Chapter 104
Night had fallen, but Konoha Village remained bustling.
As the most prosperous village in the Land of Fire, with both thriving commerce and ninja patrols, its citizens felt safe even after dark. The night market was far from quiet.
On his way back to the Hyuga compound, Neji walked through the lively streets without paying them any mind.
His thoughts were still occupied by what Natsuki had said. He was seriously contemplating where to begin his investigation—without the main family finding out.
"The fastest way to gather intel on the Hyuga clan is to access their archives. But the main family would never let a branch member like me browse freely. Not even if I used personal connections to plead with the clan head. It's just not possible.
That means I'll need other methods—like gathering information from outside sources. This would make it harder for the main family to notice and interfere. But... is there any information out there?"
"Maybe. After all, the Hyuga clan didn't originate in Konoha. There could be records scattered elsewhere, though it might be difficult to find due to the age of the information. Other old clans might've documented something useful. I'll need to seek them out.
And because I bear the Caged Bird Seal, I'm not restricted from leaving the village—and the main house doesn't monitor me outside. That's my chance. So what I need now is to raise my strength and my status. Once I'm a jōnin, I can leave the village more freely."
"Also... I need to study more. Natsuki was right—a smart mind is essential. Only then can I think of ways to break free. Only then can I recognize valuable clues when they appear. And only then can I navigate the web of main family manipulation with ease."
Lost in thought, Neji almost bumped into a running child.
He glanced down and noticed the grilled squid in the kid's hand—and it instantly reminded him of Lee's financial struggles. That in turn triggered a memory of something Tenten had once said.
Tenten had admitted she once forgot what money was truly for, and it was Natsuki who reminded her. She realized then that her biggest strength was actually having money. With money, everything became easier. Want information? Just pay a bounty. Someone will deliver it to your door.