Chapter 15 What Would You Do?!

Noon passed quickly. The group of students who weren't yet ninjas, aside from their hyperactivity and curiosity that could destroy everything, probably only had abundant energy as an advantage.

Not long after lunch, many people were already restless, eagerly anticipating the return of the Third Hokage's apprentice.

But the gambling, drinking, and drugs trio hadn't arrived by the appointed time for some reason.

"Alright, due to the tight schedule, we'll start the second match directly."

Standing on the high platform, Orochimaru clapped his hands, attracting the attention of the students below, and continued.

"The rules are the same as in the morning, no changes. Although currently divided into three-person teams by grade, the competition is still one-on-one. The winner can continue to challenge the next opponent."

"Of course, you can also stop there and let your teammates go. That's the rule. Injured students can seek treatment from Tsunade beside me."

"So, according to the first grade against the second grade, the third grade against the fourth grade, and so on, the winning team can receive our guidance." 

After Orochimaru finished speaking in a hoarse voice, he glanced at Tsunade, and finding that her face was still pale and she didn't express any disagreement, he nodded.

It's better not to provoke Tsunade right now,

Jiraiya has already set an example.

"Then, let's begin, I will be the referee to judge the victory or defeat of the battle."

After Orochimaru finished speaking on the high platform, he and Tsunade retreated to a corner of the high platform.

The first to take the stage were Uchiha's team and the first-year students who had just entered the ninja school.

The Minato stepped forward with a confident smirk on his face. The young blond is currently the weakest member in their team, so the team set him to go first, then Saiguu, and lastly, their team's final boss, Kadoya.

This setup is just cruel; unless a team that can defeat Minato and Saiguu, they would have to face the most unpredictable student in the Ninja School.

The girls below cheered for Minato, after all, he was now one of the top three on the "Most Wanted to Be His Girlfriend" list.

Instead of watching Minato beat up that first-year Uchiha. Kadoya made his way to the edge of the large arena where Tsunade stood.

"Tsunade-sensei, is something wrong?" Kadoya asks in a whisper, and upon seeing her Uchiha brat, Tsunade's expression softens a bit.

"Nothing you need to worry about, brat. I'm just a bit annoyed about my terrible luck today." She said before narrowing her gaze back to the battle happening in the arena.

"Oh." Kadoya simply nodded in agreement with her, although Kadoya wanted to get up there and beat up those kids.

But now, with his growth also relying on Minato's growth, he won't take away his best friend's chances.

Of course, Kadoya could have used his skill [You're The Light and I'm The Shadow] on himself, making him both the Hokage and the Shadow Hokage. But he didn't want to become Hokage, those mountains of paperwork would kill him before he could step on the battlefield to face Madara.

According to his memory, from the Fourth to the Seventh Hokage, only Minato the Fourth Hokage wasn't buried in mountains of paperwork and still had time to spend with his wife.

So in his eyes, Minato is the perfect person for the position of Hokage.

Facing those first-year Minato didn't struggle too much in order to defeat them.

After all, the Ninja School only taught students the three basic body techniques, with the current Minato already knowing multiple C to B-Rank Ninjutsu, even the A-Rank Rasengan is now in his hands.

This has undoubtedly made Minato one of the elite in the school, even some fifth and six year students don't have any C-Rank ninjutsu.

Then the other matches continue on with Minato and Saiguu doing most of the fighting as both of their strength had surpassed the level of regular Academy students.

The only team that seemed to give them some trouble was the fifth year during the last match, still, they managed to win without him. 

Umu! It wasn't a waste investing in them!

Kadoya was happy seeing his punching bags- ahem! Friends. Become so strong.

This reminded him of a saying.

You don't fear a godlike opponent—you fear a pig-like teammate!

And when the enemy specifically targets your worst teammate, by the time you get your first item, they're already fully geared up. How are you supposed to win like that?

Feeling happy for his teammate, Kadoya is really glad he has invested in Minato and Saiguu beforehand. Hopefully, Minato won't die in the future, leaving his wife and child of Kadoya to take care, and whatever happens to Saiguu in the future, he hopes she could do her own things instead of suffering the 'destiny' of the Hyuga Clan.

The school day comes to an end, and tomorrow, Kadoya, Minato, and Saiguu will meet up with the "future" Sanin to begin their internship.

The path meandered forward. The quiet street exuded a sense of serenity under the moonlight. The fresh scent of grass floated in the air. The May breeze embraced the earth.

