Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Then, a second, a third... countless dazzling fireworks bloomed one after another, crimson, indigo, and silver-white, weaving together a dreamlike curtain of light.

Scorpion is still holding your hand, not letting go.

You look up at the fireworks, but out of the corner of your eye you catch a glimpse of Scorpion's profile. The light from the fireworks reflects on his face, and there is a hint of tenderness hidden in his usually indifferent eyes.

He didn't answer, but only tightened his fingers slightly.

Meanwhile, below the platform, Yahiko and Shisui were struggling to get through the crowded throng.

"Tanuki!" Yahiko's voice was filled with obvious anxiety. His eyes were fixed on the figure on the high platform, and his steps quickened.

Shisui followed closely behind, his brows furrowed, his Sharingan gleaming slightly in the shadows. He saw Sasori holding your hand, and the two of them standing side by side. A strange pang of sadness welled up in his chest.

Hidan, carrying the pile of prizes, followed behind, panting and muttering, "Wait for me! Slow down!"

When they finally reached the platform, the fireworks were in full swing.

You and Scorpion stood there, your silhouettes clearly outlined by the glow of the fireworks.

Yahiko stopped in his tracks, and Shisui's eyes darkened.

Hidan plopped down on the ground, panting heavily. "Ugh, I'm exhausted! Those fireworks were so beautiful!"

You turned around, a faint smile playing on your lips, "I'm very happy."

Everyone was slightly taken aback, and then smiles appeared on everyone's faces without prior arrangement.

"As long as Tanuki is happy." Shisui's voice was gentle and restrained, the resentment in his eyes deeply hidden.

"Yes! Today is the summer festival, let's have fun together!" Hidan grinned and handed over a plush toy. "Lord Jashin, this is for you!"

You take the doll, but your gaze inadvertently sweeps over the crowd—

In the shadows not far away, Obito, wearing an orange swirling mask, stood quietly.

The surrounding noise seemed irrelevant to him; his gaze pierced through the crowd and landed directly on you.

Your gazes briefly met in the glow of the fireworks.

Obito tilted his head slightly, and a subtle, enigmatic smile seemed to curve the corners of his lips beneath the mask.

Then, his figure vanished into the night like mist.

Your fingertips unconsciously tightened around the doll.

Fireworks continued to bloom in the night sky, illuminating everyone's faces and concealing the unspoken thoughts in their hearts.

The rainy season in the Land of Rain seems to be longer than usual. Under the gray sky, newly built steel towers pierce the clouds, their tips gleaming with a cold metallic luster.

The Rain Ninja patrolling the streets wore new headbands with cloud patterns engraved on them that shimmered eerily in the rain. These were designs you personally created, symbolizing the will of this newly emerging power.

In the deepest meeting room of the Akatsuki base, the alliance scroll sent by the Mizukage slowly unfolded in the center of the long table. Konan's paper butterfly rested on the edge of the scroll, its wings densely covered with trade terms proposed by Kirigakure.

“The iron mines of the Snow Country,” Kakuzu’s green eyes narrowed like a cat’s in the candlelight, “plus the food supply routes of the Grass Country…” His withered fingers traced the newly marked red border lines on the map, where the territory had originally belonged to three small countries.

Kisame grinned, revealing his shark-like teeth. "Those nobles were shaking like leaves when they signed the surrender document!"

Samehada trembled excitedly on his back, as if it still remembered the scene of blood splattering on the marble pillars of the council hall.

"They annexed three more small countries."

Scorpion's voice came from behind, carrying the cold texture unique to metal. He walked slowly closer, and the shell of Hiruko gleamed with a dull luster under the light.

You didn't turn around, but simply smiled slightly. "The supplies from the Land of Snow have arrived. What about the Sand Village?"

“Grandma Chiyo has agreed to a secret collaboration.” Sasori stood beside you, his puppet fingers toying with an exquisitely crafted mechanical box. “However, she has one condition.”

You finally turned your head, your scarlet Sharingan gleaming eerily in the dim light.

Scorpion's gaze fell on the talisman on your neck, and after a second of pause, he continued, "She wants to see you."

The room fell into a brief silence, broken only by the sound of raindrops hitting the glass.

Suddenly, the door was flung open, and Hidan burst in, water droplets still dripping from his silver hair. "Lord Jashin! There's new activity in Konoha!"

Yahiko appeared at the doorway shortly after, his orange hair blazing like flames against the gloomy sky, rain streaming down his headband. “The conflict between the Uchiha clan and the Konoha leadership has become public,” he said in a low voice. “Shisui has sent word that Danzo is planning a purge of the Uchiha.”

Your fingertips unconsciously tightened, and spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread across the glass window.

