Kaguya sat alone in her cramped apartment, the faint hum of the village outside filtering through the thin walls. She stirred a cup of instant ramen with her chopsticks, her motions slow and absent-minded. In front of her lay a small book, its cover worn but the title embossed clearly: The Hyuga Clan: A Legacy of Tradition.
She flipped the page with a sigh, her white eyes scanning the dense text. The words blurred together as her mind wandered, thinking less about the intricate family tree of the Hyuga and more about the upcoming meeting.
Her Byakugan... the same eyes she now saw in her reflection each morning, the ones that made her feel like a stranger to herself. It was why this meeting even mattered. Why do they care so much? she thought bitterly.
The air in the apartment felt suffocating, heavy with a tension she couldn't shake. Taking another small bite of her ramen, she leaned back against the wall, the book slipping from her hands and landing with a soft thud on the floor. She stared up at the ceiling, the peeling paint offering no answers. ' I hate books'
A sharp knock on her door startled her from her thoughts. Kaguya frowned, setting her cup down. "Come in," she called, though her voice was less inviting and more resigned.
The door creaked open, and Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped in, his presence commanding even in the cramped space. His expression was as calm as ever, but his eyes held that familiar weight, the one that seemed to see through everything.
"Kaguya," he began, his tone measured. "Are you ready?"
She glanced at the fallen book, then at her half-eaten ramen, before finally meeting his gaze. "Ready as I'll ever be," she muttered, standing and brushing off her clothes.
Hiruzen studied her for a moment, his silence pressing. "This meeting is important," he said finally. "Not just for the village, but for you. The Hyuga will be... thorough in their judgments."
Kaguya snorted, crossing her arms. "So I've read." She gestured at the book on the floor, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Let me guess, they'll want to put a seal on me, claim I'm part of their clan now, and control me. Am I close?"
Hiruzen's brow furrowed slightly. "You might not be far off," he admitted. "But the Hyuga are not without reason. Hiashi may surprise you."
"Yeah, because being reasonable runs in his family," Kaguya quipped, but the bitterness in her voice betrayed the humor.
Hiruzen didn't respond immediately. Instead, he gave her a faint, knowing smile and stepped aside, motioning for her to follow. "Let's go. It's best not to keep them waiting."
Kaguya grabbed her jacket and the book, stuffing it into her bag. She hesitated at the doorway, glancing back at the familiar clutter of her apartment. With a quiet sigh, she stepped out, the door clicking shut behind her.
The walk to the Hyuga compound was silent, Hiruzen didn't try to fill it with conversation, and Kaguya was grateful for that.
Finally arriving, Kaguya stood before the towering gates of the Hyuga compound, her pale eyes taking in the sprawling estate. The walls stretched endlessly in both directions, pristine and imposing, a clear display of wealth and power. The grandeur of it all made her stomach twist with annoyance.
"Rich assholes," she muttered under her breath, kicking at a loose pebble on the road.
Her gaze drifted up to the tall wooden gates, the ornate carvings of the Hyuga crest stark against the polished surface. Something about the sight tugged at her mind, unearthing a faint, flickering memory.
She blinked, and for a moment, it wasn't the warm midday sun overhead but a pale, wintry sky. Snow blanketed the courtyard just beyond the gates, and a dark-haired girl stood there, her hands outstretched. In her small palms was something bright and red—a flower, perhaps?
The memory dissolved as quickly as it had come, leaving Kaguya frowning. She rubbed her temple, frustrated. What was that? The girl's face was a blur, her voice a faint hum on the edges of her mind. Try as she might, she couldn't bring the image into focus.
She shook her head, brushing it off. "Probably just another weird leftover memory," she muttered to herself, stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets.
The sound of approaching footsteps snapped her attention back to the present. Straightening instinctively, she watched as Hiashi Hyuga emerged from the courtyard, his presence commanding and deliberate. His white robes billowed slightly as he walked, every step exuding the poise and authority of a clan head.
