I, Konoha's Sage of Life-Chapter 163: Do you even understand what it feels like to live as a slave?

Chapter 163 - 163: Do you even understand what it feels like to live as a slave?

However—

Before that, Kyoichi had one thing he needed to take care of.

The Hyuga Clan!

The research institute and the Wood Release project would benefit all of Konoha. Every shinobi and clan could gain from it. While it wasn't feasible to invite every jonin and clan leader to a meeting, it was necessary to select a few representative jonin.

And the Hyuga Clan was indispensable.

However...

The ANBU Tsunade sent had hit a soft wall.

"Hiashi said he wants the ANBU captain to see him? Is this about that young Hyuga, Mukai?"

"That's what I suspect too."

Tsunade nodded.

Hiashi had always cooperated with Konoha, and only matters of great importance to the Hyuga would prompt him to act like this.

"We did keep this from Hiashi, after all..."

"Let's just pretend we didn't. I'll go over myself and see."

It was nearly dusk.

Kyoichi put on his mask and disguised himself using the Transformation Jutsu before heading toward the Hyuga compound.

Of course, Transformation Jutsu wouldn't fool the Hyuga Clan.

This disguise was little more than covering one's ears while stealing a bell—completely transparent. But Kyoichi didn't want to show up with his silver hair on full display. Anyone who saw it would immediately know who he was. That would be even more awkward.

At the Hyuga compound—

Hiashi sat in the main hall, the guest room prepared, tea set in place, waiting quietly.

"Lord Patriarch, shall I pour you some tea?"

"No need..."

Hiashi shook his head.

No point pouring tea before the guest arrived.

He sat with eyes closed, quietly waiting. After a moment, he opened his eyes. The veins around them bulged, and the Byakugan gave him insight into everything around.

"Go ahead and pour the tea."

"Yes, sir."

The maid carefully poured tea into two cups.

"You may go."

"Yes."

The moment she left the hall, a figure silently appeared—swift and stealthy. Without the Byakugan, Hiashi wouldn't have sensed his approach in time.

Hiashi now had a new measure of Kyoichi's strength.

He abandoned any thoughts of exerting pressure and gestured to the seat ahead. "Jonin Kanda, please have a seat."

"Clan Head Hiashi, I'm not officially the captain yet, but I'm well-informed about ANBU operations. Whatever you'd like to say, feel free."

Kyoichi was straightforward.

Hiashi sipped his tea, then spoke, "Your ANBU unit has a shinobi from the branch Hyuga line, correct?"

"Yes, his name is Kohinata Mukai, currently under the Owl division."

Kyoichi didn't hide it.

"I want to know... has he awakened the Byakugan? That branch family originally split from our Hyuga Clan."

"The next generation after the split didn't develop the Byakugan, so I didn't pay it much mind. But during the battle with the Iwa-nin, I heard he used the Gentle Fist..."

Hiashi's expression was grave. "Please, Jonin Kanda, tell me the truth. The Hyuga Clan would be most grateful."

"I honestly didn't pay close attention. As you know, there were too many enemies back then... But some time ago, he did trade merit for the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing."

Kyoichi frowned, feigning ignorance.

"Reverse Four Symbols Sealing?"

Hiashi froze, then recalled the technique's effect:

Upon the user's death, the seal automatically activates, sealing everything—including the user's own body.

That...

He hadn't expected that at all.

With that in play, requesting to apply the Caged Bird Seal to Kohinata Mukai would appear unreasonable.

"Hiashi-sama, are you saying Mukai truly possesses the Byakugan? But his lineage should've diverged generations ago... If that's the case, perhaps it's an atavistic trait in his bloodline."

Kyoichi offered a thoughtful analysis. "Medically speaking, it's rare, but possible. Here's a suggestion: why not meet with him face-to-face and have a conversation?"

"That would be ideal. Thank you, Jonin Kanda."

Hiashi breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

He'd been unsure how to bring up the issue with Kyoichi, but now that Kyoichi had offered, it was perfect.

A moment later, Kyoichi asked again, "If I may ask... do you think he learned the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing specifically to avoid the Caged Bird Seal?"

"It's certainly possible."

Hiashi didn't believe Kyoichi was entirely unaware, but even so, he wouldn't call him out directly.

Besides...

If Mukai had truly learned the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing, then Kyoichi and Tsunade had shown him considerable respect by not making things difficult.

And in that instant—

A thought suddenly flashed through Hiashi's mind.

If so... could the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing be used as a partial substitute for the Caged Bird Seal?

It couldn't be applied broadly, but at the very least, to Hizashi's child...

Just then, Kyoichi summoned a slug clone to initiate contact.

Hiashi asked, "Jonin Kyoichi, how difficult is the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing?"

"S-rank."

Kyoichi was blunt.

After a short pause, he continued, "If you're considering it as a replacement for the Caged Bird Seal, I'm afraid it's not a viable solution."

An S-rank sealing technique...

That meant—even for a jonin, mastering it would be extraordinarily difficult.

Hiashi fell silent. He understood full well.

