Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

"Who else?" You twirled your blood-stained longsword, your gaze sweeping over the trembling nobles.

A series of dull thuds echoed through the hall as knees struck the floor. The once arrogant nobles now lay prostrate on the ground like frightened quails, their foreheads pressed against the cold floor, not daring to look directly at the throne.

Xiaoxue gripped the armrests of the throne tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force. As she looked at the ministers who had once outwardly obeyed her father but inwardly defied him, now appearing as humble as ants, a thrill she had never experienced before welled up from the bottom of her heart—hot, twisting, and intoxicating.

"Sister Tanuki," Xiaoxue's voice trembled slightly with excitement, "whatever reward you want, I'll give it to you!"

You scoffed, the long sword scraping against the ground with a harsh screech, and walked step by step toward the throne. Blood dripped from the tip of the blade, leaving a string of shocking red dots on the pure white marble.

Kakashi's muscles tensed instantly, and as you raised the long sword, he almost instinctively lunged forward—

"Don't come any closer." Xiaoxue suddenly spoke, her blue eyes staring straight into Kakashi's Sharingan.

Something in those eyes froze Kakashi in place—not the fear of being coerced, but a conscious surrender.

The long sword pierced the edge of the throne, only an inch away from Xiaoxue's waist.

You bend down to look at Xiaoxue at eye level, your noses almost touching. Your bloodied fingers touch her cheek, leaving a bloodstain on her fair skin.

"I don't want any reward, all I want is the Land of Snow... to forever treat the Akatsuki Organization as an honored guest."

Xiaoxue's eyes were slightly red, and she looked up at you as if she were looking up at a god.

“…Okay.” She promised, word by word, her voice firm and devout, “The Snow Country will be the most obedient dog of the Akatsuki.”

Kakashi's breathing almost stopped.

He couldn't believe that a twelve-year-old girl would say such a thing, but what shocked him even more was that there was no hesitation in Xiaoxue's eyes, only fervent loyalty.

Your lips slowly parted into a grin, and finally, unable to contain your excitement, you burst into laughter. The laughter was manic and unrestrained, echoing throughout the empty palace hall, sending chills down everyone's spine.

“Your Excellency…” You finally stopped laughing, placed one hand on your chest, bowed slightly, and made an almost mocking gesture, “I will help you secure this position.”

As soon as you finished speaking, you suddenly drew your long sword, and your chakra suddenly exploded, creating a suffocating sense of oppression that swept across the entire area.

This time, not only the nobles, but also Yahiko, Sasori, Hidan, and even Kakashi trembled at this aura.

Hidan knelt on the ground, his hands clasped together, his eyes flashing with a morbid fanaticism, "Lord Jashin...you are just too perfect!"

Xiaoxue rose from the throne; her small figure appeared exceptionally fragile in comparison to you, yet inexplicably powerful due to that twisted confidence.

"I swear in the name of Fuuka," Yuki's voice echoed clearly in the palace, "that the Land of Snow and the Akatsuki will be allies for eternity."

Yahiko coughed lightly, breaking the awkward atmosphere. "Now that the agreement is reached, we should take our leave." His gaze swept over the assembled officials. "I presume... Your Majesty can arrange for ministers to handle the internal affairs of the Land of Snow."

Xiaoxue nodded, the innocence in her eyes long gone. "Of course, but..." Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the hem of her skirt. "Could Sister Tanuki stay a few more days?"

The long sword had been sheathed at some point. You reached out and ruffled Xiaoxue's hair, the gesture as affectionate as if you were treating a beloved pet. "Three days, no more than that."

Kakashi watched this scene and suddenly felt a chill. In just one day, he witnessed the downfall of a country, the transformation of a young girl, and... the weakening of his own defenses.

When your gaze inadvertently sweeps over him, the direct, penetrating look instills a strange fear in him.

“Mr. Kakashi.” Xiaoxue suddenly turned to him, her voice regaining some of its usual softness, “Thank you for escorting me. You can... return to Konoha to report now.”

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Kakashi's head. He realized that he had become an outsider, an elite Jonin of Konoha, who was now nothing more than an outsider.

As you stepped out of the main hall, the moonlight slanted across the long corridor, casting long shadows. Suddenly, you stopped, your black boots making soft crunching sounds on the snow.

"Come out." Your voice was carried on the cool night breeze. "When did Konoha's Anbu learn to eavesdrop?"

The sound of fabric rustling came from the shadows in the corner. Kakashi appeared, leaning against a stone pillar. His silver hair gleamed coldly in the moonlight, and his only visible eye was fixed on your back.

"Why?" His voice was more piercing than the coldest winter in the Land of Snow.

You didn't turn around, a few strands of your long black hair were lifted by the night wind, "She's happy, isn't she?" Your tone was as light as if you were discussing the moonlight tonight.

Kakashi's figure suddenly disappeared from the spot.

The next second, you felt your collar tighten. Kakashi had grabbed your collar and pinned you against the cold stone pillar.

The two were so close that they could count each other's eyelashes.