Trailing behind him were three elders, their faces as unreadable as stone. Their gazes, however, were anything but indifferent—sharp, unyielding, and, above all, scrutinizing. The weight of their Byakugan felt like a tangible force pressing down on her, but Kaguya refused to flinch under their watchful eyes.
Hiashi stopped a few paces away, his face calm but unreadable. "Kaguya," he said, his voice even and formal. "Welcome to the Hyuga compound."
She nodded curtly, the tightness in her chest making it hard to find her voice. "Hiashi-sama," she managed, her tone respectful but clipped.
Hiashi glanced briefly at the elders before gesturing toward the compound. "Follow me. There are matters to discuss."
As he turned, one of the elders murmured just loud enough for Kaguya to hear. "The Byakugan in an outsider... truly an aberration."
Did she say 'rich assholes?' she meant 'pompous rich assholes'
As Kaguya followed Hiashi and the elders through the wide courtyard, she felt the weight of countless eyes on her. Members of the Hyuga clan paused in their tasks to stare, their expressions ranging from mild curiosity to thinly veiled disdain. She kept her gaze forward, trying not to bristle under their scrutiny.
When they passed under an archway leading toward one of the inner halls, a figure caught her eye. A boy about her age stood off to the side, half-hidden behind a pillar. His long, dark brown hair framed his face, and his pale lavender eyes—so much like her own—were fixed on her with an unreadable intensity.
Neji Hyuga.
Kaguya recognized him from the academy, though they had never interacted much. As he had been a year above her at the time. She had always thought he seemed aloof, distant, sort of like sasuke's, but now his expression carried something else—a flicker of confusion, perhaps even suspicion.
Their eyes met briefly as she walked past him, and for a moment, neither moved. Kaguya couldn't help but notice the subtle tightening of his jaw, as though he was struggling to process what he was seeing.
She raised an eyebrow at him, unsure if she should say something, but Neji simply turned away, his face now a careful mask of indifference.
What's his problem? Kaguya wondered as she refocused on Hiashi's back. Whatever it was, she didn't have the time or energy to dwell on it.
The meeting room was sparsely decorated, its wooden walls polished to a shine and adorned with a single hanging scroll bearing the Hyuga crest. A low table dominated the center of the room, surrounded by cushions. Kaguya hesitated at the entrance, her eyes sweeping over the space, before stepping inside.
Hiashi gestured for her to sit on one of the cushions opposite him, while the elders settled in silently, their gazes heavy with unspoken judgment. Kaguya took a moment before dropping down onto the cushion with a distinct lack of grace, her legs sprawled slightly and her arms crossing over her chest.
The room grew tense. One of the elders exchanged a sharp glance with another, while another cleared his throat, clearly displeased.
Hiashi's expression remained calm, though his sharp eyes flicked to her posture. "Kaguya," he said evenly, "I would advise you to sit properly."
She rolled her eyes but adjusted her position, tucking her legs under her haphazardly and leaning her elbow on the low table. "Happy?" she muttered, not quite looking at him.
Hiashi didn't answer, his gaze steady as he sat with perfect composure. Once the room had settled again, he folded his hands and spoke.
"The Hyuga clan has long held its traditions in the highest regard," Hiashi began, his voice measured. "Traditions that have preserved our strength and protected our secrets for generations."
Kaguya quirked an eyebrow but remained silent, idly running a finger along the edge of the table as he spoke.
"The Byakugan is not just a bloodline trait," Hiashi continued. "It is a sacred inheritance, a symbol of the Hyuga clan's pride and identity. To ensure its preservation and to guard against misuse, the clan employs certain measures."
One of the elders, a wiry man with a sharp gaze, leaned forward slightly. "The Caged Bird Seal," he said, his tone cold and unyielding.
Kaguya's hand froze mid-movement, her stomach twisting at the words. She tightened her jaw and forced herself to remain calm, though her fists clenched slightly.
Hiashi held up a hand, silencing the elder before he could say more. "The Caged Bird Seal is a sensitive topic," he said, his tone neutral. "And while it is a tradition deeply rooted in our clan, it is not something we impose lightly."
