"This... where is this?!"
Hyuga Mio felt a hand touch her shoulder, and the next moment, she found herself in a bright yet unfamiliar place. Around her were various precise-looking instruments. Orochimaru's Shadow Clone was intently researching something, not even glancing at her arrival.
"This is my Laboratory, my private space. Very few people know about this place, not even my sensei."
Orochimaru still chose to leave a Shadow Clone in the Laboratory. Given the Shadow Clone's vulnerability to damage, it could easily be exposed, especially since among the people she frequently interacted with, there was someone who liked to hit others. If the Shadow Clone were hit and 'poof' disappeared in a puff of smoke, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Come with me to the room over here. While I examine your body, tell me what happened. What made you change your mind and agree to let me research the Caged Bird Curse Mark? I'm very curious and interested."
Orochimaru walked ahead, observing Hyuga Mio from the corner of her eye.
Hyuga Mio followed behind Orochimaru, looking at her back, and opened her mouth.
"During training with the Main House members, I couldn't suppress the hatred in my heart for the Main House. The Main House members noticed it and punished me with the Caged Bird."
Lying on the bed, Hyuga Mio explained why she had come to Orochimaru and why she was in such a disheveled state.
Anyone enduring the agony of a splitting headache and eyes that felt like they were about to explode, writhing on the ground, would be disheveled.
"So that's how it is..."
Orochimaru listened as Hyuga Mio recounted why she had become this way. She looked at the scratches on her forehead; the blood had already clotted and was about to scab. She took the examination report from the Shadow Clone's hand and reviewed Hyuga Mio's various bodily data.
"No matter how much the Branch House hates the Main House, they shouldn't show it in front of the Main House, should they?"
Orochimaru held the report in one hand and used the Mystical Palm Technique to heal the scratches on Hyuga Mio's forehead with the other.
She was still a child, making it difficult to hide the hatred in her heart for the Main House.
It seems this generation's head of the Hyuga Clan is far less magnanimous than Hyuga Hiashi; he's surprisingly petty!
Compared to Hyuga Hiashi's minor punishments for Hizashi and Hyuga Neji, that was considered gentle, especially since they both harbored killing intent towards Hyuga Hinata.
No matter how weak Hyuga Hinata was, she was still the daughter of the Hyuga Clan's leader. To harbor killing intent towards his daughter right in front of Hyuga Hiashi, what kind of behavior was that?
Hizashi's killing intent towards Hyuga Hinata also contained his own unwillingness. He was unwilling for his son, Hyuga Neji, who possessed talent surpassing that of Main House members, to be subjected to the Caged Bird Curse Mark, destined to fulfill the duty of protecting the Main House bloodline for his entire life, with only death bringing release.
He was unwilling that the mediocre and timid Hyuga Hinata was a Main House member, free from the shackles of the Caged Bird Curse Mark.
All of this became the fuse that ignited his killing intent towards Hyuga Hinata. Ultimately, it was a problem with the Main House and Branch House system.
If the Caged Bird Curse Mark was merely used to protect untalented and unqualified Branch House members, preventing their Byakugan from being stolen, why was it used to oppress the Branch House?
Perhaps the Caged Bird Curse Mark's existence was initially to protect untalented and mediocre clan members, preventing them from becoming targets for those coveting the Byakugan.
But how many formidable experts does the Hyuga Clan have now?
The Main House, which should have been more talented, stronger, and protected the Branch House in terms of bloodline, talent, and aptitude, instead became the protected party, requiring the Branch House to sacrifice their lives to protect them.
The existence of the Caged Bird Curse Mark ensured that the Branch House could never escape the Main House's control, always remaining the oppressed party.
In Orochimaru's view, the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird Curse Mark genuinely protected the Byakugan, but it also genuinely enslaved the Branch House. Otherwise, why wouldn't the Main House inflict the Caged Bird Curse Mark upon themselves?
What?
Are they afraid that some Main House members are masochists who punish themselves for no reason?
Or perhaps the Main House has split into multiple factions?
Maybe they are unwilling to abandon the Main House and Branch House system?
Unwilling to give up their easily commanded Branch House slaves?
Afraid of having their Byakugan stolen?
Does the Main House intend to stay cooped up in Konoha forever, enjoying its protection?
Impossible. In the original story, Ao's Byakugan was obtained from a Main House member. Moreover, Hyuga Hinata went on missions outside the Village multiple times in the original story, and Main House members frequently left Konoha.
Would those who wanted to steal the Byakugan let go of so many opportunities?
The Hyuga Clan's Main House and Branch House system was truly too twisted, illogical in every sense.
If someone controlled a Main House member, for example, if Black Zetsu controlled a Main House member and directly activated all the Branch House's Caged Bird Curse Marks... Oh dear~ the Hyuga Clan would no longer have a distinction between Main House and Branch House.
Could it be that the Main House doesn't apply the Caged Bird Curse Mark to themselves precisely to guard against such a potential occurrence?
It's just unknown if White Zetsu, after absorbing a Main House member's Chakra and transforming into that person, could activate the Caged Bird Curse Mark?
