December 24, afternoon.

In the courtyard of the Hyuga clan, the head of the branch clan.

Four-year-old Neji, in the cold snow, took a soft fist stance and quickly struck the wooden man.

"Neji, you have to be steady on the ground and fast in your punches! Only in this way will your future opponents be unable to resist you!"

Hizashi, who was guiding his son's practice, said sternly.

Under his pure white eyes, there was a tenderness that felt sorry for his eldest son.

"yes! Father!"

Hearing his father's stern words, Neji gritted his teeth, stepped even lower, and struck his palms faster!

Even though his legs had begun to tremble under the high-intensity load.

His fists and palms were intertwined. His hands were also red and swollen!

【I will definitely satisfy my father!]

Neji encouraged himself in his heart.

This was the motivation that made him persevere through the hard training over the past year!

Seeing his son so sensible.

Hizashi felt sorry for him, but he didn't tell him to stop immediately.

Another hour later.

The young Neji was panting heavily, with steam rising from his body, and his clothes were already soaked!

Hizashi finally called for a stop

"Okay, Neji, let’s stop here today."

Hizashi tried his best to keep his tone calm and not reveal his inner fluctuations.

"yes! Father!"

Ningji replied.

Then he put away his fists, tried his best to control his trembling hands and feet, endured the fatigue and soreness all over his body, and walked towards his father.

He must perform better in front of his father!

"You did a great job, Neji."

Looking at the sensible, hardworking, and almost impeccable Neji in front of him, Hizashi couldn't help but praise him.

"(●´∀｀●)...hey-hey..."

Neji scratched his head with a simple smile on his face.

When he was suddenly praised by his father, he felt so happy that he was so happy

【Why~~】

【Son, son, you still don’t know what you are going to face next! 】

Looking at his cute and ignorant young son, Hizashi sighed silently.

"By the way, Neji.

In three days, it will be your sister Hinata's birthday.

On that day, the clan will officially hold a ceremony for you called"Bird in a Cage."

Hizashi tried to keep his tone calm, as if he was talking about a trivial matter.

"Caged bird? Father, what is that?"

Neji was a little curious.

"Neji, do you know what the mission of the Separation Family is?"

Hizashi asked rhetorically

"Father, I know this!

Our mission as a branch is to protect the clan!

Just like my father wanted to protect Uncle Hizu, I also want to protect Sister Hinata!"

Hearing this question, the young Neji subconsciously puffed up his chest and answered loudly and proudly.

In his opinion, protecting his companions is a very glorious thing!

Just like the fourth generation who has been sleeping in order to protect the village. Hokage-sama is like that!

He is a great hero in the village!

"That's right, the destiny of the branch family is to protect the main family.

Specifically for you, it is to protect your sister Hinata.

And this bird in a cage is designed to better protect the main family and prevent the loss of the Byakugan bloodline."

Hinata Hizashi's tone was calm, but his heart was surging.

In his opinion, Neji was so talented that he could become the future leader of the Hyuga clan!

But now, just because he was the younger brother of twins and was born a few minutes later than his brother, he was bound by these rotten and damned clan rules!

Thinking of Hinata's birthday,

Neci's smooth forehead would be engraved with the slave curse seal that would allow life and death to be arbitrarily controlled by the main family!

Hizashi couldn't help but clench his fists

【hateful! If I could have been born earlier, then I would have become a clan member!】

【Neji's fate will also be very different! 】

Hinata Hizashi's expression changed, and he felt a little indignant in his heart.

In fact, he did not hate his twin brother.

Not only did he not hate him, he loved his brother deeply in his heart!

If the bird in the cage only affected himself.

Even if he had to die to protect his brother, he would be happy to do it.

But now it's not just himself.

His most beloved son is also bound!

He can willingly accept that his fate of life and death is arbitrarily controlled by his brother.

But he can't stand that his son's fate is controlled by the main family!

Even if the person who controls the fate is his brother or his brother's daughter, there is no exception!

What's more.

Once the bird in the cage is engraved, Neji's original 360° perfect white eyes will have a 1° blind spot that is fatal at the moment of life and death!

This will greatly limit his son's future development!

He should have grown to a higher level and lived a more exciting life!

"I'm sorry, Neji. It's all my father's fault. It was your father who made you suffer..."

Hinata Hizashi gently touched Neji's head, full of guilt.

"No, father, it's all Ningci's fault! Ningci will continue to work hard and do better!"

The young Ningci mistakenly thought that he didn't do well enough and disappointed his father, so he hurriedly said

"No, Neji, you did a great job. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, you are now your father’s pride!"

Seeing Neci's sensible look, Hizashi felt even more guilty.

He took the initiative to hold his son's little hand and led him into the house.

"Let's go. If you're not busy today, I'll take a shower with you."

"o((＞ω＜ ))o...Um!"......

December 25th, morning.

Hokage's office

"Lord Hokage!

The delegation from the Kingdom of Thunder has now arrived in Konoha Forest.

In another half hour, you will reach the main entrance of the village!"

A ninja wearing ANBU costume suddenly appeared in the office and bowed to report.

"Well, I get it."

Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen put down the documents in his hand and ordered,

"Inform Kakashi and the others to get ready and go to greet him."

The other party's name is the delegation from the Land of Thunder, but it is actually the delegation from Kumogakure Village.

There is neither a Daimyo from the Land of Thunder nor the Raikage himself in the mission.

Therefore, as the Hokage, he does not have to greet him in person.

The captain of the ANBU directly under his command is dispatched. With the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the standards are enough.

Otherwise, if he condescends to respond, he will be at a disadvantage and be looked down upon by the other party.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who has been in charge of Konoha for many years and has a deep understanding of officialdom, will never make such a low-level mistake.

"yes! Lord Hokage!"