Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Yahiko sat on the edge of the bed, his hands tightly wrapped around his cold fingers, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. His gaze never left your face, as if you would disappear again if he relaxed even slightly.

Nagato and Zabuza sat silently on the sofa in the corner, neither of them speaking.

Nagato's Rinnegan glowed with a faint purple light in the dim light, while Zabuza's fingers unconsciously tapped the hilt of his Executioner's Blade, the rhythm betraying his inner anxiety.

Scorpion leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, a rare hint of emotion appearing on his puppet-like face, his brows furrowed and his thin lips pressed into a straight line.

His gaze remained fixed on your pale face, his fingertips trembling slightly, as if he were restraining something.

—Until Xiao Nan's surprised voice broke the silence.

Everyone's eyes were focused instantly.

Your eyelashes trembled slightly as you slowly opened your eyes. Your scarlet Sharingan eyes looked exceptionally alluring in the moonlight, yet also carried a rare hint of vulnerability.

"He's awake!" Yahiko's voice trembled slightly, and his fingers unconsciously tightened.

Everyone quickly gathered around the bed, and even Kakuzu dragged the sleeping Hidan a few steps forward.

"Excuse me, the medicine is here!"

Zhi Shui and Bai hurriedly entered the room, carrying freshly brewed medicine in their hands.

Kisame strode forward and took the medicine bowl. His rough fingers held the porcelain spoon and stirred it gently. After the steam dissipated slightly, he carefully scooped up a spoonful and brought it to your lips.

"Come on, drink your medicine." His voice was much gentler than usual, and his shark-like teeth gleamed in the moonlight.

Your consciousness was not yet fully awake; you simply opened your mouth instinctively and obediently swallowed the medicine.

The medicine was very bitter, and you frowned slightly, but still drank the whole bowl down.

"My lady, is there anything else that's bothering you?" Lin leaned down to ask, gently placing her fingers on your wrist to check your pulse.

Hidan suddenly woke up with a start, saw you with your eyes open, and jumped up shouting, "The Jashin is indeed safe and sound!"

Nagato's temple throbbed, and he stood up, grabbing the back of his collar and dragging him out. "Keep your voice down."

As the door opened and closed, the night breeze carried the scent of fallen leaves in.

Yahiko held your hand, his voice low, "What happened during those three days you were gone?"

Your gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Shisui's tense face. "When passing through Konoha, I was affected by the Tailed Beast Ball."

The air in the room suddenly froze.

Shisui's pupils contracted sharply. He knew better than anyone the power of the Tailed Beast Ball—a destructive force capable of leveling a mountain.

The scorpion's claws dug into his palm without him noticing, and the puppet's body made a faint "clicking" sound.

"Stay at the base to recover during this time." Xiao Nan's voice left no room for doubt, as the piece of paper fluttered silently in her sleeve.

Everyone nodded in agreement, even the usually easygoing Kakuzu hummed in agreement.

You opened your mouth to refute, but met Scorpion's gaze. In those usually indifferent eyes, there was an undisguised worry.

The words suddenly caught in his throat.

"Refusal denied." Nagato pushed open the door and entered, his Rinnegan radiating an irresistible majesty. The night wind lifted his red hair, revealing his pale face.

You suddenly realize that perhaps relying on your partner occasionally isn't so bad.

Pushing open the door, the long-awaited fresh air rushed into your nostrils. You took a deep breath, feeling the power flowing through your body again, and your Sharingan glowed faintly red in the dim light.

At the end of the corridor, Kimimaro stood alone, his white robes like a cold moon in the shadows. His back was tall and lonely, as if he had blended into the dark environment.

Your footsteps were very light, but Kimimaro's ears still twitched slightly. He turned around instantly, a hint of alertness flashing in his gray-green eyes.

“It’s you.” His voice was low, with his usual aloofness.

You stopped, a faint smile playing on your lips. "I heard you were the one who found me when I fainted. Thank you."

Kimimaro was clearly stunned.

Sunlight streamed in from the skylight, outlining the delicate contours of his profile. His eyelashes trembled slightly, like the wings of a startled butterfly, and a barely perceptible ripple flickered in his grey-green eyes.

"...No need." He turned his head away, avoiding your gaze, his voice lower than usual.

You blinked, suddenly finding it amusing that this usually aloof boy seemed... somewhat adorable at this moment?

