https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-142-The-Envy-Inducing-Mountain-Koji-/12832205/
Chapter 143: The Bird Yearning for Freedom!
Chapter 143: The Bird Yearning for Freedom!
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"Hyuga Aotsuki!"
As soon as she returned to the Hyuga compound, Aotsuki was intercepted.
"Is there something you need?"
In the Hyuga clan, she maintained the guise of a weak and unassuming presence. Even her appearance was concealed.
She understood all too well that having a striking appearance in a branch family was far from beneficial.
Despite the Hyuga clan's good reputation in the village, their internal dynamics were far darker and more corrupt than the village leadership.
"The adult, Tokumitsu, has summoned you!"
The Hyuga ninja who spoke had a stoic expression, with a hint of arrogance, as if he held a higher status. However, the headband covering his forehead revealed he was just another branch family member, only loyal to the main family.
Some branch family members who had aligned themselves with the main family often looked down on their peers, sometimes even more harshly than the main family.
Perhaps this was the zeal of the converted.
"Yes!"
Aotsuki obediently followed the ninja. As they walked, her right leg moved slightly out of sync, clearly a prosthetic rather than a natural limb.
The excuse for the prosthetic was easy to come by.
During missions, using a cane was impractical, so the prosthetic was entirely reasonable.
This was why no one suspected her right leg had truly healed; they assumed it was just a prosthetic.
Life was a performance, and it all came down to acting!
Under Aotsuki's skilled disguise, no one suspected her true strength.
If she were to suddenly strike, she was confident she could severely wound or even destroy the entire Hyuga clan.
However, she was uncertain about the resistance of the Caged Bird seal to her Rinnegan, especially during its second activation phase.
She couldn't just pick a random main family member to test it.
If her Rinnegan were to be exposed, it would implicate Dohyo, making the Hyuga clan and the village her enemies.
This was the last thing she wanted, so she had to be cautious.
Soon, she was led to a grand and elegant main house in the Hyuga compound.
In the Hyuga clan, only the main family could reside here, with branch family members serving as guards and servants.
The Will of Fire!
It couldn't illuminate the inner workings of the clans.
Aotsuki's eyes flashed with a hint of mockery, but she quickly concealed it, maintaining her meek and timid appearance.
After entering the room and kneeling, she was addressed by an elderly man in pure black robes, his hair and beard white, who was preparing tea.
If a typical branch family member were to see this, they would immediately feel inferior, especially in the presence of a main family member, who would be trembling in fear.
"Know why you were summoned, Aotsuki?"
The old man, Tokumitsu, asked as he poured the tea.
"Lord Tokumitsu, I have no idea why you would summon me!"
Aotsuki's voice carried a tone of fear.
In terms of acting, even the most renowned actresses couldn't hold a candle to her.
After all, her life was a movie that couldn't be reshot. Before meeting Dohyo, if she hadn't mastered the art of disguise, she wouldn't have survived.
"Is it because we have been too lenient with you branch family members that you have forgotten the clan's rules and failed to report all the information on Uchiha Dohyo to the clan?"
Tokumitsu's tone grew more severe.
Indeed, this was the task the Hyuga clan had given her.
Since joining Team 404, the Hyuga clan had ordered her to gather information on Dohyo.
While Aotsuki did send back reports, they were all meaningless.
The clan was unsatisfied and was now preparing to discipline her.
Sage Mode!
A ticket to becoming a Kage-level ninja was too tempting for the Hyuga clan, which lacked high-level combatants.
It was no wonder they had their sights set on this. After all, the risk of losing a branch family member was minimal compared to the potential rewards.
"I apologize, Lord Tokumitsu. I will work harder to gather more information!"
Aotsuki bowed in 'fear,' perfectly embodying a branch family member terrified of the main family's punishment.
"This time, you must be taught a lesson to understand that any order from the main family must be followed without hesitation!"
Tokumitsu formed a hand seal and activated the Caged Bird seal.
Opportunity!
