Chapter 174: Caged Bird

As they approached the city, Minato Namikaze lowered his voice. "Be cautious when infiltrating. The other side has the Byakugan. If you're discovered, unless they show hostility, do not engage immediately."

The other four responded, "Understood."

"Karin, can you..." Among the group of seasoned ninjas, Minato was most uncertain about Karin, who claimed to be from the future and possibly his "daughter." She was dressed nicely, but... it didn't seem very ninja-like. Though she held strong "chakra" within her, it seemed she no longer participated in "ninja activities."

"I don't think we need to hide. Let's just go in openly," Karin lifted her head.

Minato was puzzled.

"Naruto has already noticed you," Karin said, glancing in a certain direction with an involuntary smile on her face. "Nine-Tails is on his way over."

Minato was stunned, overwhelmed by a flood of thoughts. The name "Naruto" triggered some memories. It was the name of the protagonist in Jiraiya-sensei's new novel. Most likely... the person bearing this name was also his child.

So, not only did he have a daughter, but also a son? Kushina, you've been through a lot.

He was also impressed by Karin's sensing abilities. But what surprised him even more was "Nine-Tails." Was this a person's name, or was it the "Nine-Tails" he knew of? He thought he had glimpsed a small part of the future through Karin. But... these chaotic pieces of information made his head spin.

Shibi Aburame raised his hand, releasing his insects. After a moment, he nodded. "Karin is right; someone is approaching us." He couldn't help but ask, "Is your sensory range really that large?"

"It's the Mind's Eye of the Kagura from the Uzumaki clan, isn't it?" Minato shook his head, trying to calm himself down.

Karin nodded.

A red-black figure landed on her head. The group tensed up. So fast! This level of Body Flicker... Only Minato Namikaze could match it among them.

"Ah, it's Minato. How nostalgic," Nine-Tails greeted.

Minato squinted, staring at the fiery red fox dressed in black "kimono-style" clothing. Although its form wasn't quite right and its attire was strange, this chakra was unmistakable. It was the tailed beast, "Nine-Tails."

"Such an amusing expression," Nine-Tails grinned wickedly, standing on Karin's head. "I knew you'd react like this. It wasn't a waste for me to come in person. You look quite puzzled, Minato."

Nine-Tails paused, then looked down at Karin. "Did you tell him about the future?"

Karin shook her head. "No." She feared that her words might affect the future. Meeting Naruto was a one-in-a-million chance among many possible futures. She worried that saying even one wrong thing might prevent her from meeting Naruto in the future.

Nine-Tails had no such concerns. "You didn't tell him? That's wonderful," Nine-Tails leaned forward, tail swishing. "Minato Namikaze, do you want to know? About the future. About you and Kushina... Come on, beg me sincerely, and I might just be merciful enough to tell you."

Kakashi couldn't hold back, gripping his short sword. Chōza Akimichi and Shibi Aburame were already forming hand seals. This fox... really deserves a beating.

Minato smiled and shook his head. "For those of us living in the past, it's better not to know too much about the future. Once this mission is over and you return to the future, I'll seal these memories."

Nine-Tails clicked his tongue. "You're still the same. So boring."

It turned away from Minato, curling up on Karin's head, and glanced at the man with the Byakugan. "Hey, you from the Hyūga clan, what's your name?"

"Hyūga Hizashi," he replied, maintaining basic politeness despite facing Nine-Tails. But that was all he could manage with great effort.

"Hizashi, huh?" Nine-Tails repeated the name. Another part of itself relayed information from afar. It started to laugh, grinning widely. "So it's you. How interesting. Come on." Nine-Tails tilted its head forward. "I'll take you to see the person you're looking for."

Minato and his team followed Karin. But apart from the blonde man who managed to keep a neutral expression, the others couldn't hide their complicated feelings. The future... seemed vastly different from what they had imagined.

After about ten minutes, they arrived at the conference room door. Nine-Tails slammed the door open with its head. "Naruto! I've brought them back."

Minato followed inside. The room was well-lit, sunlight streaming down onto a head of blonde hair, reflecting light that was almost blinding.

"Kushina..." Minato's gaze was drawn to the figure in the light. The outline was hazy and indistinct, but the face was strikingly clear, prompting him to call out his lover's name. The face looked almost identical to "Kushina."

"Dad, you're here," Naruto greeted with a smile.

