Woodleaf Village, the territory of the Hyuga clan.
This was where the Zong family lived. The branch family members were in charge of guarding the outer perimeter of the clan land.
At this moment, the clans-ground was somewhat solemn.
In a spacious hall, there were more than ten people kneeling. One of them sat on the main seat, while the others sat on both sides.
If Sei Uchiha was here, he would have seen the girl sitting at the bottom of the table. It was Karin Hinata.
However, at this moment, she looked like a pear blossom with water and tear stains. Her handsome appearance was pitiful. Her tender little face was filled with grievance and bitterness.
"Kaling Hinata, I'm asking you one last time, are you willing to be engaged to Hinata Hinata?"
The person who spoke was a middle-aged man in a white kimono. He was not angry, but he was imposing. His body naturally exuded an oppressive aura. It was the oppression of strength, and the oppression of a superior.
This person was the current leader of the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Hyuga.
"Lord Patriarch, I…I…am not willing."
She didn't dare to raise her head at all. Rika Jialing bit her lips lightly, her eyes filled with endless grievance. However, in the face of this huge family, she was a woman and an orphan. How could she object?
She could only stubbornly persevere, even though she knew that it was useless.
" Jialing Hinata, you are the orphan of the Hinata clan and a member of the main clan. Your bloodline cannot be left outside. We, the Hinata clan, can only marry into the Hinata clan."
" And you, you can only marry Ri Zu, or I can only expel you and demote you to a branch family member."
"You should know that the branch family members will be branded as caged birds."
The leader of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Genji, said in a low voice.
The bloodline of the Hyuga clan could not be leaked.
Otherwise, Bai Yan's secret would be exposed. If it was someone from the branch family, it would be fine. After all, with the existence of the Caged Bird Curse Mark, there was no need to worry that Bai Yan's secret would be discovered. However, it was absolutely impossible for people from the Zong family.
A member of the Zong Clan could only marry a member of the Zong Clan.
Therefore, if a member of the Zong Clan really wanted to marry an outsider, there was only one way. That was to be branded as a caged bird, and for the rest of her life, she would be sealed and controlled by the Zong Clan.
"Lord Patriarch, I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I don't want to."
Jialing Hinata was really upset. If she could, she didn't even want to become a member of the prestigious family of the Koba family. She just wanted to be an ordinary person, to be able to be with the person she liked.
There were no clans, no disputes, no caged birds…
"Do you know that if you really refuse, even if your parents are heroes, according to the family rules, I can only demote you to a caged bird. Once you are branded as a caged bird, you will never be able to get rid of it!”
Hinata Genma said in a deep voice. Today, Hinata Jialing was also very talented and had a pure bloodline. If she really could not marry someone from the Zong family, for the sake of the family's interests, she had to be branded as a caged bird.
"Lord Patriarch, I'm sorry…"
Jialing Hinata bit her lips tightly, not knowing what to say. However, if she had to give up on her longing for him and marry someone she only treated as her brother, she would rather become a bird in a cage.
"Sister Jialing, you are a member of the Hyuga clan. You have to think about the clan!”
"I'll definitely take good care of you. Trust me. If you really choose to be demoted to a branch family, the rest of your life will be ruined."
A young man who had not spoken for a long time was a little anxious.
" Brother Rizu, I'm sorry. In my heart, I only see you as an older brother. In my heart…there's already someone else."
Looking at Hinata's concerned face, she shook her head.
Her tender face was filled with determination. From the moment 'he' helped her chase away the group of children who bullied her, that tall and strong figure, although equally thin and weak, had been deeply imprinted in her heart.
In this life, no matter what, I won't let you down.
This was a girl who was immersed in darkness and was illuminated by light. That ray of light was the light of her life.
"Alright, your own choice, you can only walk on your own."
He waved his hand disappointedly. Suddenly, a middle-aged man beside Hinata Genma stood up and walked towards Hinata Jialing with a cold expression.
"Finally, I have no choice. Aren't I a free man anymore?"
" Shengjun…Brother Sheng, perhaps I won't be able to be with you in this life. I can only become a member of the Zong family's protective tool."
Jialing was upset. She even hated herself for being a member of the Hyuga clan. She hated her parents for not being around. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so helpless. However, she had no intention of resisting.
How could a person resist an ancient and prestigious family?
This was the tragedy of being born into a big family, but going against the family.
" Secret Technique, Curse Seal of the Caged Bird."
The middle-aged man formed a hand seal and immediately used a secret technique to imprint the Caged Bird Curse Seal on Rika Jialing's forehead.
This was the fate of the branch family. Every member of the branch family had to bear the so-called 'fate bestowed by the heavens' of the Zong family.
Wearing the caged bird and risking his life to protect the Zong family, he was loyal to the Zong family and would protect the Hinata family forever. This was the Zong family's 'destiny' to the branch family. Relying on the caged bird, it was deeply imprinted in the soul.
Just like fate, there was no way to resist.
"Brother Sheng, I haven't told you yet. I really…like you so much…"
"Brother Sheng, I miss you…"
As if she had accepted her fate, Ri Jialing closed her eyes. Tears welled up in her eyes. However, she was stubborn and unwilling to let them flow down. It was as if this was her final struggle against fate.
The mark of the caged bird, as if it was a judgment of fate, was imprinted on Jialing's forehead.
"No-"
"Stop!"
Bang!
The door of the hall was broken and Uchiha Sei rushed in with a furious expression. Electric currents surged and his body flickered with a dazzling blue-white light. Lightning Flash was instantly activated.
In the next moment, he appeared in front of the middle-aged man.
The secret technique of the caged bird was instantly imprinted on Uchiha Sheng's body.
Unfortunately, although the caged bird was a powerful curse to the Hyuga clan, it had no effect on Uchiha Sheng.
"Sorry, I'm late!"
Looking at the ugly expression on his ashen face, the tears that had been brewing in his bright eyes for a long time were actually flowing down like rain. Uchiha Sheng's heart ached.
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