Chapter 11: Fate can be changed (part 1)
Author's Note: From now on, I will release short chapters more often and write long chapters from time to time.
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I spent the rest of the hour sitting next to Hinata talking about… The snow…
I'm not really good at making conversation, except when I talk about manga, medical stuff or training, and, unfortunately, she was too shy to change the topic of the conversation herself.
I was really inspired when I told her to protect the people she loves.
Now, it's time to join my father… I really don't want to be branded with the cursed seal but what can I do to avoid it?
Joining Anbu/Root? It can't help me. The Hokage can't interfere in the clan's affairs.
Showing what I'm really capable of? It can't help me either. No matter how talented a member of the branch house is, he can't become a member of the main house. That's one of the reasons why Hyuga talk so much about destiny.
Rebelling against the clan and leaving Konoha? Bad idea, I will be hunted down and killed. I don't have enough strength to survive on my own outside of Konoha.
Nothing… There is nothing I can do to avoid it.
My heart beats faster as I walk to the main hall of the house.
Once inside, I see many people. My father, Hiashi, as well as many old men, probably the elders of the clan. The hall is really luxurious, decorated with many ancient paintings and antique vases.
"Come here Neji." Hiashi beckons me to approach.
I walk towards him, slowly, I'm in no hurry to become a slave…
"Neji, from now on, your destiny is to protect the Byakugan as well as the clan's main house." Said Hiashi.
Hiashi does some hand signs and puts his hand on my forehead.
I am preparing to feel a strong pain but nothing is happening...
It didn't hurt at all. I just felt a tingle in my skull.
That's all?
It didn't even hurt… I'm not complaining but thinking that a simple gesture of his hands was enough to condemn me to a life of servitude…
"The purpose of the seal on your forehead is to protect the Byakugan and keep its secrets intact from strangers who covet it." Said Hiashi.
You forgot to mention that it can also be used to destroy my brain if I disobey the main house...
[Quest name: Freeing the Caged Bird.
Type: Event quest.
Description: You have been branded with the cursed seal of the Hyuga clan. The system can help you to neutralize its effects permanently thanks to a perk for 25000 Shop points.
Objective: Accept the quest to buy the perk.
Reward: Perk <Cursed seal suppressor>.
Accept: Yes / No
]
What?!
I can't believe the system can help me to suppress the cursed seal, and for only 25000 shop points!
It's a really good surprise! Even though the system is supposed to help me to become the strongest in this world, I didn't think it would help me to neutralize the cursed seal.
I accept the quest, of course!
[You spent 25000 Shop points.]
[Remaining Shop points: 11500.]
[Quest: Freeing the Caged Bird completed. Reward: Perk <Cursed seal suppressor>]
[Perk: Cursed seal suppressor
Effect: This perk neutralizes the effects of the Hyuga's cursed seal. The seal can no longer be activated by someone else and your Byakugan won't be sealed after your death. However, the mark on your forehead doesn't disappear.
Restriction: Being branded with the cursed seal of the Hyuga clan.]
I can't help but smile seeing this screen.
"Neji? Do you understand your destiny?" Asked Hiashi.
Shit, I shouldn't look happy, I don't want them to suspect something. For now, I must act like an obedient child. When I will be strong enough, if they force me to do something I don't want to do, I will rebel against the clan. There is no way I become someone's tool or puppet.
"Yes, I understand Hiashi-sama." I said.
"Good. The ceremony is now over." He said.
It was faster than I thought...
I turn to my father and see hatred in his eyes for a second. He must really hate the fact that the cursed seal was put on me...
I walk to him and we then leave the main hall together.
Outside, a man walks to me.
"Members of our clan usually hide the seal on their forehead… Here, take this." He said.
He then gives me bandages.
I don't care if other people see the seal, but as an "obedient child", I must do like everyone else.
I take the bandages and attach them around my forehead. Now the seal is hidden.
…
A few hours later.
Hiashi invited us to attend a training session between him and Hinata. We are now, my father, Hiashi, Hinata and me, in a small training room in Hiashi's house.
Hinata is sparring with her father. She seems to do her best but it's not really glorious…
"Your kick is too weak…" Said Hiashi.
Hinata runs to him and tries to hit him but he dodges all her attacks.
"Listen Neji. Is your destiny clear to you? You live only to protect Hinata-sama and to preserve the power of our clan's main house." Asked my father.
No, I'm the one who decides my own destiny. But I can't tell him that…
"Yes, father." I answered.
Wait, I remember this moment from the manga! Soon, Hiashi will activate my father's curse seal as punishment because he will manifest killing intent against Hinata.
I must stop him. I don't want to see him suffer!
My father glares angrily at Hinata…
"Father, don't glare at Hinata-sama like that. She's our future clan leader, you must show her respect!" I exclaimed.
He immediately regains his senses and calms down.
"It seems that your son understands his destiny better than you, Hizashi. The next time you look at my daughter like that, you know what will happen… Never forget your destiny again…" Said Hiashi.
Thankfully, he didn't activate the cursed seal.
But this clan… They are crazy to control the lives of others with a fucking seal…
Now I realize that because of me, things might never change. If I save my father, he will not sacrifice his life and Hiashi will remain a jerk. If I'm not like the original Neji, Naruto will never use his Talk no Jutsu on me and the clan won't open their eyes to their actions…
What should I do?
Should I let the events of the original timeline happen just to be sure that my clan will change?
No! If no one else can change it then I will change it myself.
I'm not saying that I will change the clan today or in ten years but, one day, I will be strong enough to change this crazy clan. Yes, I'm sure I can do it.
"You two, go back home. We are done for today…" Hiashi told us with an irritated voice.
My father and I leave the house…
As we walk back to our house, I glance at my father… I can't read his expression. I don't know what he's thinking.
I know I should not have talked to him as I did, but it was the only thing I could do to protect him.
"Father, I'm sorry for disrespecting you earlier." I said.
"It's fine Neji, you were right. It is our destiny to protect the main house but I let my anger control me…" He said.
"Do you really think that one's destiny can't be changed?" I asked.
"You are too young to understand but one day you will know that our destiny is written from the moment of our birth." He answered.
And soon, I will show you that fate can be changed.
…
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