The path twisted and turned under the pale moonlight. The quiet streets of Konoha glowed softly, the night breeze carrying the faint scent of fresh grass. It was a tranquil May evening.
Standing beneath the moon's glow, Uchiha Tatsumi's usual smile faded as he looked ahead. "Let's talk. What's on your mind, Hyūga Himeji?"
Himeji lowered her gaze. "Do you know about the division between the Hyūga main family and the branch family?"
So it was about that.
As direct descendants of the Ōtsutsuki clan, the Hyūga held deep-rooted traditions. But over time, tradition can become a source of strife. Without resolution, conflict is inevitable.
And in the Hyūga clan, that conflict revolved around the Sōke (main house) and Bunke (branch house).
Tatsumi only knew the basics from the manga.
"I'd like to hear the full story," he said seriously.
Himeji nodded slowly. "The Hyūga clan is one of the oldest in the village, and the Byakugan is considered one of the Three Great Dōjutsu—alongside the Sharingan and Rinnegan. But unlike the Sharingan, the Byakugan doesn't reject transplant recipients."
"During the Warring States Period, many tried to steal and transplant the Sharingan," she continued. "But unless they were of Uchiha blood, the eye was unstable—its power hard to control, and the user would face dangerous side effects. The Sharingan could even harm the user's body if not compatible."
Tatsumi recalled the case of Shin Uchiha and Danzo Shimura—both had suffered heavily due to Sharingan transplants.
"But the Byakugan is different," Himeji went on. "It doesn't reject the user as severely. That made it a coveted prize during the era of constant war."
"In order to protect the Byakugan, the Hyūga sought a solution. It came in the form of a curse mark—developed with help from the Uzumaki clan, masters of sealing techniques. This seal was known as the Caged Bird Seal."
"To implement it, the clan was split. The main house, the Sōke, retained leadership and the unsealed Byakugan. The branch house, the Bunke, received the curse mark to ensure loyalty and protect the Byakugan from being stolen—even after death."
"Through the Caged Bird Seal, the main house could kill branch members instantly by destroying their brain cells with a hand sign. It also sealed the Byakugan upon death to prevent it from falling into enemy hands."
"But such control came at a cost," she said bitterly. "The Bunke lives under constant surveillance and submission. The resentment, over generations, only grew."
"One day, it boiled over. A rebellion broke out. Some branch members, desperate and furious, allied with outsiders to rise against the Sōke."
"The rebellion was put down swiftly—but it left scars. In response, the elders proposed a compromise: to maintain harmony, the Sōke and Bunke heads must be closely related. Ideally, within three generations of blood. They would be raised together, like true siblings."
"This way, the future head of the Bunke would be someone emotionally connected to the clan heir. Someone who, even if burdened with the seal, would remain loyal—not out of fear, but love."
Uchiha Tatsumi's eyes widened. So that's it.
He finally understood why, in canon, Hiashi Hyūga—the elder twin—became the Sōke head, while Hizashi, his twin brother, was sealed and assigned to the Bunke. It wasn't about merit—it was about keeping resentment in check through emotional ties.
It was… disturbingly clever.
Even if Hizashi resented his fate, he would not rebel. Hiashi was his own brother.
But if the head of the clan had been someone more distant, Hizashi might not have had the same restraint.
Himeji's fists trembled.
"In my generation, the elders are following the same method. They've already decided—my elder brother will inherit the Sōke. And my twin brother… he'll be branded with the Caged Bird Seal."
Tatsumi was silent. He could feel the raw emotion behind her words.
"Why?" she cried. "Why must those born of the same clan bear such different fates? Why must a ninja be forced to accept cruelty as 'duty'? Is this what it means to be a Hyūga?"
Her Byakugan activated, veins bulging around her pale eyes as emotion overwhelmed her.
"They call it protecting the clan. But no one ever asks what it costs the branch family. Are we not Hyūga too? Don't we bear the same name, the same blood?!"
She turned to him, desperate. "My brother will be branded soon. Tell me, Tatsumi—what should I do? What would you do?"
Tatsumi looked away, troubled. It wasn't just about plans or rebellion. It was about purpose. About power.
In his previous world, people laughed at such questions. They were just lines from fiction.
But in the world of Naruto, where life and death were tied to strength, even carefree fools like Jiraiya or Naruto thought deeply about things like this.
"Himeji," he said quietly. "You're too focused on the clan. On the system. But what you really lack… is power."
"Right now, you're trapped by rules, tradition, and fear. But if you had strength—true strength—you could change all of that."
He paused, then added, "One day, your elder brother will lead the Sōke. Your twin will lead the Bunke. He might die in service, protecting your elder brother in a mission—just like Hizashi did for Hiashi."
"Even if he survives, his child will still be branded. And the cycle will repeat."
"But fate isn't absolute. It only stays on track if no one is strong enough to derail it."
"If you want to change that destiny, the only path is forward. Get stronger. Strong enough to protect your family—and challenge the clan itself."
"If you become Hokage… or someone so powerful the clan must listen, then you can change the Hyūga's fate."
Himeji's voice trembled. "Hokage…?"
Tatsumi nodded.
"Become someone who can't be ignored."