Natsume instinctively turned his head.
He happened to catch sight of Hinata Hyuga's beautiful white eyes.
Her little hand tightly clutched the corner of his clothes. There was a blush on her face, but more of it was anticipation.
Being begged by such a cute girl, he would agree to not just one request, but ten.
Natsume reached out and pinched her little face, smiling. "Tell me," he said.
Hinata Hyuga instantly seemed to be steaming up, but this time she didn't faint.
Maybe it was because she was getting used to it.
She stammered out her confusion.
Since she was a child, Hinata Hyuga had Neji Hyuga as her sparring partner. At first, the relationship between the two of them was quite good.
But since last year, after Neji Hyuga had the Caged Bird Seal placed on him, he had become extremely distant.
And this morning, something happened that scared and puzzled Hinata Hyuga.
During a sparring session, Neji Hyuga accidentally used too much force and injured her.
The guards of the main family beside them immediately activated the Caged Bird Seal and said, "Neji, remember your place!"
Neji Hyuga let out a painful scream on the ground.
After that, his attitude towards Hinata Hyuga became even colder.
As a three - year - old, she naturally couldn't understand what she had seen.
When she asked her parents for the reason, the answer she received was, "This is the fate of the Hyuga branch family. You don't need to dig deeper."
"Are you hurt?"
Natsume asked with concern.
Hinata Hyuga was slightly stunned, and her face turned red again. She shook her head.
"What do you think of the Caged Bird Seal?"
Natsume stroked her head and asked.
"Father said that the Caged Bird Seal is to protect the Byakugan from being taken by outsiders."
Hinata Hyuga was a girl who didn't have much of her own opinion, so she could only repeat what Hiashi Hyuga had said.
This might have been true a long time back.
But now, its additional meaning exceeded its original purpose.
To be fair, as the main family, it was impossible for them to abandon the Caged Bird Seal.
Because the benefits were too many.
First, it helps maintain the lofty status of the main family. Once you've been in a superior position for so long, how could you accept a subordinate position?
Second, over the years, there had been too many instances of oppressing the branch family. Without the Caged Bird Seal, the consequences could be imagined.
Third, for the sake of safety, all dangerous tasks can be assigned to the branch family.
Of course, there were also disadvantages.
Due to the bondage and the inability to control their own fates, there would never be any powerful warriors in the Hyuga branch family.
Since there were only a few people in the main family, the probability was also low.
Unless they were extremely lucky, the Hyuga clan would only become weaker and weaker, reduced to an ordinary ninja clan instead of a top - tier clan in the ninja world.
For example, next door, the Uchiha clan had many geniuses who awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, and powerful warriors emerged one after another.
But the Hyuga clan, which was as famous as them, was standing still.
Apart from the difficulty in advancing to the Tenseigan, another reason was the bondage of the Caged Bird Seal.
Powerful warriors had always been free.
No matter how hard you tried, if your life was still in someone else's hands.
Then why even bother trying?
Just quit then.
"Do you think what he said is right?"
Natsume's question made Hinata Hyuga's little face show a look of confusion.
Logically, what Father said should be right.
But the shrill scream of Neji Hyuga this morning lingered in her mind.
If the real purpose is just to prevent the Byakugan from being leaked, why is the [Caged Bird Seal] used at other times?
Hinata Hyuga recalled an even earlier incident.
During a certain training session, she suddenly heard the pained voice of Hizashi Hyuga and her father's scolding.
At that time, she didn't think much about it. Now, it seems it was because of the [Caged Bird Seal].
"I... I don't know."
Hinata Hyuga instinctively looked at Natsume, seeking his help.
The fact that she could share this incident meant that he held a special place in her heart.
"As a certain master once said, 'Just because it's always been this way, does it mean it's right?'"
Natsume stroked her head and said, "You're the young miss of the main family and the future leader of the Hyuga clan. The [Caged Bird Seal] is something you must consider. Whether it should exist or not is up to you."
Hinata Hyuga was silent for a moment, then shyly lowered her head and said, "I... I can't do it. I won't be a good leader."
From birth until now, Hiashi Hyuga has never praised her.
Even she, as naive as she was, knew she was terrible.
"You're still young. Whether you can do it or not, we'll only know when you grow up."
Natsume reached out and lifted her chin. Their eyes met, and he said, "Besides, I can help you."
Hinata Hyuga was instantly stunned, and stars seemed to twinkle in her eyes.
The overwhelming heat on her face made her unable to think.
So she gave up thinking and fainted gracefully.
Natsume picked her up and laid her on the bed, saying, "Good night."
[Due to your actions, the destiny of Hinata Hyuga has changed. You've gained ninety - nine destiny points.]
Reverse Summoning Jutsu!
Natsume returned to the room again.
But he didn't go to sleep.
Because there were two people he had to meet.
This time, instead of using the Reverse Summoning Jutsu, he sneaked out.
Natsume appeared at the Gunma Casino on Booklet Street.
"Bro, happy birthday!"
Karin took out *The Analects of Confucius* from behind and said, "I've mastered all of it."
"Is this a birthday gift for me?"
A smile spread across Natsume's face as he picked her up.
"Yes."
Karin looked at him expectantly and asked, "Am I being a good girl?"
"Very good."
Natsume stroked her red hair and said, "Double your homework from now on."
"Ah?"
This chapter isn't over yet!
Karin froze on the spot, looking at him in disbelief.
Are you a devil?
"Brother, please no!"
Karin immediately grabbed Natsume's big hand, showing her cute big eyes, and pitifully asked, "I'll die if there's so much homework. Can you give me less?"
"Hahaha."
Natsume was amused and said, "From now on, your homework will be to learn ninja - related knowledge from your mom."
"Yay!"
Karin immediately became excited.
In fact, she had long wanted to become a ninja, but Natsume had always disagreed.
"Brother, mom is in the kitchen. Go see her."
Karin sensibly went to watch TV.
"You're here.
Ena Uzumaki turned to glance at him and continued what she was doing with the vegetables.
She was chopping vegetables.
"I've already had dinner."
Natsume stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and said, "Don't go to all this trouble."
"I know."
Ena Uzumaki nodded and said, "You told me last time we chatted that you eat noodles on your birthday, so I'm going to make you a bowl of noodles. It's a small portion, so it won't be a problem."
"Oh, you're making noodles for me."
Natsume let go of her hand and smiled. "Since they're longevity noodles, I have to have a good taste of them."
"It'll be ready in a minute."
Ena Uzumaki put the noodles into the pot.
A few minutes later, a bowl of noodles was set in front of Natsume.
He picked up his chopsticks, took a slurp, and said, "What you make is always so delicious."
Hearing this, Ena Uzumaki gave a serene smile and looked at him gently.
"Is there a gift?"
After finishing his noodles quickly, Natsume put down his chopsticks and asked with a smile.
"There is a gift."
Ena Uzumaki hesitated for a few seconds and said, "But you'll have to wait a while. I'll give it to you after I master the Yin Seal successfully."
The Yin Seal?
Natsume was taken aback.
He didn't understand at first, but luckily, in his past life, he was knowledgeable and soon grasped what Ena Uzumaki really meant.
The Yin Seal has many uses. One of them is that it can repair any part of the body.
"I'm only ten years old."
Natsume reached out and pinched her cheek, saying, "You're such a naughty girl, but I like you."
Ena Uzumaki immediately lowered her head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Actually, her idea was very simple: to make herself useful somehow.
She didn't care how.
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