Neji untied his forehead protector, revealing the mark on his forehead: "The Hyuga Clan has been divided into the Main House and the Branch House since ancient times. To prevent anyone from stealing the Byakugan, members of the Branch House must be branded with the Cage Bird Curse Mark. From then on, they must obey the orders of the Main House, and must do everything to protect the Main House and the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan."
Natsuki nodded and continued to listen with his ears perked up.
"And the members of the Branch House who are branded with the Cage Bird Curse Mark don't have to worry about their eyes being stolen, because the Cage Bird Curse Mark can destroy the eyes. Therefore, the members of the Main House only need to stay within the clan and enjoy the protection of the Branch House, while the Branch House not only has to protect the Main House, but also has to fight outside. Since ancient times, the Cage Bird Curse Mark has indeed protected the Byakugan, and there have been very few incidents of the Byakugan being stolen.
It can be said that the Cage Bird Curse Mark was originally a very good method to protect the Byakugan.
However, over the years, the members of the Main House have become corrupt. Because they can control the curse mark and the lives of the Branch House members, they treat the Branch House members like servants and order them around as they please. If they are slightly dissatisfied, they will activate the curse mark to punish them, and it is even common for Branch House members to take the blame.
My father is the Hyuga Clan Head's younger brother. Just because he was born a little later than the Hyuga Clan Head, he was classified as part of the Branch House and branded with the Cage Bird mark, and later he was even forced to become a scapegoat..."
Natsuki listened quietly. He actually knew all these things, but hearing Neji say them himself, he couldn't help but sigh for Neji.
Neji's voice was filled with confusion and despair, like a little bird trapped in a cage, wanting to spread its wings and fly but unable to, only able to cry out with bleeding heart.
In the original work, Hiashi Hyuga gave Hyuga Hizashi's will to Neji.
In the will, Hyuga Hizashi said that he voluntarily died in his place, and Hiashi Hyuga also prostrated himself to ask Neji for forgiveness, and Neji's knot was untied.
It seemed very touching, but upon deeper thought, it felt incredibly ridiculous.
The Hidden Cloud Village kidnapped the Hyuga main family's eldest daughter, failed, and then turned around and demanded Hiashi Hyuga's life. The Third Hokage, that old geezer, being weak and easily bullied was one thing, but the Hyuga Clan, who kept saying they were the strongest family, instead of thinking about resisting in this situation, they acted cowardly and submitted. Hiashi Hyuga even kept wanting to die to show his determination.
If you're not afraid of death, why don't you dare to fight the Hokage? Why don't you dare to stand up to the Hidden Cloud Village?
You've already shown that you're willing to die for the Village's peace. Could the Hyuga main family really let a clan head like you die? How embarrassing would that be? In the end, wouldn't it still be Hyuga Hizashi, who looks exactly like you, dying in your place?
Hyuga Hizashi must have also thought of this. Rather than being forced to die, it's better to voluntarily die in his place. At least it can ensure the family's preferential treatment of Neji.
However, did the Hyuga main family give Neji preferential treatment? They didn't!
Such a genius like Neji has always been restricted, and he doesn't even have the qualifications to learn Rotation. If it weren't for his extraordinary comprehension and self-taught skills, he would only be an ordinary genius now, and his strength would not be worth mentioning at all.
The Hyuga main family wants to gain the protection of the branch family, but they are also afraid of the branch family becoming too strong, so they don't teach many secret techniques to the branch family.
It's truly ridiculous!
What kind of strongest clan in the Ninja World? They are clearly the most ridiculous clan!
"Natsuki, can you imagine the despair of not being able to control your own destiny? I am very desperate now. I once believed that destiny was already decided and couldn't be resisted. But, after a commoner like you, with an ordinary background, strongly defeated me, and when I saw that you could even fight Orochimaru while I, from a prestigious family, was powerless, I really wanted to believe in miracles.
I was thinking, you, a commoner, without any family heritage, yet relying on your own efforts to surpass me, and even far surpass me, is a magical thing, almost like a miracle.
I want to believe in miracles, I want to break free from the cage, no longer be a Cage Bird Curse Mark, and soar freely. Do you think I can do it?"
Neji's eyes were completely white, but Natsuki seemed to see hope.
He really started to believe in miracles!
