Escape from Konoha.

Seeing her mother's proud smile at having such an outstanding daughter, Ayane only paused for a moment before obediently nodding.

However, would the head of the main family use words like "hope," which carry a sense of request?

It was less a desire for her to do so and more a threat and an order.

After all, as a member of a branch family, she had no right to bargain with the main family.

Having witnessed several branch family members who rebelled against the main family and suffered agonizing pain from the Caged Bird Seal, she had already considered how to deal with the main family.

"Young Master Hiashi is an excellent ninja. At the age of fourteen, he is already a renowned Chunin in the village. Everyone says that he can become a Jonin before he turns twenty."

Ayane knelt on the cushion, her long, straight black hair draped over her shoulders. Her silent white pupils revealed neither excitement nor joy; she simply listened quietly to her mother's incessant nagging.

Her mother was a rather traditional woman who was submissive and resigned to her fate.

Perhaps because she had seen too much, the dissatisfaction she once felt towards the main family had transformed into awe and humility over the past thirty years.

Those who separate from the main family have no right to resist the main family.

Those who separate from the main family are naturally obligated to dedicate everything—love, life, and dignity—to the main family.

Everything the family acquired after the division was bestowed upon them by the main branch.

Over the years, this traditional mindset has likely turned her mother into a tool to obey the orders of the main family.

Therefore, Ayane never engages in pointless arguments with her mother.

Habits are a terrible thing.

“Ayane, don’t resent the main family. They are thinking about the future of the Hyuga clan. Our clan’s Byakugan has always been coveted by outsiders. The Caged Bird Seal is not a curse. They did this entirely to protect the Byakugan from outsiders. One day, the other branch family members will understand this.”

“I know, Mother.”

Ayane doesn't hate her mother, even though she has become a tool for the main family.

However, Ayane cannot agree that the caged bird is not a curse.

Perhaps the Caged Bird Seal has a reason to protect the Byakugan, but should those branch family ninjas who were cursed to death by the Caged Bird Seal be killed silently and without dignity by their own people?

What did they do wrong?

Why doesn't the village care?

Ayane didn't believe that the Hokage and other high-ranking officials were unaware of this matter.

Such acts of harming colleagues deserve imprisonment.

Shiraishi-kun is right; this village is twisted and boring. And we are all just a part of this twisted and boring village, the most insignificant part. Ayane recalled what Shiraishi had once told her, and felt this helpless cruelty and twisted feeling even more deeply than before.

Therefore, every time the Hokage personally presided over the opening ceremony to promote the Will of Fire, Ayane felt out of place, unfamiliar, and afraid of this village.

The blood flowing through my veins now is one that refuses to succumb to this fate.

She wanted to be a bird that flies freely in the sky.

Instead of being a bird with broken wings, locked in a cage by the main family.

One day, she will break free of the birdcage binding her and fly into the sky.

◎

Hiashi Hyuga.

This name is still very well-known within the Hyuga clan.

He is the young master of the Hyuga clan's main branch, a young and renowned genius Chunin in Konoha.

In this village, he was destined to become a great figure admired by countless people.

Ayane never imagined that she would become this person's maid, especially since he happened to be a member of the main family that she hated the most.

However, considering that the main family's guards have always been selected from the branch families, this seems to be a reasonable thing.

“Young Master Hiashi, I am Hinata Ayane, who will serve as your maid starting today.”

Sitting on the corridor of the courtyard, a handsome young man with long, straight black hair looked at the pond in the courtyard with his pure white eyes.

Hearing the voice from the side, he slowly turned his head and glanced at the pure-looking girl with the same white eyes as him.

Her eyes were devoid of emotion, but it wouldn't be accurate to say they were stagnant; only a gentle smile lingered on her face, a smile tinged with a faint sadness.

Do you hate the main family?

Hijikata asked.

Ayane was slightly taken aback, not expecting the other party to ask her such a question.

"hatred."

Lying can breed suspicion, while being honest can sometimes lower the other person's guard.

At least the interactions won't be so fake.

