Chapter 45: Hyūga Natsu Triggers a Trait | First Meeting with Kushina
Being branded with the Caged Bird Seal as a branch family member of the Hyūga clan was deeply symbolic, if not outright cruel. Many advanced Gentle Fist techniques were restricted and required main family approval—it all felt absurdly abstract.
During the Chūnin Exams, when Neji Hyūga used the Eight Trigrams: Rotation, even Hiashi Hyūga, watching from the stands, was stunned by Neji's terrifying talent—so much so that he suspected Neji might carry the bloodline of Hamura Ōtsutsuki himself.
"Bang!"
A muffled impact echoed in the training ground as Hyūga Natsu's palm slammed heavily into her target—but in the next moment, a puff of smoke spread through the air, revealing a shattered block of wood.
"A substitution jutsu?!"
Natsu froze for a second, her hand still in the striking position, as her eyes quickly scanned the area for Seiji's figure.
"I win."
Seiji's voice came from behind her. He gently tapped her shoulder.
"Seiji-kun, your speed is way beyond mine," Natsu said, dropping out of her Gentle Fist stance.
The so-called Substitution Jutsu was actually a sleight of hand—a high-speed switch using a piece of wood, creating the illusion of a successful hit. It required the user to move even faster than their opponent.
"I cheated a bit. Used a different method to break through your defenses," Seiji replied with a shake of his head.
At present, Natsu's Gentle Fist only covered a fan-shaped area in front of her. While her Byakugan allowed her to see behind her, she couldn't attack there. On top of that, due to the Caged Bird Seal, she had a blind spot on her back—a fatal flaw.
[You have unlocked Trait: Darkwalker (White)]
[Trait: Darkwalker (White)]
Condition Fulfilled: Defeat Hyūga Natsu in her youth.
Progress: 100%
Effect: Your eyes can now perceive far more detail than the average person in the dark and can instinctively react to environmental changes.
Note: Can be upgraded.
The mechanical voice from the trait interface made Seiji quietly pleased.
Even targeting the "easy targets" could yield him new traits—it all counted.
Unfortunately, he didn't know many people yet, so picking fights indiscriminately could easily be seen as provocation.
As the trait notification faded, Seiji's eyes felt refreshed. What had once been a dim evening now appeared much brighter through his enhanced vision.
He was quite satisfied with this trait.
Once he awakened the Sharingan, this would likely synergize even more, as it would boost his perceptiveness.
The Sharingan had many powers—but night vision wasn't one of them. Now, with Darkwalker (White), nighttime became Seiji's home turf.
"Well, I'll get going then," Natsu said, picking up her box and preparing to leave.
But just as she turned, Seiji suddenly spoke:
"Do caged birds really choose to stay locked away forever? To spend their lives in a gilded cage?"
"That's… to protect the Hyūga clan. To protect everyone in it."
She instinctively touched her left cheek, where Hinata's aunt, Ginka Hyūga, had slapped her earlier. Her brows lowered slightly.
Even as she spoke, she gently ran her hand along her face again. The heat of the slap still lingered on her smooth skin.
Ginka hadn't struck her particularly hard—but the chakra laced into the slap made the pain linger.
Practicing Gentle Fist meant the hands grew attuned to chakra—letting it surge more freely, even unconsciously.
Most main house members were reasonable. But there were still people like Ginka Hyūga.
She made no effort to hide her disdain for the branch family—and showed no hesitation using forceful "discipline."
Seiji didn't respond immediately. He tilted his head, gazing at the darkening sky overhead, the evening wind ruffling his hair.
"I see... If it were my bird, I think it would still long to fly again. Maybe even try pecking open the door of its cage."
He shook his head gently, as if just making a passing remark—like he never expected a response.
If Seiji had been born into the Hyūga clan, he'd definitely find a way to remove the Caged Bird Seal. There was no way he'd accept being a second-class citizen by birth.
"To fly again…"
Natsu murmured, stunned. She turned to look at Seiji.
The Uchiha robe he wore emphasized his tall, lean frame. The contours of his chest muscles were faintly visible beneath the fabric.
His loose black hair flowed down to his waist, gently stirring in the wind, making him seem even taller than others his age.
Maybe due to his training, his features had matured—giving him a stronger, more defined look.
To Natsu, Seiji looked far more composed and mature than his peers.
He wasn't one of those scrawny kids her age, nor did he resemble the brash muscleheads she imagined from the Land of Lightning.
"To fly again…"
She repeated the words in a whisper, her gaze dropping again. A subtle, almost imperceptible flicker of emotion passed through her eyes.
It was a scene she had never dared to imagine—too distant, too extravagant.
She pressed her lips together, adjusted the position of her box, and finally said, in a soft tone:
"That's... an interesting way to put it, Seiji-kun."
With that, she bowed politely, then turned and walked away.
Seiji watched her departing figure, the corner of his lips curling ever so slightly.
Caged birds might be afraid to spread their wings for now—but once a seed is planted, it will eventually sprout.
The branch family had never truly accepted their fate.
The Caged Bird Seal just forced many of them to bury their desires, hiding them beneath a mask of respect.
Attitude was the mask of the heart.
Seiji had no intention of winning Natsu over right now—he simply wanted to plant a seed.
He couldn't remove the Caged Bird Seal yet—he couldn't even pretend to.
But Natsu had potential. In time, she could be a good investment.
With that thought, Seiji turned and began his walk home.
If he continued acquiring traits at this pace, even without evolving his Sharingan, he would become incredibly strong.
In fact, he might even unlock a trait someday that bypasses the side effects of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
If that happened, there'd be no need to transplant Hashirama's cells—or clone a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan eyes for himself.
"I'm thinking too far ahead," he muttered to himself, shifting to a more immediate concern.
Once he graduated early, what would he be assigned to?
A standard three-man genin team?
Or would he be placed directly into the Uchiha Police Force, taking up the proud duty of a village security officer?
Maybe even the Konoha Hospital as a medical-nin?
"Why's that broken streetlight still not fixed?"
A grumbling voice came from a dim alley nearby.
It was one of the narrower side streets.
"Huh? You can actually see in this light? You're walking like it's broad daylight."
A red-haired woman squinted at him through the faint illumination cast by a working streetlight in the distance.
"I can see just fine."
Seiji turned to look at her, a little surprised.
She wore a white jacket with the Uzumaki clan crest emblazoned on her shoulders. A decorative hair clip glinted in her long red hair.
Her lower half was clad in short chainmail-style shorts, exposing smooth thighs, paired with long boots that stretched up her calves—a unique and striking look.
She radiated youthful energy and charm.