A scream tore from the throat of a four-year-old boy, his lavender eyes wide with agony as he collapsed to his hands and knees on the cold wooden floor. Long hair spilled past his shoulders, clinging to his sweat-soaked face. The Cursed Seal on his forehead burned like fire, veins bulging across his brow as pain ripped through him.
Around him, Hyuga elders and a stern middle-aged man loomed, their white eyes cold and unyielding. At the hall's entrance, two men pinned a struggling figure, his father, Hizashi, whose desperate shouts echoed faintly. "Neji!"
Neji's tiny fists clenched, nails biting into his palms until blood dripped. His body trembled, every muscle taut as he gritted his teeth against the torment. Then, something shifted. His temples throbbed, veins pulsing near his eyes as a surge of chakra awakened his Byakugan for the first time.
'I'll break this damn seal,' he vowed silently, his 21st-century mind raging behind the child's pained face. 'Mark my words, I'll tear this clan apart.'
Everyone in the hall froze, their white eyes wide with shock as the four-year-old's Byakugan flared to life, veins pulsing around his lavender gaze. The elders exchanged uneasy glances, one muttering, "A side branch prodigy… what a waste."
Hiashi, the clan leader, stood at the hall's center, his stern face betraying a flicker of guilt. He watched Neji, his nephew, writhe under the Cursed Seal's torment, blood dripping from the boy's clenched fists onto the polished floor.
Neji's body gave out, collapsing with a soft thud, saliva pooling from his mouth. As his vision faded, a single thought burned in his mind: 'This seal won't chain me forever.'
The two men restraining Hizashi released him. He rushed forward, scooping his son into his arms, his face etched with anguish.
"Neji…" he whispered, teeth gritted, his glare cutting toward Hiashi. 'You could've stopped this, brother.'
Hiashi met his twin's eyes briefly, then looked away, a heavy sigh escaping him. 'I can't defy the clan, Hizashi. Not even for you.'
Cradling Neji, Hizashi stormed out of the hall, his footsteps echoing with unspoken rage.
Hizashi held his son with utmost care, guilt weighing heavy as he gazed at Neji's pale face.
"I'm sorry, Neji," he whispered.
Hizashi pressed his forehead gently against Neji's as he carried him back to their home. Other side branch members watched, their fists clenched, sharing the pain of their lord's suffering.
When Hizashi reached his house, he knocked softly. The door slid open, revealing Hyuga Hinoka, his wife, her lavender eyes widening at Neji's condition. The fresh Cursed Seal on her son's forehead sparked worry, anger, and fear in her gaze.
Hinoka hurried inside to prepare a futon for Neji. Hizashi, slipping off his sandals, followed and gently laid his son on the futon, covering him with a blanket. The two sat on the floor, watching their child as Hinoka's trembling hand caressed Neji's forehead.
"I'm sorry, my dear," Hizashi said, grasping her hand.
Hinoka met his gaze, placing her hand over his. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault," she said softly.
They sat in silence, their eyes fixed on Neji, bound by shared grief and the weight of the clan's cruelty.
---
Neji's eyes fluttered open, his consciousness clawing its way back from the haze of excruciating pain that had followed the application of the cursed seal on his forehead. Even after hours of sleep, exhaustion clung to him like a heavy shroud.
"That hurt like hell," he muttered, the memory of the searing agony still vivid.
Staring at the ceiling, Neji's mind churned with frustration. 'I couldn't stop it. He sighed heavily. I've tried everything to prevent this every strategy, every desperate idea. I even considered blinding myself to escape the seal's control.'
'But that wouldn't work. As Hiashi's nephew, the elders would likely see such an act as defiance. They'd probably castrate me or have me killed quietly. It's far easier for them.' The cursed seal was more than a mark, it was a chain, binding him to the Hyuga clan's will, stifling any chance of rebellion or freedom.
Neji's thoughts shifted to the one silver lining from the ceremony: he had awakened his Byakugan. 'If I can prove my talent, maybe they'll assign me to guard Hinata. It's a better position than most.' His father's inevitable death loomed in his mind, a grim certainty he couldn't outrun. 'If I'm near Hinata, I could learn from her father, gain influence… but there's no way to save him.' The weight of that truth made his chest tighten.
Another thought crept in, sharp and pragmatic. 'The seal means I'll never be allowed to learn sealing jutsu, they're too paranoid I'd find a way to break it.' He clenched his jaw. 'Science might be my best option. The Hyuga body has its limits, but knowledge doesn't.' Still, he couldn't afford to focus solely on one path. 'I need to explore everything useful, every skill, every opportunity.'
Neji lay there, stress gnawing at him as he grappled with the reality of his situation. The seal wasn't just on his forehead, it was a constant reminder of the cage he was born into.
The Next Morning,
Neji was already up, training in the courtyard of the Hyuga household. The regimen he followed was one he'd devised himself, adapted from training methods of his original world, structured sets and progressive overload. This approach minimized risk and proved far more efficient than mindlessly pushing himself to extremes.
Hizashi and Hinoka watched from a distance, a pang of guilt tightening their chests. They knew their son was a prodigy. Neji had always been exceptional, picking up skills faster than other children his age. He'd learned to speak and walk earlier than most, and his aptitude for languages was uncanny.
"Our son is so hardworking, so full of talent," Hinoka murmured, her voice soft with pride and sorrow.
Hizashi nodded, his expression somber in agreement.
They observed as Neji abruptly paused his training, standing still with his eyes closed.
A moment later, his Byakugan activated, veins bulging around his temples as his vision pierced the world around him. He began a new set of exercises, testing the limits of his newly awakened dojutsu.
Hizashi and Hinoka exchanged a glance, astonished. Neji had only just unlocked his Byakugan, yet he wielded it with startling control, activating it on command.
