Chapter 9


    That night, after switching shifts with another Root squad, Neiki returned to the Hyugapound.


    Before he could go upstairs, the olddy who ran the pancake shop next door, a member of the Hyuga branch family, pulled him aside.


    “Neiki, did you see the notice about the n meeting?” she asked excitedly.


    Just like the Uchiha n had ordinary people who couldn’t awaken their Sharingan, the Hyuga n also had members who couldn’t activate their Byakugan. While the Byakugan was easier to awaken than the Sharingan, it still had specific requirements.


    Take the old pancakedy, for instance. Although she had Hyuga blood, she was a regr person who couldn’t even sense chakra. On the other hand, her son had sessfully awakened the Byakugan and became a ninja, but even at nearly thirty years old, he was still just a regr Chunin.


    Neiki, on the other hand, was about to be promoted to Jonin, highlighting how much talent mattered in the harsh world of ninjas.


    “Yes, I saw it. What about it?”


    A notice from the Hyuga main house had been posted on the bulletin board, and Neiki had seen it on his way home.


    “It’s a full n meeting. Doesn’t that mean everyone can attend?” The olddy was thrilled, and her Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird crinkled and wrinkled her forehead.The Hyuga n''s Caged Bird system distinguished the central family from the branch family. The prominent family members were the true inheritors responsible for protecting and advancing the Hyuga n. In contrast, the branch family members protected them as the central family''s shields and spears.


    As the Hyuga n expanded over the centuries, some branch family members did not perform these protective roles due to theirck of power. Instead, they managed the n''s various businesses and industries, like this old pancakedy. Their numbers were small but significant.


    In this world, ordinary people still make up the majority.


    While Neji and Neiki saw the Caged Bird seal as a curse, these ordinary branch family members saw it as a prestigious symbol of their Hyuga identity.


    They supported tradition and the central family. The current n head, Hiashi Hyuga, was revered like their father. The Hyuga bloodline gave them a higher status and better benefits than the othermon folk in Konoha.


    However, the main house required at least a Chunin rank, even for gatekeepers. No matter how eager these ordinary folks were, they were often overlooked. During n festivals, non-ninja Hyuga members couldn’t enter the ancestral shrine and had to watch from afar.


    The n head’s announcement excited even these usually invisible ordinary members. A whole n meeting meant everyone could participate, right?


    Neiki thought of the pancakedy’s constant delivery of pancakes to his home after his father’s death and replied gently:


    “It’s unlikely. The meeting is mainly to discuss how to deal with the recent external threats against the branch family.”


    “Aren’t I part of the branch family?” The olddy’s eyes sparkled. “It’s been so long since I saw Lord Hiashi. I wonder if he’s gained weight or if he’s eating well…”


    “Good point.”


    Neiki decided not to argue further. The first announcement didn’t consider the ordinary members with ck eyes. He would send another notice excluding them from the n meeting to ensure the space wasn’t overcrowded with those who couldn’t provide Byakugan essence.


    After escorting the olddy back to her pancake shop, her son, Chōfu, she was stood at the door, bowing slightly to Neiki.


    “Deima is gone, and so is Tsuki. Everyone in the branch family is worried. Please take care of yourself, Neiki.” The olddy held Neiki’s hand.


    Neiki could only nod.


    After she went inside, Neiki turned to Chōfu and said:


    “You shouldn’t attend the n meeting.”


    Chōfu was taken aback, his anxious expression slowly disappearing. He hesitated before asking:


    “Why?”


    “Taking care of your mother is more important,” Neiki replied.


    “I don’t need you to tell me that. I’m not just my mother’s son; I’m a member of the Hyuga branch family. You have no right to order me around!” Chōfu retorted.


    Take care of my mother?


    I don’t need you to tell me that!


    It’s just a n meeting. What could go wrong?


    Due to hisck of talent, Chōfu was rarely summoned by the central family, so he cherished this opportunity.


    “Alright.” Seeing Chōfu’s determination, Neiki decided to leave it at that.


    When the time came, he would bestow upon him the honor he deserved as a Hyuga.


    Although his Byakugan purity was low, every little bit counted.


    Neiki returned to his small house.


    “I saw that! You put your hand on your thigh again!”


    “That’s not how you use Gentle Fist!”


    “How many times do I have to tell you? Move your feet with it!”


    “Yes, that’s the stance. Now, hit me!”


    “What kind of punch is that? It’s so weak!”


    Hearing Neji’s angry shouts and Hanabi’s tearful apologies from the room, Neiki raised an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt. He started preparing dinner, only knocking on their door once it was ready twenty minutester.


    Neji continued to correct Hanabi’s gentle fist stances at the dinner table until Neiki couldn’t stand it anymore, which made him stop.


    “You should know when to do what,” Neiki chided.


    “Brother, you’re lecturing again,” Nejiined, shaking his head.


    “Stillining? Hmph, in a few days, you won’t have the chance to hear it anymore,” Neiki scoffed.


    The brothers had long developed a deep bond, at least from Neji’s perspective. He never imagined Neiki might suddenly turn traitor, so he asked:


    “Do you have another mission?”


    “Yes, a long-term one,” Neiki said, putting food in Neji’s bowl. “You’ll have to take care of Hanabi while I’m gone.”


    “She’s too slow. She can’t even get the Gentle Fist stance right,” Neji grumbled.


    Hanabi, having finished a chicken leg, lowered her head sadly.


    Neiki shook his head. “When you were two, you were still crawling around in split pants. Hanabi has high potential, just like you. She’s only just starting with Gentle Fist.”


    Hearing this, Hanabi looked up at Neiki, her eyes sparkling.


    Now that Neiki thought about it, Neji was still just a kid in his eyes. After he defected from Konoha, Neji wouldn’t be implicated, but his situation would be difficult, likely only slightly better than Naruto’s.


    Neiki tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought. He looked at Neji and suddenly asked:


    “Will youe with me?”