That deep green mark had already been etched into the depths of the soul; even death could not break its hold.
In the original Naruto series, it was said that the Caged Bird would only be released upon death, but that was just to comfort those in the branch houses.
Look at Hyuga Hizashi; even after being resurrected by Edo Tensei, he could not escape the shackles of the Caged Bird.
If they knew that even death couldn't free them from the Caged Bird, those branch houses might truly revolt.
As his analysis of the Caged Bird deepened, Aoki Yoru's brow gradually furrowed.
After a long time, he finally opened his eyes.
Looking at Neji's expectant face, Aoki Yoru sighed, "There's no way. The person who developed this Ninjutsu was not simple."
Aoki Yoru even suspected that this technique might even involve the Tenseigan.
After all, he couldn't imagine how Hyuga Hiashi and the others had the ability to use such a Ninjutsu; even Aoki Yoru wouldn't dare say he could use the Caged Bird formula if it were given to him.
This is a Ninjutsu involving the soul; how could there be no price to pay?
The Uzumaki Clan's soul-related technique is the forbidden jutsu Reaper Death Seal, and the caster loses their life because of it.
For the Hyuga Clan to be able to use it without limits is simply illogical.
'Is it related to the Six Paths Sage's younger brother, Otsutsuki Hamura? Does this formula somehow connect to him in the unseen realm?'
Hearing this, Neji showed a disappointed expression. "Even Senior has no way?"
Then, he tied his forehead protector back on, covering the Caged Bird.
He pulled back his disappointed expression, his face turning cold as if he had made a firm decision.
Aoki Yoru watched the change in his demeanor, knowing he might be planning to take a desperate risk.
But he wasn't optimistic; the Hyuga Main House didn't have the ability to undo the Caged Bird either.
In the original boruto era, under the push of Naruto, the strongest person in the Ninja World, the Hyuga Clan abolished the branch house system.
But it was only that they no longer engraved the Caged Bird formula on the heads of newborns.
Those who already had it engraved had no way of undoing it.
By then, Naruto was already a Six Paths Level powerhouse; he could save someone from injuries like Guy's, where his whole body was almost turned to ash, with just a simple touch.
Yet, he was still helpless against the Caged Bird; otherwise, with his personality, he would have helped them undo it long ago.
Seeing Neji's expression gradually turn grim, Aoki Yoru knew he couldn't let him step into such a pit.
So, he set up a Natural Energy barrier around them to block any potential eavesdropping by White Zetsu.
Although he was confident in his own sensing abilities, it was better to be cautious.
"Actually, it's not that there's no way."
Neji was stunned for a moment, then immediately showed a look of pleasant surprise.
Then, Aoki Yoru threw a handful of bait into the lake. "Do you know that the Sharingan can evolve?"
Neji nodded upon hearing this.
After Itachi Uchiha invaded Konoha, Guy explained to them that the Sharingan could evolve from the Three-Tomoe to the Mangekyo Sharingan.
He even used Kakashi-sensei's Sharingan as an example.
Could he be trying to say that the Byakugan can also evolve? But I've never heard of that!
Aoki Yoru continued, "The Mangekyo Sharingan can also evolve into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
Neji was taken aback. It can evolve even further?
As far as the Mangekyo Sharingan was concerned, the Byakugan was no match for it, let alone the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
How did the Hyuga Clan come to be ranked alongside the Uchiha Clan as the two great noble families of Konoha?
"And the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan can even evolve into the Rinnegan."
Neji's pupils constricted upon hearing this; not only could it evolve again, but he had also seen the name 'Rinnegan' in an ancient book.
These were the eyes of the legendary founder of Ninshu—the Six Paths Sage.
"How is that possible? Aren't the Six Paths Sage and the Rinnegan just legends?"
"Anything, given enough time, will become a legend."
Just then, the float bobbed, and Aoki Yoru pulled up his rod, hooking a fish about the length of a finger.
His face immediately darkened; after prepping the fishing spot for so long, he only caught such a tiny thing.
How could he face his title as a Fishing Grandmaster?
After throwing the small fish back into the river, Aoki Yoru turned to look at Neji, who was still in shock. "And the Byakugan can also evolve."
"However, unlike the Sharingan which evolves step-by-step from a single tomoe to the Rinnegan, the final evolution path of the Byakugan is a direct jump to the Tenseigan or the Jougan."
"And these two types of eyes are existences on the same level as the Six Paths Sage's Rinnegan."
After a pause, Aoki Yoru looked at Neji, whose breathing had grown heavy. "So, Neji, once you develop your Byakugan to awaken one of these two eyes, the Caged Bird will no longer be able to bind you."
At this moment, Neji was completely stunned; he hadn't expected that the Byakugan could evolve, and into eyes that could rival the Rinnegan at that.
Aoki Yoru paid him no more mind and continued fishing.
To be honest, he wasn't optimistic about Neji's chances of awakening them; one must have the dense bloodline and Chakra of the Ōtsutsuki Clan to even have a possibility.
The most distant relatives were the sons of the Six Paths Sage.
As for Boruto, he's just a bug in the system, so there's no point in discussing him.
Of course, transmigrators are an exception.
As long as one transmigrates into the Hyuga Clan, everyone gets a Tenseigan.
The reason Aoki Yoru said all this was to give him some hope and prevent him from stepping into that massive pit.
No matter how much he struggled, he wouldn't be able to break the Caged Bird in the short term.
It would only be possible once Aoki Yoru reached the Six Paths Level.
Moreover, as long as he survived the Fourth Shinobi World War and reached the boruto era, the branch house system would be abolished anyway.
By then, he would achieve a different kind of freedom; at the very least, he wouldn't be threatened by the Main House.
"Chirp chirp—"
A Messenger bird circled above Aoki Yoru, chirping incessantly.
Aoki Yoru's gaze sharpened; Tsunade wouldn't call for him unless it was necessary. Has something major happened?
There shouldn't be anything in the original story, and the Akatsuki Organization shouldn't have started their moves yet.
Then, Aoki Yoru vanished instantly from the spot, leaving the dazed Neji behind.
The Hokage Office.
When Aoki Yoru walked in, he found Kakashi, Yamato, Asuma, Might Guy, and Kurenai—all Jonin—present, along with Shikaku Nara, the Jonin Commander.
Aoki Yoru walked over leisurely and took a seat.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Tsunade said with a serious expression, "We've received orders from the Daimyo. An organization called the 'Evil God Cult' in the Land of Birds has occupied the entire country. Now, the Five Great Nations are all sending people to join forces and wipe it out."
"Huh? All Five Great Nations are moving at once?"
Aoki Yoru showed a surprised expression. Surely it's not that serious?
Although his clone, Yagami Light, was indeed developing the Evil God Cult in the Land of Birds—and quite successfully at that, having already occupied the entire country.
Since he was only causing trouble in the Land of Birds, Aoki Yoru hadn't bothered with him. How did he cause such a stir among the Daimyo of the Five Great Nations?
To the point where all Five Great Nations need to mobilize to wipe him out.
"Yeah, Lady Tsunade. The Land of Birds is just a small country; any one hidden village could wipe them out. Why is a joint effort by the Five Great Nations necessary?" Asuma also asked from the side.
Five Great Ninja Villages dealing with a single organization at the same time?
This is too exaggerated; nothing like this has happened in the Ninja World since the villages were founded.