"Food chain"—what a cruel word.
Orochimaru licked his lips with a sinister smile. He turned his head toward Hizashi Hyuga and asked,
"Hizashi… the original purpose of the Caged Bird Seal was protection, wasn't it? Then why only mark the branch family? Why not mark everyone?"
Hizashi hesitated, his expression still dull. After a long pause, he finally replied,
"Only the main family possesses the ability to apply the Caged Bird Seal. No matter what, one person must remain unmarked... If the branch family children aren't sealed, when they reach a certain age, their Byakugan will be destroyed by the chakra inherited from their predecessor..."
As he spoke, Hizashi's face twisted in humiliation and resentment. Becoming a branch family member meant that not only himself, but his descendants too, were doomed to carry the curse of the "Caged Bird."
Orochimaru nodded thoughtfully. As an outsider, he viewed the situation from a different, colder perspective. Deep down, he even admired the ingenuity behind the Caged Bird Seal.
Putting aside the oppressive aspect, the seal protected the branch family on all fronts—preventing others from stealing their kekkei genkai and preserving the purity of the clan's bloodline.
Especially the latter. Orochimaru imagined that if the Byakugan were left unsealed, female ninjas from other villages wouldn't hesitate to exploit Hyuga heirs to gain the dojutsu.
He speculated that the seal acted directly on the chakra and soul—a high-level soul-based ninjutsu with immense research value.
"But precisely because the Caged Bird Seal is so well-crafted, it closes off nearly every path for the branch family's independence. Hizashi's wish truly is troublesome…"
Orochimaru glanced at Hizashi again. With his partial connection to the Djinn's power, he could now see the glowing orb of "wish" that once pulsed brightly within Hizashi… dimming.
He turned back to the Djinn.
"I really can't solve this. Do you have any method?"
"None."
The Djinn shrugged. "It's like wishing for world peace—idealistic, vague, and a nightmare to maintain. As a wish granter, I never accept wishes like that."
Orochimaru frowned. "Then what do we do? Didn't you say his wish would offset mine?"
"Simple." The Djinn smirked. "Just have him change his wish. Do you think I'm stupid enough to let you beat him half to death for nothing?"
---
The night deepened. Cold moonlight bathed the fortress in pale silver, casting icy shadows across the stone.
After listening to the Djinn's advice, Orochimaru let out a low chuckle, his forked tongue flicking across his lips.
He turned back to Hizashi.
"Hizashi Hyuga… I won't perform the physical enhancement surgery."
Hizashi raised his head. In his dazed eyes, a flicker of confusion and quiet resentment surfaced.
So you're refusing? I already expected that… But why humiliate me now? Even if you're one of the Sannin, mocking someone like this deserves punishment.
"But," Orochimaru continued, "I don't think what you truly want is physical strength."
His smile grew sharper.
"You seek acknowledgment from the main family. You want to escape the fate of the branch."
Hizashi's body trembled. In his dulled gaze, a spark of hope reignited. Could Orochimaru be saying he'd help him?
After the recent battle with the Cloud Village, Hizashi had gained a deeper understanding of Orochimaru's power. He knew that if Orochimaru turned his strength against the Hyuga, it wouldn't be a fight—it would be a massacre.
Soft Fist? Gymnastics? It had almost no effect on the massive white snake form.
With Orochimaru's help, the situation for the Hyuga branch family would surely improve.
"I can't help you. You, who have been branded with the 'Caged Bird', can't break free from the clan's shackles," Orochimaru said calmly.
Hizashi Hyuga froze, subconsciously reaching for his forehead, but then he heard Orochimaru continue, "However, I've heard that you have a son."
"Thirty-five million yen won't change your fate, but it might change your child's."
Ding.
A jolt of cold ran down Hizashi's spine, as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over his head. He raised his head suddenly.
"Master Orochimaru, can you protect Neji?"
In Orochimaru's field of vision, the ball of light within Hizashi now gleamed brightly—more dazzling than before.
"It really is possible, can a person's wish be changed so easily?"
Orochimaru smiled and nodded at Hizashi, but inside his mind, he silently asked the Djinn for confirmation.
"Of course it's not that simple," the Djinn replied. "Freeing Neji from the 'Caged Bird' is an extension of the wish already made. It's directly connected to the wish from before."
The Djinn sighed, somewhat amused. "After all, humans are creatures who never give up hope. When they lose hope in one area, they'll seek it in another."
The Djinn's insight into human nature was as sharp as ever, but Orochimaru remained indifferent, his gaze fixed on Hizashi as a sinister smile played on his lips.
"I do have a way," Orochimaru said, but his words were measured. "But before I proceed, I want to see if your son has any potential, and if it's worth my effort."
Orochimaru wasn't one to offer unreasonable preferential treatment. He was aware that even if his goal was to fulfill Hizashi's wish, he still needed a compelling reason to make it appear acceptable.
And taking on a talented disciple with Byakugan was the easiest justification for a move like this.
"But… Neji is still less than two years old."
Hizashi looked troubled. "He's not even two, so I can't tell if he has any talent yet."
"This… is between you and your child. Our agreement will last only until he's branded with the 'Caged Bird'."
Orochimaru smiled maliciously. "Of course, there's another method I can use right now. Do you want to try it?"
Hizashi shivered instinctively. He sensed something dangerous in Orochimaru's words and quickly responded, "I will definitely raise Neji well."
"Very well," Orochimaru said with a sinister grin. "Thirty-five million yen. I'll charge you after I change your child's fate."
---
As Orochimaru walked away with heavy footsteps, Hizashi looked back at the Djinn.
"I always feel like you're capable of fulfilling the original wish," Orochimaru mused.
"So what? The wish you're talking about is long, troublesome, and smelly, and it won't be easy to sell once it's done," the Djinn responded with disdain.
There was a pause as the Djinn seemed to think of something, a hint of sarcasm forming on its face. "Selfish wishes are far easier to fulfill than grandiose ones. The return is much greater, too. Why not do it?"
Orochimaru fell silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Since he himself would be the one fulfilling the wish, Orochimaru certainly preferred the simpler one.
"So, can you grant my second wish now?" Orochimaru asked, his tone growing more serious. He had long anticipated the opportunity to reach the Pure Land.
"No," the Djinn refused without hesitation. "At least not until you settle your debt."
"This is just the evil god's method, after all. I don't want you to rely on it too much."
"As for the path to the Pure Land, besides spiritualization, you might want to consider other ninjutsu."
"For example, the Reincarnation of the Impure World, I hear it can also connect with the spirits of the Pure Land."
Orochimaru froze for a moment, his eyes flickering with thought.
_____________
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