Mission?
I haven't even graduated yet, what kind of mission would I be on?
Wait, is it a mission at the Ninja Academy??
Qi Ye was even more confused.
He didn't have to wait long before Hyuga Zong Yan directly explained.
“The eldest daughter of the main family, Xue Xu, will be enrolling this year…”
“Your primary mission at the Ninja Academy is to protect her safety…”
“At the same time, you will go to the family training ground after school every day to act as Xue Xu's sparring partner…”
Upon hearing this.
Qi Ye's brows instinctively furrowed.
After a few years of leisurely life, he had almost forgotten his identity as a member of the Hyuga branch family.
Thanks to Hyuga Zong Yan's protection, his resources and treatment were no different from those of the main family. He had focused all his energy on improving his own strength.
He had almost forgotten that the branch family was responsible for protecting the main family.
He slowly exhaled.
“Uncle, I understand.”
“Don't worry, I will protect Miss Xue Xu.”
It seems that he wouldn't be able to live as freely as he did in the past two years.
Although Qi Ye was reluctant, he couldn't go against his uncle's wishes.
Moreover, Zong Yan had been very kind to him, and he was afraid of causing trouble for his uncle if he caused any trouble.
Before he had enough strength to crush everything and solve the curse mark on his forehead, he had to be low-key, and he had to be submissive when he needed to be.
A gentleman in a wooden birdcage should have the ability to transform into a dragon or a snake!
“Forget it, consider it as an early adaptation to the work of a ninja…”
“I hope this little girl named Xue Xu is easy to get along with…”
Hyuga Zong Yan, with his keen eyes, naturally saw Qi Ye's reluctance, but it only surfaced for a moment before he returned to his usual calm and composed demeanor. He nodded inwardly.
“Kid, don't be unwilling, I went through some trouble to get this opportunity for you.”
What?
Got it for me??
Qi Ye's eyes widened. In other words, this was originally nothing to do with me??
Uncle, you're truly my good uncle…
Qi Ye squinted his eyes, secretly complaining in his heart.
“Dang~”
Zong Yan lightly tapped Qi Ye's head.
“Are you cursing your uncle in your heart?”
“How could I?” Qi Ye put on an innocent expression. “I wouldn't dare curse anyone, especially you! You're my uncle…”
Hyuga Zong Yan sat up straight and said seriously, “The eldest branch of the main family has few descendants. Now, there is only one granddaughter, Xue Xu. Do you know what that means?”
“What does it mean?”
Qi Ye looked at Zong Yan, completely failing to understand what he meant.
Zong Yan suddenly grabbed Qi Ye's face, looking left and right, up and down, before finally nodding in satisfaction.
“Handsome features, noble bearing, you have my youthful demeanor.”
“The eldest branch of the main family only has one girl, and she can't marry outside the family.”
“That means, if you can win Xue Xu over and become the son-in-law of the main family, you'll be able to escape the status of a branch family member.”
“This is your only chance, do you understand?”
Qi Ye had a black line on his face.
This old man… wants me to marry in, to be a son-in-law!?
But, I never knew there was a chance for branch family members to become part of the main family?
Qi Ye really didn't know this.
But then again, he could understand.
If the main family only had daughters, they would have to find a son-in-law!
They couldn't possibly marry off their daughters and abandon the main family identity!
Qi Ye's thoughts suddenly took flight, he thought of Hyuga Hizashi's future children, both of whom happened to be girls…
Marrying in… becoming part of the main family…
It sounded quite tempting, especially if he only had to sacrifice his good looks a little…
Slap~ slap~ slap~~
Qi Ye quickly slapped himself several times in his heart.
What am I thinking? Wake up, she's only a five or six-year-old girl!
Three years minimum, three years minimum, three years minimum…
Qi Ye muttered repeatedly in his heart, warning himself to drop this thought.
Besides, he hasn't even met her yet! ~
“Kid, take advantage of this opportunity.”
Hyuga Zong Yan patted Qi Ye's shoulder heavily before leaving.
The pat brought Qi Ye back to his senses.
He found himself speechless with laughter.
He never thought that the usually serious Hyuga Zong Yan would say such a thing.
But at the same time, he felt touched. Perhaps the method may not seem very decent, but this is the elder's good intentions.
“Forget it, let things take their course!”
This is also related to the fact that he hasn't been punished by the “Bird Cage” curse mark.
In fact, from Qi Ye's understanding over the past few years, it's incorrect to say that the main family punishes the branch family members at will and treats them as slaves.
The Hyuga clan is indeed a bit old-fashioned and has many rules.
They value status and hierarchy a lot.
However, the Hyuga clan is generally united, and they have strong cohesion.
After all, many members of the main family and the branch family are actually siblings, with a blood thicker than water.
Zong Yan told Qi Ye these things during their daily training sessions.
At that time, Qi Ye asked Zong Yan, “Uncle, how come you know the main family's secret techniques?”
Then, Qi Ye learned the reason from Zong Yan.
During the Warring States period, there wasn't much difference in treatment and resources between members of the branch family and the main family, apart from the “Bird Cage” curse mark on their foreheads.
Both the branch family and the main family were eligible to learn the Gentle Fist technique and other Hyuga secrets.
After all, it was a chaotic period of alliances and betrayals, where the identities of enemies and allies were constantly changing. Therefore, the family's strength was always the top priority.
That's why Hyuga Zong Yan knows the main family's secret techniques. During that time, any Hyuga clan member with a bit of fighting talent could learn them.
During that period, the main family was responsible for passing on their knowledge, while the branch family truly protected the main family with their lives. The “Bird Cage” curse mark was truly just to protect the Byakugan bloodline from being leaked outside the family.
The entire clan worked together to survive in the chaotic world.
Then, came the establishment of Konohagakure and the end of the First Shinobi World War. The world was peaceful for over a decade.
Time is truly powerful!
Only time in this world will not change for anyone or anything. Yet time can change many things, even everything.
After years of peace, the older generation of the main family was still fine, but some of the younger members of the main family had changed their minds, thinking that they could control more, and it seemed that the “Bird Cage” curse mark could be used for more than just protecting the Byakugan…
That's why Hyuga Zong Yan disliked some of the current members of the Hyuga clan.
“Then, Uncle, aren't you worried about the “Bird Cage”?”
Qi Ye finally asked the question he had been wanting to ask.
“Heehee…”
Zong Yan stretched his face into a smile, both joyful and sorrowful.
………
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