Bab 41: Chapter 41 Change, The New Branch House System
Hyuga Iroha was frustrated by Hiashi's ridiculous remarks, and saddened by the branch house's long history of struggle.
"Ambition? The Caged Bird?
Heh...
Patriarch Hiashi, do you really think our branch house fights for freedom out of mere ambition?
The proud main family will never understand our desire for liberty!
The Caged Bird is not a tool for your family to enslave us at will.
The Zong family has misunderstood the true purpose of the Caged Bird.
Today, it's time for the Hyuga to rediscover what the Caged Bird truly is..."
Hyuga Iroha looked at Hyuga Hiashi with a mocking gaze, a few nostalgic tears welling up in his eyes. He reached up, tore off his forehead protector, and shouted almost hysterically.
The two people behind him also removed their forehead protectors, revealing their smooth, unmarked foreheads.
"How... how is this possible?
Impossible! Absolutely impossible...
The Caged Bird, broken by you?!"
Hyuga Hiashi's expression shifted instantly. He took a step back, cold sweat trickling down his spine as he exclaimed with a pale face.
"Patriarch Hiashi...
Do you really believe we would challenge the Zong family without reason?
Our branch house, after years of secret research, has discovered how to deactivate the Caged Bird.
We don't intend for Hyuga to suffer the same fate as the Senju or Uchiha.
We have chosen the path of negotiation.
But make no mistake, this doesn't mean we won't resort to armed revolution if necessary!"
Hyuga Iroha proclaimed loudly, his voice deceitful and calculated.
As a ninja, deception and the spread of misinformation are fundamental skills to achieve one's goals.
Hyuga Iroha had long mastered this art.
Not only would this increase the pressure on the main family, but it would also gain the support of the branch house members.
They weren't just pawns being forced to act against their will...
"You...
You've figured out how to break the Caged Bird?!"
The veins around Hyuga Hiashi's eyes relaxed as his Byakugan deactivated. He stared at Hyuga Iroha in horror, clearly afraid.
If this were true, the Zong family would be powerless to stop the branch house.
Three branch house guards who rushed over upon hearing the commotion saw the unmarked foreheads of Hyuga Iroha and his companions and overheard their conversation.
Despite their doubts, the guards silently retreated, standing beside Hyuga Iroha.
Their intentions were clear...
Who would want to remain a dog if they had the chance to become a human?
Especially one enslaved for generations without end...
"Xiao, Zhiye, Ming, are you betraying the clan?"
Hyuga Hiashi stared at the three guards with resentful eyes as his hands slowly formed a hand seal.
Whoosh...
Before Hiashi could complete his jutsu, Hyuga Iroha struck, knocking the kunai from Hiashi's hand and interrupting him.
"You can't use the Caged Bird against us anymore!
Patriarch Hiashi, I'll ask you one last time:
Will it be peace or battle?"
Hyuga Iroha adopted a combat stance, his cold gaze locked onto Hiashi as he delivered the ultimatum.
Although Hiashi was stronger, the three of them together could suppress him in a fight.
They couldn't afford to let the Zong family use the Caged Bird curse against them.
"Peace?
Impossible...
You traitorous branch house members have been secretly researching the Caged Bird?!
How could you have kept something like this hidden for so long...
You rebels—I will never allow you to overthrow the Hyuga!"
An elderly voice suddenly echoed from behind Hyuga Iroha.
Dozens of figures quickly appeared, surrounding the courtyard.
"Silence!
You've been captured—why are you still shouting?"
Hyuga Iron, one of Hyuga Iroha's companions, commanded sternly as he restrained one of the elders from the main family.
The reinforcements were the other ten branch house Jōnin, along with many captured members of the main family and other branch house members who had arrived with them.
"You came prepared!"
Hyuga Hiashi glanced at the three restrained main family Jōnin and two elders, then glared darkly at Hyuga Iroha, speaking coldly.
"Of course!
Now, nearly all the members of both the main family and the branch house are gathered here.
Allow me to explain our reform philosophy one last time.
We do not oppose the existence of the Caged Bird.
Originally, it was a curse mark created by our ancestors to prevent the Byakugan from falling into enemy hands and to protect our clan.
But the Zong family has long misunderstood the deeper meaning behind this seal.
At some point, the Caged Bird became a tool used to enslave the branch house for generations.
We are now proposing a new branch house system.
No more judging by birthright—only by talent and strength.
For those without sufficient skill or potential, the Caged Bird seal will still be a necessary safeguard.
However, the Caged Bird will no longer be a hereditary curse exclusive to the branch house.
If a clan heir lacks talent, they too will be marked with the Caged Bird and become part of the branch house.
Conversely, a branch house member can rise to the main family based on their abilities and strength.
Under this new system, the Zong family will no longer use the Caged Bird to enslave us at will.
Additionally, all secret techniques will be open to every clan member. Anyone, whether from the main family or branch house, can learn them as long as they meet the requirements.
With this system, the Hyuga will not weaken—we will grow stronger."
Hyuga Iroha explained the branch house system reform that Neji had proposed, after making some slight modifications.
The branch house members present, upon hearing this proposal, had their eyes light up with newfound hope.
As members of the branch house, they had always despised the Caged Bird.
But what they hated even more was being trampled on by the main family and having their lives held in someone else's hands.
Branch house members, who often left the village on dangerous missions, deeply understood the necessity of the Caged Bird for protecting their Byakugan.
Without the Caged Bird, none of the Zong family members would dare leave the village so freely.
Meanwhile, Hyuga Hiashi frowned slightly as he listened to the proposed reforms.
Initially, he had assumed the branch house aimed to completely abolish the Caged Bird.
But now, hearing this new system... it didn't sound as unreasonable as he had feared.
This idea reminded Hiashi of his late brother Hizashi, and his gifted nephew Neji.
If the Caged Bird had worked this way back then, would their fates have been different?
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