"If I were clan head, our son wouldn't have to endure this," Hizashi said quietly, his voice heavy with regret.
Hinoka gently placed her hand over his, their fingers intertwining in silent support as they watched their son.
Neji deactivated his Byakugan, wincing as a dull ache pulsed behind his eyes. 'The strain is intense,' he thought, gazing up at the sky. 'I might try something drastic like the Super Saiyan method later, but not now. I need to build endurance slowly to avoid injury.'
Hizashi approached, his footsteps soft on the grass. "How was your first time using the Byakugan?"
"Annoying," Neji replied bluntly. "I'll need to rest my eyes after this."
Hizashi gave a small nod. "Since you've finished your training, let's have our usual spar. You can use your Byakugan if you want."
"No," Neji said firmly. "I've strained it enough already, and I don't want to rely on it too much."
A faint smile crossed Hizashi's face, a flicker of pride in his son's discipline.
From the edge of the courtyard, Hinoka called out, "When you two are done, don't forget to eat the breakfast I made!"
"Okay!" Neji shouted back, his voice carrying across the yard.
Neji assumed his fighting stance, palms open and body poised, his sharp eyes locked on Hizashi. Across from him, Hizashi stood relaxed, a faint smile playing on his lips, his posture unchanged but radiating quiet confidence.
Neji surged forward, launching a swift kick toward Hizashi. The movement was precise, but something was off, his second toe overlapped his first, a subtle deviation from standard form. Hizashi, unfazed, deflected the kick with a flick of his left wrist. In a fluid motion, he countered with a right palm strike, only for Neji to meet it with his own right palm.
The clash of their hands echoed with a sharp slap through the courtyard.
Both pulled back, palms stinging, and immediately engaged again. Their strikes became a blur, each of Neji's palm thrusts met by Hizashi's effortless parries. The two moved in near-perfect sync, neither gaining ground, their attacks locked in a stalemate of skill and precision.
Neji's breaths grew heavier, fatigue creeping in. In the split second he blinked, Hizashi struck, his index and middle fingers jabbing sharply into Neji's chest. The blow disrupted Neji's breathing, his lungs seizing as he clutched his chest, gasping for air.
Hizashi's smile vanished, concern flashing across his face. But before he could speak, Neji retaliated, driving a palm strike into Hizashi's stomach. The hit lacked chakra and barely fazed him, but the surprise of it caught Hizashi off guard. Neji's lips curled into a mischievous grin.
"That hurt, Tou-san," Neji said, massaging his chest. "You knocked the wind out of my lungs."
"Sorry," Hizashi replied, his tone softening. "Do you want to stop?"
"Of course not," Neji said firmly, his eyes glinting with determination. "I need to learn everything I can from you, Tou-san."
They dropped back into their fighting stances, the air between them crackling with renewed intensity as their sparring resumed.
A few hours later,
Neji and Hizashi sat at the dinner table, digging into the meal Hinoka had prepared. Neji shoveled food into his mouth with unusual haste, his chopsticks a blur.
"Why are you eating so fast?" Hizashi asked, raising an eyebrow. "Planning to go somewhere?"
"I'm heading to the library," Neji replied, pausing mid-bite, confusion flickering in his eyes. "Is that a problem? You usually let me go."
Hizashi's gaze softened, though a pang of surprise struck him. The cursed seal on Neji's forehead, a fresh mark of the Hyuga clan's control seemed to weigh nothing on his son's spirit. 'His resolve is stronger than mine ever was,' Hizashi thought, a faint smile touching his lips. He chose not to mention the seal. "It's nothing. Just be careful, okay?"
"Got it," Neji said, returning to his meal.
Once finished, Neji washed his plate and slipped on his sandals. "Bye, Tou-san!" he called out, his voice echoing through the house.
"Bye," Hizashi replied from another room, his tone warm but tinged with concern.
Neji stepped out into the Hyuga compound, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
He greeted everyone he passed with a slight bow, his demeanor polite yet confident. The main branch members barely acknowledged him, accustomed to his courteous routine. But the branch members' eyes lingered, their expressions heavy with pity. They'd heard of Neji's prodigy status unlocking his Byakugan far earlier than most, a talent surpassing even the main branch's heirs. Yet the cursed seal marked his fate.
As Neji reached the compound's gate, a guard called out, "Where are you headed, Neji-sama?"
"The library, as usual," Neji answered, his tone casual.
"Have fun," the second guard said with a nod.
"You guys too," Neji replied, slipping his hands into his pockets as he walked off.
The first guard sighed, watching him go. "It's a shame he was born in the branch family."
"Poor child," the second guard murmured.
Neji strolled through Konoha's bustling streets, his head held high despite the whispers and averted glances. The cursed seal on his forehead drew attention, but the villagers quickly looked away, aware of the Hyuga's harsh treatment of their branch members. Neji ignored the gossip, his focus unwavering.
At the library, he stepped inside and greeted the receptionist, a black-haired Nara woman named Shizuka. "Good morning, Nee-san."
"Good… morning, Neji-kun," Shizuka replied, her voice catching as she noticed the seal. She shook her head, composing herself. "Do you need any help?"
"Any new books?" Neji asked, his eyes scanning the shelves.
"We got some new children's books, but I know those aren't your thing," Shizuka said with a small smile.
Neji shrugged. "That's fine. I'll just reread the chakra theory book."
Shizuka's expression softened with regret. "I'm sorry, Neji-kun. You're still young and not a shinobi yet, so some sections are off-limits."
"It's okay, Nee-san. Thanks, as always," Neji said, unfazed. He walked to the familiar shelf, pulled out the well-worn book on chakra theory, and settled in to read, his mind already dissecting its contents with a precision beyond his years.