Naruto: From Fake to Real, Deceiving the Ninja World.

A strange sense of unease and disappointment welled up in Neji's heart. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing these chaotic thoughts, and bowed slightly in the direction of 'Hyuga Hiashi':

"Lord Hiashi, it's getting late. Let's end today's training here. I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he stopped looking at Hinata Hyuga and turned to walk towards the door of the training room.

"Please, please wait a moment, Neji-nii-san."

Just as Neji's hand was about to touch the door, Hinata's hesitant voice suddenly came from behind.

Neji paused but didn't turn around. Hinata quickly ran to his side and stopped, her face still flushed and covered in sweat.

She hesitated for a moment, but finally handed over the square lunchbox wrapped in white cloth.

"Neji-nii-san..." Hinata said with a hint of cautious flattery, "This is a bento I made myself, would you like it..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

She held the lunchbox in both hands, her eyes filled with anticipation and trepidation.

The training room was silent. Neji stood there silently, his back to Hinata.

His tall, straight back appeared stiff and cold in the dim light. He could feel the expectant gaze behind him, piercing his back like needles.

The bento box made by the eldest daughter of the main family...

Neji felt only a chilling irony and sorrow at what seemed like a well-intentioned act.

He is no longer the naive and childish Hyuga Neji he once was.

This seemingly caring gesture, intended to bring the siblings closer, appears so pale, powerless, and even hypocritical in the face of the insurmountable chasm between the main family and the branch family.

He could not forget his father's death, nor could he forget the curse mark on his forehead that symbolized humiliation and bondage.

After a long while, Neji slowly turned around, his gaze falling on the bento box in Hinata's hand, his Byakugan eyes calm and unwavering.

“No need.” His voice was deep and clear, carrying a cold indifference that kept people at a distance. “I cannot accept the favor from the eldest daughter of the Zong family.”

Hinata's smile froze instantly, her hand holding the bento box trembled slightly, and her expression was replaced by deep frustration.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she just lowered her eyes helplessly.

Neji stopped looking at her, turned around, opened the door, and disappeared into the corridor outside.

Squeak.

The sound of the door gently closing was exceptionally clear in my ears.

Hinata Hyuga remained standing in the same spot, while Hizashi Hyuga stood in the shadows, silently watching everything with an expressionless face, though a complex look flickered deep in his eyes.

He slowly stood up and walked behind Hinata. His tall figure cast a shadow in the dim light, enveloping Hinata.

He didn't speak, but simply reached out his broad palm and gently patted Hinata's head.

This action made Hinata's body tremble slightly. She raised her head, her pure white eyes still moist, looking at her "father" with a hint of confusion and grievance.

"Go change your clothes," Hyuga Hizashi's voice was deep. "It's time to eat."

His calm tone temporarily calmed Hinata's chaotic emotions.

"...Yes, Father." Hinata's voice was slightly nasal. She sniffed and bowed slightly to Hyuga Hizashi before turning and leaving the training room.

As Hyuga Hizashi watched Hinata disappear from his sight, the subtle gentleness on his face vanished, replaced by a deep calm.

He didn't linger, but turned and walked deeper into the mansion, passing through dark and winding corridors, avoiding the occasional passing servants, and finally arrived at his room.

Hyuga Hizashi walked to a seemingly ordinary wall on the inside of the room, extended his right hand and quickly and precisely pressed the five fingers on several inconspicuous dents on the wall, while his left hand formed a hand seal.

Click...click...buzz...

A slight whirring sound of mechanisms turning and the sound of a seal being released rang out.

On the wall, a perfectly sealed hidden door slid open silently inward, revealing a narrow stone staircase that stretched downwards into an unfathomable depth.

Without the slightest hesitation, Hyuga Hizashi stepped into the darkness. The hidden door closed silently behind him, shutting out the last ray of light.

The passageway was pitch black. He walked down the steps, his footsteps echoing hollowly in the silent passage.

At the end of the passage was a heavy stone door. Hyuga Hizashi formed hand seals again, channeling chakra into the seal on the door, and the stone door silently opened inward.

Behind the door was a small, dark room, dimly lit by only a few lamps, with a chilly, damp atmosphere and an unsettling stillness.

Just as Hyuga Hizashi stepped into the secret room, a figure suddenly pounced out from the shadows!

However, just as that figure was about to touch Hyuga Hizashi.

His movements froze instantly, his body remaining in a forward-leaning posture, but he could no longer move forward an inch.

Hyuga Hizashi stood still, his face expressionless, not even a flicker of emotion in his eyes, his gaze calmly fixed on the frozen figure.

Without a doubt, it was the real Hiashi Hyuga.

However, Hiashi Hyuga today is different from the disheveled and emaciated figure he once was.

Compared to Hyuga Hizashi, apart from being slightly paler, they are exactly the same.

"Don't waste your energy." Hyuga Hizashi frowned as he looked at the face contorted with rage. "I told you, with that person's power, you can't kill me."

"If you want to leave this room tonight, you'd better behave yourself."

Over the years, he has become increasingly adept at portraying Hiashi Hyuga, and has seemingly been able to replicate Hiashi Hyuga's habits.

The only difference between him and Hiashi Hyuga is his attitude towards Hinata.

Compared to Hiashi Hyuga's harsh criticism, he mainly encouraged and affirmed him.

This is one of the few acts of kindness he shows now, and one of the few things he's willing to do.

However, there was one thing he simply couldn't do.

Hiashi's wife is still alive, and she wants a child.

He could make excuses to get by during that period, but he couldn't keep using excuses to evade and evade things.

Good thing...

"It seems the gift I gave you last time was quite useful to you?"

A hoarse voice with a hint of laughter reached his ears. Hyuga Hizashi looked in the direction from which the voice came, and a dark figure gradually emerged from the shadows.

"It's been a long time." Hyuga Hizashi bowed slightly, his attitude respectful, "'Kage'-sama."

"Your gift has indeed helped me solve a lot of troubles, and I am sincerely grateful."

Upon seeing the figure emerge from the shadows, Hiashi Hyuga froze on the spot, a look of violence and hatred appearing on his face.

It's that damn guy again!!

(I couldn't sleep until 1 a.m., and I knew I couldn't sleep, otherwise I'd miss today's deadline, so I just started writing. I've finally caught up for a day now, please give me your monthly votes QAQ)

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.

He uses the Tenseigan's ability to control puppets, combined with the illusionary power of "Kyoka Shuiyue".

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.

When he becomes the clan leader and gains access to the cursed seal, he will become ruthless like his father, Hyuga Hiashi, in order to suppress the branch family and maintain his own authority.

Therefore, Neji saw Hinata's attempt to make amends as meaningless.