Chapter 220: Neji’s Ambition
On the fresh morning of New Year’s Day in Year 58 of Konoha, the chill had not yet fully receded, but the Hyuga Clan’s massive mansion had already awakened.
The orderly courtyard was swept spotlessly clean, the dry landscape garden exuding silent Zen intent in the morning light, yet also carrying a lingering austere atmosphere.
In a certain Japanese-style room in the Branch Family residential area, Neji Hyuga slowly opened his eyes.
Those pure Byakugan eyes, no different from the Main Family’s, seemed to possess an extra layer of calm and maturity beyond his peers the moment they opened.
He swiftly got up, changed into neat training clothes, meticulously straightened his collar, finished washing up, then stared at the bluish Caged Bird seal on his forehead in the mirror, lost in thought for a moment.
Only then did he walk out of the room.
In the hall, his father Hizashi Hyuga and mother were already seated upright.
Neji stepped forward, respectfully knelt down, and performed a standard bow: “Lord Father, Lady Mother, Happy New Year.”
Hizashi looked at his son, especially the abrupt Caged Bird on Neji’s forehead, his expression complex.
He nodded, his voice steady as always: “Mm, get ready. It’s time to pay respects to the Main Family.”
His mother gently straightened Neji’s already neat collar, her eyes full of concern.
Neji waited in silence.
He knew that on the first day of the New Year, the Branch Family must pay respects to the Main Family—this was a rule passed down for countless years, an ingrained hierarchy of superiority and inferiority.
But as he grew older, and after witnessing the pain of Branch Family members being branded with the Caged Bird, Neji’s hatred for the Main Family grew ever deeper.
Arriving at the even more grand Main Family mansion, the atmosphere was noticeably different.
The air was filled with faint sandalwood and the aroma of food, but also an intangible pressure.
Many Branch Family households had already arrived, quietly waiting on the veranda.
Neji immediately spotted his cousin, the Main Family’s eldest daughter Hinata Hyuga, timidly following behind her father Hiashi Hyuga, dressed in a gorgeous New Year kimono, her little face somewhat tense.
Finally, it was Hizashi’s family’s turn to enter the main hall to pay respects.
The hall was covered with thick tatami mats, and on the main seat, Hiashi Hyuga sat upright with a stern expression.
Slightly behind and to either side of him sat four Main Family elders.
Neji’s sharp gaze noticed that these four long-unseen Main Family elders were actually all wearing black eyepatches, covering their eyes!
‘As expected… those rumors circulating privately among the Branch Family are true…’ Neji’s heart sank sharply, followed by a surge of indescribable excitement.
‘That mysterious Shura… actually took the four Main Family elders’ eyes right under the noses of Hokage-sama, Father, and so many Konoha elite jonin… as easily as taking something from a bag!’
What strength was this?
What audacity?!
The entire Konohagakure couldn’t do a thing to him!
This realization struck Neji’s young but already thoughtful heart like a heavy hammer.
Toward that “Shura” who had once granted him a day of freedom, he felt an indescribable complex emotion, but deeper within was a reverence he himself had yet to fully comprehend, even a hint of yearning.
The process of paying respects was mechanical and silent.
Hizashi led his family in bowing, offering auspicious words, while Hiashi slightly nodded in response, ceremonially asking a few questions.
Throughout the process, the four eyepatched elders said nothing, like four silent statues, yet emanating suffocating dignity.
After the respects, it was time for the Main Family’s New Year morning banquet.
The banquet was held in a larger hall, but the seating arrangement was distinctly separated, like an invisible chasm.
Main Family Clan Head Hiashi and the four elders naturally sat at the uppermost main seat, with the best view and the finest food.
As for the Branch Family, only a very few households were qualified to be seated, all arranged at the lower seats far from the main position, near the door.
Hizashi’s family was placed at the very end only because Hizashi was the Branch Family head, with high strength and status.
Even more Branch Family members didn’t even have the qualification to enter this banquet hall.