Standing in the moonlight, Kadoya calmly smiled, narrowing his gaze toward the girl standing beside him. "What do you want to say to me, Saiguu?"

Saiguu Hyuga lowered her eyes slightly. "Do you know about the Hyuga Main House and Branch House?"

As expected, it's about this.

As descendants of the Otsutsuki clan, the Hyuga clan naturally has its own ancient traditions. And these traditions, as time goes by, transform into complex contradictions. If these contradictions are not resolved, they will inevitably erupt sooner or later.

The current conflict within the Hyuga clan is focused on the Main House and the Branch House.

Kadoya's understanding of the Hyuga clan is limited to what his other soul brings.

"I'm all ears," Kadoya said seriously.

Saiguu spoke slowly, her voice steady but laced with something deeper—something bitter.

"The Hyuga clan is one of the oldest, and the Byakugan is renowned as one of the Three Great Dōjutsu. However, the Byakugan is different from the Uchiha clan's Sharingan."

She glanced at Kadoya.

"During the Warring States Period, many tried to transplant the Sharingan. But they all failed. Without Uchiha blood, the Sharingan cannot be fully utilized. Worse, it causes extreme rejection, placing an immense burden on the body."

Kadoya nodded. He knew this much already.

"But the Byakugan is different. If the eyes remain intact, they can be transplanted without severe rejection. Anyone can use them."

That, Kadoya also knew, remembering that there was indeed such a ninja in Kirigakure later on.

Saiguu continued.

"Because of this, during the Warring States Period, the Byakugan became a prize coveted by many ninja clans. The Hyuga were constantly targeted."

Her voice dropped slightly, as if the weight of history pressed down on her.

"To solve this, the Hyuga clan head married a princess from the Uzumaki clan."

Kadoya raised an eyebrow. He had never heard of this before.

"The Uzumaki princess developed a Cursed Seal based on their clan's sealing techniques—a seal that could prevent the Byakugan from falling into enemy hands. This seal became known as the Caged Bird."

She took a breath before continuing.

"With this, the Hyuga clan divided into the Main House and the Branch House. The Branch House was forced to bear the Caged Bird seal, ensuring their Byakugan could never be stolen—even in death."

"From that day forward, the Main House became the true rulers of the Hyuga clan, carrying the responsibility of leading and protecting it."

"And the Branch House? They became the shields—the eternal guardians of the Main House, marked and bound by duty, living under their control."

Kadoya frowned. "Then, as the heir of the Main House, you shouldn't be affected by this system, right? You wouldn't be marked with the Caged Bird?"

Saiguu nodded. "I won't be."

But then, she let out a bitter chuckle.

"But my second cousin will."

For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then, she continued, her voice turning colder.

"Every system creates its own problems over time," she said.

"The Caged Bird doesn't just seal the Byakugan. It allows Main House members to directly damage the brain of any Branch House member, ensuring absolute control. And once placed, the seal can only be removed upon death."

"Naturally, this created resentment. The Branch House hated the Main House for it. And no matter how much control they exerted, they couldn't suppress the bitterness in people's hearts forever."

Saiguu's gaze darkened.

"So, eventually, the resentment boiled over. A rebellion broke out. Some Branch House members joined forces with other ninja clans and attacked the Main House."

Kadoya's eyes narrowed. He had never heard of a Hyuga rebellion before.

"The rebellion was crushed," she continued. "But the clan was greatly weakened. It nearly destroyed us."

"To prevent history from repeating itself, a new system was put in place."

Kadoya listened carefully.

"From that point on, the Main House and Branch House would always remain closely related by blood. The Branch House leader would always be a close relative of the Main House leader—no further than three generations apart."

"Every two or three generations, a child would be chosen from the Main House, marked with the Caged Bird, and sent to lead the Branch House."

Her voice turned sharp, tinged with ice.

"This approach calmed the resentment of the Branch House. After all, if even the clan head's own family could be marked with the Caged Bird, what did they have to complain about?"

She scoffed.

"And even if the Branch House still resented the Main House, their leader—their 'chosen' representative—would always have ties to the Main House. They would never truly rebel, because in the end, they were family."

A silence stretched between them.

Kadoya exhaled slowly.

No wonder the Hyuga never had another rebellion.

But looking at Saiguu, he could tell—this wasn't just history to her. It was personal.

Kadoya processed everything he had just heard. As expected of a clan with thousands of years of history—every decision was calculated down to the finest detail.

