Hinata replied softly, her head bowed even lower.

Hiashi seemed intrigued and continued, "Theory alone is useless; only practice yields true knowledge. Since it's New Year's Day, let's have you two spar a bit, and let the elders see the prowess of the younger generation of the Hyuga clan. What do you say?"

These words, though seemingly a suggestion, are in fact not to be refused.

Several blindfolded elders nodded slightly in agreement.

Neji's heart skipped a beat.

A sparring match with Hinata?

He instantly realized the subtlety and danger involved.

Although his strength far surpassed Hinata's, who was a year younger, he could easily win a normal match as long as Hinata's second personality didn't emerge.

嗏

Can you win?
What would be the consequences of defeating the eldest daughter of the main family?
His father's silent and repressed gaze, and the strict rules of the clan, were like invisible shackles that instantly tightened around his heart.

But if they deliberately throw the game, the loss will be too obvious...

Not to mention that their pride wouldn't allow it, everyone present was an elite of the Hyuga clan, especially the clan leader and the elders. How could they not see the clues?
If it is discovered that you harbor disrespect for the main family, the consequences could be even more severe.

In the blink of an eye, Neji had made his decision.

A difficult and frustrating decision, yet one that aligned with his precocious mind.

"Yes, clan leader." "Yes, father." Neji and Hinata responded simultaneously.

The group moved to the spacious practice room.

The wooden floor was smooth, and the air was filled with a faint scent of moth-repellent herbs.

Neji and Hinata stood facing each other, forming a seal of opposition.

"Begin!" Hiashi gave the order.

Hinata seemed a little nervous, adopting the starting stance of Gentle Fist and tentatively attacking forward.

Her movements were technically correct but lacked power and experience, and there were many flaws.

Neji took a deep breath, instantly activating his Byakugan, and the world around him became incredibly clear.

He could easily see through Hinata's every subtle movement and predict her next move.

He had countless opportunities to win with a single move.

But, he can't.

He suppressed his body's instinctive urge to retaliate, controlling his strength and speed to a level that was "slightly higher than Hinata's, but not enough to create absolute dominance."

He precisely parried Hinata's attacks, occasionally launching perfectly timed counterattacks that left Hinata flustered, but he always missed by a hair's breadth at crucial moments, failing to truly strike a vital point, or Hinata "luckily" dodged them.

He turned his battle into a meticulously controlled performance—a fierce battle that showcased his "excellence" as a genius of the branch family while ensuring it would never threaten the "face" of the main family's eldest daughter.

On the field, the two fought back and forth, their chakra colliding slightly and their palms whistling.

Hinata gave it her all, her face turning red and sweat beading on her forehead.

Neji's expression was calm, his eyes focused, but only he knew the struggle and humiliation he was experiencing inside.

He felt like a puppet controlled by strings, unable to move freely.

His desire for power, his desire to break free of this invisible cage, became stronger than ever during this oppressive sparring session.

Neji could see his father, Hizashi, out of the corner of his eye.

His father remained kneeling silently to the side, his face calm and expressionless, but Neji could sense that beneath his father's seemingly calm gaze lay a pain and helplessness similar to, or even deeper than, his own.

Meanwhile, Hiashi and several elders of the clan above nodded slightly as their relatives explained the situation, seemingly quite satisfied with this "evenly matched" contest.

In their view, Neji, the genius of the branch family, was indeed quite strong, but he was clearly deeply bound by the concepts of "bird in a cage" and the supremacy of the main family. He knew how to behave appropriately and knew when to advance and retreat, making him a "qualified" and reliable tool.

"Alright, stop now," Hiashi finally said.

Neji and Hinata jumped backwards simultaneously, forming a reconciliation seal.

Hinata was panting, her face showing a hint of fatigue mixed with excitement, as if she felt she had performed quite well.

Neji, however, remained calm, bowing his head slightly, appearing somewhat apprehensive.

Hiashi first walked up to Hinata and pointed out the problems she had just exposed. Although his tone was stern, it was also full of concern.

Then, he walked up to Neji and patted him on the shoulder: "Not bad, Neji. Your basic skills are very solid, and your grasp of the timing of battle has also improved. As expected of Hizashi's child, you have lived up to the name of Hyuga. Keep up the good work and become a solid force to protect the main family in the future."

This "praise" was like the most piercing mockery, each word striking Neji's heart.

Protect the main family.

Is this the destiny of a life destined by separating from the family?

He lowered his head and answered in as steady a voice as possible, "I will follow the clan leader's teachings and strive to do my best."

The morning meal and sparring session finally came to an end.

Neji silently left the suffocating mansion of the main family with his parents.

Walking home, the New Year's sunshine shone on me, but I couldn't feel any warmth at all.

Even during holidays, Neji's schedule is extremely full.

In the afternoon, Hyuga Himon, the young Jonin from the clan whom his father Hizashi had invited as his mentor, arrived on time.

Hyuga Himon was born into the branch family, but thanks to his outstanding talent and hard work, he became a Jonin at a young age and was quite famous within the clan.

He has a relatively cheerful personality and takes good care of Neji, his genius junior.

After receiving routine physical training and jujitsu instruction, the two took a short break.

Neji looked at Hyuga Himon, who was drinking water, and the thought that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time resurfaced.

He hesitated for a moment, but finally mustered up his courage and asked casually, "Teacher Huomen, I heard... a while ago, a mysterious person named 'Shura' broke into our clan's territory?"

Hinata Himon paused in his drinking motion, his expression instantly turning serious.