Neji knelt behind his parents, head lowered, taking small bites of the food before him, which tasted like wax.
He could clearly feel the scrutinizing gazes from above, faint yet omnipresent.
Main Family and Branch Family—merely due to birth, one was destined for the heavens, the other for the earth from the moment of landing.
This omnipresent hierarchical suppression made him feel chest-stifled; deep in those white eyes flashed a trace of unwillingness and hatred.
The banquet’s atmosphere was superficially harmonious, but actually oppressive.
Only toward the end did Hiashi Hyuga seem to remember something, casting his gaze toward Hizashi’s family at the lower seats—more precisely, toward Neji.
“Neji,” Hiashi’s voice rang out in the hall, carrying the dignity of a family head: “I’ve heard your grades at school have always been excellent, and you’ve never slacked in your taijutsu and Gentle Fist training.”
Neji immediately set down his chopsticks, respectfully lowering his head in response: “Clan Head overpraises me. Neji dares not slack; I still need to work harder.”
Hiashi nodded, seemingly very satisfied with his attitude, then looked toward the somewhat tense Hinata beside him: “Hinata, you should learn more from Neji. As Main Family, you must set an example even more.”
“Yes, Father…” Hinata responded softly, her head drooping even lower.
Hiashi seemed to gain interest and continued: “Theory alone is useless; true knowledge comes from practice. Perfect for New Year’s today—let you two little guys spar, and let the elders see the prowess of our Hyuga Clan’s younger generation. How about it?”
These words seemed like a suggestion, but were actually non-negotiable.
The several eyepatched elders also nodded slightly in agreement.
Neji’s heart jumped sharply.
Spar with Lady Hinata?
He instantly realized the subtlety and danger in this.
Though his strength had long surpassed the one-year-younger Hinata, in a normal match, as long as her second personality didn’t emerge, he could win easily.
But…
Could he win?
What consequences would there be from beating the Main Family’s eldest daughter?
His father’s silent and oppressive gaze, the Main Family’s austere rules—like invisible shackles, instantly tightened around his heart.
But if he deliberately held back, losing too obviously…
Not to mention his pride wouldn’t allow it, everyone present were Hyuga Clan elites, especially the Clan Head and those elders—how could they not see through it?
If discovered to harbor disrespect toward the Main Family, the consequences could be even more severe.
In a flash, Neji had made his decision.
A difficult and humiliating one, yet fitting his precocious mindset.
“Yes, Clan Head.” “Yes, Father.” Neji and Hinata responded simultaneously.
The group moved to the spacious training room.
The wooden floor gleamed, the air filled with faint anti-moth herbal scent.
Neji and Hinata stood facing each other, forming the Rival Seal.
“Begin!” Hiashi gave the command.
Hinata appeared somewhat nervous, assuming the Gentle Fist stance, tentatively advancing to attack.
Her movements were standard but lacked power and experience, with many flaws.
Neji took a deep breath, his Byakugan activating instantly, making the surrounding world crystal clear.
He could easily see through Hinata’s every subtle movement, predicting her next step.
He had countless chances to end it with one strike.
But he couldn’t.
He suppressed his body’s instinctual counterattack desire, controlling his power and speed to a level “slightly above Hinata’s, but not forming absolute dominance.”
He precisely blocked Hinata’s attacks, occasionally countering just right, forcing her into disarray, yet always “missing by a hair” at key moments, unable to truly hit vitals, or being “luckily” dodged by Hinata.
He turned his fight into a meticulously controlled performance.
A hard-fought battle that showcased his “excellence” as a Branch Family genius while never threatening the Main Family lady’s face.
On the surface, the two exchanged blows evenly, chakra faintly clashing, palm winds whistling.
Hinata gave her all, her little face flushed red, sweat beading on her forehead.
Neji remained calm-faced and focused-eyed, but only he knew the inner struggle and humiliation.
He felt like a puppet controlled by strings, every movement devoid of freedom.
