Feigning Illness to Lure Them Out

Uchiha Izumi recounted how she had encountered danger during a mission and narrowly dealt with the enemy.

Proudly, she said, "It was scary, but Huahua and I still took care of the enemy and protected our employer."

Shazo shook his head. "So you took another risk. Don't you know that will make Aunt Miko angry?"

Izumi said worriedly, "Sigh, Mom is always worried about me and tells me not to take risks. But I'm a ninja. What ninja never takes risks?"

Shazo pointed at himself.

The girl huffed. "You don't count, Brother! What kind of ninja has graduated for nearly a year and still only takes D-rank Missions?"

Shazo smiled unconcernedly. "Haha, as far as I'm concerned, being a ninja is just a job. As long as I make enough money to live on, there's no need to take risks."

Uchiha Izumi pouted. "Tch, Big Guy, you're becoming more and more like an old man!"

"No, that's not right. Plenty of elderly senior ninjas still carry out dangerous missions. Big Guy, you're worse than an old man. What a waste of such a big body."

As Shazo bickered with the girl next door, Inuzuka Hana listened without saying a word and silently polished off more than half the desserts.

Once the two girls had finished enjoying their tea and snacks, Uchiha Izumi and Inuzuka Hana left together.

Less than ten minutes later, Uchiha Izumi sneaked back.

Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. Like she was asking for praise, she asked, "Brother, aren't I clever?"

Shazo shook his head. "You, did you forget that I have classmates too?"

"Although I haven't kept much in touch with them since graduating, they all remember me as being of average height. Now I'm abnormally tall."

"After what you just did, the impression Inuzuka Hana has of me conflicts with the impression my classmates have of me."

Uchiha Izumi froze. "Ah? Did I do something wrong?"

Shazo smiled. "It's fine. Everyone has a different image in the minds of different acquaintances. An occasional inconsistency won't cause any problems."

"But don't do this sort of thing again. The more you do, the more likely you are to make a mistake."

Uchiha Izumi breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, I understand. I won't make decisions on my own again."

"Brother, you..."

Shazo nodded. "I know. I won't tell Aunt Miko that you took risks."

"You're right. Since we've become ninjas, we have to face danger head-on."

Uchiha Izumi finally relaxed completely and thanked him.

Thinking back on his encounters with Shisui Uchiha over the past two days, Shazo said, "Over the past two days, I noticed that Shisui Uchiha has been in a very bad mood."

"I'm guessing it's because the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village has intensified, troubling him."

"Body Flicker Shisui acting like this proves that danger is close."

Uchiha Izumi sensed the danger. With an anxious expression, she suggested, "Brother, I don't think we can wait any longer. Dad and Mom won't listen to me."

The little girl's face turned grave as a huge hammer suddenly appeared in her hand. "Looks like we'll have to use the final plan."

"Brother, sacrifice one of your legs and trick them into coming back to take care of you. At least they'll be able to avoid the most dangerous period."

Shazo's eyes widened, and he scolded her, "Izumi, you silly girl. Why not just say that something is wrong with my body, that I suddenly grew much taller and now have trouble taking care of myself, and ask them to come look after me?"

"Really heartless, aren't you? You actually wanted to break your brother's leg?"

Uchiha Izumi hid the hammer behind her back and mumbled, "Sorry, Brother. I was just worried for a moment. It's not like I definitely wanted to break your leg."

Shazo gritted his teeth in irritation. "Bah, you already prepared a twelve-pound sledgehammer. You expect me to believe you never thought about it?"

"Alright, hurry home and go fool them. I'll go clean up your old house."

Shazo stood up, picked up some cleaning tools, and leaped over the wall into Uchiha Izumi's old house.

Uchiha Izumi burst out laughing. "Alright, I'll listen to you, Brother. Anyway, I won't be the one getting scolded in the end."

Uchiha Izumi skipped home and, following Shazo's suggestion, deceived her parents.

The two elders were indeed anxious. They hurriedly packed some changes of clothes and rushed to Shazo's home.

When they saw Shazo's suddenly increased height and the horizontal cracks on his body that had yet to heal, the two elders were heartbroken. They immediately decided to stay in the old house for a while and take care of Shazo's daily needs.

Thus, the brother and sister worked together and successfully tricked Uchiha Izumi's parents out of the Uchiha compound. Even Uchiha Izumi moved back to live there.

Uchiha Izumi's guess was incorrect. Shazo was never scolded in the end.

Because everything he said was true. His height really was abnormal, and the cracks on his body were real too, though they were almost healed.

Once everything was settled that evening and they had eaten the lavish dinner Aunt Miko cooked, Uchiha Izumi's family returned next door.

Shazo could finally have some peace and quiet. He changed into clothes suitable for moving around, slipped out to his usual spot, and seriously practiced the Wood Release Secret Technique.

From that day on, he lived a highly regular life.

Every morning, he pretended to suffer an episode—cramping and bleeding from the striped wounds across his body—frightening Uchiha Izumi's family terribly.

Aunt Miko carefully bent Shazo's toes back for him, while Uncle Heishiro bandaged his wounds.

Uchiha Izumi secretly asked in alarm, "Brother, are you really sick?"

Shazo was in pain too. Grimacing, he quietly answered, "I'm still pretending to be sick, but I have to make it convincing if I want them to stay longer, right?"

Uchiha Izumi was relieved, then began worrying for Shazo. "Brother, how long can you keep pretending to be sick like this?"

"If it drags on for a month without getting better, Dad might be able to endure it, but Mom will definitely send you to the hospital."

Shazo smiled. "Don't worry. These wounds and cramps are real. Even if I go to the hospital, it won't be a problem."

"Besides, the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the Third Hokage is getting more and more intense. I judge that the clan extermination disaster is right around the corner."

"Izumi, be careful. Especially if the Uchiha Clan suddenly summons you back to the compound, make sure to send me a message."

Uchiha Izumi took a deep breath and nodded heavily. "I will, Brother."

After the morning fuss was over, Shazo continued memorizing ninjutsu materials at home.

In the afternoon, he trained his body in his room, practiced taijutsu and hand seals, and studied Sealing Techniques.

Once night fell, Shazo would quietly slip out to practice Wood Release.

During that time, he ran into Shisui Uchiha several more times, but the two merely looked at each other without speaking.

A week quickly passed, and Wednesday arrived—the time for the Plane Dreamscape to open.

That night, Shazo hurriedly finished practicing Wood Release, cleaned up all traces, and rushed home.

On the way back, he encountered Shisui Uchiha again.

This time, Shisui suddenly spoke. "I didn't tell Lord Hokage about you."

Shazo stopped and turned to look at him. "You agreed to my request?"

Shisui Uchiha did not turn around, but he nodded heavily. "Yes, I agreed!"

Shazo said sincerely, "Thank you."

Shisui Uchiha gave a bitter smile. "You're welcome. I won't be coming here again."

As soon as he spoke, he vanished before Shazo's eyes.

Shazo clicked his tongue. "Body Flicker Shisui..."

"We'll meet again."