Among Shimizu's old friends, there had once been someone from the branch family of the Hyuga Clan.
But the Caged Bird seal had always been that friend's deepest pain. Because of that, Shimizu had never pried too deeply into everything the seal truly represented.
Still, there were things he knew.
Within the Hyuga Clan, there could only ever be one main family heir in each generation.
If multiple children were born into the main family during the same generation, only one would be chosen as the true successor. The rest would all be relegated to the branch family.
In other words, for every generation, the main family had only a single legitimate inheritor.
Following that logic, even if the Hyuga Clan existed for a thousand years, there would still only ever be one true main family line—while the branch family would forever exist as its protectors.
To the Hyuga, this structure represented the most efficient protection system imaginable.
And judging by how things had actually played out over the past several decades…
It almost seemed like they were right.
Even the two founding clans of Konoha had failed to escape the fate of decline and broken inheritance.
Decades had passed.
The legendary Wood Release of Hashirama Senju—that overwhelming Deep Forest Emergence" technique that could summon a sea of towering forests.
The Water Release and Flying Thunder God of Tobirama Senju—disasters like an endless ocean, paired with speed that seemed almost divine.
The Mangekyō Sharingan of Madara Uchiha—peerless ocular powers that once shook the entire ninja world.
For one reason or another, these extraordinary techniques had long since disappeared from the shinobi world.
Their descendants had failed to inherit them.
But the Hyuga Clan was different.
Over decades of refinement, their Gentle Fist style had only grown more complete—and more powerful.
"The Caged Bird seal ensures that the Hyuga Clan always has a single orthodox successor," Kosuke explained. "That guarantees the continuity of their inheritance."
"All the experience and secret techniques of the previous generation can be passed down directly to the next."
"That's why Hyuga members can cross the threshold of becoming jonin far more easily. You should know this—when it comes to the number of jonin, the Hyuga Clan has always far surpassed every other noble clan in Konoha."
So Satomi becoming a jonin at fifteen… wasn't actually that extraordinary within the Hyuga Clan?
Even though branch family members had some of the power of the Byakugan restricted, what they received in return was the entire accumulated legacy of the Hyuga.
"After decades of accumulation," Kosuke continued, "Hyuga members are now spread throughout Konoha's economy, politics, and military."
As far as Shimizu knew, the ninja tools trading market in the Konohagakure was run by the Hyuga Clan.
A family that controlled the supply of military weapons for an entire village…
Their influence spoke for itself.
"The piece of cake is simply too big," Kosuke said flatly. "It's not something a single person can change."
"So trying to overturn the Caged Bird seal is the same as shaking the very foundation of the Hyuga Clan—"
Suddenly, Kosuke stopped mid-lecture.
He raised an eyebrow.
"What's with that expression?"
"I really don't have anything going on with Satomi… Sensei, you're overthinking things."
Apparently Kosuke still hadn't believed him earlier.
"Cough… cough… I was just playing the role of life mentor too, you know…"
But in the end, Kosuke's tone turned extremely serious.
"If the interests involved are big enough…"
"Even someone as strong as the White Fang—"
Shimizu's heart skipped a beat.
He should have realized it earlier.
How could mere rumors possibly bring down that man?
That was someone even the Sannin treated with caution.
"What happened to the White Fang?" Shimizu asked, doing his best to keep his voice steady.
Kosuke let out a quiet sigh.
"Some things… are better left unknown."
"…Sensei?"
"I swear, kid," Kosuke said, deliberately changing the subject, "do you think just because people are starting to call you Shunshin Shimizu, I'm supposed to come find you myself now?"
Shimizu didn't get upset. He understood very well that the death of the White Fang was a taboo topic. The seemingly united Konohagakure only looked like a solid block of iron because they all shared a common enemy.
"Sensei, please don't tease me… you taught me well."
Maruboshi Kosuke gave him a half-smile.
"I certainly didn't teach you Hard WhirlpoolWater Blade."
Shimizu's expression shifted. After hesitating for several seconds, he spoke with difficulty.
"Sensei… I had my reasons."
"Then tell me how you survived when you were supposed to be dead."
"…That…"
Shimizu fell silent.
"That's not something you can say either? Then how about this—tell me how Sawei actually died."
"Well—"
"Still can't say it?" Kosuke didn't seem surprised at all. "So if I hadn't come looking for you tonight, you were planning to just avoid me altogether?"
He paused before continuing.
"Then tell me what you can say."
"I discovered something," Shimizu said after a moment. "I'm actually a genius."
"Because I've already mastered Water Release, Lightning Release, and Earth Release."
"…"
"…"
After more than ten seconds of silence, Kosuke finally spoke.
"…Try saying something with actual substance."
"A lot has happened," Shimizu admitted. "So much that I don't even know where to begin."
"Start from the beginning."
"…Alright."
So Shimizu began recounting everything—from the reconnaissance mission in the Land of Rivers, to the stolen gold, all the way to the theft of the letter that eventually became the spark that ignited the war.
Piece by piece, he explained his conclusion: somewhere in the shadows, there had to be a hidden force deliberately stirring up conflict.
The most concrete evidence came from the strange white creature they encountered in the southwest of the Land of Fire—a being calling itself "Tobi," a White Zetsu. It was also the same mysterious figure who had attempted to assassinate Minato Namikaze twice.
"You've already reported all of this to the Hokage?" Kosuke asked.
"Minato already filed the report."
"You mentioned earlier that you had a separate confidential letter for the Hokage. What was that about?"
"It's about one of my former subordinates…"
Shimizu went on to explain the doubts he had about his old ANBU subordinate—Jonin Kurokawa Masakazu, whose codename was "Starfire."
He told Kosuke about the suspicions he had begun to harbor.
"You think he might be a spy from Sunagakure, or perhaps working for that mysterious faction?"
"I'm not certain," Shimizu admitted. "After all, it's only something that 'Tobi' claimed. I originally planned to report it only to the Hokage and Jiraiya."
"You handled it well," Kosuke nodded. "If your suspicions turn out to be correct, you absolutely can't alert the snake in the grass."
"But so much time has passed since then… I don't know how things are now."
"I'll keep an eye on it too," Kosuke said. "When we see Jiraiya, we can ask him directly."
"Thank you, Sensei."
"So, what about the other things?"
"…Other things?" Shimizu felt a headache coming on. He had thought that revealing so much already would satisfy his teacher's curiosity.
Apparently not.
"Shimizu, you're still hiding a lot from me."
For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
If it had been anyone else, he might have tried to invent some clever excuse.
But standing in front of him was his teacher—the man who had first opened the door to the world of ninjutsu for him.
A senior who genuinely cared about him.
Someone who would even stake his life to vouch for him in front of the Hokage.
Those kinds of lies…
He simply couldn't say them.
But the truth was far too…
"Forget it," Kosuke suddenly waved his hand, no longer pressing the matter.
"I know you've always pursued ultimate power," he said quietly. "Just remember one thing—don't lose yourself along that path."
"…Thank you, Sensei."
Kosuke studied him for a moment before nodding.
"Good. You still seem like the same Shimizu Uzuki I remember."
Shimizu lifted his head and smiled.
"I always will be."