"However, the leakage of the Caged Bird Seal is indeed a pressing issue. I wonder—have the Hyuga clan found any possible solutions?"
The Hyuga clan members exchanged glances, quietly dismissing the boastful words of Otsutsuki Hiroichi. Though they knew from ancient records that the Otsutsuki clan was powerful, they assumed the difference between them was marginal—after all, both clans possessed the Byakugan.
But they were wrong. The power behind the true Otsutsuki was not comparable to their own—it was overwhelming, cataclysmic. In comparison, even the revered Byakugan of the Hyuga was as fragile as glass.
Rather than finding ways to resist the mysterious leader of the Akatsuki or any other external threat, perhaps it was wiser to first resolve their internal weakness—the Caged Bird Seal.
"Ahem." Hyuga Hiashi cleared his throat and stepped forward, his tone calm but strained. "In fact, we've recently revisited some of the oldest records preserved by the clan. Within them, we discovered references indicating that the Hyuga clan's Caged Bird Seal was developed with the assistance of your ancestors—the Otsutsuki."
He continued, "We have attempted to analyze and adapt the Caged Bird Seal, hoping to sever the control function embedded in its design. However, we failed. The seal's complexity surpasses our current understanding. Thus... I ask—does your clan still possess more complete documentation or knowledge regarding its structure?"
Despite the gravity of the moment, a flicker of hope remained in Hiashi's voice. He would rather resolve the issue within the Hyuga than entrust their future to another—even if that other was the progenitor of the technique itself.
Otsutsuki Genichi, either naïve or genuinely compassionate toward his distant kin, paused in thought. Then, he gave a soft nod and replied:
"I have seen the original records concerning the Caged Bird Seal in our family's archives. It is indeed tied to one of the Byakugan's greatest secrets. However... our ancestors left behind strict warnings. That knowledge is not to be brought into the shinobi world under any circumstance."
He looked at them with regret. "If that knowledge were exposed, it could spell the annihilation of the Hyuga—descendants of Hamura like us. Moreover, I must be honest: although we retain detailed records, we do not possess the means to alter the seal. The requirements to do so are incredibly stringent. One such requirement involves a celestial treasure that no longer exists in this world."
His words struck like a hammer. Even those who doubted him could sense the sincerity behind his solemn expression.
If even the Otsutsuki could not alter the seal... did that mean the Hyuga's only option was to abandon those already marked?
To evacuate only unmarked children, leaving behind their sealed kin, would be tantamount to a temporary extinction of the branch family. Without their loyal protectors, could the main house even function? And more pressing—would the Otsutsuki even allow them to resettle on the moon? Would they impose harsh conditions in return?
Hiashi could imagine the situation reversed: if the Otsutsuki came seeking shelter from the Hyuga, would the Hyuga offer them equal status? That was laughable. At most, they might accept them as branch family members—never equals.
Treatment better than that? That would require the consensus of all elders—and most would never approve it.
The eldest elder, pragmatic and unsentimental, was already thinking ahead. If their records were accurate, the Otsutsuki's own branch families didn't seem to require any sort of Caged Bird Seal at all. Perhaps the moon was simply too safe to justify it.
But safety breeds complacency.
Would the Hyuga youth, born and raised under such protection, end up soft, naïve, and disconnected—like this Otsutsuki Hiroichi standing before them?
The elder knew the ninja world was cruel. Sending future generations back occasionally to experience that cruelty might be necessary—if the Otsutsuki even permitted it.
Despite their desperate situation, the Hyuga elder still looked down on these so-called kin. These Otsutsuki, isolated and sheltered, were birds in a different kind of cage—ignorant of the world's true nature.
Ironically, Otsutsuki Hiroichi shared a similar sentiment. How had the once-proud Hyuga, descendants of Hamura, fallen so far? To be cornered by a traitor from a diluted bloodline, and to have the secret of their own Caged Bird Seal stolen by some outsider?
He was ashamed to be related to them.
Yet, because of their shared bloodline—from Otsutsuki Hamura himself—he couldn't bring himself to abandon them.
Grinding his teeth, Hiroichi finally said, "There might be a way... though I don't know whether you're willing to accept it."
The Hyuga immediately straightened up, alert. Even if it was a long shot, even if it was humiliating—they would listen.
They had already envisioned the worst. Any alternative was worth hearing.
As their eyes fixed on him, Otsutsuki Hiroichi exhaled and began to explain the idea he had just conceived.
"You should know, the Ōtsutsuki clan has lived on the moon for generations. But the moon is not just a simple celestial body.
According to the records passed down by the lunar Ōtsutsuki, the moon itself was created by the Sage of Six Paths' brother, Ōtsutsuki Hamura, and functions as a massive sealing structure. It's completely isolated from the outside world by a powerful chakra barrier.
Because of this isolation, standard ninjutsu from the shinobi world—including summoning jutsu and various sealing techniques—have no effect on the moon or those living on it.
In other words, the moon's natural chakra barrier can completely block external control mechanisms, including the influence of the Caged Bird Curse Mark.
However, this also means that the Hyuga branch members who bear the Caged Bird Seal would likely be unable to return. They would have to remain on the moon indefinitely."