"You're leading her into another abyss!" Kakashi's voice was extremely low, but he couldn't hide the trembling in it.

You calmly raised your hand, moving slowly, as if deliberately giving Kakashi time to react. When your cool fingertips touched his mask, the silver-haired Jonin's pupils contracted sharply.

"You know what?" Your voice suddenly softened, "I've always been curious... what Kakashi Hatake looks like under the mask."

The mask was gently pulled off.

Kakashi instinctively turned his face away, but it was too late. The moonlight perfectly outlined his sharply defined jawline, and the scar that extended from his left eye to his cheek was particularly striking in the cold light.

A fleeting emotion, unreadable to Kakashi, flashed in your eyes. Suddenly, you leaned closer, your noses almost touching, your breaths mingling into white mist in the cold air.

"Then tell me," your thin lips were only millimeters away from his, your breath carrying a faint taste of blood, "what is right? And what is wrong?"

Kakashi's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. Your eyes are breathtakingly beautiful at such close range.

The three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotated, revealing even more complex patterns hidden deep within, like a key to a world he could not comprehend.

"I..." His voice was hoarse and didn't sound like his own.

Your thumb traces his wound, the movement as gentle as if handling a fragile object. "Can't answer?"

You suddenly laughed, a laugh that made Kakashi's heart skip a beat. "You yourself are in a state of confusion, so why do you think everything I've done is wrong?"

These words were like a blunt knife, slowly and precisely piercing Kakashi's most vulnerable spot, and his fingers unconsciously loosened their grip on your collar.

You didn't immediately back away, your gaze lingering on Kakashi's face. "Guess..." you traced the outline of his brow bone with your fingertips, "How many times have I seen you?"

Kakashi's mind suddenly exploded with a burst of white light, and fragmented images flashed by like a revolving lantern: the cave at Kannabi Bridge, Obito's crushed half of his body, the bloody hand piercing through Rin's chest... and a pair of Sharingan eyes that were exactly the same as the ones in front of him, watching him in the darkness.

“What…?” His voice was broken.

You stepped back at the opportune moment, ending the near-kissing distance, and turned to walk to the other end of the corridor. The sound of your boots hitting the ground was particularly clear in the quiet night.

As the two passed each other, you suddenly stopped. "There's no need to dwell on past pain. Sometimes what you perceive as tragedy... is their rebirth."

Kakashi turned his head sharply, but only caught a glimpse of the hem of your black robe with red clouds fluttering in the wind. Your figure blended into the night, leaving only a faint scent of blood in the air.

The silver-haired Jonin stood frozen in place, his fingers unconsciously touching his lips, where the warmth of your breath and some other more subtle sensation still lingered.

At some point, he was certain that your lips had brushed against the corner of his mouth.

What alarmed him even more was your last sentence. Kakashi's thoughts drifted involuntarily to the memorial stone, where Obito and Rin's names were engraved side by side for five years. But at this moment, that deep-rooted belief was beginning to waver.

"Could it be..." His Sharingan began to spin uncontrollably, "...that they're still alive?"

The moment this thought crossed my mind, my heart ached as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand.

Kakashi gasped for breath, pressing his hand to his violently pounding chest. The tremors were so intense that he couldn't tell if it was from shock, fear, or... some more dangerous anticipation.

He's looking forward to seeing you again...

In the shadows not far behind Kakashi, Sasori stood quietly, taking in everything, his fingers unconsciously tightening the puppet strings.

The transparent threads dug deep into his palm, but they couldn't compare to the unfamiliar stinging pain in his heart. "Li...nu..." Scorpion silently chewed on the name, as if tasting some kind of poison that was both sweet and bitter.

The night in the land of snow is still very, very long.

The rain fell thick and fast, making the steel tower of Amegakure appear particularly stark against the gloomy sky.

As I stepped through the base gate, a strange chakra aura filled the damp air—heavy, ancient, and with a bloody, rusty smell.

Your Sharingan glowed faintly in the shadows. "Looks like a new member came to the house while we were away."

Hidan, carrying the March Scythe, approached, his nostrils flaring. "Ah! It smells like money!"

Yahiko shook his head helplessly and pushed open the conference room door first.

Nagato sat upright in the main seat, with a man he had never seen before standing beside him. The man was nearly two meters tall, with dark green pupils like those of a predator, and sutures that snaked across his skin like a centipede.

“Let me introduce you,” Nagato’s voice echoed in the empty conference room, “This is Kakuzu, our new chief financial officer.”

Kakuzu's gaze swept over everyone like a searchlight, then suddenly froze when it passed over you. His pupils contracted sharply, and the muscles under his sutures twitched involuntarily.

“You—” Kakuzu’s voice was like rusty gears grinding together, “You actually have an unparalleled heart!”

The meeting room fell silent instantly. Sasori's puppet strings silently slipped out from his sleeve, and Hidan's three-month scythe was already held horizontally in front of his chest. Even the usually gentle Yahiko narrowed his eyes slightly.