Kaguya snorted softly, leaning back slightly as she crossed her arms again. "Lightly? Sounds like you're just looking for an excuse."
The same elder who had spoken before bristled, his sharp gaze narrowing. "Mind your tone, girl! You sit in the Hyuga compound. Show respect!"
Kaguya met his glare with one of her own, her lips curving into a faint smirk. "Respect is earned, not demanded," she shot back, her voice calm but biting.
Hiashi's sharp intake of breath drew the attention back to him. His expression was unreadable, but the weight in his eyes was unmistakable. "Enough," he said firmly. "This meeting is not a debate. It is a necessary conversation."
Kaguya huffed but fell silent, though her defiant posture remained.
Hiashi resumed, his voice calm but unyielding. "No decisions will be made today. This meeting is to ensure you understand the gravity of the situation. The Byakugan is a gift, but it comes with responsibilities—and consequences."
Kaguya leaned forward slightly, her gaze challenging. "And what happens if I don't agree with your 'responsibilities'?"
One of the elders scoffed. "You have no say in the matter, child. This is for the protection of the Byakugan—and the village."
Hiashi glanced at the elder, his face a mask of neutrality, before focusing back on Kaguya. "You have questions, I'm sure," he said, his tone measured. "Ask them now, while you have the chance."
Kaguya leaned back on her cushion, arms crossed tightly over her chest as she tapped her chopsticks against the rim of her ramen cup. Her sharp eyes darted around the room, taking in the disapproving stares of the Hyuga elders and Hiashi's unreadable expression. She scoffed loudly, cutting through the heavy silence.
"You know," she began, her voice dripping with irritation, "the more I hear about all this talk of 'tradition' and 'seals,' the more I'm convinced you're all just a bunch of loony slavers. I mean, seriously—branding your own family to control them? That's beyond messed up."
The elders stiffened, their expressions twisting into barely restrained outrage. One elder shot to his feet, his voice trembling with indignation. "You insolent—"
"Enough!" Hiruzen's voice cut through the room like a blade. The elder froze, his mouth snapping shut as the Third Hokage's commanding presence filled the space.
Kaguya blinked and turned toward Hiruzen, expecting him to back her up. Instead, his sharp gaze was fixed on her, firm and unyielding.
"Kaguya," Hiruzen said, his tone calm yet heavy with authority, "I understand your frustration, but your words are unnecessarily provocative. This is a delicate matter, and agitation will only hinder any resolution."
Kaguya slouched back into her seat with a grumble, muttering under her breath but saying no more.
Hiashi's face remained composed, though his sharp eyes flicked toward Kaguya briefly before returning to Hiruzen. The elders, however, looked apoplectic, their glares bouncing between the Hokage and the girl.
"Hokage-sama," one of them began, his voice tight with restrained anger, "this girl's blatant disrespect—"
"She is not Hyuga by birth," Hiruzen interrupted smoothly, his calm declaration freezing the room.
Hiashi's brow twitched briefly, the only sign of his reaction. The elders, however, exchanged bewildered looks, their indignation shifting to confusion.
"Not Hyuga by birth?" an elder echoed, his tone a mixture of disbelief and suspicion. "But how, then, does she bear the Byakugan?"
Hiashi, his face still a mask of composure, finally leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze locking onto Hiruzen. A glint appeared in his eyes—calculated and knowing. His voice was calm but carried an undercurrent of something sharper.
"Hokage-sama, if that is true," he said slowly, "then why does she bear the Byakugan?"
His words were deliberate, and Hiruzen caught the subtle emphasis. Hiashi's question wasn't born of confusion but strategy—a way to guide the conversation. Hiashi's understanding of Kaguya's unique circumstances made it clear he was steering the discussion in a way that would protect her.
Hiruzen met Hiashi's gaze, recognizing the unspoken agreement. He nodded, his voice steady. "That is a matter of her unique circumstances, which, as you well know, are not for public discussion."
Hiashi inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the Hokage's subtle confirmation. The glint in his eyes flickered briefly before fading, replaced by his usual stoicism.