Saiguu clenched her fists, her voice low but firm.

"In our generation, the selection process must begin again. A new head for the Branch House must be chosen."

She took a breath before continuing.

"The next leader of the Main House has already been decided—it will be my older cousin. And my second cousin… as a twin, the elders have chosen him to inherit the position of the Branch House head."

Kadoya's eyes narrowed slightly. Now it makes sense.

He recalled the memories he had seen—the future where Minato became Hokage, and the Hyuga clan was led by Hiashi and Hizashi.

For the longest time, he had wondered: Why had Hizashi, as the younger brother, been placed in the Branch House?

If only one person in each generation remained in the Main House while the rest were marked with the Cursed Seal, wouldn't the Main House eventually dwindle to almost nothing?

Now, he understood.

The system wasn't just about preserving the Byakugan. It was about controlling people.

Whoever had devised this system had an unnervingly deep understanding of human nature.

By making the Branch House leader a close blood relative—by choosing Hizashi, the younger twin—they ensured his loyalty. No matter how much resentment he harbored, no matter how much he suffered under the Cursed Seal…

He would endure it.

Because the one standing above him was his own brother.

Because family ties—no matter how strained—were far stronger than the bonds of duty or tradition.

And if the Branch House head had been chosen from a more distant bloodline, someone who had no emotional connection to the Main House leader?

Then that person would have no reason to hold back. No reason to consider Hiashi's well-being.

No reason not to rebel.

Kadoya exhaled slowly.

"I see."

A simple response, but his gaze sharpened. What a terrifyingly well-crafted system.

And yet, no matter how perfect a system seemed—resentment never truly disappeared.

Saiguu's hands clenched into fists, her breath unsteady.

"Why?" Her voice trembled with frustration.

"Why do we, as members of the Hyuga clan, have to bear this kind of burden?"

Her Byakugan had unconsciously activated, veins pulsing at the sides of her eyes.

"The reason why ninjas are ninjas is because they often have to be forced to make cruel choices. Is this the choice that the Branch House members have to make?"

She exhaled sharply, shaking her head.

"Clan this, clan that… all they care about is preserving the system. But do they ever stop to consider the feelings of the Branch House members? Are they not Hyuga too?"

Her voice dropped to a near whisper.

"I feel ashamed to be part of such a clan. Is this what it means to be a ninja?"

She turned to Kadoya, her expression raw with emotion.

"My second cousin… Soon, he'll be marked with the Caged Bird. And once that happens, his future is already set in stone."

She swallowed hard before looking him directly in the eye.

"So tell me, Kadoya—what should I do to change all of this?"

"We're friends, and I trust you. More than anyone in my clan."

Her voice hardened.

"If it were you, Kadoya… what would you do?!"

Silence stretched between them.

Kadoya met her gaze, his expression unreadable.

This wasn't just about the Hyuga. It was about fate. About the so-called destiny imposed upon them.

In the world from his other soul, the mere thought of breaking a system like this would be met with ridicule—idealistic nonsense, crushed before it could even take root.

But in the world of Naruto…

Even a person who is not used to being serious, even someone as carefree as Jiraiya or Naruto, would truly think about these things.

After all, this is a real and cruel world.

Kadoya exhaled, his voice calm but firm.

"Saiguu, you're too fixated on the clan's rules and restrictions. You see the cage, but you're ignoring the key."

"That key is power."

Her eyes widened slightly, but he continued.

"Right now, you don't have the strength to change anything. That's why you feel trapped. That's why everything is dictated by rules, traditions, and expectations set by others."

"Weakness is the original sin. And if you want to break this cycle—if you want to change the future of the Hyuga clan—then you need to become strong enough that no one can stand in your way."

"Think about it." His voice dropped, carrying a weight Saiguu wasn't used to hearing from him.

"Many years from now, your older cousin will lead the Main House. Your second cousin will become the head of the Branch House. And when the time comes, he'll be expected to sacrifice himself—on a mission, in war, protecting the Main House. If he's lucky, he'll live. But even then, his children will inherit the same fate. Marked. Bound. Doomed to serve and die for someone else."

"That is the future that has already been written."

He paused for a brief moment before his next words struck like a blade.

"Unless you rewrite it."

"If you want to change fate, then stop thinking like a caged bird."

"Become the storm that shatters the cage itself."

His gaze burned with conviction.

"Grow stronger, Saiguu. Strong enough that the Hyuga has to change because of you."

"Isn't that the only path worth taking?"