Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

At this moment, several members of the secret service rushed over, their figures appearing particularly sinister in the night.

The leader of the ANBU members walked up to Itachi, paused for a moment, and seemed to hesitate about how to start the conversation.

"Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Shisui... jumped off a cliff and died last night." The voice of the ANBU member was low and cold, breaking the silence of the night.

Sasuke hid behind Itachi. Although he didn't quite understand the meaning of these words, he could sense the seriousness of the situation from the solemn expressions of the adults around him and the sorrowful atmosphere in the air.

He blinked his big eyes and curiously peeked out from behind Itachi, looking at the serious-looking ANBU members.

Itachi's body stiffened slightly, and a barely perceptible trace of grief flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

He nodded slightly. "I understand."

The members of the Dark Division exchanged glances, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end they simply turned and left silently, disappearing into the night.

The murmurs among the tribespeople grew louder as they began to speculate about the cause of Zhishui's death.

Some say it was an accident, while others believe there was a conspiracy behind it.

Sasuke tugged at Itachi's sleeve and whispered, "Nii-san, who is Shisui-nii-san? Why is everyone so sad?"

Itachi crouched down and gently patted Sasuke's head, his eyes revealing a hint of tenderness and sorrow. "Shisui was an excellent clansman. He was strong and kind. His death is a great loss to our Uchiha clan."

Sasuke nodded, seemingly understanding, and looked into his brother's eyes. "Then, brother, will you leave me?"

Itachi paused for a moment, then hugged Sasuke tightly. "No, Sasuke, Nii-san will always be by your side."

What Sasuke didn't know was that from this moment on, their lives would undergo a dramatic change.

The conflict between the Uchiha clan and the Konoha leadership intensified, and Itachi was drawn into this brutal struggle.

In the days that followed, Sasuke noticed that his brother had become even busier.

Itachi often left early and returned late, and each time he came back, he had a tired look on his face. Although Sasuke was young, he could sense that his older brother had many things on his mind.

The clansmen's emotions grew increasingly agitated, and they began to harbor dissatisfaction and resentment towards the Konoha leadership.

While playing in the clan compound, Sasuke often overheard the adults talking about fighting for more rights and status for the Uchiha clan, and some even mentioned rebellion.

Itachi was under tremendous pressure during this time.

He was a member of the Uchiha clan on one hand, and loyal to Konoha on the other. He tried to find a balance between the two, but found it to be almost impossible.

The afterglow of the setting sun spills onto the winding streets of the land of hot springs. You step across the cobblestones in your wooden clogs, each step revealing glimpses of your calves peeking out from under your yukata in the twilight.

You hummed an off-key tune, toying with three shuriken you'd taken from the Hidden Leaf Village's ANBU, the metallic glints dancing on Shisui's face.

"Two guest rooms."

Yahiko's voice was gentle, but the gesture of handing over the money carried the organization's usual code. His thumb pressed down on the third coin, which was hush money for the boss.

The cunning shopkeeper narrowed his eyes and tapped his keychain on the counter, making two short and one long sound.

"You three are here for the hot springs, right?" The owner smiled and handed over the keys, his gaze lingering on your unusual attire for a second longer. "The newly developed sulfur springs are very good for wound healing..."

The key was suddenly snatched away by you, and your Sharingan gleamed faintly in the dimly lit foyer. "What we're more interested in is... the soundproofing."

You deliberately lagged behind by half a step, watching Zhi Shui's back taut like a tense line under the dim light.

This genius ninja of Konoha still had blood seeping from the bandage around his left eye, but his right hand had unconsciously assumed the starting stance of the Uchiha style. How adorable his alertness was!

The mottled ukiyo-e prints on the walls on both sides, with the smiling faces of geisha distorted into grotesque expressions under the dim yellow light.

Shisui's fingertips never left the kunai sleeve. He noticed that with every step you took, the wooden clogs left faint scorch marks on the floor.

"We're here~"

You suddenly turn around, the key spinning gracefully between your fingers.

As you push open the door, a strong musty smell hits you, mixed with some kind of aged blood odor. You take a deep breath, a look of rapture on your face. "Much more comfortable than the organization's stronghold, right?"

Yahiko stood calmly by the window, his eyes fixed on Shisui. "We need to talk about our next plan."

"Plan?" You tilted your head to look at Shisui, your kaleidoscope appearing. "Let's talk about our little crow first... Has it really decided to go with the madman?"

Suddenly, the sound of a shamisen drifted in from outside the window. Shisui gazed at your face, which was divided into two halves by the light, and in a daze, he saw countless parallel universes of him making different choices at this moment.

"I..."

Shisui's words were interrupted by your sudden closeness, your cool fingers stroking his cheek. "Don't worry~ you'll find out soon enough..."

