This Naruto is a player

Neji was speechless for a moment. He hesitated when he needed to directly expose the scars he hated so much.

Naruto just stared at him.

My brother-in-law, who is usually cheerful and outgoing, was unusually timid today.

Naruto noticed him covering his forehead with his hand, and he immediately understood and remembered.

During the Chunin Exams in the Forest of Death, Naruto had a general idea of ​​what Neji possessed, which is why he acted that way.

They constantly complain about their fate, lament their bad luck, and say things like "the worst of the worst."

Naruto was unaware of the details beforehand, only knowing that Neji harbored 'hatred' towards Hinata.

Later, Naruto learned the inside story through Danzo Shimura's memories: a darkness that existed within the Hyuga clan and had lasted for hundreds of years.

Naruto originally intended to let the sun's brilliance shine upon the ninja world, but he discovered that in the Land of Fire, in Konoha, right beside him, there was a dark place called the Hyuga clan.

Although the relationship between the current Hyuga clan leader, who will also be his future father-in-law, and his younger brother is admirable, this does not change the fact that...

Hyuga, branch family and main family, master and slave.

Is this okay?

This is not good!

So Naruto decided to do something.

Although Naruto cannot directly demand reforms from the entire Hyuga clan due to his position and status, he can start by doing things around him.

So, a few days ago when Naruto was teaching Neji Gentle Fist, Naruto offered to help Neji change or even remove the seal on his body.

Neji said he would think about it.

Naruto also put the matter out of his mind.

These past few days, Naruto has been so busy with Root reconstruction that he almost forgot about this matter.

That's why we're seeing this scene.

With this thought in mind, Naruto met his gaze with sincere eyes and smiled gently, "Come with me."

Chapter 206 The Caged Bird

"Come in, come in." Naruto opened the door and led Neji into the house.

The two settled down on the sofa.

Neji reached out and untied the headband that was tied to his forehead; there was still a layer of bandage wrapped around his head underneath.

The marks of the seal are only visible beneath the bandages.

Naruto realized that Neji had hidden that mark, which he considered a disgrace, very, very deep!

Now that they were alone, he carefully peeled off the bandages, revealing the mark.

"This is the seal."

Neji stared sincerely at Naruto with his Byakugan eyes, his deep voice utterly honest.

However, Naruto sensed a deep, hidden hatred in that tone.

He understands.

No matter who it is, when they are infected with this substance and their life is constantly in someone else's hands, they can't possibly be as lively and cheerful as before, right?

However, this was the first time Naruto had seen the seal in person.

It appears to be a bright green 'X' mark, with two equally bright green hooks pointing in opposite directions, the hooks pointing directly at the core of the 'X' mark.

After a moment of sensing, Naruto clearly sensed the flow of chakra within the seal.

"Is this the seal that protects your Byakugan from being stolen by other villages?" Naruto pretended not to know much about the inside story.

"Tch~~~ It's not just about protecting us!"

Upon hearing Naruto's words, Neji's lips curled into a cold smile, showing considerable disdain.

He trusted Naruto immensely, mainly because of the previous battle and the strength Naruto later displayed that far surpassed that of this world, which made Neji extremely admire him.

More importantly, Naruto's appearance overturned his lifelong belief in 'destiny'.

In his dark, directionless, and futureless life, a skylight was smashed open!

However, even with the light, Neji didn't know how to break free from his destiny!

Direction? Effort?

After the Chunin Exams, Neji once again fell into confusion.

Neji wanted to talk to Naruto, but because Naruto was too busy, Neji didn't have a chance to have a proper conversation with him.

Therefore, he seized the opportunity at this moment and spoke frankly and openly.

This was something he had never revealed to anyone before.

He stared intently at Naruto, wanting to tell Naruto everything and ask Naruto to help him find a way to break free from his fate and escape the future where he, like his father, was destined to die for the main family!

"Did you know? This seal has another name, it's called 'The Caged Bird'!"

"A caged bird?"

"Yes."

Neji nodded with unusual seriousness. He considered himself a bird full of talent, capable of soaring through the sky, but this seal was a cage imprisoning him!

He is a "caged bird"!

With a sigh of indignation, Neji then began to recount what he knew.

"Those who branch out of the family will be marked with this mark from a young age. Although this seal will destroy the Byakugan when the branch family member dies, it protects the branch family member from being coveted by enemies."

But inscribing this seal also means that those who branch out will be forever controlled by the main family!

“钳制？”

Naruto looked puzzled, perfectly playing the role of the one being confided in.

Neji sighed, "Yes! Restraint."

At this moment, he recalled his childhood, after a sparring session with Hinata, when he thought he would be recognized again because of the talent he had shown.

To his utter surprise, instead of receiving praise, his father was severely punished by the clan.

My father hadn't done anything wrong, yet he was punished by the head of the clan with just a curse mark—no, just a thought.

With just one thought, her father, the man she respected, was left utterly powerless, clutching his head and writhing in agony on the ground.

And what about the main family members? They just watched coldly.

The image of his father's heart-wrenching cries of pain was deeply etched into his mind.

When that scene reappeared, Neji's eyes reddened.

But his voice remained calm, cold as a block of ice, "With just a thought from the main family, any branch family member possessing this 'Caged Bird' seal will be forced to surrender, writhing on the ground begging for their life. Because..."

The image of his once-mighty father begging for mercy flashed through his mind again, and Neji breathed a sigh of relief, suppressing the already boiling restlessness in his heart.

"Because this seal can directly damage brain and eye tissue, the pain is excruciating!"

Neji Hyuga had also personally experienced that kind of pain.

I absolutely regret ever being born!

"Is that so?"

Neji's description gave Naruto a better understanding of the 'Caged Bird' sealing technique, as well as the relationship between the Hyuga branch family and the main family.

Naruto's previous understanding of the Hyuga clan mostly came from Danzo's memories, but how could an outsider have the same profound experience as an insider?

Just by listening to Neji's tone and expression, and listening to his story, Naruto knew that the Hyuga branch family had been suffering under the pressure from the main family for a long time!

"not only that."

Thinking of his father paying for the life of the main family, which meant paying for the life of his uncle, the current head of the Hyuga family, Hyuga Hiashi, Neji could no longer restrain himself.

He was so angry that he laughed.

The laughter was agonizing, the laughter was sinister.

"The branch family, controlled by the caged bird, nominally bears the responsibility of protecting the main family!"

At this point, Neji almost gritted his teeth, and Naruto could sense his intense emotional shift.

"If the main family wants to, even if a branch family makes a mistake, it's just a matter of a word to make them pay with their lives!"

It really is just one sentence!

My father, Hyuga Hizashi, Hyuga Hiashi's younger brother! He died to pay for Hyuga Hiashi's life!

At this point, Neji's gums were practically raw from biting so hard!

My condolences.

That was all Naruto could say to comfort him.

“It’s alright,” Neji took a deep breath. “I’m used to it.”

Naruto glanced at him and thought his patience was truly remarkable.

No, it's the Hyuga branch family's incredible patience.

Even at this point, they did not choose to resist!

Perhaps there's a reason why his life is in the hands of the main family, but Naruto doesn't believe it.

The 'Caged Bird' seal has existed for hundreds of years, giving them ample opportunity to resist, or even escape.

But the reality is...

You're really good at enduring things!

They can tolerate even more than the lowest strata of society in the US!

Based solely on Neji's account, Naruto assumed that this was not a matter of 'main family' and 'branch family', but rather 'slave owner' and 'slave'.

That's really terrifying!