The elders, still confused and unsettled, exchanged wary glances. One of them spoke hesitantly, "Hokage-sama, regardless of her origin, the Byakugan is a sacred bloodline. Surely, she must adhere to our traditions to preserve its sanctity."
"She will not be bound by your traditions," Hiruzen stated firmly, his voice brooking no argument. "Kaguya is not listed in your registry, nor does she share your bloodline directly. As such, the Hyuga clan's internal laws do not apply to her."
The elders bristled but remained silent under the weight of the Hokage's authority.
Hiashi finally broke the silence, his tone measured but resolute. "Hokage-sama, while I agree that her circumstances place her outside the bounds of our traditions, the Byakugan is still a part of her. With that comes certain responsibilities. It is my belief that she must learn to wield it properly, even if she is not bound by our laws."
Hiruzen nodded. "I agree. That is why I trust the Hyuga clan will act as her mentors, guiding her without imposing traditions she is not bound to follow."
Hiashi inclined his head. "Understood, Hokage-sama. I will see to it personally."
The elders, though visibly displeased, exchanged reluctant nods, their protests silenced by the Hokage's clear directives and Hiashi's calm authority.
Kaguya, meanwhile, smirked faintly, her irritation fading as she saw the elders squirm. She leaned back further, arms behind her head, clearly enjoying the shift in power. "Glad we've got that sorted," she muttered, earning a pointed look from Hiashi.
Straightening slightly, she raised her hands in mock surrender, her smirk lingering but wisely keeping her mouth shut this time.
Kaguya, meanwhile, smirked faintly, her irritation fading as she saw the elders squirm. She leaned back further, arms behind her head, clearly enjoying the shift in power. "Glad we've got that sorted," she muttered, earning a pointed look from Hiashi.
Straightening slightly, she raised her hands in mock surrender, her smirk lingering but wisely keeping her mouth shut this time.
But just as the tension in the room seemed to ease, one of the older elders cleared his throat, his expression stern yet contemplative. "Hokage-sama," he began, turning his gaze to Hiruzen, "if the girl is to remain outside our traditions, then we must ensure a proper connection to the clan. The Byakugan is our sacred gift, and it cannot be left to a rogue lineage without ties to the main house."
Kaguya raised an eyebrow, sitting up slightly. "Rogue lineage?" she echoed, her tone biting.
The elder ignored her, focusing instead on Hiashi and Hiruzen. "It would be prudent, then, to propose a union with the Hyuga clan. Such an arrangement would solidify her connection to us while preserving the sanctity of our bloodline."
Hiashi's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, his composure showing faint cracks. "You propose marriage," he said flatly. It wasn't a question.
"Yes," the elder replied, his gaze steady. "A union between her and Neji would be ideal. Neji is a prodigy of our branch family, and such a match would ensure the Byakugan's strength remains within our control."
Kaguya's jaw dropped, her mind racing between disbelief and outright fury. "You've got to be kidding me," she snapped, her voice sharp. "You want me to marry some guy just to keep your stupid traditions intact? What century is this?"
Hiashi raised a hand, silencing both Kaguya's outburst and the murmurs from the other elders. His gaze swept the room, lingering on the elder who had proposed the idea. "A marriage arrangement is unnecessary and shortsighted," he said firmly. "Kaguya's connection to the Byakugan is unique, and forcing such a union would only breed resentment, not loyalty."
Hiruzen nodded in agreement. "Kaguya's autonomy is not up for negotiation," he added, his tone leaving no room for argument. "The village will not permit any such arrangement to be forced upon her."
The elder frowned, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Then what assurance do we have that the Byakugan will not be misused or fall into the wrong hands?"
Kaguya, leaning forward now, smirked coldly. "You really think I'd misuse it? Trust me, I don't need your traditions—or your marriage proposals—to figure out how to use my own damn eyes."
Hiashi's gaze softened slightly as he looked at her, before returning to the elder. "She is not bound by our laws, but she is under my mentorship. That will suffice." His voice turned cold, silencing the room. "And as for Neji, do not speak of him as though he is a tool for your schemes."