Suddenly, all the lanterns on the street went out. In the absolute darkness, Shisui heard the sound of a sharp blade being drawn, and your whisper in his ear, "Madness... is the only sanity in this ninja world."

The kerosene lamp cast a dim, yellowish glow in the center of the room, elongating the shadows of the three people on the wall.

Yahiko knelt on the tatami mat, skillfully unwrapping a roll of bandage. His fingers were tinged with the scent of herbs, and his method of treating the wound was surprisingly professional.

You lean against the wall, arms crossed, your gaze shifting between Yahiko's nimble fingers and Shisui's pale face.

The wounds from the battle had stopped bleeding, but a deep, bone-revealing cut ran across Zhishui's right shoulder, resembling an ugly centipede.

“The ninja tool was poisoned,” Yahiko said without looking up, picking up a piece of blood-stained cotton cloth with tweezers. “Luckily it wasn’t a deadly poison, otherwise we’d be preparing for a funeral right now.”

Shisui let out a muffled groan, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. His left hand was clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning white, but his face remained calm.

You're all too familiar with that expression—the mask unique to the Uchiha clan, a mask that hides deep-seated pain.

How did you lose your left eye?

The air in the room seemed to freeze instantly. Yahiko paused for half a second before continuing to wrap the bandage.

Shisui raised his right hand and lightly touched the empty eye socket with his fingertips.

“I gave it to my younger brother,” he said softly, as if afraid of waking something, “hoping it could help him in a critical moment.”

“I can make mechanical prosthetic eyes.” You suddenly shook a bunch of precision parts out of your sleeve, the metal components gleaming coldly under the light. “Although they can’t compare to the Sharingan, they’re better than nothing.”

Yahiko finished tying the last knot of the bandage and looked up with interest. "The Uchiha clan is also proficient in mechanical engineering?"

"Personal interest," you replied briefly, already opening your toolbox. The metal parts gleamed coldly under the light, creating a strange contrast with the herbal scent in the room.

Shisui looked at you, and finally nodded. "Thank you for your help."

You gesture for Shizuka to lie flat, and as his head rests on a low pillow, you notice that his muscles are still tense, not out of fear of surgery, but out of a ninja's instinctive vigilance, especially when Yahiko approaches.

"I need help." You could actually do it all by yourself, but having Yahiko involved will allow you to better monitor him.

In the two hours of silence, the only sounds were the soft clatter of tweezers and gears. Beads of sweat appeared on your nose, and your Sharingan remained in the three-tomoe state, as if you were precisely controlling something.

The pupil returned to normal only after the last piece of iris membrane was attached.

"Try it."

The moment Shisui opened his eyes, Yahiko noticed a strange red light flash in his newly formed 'eyeballs,' but it disappeared in an instant.

The left eye is now a beautiful dark brown, almost identical to the right eye, except for the lack of the distinctive markings of the Sharingan.

"The view is very clear." Shisui rolled her eyes, her voice filled with genuine surprise. "Thank you so much."

Your hands, which were tidying up your tools, suddenly stopped. Your back looked unusually thin in the light, but your voice was still cold, "Don't rush to thank me, this is just the basic model."

"I heard the Land of Hot Springs is very lively at night. Shall we go for a stroll? We're on edge all day, it's time to relax a bit." You turned around, a faint smile playing on your lips.

Yahiko leaned against the door frame, a hint of doting in his sunny smile. "I don't care, I'll go with you wherever you go."

He shrugged, but his gaze never left your face; his eyes would always soften unconsciously when he was facing you.

Uchiha Shisui's short black hair swayed gently with his steps. "A good suggestion." He stopped beside you, maintaining a just-right distance, neither too distant nor too intimate.

But those eyes, which were always as calm as still water, were now gleaming with an unusual light.

Just as you were about to step out of the hotel, you suddenly heard a soft "snap" sound at your waist.

Without warning, the rope tying the wooden carving snapped, and the exquisite wooden sculpture seemed to come alive, rolling rapidly down the wooden floor. It spun around a few times to the astonishment of the crowd before finally stopping a short distance away.

You instinctively bend down to pick it up, but a slender, fair hand reaches for the wood carving faster than you do.

"May I take a look?"

The voice was full of youthful energy, yet tinged with a reserved curiosity. You looked up, and your breath caught in your throat.

Chapter 99: Red Sand

Red hair fell like flames over the boy's shoulders, gleaming like silk in the dim light of the inn.

His skin was so white it was almost translucent, like fine porcelain, exuding a cold, aloof beauty.

Beneath his slightly raised eyebrows were a pair of deep eyes that seemed to suck away one's soul. The faint curve at the corner of his mouth carried both the innocence of a boy and a maturity and aloofness beyond his years.