Hiashi nodded and muttered to himself:

“I hate it too, because of these rules, Rizashi hasn’t smiled at me for many years, only shown indifference and hostility. Rizashi is my favorite younger brother, we used to play together all the time, teasing each other, and even fighting over snacks without regard for our status…”

"Is that so? Young Master Hiashi is a gentle person."

Ayane said with a smile.

“I am not gentle at all, nor can I be gentle. Three years ago, I had a match with Hizashi, and I deliberately lost, wanting to make the main family look at Hizashi with new eyes. I never expected that when I returned, my father used a cursed seal to make Hizashi scream and beg for mercy on the ground in pain... My father told me that as the heir of the main family, I must always remind the branch family of my status and not overstep my class or be disrespectful to the main family.”

Looking at the clear blue sky, Hiashi sighed with regret.

Ayane remained silent after hearing this.

“Since then, I have finally understood what rules are. In the strictly disciplined Hyuga clan, everything Hizashi… no, everything in the branch family is arranged by the main family. There is no way to resist, no freedom.”

Hiashi stood up from the corridor, then glanced at Ayane again:

"So, it's understandable that you hate me and the main family. But remember, never show me any hostility or murderous intent, because I am the head of the main family and the master of your branch family."

If a caged bird glares angrily at its master, displeasing him, it will face a merciless death.

That's exactly the meaning it's expressing.

Therefore, the so-called request for her to become a maid was, from the very beginning, an act that was coercive.

"I understand. I will be careful to behave myself, Master Hiashi."

Seeing that Ayane was so sensible, Hiashi nodded in satisfaction.

Hiashi walked back into the house and took out a birdcage with a white bird inside.

Ayane's expression turned slightly unnatural upon seeing this.

Hiashi ignored Ayane's unnatural expression and murmured softly:

"You know what? This is the only birdcage I've never changed, but I've already replaced seven birds in it. This is the eighth bird, which I bought for you today."

"What happened before that..."

"I killed them the moment they flew away."

Why did you do this, young master Hiashi?

"Before you, I had seven maids, all of whom were executed by my father for various reasons."

Hiashi hung the birdcage outside.

"I hope this isn't the end for you..."

This sentence seems to be addressed to a bird, or perhaps to Ayane.

Chapter Twenty: Uchiha Ruri

"Young Master Hiashi".

On Monday morning, just as dawn was breaking, around six o'clock, Ayane would come to wake Hiashi up on time.

A faint sound came from the room, and a moment later, Hiashi came out of the room.

He didn't even glance at Ayane, and walked right past her.

For him, whether this maid would survive to the end was an unknown question.

For the main family, the lives of those who have branched out are not that important.

But very few of those who split up the family would resist; most were used to being ruled.

This habit will be firmly etched into their bones and souls, and passed down from generation to generation.

They rejoiced in the joy of the main family, were angry in the anger of the main family, and grieved in the sorrow of the main family.

Ayane understood Hiashi's indifference; she was simply following the duty of a maid and obediently staying behind Hiashi.

There must be many eyes watching her from all around.

She could feel it.

In the dark corners, in the silent gaps, her every move was being watched.

Becoming a maid to the young master of the Hyuga main family is not a happy thing.

But this kind of attention, which can be called surveillance, is something Ayane cannot resist.

"Hizu-sama."

After passing through several courtyards, Ayane followed Hiashi the whole time. When they were almost at the training ground, a boy who was slightly younger than Hiashi walked out from the end of the corridor.

His appearance is also very similar to that of Japanese foot.

Upon seeing Hiashi, he lowered his head and uttered that sounded like he was gritting his teeth, his fists clenched tightly.

"Hishashi, as a ninja, you should always control your emotions. This is really unsightly. Have you forgotten what your duty is as a member of the branch family?"

Hiashi stopped and gave Hizashi a cold look, reprimanding him in a stern tone, as if he were an older brother.

"Yes."

Calm seemed to have returned, and the fists loosened, but Ayane knew the anger, dissatisfaction, or even hatred of this branch family ninja.

Hinata and day difference.

That's the boy's name.