According to the usual color grading, above most blue tiers there is typically a purple tier.
Kiyoshi wasn't sure whether the next level of entries would be purple, but their effects would definitely be far better than what he had now!
Knock knock.
"Is Kiyoshi home?"
A faint knocking sound came, accompanied by a familiar voice.
"Coming."
Kiyoshi set down the white snake and went to open the door.
It was Hinata Natsu.
He had just obtained a blue entry, and now another opportunity to increase his ocular power had appeared.
Life was truly becoming more and more promising.
The door slid open, and standing outside was indeed Hinata Natsu. She carried a basket in her hand, her black maid outfit fluttering slightly in the breeze.
The moment she saw Kiyoshi, her shoulders visibly relaxed, as if a heavy weight in her heart had finally been lifted.
"That expression isn't quite like last time."
Kiyoshi leaned against the doorframe, the corner of his lips lifting slightly, his tone carrying a teasing playfulness. "Happy to see me?"
Hinata Natsu pressed her lips together and said:
"Lady Yinhua sent me."
She didn't pay attention to Kiyoshi's teasing. She only wanted to complete Hinata Yinhua's task—setting a time for Kiyoshi to meet her.
Kiyoshi stepped aside to make room and walked ahead. Hinata Natsu entered the courtyard with the basket, turned to close the door, and quickly followed.
It was her first time visiting Kiyoshi's home; she found it somewhat worn-down.
But soon, her attention was drawn to a white snake coiled on the table.
The snake was small and delicate, its scales smooth, lazily curling and flicking its tongue.
Kiyoshi sat at the low table as the white snake slowly wrapped around his hand.
There was only one stool, so Hinata Natsu could only kneel in front of him.
She lowered her head and took out the pastries she had bought outside.
"These are an apology from Lady Yinhua, and she asked me to arrange a time for her to meet you."
Kiyoshi lowered his head, stroking the snake's head as he said:
"Why didn't she come herself?"
"Afraid the timing wouldn't match, perhaps."
Hinata Natsu placed the box of pastries on the low table.
It was indeed possible to miss each other—she herself had already missed Kiyoshi several times.
She didn't dare imagine what expression Hinata Yinhua would have if she came several times only to find him absent.
"Tch, so little sincerity?"
Kiyoshi let out a light laugh and looked up at her. Those eyes made Hinata Natsu feel an inexplicable pressure.
"If she doesn't want to come, then don't."
"Kiyoshi, it's not like that, it's—"
Before she could explain, Kiyoshi interrupted:
"My time is limited. I don't have time to deal with a prejudiced Hyuga clan. If there's anything, speak to our clan head."
Kiyoshi shook his head.
Hinata Natsu's expression turned bitter, her heart filled with worry.
She knew clearly that if she failed to deliver a definite answer this time, what awaited her would be more than just reprimand.
She had personally seen members of the branch family suffer under the Caged Bird Seal—the pain was unbearable.
Thinking that such punishment might fall upon her sent chills down her spine.
"Kiyoshi-kun, what would it take for you to agree?"
"Shouldn't you be asking your main family lady that?"
Kiyoshi looked at Hinata Natsu, whose eyes seemed close to welling up, and couldn't help but smile.
The Hyuga clan had taken feudal control to the extreme.
Aside from the main lineage, there were many other branches—for example, Hyuga Xiao's line.
But among the main family's children, only the eldest son could inherit the main branch. Any second son would be marked with the Caged Bird Seal.
Just like Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi—the twin brothers. Because Hizashi was born a little later, he became the younger brother.
Thus, he was branded with the seal and became part of the branch family.
As for other branch members, regardless of birth order, their fate was the same.
Yet even such a strict and hierarchical clan still practiced double standards.
Hinata Hinata and Hanabi—who among them received the seal?
Making someone a branch member just because they were born minutes later, and even dying as a "substitute"—Hizashi's life was nothing but a joke.
Hinata Natsu lowered her head, biting her lip as she waited for Kiyoshi's response.