Surprise. That's what this was—pure, overwhelming surprise.
The Hyuga clan elders, for the first time in decades, felt completely caught off guard.
They had only just begun discussing the possibility of relocating the Hyuga Main Family to the moon for refuge—but now, it was the outsider who proposed it first.
And more shockingly, he was offering to take the entire Branch Family with them.
On the moon, the Caged Bird Seal would no longer function as a tool of control. The barrier would prevent the Main Family from activating it remotely. In other words, the Branch Members would be safe. Truly safe.
To the Hyuga elders, this seemed like the perfect sanctuary. It would allow the clan to survive the upheavals of the shinobi world. Future generations could grow up away from conflict, then return when the time was right, ensuring the Hyuga legacy endured.
Several elders exchanged glances, each reading the same thoughts in the others' eyes. The only obstacle was ensuring the Branch Members remained obedient.
But they were experts in that. The Main Family had long practiced a blend of benevolence and coercion. A few kind words, a few warnings, and even some fabricated talk about "honor" and "duty"—they knew how to manipulate loyalty.
And even though the Caged Bird Seal couldn't be applied to the next generation on the moon, they could still exert control over those already marked.
Now, their eyes turned toward Ōtsutsuki Hiroichi. They no longer saw him as a mysterious outsider, but as a potential savior—the key to preserving their clan's superiority.
From that point on, Elder Hiroichi was treated as an honored guest, given every luxury imaginable.
Though a senior member of the lunar Ōtsutsuki, Hiroichi had never stepped foot outside the moon before. Life there was monotonous, surrounded by the same faces, devoid of entertainment or novelty.
He had no idea about the shinobi world's pleasures. But the Main Family, especially the elders, carefully guided him, slowly introducing him to its temptations.
Elder Hiroichi was soon intoxicated by what the Hyuga offered. He had never known such warmth or indulgence.
Unbeknownst to all of them, however, their every move was being watched.
Kawaki Aoba observed from the shadows, using advanced sensory techniques—a blend of traditional chakra sensing and Observation Haki, which he had trained in during his travels beyond the shinobi world.
He didn't know much about the lunar Ōtsutsuki in detail, only the broad strokes from ancient records and his own analysis.
What he knew was this: the Branch Family of the lunar Ōtsutsuki once watched the ninja world descend into endless war. Disillusioned with the world created by the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo, they concluded it was flawed.
In a drastic move, they removed their own eyes and pooled their Byakugan to form the Tenseigan—a powerful dōjutsu with abilities rivaling the Rinnegan.
Once the Tenseigan was formed, they turned on the lunar Main Family, eradicating all who opposed them. Only a few survived, including a child born without eyes: Ōtsutsuki Toneri.
Later, Toneri would journey to Earth, steal Hanabi Hyūga's Byakugan, and awaken the Tenseigan. He planned to crash the moon into Earth to "cleanse" the corrupted world, but was ultimately defeated—and redeemed—by Naruto Uzumaki.
Kawaki Aoba didn't recall every detail, but he knew enough.
This Hiroichi was clearly from the original Main Family. His very presence on Earth meant Toneri had not yet stolen Hanabi's eyes. The rebellion and the awakening of the Tenseigan hadn't occurred yet.
Kawaki felt a twinge of regret. The Tenseigan was a formidable tool—on par with the Rinnegan in some aspects—but for him, it was just another trump card, not a necessity.
He preferred peace between the ninja world and the lunar Ōtsutsuki. That's where Kaguya was sealed. That's where Hamura had passed away.
If anything emerged from the moon again, Kawaki Aoba wouldn't be surprised.
But now, the Ōtsutsuki were entangled in the politics of the Hyuga clan. And if the Hyuga succeeded in exploiting this opportunity, everything Kawaki had built could collapse.
He couldn't allow that.
Fortunately, time was on his side. The Hyuga clan wouldn't act impulsively on Hiroichi's word alone. They would send scouts to verify the truth.
Over the next two days, Hiroichi was lost in luxury, never suspecting he was being manipulated. If he had his way, he might have stayed forever.
But Kawaki Aoba wouldn't allow that. And neither would fate.
While the Hyuga chose slow manipulation, Kawaki Aoba chose direct pressure.
On the third day, several unfamiliar ninjas dressed in dark law enforcement gear stormed the Hyuga compound. They bypassed the guards and forced their way in.
"Stop! This is Hyuga territory! Outsiders need permission to enter!" a Hyuga shinobi shouted, moving to block them.
But the intruders were calm and arrogant.
"We're with the Konoha Law Enforcement Unit. We have credible intelligence that rogue ninjas are being harbored here. We're authorized to investigate."
The leader flashed a badge—official-looking, but unfamiliar.
The Hyuga ninja narrowed his eyes. "Law Enforcement Unit? Never heard of it. Konoha has the ANBU and the Uchiha Police Force. Who are you people?"
The supposed officer sneered. "Of course you haven't heard of us. We're newly formed. Our authority overlaps with both the ANBU and the Police Force—but we also deal with matters they can't."
"In short," he added with a smirk, "we deal with threats the traditional forces overlook. Now, step aside."
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