Rengoku quickly arrived at the room where Hinata and Hanabi were.
When he entered, Hanabi was eating cookies. When she saw Rengoku, she became a little scared and hid behind Hinata. After all, she had never met him before.
"Principal," Hinata greeted softly, her expression downcast.
Toward Naruto's future fiancée, Rengoku remained gentle and good-tempered.
"Hinata, you were looking for me?"
Hinata took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and asked, "What exactly happened to my clan?"
Rengoku gestured with his hand, motioning Hinata to sit down.
Hinata and Hanabi obediently sat.
Rengoku asked, "Do you two have any understanding of the Hyuga Main Family, Branch Family, and the Caged Bird?"
Hinata and Hanabi first shook their heads, then nodded.
"I know that the Branch Family exists to protect the Main Family, and that the Caged Bird is the mark of the Branch Family."
"But I've seen Neji-nee punished with the Caged Bird before…"
Hinata's explanation didn't surprise Rengoku. After all, she was still young, and Hiashi had never clearly explained these things to her.
Hanabi said weakly, "The Caged Bird Seal can easily destroy the brain nerves of the one it's cast on."
Rengoku turned to look at Hanabi, "So it seems you understand. Explain it to your sister."
He remembered that the Great Elder had once explained this to Hanabi.
Hinata had never really understood the Caged Bird before, so when she learned her little sister knew, she looked over curiously.
Hanabi gathered her words before speaking, "Once, when Neji-nee and Sister were sparring, Father punished him."
"The Great Elder told me that the mission of the Hyuga Main Family is to forever protect the Byakugan."
"For that reason, sometimes we must rule over the Branch Family through something known as absolute fear, fear of death, until they submit."
"There are also people in the Branch Family who resent this deeply. They harbor hatred toward our Main Family."
"So we are a clan burdened with heavy sins."
Only then did Hinata understand why, after that day, Neji's attitude toward her had changed.
Rengoku showed little reaction, instead motioning for Hanabi to continue.
Hanabi recalled for a moment, then went on, "The Great Elder said that everyone born into this world carries their own fate, and that this fate never changes from beginning to end."
"Heh!"
Rengoku let out a mocking laugh, but not at Hanabi. He was mocking the decayed Great Elder of the Hyuga Clan.
That so-called "fate" had already been shattered when the Branch Family risked their lives.
"Let me tell you what the Caged Bird really is."
Rengoku spoke slowly, ready to let these two children see the filthiest things in the ninja world.
"The Caged Bird is simply a tool your Main Family uses to enslave the Branch Family."
"It was created as a device of punishment to easily suppress a group of people."
"Once branded with the Caged Bird Seal, a Branch Family member can never resist the Main Family in anything."
"So, the Caged Bird is the means by which your Main Family oppresses the Branch Family."
"That talk about fate, it's just something to fool descendants like you."
"It lets you feel at ease while enjoying the Branch Family's sacrifices, all by telling you, 'That's their destiny.'"
The two girls looked shaken.
Rengoku continued, "As for the Main Family's so-called eternal duty to protect the Byakugan, that's nothing more than a lofty excuse."
"You both should know that when someone with the Caged Bird Seal dies, or if their eyes are taken out, their Byakugan is instantly destroyed."
Seeing the two girls nod, Rengoku sneered.
"So, if your Main Family truly wanted to protect the Byakugan, why not brand yourselves with the Caged Bird Seal?"
Such logic was simple, even these two children could grasp it.
Their faces turned pale, but since Rengoku had begun, he naturally intended to make everything clear.
"As for why your Main Family members were killed this time,.it's because your Main Family was drenched in sin and finally faced retribution from the Branch Family."
"When you were three years old, Hinata, a delegation from the Hidden Cloud Village of the Land of Lightning came to Konoha for peace talks. In truth, they planned to kidnap you to test Konoha's attitude."
"At that time, you were already taken out of the Hyuga compound, but your father, Hiashi, discovered it and killed the criminal."
"But that was actually part of Cloud's plan, to use that man's death as leverage to threaten Konoha."
"The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was a coward. So, he demanded that your father, Hiashi, pay with his life."
"But since there was the Branch Family, they sent his younger brother, Hyuga Hizashi, to die in his place."
"Hyuga Hizashi…", Hinata mouthed the unfamiliar name.
He had died when she was three. Now, Hinata was ten; seven years had passed, and she could barely remember.
Rengoku reminded her, "Hizashi was Hiashi's brother, Neji's father."
"Putting aside Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions, it's precisely because of the division between the Main and Branch Families, and the existence of the Caged Bird, that the Branch members could only be forced to give up their lives."
"These things might feel distant to you two, but the oppression of the Branch Family by the Main Family has never stopped."
"What happened to Hizashi, dying in place of the Main Family, wasn't the first time, and it won't be the last."
"And this time, your Hyuga Main Family was wiped out because the Branch Family was pushed to their absolute limit. They rose up and rebelled."
Hinata's eyes were empty, what Rengoku said had shaken her deeply.
She murmured, "So… this is the sin of our Main Family?"
Rengoku spoke faintly, "Hiashi didn't just use the Caged Bird to punish Neji; he used it to punish his own brother, Hizashi."
"The reason was ridiculous, he claimed their eyes carried killing intent."
"In other words, even the slightest thought of resentment toward the Main Family was forbidden."
"Your Main Family's destruction was your own doing. And your father's death, same thing."
"The one who killed him was the person who inherited his brother Hizashi's will."
"The one who rose up against your Main Family's evil rule."
"So you could say. Back then, your father Hiashi made your uncle Hizashi die for him."
"And now, Hizashi has come to take revenge on Hiashi."
"By the way, to wipe out your Main Family, the Branch members mostly used self-destruction methods."
"You've probably seen Hiashi's corpse. The one who killed him used explosive tags and died together with him."
"If there really is such a thing as fate in this world, it's that long-standing slavery will always bring about rebellion."
"Also, the only reason you two are still alive is because I find you useful."
"Otherwise, you'd be dead too."
"Right now, both your lives belong to the Uchiha."
"Whatever you want to do in the future, the first condition is, you must become strong."
"Only after becoming strong will you have the right to speak and the right to choose."
"Once you've proven your value, then you'll have freedom with me."
Hinata's mind was overflowing with too much, but she still took in Rengoku's words.
"I understand, Principal."
Rengoku shook his head, "From now on, live with the Uchiha. Konoha will soon fall into great turmoil, don't wander around."
"Karin lives in the room next door. Haku, Shion, Hotaru, and Ajisai all live nearby."
"If you need anything, tell Karin."
"In a while, I'll bring Neji to see you."
Hinata nodded, her expression complicated. She didn't know how she would face Neji.
After settling Hinata down, Rengoku left her residence. After all, he had more important matters the next day.