As the three entered the barbecue restaurant, the owner's expression instantly brightened, shedding the gloom caused by the ongoing war. His face beamed with a wide smile.
"Come in, come in!" he eagerly welcomed them, gesturing for the three to take a seat.
Times were tough, but business had to continue, and every customer counted—especially ones with deep pockets.
"Hey, boss, you've put on some weight again," Gin greeted casually.
The barbecue shop owner quickly glanced around, checking if a certain white-haired troublemaker was around. Last time, Gin had eaten so much he had to wash dishes to pay off the debt. But the current economic situation was far worse than before.
"Don't worry, we can pay today," Gin reassured, patting the owner's round belly. "Typical Akimichi," he thought.
This barbecue joint was backed by the Akimichi clan. In these turbulent times, any shop still open likely had support from a ninja clan. The war had wrecked the economy, making it tough for regular businesses to survive.
"Of course, no worries," the owner chuckled, though he wouldn't say it outright.
Gin didn't care about the shopkeeper's attitude because he had just locked eyes with someone—an old rival.
Their gazes met, sparks flying between them.
"Here we go again," Yamanaka Inoichi sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Why don't we all sit together? I'm treating today," Akimichi Chōza offered warmly.
"Well, in that case, thanks," Gin responded, already sitting down.
"And these are my teammates," Gin added, gesturing to Minato and Kushina, who were still in shock at how fast Gin had moved. His speed was almost like teleportation.
"Come on, let's all eat together," Chōza said, not minding the extra company. He had prepared well, knowing that practicing internal chakra techniques could increase one's appetite.
He'd even brought a family discount card, so a few extra guests weren't an issue.
"Sorry to intrude," Minato said as he pulled Kushina along to sit. His gaze landed on a disheveled-looking boy with a ponytail sitting across from Gin, clearly locked in a silent standoff.
Their eyes were sparking with tension, as if lightning and fire were clashing.
"Just ignore them," Inoichi advised. "Otherwise..."
He trailed off, not wanting to mention how one would realize they had a disturbingly competitive teammate. That would just be rude.
"So, how was the Sand Village front?" Gin asked, already grilling meat slices.
"Let's just say it didn't go well," Chōza sighed. "The Kazekage took control of the River Country battlefield, and half our forces couldn't make a move."
Although White Fang had nearly killed both the Kazekage and Chiyo, he couldn't quite finish them off, leaving the Kazekage, touted as the strongest, still a formidable threat.
"How long will this war drag on?" Shikaku chimed in, and the group fell into silence. None of them had any idea how or when it would end.
At the moment, three villages were attacking Konoha. Gin knew that another village, Kumogakure, was also preparing to strike.
"We're really surrounded on all sides," Gin remarked, and the others nodded grimly in agreement.
After a hearty meal, the group parted ways. Gin, Minato, and Kushina headed for the training grounds to continue their afternoon training. Their current break was only temporary—if a major battle erupted, they would be summoned to the frontlines immediately.
"Isn't that Hyūga Seiran?" Kushina asked, spotting three figures in the distance.
The unmistakable white eyes of the Hyūga clan indicated their heritage. Leading the group was an adult Hyūga, dressed in a green vest, followed by a well-dressed young man with an air of arrogance. Trailing behind them was another boy, carrying their belongings with his head lowered.
Kushina was puzzled. Hyūga Seiran was known for his pride, but now he looked like a mere servant. Still, his face was unmistakable.
"Ah, the old Hyūga tradition," Gin said with a shake of his head. "The Branch Family is nothing more than servants to the Main Family."
"Are you talking about the Caged Bird Seal?" Minato asked, familiar with the Hyūga family's customs. He had a friend, Hyūga Hizashi, who had explained the ceremony of the Caged Bird Seal to him.
According to Hizashi, the seal was meant to protect the clan's Byakugan.
"Isn't it supposed to protect the Byakugan?" Minato questioned, unable to reconcile what he saw with what he'd been told.
"Anyone who dares bully my classmate is gonna get it from me!" Kushina declared, her temper flaring. She was about to charge in when Minato gently grabbed her sleeve, shaking his head.
"If you rush in now, you'll hurt his pride even more," Minato said quietly.
Gin, hands tucked into his sleeves, watched the Hyūga group move further away. "The Caged Bird Seal might have started with good intentions," he mused.
"But once the person who controls it realizes that the marked can't resist them, any positive meaning quickly gets twisted."
Good people were always the minority, and over generations, those original intentions would become warped. What was meant to protect would turn into oppression, which would inevitably lead to hatred.
Birds locked in cages longed for the sky, even if it was dangerous. Sometimes, dignity was more important than life itself.
Perhaps in the future, when the next generation faced danger, they would still choose to create the Caged Bird Seal.
And so, the cycle would continue.
The ones who break the chains and the ones who forge them are two different people, and mutual understanding between them is nearly impossible.
Those who crave freedom are unafraid of danger, while those who desire safety will sacrifice freedom for it. It's a clash of ideals.
"But without that cycle, there'd be no point in trying to change anything," Gin said, smiling to himself.
Now, maybe, he could try to break that cycle.
Maybe, just maybe, he could free the caged birds.
(End of Chapter)