"You two…" Their mother looked worriedly at the father and son sitting in silence at the table.
Hyuga Yuzuru gave a gentle smile. "Mom, don't worry. It's my fault."
"Hizashi, Yuzuru already admitted he was wrong!" she snapped, her eyes flicking to Hyuga Hizashi with light scolding.
Hizashi let out a cold snort while raising his rice bowl. "He didn't actually apologize."
"Yuzuru?" she turned to her son.
Still smiling, Yuzuru lifted his bowl. "Has Neji eaten yet?"
"You! Two! Honestly!" Even the most tender mothers have moments where they become fierce tigers at home. She huffed, setting down her chopsticks. "Hizashi, you're sleeping alone tonight."
"But I didn't even…" Hizashi looked completely exasperated.
Yuzuru put down his chopsticks as well. "Mom, I'm full. I won't bother you and Dad anymore tonight. Good night."
He made a swift escape.
Frowning, his mother muttered, "Don't argue with a child."
"You don't even know what that little brat is thinking," Hizashi grumbled stiffly. "Stop treating him like a kid."
"He's only four! If he's not a kid, then what is he? When you were four, you still wanted to bathe with me!" she shot back, eyes wide.
"That's different!" Hizashi retorted. Out of reflex, he activated his Byakugan to check—sure enough, the brat had already gotten far away.
"You… just don't ask." With a long sigh, he put down his bowl. His appetite was gone.
Realizing something was seriously off, his wife asked, "What's going on?"
"Don't ask," Hizashi repeated firmly.
She was quiet for a long time, then covered her mouth with her hand and coughed lightly. "Don't, cough, argue too much. Yuzuru is a good boy. Some things, as parents, we just can't stop."
"Even if it's wrong?" Hizashi frowned deeply.
"Yuzuru would never do anything wrong," she said, her voice resolute.
"He's just a four-year-old child!" Hizashi took a deep breath.
"Stop treating him like a little kid! He's so mature it hurts my heart! You're never home, you don't even know how much he's done for you! Everyone in the Branch Family knows what that child is capable of!" she snapped back.
Hizashi was dumbfounded.
What…?
In the end, he decided to stop arguing. He'd think about it on his own.
No point coming home from war just to end up sleeping on the floor.
In his own room, Hyuga Yuzuru's fingers shimmered faintly with blue light as they danced fluidly across sheets of paper, copying lines of poetry or prose.
Truthfully, calling it "copying" wasn't quite right. He had already memorized everything. This was more of a habitual, mechanical motion than anything else.
As his fingers glided, black characters flowed onto the page.
At the same time, the proficiency bar in his skill menu steadily advanced.
[Finger-Engraving Seal (C): Level 10 (3989/4000)]
Fortunately, even though leveling up skills became increasingly demanding, the growth wasn't exponential.
After more than a month of intensive training, this C-rank sealing technique had nearly worn calluses into his fingertips. But at long last, he had almost reached the threshold.
Luckily, the difficulty lay more in control than chakra. As long as he maintained steady output, he could grind the skill continuously.
After finishing the final sheet, Yuzuru neatly stacked the paper and tossed it into the trash.
[Finger-Engraving Seal (C): MAX – Breakthrough Available]
[Your C-rank sealing technique has reached max level.]
[You have gained 5000 free experience points.]
Breakthrough!
[Please designate a breakthrough path.]
This was Hyuga Yuzuru's first-ever skill breakthrough. Honestly, he had no idea what to expect.
So, he decided to try something simple.
I need a sealing technique that can release the Caged Bird Seal.
[Please specify a detailed breakthrough direction.]
Still not enough detail? The Caged Bird Seal should be specific enough…
Wait, maybe there are multiple ways to undo it. I need to be clearer.
"I need a sealing technique specifically designed to undo the Caged Bird Curse Seal. It should target only that seal—not others. Preferably low in chakra cost and low in rank."
Finally, the system responded.
[Current breakthrough paths available: 2]
1. Targeted Sealing Technique (B-Rank)
Allows rapid sealing of the Caged Bird, consuming large amounts of chakra to isolate it from other curse techniques, cutting off remote activation and sensory links. After layering multiple seals, the Caged Bird can be fully sealed off. However, the mark cannot be completely removed—regular reapplication is required.
(Cost: — points of free EXP)
2. Targeted Sealing Technique (B-Rank)
Gradually overlays a new seal onto the Caged Bird mark based on the user's strength. Over time, full coverage lifts the original seal, effectively removing it.
(Cost: — points of free EXP)
I want both.
Even if it bankrupts me.
[Only one can be chosen. You may break through again after reaching max proficiency, or use more EXP to break through consecutively.]
Still, from a cost-efficiency standpoint, saving up and going all-in is smarter than leveling up a B-rank technique just to break through again.