His desire for power, for breaking this invisible cage, became unprecedentedly intense in this oppressive spar.
From the corner of his eye, Neji could see his father Hizashi.
Father still knelt silently to the side, face calmly unmoving, but Neji could feel that beneath that apparent calm gaze hid pain and helplessness similar to his own, even deeper.
While Hiashi and the Main Family elders above nodded slightly under relatives’ commentary, seemingly quite satisfied with this “evenly matched” bout.
In their view, Neji this Branch Family genius had good strength, but was clearly deeply bound by the “Caged Bird” and Main Family supremacy ideology, knowing restraint and propriety—a “qualified,” reassuring tool.
“Enough, stop.” Hiashi finally spoke.
Neji and Hinata jumped back simultaneously, forming the reconciliation seal.
Hinata was panting, her face showing fatigue yet some excitement, seemingly thinking she performed well.
Neji’s breathing was steady, head slightly lowered, appearing somewhat fearful.
Hiashi first went to Hinata, pointing out several issues she exposed earlier; his tone was stern but carried concern.
Then he walked to Neji, patted his shoulder: “Well done, Neji. Your fundamentals are solid, and your grasp of combat timing has improved. As expected of Hizashi’s son—you haven’t disgraced the Hyuga name. Keep striving to become a sturdy force protecting the Main Family.”
This “praise” was like the harshest mockery, each word striking Neji’s heart.
Protecting the Main Family.
Was this the destined life of the Branch Family?
He lowered his head, answering in as steady a voice as possible: “I will heed Clan Head’s teachings and strive my utmost.”
The morning banquet and spar finally ended.
Neji followed his parents, silently leaving the Main Family’s suffocating mansion.
On the way home, New Year’s sunlight bathed him, yet he felt no warmth at all.
Even on vacation, Neji’s schedule was packed.
In the afternoon, his guidance teacher requested by his father Hizashi—Hyuga Homura, an jonin of the clan’s younger generation—arrived punctually.
Hyuga Homura was Branch Family-born but became a jonin young through outstanding talent and effort, somewhat renowned in the clan.
His personality was relatively open, and he took good care of Neji this genius junior.
After routine taijutsu and Gentle Fist guidance, the two took a short break.
Neji looked at Hyuga Homura drinking water, that long-suppressed thought surfacing again.
He hesitated, then mustered courage, casually asking: “Teacher Homura, I heard… recently, a mysterious person called ‘Shura’ invaded our clan territory?”
Hyuga Homura’s drinking paused, his face instantly turning grave.
He set down the cup, glanced around, and lowered his voice: “Neji, you’ve heard too?”
Neji nodded, his young face showing just the right curiosity and a trace of fear: “Mm… heard it was terrifying, even the elders…”
Hyuga Homura sighed, his face showing lingering fear, not hiding from Neji due to his age but feeling it necessary for the junior to know the outer dangers and Hyuga enemies.
He said gravely: “Terrifying doesn’t cover it… That night, I was right there.”
Fear flashed in his eyes, as if back in that night: “That Shura… was like a ghost in the darkness, appearing silently in the clan territory core! So many Hyuga ninja, plus Hokage-sama, Senior Kakashi, and other Konoha elites who arrived in time… yet couldn’t stop him at all! His speed was unbelievable, strength terrifying, and he had some never-before-seen bizarre ability that interfered with our Byakugan!”
Hyuga Homura’s tone trembled slightly: “We even had to close our Byakugan to see his figure, and he had nine summoned beasts as strong as elite jonin with various strange abilities, then… the four elders… sigh!”
“His summoned beasts used a barrier to isolate us, and right before everyone’s eyes, took the elders’ eyes, then vanished like ghosts along with those nine summoned beasts!”
“The whole process was swift and clean; so many elite jonin like us barely touched his clothes! That was… such despairing strength suppression!”
Neji’s heart raced, palms sweating.