But Kiyoshi did not answer immediately. He merely looked at her calmly, that faint smile still on his lips.
"You're afraid she'll punish you, aren't you?" he suddenly asked.
"…No."
Hinata Natsu hurriedly denied it.
The Hyuga clan rules were strict. If someone from the main family heard her speaking out of turn, she would be labeled disobedient.
"You know, snakes shed their skin from time to time, discarding the old and becoming stronger."
Kiyoshi said.
Hinata Natsu frowned slightly, not understanding why he suddenly brought that up.
Kiyoshi lifted his head, his gaze locking onto hers:
"Is it really impossible for the branch family to change their fate?"
In truth, there were ways to remove the seal—for example, destroying it along with the brain and eyes, then reviving afterward.
Hinata Natsu's breathing faltered.
This was a topic that must never be discussed!
Seeing her expression change, Kiyoshi did not continue.
He picked up his tea with his other hand and took a sip before saying:
"Forget it. As for Hinata Yinhua, you can also pay a small price to regain my tolerance."
Kiyoshi stroked the white snake's smooth scales.
"What… what price?"
Hinata Natsu looked into his dark eyes, her unease growing stronger.
Last time, Kiyoshi had forced her to reveal the Caged Bird Seal—an unbearable humiliation.
What would he do this time?
"Don't be nervous."
Kiyoshi began to examine her outfit.
A conservative robe with a white apron over it, resembling a maid uniform.
Though modest, it couldn't completely conceal her figure.
The waist-tied apron accentuated her curves. Despite her restrained posture, the youthful vitality of her body still showed.
Feeling his invasive gaze, Hinata Natsu's heartbeat quickened. She unconsciously tensed, her fingers curling slightly, gathering her skirt over her knees.
Her palms grew damp with cold sweat, the sticky sensation making her even more uneasy, yet she had nowhere to escape.
If she refused, what would await her?
Once that thought appeared, it lingered like a nightmare.
She couldn't resist—or rather, she didn't dare to think of resisting.
This might be her last chance to negotiate with Kiyoshi.
After returning, Hinata Yinhua wouldn't care whose fault it was—she would only see it as incompetence.
"O-Okay… Kiyoshi-kun. As long as it's something I can do, I'll do it."
The moment she said it, regret surfaced.
No one knew what Kiyoshi would ask.
But since she said "something I can do," anything impossible wouldn't count.
Yet Kiyoshi's next words still made her face turn pale.
"Don't you feel a bit hot?"
His gaze shifted to Hinata Natsu, who was kneeling on the tatami.
In her kneeling posture, her knees were together, calves tucked back, the tops of her feet resting against the wooden floor.
The white apron covered her legs completely, but the soft fabric still clung slightly, outlining her slender calves.
Her pale ankles were faintly visible, clad in white socks.
"Is that so…"
Her voice already carried a trace of tears.
She understood exactly what he meant.
Ninjas were trained to read intent—including the meaning behind a gaze.
But compared to Hinata Yinhua's punishment, this was nothing.
After a brief inner struggle, Hinata Natsu finally closed her eyes and sighed.
Then slowly, she changed her sitting posture.
...
There were many kinds of scenery in Konoha.
This wasn't the first time Kiyoshi had seen such a sight.
Even though he had already seen Samui before, seeing Hinata Natsu's mix of grievance and submission still gave him a sense of amusement.
This was different from Samui.
Raised under strict, feudal discipline, Hinata Natsu found such actions extremely humiliating.
She was still too young—there was no need to go too far with her.
For now, Kiyoshi only intended to tease her.
Once Hinata Yinhua arrived, he could further stimulate his ocular power.
A woman like Hinata Yinhua—voluptuous yet ill-tempered—
needed proper correction.
"I accept Hinata Yinhua's apology. Tell her I'll be free after next month's Chunin Exams."
Kiyoshi chuckled, watching as Hinata Natsu hurriedly stood and walked toward the door.
Her steps were stiff. At the entrance, she paused upon hearing his words, fingers tightening on her clothes as she rubbed her legs slightly, trying to appear less disheveled.
