Naruto: I, Shikotsumyaku, Byakugan Princess

Chapter 84 Caged Bird

Boom!

A bright light appeared on the horizon.

The leaden-gray clouds rumbled with muffled thunder.

A damp, dead forest.

The boy, soaked to the bone, assumed a soft fist stance, his white eyes fixed on the man standing in the rain, who seemed like a god.

"I never talk to people who are secretive or evasive."

"What do you want to know?"

"Your identity, purpose, and—your true appearance."

Neji's milky-white pupils contracted, his eye power completely locking onto the man in front of him.

In the white eye's vision:

The other party was radiating a deep blue chakra light, making it impossible to see the outline of the meridians and muscles inside.

It's obvious that they used a transformation technique to disguise themselves.

This is a major flaw in the white eye.

The Byakugan, with its exceptional ability to see through objects, can have its vision blocked by a dense network of chakra.

Some secluded spots in the village are equipped with small sealing barriers, mainly to defend against the Byakugan's ability to see through things.

The principle behind the Transformation Technique's ability to block the Byakugan is similar to that of a barrier. It uses chakra to envelop objects and simulate external objects, which appear as a thick film of light from the Byakugan's perspective.

He could only tell that the other party had used a transformation technique, but he could not see the original appearance inside.

The other party came prepared.

Neji made his judgment and became even more cautious in his actions.

Many people know that sealing techniques can counter the Byakugan, but very few know that transformation techniques are effective against it.

Such familiarity with the Byakugan's weaknesses suggests either a master of the Anbu or someone on their own side.

Neji felt a heavy weight in his heart.

The branch family's Baguazhang can only be practiced up to the thirty-second move; the subsequent moves require the main family's approval. If the Hyuga main family discovers my secret training here, I wonder how they will punish me.

Thinking of the branch family genius who had cried his heart out in the training field, Neji felt even more nervous.

"Who are you exactly?"

"Only two kinds of people can know my identity."

The man finally spoke, his magnetic voice deep and resonant.

"Which two?"

Neji quickly asked questions.

"Friends or...dead people."

The man stared directly at Neji, his gray pupils filled with an unspeakable stillness.

"Which one do you want to be, Hyuga Neji?"

Rumble!
Thunder rumbled incessantly through the dark clouds.

The rain intensified.

grunt.

Neji's Adam's apple bobbed.

He understood the other party's meaning from the murderous words.

If he knew the man's identity but didn't become friends with him, he might be in mortal danger.

"Let me explain why you've come!"

He stared directly at the other's evil-smelling chakra, then looked at his own exhausted body, which was mostly depleted of chakra and aching muscles all over.

I did a rough comparison of the enemy's and our own combat strength.

Neji chose to forget what he had said earlier about 'not talking to people who are secretive and evasive'.

A satisfied smile appeared on Hui Li's face.

Talented, courageous, and pragmatic, Neji possesses all the elements of success, except for a bit of bad luck.

In contrast, Hinata.

She doesn't need to learn it; even memorizing the secret techniques would be a struggle.

Comparing people is a recipe for disaster, and comparing goods is a recipe for disaster. With Hinata as a cautionary tale, Hairi's affection for Neji skyrocketed.

"I need you to help me gather intelligence on the Hyuga clan."

"You want me to be a spy?"

"Yes."

Neji looked at Hairi in surprise.

What the other party said was truly unexpected.

"why me?"

“You are very dissatisfied with the Hyuga main family. Don’t rush to deny it. I can see that.”

Hui Li waved her hand to interrupt Neji, who was about to retort, then raised a finger and continued:

"I have an irreconcilable conflict with the Hyuga main family. If you are willing to help me bring down the main family, I can grant you one wish after it is done."

"desire?"

"Yes, any wish is acceptable."

"..."

silence.

In the desolate, dead forest, only the patter of rain could be heard.

"Could you untie the bird from its cage for me?"

Despite the slim chances, Neji still held his head high, his gaze intense.

"Not for now." Hui Li shook her head.

The cursed seal of the Caged Bird Seal can only be broken by the head of the main family and the eldest elder, and Hinata has no chance of obtaining it.

The light in Neji's eyes visibly dimmed.

"But... the future is possible."

Hui Li gazed at Neji's delicate face, her words revealing a strong sense of confidence.

With Kaguya Otsutsuki as her goal, she never took Hyuga seriously.

Shikotsumyaku, Byakugan, Eight Gates, Tailed Beast Chakra... There are too many unusual things about her. It's only a matter of time before she defeats the Hyuga.

She wanted to recruit Neji, not for any information about the Hyuga clan.

That's just an excuse.

As long as Neji keeps the secret and doesn't expose her to the Hyuga during her developmental period, the rest will fall into place naturally.

Neji's eyes regained their sparkle.

He could hear the certainty in Hui Li's tone.

Neji seemed to have a glimmer of hope to escape the caged nightmare, even though that hope was extremely slim, he longed for it immensely.

"can……"

Neji hesitated for a long time, wanting the man to prove it, but he couldn't say a word.

He was terrified that a man's empty promises were just a beautiful bubble, and once burst, cruel reality would plunge him into the abyss.

"Could you...show me...the future you described?"

After a moment's hesitation, Neji finally voiced his request. Though it was a request, Hairi could detect a hint of pleading in his tone.

The caged bird was driving the boy who had separated from his family crazy.

It's like a straw on the edge of a cliff.

Even without Hui Li's persuasion, the yearning for freedom had already gradually drawn towards her.

"of course."

Hui Li finished speaking.

Raise your hand gently.

The three points of light emanating green glow within the body suddenly activated.

The chakra core within his heart frantically devoured life force, and countless streams of deep blue energy surged forth from Gray Glass's body.

Boom boom boom!
Thunder roared across the sky, unleashing a silver serpent dance.

In a flash of light.

Hyuga Neji rolled his eyes and looked up in disbelief.

The sky as far as the eye can see.

Countless glistening raindrops were frozen in the air.

Lightning flashed.

Raindrops reflect light.

Each grain is distinct, as if the whole world has been paused.

Looking at it with Byakugan, the eerie deep blue chakra split into countless parts, like a deep blue starry sky.

"This……"

Hyuga Neji stood frozen in place, stunned by the shocking scene before him.

With a mere gesture, he froze the rain in mid-air. This extraordinary control over water magic made the man before him seem like a god from mythology who controlled floods.

With that kind of chakra, it should be possible!

We can definitely untie his caged bird.

Neji kept repeating this in his mind, reinforcing his belief.

Reason suppressed his inner elation; now he only had one last question left.

"Will you really untie the caged bird for me?"

Faced with Neji's final question, Hairi already chuckled inwardly.

That overflowing longing was like a raging fire; she could even feel its intense heat.

There is no need to say more.

The smoke formed from chakra exploded with a roar.

The silver-haired girl, blindfolded, held up the torrential rain with one hand and untied the black cloth covering her eyes with the other.

Their deathly gray eyes met a surprised, disdainful stare.

The swollen veins on both sides of the eye sockets connect the blood vessels of the two people.