He put down his water glass, looked around, and lowered his voice: "Neji, you've heard about it too?"

Neji nodded, his little face showing just the right amount of curiosity and a hint of lingering fear: "Hmm... I heard it's terrifying, even the elders..."

Hinata Hideto sighed, a look of lingering fear on his face. He didn't hide anything from Neji just because he was young; on the contrary, he felt it was necessary to let his junior know about the dangers outside and Hinata's enemies.

He said in a deep voice, "It was more than just terrible... I was there that night."

A flicker of fear crossed his eyes, as if he were transported back to that night: "That Asura... he appeared silently in the heart of the clan's territory, like a demon in the night! So many Hyuga ninjas, and even the Hokage, Kakashi-senpai, and other Konoha elites who arrived just in time, couldn't stop him at all! His speed was unbelievable, his strength terrifying, and he possessed a strange ability we'd never seen before—an ability that could interfere with our Byakugan!"

Hinata Himon's voice trembled slightly: "We even had to close our Byakugan to see him, and he also had nine powerful summoning beasts with various strange abilities, comparable to elite Jonin. And then... the four elders... sigh!"

"His summoned beasts isolated us with a barrier, and in front of all of us, they took the elders' eyes, and then, along with the nine summoned beasts, vanished like ghosts!"

"The whole process was swift and decisive. So many of our elite Jonin couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes! That was... such a despairing display of overwhelming power!"

Neji's heart raced and his palms sweated as he listened.

Although I had heard about it before, hearing the Jonin teacher who was present at the time describe it in person was a completely different experience in terms of shock and impact.

The image of Shura became even more imposing, mysterious, and alluring in his mind.

What a powerful force of freedom that is!
They can disregard all rules and crush all obstacles!
Hyuga Himon, oblivious to Neji's subtle change in emotion, continued, his tone becoming even more serious: "Furthermore, Neji, you may not know this, but before that, I participated in a reconnaissance mission against Hoshigakure."

"Star Village?" Neji asked, feigning confusion.

Hinata Himon explained, "It's that ninja village controlled by Shura!"

“At the time, there were three of us in the team, all of us were experienced Jonin! But…” Hyuga Himon’s face showed a look of humiliation and lingering fear: “We didn’t even see Shura’s face! We were intercepted by one of his subordinates… a woman, near the border.”

His voice lowered: "That woman... was very strong, extremely strong! The three of us were defeated almost without any resistance... that power still makes my heart tremble when I think about it!"

Recalling the near-death experience he had with Uchiha Shisui and Shirakumo Hayama, as well as the two god-like giants, Hyuga Hinata still felt lingering fear. However, after a moment's thought, he concealed more details, such as the woman possessing the Sharingan.

Hyuga Himon suddenly grabbed Neji's shoulder, stared into his eyes, and said with utmost seriousness, "Neji, remember this! Shura, and his Star Ninja, are the most dangerous enemies of our Hyuga clan, and even the entire Hidden Leaf Village!"

"They are powerful, ruthless, and have no moral bottom line! If you encounter anyone connected to the Star Kingdom during your missions, remember to retreat and report immediately. Never engage in a direct confrontation! Understand?"

Neji looked at the sincere worry and admonition in his teacher's eyes, but his heart was churning with the exact opposite, turbulent waves.

enemy?

The most dangerous enemy?
But... this very "enemy" had briefly granted him a freedom he had never experienced since he carved the caged bird!
Neji recalled that night when that mysterious figure quietly appeared in his room and gently touched his forehead with her finger.

At that moment, the cursed "caged bird" mark on his forehead, the mark that constantly reminded him of his status as a member of a branch family and a caged bird, temporarily lost its effect!

That feeling of freedom and lightness of the soul, though brief, was like the most potent poison, deeply imprinted on the depths of his soul!
All of this clashed sharply with the "mortal enemy" concept instilled by the teacher.

But he couldn't reveal a single word.

He could only lower his head and reply in a submissive tone, "Yes, Mr. Komon, I understand."

However, deep within his lowered eyes, the flame of hatred burned even more fiercely against the corrupt clan system around him, and against those high and mighty members of the main family who determined the fate of the branch family!
The worship of Asura and the yearning for its power grew wildly in his heart.

But he also knew that he was too weak right now.

So weak that they don't even have the right to bear that "freedom," nor can they see the path to pursue that power.

The compassion of the Asura was like the stars in the sky, distant and unattainable to him.

This realization made him crave power even more, crave to become strong, crave enough to break free of this damned cage!

And the hypocrisy of the main family and the resentment towards fate, nurtured by this longing, grew strong like a sapling!

After the instruction ended, Neji respectfully bowed to Hyuga Himon to say goodbye. His departing figure, as he turned and walked out of the training ground, seemed even more lonely than when he arrived.

When Neji returned home, he did not see his father, but his mother was tending to potted plants on the veranda.

"Mother." Neji stepped forward, knelt down, and bowed, his gaze falling on the potted plant.

"Ah, Neji's back." Neji's mother smiled and put down the scissors in her hand. She said to Neji, "Your father went to the clan meeting and probably won't be back until tonight. We'll eat lunch by ourselves. Wait a little while."

After saying that, she got up and went to the kitchen.

Neji remained kneeling, his pure white eyes fixed on the potted plant, his gaze somewhat vacant.

A tender seedling was growing vigorously from the cut part.

Neji picked up his mother's scissors and looked thoughtfully at the old and diseased branches that had been pruned beside the potted plant, as if he were seeing the same decaying and sickly Hyuga clan in him.

(End of this chapter)