What if I go all the way in one step?
3. Targeted Sealing Technique (S-Rank)
Consumes large chakra reserves to rapidly break most curse seals—including the Caged Bird. However, due to its enhanced focus on curse dispelling, it's slightly weaker at breaking traditional seals.
(Cost: — points of free EXP)
How many zeroes…?
Yuzuru massaged his brow.
Two hundred thousand.
It's not… impossible.
At his current strength, if he targeted easy-to-master but otherwise useless ninjutsu or taijutsu—just like Finger-Engraving Seal—he could master a new one every month. As he grew stronger, the speed would increase even more.
So in a year, he could accumulate fifty to sixty thousand free EXP. At most, in four years or maybe even less, he could completely resolve a curse that had plagued the Branch Family for decades.
But…
He let out a sigh and made his decision.
[You have selected: Targeted Sealing Technique (B-Rank)]
[Breakthrough Successful. Please name your new sealing technique.]
He remained silent for a long time.
Then softly said, "Tori no Tobira." ("Bird's Flight")
[Sealing Technique – Bird's Flight (B): Level 1 (0/800)]
A flood of sealing knowledge surged into his mind. Yuzuru closed his eyes, processed the jutsu thoroughly, then chose to act immediately.
He took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and meditated to restore chakra. Then, opening his eyes, he slowly formed a hand seal, confirming each one was flawless—before pressing his palm against his forehead.
A flicker of blue light danced across his brow. A dark sealing pattern flashed, then vanished. The greenish hue of the Caged Bird Seal shimmered faintly before falling quiet again.
Yuzuru exhaled in relief.
Honestly, he'd wanted to test it on someone else—but the method was too specific. In the end, he had to take the risk himself.
He touched his forehead. It looked the same as always, but he could feel it—something was different. A white bird, faint and ethereal, was slowly taking form inside the seal.
That bird, nurtured by chakra, was like a patient hunter. From time to time, it would take a bite at the Caged Bird Seal—subtle, calculated, and gone before the seal could react.
Slowly, but steadily, it would consume it piece by piece.
When the white bird finally devoured the green one, the Caged Bird Seal would be nothing more than a symbol—an empty husk. At any moment, by lifting Bird's Flight, he could make it vanish entirely.
But at a cost—his chakra capacity had been reduced by thirty percent. Maybe, as his chakra grew, the percentage would lower, but for now… any sudden breakthroughs would be hard to come by.
He'd also need to be careful.
As the technique progressed, the seal on his forehead would visibly fade. Even if the process completed, as long as he didn't lift Bird's Flight, the mark would remain—but even so, he'd need to find ways to conceal its gradual fading.
At this pace—
"One year."
Hyuga Yuzuru made a calm assessment.
It was neither too fast nor too slow—just as he had planned.
He had to prove to his father, within one year, that he could undo the Caged Bird Seal.
Only then could they truly stand together, side by side.
Only then could they bring equality and fairness to the Hyuga clan.
Because one year from now… came the Nine-Tails' attack.
That was when the Uchiha would be forced into the spotlight. And once the spark was lit, the explosion would only be a matter of time.
But Yuzuru didn't want that explosion to come. Not yet.
If the Uchiha collapsed, the Hyuga clan—isolated and alone—would lose their carefully maintained neutrality and be pulled into Konoha's internal strife.
He had to act. But with his current status, he had no foothold to make a difference in the village's murky politics.
Hizashi, however, was different.
He had prestige, influence, and the power to sway even Hiashi's decisions.
Truth be told—
Yuzuru looked out the window, his expression composed.
In four years, with the fallout from the incident with the Hidden Cloud…
He wanted to shift his father's position—literally.
Move their home from this side of the Hyuga estate… to the other.
He wanted the cursed seals to rise like birds into the sky.
He wanted a thousand birds to soar, escorting him straight to the heavens.
He wanted to breathe new life into the stagnant, bloated heart of Konoha.
But that would come later.
First things first—he had taken his first step. And the second step was relatively simple.
"Get stronger."
Yuzuru's gaze sharpened as he looked into the distance.
A shinobi lives by strength. If he were as powerful as Hashirama Senju, there would be no need for schemes. The moment the seal was undone, he'd clap his hands, and the Third Hokage would fall to his knees. The Hyuga would instantly abolish the Caged Bird Seal. Madara would go back to brooding in the afterlife. Other hidden villages would offer up their Tailed Beasts and request a merger. True peace in the ninja world—done.
Fortunately, that level of power wasn't impossible for him.
Come to think of it, Itachi should be mostly recovered by now.
Logically, it's about time Shisui paid him a visit too, right?
Itachi had probably been badmouthing him to Shisui for ages.
Yuzuru smirked, took off his black-rimmed glasses, and climbed into bed.
Tomorrow… would be another day full of hope.
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Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!