"These annotations are notes I made while doing my own research!" Tsukino Chinatsu rose onto her tiptoes and leaned closer. "Some parts might not be entirely accurate, but they're definitely more useful than an ordinary acupoint chart!"
"Thank you, Big Sister Chinatsu." Uchiha Ao felt her grip tighten even more after he said it.
Tsukino Chinatsu's cheeks flushed slightly, and she waved her hand. "You don't have to be so polite! If there's anything else you don't understand, just come ask me!"
"It's fine. I studied acupoints for a while before, so I can teach my little brother. I wouldn't want to trouble you, Chinatsu." Uchiha Izumi spoke with a smile, a hint of chill hidden in her saccharine voice.
Tsukino Chinatsu seemed not to notice. She covered her mouth and giggled. "Izumi-chan is still so protective of her little brother! But that's okay. If you have any questions, Ao-kun, you can come ask me anytime!"
As she spoke, she took out a slip of paper and wrote down her address, then tried to slip it into Uchiha Ao's hand. Uchiha Izumi stopped her at once.
Keeping the smile on her lips, she took the slip of paper. "I appreciate your kindness, Chinatsu. It's just that my little brother has to train in ninjutsu lately, so he probably won't have time to go wandering around."
She suddenly turned to her little brother, the slightly raised corners of her eyes concealing a warning. "Right?"
"Uh..." Uchiha Ao had actually wanted to say that he wasn't planning to train in ninjutsu lately. But seeing the dark currents churning in Sister Izumi's eyes, he swallowed his words. "Right. I have to practice ninjutsu, so I'm afraid I won't have time to go out."
Tsukino Chinatsu blinked. Her smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal. "I see. Then once you're done training, Ao-kun, you have to come play with me!"
"Definitely, definitely." Uchiha Ao agreed, though he was already planning to take Sister Izumi and leave.
He'd accomplished what he came for. If he stayed any longer, he was about to lose all feeling in his hand.
Uchiha Ao had just taken hold of Sister Izumi's wrist when she caught his hand in return, her palm burning hot against his.
Uchiha Izumi kept smiling at Tsukino Chinatsu, though her hair tips stirred despite the lack of wind. "Since you're so enthusiastic, Chinatsu, why don't I bring Ao over to visit you another day?" Her voice was sickly sweet, yet carried a trace of chill.
Only then did Tsukino Chinatsu take half a step back. Cold sweat had already seeped through her white coat.
She suddenly realized that the way Uchiha Izumi was looking at her was just like the way one might gaze at a corpse—that same look she'd seen in the hospital dissection room, on specimens preserved in formalin.
"N-no, that won't be necessary!" Chinatsu waved her hands in a panic. "I have to study Medical Ninjutsu with my mother lately..."
"I see." Uchiha Izumi released Uchiha Ao's hand, but then slipped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him snugly into her embrace. "What a shame."
As they turned to leave, Uchiha Ao heard Tsukino Chinatsu let out a sigh of relief behind them.
Was Sister Izumi really that scary?
But when he thought of her expression today, it had been even colder than when he'd been caught seeing Hinata.
Uchiha Ao could understand how Tsukino Chinatsu felt.
"Little brother, were you thinking about that woman?" Uchiha Izumi's voice suddenly cut in.
"No, no." Uchiha Ao quickly waved his hands.
If he dared say the word "thinking" today, he might not live to see tomorrow's sunrise.
"Good. That woman's not simple." Uchiha Izumi was satisfied with her little brother's answer. After a brief pause, she continued, "There's something a little twisted about her."
Uchiha Ao nearly thought he'd misheard her.
The girl seemed so gentle. How could she be twisted?
But since Sister Izumi had said so, he couldn't be bothered to care whether Chinatsu was twisted or not.
In any case, they probably wouldn't have much to do with each other in the future.
The two continued toward home. Uchiha Izumi never loosened her hold on her little brother's arm, as if she were afraid he might suddenly disappear.
The pedestrians on the street gradually dwindled until only the dim yellow glow of the streetlights remained, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Meanwhile, over in the wooden...
"That's wonderful! So you have someone you care about too!"
Tsukino Chinatsu knew about Uchiha Izumi's circumstances, but the more she knew, the more unbelievable it seemed.
At this age...
She'd wanted to dissect Izumi-chan for a long time.
She just hadn't gone through with it because she couldn't beat her.
Meanwhile, back at home, Uchiha Ao couldn't wait to spread out the acupoint chart Tsukino Chinatsu had given him.
The yellowed paper was covered in dense annotations, the ink varying in depth. Some spots had even been heavily circled in red.
Seeing how seriously her little brother was studying, Uchiha Izumi said nothing this time and turned to walk into her own room.
"The acupoint chart is a bit complicated, but that's okay. One night should be enough."
The Otsutsuki Bloodline had given him not only talent in ninjutsu and chakra, but also an excellent memory.
Uchiha Ao sat alone in his room, the soft lamplight falling over the acupoint chart Tsukino Chinatsu had given him.
The dense annotations on the yellowed paper were clearly visible, the ink varying in depth. Some places even had simple diagrams to aid understanding.
He frowned slightly, studying with complete concentration, and occasionally murmured to himself.
"This acupoint's marked a little differently from the standard charts, but it does seem to make sense."
He gently tapped the spot marked "Jianjing Acupoint" on the chart. Beside it, Tsukino Chinatsu had written: Stimulating this acupoint can quickly relieve tension in the shoulder muscles and is especially effective for muscle strain caused by frequent use of ninjutsu.
Just as he was absorbed in studying the chart, a breeze suddenly blew past, making the window rattle lightly.
He glanced up instinctively, then lowered his head again.
But before long, his stomach suddenly rumbled. Only then did he realize he'd been studying for quite a while and hadn't even eaten dinner.
"I should take a break and get something to eat before I keep going." He muttered to himself, then got up and walked to the door, intending to find something in the kitchen.
As soon as he opened the door, he nearly ran straight into Uchiha Izumi.
"Sister Izumi, why aren't you asleep yet?"
Uchiha Izumi was holding a steaming clay pot. A few grains of rice still clung to the porcelain-white rim, making it clear she'd just stepped away from the stove.
"I knew you'd get hungry." She pursed her lips as she set the pot on the table. The moment she lifted the lid, the sweet aroma of red dates and Chinese yam filled the room. "I made porridge and prepared some pickled radish to go with it. Eat up."
Uchiha Ao gazed at the thick rice porridge in the pot. A few pitted red dates floated on its surface like garnet gems.
Only then did he notice a few spots of rice slurry on Sister Izumi's cuff and fine beads of water clinging to her hair tips. She clearly hadn't had time to tidy herself up. "Sister Izumi, did you make this just for me?"
"Who else? Can't a big sister care about her little brother?"
Uchiha Izumi's eyes curved into a smile as she gently ruffled Uchiha Ao's hair, her touch as tender as if she were handling a fragile treasure.
She sat down on a cushion beside him, resting her chin in her hand as she watched him eat with relish. Her gaze was full of tenderness. "Slow down. No one's going to steal it from you." As she spoke, she picked up a handkerchief and carefully wiped the porridge from the corner of his mouth.
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