"Is it finally going to start..." Your voice made the temperature in the room seem to drop several degrees.

Hidan excitedly licked his lips, the three-edged scythe already in his hand, while Yahiko's gaze remained fixed on Hidan's profile, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

The rain grew louder, and the lights outside the window blurred into indistinct spots in the rain. You turned and walked toward the ninja world map in the center of the room, your red cloud and black robe drawing a sharp arc behind you.

"Notify the Land of Snow to send additional medical troops to the border." You point your finger at the Land of Fire's location on the map. "As for the Uchiha..."

The rain continued to fall, pounding on this rising nation. You looked out the window and saw the brightly lit ninja village through the rain, like a giant beast awakening.

"I'll go."

Yahiko suddenly stood up, slamming his fist on the table. "No! It's too dangerous!"

His eyes were burning with anxiety. Over the past year, he had been unable to accept that you had repeatedly put yourself in danger, especially when facing Konoha, the place where you were severely injured by the Tailed Beast Ball.

You look up at him, his gaze eerily calm. "This is the best option."

"Is the best option to send you to your death?!" Yahiko's voice was almost squeezed out through clenched teeth, his chest heaving violently.

Hidan whistled from the side, "Wow, Yahiko, you look like you've been abandoned—"

"Shut up!" Yahiko and Sasori shouted at the same time.

Hidan pursed his lips and made a pulling-up gesture.

Shisui appeared at the doorway without anyone noticing, his figure half-hidden in the shadows, his Sharingan silently watching you.

Chapter 117 Blood Night

"I will meet her."

Sasori sneered, "The Uchiha's 'Shisui of the Body Flicker' is quite active now."

Shisui ignored his sarcasm, simply looking at you with a gentle yet complex expression, "Lord Tanuki, I..."

You interrupted him, "No need, I'm fine on my own."

The twilight, like blood, soaked the waters of the Naka River. You came stepping on the water, each step creating tiny ripples that reflected your Sharingan eyes, more alluring than the twilight itself.

You stood still in the middle of the water, the evening breeze lifting the hem of your black robe with red clouds, revealing a gleaming scythe at your waist. "Come out."

The space along the riverbank twisted and spun, and a man wearing an orange vortex mask slowly appeared.

He stood on a protruding rock by the water, looking down at you, his right eye, which was exposed, was as red as blood.

"...sorry."

"Apologize?" You chuckled. "You should thank that Tailed Beast Ball for making me see some things clearly."

“I thought you would have come to me sooner, Nagi.” Obito’s voice came through the mask, low and suppressed. “Six years have passed, and you haven’t even offered an explanation.”

You tilted your head slightly, your black hair brushing against your pale cheek. "An explanation? For that kiss?" You sneered. "If you're truly here to apologize, you'd better step aside."

Obito's fingers clenched tightly. He could feel his temples throbbing, his blood rushing to his ears, and the whole world spinning around him.

Anyone could have stopped the Eye of the Moon Project, but why you of all people? The girl who once smiled the sweetest next to Madara, he thought you would always stand by her side.

"Are you crazy?" Obito suddenly leaped down from the rock, appearing in front of you in an instant, and grabbed your collar. "This is Madara's plan! The peace we've been waiting for!"

His voice trembled with anger, "Do you know what I lost for this plan?"

You stumble forward as he pulls you along, but suddenly burst out laughing.

You slowly raised your eyes, the three tomoe swirling gently within them. "So what? Will you listen to Madara... or will you listen to me?" Your fingers traced the edge of Obito's mask.

Obito's breath hitched, and the next second, a sharp pain exploded from his right shoulder. Your scythe had somehow pierced his shoulder, and blood dripped from the blade onto the water's surface.

But he didn't let go; instead, he gripped your collar even tighter, bringing you so close you could hear each other's breath.

Through the holes in the mask, he could see the curve of each of your eyelashes and smell the faint scent of mint and bitter medicine on your body.

"Does it hurt?" you asked softly, but before you could answer, you yanked the sickle out.

Obito grunted, but touched your cheek with his blood-stained hand. His gloves were already soaked in blood, leaving shocking red marks on your pale skin.

"So many years since we parted..." Obito's thumb rubbed your cheekbone, "While you were in Akatsuki...did you ever think of me?"

Your eyelashes fluttered, and you tilted your head slightly, letting your cheek sink deeper into Obito's blood-stained palm. "How could I not miss you? Just like you miss me."

Obito knew you were lying; there was no warmth in those Sharingan eyes, as cold as a scythe piercing his shoulder.

But he did it willingly; at least you were still willing to lie to him, at least for this moment you only had eyes for him.

