Two Ceremonies!

Hearing Finn declare him the most suitable candidate for suzerain, Hyuga Neji felt a surge of emotions so intense that he wanted to cry.

Born into a branch house, Neji had spent his life working tirelessly, proving his worth time and again. He knew in his heart that he was not only equal to Hyūga Hinata but, in terms of talent, far surpassed her. Yet, because of the immutable laws of the Hyuga family, he was bound to the branch house, fated to serve and protect without recognition or freedom.

Hyuga Hiashi, watching Neji's reaction, sighed deeply. He too knew that Neji's potential far exceeded that of his own daughter, Hinata. But the curse of the Caged Bird had already been placed on Neji—a mark that could not be removed, save by death.

"It's too late," Hiashi said, his voice heavy with resignation. "Even if Neji is the most talented among the next generation, the curse makes it impossible for him to lead the clan."

"Too late? That curse can be undone," Finn said calmly, his tone tinged with faint disdain.

Hiashi blinked, startled. "Undo it? Impossible. The Caged Bird is no ordinary curse. It is the foundation of the Hyuga family's structure, a bond that ensures the loyalty of the branch house to the main family. If it could be undone so easily, the family's system would have collapsed long ago."

Finn smirked, crossing his arms. "Your so-called unbreakable curse is child's play. If I remove it, will you commit to abolishing it and allow Neji his rightful place as heir to the clan?"

Gasps rippled through the gathered Hyuga family members. For the branch house, Finn's words were a beacon of hope. The Caged Bird, which had long been their chain of servitude, might finally be shattered.

Among the main family, however, murmurs of dissent grew louder. Abolishing the curse meant upending centuries of tradition and power. Some among them, particularly the elders, couldn't hide their fury.

"This is absurd!" one elder, Hyuga Tetsuro, exclaimed. "The Caged Bird is the cornerstone of our family's unity. Without it, the branch house would rebel. This outsider seeks to destroy us!"

Neji stood still, his heart caught in a whirlwind of emotions. He could feel the weight of his people's hopes, the pleas in their eyes urging him to take a stand. But he also understood the gravity of what Finn proposed. If the curse couldn't be broken, his agreement would deepen the rift between the main family and the branch house.

Finally, Neji spoke, his voice steady but resolute. "If you truly believe you can undo the Caged Bird, then prove it. If you succeed, it will mean the Hyuga family must change, and we will abolish the curse forever. But if you fail, it will confirm that the traditions we've upheld are unshakable."

A wave of hope spread among the branch house members, while the main family grew tense. Finn smiled, sensing the trust Neji had placed in him.

"That's all I need," Finn said.

He raised his hand, summoning the system with a flicker of thought. In moments, a glowing summoning circle appeared before him, sparking with light blue energy. The air grew heavy with power as lightning crackled through the space. From the center of the circle, a figure began to materialize—a woman clad in a kimono adorned with delicate floral patterns, her short black hair framing a serene yet piercing gaze.

It was Ryougi Shiki, the embodiment of precision and lethal grace. She held a sword in one hand, its blade gleaming like a shard of the moon.

"Master, it's been a while," Shiki said softly, her voice calm yet carrying an undercurrent of menace.

Finn gestured toward Neji. "Not a person this time, Shiki. A curse mark. Can you handle it?"

Shiki's lips curved into a faint smile. "A curse, you say? Easy enough."

Neji hesitated for a moment, then, fueled by trust and determination, pushed his forehead protector up, exposing the ominous mark of the Caged Bird.

As Shiki approached, the onlookers held their breath. Her blade glowed faintly, resonating with an unseen force. She paused before Neji, her piercing eyes locking onto the curse mark.

"This will only take a moment," she said.

With one swift, deliberate motion, Shiki traced the blade across the air above Neji's forehead, severing the spiritual threads that bound the curse to his soul. The mark began to glow, its intricate lines unraveling like threads of silk caught in a gale.

Gasps filled the room as the curse mark dissolved into nothingness.

Neji staggered, his hand reaching to his forehead in disbelief. For the first time in his life, he felt the weight of the curse lift, leaving behind only freedom.

The branch house erupted into cheers, their collective hope reignited. The main family stood frozen, grappling with the realization that their age-old system had just been shattered.

Finn turned to Hiashi, his expression firm. "The choice is yours now. Will you lead your family into a future of unity and strength, or cling to the broken chains of the past?"

Hiashi knelt before Finn, his voice filled with newfound resolve. "We will change. The Hyuga family will rise anew, free from the chains of the Caged Bird."

The era of division was over. A new chapter for the Hyuga family had begun.