"I'm unwilling..."
Hyuga Mio gritted her teeth, clenching her fists until her fingernails dug deep into her skin and flesh, blood slowly oozing from between her fingers.
"Unwilling, are you..."
Orochimaru finished treating the wound on Hyuga Mio's forehead, then walked over and picked up a helmet-like device with many connected wires, handing it to Hyuga Mio.
"So you came to me. Are you so sure I can undo the Caged Bird Curse Mark? I've said before that the purpose of the Caged Bird Curse Mark is to protect the Byakugan, but your Hyuga Clan's Main House seems to use the Caged Bird Curse Mark as a tool to enslave and punish the Branch House."
"This is..."
Hyuga Mio looked at the device in her hand.
"I need to examine your cranial nerves. The Caged Bird Curse Mark is connected to your cranial nerves. You didn't think I could just undo the Caged Bird Curse Mark by casually looking at it, did you?"
Orochimaru paused here, then a sinister expression appeared on her face as she said, "Or perhaps you'd like me to open your head and observe the Caged Bird Curse Mark's effects on your cranial nerves more directly?"
Hyuga Mio's eyes widened a bit, and her hand trembled, almost dropping the device she held.
"Just kidding. I wouldn't do it without your permission."
Orochimaru shrugged, seeing Hyuga Mio tensing up from her scare.
"Please don't make such jokes."
Hyuga Mio put on the device and lay on the hospital bed. She could feel needles pricking various parts of her head, precisely where the different nerves of the brain were located.
Beep—!
The instruments in the room emitted beeping sounds, and the light from the screen shone on Orochimaru's face. Her expression was focused as she looked at the data on the screen.
The Caged Bird Curse Mark connects not only to the occipital lobe but also to the cerebellum?
No wonder the Caged Bird can destroy the brain. Once the Caged Bird Curse Mark is fully activated, the power spreading from the occipital lobe and cerebellum will destroy both the Byakugan and the brain, not only preventing enemies from obtaining the Byakugan but also ensuring no intelligence can be gathered.
A corpse with an intact brain is an intelligence treasure trove. It must be said that the Hyuga Clan ancestors who developed the Caged Bird Curse Mark were truly impressive.
"Is it very difficult?"
Hyuga Mio stood behind Orochimaru, seeing her continuously staring at the instrument's screen.
"Do you want to completely undo the Caged Bird Curse Mark, or... retain some of its functions?"
Orochimaru looked at Hyuga Mio from the corner of her eye.
"What do you mean?"
Hyuga Mio frowned.
"It means retaining the Caged Bird Curse Mark, but without being controlled by the Main House. I've said more than once that the Caged Bird Curse Mark is a protection for the Byakugan. Those who want the Byakugan, upon realizing they cannot obtain the Byakugan from a Hyuga Branch House member with the Caged Bird Curse Mark, will naturally seek a different target."
Orochimaru turned around, leaned back against the instrument, and watched Hyuga Mio with her arms crossed.
"The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan is also known as the Insight Eye and the See-Through Eye. You know better than I do what abilities the Byakugan possesses. A Ninja who isn't a sensory Ninja can become one by simply having a Byakugan, its value is self-evident.
Mio, being born into the Hyuga Clan is your fortune, granting you talent far exceeding that of ordinary Ninja. But being born into the Hyuga Clan is also your misfortune, because you are not a Main House member."
The Main House members protect their own interests, and the Branch House naturally isn't willing to constantly give and be oppressed... Ultimately, what the Branch House members resent is why they weren't born into the Main House.
Orochimaru had no interest in the Hyuga Clan's internal squabbles. Rotten things should continue to rot and disappear into the dust of history. However, she was interested in the Caged Bird Curse Mark.
If the Caged Bird Curse Mark, which can restrict ocular jutsu, could temporarily restrict ocular jutsu, she could take preemptive measures when facing Ninja with ocular jutsu.
After all, Konoha isn't the only one with ocular jutsu in this world.
"Then, what about you? Your interest in the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan..."
Hyuga Mio stared at Orochimaru, veins bulging at her temples, her Byakugan turning bluish-white as if to pierce through Orochimaru entirely. Before she could finish her sentence, Orochimaru interrupted her.
"I have no interest in your Hyuga Clan's Byakugan. I am interested in the Caged Bird Curse Mark that restricts ocular jutsu."
"Orochimaru, I can't come to you often."
Hyuga Mio worried that her frequent visits to Orochimaru would attract the Main House's attention.
"It's fine, I just need you to cooperate with me on some experiments. What I need to do is develop a new curse mark based on the Caged Bird Curse Mark. Without further ado, before you leave, let me collect data with your Byakugan activated."
Orochimaru enthusiastically pulled Hyuga Mio towards the bed in the center of the room.
Is this her truest side?
Hyuga Mio looked at Orochimaru, who was more energetic than usual.
Regarding the Caged Bird Curse Mark, I still need to read more related books.
Orochimaru thought of Dora·Danzo·A Dream.
Lord Danzo must have a way to satisfy my needs, right?
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