It wasn't a ploy. The other's Chakra system looked fairly ravaged from damage, and if his body language was anything to judge by (it always was, before Neji's eyes), he was about to collapse.

"Curse mark..."

That seal from that time. His eyes focus, veins widening from the added Chakra forced to them as he studies his shoulder, lips furrowing into a deep frown. Though he turns his eyes to the other's face, his focus is still on his shoulder. "I can try to shut it down."