You walked slowly forward, your slender fingers gently shaking. "My heart? You probably don't have the ability to take it."

Kakuzu's chakra erupted, and the black tentacles of the Earth Grudge Fear spread out menacingly from his back. Ninety years of combat instinct told him that the girl in front of him was no pushover, but it was precisely this sense of danger that aroused his long-dormant hunting desire.

"Want to give it a try?" Kakuzu's voice was low and hoarse. "I'll take good care of it."

Nagato tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "We need to fight our way to the training grounds."

Sasori turned to Yahiko and lowered his voice, "As the leader, why didn't you stop him?"

Yahiko's gaze remained fixed on your retreating figure, his emotions a complex and unreadable mix. "Sometimes... don't interfere with her choices."

The training ground has a towering dome, and rainwater seeps in through the gaps, forming small puddles on the ground.

Kakuzu had already taken off his shirt, revealing a torso covered in stitches, where four eerie masks were embedded.

“The rules are simple,” Nagato said, standing on the sidelines, “stop when you’ve made a point.”

You nodded casually, without even forming the opposing mudra.

This dismissive gesture caused a vein to bulge on Kakuzu's forehead. He abruptly formed hand seals, unleashing "Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"

A high-pressure typhoon hurtled towards you, but you deftly dodged it the instant it touched you. The storm tore your clothes, revealing a fleeting glimpse of your fair skin at your waist.

Scorpion's pupils contracted slightly, and the puppet strings were taut between his fingers.

"Too weak." Your voice suddenly came from behind Kakuzu.

Kakuzu suddenly turned around, and the tentacles of the Earth Grudge pierced out like sharp arrows, but only pierced through the afterimage.

You've retreated five meters away, the three tomoe in your Sharingan slowly rotating. "Is that all you've got?"

Kakuzu's four masks simultaneously emitted piercing shrieks, and the four elemental ninjutsu of fire, lightning, wind, and water intertwined to form a net of death, enveloping half of the training ground.

The smoke and dust from the explosion rose into the air, obscuring everyone's view.

Chapter 109 The Heart

Hidan whistled, "Wow, this old guy's actually pretty good—"

Suddenly, a golden light cleaved through the smoke and dust, and the skeleton of Susanoo appeared out of thin air, blocking all the aftershocks of the ninjutsu. You stood protected by the ribs, and not even the hem of your clothes was ruffled.

"My turn." You chuckled, and Susanoo's arm solidified, delivering a punch to Kakuzu.

Kakuzu hastily set up an Earth Release defense, but was still pushed back more than ten meters. His feet dug deep furrows in the ground, and he was horrified to find that his Earth Release mask had cracked.

The battle gradually turned into a one-sided toy. Your Sharingan was always locked on Kakuzu's every move, predicting every ninjutsu he used, as if this battle had been rehearsed a thousand times in her mind.

"Give up, old man," Hidan jeered from the sidelines. "You can't mess with Lord Jashin!"

Kakuzu's breathing grew heavier and heavier. Ninety years of combat experience was useless at this moment. He felt like a trapped beast, imprisoned in an invisible cage.

What terrified him most was the confident look in the girl's eyes, as if she could end the battle at any moment, but... didn't want it to end so quickly.

Finally, as your kunai touched his last heart, Kakuzu screamed, "I surrender!"

The kunai tip paused a millimeter above the suture line. "You don't want your heart anymore?"

Kakuzu's reason finally prevailed over his greed: "If you dare to have it... you might not live to enjoy it."

You sheathed your sword with satisfaction, and Nagato clapped softly. "A brilliant performance." His Rinnegan gleamed coldly in the shadows. "Kakuzu, now you understand the organization's power levels?"

Kakuzu nodded silently, but his gaze still involuntarily followed your figure.

That power... that almost divine power, filled him with both fear and longing. For the first time in ninety years, he had encountered someone who could make him willingly submit.

The next day, Kakuzu stood alone by the window, his fingers unconsciously stroking the ledger hidden in his sleeve. The financial expert, who had lived for nearly a hundred years, was calculating the Akatsuki's budget allocation for the quarter.

Footsteps came from behind.

Kakuzu's muscles tensed instantly, black tentacles peeking out from his sleeves. He slowly turned around and saw you walking towards him, your black robe with red cloud patterns swaying slightly in the damp air.

"What is it?" Kakuzu's voice was as dry as a rusty gear.

You didn't answer, but simply stood in front of him and gently flipped your finger.

An incredibly precise mechanical heart appeared out of thin air, its metal surface shimmering with a cold yet magnificent luster under the sunlight, every gear and pipe connection breathtakingly perfect.

The chakra crystal embedded in the core pulsates rhythmically like a living heart.

Kakuzu's breath caught in his throat, his fingers trembled uncontrollably, and his dark green pupils dilated to their limit.

As an expert who had collected countless rare hearts, he recognized at a glance that this was no ordinary item; it was a masterpiece that combined puppetry and medical ninjutsu.

"This...this is..." Kakuzu's voice was as dry as a desert traveler's.