Naruto:- The PARANOID Fellow

CHAPTER WORDS -1394

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Chapter 7:- Bird in a Cage

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The "Caged Bird Seal." A cursed mark forced onto the Hyuga clan's branch family members. But seeing it actually impact someone in his class—someone who, until recently, had looked and acted just like everyone else—left a bitter taste.

Natsuki felt a chill as he remembered Ayane's despairing look. The white ribbon on her forehead was more than just a cover; it was a way to hide the humiliating brand that defined her as a servant, a prisoner of her own clan.

His gaze drifted to the Hokage Rock outside the window, a symbol of "unity" and "peace" in Konoha. Yet here they were, treating clan members like tools.The village was meant to embody "the Will of Fire"—a belief in protecting one another like family. And yet, the Hyuga clan openly enslaved its own.

Natsuki let out a long sigh. This whole setup was rotten from the inside, and, he realized, he'd been dangerously close to accepting it as normal. A bead of cold sweat formed on his back. He couldn't let the village lull him into complacency.

When Naruto would make Changes to the Hyuga in the future, he would remove the concept of Main family and Branch Family, respecting Neji's wishes. But, remembering the disparing look on Ayane's face as she tries to stop crying and hiding her forehead, a question arises-

Just how much do the people of this world need to suffer until the child of prophecy decides to fix everything. And, its not like Naruto would immediately Fix Things the moment He is born, 17 years needs to pass and The 4th Great Ninja War needs to happen before that-

Wait? He was an outsider here—a drifter with no loyalty to Konoha and no desire to stay. Why is he thinking about this? Natsuki decides to ignore this situation as the best he can.

In the days that followed, Natsuki often observed Ayane, now alone and despondent as she moved through her school life.Suddenly, her friends were gone, her desire for life was hollowed out, and her eyes held a vacant, lifeless look—she seemed like an empty shell.

Maybe this was the real expression of what the clan called a "slave."

The shadows of this might cling to her forever.Natsuki couldn't imagine how a girl, once yearning for freedom, would feel after being branded as a "slave" by her own family.It had to be a despair no ordinary person could begin to understand.

Since then, Ayane's grades had plunged, and even their homeroom teacher, Taiga Fujimura, could only offer empty encouragement, urging her to focus on her studies and not overthink. Fujimura was well aware that the traditions of the Hyuga clan were beyond what a mere teacher could affect.

And, as he understood all too well, even the Third Hokage had no real say when it came to these matters.In Konoha, noble clans like these were nearly autonomous villages within the village itself.The usual rules of Konoha rarely touched them at their core.

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Using pain to torture herself had always been Ayane's way of distracting from emotional numbness.Only through physical pain could she feel that she was alive. That she was still a person, and not a mere animal to be bred and caged by her family.

She didn't understand why her family clung to their traditions, nor did she want to understand, nor was she willing to. The clan adults kept insisting that the Caged Bird seal was for her own good, for the legacy of the family, that her sacrifices had purpose, and value.

If it was so important, why weren't the main family sacrificing themselves? This thought churned inside Ayane, a question she could never fully shake. And the more she wondered, the more she felt a dark, destructive impulse growing within her, like a creeping shadow.

Resentment surged and intensified.

With this hatred and fury filling her thoughts, her once-gentle face twisted, turning feral and harsh, her previous calm replaced with something darker.

She struck a training post with the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist. Gradually, though, her strikes abandoned all traces of technique; she simply hit the post, one blunt blow after another, her fists becoming fierce and unforgiving.

Even as her hands bled, as torn skin stung with each hit, she didn't stop.

In fact, it was this pain she welcomed, as it drew her mind away from her numbness.

Finally, she stopped this self-destructive assault, crouching by the post, hugging her knees, her head low, dark hair covering her face, with only a soft, almost inaudible sound of crying reaching the air.

The sun had set, and shadows darkened the forest, bringing a chill. Dark green leaves drifted down onto Ayane's shoulders, yet she continued her quiet sobbing.

With the Caged Bird seal forced on her, the rest of her life would be dictated by the whims of the main family.Her freedom and dignity were already stripped away. Whenever she saw the arrogant expressions of the main family members, she wanted to crush that superiority beneath her feet.

She wanted them to know the humiliation and despair of having their freedom and dignity treated like a plaything.

The next day, while eating, Ayane is approached By Natsuki who sits next to her.

"Oh, Hello Natsuki~" Ayane is still distaught over the decision made by the Main Family. Natsuki knows he shouldn't interfere with things like this, but a Normal person seeing someone He considers a friend being completely broken does not give a good feeling. Plus, his Memories as a Doctor would not allow a person to go into depression and do something that they might regret.

Hello, Ayane. I was thinking about something, can You clear my doubt?" Natsuki tries to be Nonchalant about this, but Ayane's eyes can see through the act and She understands that this is more than a simple question. But, not knowing what it really is, she nods.

"So, I was thinking, what would Happen If you became the strongest?" Ayane looks dumbly at Natsuki, not understanding what he is saying. The strongest?

"W-what?" She shutters a little due to her confusion, and Natsuki grins while looking at her, making her even more confused.

"Yeah, If you were THE strongest there was, wouldn't The need to use the Bird Seal on you be Unnecessary?" Her eyes widen to extreme propositions, not believing what she is hearing. She understands What Natsuki is implying, and if she thinks a little about it, it makes absolute sense. The biggest reason for The Bird Cage seal Is to Stop Byakugan from being stolen, so If ayane becomes so strong that There is no possibility of It being stolen, then wouldn't it be Useless then?

"Y-yeah?" Even she isn't sure. But, this gives her hope. Hope about the future, but she also gets an important question that she asks Natsuki.

"W-why?" Even though she is trying to keep a strong facade, tears start leaking out of her eyes and Natsuki realises that even though this World is much different than his previous world, He is still speaking to a Child.

"Why Not? You are my friend!" Natsuki tries super hard not to cringe. He didn't want to use the most dangerous Jutsu in this world on his 'Friend', he has no other choice but to use it.

Seeing Ayane being in dispair Made Natsuki realise that he could not just wait for the Dumb Prophecy kid to be born. While he will Not actively change Canon Not he has any interest to, if he could just give someone Some kind of Confidence to Continue Living their Life, then he is Okay taking this risk.

Ayane drops her food and jumps Towards Natsuki, Hugging Him while Crying her eyes out. He awkwardly shifts in his seat, not knowing what to do. He just pats her back while she continues crying, getting Snot on His shirt.

THE END

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