You reached out as if possessed, and gently pinched Kimimaro's cheek with your fingertips. The touch was unexpectedly soft, with the warmth unique to a young boy.

Kimimaro's body stiffened instantly, and his fair cheeks flushed red at a visible speed, spreading from his ears all the way to his neck.

"You...you!" He took a step back abruptly, his voice unusually tinged with panic, his gray-green eyes widening like a startled deer.

You then realized your abruptness and were about to withdraw your hand when Kimimaro had already turned and walked away quickly. His white robes flashed by at the end of the corridor, and his steps were so disordered that it was almost as if he was running away.

"Don't pinch a boy's face so casually, Lord Tanuki."

A gentle voice came from beside you. You turned your head and saw Bai standing not far away, a faint smile on his lips and a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Why?" you ask, tilting your head in confusion.

Bai approached slowly, his voice as gentle as a snowflake falling into the palm of your hand, “Many times, this is misunderstood as a… intimate gesture.”

Only then did you belatedly realize what had happened, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on your face. "I'm sorry, I offended you."

Bai gently shook his head, then suddenly leaned closer, so close that you could smell the faint scent of herbs on him.

His eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath his eyes, and his voice was so soft it was almost a sigh, "It's alright, if Lord Tanuki really wants to pinch your cheeks..."

He paused, a subtle light flickering in his eyes, "Then white is fine too."

After saying that, he turned and left, his snow-white figure gradually blurring in the corridor, leaving only an ambiguous sentence that echoed softly in the air.

You stood there and touched the tip of your ear—it had become a little hot.

Chapter 116 Summer Festival

"Tanuki! What are you doing here?" Xiao Nan's voice interrupted your thoughts.

She walked over carrying a lazy cat whose eyes were narrowed to slits, seemingly uninterested in everything around it.

"I came to thank Kimimaro, what's wrong?" you asked, snapping out of your daze.

"Hurry up and go find Yahiko, he's been looking for you like crazy!" Konan chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes full of teasing.

As soon as you return to the room, you see Yahiko sitting on the edge of the bed, his fingers nervously rubbing his knees. Hearing footsteps, he suddenly looks up, and his usually gentle eyes are now surprisingly bright.

He stood up, took a few steps toward you, but stopped just before touching you, his gaze fixed intently on you.

"I heard you were looking for me? Is there something important?"

Yahiko's Adam's apple bobbed, and the tips of his ears turned slightly red. He cleared his throat, his voice a few decibels lower than usual, "The summer festival is coming soon, and I think..."

"Lord Jashin, would you like to join us for the summer festival?!" Hidan's booming voice suddenly burst from the doorway. He swaggered in, carrying the Bloodstained Scythe, with an excited smile on his face.

The next second, he felt a chill on the back of his neck, and when he turned his head, he met Yahiko's gloomy gaze, a gaze that seemed to pin him to the wall.

Hidan blinked. "...Uh, did I come at the wrong time?"

"Lord Tanuki, why don't you come with me?" Shisui's voice came from the doorway. He leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, a faint smile on his lips, but his eyes held an undeniable air of authority.

In the shadows of the corridor, Scorpion stood quietly, his Hiruko shell gleaming coldly in the sunlight. He didn't speak, but his amber eyes were fixed on you, clearly for the same reason.

You froze, your gaze sweeping across the crowd. "You...you're all together?"

The air in the room froze instantly.

Yahiko's lips twitched, Hidan scratched his head, Shisui raised an eyebrow, while Sasori remained silent, only slightly narrowing his eyes.

An awkward atmosphere was spreading, and no one spoke first.

"How about...we go together?" you tentatively suggested.

As soon as he finished speaking, the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

Yahiko's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He had already conjured up countless images in his mind: on the dimly lit festival path, only the two of you were there.

As you focused on scooping goldfish, the paper lantern cast a warm orange glow on your profile; on the deserted steps of the shrine, a hairpin he had personally chosen adorned your hair...

"Want to go together?" His voice was drier than I expected.

Hidan jumped up excitedly, his silver hair drawing shimmering arcs in the setting sun. "Awesome! I'm going to eat at every single stall! Lord Jashin will surely bless me to win the grand prize in every game!"

Shisui's Sharingan shimmered with a gentle light in the shadows. "As long as Tanuki-sama is happy." As he said this, he tasted a hint of bitterness on his tongue, but he still let the smile linger on his lips.

Scorpion took half a step forward and uttered a simple syllable.

