Buzz~~
When Hyuga Neji met Toshi's Byakugan gaze, he first noticed the gleaming white eyes, captivating and overwhelming.
But after staring for a long time, Toshi's mind began to feel foggy, and a sense of fear crept in. Under those eyes, it felt as if his body held no secrets at all. With these Byakugan eyes, everything could be seen!
"Cursed seal… such a powerful ability!" Neji blinked, hiding the sharpness in his eyes, but inside, his heart was unsettled.
It was his first time experiencing the cursed seal's power. Not only could it free him from the limitations of the "caged bird," but it could also awaken the full potential of his Byakugan.
When he opened his eyes, he could see through everything about the person targeted by his Byakugan.
He could even perceive chakra and muscle movements within another person's body, predicting their next action in an instant.
Now, his eyes could also improve chakra circulation efficiency. Under this enhancement, no genjutsu could escape the gaze of his eyes.
The "caged bird" was removed, and Neji was completely liberated.
"How does it feel?" Toshi asked, looking at Neji.
Even without words, the instant Neji opened his eyes, there was a special sensation.
"It's incredible. My Byakugan has been unleashed, and chakra flows endlessly into it through the cursed seal. Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise!" Neji explained his feelings to Toshi in detail, which helped Bai continue his own understanding.
"If I continue nurturing it like this, I feel my Byakugan will become even stronger, maybe even evolve like the Sharingan!"
The Byakugan had once been a Kekkei Genkai on par with the Sharingan, yet it had fallen to this state.
This was largely due to the main family's use of the caged bird technique.
Most of the main family members only waited idly; how could the Byakugan evolve under such conditions?
Still, the caged bird turned out to be a blessing in disguise, giving the Hyuga clan a chance to advance. From now on, the branch family would rise to prominence!
"Good, now I know what to do. This cursed seal finally has its purpose!" Toshi exhaled in relief as he listened to Neji's account.
"Yes, Mr. Toshi, what you've done for me and the branch family, I will never forget!" Neji said earnestly, though his brow suddenly furrowed.
"Uh…"
As he spoke, his face twisted in discomfort.
"What's wrong?" Toshi tensed, unsure what had happened.
"Nothing… my eyelid just started twitching again!" Neji covered his eyes, a sense of unease rising once more.
It felt like something was about to happen.
Now, the only thing that worried him was his mother in Konoha!
"Your eyelid is twitching again?" Toshi frowned. He had been observing Neji's current state. Good, his body showed no abnormalities at all.
He didn't understand what was happening. Could it really be a lingering effect of the merged Shikotsumyaku?
Toshi couldn't make sense of it.
"No… I have to return to Konoha!" Neji slowly lifted his head. But his face was already filled with worry. "If possible, I want to bring my mother to free the caged bird!"
For some reason, Neji now desperately wanted to go home. Very, very much.
If he could, he wanted to tell his mother this good news himself.
"Alright, be careful!" Toshi nodded, his tone serious. "Your relationships within the Hyuga clan in Konoha seem strained. Try not to create conflicts with them if possible."
Toshi feared that after Neji removed the caged bird, he might directly attack the Hyuga main family!
Such an action could seriously affect Genya's future plans, so he gave this warning as Neji prepared to leave.
"Don't worry, I'll be careful!" Neji nodded. He naturally understood Toshi's concern. "If they don't provoke me, I absolutely won't provoke them."
After freeing the caged bird, Neji could suppress his anger enough to make such a promise. That alone showed respect to Toshi and Genya!
If it were anyone else with Neji's abilities, they would have already gone on a killing spree.
"Neji, I'll go back with you!" Hyuga Aomatsu stepped forward, his eyes filled with determination.
He also wanted to return home and bring his wife and child out, so Toshi could lift the curse seal.
"Fine!" Neji nodded, then added, "But if you hold me back, I won't help you!"
With that said,
Neji led the way out of the underground laboratory, followed by Hyuga Aomatsu.
From behind, Neji's voice could still be heard asking, "What about that clan member with you?"
Hyuga Aomatsu replied, "He still needs time to recover from his injuries. And… all his family are dead. Two of them were killed by the main family!"
The Konoha Hyuga clan!
"Won't you speak? Where is Neji?" The Eighth Elder loomed over Neji's mother, who was barely clinging to life, stepping on her.
High above, domineering.
"I… don't know!" Neji's mother looked up. Her eyes were completely bloodshot, and her vision blurred. "You… kill me… cough…"
As she spoke, she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Now, all she wanted was death.
"Want to die? Dream on. The moment that useless little Neji returns, that will be your end!" The Eighth Elder curled a contemptuous smile, his tone cold and heavy.
"Eighth Elder… her spirit has reached its limit. Please, let her go!" Hyuga Sanmei, looking battered from the torture, stood up once more, his voice still pleading.
"You still wish to plead for her?" The Eighth Elder looked at Sanmei, his tone sharp and cold. "It seems that what I did to you earlier wasn't enough. Do you really think you can speak in front of me?"
"I am Hinata Hizashi's brother. Now that his wife suffers like this, I cannot stand by!" Hyuga Sanmei's voice carried stubbornness and determination.
"Hizashi is the clan leader's brother. If he knew that you treated his wife this way, what would he think?"
"Heh… the clan leader?" The Eighth Elder sneered at Sanmei. "This is the decision of all of us elders. Even if he knew, what difference would it make?"
"But you… you refuse to let Hizashi's wife suffer? Then I will have to come to your home!"
"Eighth Elder, you…" Hyuga Sanmei's anger flared.
He still wanted to defend Neji's mother. He could risk himself to fight the caged bird seal, but he had to think of his own wife and children. The strength of this caged bird seal—his family truly could not endure it.
So… he dared not speak the rest of his thoughts.
Sanmei could only give a bitter smile. The Hyuga clan was finished… truly finished.
"Hmph. You want to plead for someone? Do you even deserve that?" The Eighth Elder snorted, tapping Sanmei's head a few times, then shoved him forcefully. Hyuga Sanmei, already numb from the pain, fell to the ground.
"Sanmei… Sanmei!" The other members of the branch family hurried to help him up, supporting him as they moved him back into the ranks.
Then came the cold voice of the Eighth Elder:
"Hang this woman outside the clan. I want everyone in Konoha to know her fate. And Neji must know as well."
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