Though he’d heard rumors, hearing it straight from his on-site jonin teacher brought a totally different shock and impact.
Shura’s image grew even taller, more mysterious, and more yearning-worthy in his heart.
What freedom of power!
Ignoring all rules, crushing all obstacles!
Hyuga Homura didn’t notice Neji’s subtle emotional shift and continued, tone more serious: “Moreover, Neji, you might not know. Even earlier, I took part in a reconnaissance mission against Hoshigakure.”
“Hoshigakure?” Neji timely showed confusion.
Hyuga Homura explained: “That’s the ninja village controlled by Shura!”
“Our squad had three people, all experienced jonin! But…” Hyuga Homura’s face showed humiliation and lingering fear: “We didn’t even see Shura! Near the border, we were intercepted by one of his subordinates… a woman.”
His voice sank: “That woman… was strong, extremely strong! We three were defeated almost without resistance… that power still makes my heart race thinking about it!”
Recalling that day’s near-death escape with Shisui Uchiha and Shirakumo Hayama, and those two god-like giants, Hyuga Homura still felt fear, but after a moment’s thought, concealed details like the woman having Sharingan.
Hyuga Homura suddenly gripped Neji’s shoulders firmly, staring into his eyes, utterly solemn: “Neji, remember this! Shura and his Star Ninja under him are the most dangerous enemies to our Hyuga Clan, even all of Konohagakure!”
“They’re powerful, ruthless, without bottom line! If you encounter anyone related to the Land of Stars on a mission, retreat and report immediately—never fight head-on! Understand?”
Neji looked at his teacher’s sincere worry and warning, yet his heart surged with the complete opposite stormy waves.
Enemies?
Most dangerous enemies?
But… this very “enemy” had briefly given him freedom he’d never felt again since the Caged Bird was branded!
Neji recalled that night, that mysterious figure quietly appearing in his room, finger lightly touching his forehead.
In that moment, the curse-like “Caged Bird” seal on his forehead—the mark constantly reminding him of his Branch Family prisoner status—temporarily lost its sensation!
That unbound, soul-lightening feeling, though brief, was like the fiercest poison, deeply imprinted in his soul!
And this clashed violently with the “arch-enemy” ideology his teacher instilled.
But he couldn’t show a hint.
He could only lower his head, answering submissively: “Yes, Teacher Homura, I’ve remembered.”
Yet in the depths of his downcast eyes, the flame called hatred burned even more fiercely toward this decaying Main Family system, toward those high-and-mighty Main Family members deciding the Branch Family’s fate!
Worship of Shura and yearning for his power crazily sprouted in his heart.
But he also knew his current self was too weak.
Weak to the point of not even qualifying to bear that “freedom,” unable to see a path to pursue that power.
Shura’s pity, to him, was like stars in the sky—distant and unattainable.
This realization made him yearn for power even more, to become strong enough to shatter this damned cage!
And his hatred for the Main Family’s hypocrisy, resentment toward fate, under this yearning’s nourishment, grew robust like a sapling!
After guidance ended, Neji respectfully bowed farewell to Hyuga Homura; his retreating figure leaving the training ground was even more solitary than when he arrived.
Back home, Neji didn’t see his father; his mother was tending potted plants on the veranda.
“Lady Mother.” Neji approached, knelt in salute, gaze turning to the potted plant.
“Ah, Neji is back.” Neji’s mother smiled and put down the scissors in her hand, saying to Neji: “Your father went to the clan meeting, and he probably won’t be back until evening. We’ll eat lunch by ourselves at noon. Wait a moment, okay.”
After saying that, she got up and walked toward the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Neji remained in his kneeling position, his pure white eyes staring at the potted plant, his gaze somewhat dazed.
There, a tender sprout was growing vigorously from the spot that had been clipped off.
Neji picked up his mother’s scissors and looked thoughtfully at the old branches and diseased branches clipped off beside the potted plant, as if seeing the Hyuga Clan, which was similarly decayed and morbid.
