Three years ago, a major incident occurred in Konoha.
The Uchiha clan, numbering in the hundreds, was massacred. All members disappeared overnight, leaving behind only a single survivor—Uchiha Sasuke. The culprit was labeled an S-rank rogue ninja: Uchiha Itachi.
And from that same day onward, Naruto—the "fox" who had once been active in the village—also vanished without a trace.
The incident sparked heated discussions among Konoha's villagers, but the buzz died down after a few weeks. No one really cared about Naruto's life or death; they were far more interested in the Uchiha massacre.
According to the official statement, Naruto had been attacked by the Uchiha prior to the incident.
For his safety, it was deemed unsuitable for him to continue studying at the Ninja Academy. He was taken into ANBU for training instead, receiving stricter ninja education and becoming part of the elite.
This explanation might fool chūnin and genin, but it couldn't fool elite jōnin like Hiashi Hyūga.
According to information from the black market, the Uchiha had not been exterminated at all. Instead, they had led their clan overseas to the Land of Whirlpool, where they established Uzushio Village—and their leader just happened to be a member of the Uzumaki clan…
Naruto's disappearance had to be related to the leader of Uzushio Village. Perhaps he had even been taken in by some old monster from the Uzumaki clan.
The Hyūga clan had once had such a "monster" as well—but he had been dead for over a decade. If that man were still alive, his younger brother, Hizashi Hyūga, wouldn't have died like that, and he himself would have had far more authority.
In the end, the Will of Fire was nothing but a lie. Everything still depended on the strength of top-tier combat power within the clan.
While Hiashi Hyūga was lost in thought, the battle between Hinata and Neji continued. Their Gentle Fist had already escalated from basic forms to the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms, and the two were locked in a fierce stalemate.
Seeing this, Hiashi felt both joy and worry.
Hinata being able to match Neji already meant she was considered a genius within the clan. He wouldn't need to worry about her future—but it also meant he could no longer use her weakness as an excuse to delay choosing the next heir.
Soon, what Hiashi feared most came to pass.
After observing the battle, an elder of the main family raised his hand to stop the fight. He then walked to Hiashi's side and said in a tone that left no room for argument:
"Patriarch, Hinata's strength has already surpassed that of the so-called genius, Neji. It's time to confirm her identity as the clan's heir."
"It's still too early to decide the heir. Let's wait until Hinata and Hanabi come of age. I intend to remain clan head for another twenty years."
The elder looked at Hiashi calmly.
"Hiashi, sooner or later the main family must choose an heir. Delaying won't change the fate that one will become the main family and the other the branch family. Make your decision."
Before he even finished speaking, the other elders all turned their gazes toward Hiashi.
It was true that Hiashi was the clan head—but above the clan head stood the rules of the Caged Bird Seal. Even the patriarch was not allowed to challenge the laws passed down through generations.
Hearing this, Hiashi let out a soft sigh and looked helplessly at his younger daughter, Hanabi.
In the end, he still couldn't protect his own child.
Even as the head of the Hyūga clan, he couldn't change the system. His attempt to delay things had been nothing more than wishful thinking.
Back then, his own father must have felt the same—ultimately giving up on his younger brother and allowing him to inherit the position of clan head.
The conversation between Hiashi and the elders reached the ears of Hinata, Neji, and Hanabi.
Although Hanabi knew about the Caged Bird Seal, confusion appeared in her eyes—she still didn't fully understand its cruelty.
Neji, on the other hand, remained calm. He had long since accepted his fate as a branch family member, ignoring everything happening before him.
The Caged Bird existed to protect the main family.
And the branch family existed to protect the clan—even at the cost of their lives.
This was their inescapable duty, decided from the moment they were born.
The only consolation was that even descendants of the main family could one day become part of the branch family.
Hinata's expression darkened. She regretted revealing her strength. She had known the consequences—and yet Hanabi would now be marked with that ugly Caged Bird Seal.
What should she do… to stop Hanabi from being branded?
Hinata felt completely lost.
She didn't have the courage to oppose her father and the elders. She wasn't strong enough to stand against them, nor could she overturn a system that had existed for thousands of years.
At that moment, the elder glanced at Hanabi and said calmly:
"Go prepare for the Caged Bird ceremony. There has been enough delay in confirming the heir. It's time to finalize the decision."
Hearing this, Hanabi finally sensed something was wrong. She instinctively stepped back.
Hiashi frowned. Hanabi would eventually bear the Caged Bird Seal—but for the clan elder to push things this far, even disregarding him as patriarch…
Just as Hiashi was about to reprimand the elder, Hinata suddenly took a deep breath, stepped forward, and shouted:
"Father, Grandfather—I voluntarily give up my position as the clan heir and let Hanabi become the heir!"
After saying it in one breath, her face flushed red with emotion.
Giving up her status and allowing Hanabi to inherit—it was the only way she could think of to save her sister from the Caged Bird Seal.
Hinata's declaration stunned both Hanabi and Neji. Neither had expected her to give up the position so easily.
Even the elders were surprised, but the clan elder simply shook his head.
"The position of heir is not a child's game. It is not something you can abandon just because you wish to."
"Hinata, I appreciate your intentions—but I will not agree."
After speaking, the elder gestured to several guards, who began walking toward Hanabi.
He wasn't worried whether Hinata would harbor resentment after becoming clan head—people's thoughts could change over time.
Watching the branch family guards approach, Hinata felt powerless.
She had already done everything she could without outright rebelling against the clan—but neither her father nor the elder would listen.
All of this… was because of her cowardice.
Because she was timid, she had been bullied as a child and never dared to tell her father, afraid of seeing disappointment in his eyes. She could only avoid her problems.
When she was lost in the snow, it was Naruto who reached out and saved her.
When she was bullied, it was Naruto who chased those kids away.
Even later, though she trained hard, her timid nature never truly changed.
She had always known Naruto was hiding something—but she never had the courage to ask, nor the courage to follow him.
Now, she was already grown up—and still didn't have the courage to stand up against the clan to protect her younger sister.
Perhaps… that was why Naruto chose to leave her.
As memories of Naruto flashed through her mind, Hinata suddenly turned and stepped forward, placing herself in front of Hanabi.
A firm expression appeared on her once timid face as she said in an unquestionable tone:
"I will not allow you to carve that ugly Caged Bird Seal onto Hanabi's forehead."
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