Death To The Demon Eye, Kill Curse Mark: Caged Bird!

Seeing the curse mark on Hyuga Neji's forehead, the sharp, clear eyes of the two rituals gleamed with interest.

"Kill this? Now that sounds exciting."

Killing was nothing new to the two rituals—an art they had mastered many times over. But the challenge of severing the metaphysical bonds of a conceptual curse? That was rare, and it piqued their curiosity.

With a calm intensity, they focused on the mark. Their gaze deepened, transforming into something otherworldly, like a swirling galaxy or a portal through time and space. Runes and sigils materialized, forming a shimmering cascade in their vision. In the heart of it all, they saw it—a birdcage. The cage was intricate, tightly woven with barriers, and inside it perched a small bird, listless and resigned. The bird shifted form, and suddenly, its face became Hyuga Neji's.

"Caged Bird... fascinating," the two rituals murmured, their voice dripping with intrigue.

Their hand gripped the hilt of their blade. A single motion, deliberate and swift, unsheathed the sword, which seemed to hum with an ethereal resonance. They took aim at the curse mark.

"What are they doing?!"

"They're trying to kill Neji!"

The onlookers erupted in panic. Members of the Hyuga family from Neji's branch moved to intervene, but before they could act, Finn's presence surged like a tidal wave. His Conqueror's Haki radiated out, dropping them to their knees in an instant.

Hyuga Neji, however, remained still. His gaze never wavered from the descending blade. Fear flickered in his chest, but it was quickly consumed by something far stronger—hope.

I trust him, Neji thought, clenching his fists tightly. I have no choice but to trust him. He's the only one who has ever promised freedom. Even if this blade ends me, it's a risk worth taking.

The blade descended, its light splitting the air with impossible precision.

Clang!

The sound wasn't physical. It resonated in the mind, in the intangible space where the curse mark resided. The Birdcage resisted fiercely, its structure shimmering with desperate energy. But under the relentless strikes of the blade, cracks began to spiderweb across its form. Each strike was calculated, exploiting flaws only visible to the rituals' mystical vision.

Finally, with a sharp shatter, the Birdcage crumbled. The fragments disintegrated into nothingness, and the once-trapped bird spread its wings, soaring into the vast, infinite space beyond.

"Ah!" Neji gasped, clutching his head as a torrent of energy surged through him. Pain was fleeting, replaced by a liberating sensation he had never known before.

The Hyuga elders, watching intently, smirked at the sight. "He failed," one muttered, confident that Neji's screams signaled their victory. "The Birdcage is unbreakable. All this drama was for nothing."

But their smug expressions froze when Neji suddenly straightened, his hands falling from his head. His breath came in sharp bursts, his chest heaving, and his eyes... his eyes shone with unrestrained joy.

"It's gone," Neji whispered, his voice trembling. He raised his hands as if to grasp the reality of his newfound freedom. Then he shouted, "My Caged Bird... it's gone!"

The crowd stilled, stunned into silence. The elders scrambled, attempting to activate the curse's control mechanism. But to their horror, their efforts yielded nothing. The connection was severed. The Birdcage no longer existed.

The gathered branch members stared at Neji in awe, their hope rekindled. For generations, they had lived under this oppressive curse. And now, before their eyes, Neji stood free—a living testament to the impossible.

The elders of the main family were less impressed. "This changes nothing," one grumbled. "It took them so long to free one person. Do you think they'll waste their time removing it for the entire branch house? No one has the patience for that."

Finn smirked, overhearing their muttering. "You underestimate my resolve," he said, his voice carrying authority. "Branch house members, gather together. This is your one chance for freedom. If you hesitate, you'll have no one to blame but yourselves."

The branch members surged forward, a sea of over two thousand people, united by a shared dream.

Finn turned to the two rituals and gave a simple nod. They stepped forward, their blade glinting with a luminous power. They raised it high, their voice steady and calm.

"Consciousness without scale, realm of emptiness," they intoned, invoking a power that transcended mortal understanding.