"What do you want to do about the Eye of the Moon Project?" Obito suddenly grabbed your left hand, forcefully inserting his fingers between yours, interlocking your fingers.

He could feel that your hand was smaller than his, cold and soft, yet contained a power that could easily take his life.

You didn't break free. You stood on tiptoe, your lips almost touching his mask. "I have other plans." Your breath sprayed onto the metal surface, condensing into tiny water droplets. "But you... still need to help me keep Jue in check."

She placed a light kiss near the corner of his lips. "You'll help me, won't you? Oh, Beatrice~"

Obito froze, his memory suddenly pulled back to that fiery night six years ago.

The Nine-Tails' roar shattered the night sky above Konoha. Obito stood on the Hokage Rock, watching the tailed beast he had released wreak havoc in the village.

His Rinnegan throbbed with pain; after all, it wasn't his own eye, and using it always felt somewhat sluggish. When Minato Namikaze suddenly appeared and injured him with the Flying Thunder God Technique, Obito almost burst out laughing.

But the change happened in the next second. A dark shadow swept through the burning houses, and the silver light of the scythe pierced the night sky, directly stabbing into the eyes of the Nine-Tailed Fox.

The tailed beast let out a painful howl, its movements slowing for a moment. It was in that instant that Minato had the opportunity to activate the Reaper Death Seal.

Obito lay dead in the ruins, half his body buried in rubble. Blood gushed from his wounds, pooling beneath him to form a small lake.

He gazed at the starry sky, recalling the same night sky the day Lin died. "It's so cold," he vaguely thought.

Is Project Eye of the Moon really that perfect?

The familiar voice made Obito struggle to turn his eyes. You stood before him, your black robe spotless, as if the surrounding flames and ruins were nothing but an illusion.

You crouch down and then unexpectedly hug him in your arms.

Obito rested his head against your collarbone, and you could hear your heartbeats gradually synchronizing. "Cough cough... Here you go again to mock me," he coughed up blood. "The ninja world has long since ceased to exist."

Your body temperature was so low it seemed like you weren't alive, yet it made Obito feel a warmth he had never felt before. "Why couldn't you wait for me a little longer?" Your sigh was as light as an illusion.

Obito still remembers the fleeting compassion in your eyes, and the kiss that landed on the mask as light as a snowflake, yet ignited an inextinguishable fire in his heart.

He sees the truth in your Sharingan; in countless parallel universes, Black Zetsu's hand always pierces your heart from behind.

He witnessed the terrifying scene of everyone turning into White Zetsu under the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and most importantly, he saw your true self: the incarnation of Hannya, an existence born from obsession.

"Does Madara know?" Obito asked weakly at the time.

You just shook your head, "Only you know my secret."

When Obito came to his senses, all that remained in his arms was the biting night wind; there was no trace of you.

He stood there, the wound on his shoulder still bleeding, but compared to the emptiness in his heart, that pain was nothing.

That kiss six years ago gave him a reason to live, but where will this kiss lead him today?

The river flowed quietly, carrying away the blood, but it could not take away the ever-burning obsession in his heart.

Whatever you want, whatever you want him to betray, he will do it.

Because from that night in the ruins, his Moon Eye has only ever been yours.

The wound on his shoulder began to heal, thanks to the White Zetsu cells. Obito touched the lingering warmth on his mask and suddenly chuckled, "Liar."

Several figures emerged from the darkness, dressed in the distinctive attire of the Dark Guard, their faces covered with cold masks, revealing only pairs of sharp and ruthless eyes.

The leader of the dark forces stepped forward, his voice low and hoarse, as if a judgment were coming from hell.

"Itachi Uchiha, the Uchiha clan's rebellious intentions are now obvious, posing a huge threat to the safety of Konoha Village. After discussion, the higher-ups have decided to take special measures."

"And you, as a genius of the Uchiha clan and an elite of the Anbu, have been given a mission that concerns the survival of Konoha—to eliminate the Uchiha clan and prevent future troubles."

"Why me? They are my people, how can I harm my own family?" His voice trembled slightly, his usual calm and composure gone. At this moment, he was just a man driven to despair by fate.

The ANBU member was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Precisely because you are a member of the Uchiha clan, you understand their strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, you are a ninja of Konoha Village, and you know the importance of the village."

"This is a difficult choice, but in order to protect Konoha and maintain the peace and stability of the village, you must make sacrifices."

Itachi's hands were clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, blood seeping from between his fingers and dripping onto the ground. He was struggling painfully with conflicting emotions: on one side were his clansmen, to whom he was bound by blood, and on the other was Konoha Village, which he had sworn to protect since childhood.

He recalled the moments he had spent with his people; their warm smiles and kind words seemed to still echo in his ears.