[Konoha Village]
[At the Entrance of the Hyuga Clan Grounds]
Hinata and Hanabi looked at the huge gate, both seeming a little absent-minded.
They had not come here for many years.
This used to be their home.
But now, it wasn't anymore.
Today, Rengoku told them that Neji had invited them over as guests.
That was why they had come.
Neji and Tenten were already standing at the gate.
Neji's clothes were not much different from before, but after getting married, he seemed more mature.
Tenten had also changed her old hairstyle. Her hair was pinned up, making her look more feminine.
"Hinata, Hanabi!"
The moment Neji saw them, he went up to greet them.
Back then, Neji deeply hated the main family and branch family system, but he cared very much about Hinata as his younger sister.
Since everyone from the main family here had died, Neji naturally cared for Hinata even more.
And because of that, he was also very friendly toward Hanabi.
Seeing Neji made Hinata feel much calmer. She took out the gift she and Hanabi had picked together.
"Congratulations, Brother. We wish you a happy marriage."
Tenten accepted the gift from the side, a faint flush on her face.
"Thank you."
Neji knew very well why Hinata and Hanabi had come back.
But he regarded them as family, "Come in first. We can have a meal together as a family."
For Neji, getting married, having his father revived, and seeing his sisters come home were all happy events. He was in a very good mood.
Hinata nodded and entered the Hyuga compound with Hanabi, a place they had not seen for a long time.
As they walked inside, they ran into quite a few other Hyuga clan members.
There were also some four- and five-year-old children running around in nearby courtyards.
They were all children born through the Legacy Plan. Their talents varied, but the Hyuga clan grounds had become much livelier.
Naturally, none of this new generation had the Caged Bird Seal.
The Caged Bird was like a shackle from the past. Once this group of children grew up, it would gradually fade into history.
The other Hyuga clan members only gave Hinata and Hanabi a few extra glances.
Back then, both girls had been very young.
Neither Hinata nor Hanabi knew the Caged Bird curse technique.
No branch family members had any conflict with them.
So even now, after seeing them return to the clan grounds, no one made things difficult for them.
As for whether anyone was wary of them, that was hard to say.
Although Neji was leading the way, he occasionally looked back at his two sisters.
Hinata sensed his concern and smiled, signaling that he didn't need to worry.
Hanabi looked around everywhere, trying to see if she could find the familiar person she had seen yesterday.
Before long, they arrived at the courtyard where Hiashi used to live.
It was also the home where Hinata and Hanabi had grown up.
"Hinata, Hanabi, go inside. Someone is waiting for you."
Seeing the way they were looking at the place, Neji reminded them.
Both sisters found it strange.
They no longer had any relatives here.
Who could be waiting for them?
Neji and Tenten soon led them inside.
Seated in the room were a man who looked very much like Neji and Hyuga Sota, whom Hanabi had seen yesterday.
Neji introduced them from the side.
"Hinata, Hanabi, this is my father, Hyuga Hizashi. He's also your uncle."
"Hinata, Hanabi."
Hizashi showed a gentle smile.
Shock filled both Hinata's and Hanabi's faces. For a moment, they could hardly process it.
Neji explained from the side,
"Lord Rengoku just revived Father."
Hizashi added, "You are both members of the Hyuga family. Sooner or later, you would learn about this."
"Even though you no longer live in the Hyuga clan grounds, this will always be your home."
Hanabi looked at Hyuga Sota beside him.
"You are Hyuga Sota? The one I saw yesterday was you."
Sota nodded, "It was me."
Hanabi looked at Sota, then at Hizashi.
Her expression became hard to read, but she was clearly in a bad mood.
Hinata finally understood.
She realized Neji had invited them here because of Hizashi.
She understood what Hizashi meant. Hinata bowed.
"Uncle, we've been living very well with the Uchiha these past years."
"We're used to life over there. Even though our surname is Hyuga, we won't be coming back here."
Hizashi sighed.
The grievances between the main family and branch family had still carried over to some extent.
Although Hinata held no hatred, she also had no desire to become involved with the current Hyuga clan members of the branch family.
"Sis... let's go..."
Hanabi tugged at Hinata's sleeve.
She didn't look well.
Hinata bowed to Hizashi, "Uncle, Hanabi doesn't want to stay here anymore. We'll take our leave first."
Hizashi gave a slight nod.
He had imagined many different scenes of meeting Hinata.
This was already one of the more friendly outcomes.
"Very well. Neji, see Hinata and Hanabi out."
Neji knew the sisters were not in a good mood.
This was not something he could really comment on.
So he simply left with Tenten and escorted them out.
Although they had come because of Neji's invitation, they had not stayed long.
———
Soon, they were back at the entrance.
"I'm sorry, Brother Neji. Tenten."
Hinata was still apologizing.
Neji shook his head, "Hinata, I will always be your brother."
Tenten knew something about the conflict between the Hyuga main family and branch family, but not the details.
So she had simply accompanied them the whole time.
Hinata managed a smile, "Thank you, Brother. We'll be leaving now."
"Be careful on the way."
Neji reminded them as he watched Hinata and Hanabi walk away.
"Neji, what's going on with Hinata and Hanabi?", Tenten asked curiously.
She could tell they were upset.
Neji looked around, then pulled Tenten into a corner and whispered in her ear, "The plan to overthrow the main family back then was carried out by Sota."
"He dragged Hyuga Hiashi down with him."
Tenten looked surprised, but Neji was not finished.
"Sota was Father's follower. And my father... well, he died because of the Hyuga main family and branch family system."
Tenten sorted through everything in her head and realized this was a revenge story that had lasted many years.
When Hizashi died, Tenten had been too young to know how he died.
But she had comforted the young Neji back then.
Now all the pieces had connected.
Neji did not want to say much about this matter. He only explained to Tenten, "The reason Father wanted them here today was to say that what happened in the previous generation should stay in the past."
"We're still one family with Hinata."
"But it looks like they'll need some time to get used to it."
Tenten nodded.
Things like this were indeed complicated.
Hatred was hatred.
Whether Hyuga Hiashi had brought it on himself was another matter.
But Hiashi was still Hinata and Hanabi's father.
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