Naruto: I Am Uchiha With A Son System

Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.

Chapter 208: Side Story Uzumaki Naruto 5

---Hyuga Hiashi Dilemma---

For years, Hiashi Hyuga harbored deep resentment. His brother had died simply because he was born into the branch family. Hiashi despised the cursed seal—the Birdcage Seal. He hated the clan elders who had forced him to sacrifice Hizashi in his place.

But when Setsuna offered him the chance to free the other branch members, Hiashi hesitated. Deep down, he never truly hated the Birdcage Seal itself. In fact, he valued it. It symbolized the power and control of the main family. What he truly hated was his inability to protect his younger brother. He was a hypocrite—pretending to abhor the system while silently benefiting from it.

As for the elders, they were the siblings of Hyuga Hiro—the man once defeated by Hyuga Haruko. These elders had inherited privileges from their father, placing them above the rest. The system of elders were created by their father and they didn't need to be branded with cage seal or slave seal. Unlike other branch members, they were never sealed. Their role was to watch over the branch family from a place of superiority.

Ironically, none of them knew how to apply the Birdcage Seal. Only the clan's patriarch held that authority and that knowledge. Not even patriarch children were taught the technique unless they were officially hold the title as a clan heir.

Now, Hiashi wanted to bring his brother back and give Neji the peace he deserved. But he also feared the consequences. If he agreed to remove the seals, his authority within the clan would collapse. Unable to decide, he used the excuse of needing to consult with the elders.

Setsuna, having observed this internal conflict, simply smiled. He had already decided: Neji would be the first to receive a new fūinjutsu—one that would overwrite the Birdcage Seal.

This new seal didn't require removing the old one. It would automatically convert the existing cursed seal into a protective one. Once active, the main family's commands over the branch members would be nullified. Even if someone attempted to reapply the Birdcage Seal, Setsuna's seal would overpower it.

Later that evening, Setsuna sought out Neji and handed him the responsibility.

"I want you to apply this seal to all branch members," Setsuna said. "It's time your clan changed."

Neji was stunned. At first, he refused.

"I've accepted the life I was given," he said. "After Naruto talked to me, I made peace with it. The main family… they've changed too slowly."

But Setsuna didn't argue. Instead, he simply placed a hand on Neji forehead. In an instant, the cursed seal vanished.

"W-What?" Neji stammered. He felt something in his mind lifted, a pressure that had always been there—gone. "Byakugan," he activated it.

"My Byakugan… it's gone," he whispered.

Tears fell down his cheeks as emotion overwhelmed him. Setsuna let him cry, giving him a moment of silence.

"Thank you…" Neji said softly.

"That's just the first gift," Setsuna replied. "There's another."

With a wave of his hand, Setsuna summoned Hizashi and Neji mother from the Astral Dimension.

Neji's eyes widened. "Father… Mother…"

"They're still alive," Setsuna said. "And if you want them to return here, I need a promise."

Neji nodded. "What is it? What must I do?"

"Two things," Setsuna replied. "First, apply this seal to every branch member—and to yourself as well. Second, support Hinata to marry Naruto."

The first request made sense. The second one… confused him.

"Why Naruto?" Neji asked.

Setsuna activated his Sharingan. "Don't resist this genjutsu. I want to show you their love story."

Neji vision blurred as he was pulled into the memory projection.

When it ended, he sat in stunned silence.

"Naruto is my student," Setsuna said quietly. "He has suffered more than anyone knows. I want him to have the happy ending he deserves. So, for the sake of this new seal, and for the future of your clan… make sure no branch members mistreat Hinata or Hanabi even if they wanted to marry out or marry Naruto. Can you promise me that?"

Neji looked down for a moment, then raised his head and answered, "I promise."

That night, Neji was finally reunited with his parents. He spent time with them, embracing them after years of silent longing. Later, he began calling in the branch members, one by one, and implanted the new protective seal.

None of them resisted. In fact, they welcomed the change. They also agreed to treat Hinata and Hanabi with respect—not just because of Naruto, but because the two girls were kind-hearted and had never looked down on them.

The real problem had always been the elders and their children. Especially one man from the elder bloodline, who carried on the tradition of bullying and arrogance.

But change had already begun and this time, there would be no going back.

---The Elders---

The elders had no idea that their authority was about to be stripped away, completely and forcefully. Without the birdcage seal to enforce obedience through pain, they could no longer act like tyrants within the Hyuga family.

That night, when Hiashi summoned them all for an emergency meeting, they were shocked to learn that the patriarch had created a new seal for the branch members.

Hiashi had deceived them, he wanted to observe their genuine reactions.

"I've created a new perfect sealing jutsu specifically for the branch family," said Hiashi.

"A new sealing jutsu? Perfect?" one elder asked, intrigued.

"Yes. The old birdcage seal caused immense pain and restricted their vision. But this new seal won't do that. Their sight will remain unblocked, and their visual range will be even farther than before," Hiashi explained.

"Patriarch, we should reseal their eyes with new seal immediately. These new seal can make our branch member stronger," said Elder 1.

"I second that motion," said Elder 2.

"Why are we even discussing this? This new seal clearly are very good for a branch member," added Elder 3.

Elders 4, 5, and 6 all nodded in agreement.

But then Hiashi opened his mouth again, calmly.

"Alright, I also believe this seal is good. However, from now on, we must establish clear rules," he said.

"Rules? What kind of rules?" asked Elder 4.

"This new seal doesn't allow us to suppress their brain or inflict the pain the way the birdcage did. That means, if a branch member disobeys, we can't punish them with pain like we used to. This seal grants them freedom. Its purpose is to strengthen their Byakugan and protect their eyes from being stolen by enemies."

The elders fell silent. A chill crept over them. If they lost their power to control the branch family, what would happen if the branch members retaliated?

They were painfully aware of their sins—forcing branch members into arranged marriages, using the seal to torture anyone who showed too much promise, or punishing those who dared to outshine their sons.

And their sons had committed similar abuses, following in their footsteps.

"No..." muttered one elder.

"We should stick with the birdcage seal," insisted Elder 3, panic in his voice.

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