It's All Uchiha Itachi's Fault

Though it was a bit cruel, Shazo had to admit that Izumi's idea of breaking his legs was indeed effective.

So he nodded and agreed. "If we still can't find a solution by the very end, bring a sledgehammer."

"That little hammer in your hand is too small. It can't break bones at all."

Before he could finish speaking, Shazo shut his mouth.

Uchiha Izumi lowered her head, peeking at Shazo through the gaps in her hair. At some point, though, a brick had appeared in her hand.

It was not a palm-sized red brick, but half of a large blue brick used for paving roads.

Shazo got angry and shouted, "Put it away! Put it away right now!"

"Why are you in such a hurry? How can you screw over your own brother like this?"

"Besides, what's the point of breaking my legs now?"

"Once my legs heal, Aunt Miko will still have to move back. We have to wait for the right opportunity!"

"Oh." Uchiha Izumi's eyes shifted as she nodded, putting away both the hammer and the brick.

She flashed a sweet smile and said happily, "I'll listen to you, Brother. Then I'm going to the hospital."

Shazo waved her off. "Go on, go!"

With a last-resort way to save their lives, Uchiha Izumi was in a much better mood. She skipped all the way to the hospital and found a Medical Ninja she knew to examine her eyes.

After buying eye drops and an eye patch, Uchiha Izumi did not head straight home. Instead, she detoured through the shopping street and slipped into the Rice Dumpling Shop.

The girl ordered three skewers of rice dumplings and a bowl of cloyingly sweet red bean soup, then happily dug in.

At thirteen, she was a girl ninja who had mastered Chunin-level ninjutsu and awakened a two-tomoe Sharingan, but she was still just a little girl.

Not even the greatest hardship could stop her from eating sweets.

Especially now that there was already a solution.

The girl's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. Looking slightly embarrassed, she said, "Hehe, I do feel a little sorry for Brother."

Uchiha Izumi hummed a tune as she enjoyed the sweet, refreshing rice dumplings.

Suddenly, her singing stopped.

The cloth curtain was lifted, and a black-haired boy with an expressionless face entered the dumpling shop. In a practiced tone, he said, "Boss, five skewers of rice dumplings and two bowls of red bean soup."

A boy poked his head out from behind the black-haired youth. "Brother, I don't want red bean soup. It's too sweet."

The youth suddenly smiled. "Then how about juice instead?"

"Yeah!" The boy thanked him happily. "Thank you, Brother."

"You're my favorite, Brother."

The shop owner became tense the moment he saw the youth and the boy.

Not only did he immediately instruct the clerk to prepare their food, but he also grabbed a rag and stepped out from behind the counter. "Sorry, Young Masters Uchiha, there aren't any seats right now..."

The boy cut him off and pointed at a table near the entrance. "There's an empty seat over there."

The shop owner looked over and said in surprise, "Huh? That customer was the last to arrive. Did she eat that quickly?"

He immediately went over, swiftly cleared away the plates, skewers, and empty bowl, then invited the two young masters of the Uchiha Clan to sit down.

Uchiha Sasuke was delighted. "We're really lucky today. Someone just happened to finish eating and leave."

Uchiha Itachi smiled, but inwardly he thought, So she likes rice dumplings too. If I invite her out for dumplings next time, she probably won't refuse me.

Uchiha Izumi bared her teeth and sucked in sharp breaths.

As she ran, the girl muttered in disgust, "What bad luck. I finally got into a good mood and was enjoying dessert, only to run into Young Master Uchiha Itachi, who ruins my mood."

"Is this the ill-fated bond Brother mentioned?"

"How annoying!"

"How could I have any connection with a pervert?"

"If only I could beat him. I'd definitely find a nice spot with good feng shui and bury him there."

"Hiss—damn it!"

"The red bean soup was too hot. My tongue... my tongue has blisters now. Wuwuwu..."

"Damn it, damn it, it's all that weasel's fault! I'll kill him sooner or later!"

The girl was in a very bad mood.

But after returning home, eating the Taiyaki her mother had made, and drinking a bowl of icy mung bean porridge, Izumi's mood immediately improved again.

A thirteen-year-old girl was like June weather—her mood could change at any moment, without even needing a transition.

But Shazo was different. Though the transmigrator who had lived two lives appeared to be fourteen, he was actually nearing fifty.

As a result, he was burdened with heavy thoughts. Even after seeing Uchiha Izumi off, he remained preoccupied, thinking about Izumi and the Uchiha Clan's massacre.

The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became.

Shazo suddenly cursed under his breath, "It's all Uchiha Itachi's fault!"

"I'll beat that damned weasel to death sooner or later!"

He had never intended to oppose the Uchiha Clan, but he owed his neighbors an enormous debt of gratitude. He had no choice but to save them.

Shazo's mind gradually went blank, and he unconsciously recalled what had happened when he had first transmigrated here.

Back then, he had been a two-year-old orphan whose parents had both died.

Although he had received compensation for his parents' deaths in the line of duty, Shazo could not take care of himself because he could not use money to buy things.

Money in the hands of a two-year-old was not wealth. It was a source of disaster that could cost him his life.

But if he could not care for himself and had no guardian, Konoha's rules dictated that Shazo would be sent to an orphanage.

As a transmigrator, Shazo knew all too well what kind of place an orphanage was.

Konoha's orphanage in particular was practically Shimura Danzō's private territory. There were not many who could struggle free like Senior Kabuto.

When Shazo had been at his most helpless and least able to protect himself, the couple next door had reached out to help him, selflessly sheltering and raising him.

Miko and Heishiro were the true reason Shazo had to take this risk. Their daughter, Uchiha Izumi, was only incidental.

Although Izumi really was adorable, with her large eyes, sweet voice, long straight silk-like hair, and clingy kitten-like nature, she was not enough to make Shazo risk his life.

In truth, he had already thought of a way. It was not the plan to break his own legs; that had merely been something he said to fool little Uchiha Izumi and set her mind at ease.

Even luring Aunt Miko and Mr. Heishiro out would not be enough.

Uchiha Izumi was too cute. After moving into the Uchiha Clan district, she caught the eye of that detestable Uchiha Itachi, who often harassed her for no reason at all.

Shazo's guidance had been very successful. He had convinced Izumi to see Uchiha Itachi's perverted nature clearly and keep a respectful distance from the young master of the Uchiha Clan.

Yet Uchiha Itachi still refused to let go, creating a false appearance of intimacy.

Shazo believed that Uchiha Izumi was definitely on Shimura Danzō's kill list.

Even if she escaped Massacre Night, Root ninjas would come for her afterward to eliminate all loose ends.

So it was all Uchiha Itachi's fault!

To save Aunt Miko and Mr. Heishiro, he had to save Uchiha Izumi. To save Uchiha Izumi, he had to save more members of the Uchiha Clan.

Only if enough Uchiha survived could Izumi avoid standing out.

Shimura Danzō would not hesitate to assassinate Uchiha Izumi, but killing hundreds of Uchiha clansmen was something that could not possibly be concealed. He would not attempt it.

Shazo sighed and muttered, "Saving hundreds of Uchiha means stopping the Uchiha massacre."

"Ugh, several plans could work, but I don't have the strength to protect myself."

"I don't want to die yet."