"I won't allow you to carve that ugly Caged Bird Seal onto Hanabi's forehead!"
Hinata's shout made the branch family guards instinctively take half a step back. They hesitated and glanced at the clan elders—this was a conflict within the main family, and technically none of their business.
The elders, however, didn't take Hinata's outburst seriously. They simply continued signaling the branch family guards to move forward.
The guards didn't dare act rashly. Instead, they looked toward Hiashi Hyūga in the distance. They were more concerned about the patriarch's stance—they couldn't afford to offend the respected elders, but they also couldn't offend the powerful and authoritative clan head.
Seizing the moment of hesitation, Hinata grabbed Hanabi and dashed toward the exit of the dojo.
It didn't take long for the branch ninjas to react. They quickly caught up and blocked their only escape route from both sides.
Hinata set Hanabi down and glanced at the branch family jōnin in front of her.
This uncle from the branch family was a true ninja.
No matter how strong she had become, there was still a gap between her and a seasoned jōnin. But since she had already chosen to resist, there was no turning back—and she refused to remain the coward she used to be.
Taking a Gentle Fist stance, Hinata rushed forward. Her Byakugan activated instantly, and the Eight Trigrams field spread out around her.
The branch family jōnin showed a helpless expression. Although Lady Hinata was talented, she was still far below him as a jōnin, and her posture was full of openings.
The tricky part… was subduing her without hurting her.
Activating his own Byakugan, the branch jōnin stepped forward—and then froze in surprise.
Hinata's strength wasn't weaker than his at all. Her techniques were just slightly immature.
Could it be that the eldest young lady had been hiding her strength earlier? This was already at least chūnin level.
At this moment, the clan elders and Hiashi also arrived. They didn't intervene, clearly wanting to see just how much power Hinata had been hiding beneath her fragile exterior.
Seizing an opening, the branch jōnin struck with an Empty Palm. As Hinata raised her arms to defend, he instantly moved behind her, preparing to subdue her in one motion.
"Eight Trigrams Palm: Rotation!"
With a soft shout, Hinata spun like a top. The spiraling chakra repelled the sneak attack, sending the branch jōnin flying back over ten meters.
"Rotation?! Hinata has mastered Rotation?!"
Neji stared in shock. He never expected his cousin to have learned such a high-level secret technique. Even among the clan's secret arts, Rotation was one of the most difficult.
And that wasn't all.
After executing Rotation, Hinata instantly closed the distance again and pressed something against the branch jōnin's neck.
Hiashi and the elders, watching through their Byakugan, saw clearly that what touched his neck wasn't a kunai…
—but a sharp bone spike.
As senior members of the Hyūga clan, they immediately recognized it.
This was an ability unique to the Kaguya clan—a rare and terrifying kekkei genkai known as the Shikotsumyaku.
Although the Kaguya clan was distantly related to the Hyūga from centuries ago, seeing both the Byakugan and the Shikotsumyaku in one person was still shocking.
Hiashi and the elders exchanged glances.
In their eyes, a flame called ambition had begun to burn.
Hinata, the one causing all of this, remained completely unaware. Ignoring the small cut on her neck, she said coldly:
"You've already lost. I don't want to kill you, so back off… now."
The branch jōnin nodded quickly and retreated. Only after pulling away did he notice the bone spike extending from Hinata's arm—and his expression turned to shock.
Feeling his gaze, Hinata looked down at her own hand in confusion.
When she saw the sharp bone spike, her eyes filled with disbelief.
She then glanced at the diamond-shaped mark beneath her neck and fell into deep thought.
When did I gain this ability? Could it be because the pendant disappeared?
But that pendant had been given to her by Naruto… it carried his scent. Naruto would never harm her.
So it should be fine.
Deciding not to overthink it, Hinata pushed the matter aside.
Just as she was about to escape the Hyūga clan with Hanabi, Hiashi and the clan elder stepped forward, blocking their path.
"Hinata, stop this nonsense. Have you forgotten everything you've been taught?"
Normally, Hinata might have backed down.
But this time, she chose to be stubborn.
Imitating Naruto's tone, she said, "Father, Elder… are you going to listen to me for once?"
The elder replied expressionlessly:
"Hinata, as long as you are willing to become the clan heir, I can agree to any condition—except one. Hanabi must receive the Caged Bird Seal."
…Can you bring Naruto back?
Hinata glanced at the elder, then said with clear dissatisfaction:
"If Grandfather insists so much, then I won't violate the rules of the Caged Bird. How about this—everyone in the clan except Father and me gets the seal instead?"
The elder froze, his expression turning dark.
Hinata was suggesting that he himself become part of the branch family.
Seeing his changing expression, Hinata knew her strategy had worked. She remembered a joke Naruto once made—make an even more outrageous demand to force acceptance of your real one.
"Why did you go silent, Grandfather? Didn't you say you'd agree to my conditions?"
As she spoke, Hinata revealed a rare, slightly wicked smile.
The elder's face turned livid.
Yet, for some reason, that smile made him uneasy.
How had this normally obedient, timid girl become so… strange?
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have cared about her defiance.
But Hinata now possessed both the Byakugan and the Shikotsumyaku. The combination wasn't as simple as one plus one—it could redefine the future of the Hyūga clan.
If they wanted to restore the clan's former glory, they couldn't afford to lose her.
With that thought, the elder snorted coldly and turned to Hiashi.
"Hiashi Hyūga, discipline your daughter. I won't interfere in the selection of the heir—but the Caged Bird Seal is the foundation of the Hyūga clan."
"Without it, we would have already followed the same path as the Senju and Uchiha. Don't forget—those people still exist in the ninja world."
After saying that, the elder turned and left.
Hiashi let out a long breath of relief and looked at his two daughters.
Hanabi, who had narrowly avoided disaster, walked up to Hinata. Looking at the bone spike in her hand, she asked softly:
"Big sister… why did you go against Grandfather for me? If they remove your position as heir, you'll become part of the branch family like me…"
Hinata glanced at Hanabi and gently patted her head.
"I don't want you to be branded with the Caged Bird Seal… and I don't want to disappoint him again."
She paused, then added quietly:
"I want to control my own fate too."
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