The courtyard of the branch family head wasn’t bright, and the night air revealed a hint of chill.
Bang…
Bang…
Muffled sounds of hammering came from the courtyard.
A boy with fair skin, his forehead bound and covered by bandages, stood in the courtyard, continuously striking a wooden post with fluid fist techniques.
However, during the striking process, that absent-minded, youthful face gradually became twisted and savage, adding a hint of ferocity.
The usual peaceful look was gone, and the Gentle Fist in his hands gradually became ruthless and violent.
Every palm strike didn’t use chakra.
This self-mutilating striking method gradually made his fists bloody and mangled, and glaring bloodstains began to appear in the deeply indented marks on the surface of the wooden post.
Rather than practice, it was more like venting.
Even so, he showed absolutely no sign of stopping.
Only the scene of witnessing the Caged Bird for the first time a few days ago remained in Neji Hyuga’s mind.
Just like every day in the past few years, he went to spar with that main branch eldest daughter.
At that time, he had already been carved with that ugly curse mark, but he didn’t understand what it meant at all.
He naively thought it was what other clan members said, a “responsibility” symbolizing the branch family protecting the main branch.
Responsibility.
This word had no real substance to him.
In his view, as an older brother, protecting his younger sister was what he was supposed to do.
Even without this so-called “responsibility,” he had done so every single day in the past, caring for Hinata as his own sister.
Until that day, that moment.
Seeing with his own eyes his revered father clutching his head tightly, his body convulsing, wailing and screaming in agony on the ground like a dog.
He used to not understand why his father was unwilling to take off his forehead protector even at home.
Until that moment when the forehead protector fell from his father’s forehead, revealing the forehead carved with the curse mark.
The bulging veins looked like centipedes, and the ugly cyan curse mark seemed to be writhing.
And that so-called main branch head, the man he was supposed to call “Uncle,” just coldly watched him and his father, mercilessly activating the curse mark.
“Just this once.” Hiashi Hyuga’s Byakugan gleamed coldly in the dark room, saying indifferently, “Do not forget your mission.”
That was the first time Neji Hyuga saw the ugliness of the Caged Bird curse mark, the first time he understood what the curse mark truly meant to them.
That so-called curse mark could easily destroy their cranial nerves, which meant that the main branch holding the curse mark held the power of life and death over the branch family.
Once a branch family member had rebellious or overstepping thoughts, or failed to fulfill their duties and responsibilities, the main branch could use the curse mark to execute the branch family member.
And in everyone’s mouth, this curse mark, which was comparable to a curse, could only be shaken off by death.
Since then, the originally gentle Neji Hyuga became cold.
The look in his eyes towards Hinata was no longer an older brother’s doting, but an enemy-like disgust and hatred.
Creak!
Neji Hyuga gritted his teeth tightly and swung his fists and palms, his father’s persuasion seemingly echoing in his ears again.
“Neji, don’t resent the main branch.
The Caged Bird is not a curse, it’s just a protective measure.”
“I understand, Father.”
“Our Byakugan is coveted by enemies.
The main branch doing this is to protect the Byakugan from falling into enemy hands.
It’s for the future of the Hyuga family.”
“I understand, Father.”
“This is our mission as the branch family, and also our fate as the branch family.
One day, you will understand.”
“I understand, Father…”
Crack!!
Amidst the shrieking sound of tearing air, the wooden post finally succumbed to the heavy load and snapped in the middle, wood chips flying like snow.
Neji Hyuga staggered and knelt on the ground, looking down at his blood-dripping palms.
His long black hair covered his face as he whispered, “I understand, Father…”
But, I don’t understand.
Why can the main branch accept all this so righteously?
What right do the main branch members have to accept all this so righteously?!
Those guys who maim their own kin, what right do they have to sit on the backs of the branch family, accept everything righteously, and then euphemistically call the sacrifices of the branch family “fate”!
Click.
A faint sound came from the door, breaking the dead silence in the courtyard.
The hazy, dim yellow light behind him was turned on.
A figure gradually walked behind Neji, his broad shadow enveloping Neji’s figure.
“Neji…”
Looking at the child with his back to him, Hizashi Hyuga’s expression was incredibly complex.
Actually, after decades or even centuries of “inheritance,” most branch family children are instilled with the concept that “the branch family is born to protect the main branch” from a young age.
Almost no branch family member would rebel against the main branch anymore.
Rejoicing at the main branch’s praise, fearing the main branch’s anger, and becoming angry over the main branch’s sorrow.
Hizashi Hyuga was supposed to be like everyone else, implanting the master-servant concept into Neji from a young age, but ultimately he didn’t do so.
In the past three years, he might have regretted it, but whenever he saw the heartfelt, doting smile on Neji’s face when looking at Hinata, he felt glad he didn’t do that.
He didn’t want the relationship between Neji and Hinata to become like his and his brother’s.
He hoped that when the day came to be branded with the Caged Bird, Neji would genuinely feel that it didn’t matter, and would be able to treat Hinata like a brother as before.
In his view, with Hinata’s personality, she would never use the curse mark on Neji, and the two could still get along like they did when they were children.
However, Hizashi Hyuga also didn’t expect that the scene back then—his momentary impulse resulting in killing intent towards Hinata and everything that followed—would have such a huge impact and change on Neji…
“Father.”
Neji Hyuga stood up and hid his hands behind his back.
Hizashi Hyuga came back to his senses, gently rubbed Neji’s head, and forced a warm smile at the corners of his mouth: “Neji, you are already very proficient in the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms.
Wait a bit longer, and I’ll be able to teach you advanced Gentle Fist techniques.”
“Yes, Father.” Neji Hyuga’s expression was calm, without showing any joy.
Seeing Neji like this, Hizashi Hyuga couldn’t help but fall silent, sighing inwardly.
“Go treat your wounds.” He glanced at Neji’s palms hidden behind his back, “Don’t do this next time.”
“…” Neji Hyuga lowered his head, and only spoke after a moment, “Yes, Father.”
Watching Neji step into the house, Hizashi Hyuga stood in place, silent for a long time.
He hadn’t never tried to rebel against this so-called fate, but now he already understood that fate is not a person standing in front of you whose throat you can choke just because you want to.
Fate is flawless.
It can advance, it can retreat, and neither you nor I can escape it.
“I just hope that as Neji gradually grows up, he can eliminate the resentment in his heart.” Hizashi Hyuga muttered in a low voice, as if speaking to himself, “All the suffering experienced now will become treasures that make Neji stronger.”
As soon as he finished speaking, just as he was about to step away, a sneer drifted into his ears with the wind.
“Truly pathetic.” Someone was saying, “Unfortunate people always create people even more unfortunate than themselves.”
(END CHAPTER)