Your Sharingan involuntarily twitched for a moment before returning to normal, and a meaningful smile appeared on your lips. "Of course, beautiful boy."

Yahiko and Shisui, standing behind you, narrowed their eyes in unison. The appearance of this unfamiliar boy was no less impressive than theirs, even standing next to these two recognized handsome ninjas, and in some aspects, he was even better.

Yahiko unconsciously straightened his back, while Shisui's fingers unconsciously caressed the handle of the kunai.

The red-haired boy examined the wooden carving in his hands closely, his amazement growing stronger. "Did you make this wooden carving?"

He looked up, and the coldness in his eyes seemed to melt a little. "Every texture is handled perfectly, and the connection at the joints is ingeniously designed."

Scorpion's gaze met yours, and he read a sense of confidence in your eyes.

This quality piqued his interest in you, making him want to get to know you better.

"Thank you for the compliment." The curve of your lips widened, and as you reached out to take the wood carving, your fingertips deliberately brushed lightly against the back of the boy's hand.

In that instant, you felt the other person's fingers tremble slightly.

“I am Tanuki,” you nodded slightly. “These two are Yahiko and Shisui.”

“Scorpion,” the red-haired boy replied curtly, his gaze still fixed on the wooden carving. “Are you here to attend the festival of the Land of Hot Springs?”

You notice that when Sasori said his name, Yahiko and Shisui exchanged a meaningful glance.

Obviously, you've all heard of "Sasori of the Red Sand"—the genius puppeteer of Sunagakure.

“Exactly,” you replied lightly. “Since we’ve run into each other, why don’t we go together? The night market in the Land of Hot Springs is quite famous.”

Scorpion's gaze swept between the three of them, and finally, he nodded slightly, "...Mm."

As night fell completely, the main street of the Land of Hot Water was adorned with colorful lanterns, illuminating the entire town in a dreamlike state.

The streets were lined with all kinds of stalls, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares, laughter, and the aroma of food mingled together to create a lively and bustling scene.

You walked at the front, your long black hair swaying gently with your steps. You would occasionally turn back to talk to the three of them, a sly glint in your eyes.

“I see that the knot on your wooden carving is broken. I am a puppeteer and know a little about knots and such. I can help you repair this knot.”

Scorpion's tone was sincere and gentle. In fact, deep down he had another idea: to take the opportunity of repairing the rope to observe the exquisite craftsmanship of the wood carving and explore its secrets.

"I see. I live upstairs. I'll have to trouble you, handsome young man!" You blinked, a barely perceptible glint in your eyes.

You're not in a hurry to get the wood carving back. This is a good opportunity to get closer to Scorpion and perhaps obtain some unexpected information or help from him.

“Thank you for your trust. I also live upstairs, in the last room,” Scorpion replied with a warm and charming smile.

The scorpion walks beside you, maintaining a perfect distance, but his breathing quickens involuntarily every time you get closer.

"Try this." You suddenly turned around and handed a string of three-colored dumplings to Scorpion's lips. Your action was so natural that Scorpion subconsciously opened his mouth and bit the top dumpling.

The soft dumplings melt in your mouth, sweet but not cloying.

Sasori's ear tips turned slightly red as he noticed that Yahiko and Shisui's gazes sharpened simultaneously.

"How does it taste?" you ask, tilting your head, your eyes sparkling.

“...Not bad,” Scorpion replied softly, his voice gentler than usual.

Shisui subtly stepped between them, saying, "There seems to be a performance up ahead, want to go check it out?"

You took Shisui and Scorpion's arms, "Of course we'll go."

Yahiko walked at the back, watching the three figures walking side by side, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

But he quickly regained his sunny disposition and hurried after him, calling out, "Wait for me!"

In the center of the performance area, an acrobat is performing fire-breathing, the blazing flames illuminating the faces of the onlookers and also reddening your delicate profile.

Sasori's gaze involuntarily fell upon you. The Uchiha girl appeared exceptionally radiant and captivating in the firelight, her Sharingan reflecting the leaping flames, embodying the ultimate aesthetic of art.

Suddenly, a ring of fire used in the performance flew out of control towards the audience.

Before you could react, you felt three different chakra burst forth simultaneously. Sasori's puppet strings, Shisui's Body Flicker Technique, and Yahiko's Water Release appeared almost at the same time, perfectly intercepting the fire ring in mid-air.

You blinked and found yourself surrounded by three people in a protective posture.

Sasori's puppet strings gleamed coldly in the moonlight, Shisui held his kunai to his chest, and Yahiko's hands remained in the hand seals. The three looked at each other, a subtle sense of competition filling the air.