After that day, Hakushi felt that his relationship with Ruri had been getting strange.
Although on the surface nothing seemed different—passing notes during class as usual, training at night as usual—Ruri seemed to have reverted to the demeanor she had when they first met, silent and cold, rarely speaking.
And so a few days passed like this.
On this day, Hakushi went to school as usual, but when the first class was about to start, he realized that Ayane, who usually sat to his left, was absent.
This struck Hakushi as very odd.
As a member of the Hyuga Branch Family, though not as esteemed as the Main Family, Ayane maintained the family's customary decorum, and would not do something like skipping class or being tardy.
It wasn't until the first class was nearly over that footsteps sounded outside the door.
It was a girl with long, straight black hair reaching her waist.
Ayane stood alone at the doorway, silent, biting her lip as if she might break the skin, the atmosphere around her shrouded in sadness and despair.
Even stranger was the white ribbon tied around Ayane's forehead. It didn't look bad, but the sudden change felt abrupt and unsettling.
Before this, Ayane would never wear such a conspicuous accessory on her forehead.
The homeroom teacher, Teacher Fujimura, glanced at Ayane, initially intending to rebuke her, but upon sensing the deep despair and sadness emanating from Ayane, sighed lightly, as if understanding something, and said calmly, "Come in. Remember not to be late next time."
Ayane nodded and walked to her seat amidst the strange and puzzled eyes of the others, sitting down.
"Good morning, Hakushi-kun."
Ayane tried to greet Hakushi as usual, but her smile was forced, and tears seemed unstoppable in her eyes.
Without waiting for Hakushi's response, she buried her head in her desk, as if being seen like this was a shame, inviting ridicule and disdain.
And it really happened; the other students looked at her with strange eyes, whispered among themselves, pointing and gesturing, as if they knew something too.
But the students who didn't know the truth were merely curious and concerned about Ayane.
Hakushi, full of questions, wisely chose not to ask.
Ruri, on the other hand, glanced past Hakushi at Ayane without saying a word.
—Ruri, do you know what's happened to Ayane?
The relationship had progressed, so the 'classmate' suffix was omitted.
A note with this question was passed to Ruri.
Being from a noble family, Ruri surely knew something.
—What else could it be? Naturally, it's the Hyuga Clan's 'fine' tradition.
The words "fine" were in quotation marks, clearly filled with sarcasm in Ruri's sentence.
The Hyuga Clan's 'fine' tradition?
Hakushi didn't know what that meant, but it was clear that Ayane's condition was inevitably related to this 'fine' tradition of the Hyuga Clan.
What on earth could it be?
Unable to figure it out, Hakushi gave up.
At noon, Hakushi and Ruri had lunch together.
"Hey, Ruri, what is that Hyuga Clan tradition you mentioned?"
Hakushi, unable to resist his curiosity, asked this question.
Ruri was silent for a moment and then replied, "This isn't a secret among the ninja race. Most of the Chunin and Jonin in the village have heard about it. The Hyuga Clan has a long-standing, difficult-to-accept tradition: the division between the Main Family and the Branch Family."
"Is there something wrong with the division between the Main Family and the Branch Family?"
"The Branch Family must assume the duty and responsibility of protecting the Main Family."
"That seems normal, though."
Hakushi couldn't understand.
Those of lower status protecting those of higher status, though not fair, is a stable 'societal' structure.
Society is one of distinct classes and levels.
Therefore, in Hakushi's eyes, members of the Hyuga Branch Family protecting those of the Hyuga Main Family is a normal development trend.
"If that were all, it wouldn't be anything unusual. But to ensure the Branch Family wholeheartedly protects the Main Family, and to prevent the Hyuga Clan's bloodline from spreading outside, there lies the cause of control over the Branch Family."
"Control?"
Hakushi was taken aback.
"Yes, control, in the truest sense," Ruri said seriously, glancing at Hakushi. "For the safety of the Main Family, the Branch Family must voluntarily bear a kind of Curse Seal called the 'Caged Bird.' This means that the Main Family holds the power over the life and death of the Branch Family. If any member of the Branch Family harbors ill intentions or fails to fulfill their duties and responsibilities, the Main Family can use the Curse Seal to instantly execute the member of the Branch Family who bears it."
"..."
"In other words, Ayane now… her life and death are held by an outsider. If she harbors dissatisfaction or murderous intent towards the Main Family, they have the right to beat, even to execute her."
Hakushi thought of something and said, "Then the Curse Seal's location must be…"
"Yes, the Seal placed upon her is on Ayane's forehead. That's why she covers it with a ribbon. Whether it's so-called duty or nominal protection of the Main Family, claiming it's the Branch Family's reason for existence, that Curse Seal is an undeniable 'slave' mark."
Hakushi fell silent.
A voice inside continuously told him that Konoha was a terrifying organization, and such things occurring within were not surprising.
Though he resisted the idea, Hakushi realized he could do nothing.
This is the helplessness and compromise known as reality.
To Ayane, the mark of 'slave' branded on her forehead must be far more cruel than death.
What a scary era this is!
If such things occurred in the shadows, Hakushi could barely accept it, but to be public about the Hyuga Clan's stipulations meant something else.
Publicly treating a part of their clan as 'slaves' with no concealment—what does it signify?
Hakushi looked toward Kage Rock in Konoha, where three Hokage statues were carved, symbolizing their great achievements.
Especially the First and Second Hokage brothers, hailed by the world as those who ended the Warring States chaos.
Then what?
The warfare continued.
No different from the Warring States era, children would still be sent to the battlefield.
Nothing seemed to change.
The only change was forming larger villages from Ninja Clans and the establishment of the one country, one village system.
Hakushi suddenly found the existence of Kage Rock filled with irony.
If the idea of a family unit is like this, then from the start, the Hyuga Clan's tradition was incompatible with Konoha.
Logically, such a Ninja Race shouldn't be allowed into Konoha Village, guided by the 'Will of Fire.'
This clan's tradition best denies the 'Will of Fire.'
If they cannot cherish their clan members, is it believable that such a clan would love and protect the whole village?
Hakushi marked a big question on this issue.
Ultimately, he sighed, not saying anything aloud.
Growing alongside Ruri these days, he almost forgot that he was an 'outcast' to this village and would inevitably become a 'traitor.'
But the peaceful life nearly made him forget his status as a 'traitor,' and he couldn't help but want to fit into this village.
Thinking of this, Hakushi broke into a cold sweat.
Complacency truly leads to downfall.
From the start, he never had the slightest allegiance to Konoha.
He was grateful for Konoha teaching him the ways of a ninja, but that gratitude was purely educational.