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In the dim forest, the ground was covered with a thick layer of decaying leaves.
Golden ripples spread across the ground as three figures, wrapped in golden energy, slowly rose from within.
"I can't send you beyond the country's borders," Kaito said as he withdrew the energy of Ryūmyaku surrounding the three. "The paper clones were only barely activated by Sasuke, so they won't last long in the earth's veins."
"It's fine," Sasuke said confidently, "We can get out of the Land of Fire ourselves."
"Don't underestimate Konoha's tracking ability," Neji interjected. "Especially now, the news of my defection can't be hidden anymore. The Hyuga clan will surely do everything in their power to find me."
"In any case, be careful," Kaito said, though he wasn't particularly worried, as Izuna was still with them.
Neji looked at Kaito, hesitating to speak.
Kaito smiled gently, "Are you wondering about the Caged Bird seal?"
"Yes," Neji responded eagerly, looking at him.
"Although I didn't have much time, I did manage to do some research."
Kaito stretched out his right hand, and blue spiritual energy flowed from his palm, quickly forming a transparent, three-dimensional human head. The skull, brain, and nerves were clearly visible.
"This is the current state of your brain, Neji."
Neji focused on the deep blue mark on the forehead of the transparent head and looked inside.
"Do you see? The darkest part represents the power of the curse mark." As Kaito explained, the head slowly rotated in his hand.
"The curse mark is intertwined with the optic nerve and even extends deep into the brain," Neji's expression darkened. "That's how the main branch of the family can destroy the eyes and brain tissue of the side branch with the curse mark."
"Exactly," Kaito dispersed the image in his hand. "The curse mark has penetrated too deeply, and the brain and optic nerves are very delicate, so completely removing the Caged Bird seal is not an easy task."
Neji calmed himself and said seriously, "It's okay, I can wait."
He touched the mark on his forehead, a faint smile forming at the corners of his mouth.
"Now that I've escaped the main family's control, I'm already satisfied."
"Don't worry, I'll continue researching it. I've discovered some interesting things," Kaito said with a smile. "However, there's something I need your permission for."
"What is it?" Neji asked.
"I suspect the Caged Bird seal might even affect the soul," Kaito said, looking seriously into Neji's eyes. "If you agree, give me your blood. I want to summon your father's spirit."
"This..." Neji was visibly shaken, and his heart was conflicted.
"How about it? If you want to fully remove the curse mark, this is necessary," Kaito added.
Neji's expression shifted, but after a moment, his resolve hardened. He pulled out a kunai from his pouch and sliced his finger deeply.
"You don't need that much!" Kaito said, half laughing, as he saw the bone-deep wound on Neji's hand.
Sasuke turned his head, giving Neji a look as if he were an idiot.
"It's fine," Neji said, lowering his eyes. "I want to know if my father would approve of what I've done."
"Alright then."
Kaito immediately began the process of summoning the spirit.
Activating his Mangekyou Sharingan, he projected a magic array and recited an incantation. With a flash of blue light, a calm-faced young man with long hair appeared before the three of them.
"Sure enough, the curse mark even affects the soul," Kaito said as he immediately noticed the familiar mark on the young man's forehead.
Hyuga Hizashi opened his eyes, scanning the three strangers before him. His gaze quickly passed over the two Uchiha and locked onto the boy with the Byakugan.
Neji looked at his father, familiar yet distant, and childhood memories suddenly became clearer in his mind.
"Father," Neji stepped forward to stand in front of Hizashi.
"Neji! Is that you?" Hizashi reached out in excitement to touch Neji, but his hand passed through Neji's body.
"It's me. It's been a long time, Father," Neji's eyes grew slightly red.
"Sasuke," Kaito extended his hand toward Sasuke.
Sasuke understood and handed Kaito the space talisman he had been holding.
Kaito took the talisman and slipped it into his sleeve.
"Let's take care of that wound first," Kaito said as he walked to Neji's side, pulling out a paper talisman from his sleeve.
"Who are you?" Hizashi had regained his composure and began to scrutinize the two people with Neji, his expression changing suddenly.
"Uchiha?"
Kaito simply nodded, his paper talisman glowing with blue light as he said to Neji, "Stretch out your finger."
Neji obediently extended his injured finger, and Kaito placed the talisman on it. The talisman immediately wrapped around the bleeding wound.
"Hello," Kaito finally turned to greet Hizashi. "I am Uchiha Kaito."
"What is going on?" Hizashi looked down at his translucent hands and then back up. "I can feel it. You summoned me from the Pure Land."
"As for the details, I'll let Neji explain them to you," Kaito said as he pulled out a low-grade spirit vessel. "For now, let me give you a body."
With that, he tossed the paper doll, and Hizashi's soul was irresistibly drawn into it.
"Father?" Neji couldn't help but cry out in surprise.
The paper doll quickly expanded, transforming into a solid form of Hizashi, standing once again before Neji.
"Neji." Hizashi clenched his hands and couldn't resist reaching out to touch Neji's head.
"Neji, you've grown up."
Kaito exchanged a glance with Sasuke, and the two quietly stepped aside, giving father and son space to talk.
"Sasuke," Kaito patted Sasuke on the shoulder. "Why didn't you ask me to summon your parents?"
"Summoning them would be pointless," Sasuke lowered his head. "They can't eat or sleep. It's better to let them rest peacefully."
"I thought you'd be jealous of Naruto, having his father by his side, but it seems you're more mature than I expected," Kaito said with some emotion.
"I'm not like that guy!" Sasuke turned away. "I have my own things to do. Even if I summoned my parents, I wouldn't have time to spend with them."
"Alright, I'll respect your wishes," Kaito said. "Unless it's absolutely necessary, I won't disturb their peace."
"No! It's just that the time hasn't come yet," Sasuke turned back. "Itachi, that guy... When I find him, I'll make him repent in front of our parents."
"Itachi... have you thought about how to deal with him?" Kaito asked suddenly.
Sasuke looked up at the sky, where rays of sunlight pierced through the leaves, casting specks of light on his face.
After a moment of silence, he spoke again, "The Uchiha family cemetery still needs a caretaker."