In the dense forest, Hyuga Yuto gripped the handle of the kunai tightly, its sharp blade piercing Sugisaki Tetsuro's body, severing his spine.
Of course, he couldn't use the Gentle Fist.
A ninja's body contains a vast amount of intelligence. When Sugisaki Tetsuro's body is sent back to Konoha, it will be examined by experts proficient in medical ninjutsu. Using the Gentle Fist would essentially carve "I am the murderer" on his forehead.
A kunai was a tool used by ninjas worldwide, untraceable in terms of its model. As long as the angle and force of insertion were slightly adjusted, it was perfect for killing one's own.
As the kunai was pulled out, a large amount of blood gushed out.
Sugisaki Tetsuro groaned as he raised his hand in a flash.
But Hyuga Yuto used the Body Flicker Technique to move in front of him, swinging the kunai mercilessly to sever his wrist.
The Jonin of Konoha could no longer form hand seals.
Hyuga Yuto raised his foot and ruthlessly kicked Sugisaki Tetsuro in the chest. With a sickening crunch of bones, the Jonin flew back more than ten meters until he crashed into a large tree.
He slumped to the ground, his gaze unfocused.
His spine severed, hands disabled, chakra almost depleted, and facing a traitor with the Byakugan.
There was no way to escape.
He would die from excessive blood loss.
"Sugisaki-senpai, please don't move," Hyuga Yuto exhaled lightly, calmly saying, "I have no intention of torturing you. Please sit here and wait for your blood to drain. Trust me, this way of death is not too painful..."
His words were interrupted by Sugisaki Tetsuro's mocking laughter.
"You scum of Konoha... Putting on an act. How could someone from the Hyuga clan give birth to a beast like you?"
Hyuga Yuto shook his head expressionlessly.
"Sugisaki-senpai, if you're trying to provoke me with words to get closer to you, this level is not enough."
"You are a very talented ninja. I've realized that during the ten-plus days under your command."
"Before your blood drains, I won't rashly approach you... It's too dangerous."
Sugisaki Tetsuro's heart sank.
The short "Senbon" hidden under his tongue also slightly stiffened due to the despair of its owner.
Although his chakra was almost depleted, launching the ninjutsu Thousand Flying Needles only required a trace of chakra. It was foolproof against enemies who thought they had the upper hand.
Unfortunately... the young traitor in front of him was too clever and too steady, revealing no weaknesses at all.
Truly worthy of being... the "Gem of the Hyuga,"
Sugisaki Tetsuro thought bitterly.
After a brief silence, Sugisaki Tetsuro carefully stared at the young man with snow-white eyes.
"Hyuga Yuto, do you want my corpse?"
"Yes," Hyuga Yuto nodded, rubbing the scroll in his hand.
"The reconnaissance team was completely wiped out, but I managed to survive and bring back valuable intelligence. It wouldn't make sense for me to not protect the body of the team leader, a Jonin. If all your bodies were handled until there was nothing left, it would seem too deliberate."
"Aren't you afraid that people from the village will find something from my body?"
"I am afraid, and I know that certain forbidden techniques can extract answers from the souls of the deceased,"
Hyuga Yuto thought of the famous "Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation".
"But there's no way around it. Doing things like this always involves risks. If I'm discovered then so be it, I'll just die."
"Doing such things..." Sugisaki Tetsuro's face paled slightly, prolonged blood loss causing his consciousness to blur.
"Betraying the village, betraying the clan, betraying comrades, you can speak about it so lightly?"
The Jonin paused for a moment, then continued after a long while, "Can you tell me... your reasons?"
Hyuga Yuto calmly looked at him, slowly removing his forehead protector.
Revealing the blue-green seal.
Caged Bird.
All members of the Hyuga branch family would have the seal called "Caged Bird" engraved on their foreheads at a young age. From then on, until death, they could never escape it. This seal could seal the ability of the Byakugan and could completely destroy the connection between the eyeballs and the brain after the recipient's eyes were removed or upon death.
Furthermore, members of the main family could control and disrupt the brain nerves and tissues of branch family members through this seal.
In the Hyuga clan, this was an iron-clad hierarchy.
Generation after generation, the seal known as the Caged Bird had been passed down for thousands of years.
Sugisaki Tetsuro's eyes widened incredulously, saying—
"Just, just because... of the Caged Bird?" His breathing became rapid, and for the first time, his tone carried emotions of incomprehension and anger.
"Hyuga Yuto, for the sake of just a seal, you want to betray the village and the clan? The Caged Bird indeed limits your freedom and abilities, but it is the tradition and rule of a powerful ninja clan!"
"And this seal has successfully prevented others from stealing the Byakugan, protecting you all!"
"Even as an outsider, I know that in the Hyuga family, the main family is the true successor, responsible for protecting and promoting the Hyuga clan; the branch family is the guardian of the main family, responsible for protecting the Hyuga main family!"
"Sacrifice is necessary for the clan to become strong, for the village to prosper, for Konoha to thrive..."
Hyuga Yuto put on his forehead protector, concealing the Caged Bird.
He looked down at the dying Jonin from a high vantage point and said softly.
"For some reason, I have memories from a very young age and matured early."
"For a long time, I've been thinking about one question—"
"Should I just endure it?"
"Konoha is a good village, despite being full of filth, overall... it's positive. The Hyuga family has a strict hierarchy, but at least it seems... acceptable on the surface."
"Should I just endure it? Work hard on missions, train hard, reach a certain level, and life should be bearable. Even if I endure for another thirty or forty years, when the new era arrives, maybe everything will be fine."
"I pondered for a while and came to a conclusion—"
Hyuga Yuto's expression suddenly became less calm and gentle, and instead appeared somewhat detached and helpless.
"No."
"I can't bear it."
"I cannot tolerate being branded as a slave for life, being regarded as a guard for certain individuals."
"I cannot tolerate the ugly Caged Bird on the foreheads of my descendants."
"What I can't tolerate the most is the future me, living a stifled and submissive life, never daring to resist until death."
The expression of the dying Sugisaki Tetsuro was filled with bewilderment.
Hyuga Yuto...
What is this guy talking about? Unable to tolerate?
What is there to not tolerate?
For so many years... Why can other branch members endure it, but you can't? Shouldn't you discard personal emotions and become the strongest shield for the Hyuga main family for the prosperity and strength of the Hyuga clan?
"You are the Gem of the Hyuga clan..."
With confusion and doubt, the heartbeat of the Jonin slowed down, muttering his final words.
In the end, his blood drained, he died beyond death.
Alone, Hyuga Yuto sighed lightly, slowly approaching the body of Sugisaki Tetsujiro.
"You can't understand me, and I can't understand you... Ha, the gap between people, turns out to be as vast as the heavens from the beginning."
He squatted down, leaning towards the gradually chilling corpse.
"But, let me tell you one last thing."
"To be honest, I really, really, really—"
The branch family youth gritted his teeth, excessive anger causing blood to seep from the corners of his mouth, as if wanting to shatter his own skull.
"—Hate that title."
Gem of the Hyuga.
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