It wasn't because of Naruto's talk no jutsu, but because he learned to think and no longer stubbornly believed that destiny was unchangeable, simply because he was defeated and surpassed by Natsuki.
Natsuki took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Neji, destiny can be changed, and miracles need to be created by yourself. You need a smart brain, strong power, and a clear direction."
Neji's eyes lit up, and he clenched the forehead protector in his hand: "What should I do?"
Natsuki looked around and suddenly raised his voice to the front, shouting, "Teacher Kai, Tenten, Xiao Li, Neji and I are going to buy groceries. Come to my house for dinner tonight!"
"Oh? Natsuki, are you treating? Then you guys go!" Kai and Xiao Li waved their hands.
"Natsuki, you guys go. I'll bring Teacher Kai and Xiao Li to the house later," Tenten also said.
Natsuki nodded, greeted Neji, and left.
Although Neji was puzzled, he immediately followed, but he didn't expect Natsuki to not go grocery shopping at all, but to go straight home.
Natsuki smiled and said, "Don't worry about the ingredients, there's plenty at home. The main thing is that some things are inconvenient to talk about outside. Now see if there's anyone nearby. Don't let anyone eavesdrop."
Neji immediately understood that what Natsuki was about to say was not simple. He immediately activated his Byakugan to scan around and found that there was no one else, so he quickly nodded to Natsuki.
Natsuki poured two glasses of water and reorganized his words: "Neji, have you ever thought, if it was just to protect the Byakugan, it would be fine for everyone to have the Cage Bird Curse Mark. Why is it necessary to distinguish between the main family and the branch family? Why is it necessary for the main family not to have the Cage Bird Curse Mark? Even if the Cage Bird Curse Mark causes a blind spot in the Byakugan, it's not a big deal. True strength doesn't worry about that blind spot, right?"
Neji frowned. He had never really thought about it seriously. Generally, no one would think about such things, right?
"Why?" he asked.
"I think, perhaps it's because the Byakugan can also evolve!" Natsuki's words were astounding.
Neji was so shocked that he stood up directly, with an expression of disbelief, obviously startled by this sudden statement, but when he thought about it carefully, it seemed there was indeed this possibility.
After all, as Natsuki said, if it was really just to protect the Byakugan, it would be fine to put the Cage Bird Curse Mark on everyone, and there wouldn't be all that nonsense about the main family and branch family. The main family wouldn't need to hide in the clan and not dare to go out, and the branch family wouldn't need to split their forces to protect the main family. Only by working together to fight against outsiders can the Hyuga Clan achieve its glorious reputation, right?
Unlike now, where the main family is a shrinking turtle, and the branch family is the turtle's slave. The glory of the Hyuga Clan has long become history. The main family members are only immersed in past glory and have long been rotten and unbearable.
Did the person who created the Cage Bird Curse Mark back then not foresee such consequences?
No, they must have foreseen it. Anyone not stupid could think of it, but they still chose to do it this way, still distinguishing between the main family and the branch family. What was it for?
Now, Natsuki's words might be the truth.
The Byakugan can evolve, or rather, a pure Byakugan can evolve!
Neji's lips trembled: "Is it really, is it really like this?"
Natsuki spread his hands: "Although it's just a guess, I think it should be. Think about it, the Byakugan and the Sharingan are called two of the three great doujutsu, but the Sharingan can constantly evolve and become stronger. Before the Uchiha Clan was wiped out, there were countless strong individuals. But what about the Hyuga Clan? Who is there? And since it's one of the three great doujutsu, the performance of the Byakugan is rather underwhelming. Instead, the Gentle Fist has a considerable reputation, but you Hyuga are a doujutsu family, not a Gentle Fist family!"
Neji nodded seriously: "You're right. The Byakugan and the Sharingan are equally famous, but the Byakugan's performance has always been inferior to the Sharingan. Since the Sharingan can constantly evolve, the Byakugan naturally can too, especially a pure Byakugan! Therefore, the main family was kept, so that the pure Byakugan would not be bound by the Cage Bird Curse Mark, just so that one day there could be a pair of Byakugan that could evolve and truly make the Hyuga Clan rise!"
Speaking of this, Neji felt suddenly enlightened.
However, the more he understood, the heavier his heart became.
So, he is still that bird in a cage, still unable to gain freedom. Whether he understands the truth of the main family and branch family is actually meaningless.