Naruto: Hyuga Warlord

By the time they returned to the main camp of the Western Front, the sky had already turned a faint shade of dawn. Hyuga Soushu briefly exchanged delighted greetings with Shirakawa Namiko before hurriedly leading Mahiru Uchiha back toward his tent.

In principle, even ninja who were officially married should maintain appropriate distance during wartime, avoiding close contact that could drain too much energy and leave them weakened at critical moments. 

But principles were one thing. For a powerful and accomplished young jonin like Hyuga Soushu, rules were meant to be bent—or even broken. So although Shirakawa Namiko and others felt it somewhat inappropriate to get up to things in broad daylight, they couldn't really say anything against it.

After all, he'd already spent the whole night toiling in the freezing wilderness—so a bit more activity by daylight could easily pass as a kind of rest. It was perfectly understandable for young people to be full of vigor!

Therefore, Shirakawa Namiko considerately ordered his trusted subordinates to immediately clear out everyone near Soushu's tent in every direction, giving the overworked jonin space to continue working hard and ease his body's fatigue.

"As humble tools of Konoha," Shirakawa Namiko said to those around him, "we must uphold the purpose of serving frontline ninja, thinking what they think, rushing where they rush, and wholeheartedly offering whatever support we can provide to our hardworking Leaf ninja!"

"You truly embody the Will of Fire better than anyone, Sir Namiko!" Yechame Hamako and others nodded continuously, lavishing praise and fully agreeing.

Shirakawa himself was equally pleased. He believed he had not only shown understanding toward his subordinates but would also steal the spotlight at the upcoming celebration banquet. Meanwhile, Soushu, exhausted from his labor, got to keep on laboring without interruption.

What do you call this?

That's what you call a win-win-win!

And what exactly does that mean?

It means Shirakawa wins on three fronts!

"Every youth longs for love—it's in the very nature of youth," Shirakawa Namiko said affectionately with the tone of someone who'd experienced it all before. "We seniors should show tolerance and understanding."

"Perfectly natural! Fully understandable!"

The Konoha ninjas gathered loyally around Shirakawa all nodded enthusiastically.

"Jonin Soushu is still a bit too young," said Kosuke Maruboshi, who was resting inside Soushu's unit compound and possessed deep insight into human nature. After listening in secretly for a moment, he shook his head with a sigh.

Meanwhile, Might Duy—who had always been blissfully unaware of others' concerns—was happily devouring the specially distributed grilled meat celebrating their recent victory.

Though Duy had never truly gone hungry as a child, indulging in meat like this today was actually a first for him—and one of the special privileges of being a ninja.

At least while stationed at border camps, logistical support for ninja was always thoroughly provided. 

"Duy, you really shouldn't be such a straight arrow from now on," Kosuke muttered again, glancing down at the voracious Might Duy who was still wolfing everything down. Deep inside, he felt rather conflicted.

Objectively speaking, after Soushu avenged fallen comrades by slaying two direct blood heirs of Sunagakure's top leadership, he deserved to stand in the center of the crowd receiving cheers and admiration from Konoha ninjas.

But now, Hyūga Sōshu had chosen to rush back to the tent with his little girlfriend. To Kosuke Maruboshi Genji, it seemed less about eagerness for intimacy and more like he was deliberately sullying himself.

Such overly pragmatic behavior that even damaged one's own reputation left Genji struggling to find words to properly comment on it.

Of course, if Sōshu had the ability to read minds and could see through what Genji was thinking right now, he'd probably say to the old man: "You've got such a wild imagination—you must be dreaming too much during the daytime!"

"Solid-eye?"

Might Duy looked at the piece of eye-area meat in his hand and remarked, "This eye meat sure tastes great, but aren't all meats solid anyway?"

"That's all then."

With nothing better to say, Genji glanced at Duy happily munching away and pushed his own grilled beef toward him. "I'm getting old; I can't finish so much meat. You eat more!"

"You got it!"

Duy readily accepted Genji's generous gesture without hesitation.

In his eyes, it was only proper not to decline a gift from an elder. Refusing would surely wound Genji-senpai's feelings, wouldn't it?

Inside the tent, Mahiru Uchiha—who had previously blushed all over—immediately revealed her feral instinct. With one swift move, she threw down Sōshu, who was even stronger than herself, and straddled him.

Of course, both were still fully clothed!

"Ma-Mahiru-chan?"

Sōshu was stunned, stammering slightly as he asked, "What exactly are you..."

