"Do we really have to do this?"
Kakashi clenched his fists tightly, bloodshot eyes trembling as he spoke with a shaky voice.
Outside Shindai's Puppet Shop, next to Jiraiya's poster, Kakashi's poster had also been put up.
And... Kakashi's poster was exactly twice as large as Jiraiya's.
In the poster, Kakashi was hugging a sexy puppet. Although his face couldn't be seen clearly due to his mask, his eyes looked completely broken-spirited.
Although Kakashi had lost the bet, he hadn't willingly posed for these photos.
He had only agreed to take one solo photo but stubbornly refused to follow Shindai's instructions to pose.
However, Shindai didn't play fair, using [Iron Sand Binding Field] to paralyze him before forcing him into various poses for photographs, ultimately selecting this one.
"A bet is a bet—you must fulfill it even if you have to crawl. It would be quite unwise to go back on your word now, wouldn't it?~"
Shindai had already laughed enough, so now his laughter wasn't too excessive.
Kakashi's breathing became rapid, and then he turned and walked away.
Kakashi truly feared that if he stayed any longer, he might not be able to resist punching Shindai.
...
Time passed day by day.
Shindai, Pakura, and Hikaku Uchiha took turns training Hinata.
Hinata's talent in Gentle Fist wasn't particularly outstanding, but she did show considerable aptitude in Ninjutsu.
She had already mastered several [Fire Release Ninjutsu], and with Orochimaru providing some [Lightning Release Ninjutsu] through Shindai, Hinata was currently learning those as well.
Moreover, her coordination with Chakra Armor was improving steadily.
But the better the coordination, the more intense the training Shindai gave Hinata.
Now when wearing Chakra Armor, Hinata had to control it simultaneously using her own chakra.
In other words, Hinata had to manipulate the Chakra Armor without relying solely on the stored chakra in the capacitors—she also had to expend her own chakra for control.
As for missions, those kinds of tasks—like pulling weeds or finding lost cats—Shindai wouldn't even consider giving them to Hinata, deeming them pointless.
Under Shindai's guidance, Hinata's current primary focus remained on enhancing her strength.
At this moment, while Shindai was training Hinata, inside Danzo's residence,
within Danzo's private room, seated opposite him was Hizashi Hyuga.
Hizashi asked, "Lord Danzo, may I ask why you summoned me?"
"Hizashi, are things going well for you within the Hyuga clan?"
The sudden, vague concern from Danzo caused Hizashi's brows to tighten slightly.
Hizashi answered, "We are doing very well."
Danzo revealed a mocking smile. "I don't know whether you truly believe that or if you're just saying something you don't really mean. Perhaps you really do believe it, considering the Branch Family has always been at the bottom of the Hyuga clan. It can't get much worse from there."
Hizashi Hyuga looked at Danzo with confusion, not understanding what exactly Danzo wanted with him.
Danzo continued, "Neji is a rare genius—I believe he will become an outstanding ninja. However... wasn't Neji marked with the Caged Bird Cursed Seal by the Main Family when he was only four years old? [tsk], what a shame. Such a promising talent will be doomed by that cruel and malicious Caged Bird Cursed Seal."
Danzo sighed and shook his head, appearing deeply regretful.
Hizashi asked seriously, "Lord Danzo, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Danzo locked eyes with Hizashi as he spoke, "A child born into the Branch Family will always remain part of the Branch, and that child's children will also inevitably belong to the Branch down through generations—there is absolutely no freedom whatsoever.
Even though Neji is a genius, once marked with the Caged Bird seal, he will forever serve as nothing more than a tool for the Main Family, just like you—an eternal pawn living in darkness without hope of ever seeing the light again.
But Hizashi, tell me—are you really okay with this? You and Hiashi are biological brothers. You were simply born slightly later and therefore doomed to live as a member of the inferior Branch Family while the Main Family has looked down on you since birth, sitting high above."
Hizashi Hyuga's hands clenched tightly on his lap.
Was he okay with it? Of course not.
Once, during training sessions between Neji and Hinata, Neji clearly outclassed her. Deep inside, Hizashi felt a strong sense of injustice—why should his son be blessed with such extraordinary talent yet still be confined to the Branch Family?
His resentment was sensed by Hiashi Hyuga, which triggered the Caged Bird seal and caused him unbearable pain.
At that time, young Neji had witnessed every moment of Hizashi's torment caused by the Caged Bird seal.
In Neji's eyes, Hizashi saw fear and confusion.
From that day onward, Neji—who had always been optimistic and admired him—became quiet and withdrawn, losing the bright sparkle in his eyes completely.
Hizashi blamed himself deeply—he, as a father, could not protect his own child, allowing others to control his son and causing his own child to lose trust in him.
Danzo spoke earnestly to Hizashi, "Hizashi, nobody wants their life controlled by someone else or their freedom restricted—to be unable to protect those they wish to safeguard while being forced to protect those they have no desire to protect.
However, even if you remove the Caged Bird seal, true freedom remains out of reach for your family. For you, the real prison isn't the seal itself—it's Konoha.
Because removing the Caged Bird seal will inevitably lead to internal conflict within the Hyuga clan, and Minato Namikaze—the Fourth Hokage—will never tolerate such chaos. People naturally take sides—even if they are the Hokage."
Minato Namikaze has always maintained good relations with the Hyuga Main family. If things continue like this, you will once again be suppressed and marked with even crueler Cursed Seals, imprisoning you for life in a birdcage known as [Caged Bird].
If things keep going like this, whether it's you, your son, or other Branch family members, you'll remain trapped forever under the shadow of the Main family, never seeing the light of day.
Hizashi Hyuga's breathing grew slightly heavier. After a moment's silence, he took a deep breath to steady himself before asking, "Lord Danzo, what exactly is it that you want by calling me here and telling me all this?"
Danzo retrieved a scroll: "I have already found a way to break the [Caged Bird] Cursed Seal."
Hizashi's entire body trembled, his eyes fixated intently on the scroll in Danzo's hand.
However, Danzo quickly put it away again: "But I can't give this Scroll to you right now, because we are not yet comrades walking the same path. As I just said, removing the [Caged Bird] won't grant you freedom alone—you must also face opposition from the Main family and even the Hokage representing Konoha, Minato Namikaze."
"I'm no noble person. For me, if I invest something, I expect to receive equal returns in return."
After so much buildup, Danzo finally revealed his true intentions.
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