Minato scratched his head. "I'm not married to Kushina yet, so being called 'Dad' feels a bit strange."

Kakashi tilted his head. He noticed that his teacher's child still wasn't wearing a "Konoha forehead protector." The white haori and black "kimono-style" inner clothing were quite similar to what Nine-Tails was wearing.

"Dad, I assume you'll choose to seal these memories, right?" Naruto smiled and gestured for them to sit down. "So, try to get used to it."

Minato nodded. "As a father, knowing that my two children will grow up strong in the future is a very happy thing. It's just a pity... I can't share this with Kushina."

Karin looked at him in surprise, covering her face as it reddened. "Uncle Minato, I'm not your child." Well... not yet. But she was too embarrassed to say that.

"Karin is a member of the clan I encountered," Naruto tilted his head, speaking gently. "She may not be your biological daughter, but treating her as one isn't a problem. She's a very good person."

Minato scratched his head. "I misunderstood then."

Within the Konoha squad, since entering, Hizashi Hyūga had been staring at the two Byakugan users. Now, after the father-son reunion, he couldn't hold back any longer. "Minato-sam, forgive me for interrupting. Are you two also Hyūga clan members from the future?"

One was a female with a bare forehead, clearly from the main family. The other had a clear "Caged Bird" mark on his forehead, indicating he was a branch family member. Most importantly... this "branch" boy seemed familiar to him, someone he felt a kinship with. Plus, Nine-Tails's earlier comment... it had given him an answer.

"Yes," Neji Hyūga nodded.

Hinata looked at him anxiously.

"We're from the future Hyūga clan," Neji continued, his emotions restrained as he clenched his fists. "I have something I'd like to ask you."

Hizashi Hyūga nodded.

Neji took a deep breath. "What is your view on the Caged Bird?"

"The Caged Bird?" Hizashi lowered his head, his tone heavy. "For every branch family member, it's the most painful and burdensome matter. I also harbor resentment toward the main family. You seem to have a good relationship with the main family?"

Neji didn't answer.

"The Caged Bird..." Hizashi slowly began to speak after a long silence. "While it does indeed imprison us, the branch family members, in a cage... it also protects the Hyūga clan. The Byakugan is very powerful, and it's easier to awaken than the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan. Every village desires it. It's because of the Caged Bird... that our Byakugan is automatically destroyed upon death, preventing others from hunting us down."

He took a deep breath. "I don't know your name, nor what you've been through. But don't hold a grudge. This is simply the responsibility we bear as members of the branch family."

After hearing this, Neji's emotions gradually calmed. He then asked another question, "If one day, Konoha faces a situation where a member of the Hyūga clan must be sacrificed, would you step forward?"

Hizashi instinctively shuddered. Is this... his impending fate?

He clenched his fists, his expression bitter. "If someone must be sacrificed... of course, I would step forward. But not for the branch family. I... I would do it for the village, for the people I care about."

Neji lowered his head, murmuring softly, "Is that so?"

It was the same answer Hiashi had given him. In this matter, Hizashi had not lied to him.

"Should the Caged Bird still be removed?" Naruto tilted his head, casually voicing the question.

Hizashi sprang up, staring at Naruto in disbelief. Remove the Caged Bird?

Neji nodded without hesitation, decisive and firm. "Of course."

"Do you know what that could lead to?" Hizashi shook his head, terrified and confused.

Neji stood up as well. "I'm fully aware." He paused, walking over to the window. "You say... the Caged Bird is both a shackle and a protection. But does it shackle more, or protect more? If it's truly for protection... why does the main family so easily control the curse mark, holding the life and death of the branch family in their hands? Why doesn't the main family carry this burden? Why... does the curse mark even limit the Byakugan's abilities?"

Hizashi opened his mouth. "But this could cause a branch family rebellion. The Hyūga clan would be destroyed!"

"You're just powerless to change the current situation, so you deceive yourself by finding a suitable reason to accept it," Naruto interjected calmly. "You can think that way, but you shouldn't expect others to agree with you. The Caged Bird yearns for the sky and freedom. There's nothing wrong with that."

Hizashi looked up, bewildered, at Neji and then at Hinata. Hinata, a member of the main family, sat uneasily in her seat. The eyes fixed on her... were not only Hizashi's but also those of everyone else in the room, including Neji.