Aotsuki's eyes flashed with a glint of joy as she bowed.
This was why she had deliberately withheld any significant information.
She wanted to test the Caged Bird seal but needed to control the intensity. Being 'punished' by the main family was the perfect way to achieve this.
Carefully planned, she had created this opportunity.
Who would have thought that a seemingly insignificant branch family member, a girl with a prosthetic leg, would dare to scheme against the main family? And thus, her plan had succeeded.
"Ah!"
Hyuga Aotsuki clutched her head and screamed, her face contorted in unspeakable agony. The scene of a branch family member being reprimanded by the main family was her worst nightmare. The pain was so intense it felt like it was tearing her soul apart, making death seem preferable to life.
This was why branch family members would rather die than betray the main family. To those who had experienced the Cage Bird Seal, even death was a better fate than living as a caged bird.
Having seen many branch family members react this way and having tasted this pain herself, Aotsuki's performance was flawless. But inside, she was overjoying.
It worked!
It really worked!
The Rinnegan she had obtained during her second chakra awakening allowed her to endure the pain, making it manageable. This meant that when the main family activated the Cage Bird Seal to torture her, she could potentially neutralize the threat before it escalated.
Of course, this only applied to the weakened form of the seal. If the main family used it to its full potential to kill her, she had no confidence in her ability to survive. But for now, it was enough to confirm that the information Tohei had provided was accurate.
On the surface, Aotsuki looked like she was in excruciating pain, but in her heart, she was screaming in triumph.
'Ha ha ha!'
The path to freedom from the Cage Bird Seal had never been clearer. Tohei was truly her light, not that foolish 'Will of Fire.'
A little while later, Hyuga Toku stopped and said, "I hope this doesn't happen again!"
With that, he waved his hand, dismissing the collapsed Aotsuki as if he hadn't just used the Cage Bird Seal on her. This was the main family, with absolute power over the branch family, treating them worse than slaves. That was why branch family geniuses were so rare. A bird in a cage can never spread its wings and fly.
"Yes, Lord Toku!" Aotsuki bowed her head and dragged her 'exhausted' body away. The Hyuga branch family guards at the door ignored her, as this was a common occurrence. They had seen worse, even deaths.
Tap, tap!
As she walked down the polished wooden corridor, her head low, Aotsuki's face almost broke into a smile. She felt like a bird that had glimpsed the hope of freedom, and even the lingering pain felt like a blessing.
However, a young man stopped her. He wore a simple kimono and had a gentle demeanor, his eyes a pure white.
"I am assigning you as my personal bodyguard. You won't need to go to the battlefield anymore!" he declared without waiting for a response.
"...Yes, Lord Nisoku!" Aotsuki bowed respectfully. As a branch family member, she had no right to refuse an order from the main family, even if it was a kind gesture.
Thus, Aotsuki had to find a way to send a message to Tohei. If she couldn't speak, others could. Even the Hyuga clan couldn't easily defy a Shadow-level ninja.
Back in the Uchiha compound, Tohei was busy in his underground laboratory, so he didn't immediately receive the message. He was extracting the 'Natural Energy' potion, one of the rarest and most precious potions in his possession.
Just the ingredients alone were a testament to its rarity! The Fuso Tree!
Using this carefully cultivated plant as a base, how could it not be rare? He had a row of over a dozen bottles in front of him. The bottle in his hand contained a green liquid with a golden-red glow.
Yes, this time he had only managed to extract a little over one bottle. The complete one was the one in his hand, while the others were made from the leftover materials. But don't underestimate these Natural Energy potions. Their effects were no weaker than the ones he had refined the second time. The formula had been adjusted to release the effects slowly; otherwise, they would be highly toxic.
The current Fuso Tree was far more potent than the original, even the leftover materials had significantly enhanced effects. Using the initial version would instantly evaporate the user's body with scorching blood. Gradual progression was the key.
After finishing the Natural Energy potion, Tohei immediately began another experiment, one that required him to return to Konoha specifically.
(End of Chapter)
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