"My heart has already taken the exact shape of Sōshu-kun!"

She licked her dry lips before huskily murmuring, "So, even in broad daylight, I am willing!"

"I-I mean..."

Now Sōshu finally understood completely.

Yet faced with Uchiha Mahiru's burning eyes—though not using Sharingan yet, they were completely bloodshot—he simply didn't dare to utter those words: "You've misunderstood." Saying that might make the now dark-side-Uchiha Mahiru treat his head like a trophy. Whether it would be his big head or little one was a matter worth discussing later—if there was a later.

"What do you mean?"

Mahiru Uchiha, already forcefully suppressing her shyness and preparing to take initiative, habitually asked.

"The Caged Bird!" [Referring to the sealing technique that marks him.]

Sōshu immediately replied.

"..."

Those shockingly sobering words felt like a bucket of cold water, instantly dousing Mahiru's fiery passion.

Her lips trembled a few times, but no words came out. She silently reached out to gently touch Sōshu's forehead—the part never hidden from view.

"[Sniffle]..."

Mahiru sucked in her breath, her eyes turning even redder.

"I want you to check if this cursed seal—what's been bugging me for years—can be removed!"

Not wanting to put it off any longer, Sōshu quickly added, "I've just realized a secret jutsu that might be able to remove the effects of the Caged Bird Curse Seal!"

"But…" 

Very surprised, Mahiru also recalled the rumored deadly effect associated with touching or attempting to break the Caged Bird Curse Seal—immediate death!

"I want to witness it together."

Hyuga Soushu was afraid the girl would overthink again, so he quickly grabbed her hand and winked, trying to spark a connection. "If this works, then from this moment on, there will be nothing in this world that can bind us anymore!"

"Okay."

Convinced by just those few simple words, Mahiru's mind turned hazy with delight, completely forgetting her earlier worries as she instinctively nodded.

Afraid the girl might change her mind, Soushu suppressed his excitement, stopped himself from letting his hands wander higher, and took a deep breath.

[ Purify ]

A brilliant glow suddenly shimmered across Soushu's body, as if some kind of power surged within him.

Then...

there was nothing else.

After casting the summoner skill [ Purify ], Soushu felt sharper senses and more energetic than before. However, aside from that, nothing else seemed to have changed.

"Did it not work?"

Soushu immediately felt a wave of disappointment.

"S-Soushu-kun..."

Suddenly, tears spilled from Mahiru's eyes onto Soushu's chest.

Her trembling hand began gently stroking his forehead.

"W-What is it? Don't scare me!"

Soushu panicked slightly.

[Caged Bird Seal]

Mahiru sniffled, her face lighting up in stunned joy.

"A mirror—quick, get me a mirror!"

Soushu touched his forehead and realized something was off too!

The familiar indentation of the Caged Bird Seal's bluish scar on his forehead now felt much shallower!

Quickly pulling out a small hand mirror from her ninja tool pouch, Mahiru hurriedly held it up before Soushu.

In the clear reflection of the small mirror, they saw how the X-shaped mark of the Caged Bird Seal on Soushu's forehead had nearly vanished!

"Byakugan!"

Instantly activating his Byakugan, Soushu confirmed without doubt—the [ Purify ] ability definitely worked against the Caged Bird Curse Seal!

Previously, due to the curse seal's effects, Branch House Hyuga ninja had only 359 degrees of vision with their Byakugan, suffering a one-degree blind spot. Now, Soushu clearly felt that flaw vanish entirely.

He now shared the same Byakugan as the Main House!

Moreover, after purification, his senses were even sharper. His Byakugan could now see further than ever before.

As for whether the Main House's activated curse seals would still affect him—that remained unconfirmed. For now, the blue cursed markings on his forehead, though greatly faded, hadn't disappeared entirely.

So, was the Caged Bird Seal removed?

Perhaps partially freed, yet effectively free!

"You…"

Soushu's voice dropped to a whisper, staring into her eyes with intensity.

The golden rope suddenly parts, the jade lock snaps—it is only today that I truly know myself!

Unexpectedly reciting poetry, Soushu then flexed his waist muscles, flipping roles as he lifted upwards, pinning the completely unresisting Mahiru beneath him.

"Haven't you seen enough yet?"

Under the piercing gaze of the Byakugan, Mahiru's breathing grew heavier and heavier.

Hyuga Soushu could no longer hold back either, casting the valve of reason that restrained his desires into the ninth cloud.

In an instant, the lotus canopy grew warm, and spring filled the air.

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