She bit her lower lip, suppressing the turmoil inside.
She felt regret.
But if she hadn't done it, she would regret that as well.
She could only choose between bad and worse.
There were no other options.
This was the fate of the branch family.
Returning to the Hyuga compound, Hinata Natsu walked slowly, as if all strength had been drained from her body.
Her steps felt light and unsteady, her mind buzzing.
She usually wore heavy clothing even when going out, covering herself as much as possible.
But today…
Such a loss of propriety and dignity made her cheeks burn.
She took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and adjusted her already neat apron again, as if it were stained.
Finally, she went to report to Hinata Yinhua.
"Kiyoshi agreed. He'll be available after the Chunin Exams."
She knelt before her, her tone calm—as if reporting an insignificant task.
Only she knew the price she had paid.
If the clan found out, she would never be able to marry within it.
Hinata Yinhua looked at her and nodded slightly, a trace of satisfaction in her eyes.
"You did well."
"Yes, Lady Yinhua."
Hearing this rare praise, Hinata Natsu didn't know whether to laugh at the matter being over—
or cry for what she had sacrificed.
She could only hope that next month, Hinata Yinhua and Kiyoshi would reconcile smoothly.
...
After leaving, Hinata Natsu walked slowly.
When she reached the training ground, she happened to run into Hinata Tie.
"Natsu."
He called out to her.
"What is it, Tie?"
"Did… something happen to you?"
He noticed the faint sorrow lingering on her face.
"What do you think of the Hyuga clan…?"
she asked.
Hinata Tie wiped the sweat from his forehead and immediately replied:
"Of course it's Konoha's strongest clan. Aside from the Uchiha with their Sharingan, I can't think of any eyes stronger than the Byakugan. And far more of us awaken it compared to the Uchiha…"
His tone carried pride.
Even as a branch member marked by the Caged Bird Seal, thinking of the clan's prestige and powerful bloodline made him unconsciously stand taller.
The branch family was still Hyuga.
Hinata Natsu froze slightly upon hearing his words.
Even that hateful Kiyoshi had said things like, "One would long to fly freely again and try to peck open the cage."
Yet hearing Tie's confident answer left her at a loss for words.
She wanted to tell him the truth—that the Hyuga clan was not as glorious as he imagined—
but the words felt empty before they could leave her mouth.
He wouldn't understand.
He would never understand what she had gone through, nor her current exhaustion and bitterness.
In the end, all of this was caused by Hinata Yinhua.
Yet she had to go out of her way to please Kiyoshi just to secure a meeting.
"I'm leaving first, Tie."
She suddenly interrupted him.
"Natsu, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired."
She shook her head and left.
Hinata Tie stood there, watching her back, feeling that the Natsu he knew was changing.
What exactly happened?
He frowned.
Instinctively, he felt it had something to do with Uchiha Kiyoshi.
She hadn't made any mistakes today, so she wouldn't be punished by the main family.
The only possibility was her trip outside.
He remembered she had once gone into a cave with Kiyoshi to talk.
The more he thought, the more uneasy he felt.
...
Half a month passed.
During this time, Kiyoshi had visited Kushina several times to exchange videotapes.
He had a feeling—the Nine-Tails was about to… go berserk.
So Kiyoshi took the initiative to stake out the place where Kushina and Minato had argued before.
After several days of waiting, he finally saw them arguing again.
They seemed to have a dispute, after which Minato left with an apologetic expression.
Kushina remained behind, puffing her cheeks in anger.
She watched his departing figure, seeming hesitant.
"Looks like it's today."
Kiyoshi thought.
He couldn't defeat the Nine-Tails, of course—but raising Kushina's favorability and maybe gaining an entry was possible.
Before long, Kushina moved forward, and ANBU immediately appeared to stop her.
But this time, she didn't turn back. Golden chains erupted from her body, binding them.
She ran forward alone.
Kiyoshi followed behind.
He knew the destination ahead—the Third Training Ground!
(End of Chapter)
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