Once the Caged Bird Seal was applied, it couldn't be undone. But the difficulty of the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing meant even most jonin wouldn't be able to learn it.

Unless he was willing to break the tradition of applying the seal before age three, there was no way to let Hizashi's children escape the fate of the Caged Bird.

"I'd like to know—do you want only Hizashi's descendants to be free of the Caged Bird, or are you hoping to save the entire branch family from its curse?"

"Is there a difference?"

Hiashi frowned. To him, they were one and the same.

Kyoichi nodded. "There's a difference. The first can be done. Just keep the child in the village until he learns the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing. But the second would require modifying the Caged Bird Seal—solving the problem at its root."

"Modify the Caged Bird Seal?"

Hiashi was stunned. Then he recalled Kyoichi's research institute.

Was the institute's purpose... not just ninjutsu research, but also delving into the secrets of the clans?

"Don't misunderstand. We're not targeting secret clan techniques. You've read my proposal—our goal is to benefit the greater public. But the Hyuga Clan has contributed greatly to Konoha. If needed, we're happy to assist."

"As for the institute's oversight, we plan to appoint Elder Mitokado as supervisor."

Him?

Hiashi was surprised, but his respect for Kyoichi increased.

Mitokado Homura's character was known to all of Konoha. With him in charge, there was no way anyone could act outside ethical bounds.

He nodded. "To be honest, I was originally against the idea of the institute. But under these conditions... it might be worthwhile."

"The Caged Bird was created to keep the Byakugan from leaking. I understand the Hyuga's concern. But Hiashi-sama... this system of main and branch families—if left unchecked—will eventually lead to disaster."

"You likely don't understand the Caged Bird well enough."

"Medically, it's not hard to guess. For it to work that way, the seal must affect neural pathways in the brain. Once a seal is placed there, it's nearly impossible to remove."

Kyoichi smiled. "You may control their lives... but not their will—ah, he's here. Why not speak to him directly?"

"...Very well."

Even when the most taboo topic of the Hyuga came up, Hiashi remained graceful—every bit the patriarch of a great clan.

At that moment, an ANBU appeared at the door.

He removed his cat-mask.

Kohinata Mukai!

Hiashi narrowed his eyes slightly, stood up, and brought over a teacup—preparing to pour the tea himself.

Mukai didn't expect Hiashi to be so courteous and quickly said, "Hiashi-sama, no need for tea... I figured you'd seek me out. I didn't think it'd be so soon. Let's be direct."

"You've mastered the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing?"

"Yes."

Mukai lifted his shirt, exposing his chest. With deliberate control, the seal pattern surfaced.

The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing!

"May I look at your eyes?"

"I've long known that with these eyes, if I used them on the battlefield, I'd eventually be found out."

Mukai let out a bitter sigh.

Then, he raised his head and opened his left eye.

A Byakugan!

"You knew, and still used it?"

Hiashi was baffled.

Mukai was clever. He had thought everything through—right down to using the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing to avoid the Caged Bird.

But...

If Mukai never used the Byakugan or Gentle Fist, the Hyuga Clan would never have known.

"Some things... are more important."

Mukai said simply, "If I use it, I'll face the consequences. But if you try to mark me with the Caged Bird—then you won't even get my corpse."

"Why? The Caged Bird only restricts the use of your eye. It wouldn't kill you, and—"

"Hiashi-sama, the Caged Bird... that name is all too fitting. Before it's applied, I'm a person. After it's applied—I'm a pet. A slave."

A sarcastic and defiant smile crept across Mukai's face.

This was the real him.

The restraint earlier had only been for Kyoichi's sake.

But now—these words were from his heart.

Hiashi's words had provoked him.

The main family, always looking down from above...

It was as if, to him, the Caged Bird Seal was some kind of blessing.

How ironic.

He glanced up at the ceiling and gave a silent laugh.

"As a member of the main family... do you even understand what it feels like to live as a slave?"

"Slave? Is that really how you see the branch family?"

Hiashi opened his mouth, then finally let out a quiet sigh.

"You may have had a thousand reasons... but from where I stand, being branded with a mark of shame on the forehead—how is that any different from being a slave?"

Mukai didn't bow in humiliation.

He didn't kneel like a subordinate, or show the courtesy of a clansman.

He simply straightened his back and sat up tall.

Though he said no more, everything about his posture declared one thing—

He chose to live as a man, not a slave.

"Captain... you taught me what it means to be human.

But to me, the most important thing is still my dignity—

and that's something I'll protect with my life."

"...Forgive me."

Mukai dropped to his knees before Kyoichi.

He knew.

What he said had surely brought shame upon the Hyūga.

Hiashi might no longer show him any tolerance as an outlier...

But he didn't regret it.

Even if it meant death, he had to speak from the heart—

not hide behind polite lies.

"...I have no intention of reclaiming your Byakugan, nor will I impose the Caged Bird Seal.

Let it be.

As for the research institute, the Hyūga won't stand in its way.

And the matter you brought up, Kyoichi... I'll give it careful thought."

Hiashi seemed a little dispirited.

But in his ears, Mukai's words continued to echo—

Do you even understand what it feels like to live as a slave?

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