"Well..." you hold up your little finger, "everyone has to keep the agreement."

Four hands reached out at the same time, hesitated for a moment as they crossed, and finally Shisui hooked your little finger first, the warm touch lasting only briefly.

—Until a soft cough, barely suppressed by a chuckle, came from the corridor.

"It looks like this year's summer festival is going to be very lively."

On the night of the summer festival, lights flow through the streets like a galaxy.

The moment your fingertips touch the glistening coating of the apple candy, the surging crowd pushes you forward. In that instant of losing your balance, a warm hand firmly grasps your wrist.

Today, Shisui was wearing a dark blue yukata, a rare sight for him. The collar was slightly open, revealing the lines of his collarbone. The light from the lantern cast dappled shadows under his eyelashes, but it couldn't hide the tenderness flowing in his eyes.

"Yahiko and the others..."

"We'll find it." His fingers slid down, naturally intertwining with yours. "Let me show you something first."

Passing through the bustling crowd, Zhi Shui stopped in front of a quiet lampstand and suddenly raised his hand to cover your eyes.

The moment the warm palm withdrew, you saw hundreds of paper lanterns rise into the air at the same time, those lanterns painted with the Uchiha clan emblem forming a winding river of light in the night sky.

The nearest lamp is hanging right in front of you, its surface painted with ink depicting the scene of your first meeting in the flower sea of ​​Nanhe Forest.

Just as you were about to say something, a burst of exaggerated laughter suddenly came from ahead.

"Hahaha! The evil god is indeed protecting me!"

Hidan stood in front of the shooting stall, holding the giant doll he had just won. His silver hair shone brightly under the lights. His yukata was askew, with the collar wide open, revealing the Jashin cult tattoo on his collarbone.

He turned his head and saw you; his eyes lit up instantly.

Hidan's voice shattered the silence like thunder as he squeezed in, carrying a mountain of prizes, with various toys constantly slipping from his arms.

His cheeks flushed with excitement as he proudly presented the fluffy fox to you, exclaiming, "This one looks just like you!"

Shisui silently took the fox doll away and put it back in Hidan's arms. You suddenly took the doll, and your fingertips "accidentally" brushed against Shisui's hand that he couldn't pull back in time.

Seeing the tips of his ears instantly turn blush, you mischievously held the fox up to your face, "Isn't it cute?"

"I think the cat probably doesn't like these."

Yahiko's voice came from behind, tinged with a hint of jealousy.

Your back is pressed against Yahiko's chest, the warm touch coming through the thin yukata, and you can clearly feel his heartbeat.

Turning his head slightly, he saw that Yahiko was holding an exquisite shuriken between his slender fingers. The blade gleamed with a cold silver light in the moonlight, and a red silk rope was wrapped around the hilt.

"For me?" A hint of surprise flashed in your eyes as your fingertips touched the blade.

"Yes, it belongs only to you." Yahiko lowered his head, his voice deep and gentle, his breath brushing against your ear. His gaze was fixed on you intently, as if you were the only person left in the world at that moment.

Your heart races slightly, and your fingers unconsciously tighten their grip on the hilt of your shuriken.

This ambiguity didn't last long.

"Lord Tanuki, the fireworks festival is about to begin."

Shisui's voice suddenly broke in, carrying an undeniable firmness. He reached out and grasped your wrist, gently pulling you away from Yahiko, but his gaze seemed to glance at Yahiko, a subtle warning flashing in his eyes.

As you are being pulled forward by Shisui, the image of Scorpion inexplicably appears in your mind.

You glanced around, your brow furrowing slightly. Where was Scorpion? Knowing his personality, he wouldn't miss such an occasion, unless... he'd run into some trouble?

As your thoughts drift, you suddenly feel your feet lighten, and you are lifted high into the air by a force!

You instinctively struggled for a moment, then looked down and realized that you were being steadily lifted up by a giant puppet arm and slowly moved upwards.

Looking up, on the high platform, Scorpion's figure appeared particularly aloof under the moonlight; he stood there quietly.

The puppet gently lowered you down. The moment your toes touched the ground, Scorpion's hand reached out, its fingertips slightly cool, yet carrying an undeniable force.

“…Watch the fireworks,” he said softly, his voice almost drowned out by the night wind.

Before there was a response, the sky suddenly brightened—

The first firework exploded in the night sky, and brilliant golden light cascaded down like a waterfall, illuminating the entire festival.