Hyuga Neji was lost in his sorrow when he suddenly heard a somewhat nonsensical voice.
He was taken aback and frowned.
Who was so careless as to disturb him at this moment?
He turned his head to look.
He saw a child, even younger than him, standing not far away, chewing on a piece of grass. The child's strange Dual Pupil were curiously observing him.
The two types of eyes—Dual Pupil and Byakugan—met!
Neji felt curious as he looked at Genya. Even though they were about the same age, he had a bad impression of this child upon their first meeting.
Too flamboyant and a bit naive.
"My name is Uchiha Genya!" Genya said, looking at Neji with a hint of pity in his Dual Pupil. "How about being friends? I promise I won't treat you badly!"
Over the past few days, he had learned the details of Hyuga Hizashi's situation. The Third Hokage's weakness had allowed the culprit from the Hyuga clan to go free, leaving Hizashi as a scapegoat.
He heard that the elders of the Hyuga clan had gone to Neji's home, threatening Hizashi and his mother to force him to commit suicide. In the end, Hizashi complied.
He went to see Hyuga Hiashi and committed suicide at the clan leader's residence.
However, Neji's mother might have been affected by Hizashi's death or was injured that day. She had been seriously ill lately and couldn't even attend Hizashi's funeral.
"I don't need friends!" Neji shook his head firmly, not wanting to engage with Genya. He just silently stared at his father's gravestone, lost in his thoughts.
Veins bulged on his forehead!
Genya didn't rush him; he calmly watched Neji.
He felt that Neji was suitable to be his future ally. Neji was filled with unwillingness and resistance, and his talent was high. If the Byakugan wasn't restricted because of Caged Bird Cursed Seal, he would achieve even more.
As long as he could free Neji from his Caged Bird Cursed Seal, he would not be the nameless ninja who died in obscurity during the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Also, he wanted to conduct some experiments. He wondered if a Byakugan with the Otsutsuki Bloodline Limit could fuse with other Otsutsuki Bloodline Limits, like the Shikotsumyaku. He was curious whether these Bloodline Limits could combine.
{Neji naturally had other thoughts about joining forces with Genya. He would grow stronger, and the Caged Bird Cursed Seal would be a thing of the past!}
As the sky gradually darkened,
Neji, who had been silent, finally spoke up: "Father, I'm leaving now. After a few days, when mother recovers, I'll bring her to see you again!"
After Neji Hyuga finished speaking, he turned to leave.
"It's a pity that your mother is seriously ill and doesn't have much time left. Your clan members won't sincerely try to save her!" Genya said casually while munching on a chicken leg.
These words seemed to hit a nerve with Neji. His Byakugan activated instantly, and he glared furiously at Genya, who was still eating the chicken leg.
His anger was about to explode.
Neji stepped forward and grabbed Genya's collar, glaring at him. "I've tolerated you for long enough. You say there's nothing wrong, but my mother is fine! She can't possibly be in danger..."
As he spoke, Neji swung his fist toward Genya's handsome face, furious that he dared to imply his mother could die.
However, Genya effortlessly blocked the punch with his other hand and looked at Neji. "Am I wrong, or do you just refuse to accept reality?"
With a slight push, Genya sent Neji stumbling back. His Dual Pupil focused on Neji, who was filled with frustrated rage.
"Even though Hyuga Hiashi sent someone to find a doctor for your mother, the clan doesn't care about her life. They chose the worst doctor from the hospital. Deep down, you know your mother's condition has worsened since a few days ago!"
What Genya said was true. Hikari had mentioned this. Two days ago, when Yūya Toshi was absent, his top disciple wanted to help Neji's mother but was rejected by the Hyuga clan members.
They specifically picked the worst medical ninja in the hospital.
This was precisely why Neji's mother's condition kept getting worse.
Neji didn't know that the clan member who chose the doctor was the direct grandson of the Elder. Now that the Elder was injured by Hyuga Hizashi, his grandson would not miss the chance to torment Neji and his mother.
"You..." Neji listened to Genya's heart-wrenching words, his fists clenching tighter.
He was only three years old. Even if he went to the hospital, no doctor would listen to him, let alone find a good one.
Even if he sought a doctor, it was highly likely that the clan would send him back. So, all he could do was hope that his mother would get better, soon.
"Don't be discouraged. You have two options!" Genya said to Hyuga Neji with a calm tone. "One is to ask your dear uncle to help find a doctor. But do you think your uncle will trust you, a child, over the clan's elder? The second option is to wait for your uncle to return from his mission!"
"But will your mother hold on until my uncle comes back?"
Genya slowly revealed the harsh truth that Neji least wanted to accept, and what he said was factual.
Neji was just a child, and Genya's words pierced his fragile heart like knives, causing him to feel more broken.
"Why? Why did my father have to die? Why are we treated like Caged Bird Cursed Seals since birth? Why do the branch family serve the main family as servants?" Neji trembled, repeating his questions as his emotions spiraled out of control.
At this moment, Genya stepped closer. Instead of comforting Neji, he continued to dig deeper: "Because you are weak! It was your branch family that willingly sent their own children to the main family to be branded as Caged Bird Cursed Seals. You have cut off your children's future and their paths to cultivation!"
"Being branded as Caged Bird Cursed Seals means that no matter how much you train, the branch family's Byakugan will never reach the strength of the main family. You will only become tools for the Hyuga clan to handle trivial matters!"
His words were merciless. He despised the Hyuga's rules and the branding of Caged Bird Cursed Seals, which stifled the potential of all talented cultivators in the branch family.
"We are just tools!" Neji seemed to resign to his fate, his arms hanging down. "Hah... we are Caged Bird Cursed Seals, forever trapped, unable to soar in the sky. What should I do, father? What should I do?"
Neji felt utterly despondent. If Genya hadn't revealed everything, he might have trained hard to prove that the branch family wasn't weaker than the main family. But now, faced with this harsh reality, there was only despair—an endless despair!
He could never break free from the cage that imprisoned him.
The young boy was engulfed in hopelessness.
"Have you given up? But you can't fall down now!" Genya looked at the despondent Neji. "Have you forgotten your father's last words to take care of your mother?"
When he heard about his mother, a struggle appeared on Neji's face, soon followed by despair. "But... I'm powerless!"
Genya stepped forward, looking at the defeated Neji and puffing out his chest. "I can help you, as long as you agree!"
Support me on my and read upto 15 early Chapters.