Chapter 4: Intolerable Things

In the dense forest, Yuto gripped the handle of his kunai with both hands, the sharp iron blade piercing into Tetsuro Sugiura's body, severing his spine.

Of course, he wouldn't use Gentle Fist.

A shinobi's body contains a vast amount of information. When Tetsuro's corpse is returned to Konoha, it will undoubtedly be examined by experts in medical ninjutsu. Using Gentle Fist would be like engraving "I am the killer" on his forehead.

Kunai is a tool used by shinobis worldwide. It can't be traced back to a specific type. As long as one is careful about the angle and strength of the stab, it's the perfect weapon to kill one's own people.

The kunai was pulled out, bringing out a large amount of blood.

Tetsuro groaned, raising his hand like lightning.

However, Yuto used Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of him, slashing the kunai mercilessly and severing his wrist.

The Konoha Jonin could no longer form seals.

Yuto kicked fiercely, a harsh kick landing on Tetsuro's chest. After the sound of bones cracking, the Jonin flew back over ten meters until he crashed into a big tree.

He fell to the ground in despair, his eyes unfocused.

His spine was severed, his hands crippled, his chakra nearly depleted, and the traitor in front of him possessed the Byakugan.

There was no way to escape.

He would die from blood loss.

"Tetsuro-senpai, please don't move," Yuto exhaled lightly, speaking calmly, "I don't intend to torture you. Please sit here and wait for your blood to drain. Believe me, this way of dying isn't very painful..."

His words were interrupted by Tetsuro's snort, "Konoha's scum...pretentious bastard. How could the Hyuga clan produce an animal like you?"

Yuto shook his head without expression, "Tetsuro-senpai, if you want to provoke me into approaching you with words, this level won't do."

"You are a very talented shinobi. In the past ten days under your command, I've experienced this deeply."

"Before your blood dries up, I won't approach you rashly...it's too dangerous."

Tetsuro's heart sank.

—The usage of the shortened "senbon" hidden under his tongue became slightly hesitant due to his despair.

Although his chakra was nearly exhausted, using Senbons only required a trace of chakra, which was foolproof against an enemy who thought they had won.

Unfortunately, the young traitor before him was too smart and cautious, revealing no flaws.

No wonder...he's the "Jewel of the Hyuga," Tetsuro Sugiura thought bitterly.

After a brief silence, Tetsuro carefully observed the young man with white eyes: "Yuto Hyuga, do you want my body?"

"Yes," Yuto nodded, rubbing the scroll, "The reconnaissance squad was annihilated, but I brought back valuable information and survived alone. The enemy was wiped out, so there's no reason for me not to protect the body of my Jonin leader. If all your bodies were completely disposed of, it would be too suspicious."

"Aren't you afraid that people in the village will find something from my body?"

"I'm afraid, and I know that certain forbidden techniques can ask answers from the dead souls," Yuto thought of the infamous "Impure World Reincarnation": "But there's no way. Doing this always comes with risks. If I'm found out, I'll just die."

"Doing this..." Tetsuro's face turned pale. The long-term blood loss made his consciousness begin to blur—"Betraying the village, the clan, your comrades, you can do these things so lightly." He stated and paused, taking a while before continuing: "Can you tell me...your reason?"

Yuto Hyuga calmly looked at him, slowly removing his forehead protector.

Revealing a blue-green curse mark.

The Caged Bird.

All members of the Hyuga branch family have a curse mark called the "Caged Bird" engraved on their foreheads in their childhood. From then on, until death, they can never escape.

This curse mark can seal the Byakugan's ability and can completely destroy the eyes and brain if the marked person is killed or their eyes are removed.

Moreover, the main family members can control and destroy the branch members' brain nerves and brain tissue through this curse mark.

In the Hyuga clan, this is an ironclad hierarchy.

It has been passed down for generations, a thousand-year-old tradition of the Caged Bird curse mark.

Tetsuro Sugiura's eyes widened in disbelief: "Just because...of the Caged Bird?" He breathed heavily, for the first time showing emotions of confusion and anger in his voice: "Yuto Hyuga, for the sake of a mere curse mark, you're betraying the village and the clan? The Caged Bird indeed limits your freedom and abilities, but it's a tradition and rule of a powerful shinobi clan!"

"And this curse mark successfully prevents others from stealing the Byakugan, protecting you all!"

"Even as an outsider, I know that in the Hyuga clan, the main family are the true heirs, bearing the responsibility of protecting and promoting the Hyuga clan; the branch family is the guardian of the main family, responsible for protecting the Hyuga main family!"

"With sacrifices, the clan becomes strong, the village prospers, and Konoha flourishes..."

Yuto put on his forehead protector, covering the Caged Bird.

He looked down at the dying Jonin, speaking softly: "For some reason, I remember things early and matured early."

"I've been thinking about a question for a long time—"

"Maybe I should just endure it?"

"Konoha is a good village. Though there are many dirty dealings, overall, it's quite positive. The Hyuga clan is strictly hierarchical, but at least it looks decent on the surface."

"Maybe I should just endure it? Work hard on missions, train diligently. After reaching a certain height, life should be okay. At worst, endure for another thirty or forty years, and when the new era arrives, maybe everything will get better."

"I thought about it for a while and came to a conclusion—"

Yuto's expression suddenly lost its calmness and warmth, becoming somewhat erratic and helpless: "No."

"I can't endure it."

"I can't tolerate being branded as a slave, serving as some people's guardian for life."

"I can't tolerate my descendants having this ugly Caged Bird on their foreheads."

"What I can't tolerate the most is my future self, living a repressed life, not daring to resist until death."

The dying Tetsuro's expression was filled with confusion.

Yuto Hyuga...what is he talking about? Can't tolerate it?

What's so intolerable?

For so many years...why could other branch members endure it, but you can't? For the prosperity and strength of the Hyuga clan...shouldn't you abandon personal feelings and become the most solid shield of the main family?

You're the "Jewel of the Hyuga."

With incomprehension and doubt, the Jonin's heartbeat slowed down.

Eventually, he died from blood loss.

The lone standing Yuto Hyuga sighed softly, slowly walking towards Tetsuro Sugiura's body.

"You can't understand me, and I can't understand you... Ha, the gap between people and me are as vast as the sky from the star."

He squatted down, leaning close to the gradually cooling corpse.

"But, let me tell you one last thing."

"To be honest, I really, really, really..." The branch family boy bit his teeth tightly. The excessive anger made his mouth bleed, as if he wanted to chew his own skull to pieces: "I really hate that title."

"Jewel of the Hyuga."

(End of Chapter)