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Hyūga Hizashi froze when Qianyu claimed Uzumaki Kushina had a way to remove the Caged Bird.
Qianyu picked up his teacup again, taking a small, deliberate sip. He made no move to interrupt Hizashi's stunned silence.
The Caged Bird seal had endured for so long without being broken; it undoubtedly had its unique, formidable aspects. Qianyu was certain someone, somewhere, had tried to remove it before. And failed.
So Hizashi's shock was expected.
What Qianyu didn't expect was what came next. After a long pause, Hizashi spoke, his voice low. "No. That can't be done."
Qianyu's brow furrowed slightly.
Uzumaki Kushina looked utterly baffled. "Why not?"
Kakashi stared at Hizashi, equally confused.
Just moments ago, every word from Hizashi had been steeped in bitterness—the bitter resignation of a father watching his son, Neji, be branded with that cursed seal, forever controlled by the Main Family.
Now, with a chance to break that seal dangled before him, logic dictated Hizashi should be overjoyed.
Qianyu watched him, waiting for an explanation.
Hizashi's expression was pained. "We of the Branch Family… we all resent the Caged Bird. But it is the law of the Hyūga clan. I am a Hyūga. I am the head of the Branch Family. I cannot break our laws. If Neji's seal were removed… it could cause turmoil within the clan. If that happened, both Neji and I… we would become traitors to the Hyūga."
Kushina and Kakashi still didn't get it. The reasoning made no sense.
Qianyu let out a short, humorless laugh. "Is it the clan's honor? Your sense of belonging?"
Hearing this, Hizashi thought Qianyu understood. "You see, Qianyu. You understand."
"I don't," Qianyu said flatly, his tone turning mocking. "On the contrary, I think you're a fool. An utter fool."
From everything he'd seen, Hizashi was traditional. Rigid. Rules were etched into his bones. And men like that had one fatal flaw: blind loyalty.
Not to a person. Just as Qianyu said—to the abstract idea of clan honor. To a sense of belonging that shackled him.
Hizashi was loyal to the idea of the Hyūga clan.
Men like him feared change. Even when the status quo crushed them, they'd fight to preserve it.
Hearing himself called a fool, Hizashi gaped at Qianyu.
Qianyu set his cup down on the table with a soft click. He met Hizashi's stunned gaze. "I respect your loyalty, Hizashi-sama. But to me, you seem stubborn. Short-sighted. Earlier, listening to you, I thought you hated your situation. That given a chance, you'd leap at it. But I was wrong. The chance is here, and you're running from it.
"You speak of your worries for Neji. How he'll live under the Main Family's thumb. No freedom. No choice. I'm offering him that choice. And you're refusing it for him.
"If you're so afraid of change, if you don't want Neji to seize his own fate, then why agree to me being his teacher? You know what I am. To many, I'm a rebel. Uncontrollable. Unbound.
"You want change, but you fear it. Is that it? You want me as a shield? Hoping that if the Main Family ever troubles Neji, his rebellious teacher will step in?"
Qianyu's voice turned icy. "If that's your plan, forget it. A teacher helps his student, yes. But if that student willingly accepts injustice? If he resigns himself to his fate? Then no. I won't lift a finger. I'd pretend I never had such a student."
Hizashi stared, his lips moving soundlessly. No words came out.
Kakashi's head was slightly bowed. Qianyu's words were harsh, but Kakashi agreed. Someone who surrenders doesn't deserve to be saved. If you've given up, you've given up.
A sudden cry broke the tense silence. In Kushina's arms, baby Hyūga Neji had begun to wail. Kushina hurried to soothe him.
Qianyu's expression was severe. "Don't blame me for speaking bluntly, Hizashi-sama. It seems to me you've all knelt before the Main Family for so long your spines have bent. You've developed the mentality of slaves.
"You resent the Main Family's oppression, but you lack the courage to fight back. You curse them for treating you like animals, yet you obey their every command like loyal dogs.
"Perhaps there's no need for me to take Neji as a student after all. It would be pointless. Raised by you, he'll become a second you. Dissatisfied with his lot, yet too cowardly to change it.
"I don't need a coward for a student. I'd be ashamed of it. You know my path, Hizashi-sama. If I had simply accepted my 'fate,' would I be where I am today?"
Hizashi's mouth snapped shut. He lowered his head, thoughts in chaos.
Neji's crying grated on him—a mix of frustration and deep, gnawing guilt.
Qianyu's words weren't just harsh now. They were a direct accusation. A finger pointed at his very soul.
And Hizashi had no rebuttal. Because it was all true.
He was dissatisfied. And he was too afraid to change.
And yes… his son Neji would likely walk the same pathetic path.
He thought of his own life since joining the Branch Family. Every day was suffocating.
Neji's mother… she gave birth during the war. The war with Kumo and Suna. She rested for barely a few days before being sent to the front lines. Because she was Branch Family. Branch Family members fought in place of the Main Family.
She died on that battlefield.
Back then, Hizashi's hatred for the Main Family had burned white-hot.
But that was all it was. Hatred.
He still served them. Because he didn't dare rebel.
He knew, deep down, that even without the Caged Bird burning on his forehead… he still wouldn't have the courage.
Qianyu sighed, the sound heavy. "Hizashi-sama, a person's life is short. Everything we do… it's to make that brief life mean something. Having faith is good. But only if that faith is worthy of your sacrifice. Think. Really think. What has your sacrifice ever gotten you?"
Hizashi's breathing hitched. His hands clenched into white-knuckled fists. His face contorted, twisted by a storm of emotion he could no longer contain.
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