The elder seemed ready to argue further, but the combined weight of Hiashi's authority and Hiruzen's unyielding presence forced him into silence. The meeting room grew tense again, but this time it was a subdued, defeated tension.
Hiashi finally turned to Kaguya. "You will be expected to train diligently. The Byakugan is not something to wield carelessly, and you must honor its strength."
Kaguya shrugged, leaning back in her seat. "Fine, as long as no one's slapping some freaky seal on my forehead or handing me a wedding invitation."
Hiashi gave a slight nod, though his stern expression remained. "Then we are agreed. This meeting is adjourned."
As the elders began to shuffle out, their protests subdued to grumbles, Kaguya caught Hiashi's gaze and offered him a sly smile. "You're not as bad as the rest of them," she muttered under her breath.
Hiashi didn't respond but turned away, his posture as composed as ever, though the faintest trace of a smile might have flickered across his lips.
…
Neji stood in the hallway outside the meeting room, his posture tense as he listened to the voices inside. It was rare for such a gathering to take place, especially when the topic of conversation was something as sensitive as Kaguya's connection to the Byakugan. He leaned against the wall, barely breathing, his eyes narrowed in concentration.
Inside the room, the voices carried clearly through the closed door, and Neji's brow furrowed as he heard Kaguya's sharp tone cut through the air.
"Marriage? You think I'd marry some stranger just to suit your damn traditions?" she snapped, her words laden with frustration.
Hiashi's calm, authoritative voice followed, but Neji couldn't catch the words clearly. Still, the tense, controlled exchange left a bitter taste in his mouth. Why was there even a discussion about a marriage arrangement for her? What was her connection to the clan, and why was she being treated like she was one of them?
The question echoed in Neji's mind as he continued to listen. It wasn't long before the answer became clear.
"You will be expected to train diligently," Hiashi said with finality. "The Byakugan is not something to wield carelessly, and you must honor its strength."
"Fine," Kaguya responded dismissively, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "As long as no one's slapping some freaky seal on my forehead or handing me a wedding invitation."
Neji's fists clenched as he heard the words. He knew exactly what that "seal" meant: the Caged Bird Seal. It was the mark of the branch family, the mark that tethered them to the main family and rendered them subservient, trapped by tradition and family loyalty. It was a constant reminder that they were not fully free. Neji had worn it his entire life, a physical chain that reminded him of his status, his powerlessness, and his inability to escape the Hyuga clan's suffocating grip.
But Kaguya—this girl who wasn't even part of their clan—had the Byakugan and no ties to their traditions. She wasn't shackled by the seal. She wasn't bound by the same rules.
The anger flared up in Neji's chest. How was it possible? How could someone outside the family, someone with no direct connection to the Hyuga bloodline, walk free, while he—the direct bloodline of the main family—had to endure the mark, the chain, and the burden of tradition?
Neji's grip on the doorframe tightened, his breathing becoming shallow. His thoughts raced as he tried to process the injustice.
Why did Kaguya get to walk away without consequences? She wasn't even Hyuga by birth—by the very rules the clan upheld—and yet here she was, treated like she was one of them. She had power, respect, and freedom—things Neji had been denied his entire life.
"She will be under my mentorship," he heard Hiashi say, his voice still calm but with an edge of finality.
Kaguya's voice cut through again, her tone mocking but somehow dismissive of the weight of the situation. "Whatever. Let's just get this over with."
Neji felt his anger boil over. He pushed off the wall, his body moving with the impulse of his emotions rather than logic. He couldn't stay there listening to this. He didn't want to hear any more of it.
He turned and walked swiftly down the hallway, his footsteps echoing through the clan's compound, his mind a storm of confusion and rage. He didn't care about the specifics of the conversation anymore—he just wanted to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the Hyuga clan, the pressure, the traditions, and the ever-present shadow of the Caged Bird Seal.
But as he walked, the anger didn't fade. It only intensified.