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Chapter 135 - CHAPTER 134

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It's worth mentioning that a total of twelve Genin made it to the final stage of the Chūnin Exams.

However, aside from Uchiha Sasuke—who had disappeared with Kakashi Hatake for last-minute treatment and training—the only remaining member of the Otogakure trio who passed the preliminaries, Shōi (Zaku and Dosu's teammate, Kin Tsuchi, in the manga), was also mysteriously absent.

As a result, the bracket had another empty match.

Ye Dou was fortunate—he automatically advanced to the next round without a fight.

"Congratulations, Ye Dou!"

Back in the lounge, Hyūga Hanabi congratulated him warmly.

"Those destined to win will not lose. Those destined to lose cannot win," Ye Dou replied calmly.

He didn't care much for the Chūnin Exam itself—it had little to do with his true objectives.

Besides, if his judgment was correct, this year's Chūnin Exam wouldn't reach its conclusion. Something would erupt before the final round played out.

"Even so, luck is still a good thing," Hanabi replied with a smile.

But then, as her eyes drifted to Hyūga Neji, her expression grew more complex.

Hanabi was smart and observant. From Neji's cold remarks during the preliminaries, she had sensed an undercurrent of hostility aimed at the main family. Curious and troubled, she had questioned her father, Hyūga Hiashi, and learned about the events surrounding her uncle—Hyūga Hizashi.

She didn't know whether to see it as a misunderstanding or truth. After all, Hizashi had indeed died in place of Hiashi.

"If your father is aware of it, let him handle it. You need to focus on your own match now," Ye Dou said, sensing her mood shift.

"Mm."

Hanabi nodded and tried to compose herself.

As she glanced at Ye Dou, a thought surfaced—he seemed to have changed recently. He had started showing concern for others.

"If you want to know, I'll tell you," Ye Dou said, his tone quieter now.

"The Hyūga clan has a secret technique passed down for generations. It's not just jutsu—it's a curse. The Caged Bird Seal. Anyone bearing that mark is like a bird in a cage, never free from fate."

On the arena platform—

Prompted by Uzumaki Naruto's relentless questions, Hyūga Neji unwrapped the bandage on his forehead, revealing the mark engraved on him.

"That… what's that strange symbol?" someone in the crowd asked.

"That's the Caged Bird Seal—a secret technique passed down by the Hyūga clan. It's also a curse," explained a Chūnin in the audience.

"The Byakugan is one of the Three Great Dōjutsu of the ninja world, alongside the Uchiha clan's Sharingan. Because of its power and value on the battlefield, the Hyūga clan became a target for many villages."

"To protect the Byakugan from being stolen and to maintain their power, the Hyūga clan devised this seal. It can destroy the Byakugan and damage the brain on command—controlling the very life and death of its bearer."

"This seal is irreversible. Once branded, it remains until death."

The crowd buzzed in shock. Even among Konoha's own shinobi, many had never heard these details about the Hyūga.

"That mark… is a curse. A curse created to maintain the absolute rule of the main family," Neji said bitterly.

"Everyone in the branch family… we're just disposable tools, forced to serve and protect the main house."

"My father was one of them. He died for the clan without ever having a choice."

His fist clenched around the bandage in his hand.

"What happened exactly?"

"It was the Hyūga kidnapping incident ten years ago," someone replied gravely.

"That's right—the target was the Hyūga clan's heiress."

"Who would dare attempt that?"

After the Uchiha clan's destruction, the Hyūga had risen as Konoha's most powerful clan. Even the Hokage treated them with respect. To try and abduct the clan heiress from the heart of the village was suicide.

"They tried to steal her to uncover the secrets of the Byakugan," said an elderly civilian in the crowd. "I've lived in Konoha my whole life. I remember it well."

"What happened next?"

"The Hyūga clan responded immediately. They saved the heiress, but the man killed during the rescue turned out to be the envoy from Kumogakure who had come to sign a peace treaty."

"Yugito's village?" someone whispered.

"Yes—Kumogakure. Afterward, they claimed the envoy had been murdered in cold blood and demanded Konoha hand over the killer."

"They came here to kidnap a child, and then had the nerve to demand an explanation?" another shouted angrily.

The crowd erupted in anger.

It was clear: Konoha had bowed to pressure from Kumogakure, and Hyūga Hizashi, Neji's father, was the one sacrificed to maintain peace.

And that was something Neji would never forget.

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