Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

The courtyard suddenly became so quiet that the sound of vines growing could be heard. Sasori's Hiruko stopped at the corner of the corridor, Itachi's kunai stopped halfway through spinning in his hand, and even Hidan subconsciously slowed his footsteps as he passed by.

You look at the meticulously carved Uchiha clan crest on the doll's clothes; this is definitely not something done casually.

The boy stood backlit, his blond hair still speckled with clay fragments, his blue eyes so bright they reminded you of the clearest rushing waters of the Naka River.

“Fine,” you close the book, spiderweb-like cracks spreading across the ancient cover, “you troublesome fellow.”

Deidara's smile was brighter than the flames from the exploding clay. As he turned and ran into the room, his black robes spread out like wings, nearly knocking over the pile of money that Kakuzu had just counted.

His excited shout came from afar, "No backing out! I'm going to set up the projector right now, okay!"

You look down at the small figure in your palm. The doll's lips curve in the same way you do, but with a more genuine gentleness.

But you didn't notice the crooked heart-shaped engraving on the doll's base, which you were stroking with your fingertips, like a boy's unspoken secrets hidden in the most inconspicuous corner.

Hidan, like a shark that has smelled blood, silently followed in Deidara's footsteps.

"Hey, Deidara!" He suddenly hooked his arm around the blond boy's neck from behind. "How can we go to the movies without me?"

Deidara's expression froze instantly. He turned his head mechanically, the starlight in his blue eyes fading at a visible speed. "What are you doing here?" he said, his voice barely audible. "This is my movie night with the wicked woman, hmm!"

Hidan exaggeratedly clutched his chest, his red eyes gleaming with mischief. "Don't be so stingy~" he deliberately drawled, toying with the necklace around his neck with his fingertips. "I can also explain the evil rituals in the movies to you guys, after all, I'm a professional!"

In the shadows of the corridor, Deidara's glare at Hidan was so intense it seemed to burn two holes in him, but when he caught sight of you approaching from afar, he forced himself to swallow the explosive clay that was about to enter his mouth.

"Do whatever you want!" he growled through gritted teeth, "but if you dare to cause trouble—"

"Okay, okay~" Hidan hummed a hymn from the Jashin cult, swaggering as he pushed open Deidara's door. "Wow, you've actually cleaned this place quite well? Did you do this on purpose?! Pfft!"

Deidara's elbow strike made him swallow the rest of his sentence.

When you push open the door, this is what you see: Deidara is smashing Hidan's head with a pillow, while the silver-haired boy is blocking the blows while secretly eating the popcorn he prepared.

Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting three intertwined shadows on the floor.

"It's about to start," you casually remind them, taking the caramel popcorn that Deidara hurriedly offers you; the temperature is just right.

The lights went out completely, leaving only the flickering light from the screen dancing on your faces.

You are sitting in the middle, with Hidan on your left gripping the armrest tightly, his knuckles white, and Deidara on your right pretending to be calm but constantly shaking his leg.

“I said, if you two are scared, we can change the movie.” You glanced at the two teenagers beside you.

"Who, who's scared?" Deidara immediately straightened his back. "It's just a horror movie, huh!"

Hidan swallowed hard, forcing a smile, and said, "With Lord Jashin here, why would I be afraid of something so fictional!"

You shrug and turn your gaze back to the screen. The film is in its calm prelude, with the female protagonist exploring an old Japanese mansion alone.

The background music gradually became eerie, with the strings emitting discordant tremolos.

"ah--!"

A sudden scream shattered the silence of the room. The female ghost on the screen suddenly lunged out from behind the paper door, her pale face covered in blood and tears, her long black hair writhing like a living thing.

Hidan let out a scream even more piercing than in the movie, sprang up from the sofa, and lunged at you like a drowning man grabbing onto a piece of driftwood.

"Evil God, save me—!"

Hidan, like a startled octopus, suddenly wrapped his arms around your left leg, his arms tightly gripping your calf, his cheek pressed against your knee, trembling, and even the bloody three-month scythe fell to the ground with a "clatter".

You can even feel the temperature of his rapid breathing on your skin.

"Let go!" You try to pry his hands off, but Hidan's strength becomes unusually great in fear.

Upon witnessing this scene, Deidara's blue pupils suddenly contracted, and an unnamed fire surged up from the depths of his heart, burning his ears.

He jumped up and grabbed Hidan's collar, yelling, "You coward! Let go of that wicked woman!"

Deidara cursed through gritted teeth, but during the struggle, he was so frightened by another terrifying scene on the screen that his legs went weak and he fell forward.

You only felt a weight on your right side, and Deidara was already hanging around your neck. His warm breath was blowing against your ear, carrying the refreshing scent unique to young men.

To make matters worse, one of his hands accidentally landed on your chest.

"You—" Your eyes instantly turned dangerous.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, uh!" Deidara hurriedly tried to move his hand away, but Hidan's sudden struggle caused him to fall down again.

Now he's pressed himself against you, his cheek almost touching your lips.

The terrifying scenes on the screen continued, with ghostly figures and screams echoing throughout. Hidan and Deidara, however, found themselves caught in a different kind of tension amidst this eerie atmosphere.

You are sandwiched in the middle, and you can clearly feel the body temperature and heartbeat coming from both sides.

Hidan huddled at Deidara's feet like a frightened animal, while Deidara, like a child who had done something wrong, was neither daring to hug him tightly nor willing to let go.

"You two..." You took a deep breath, "If you don't let go, I'll use my Sharingan."

This line was more effective than any scary scene; Hidan and Deidara froze simultaneously, then slowly released their grip.

You straightened your disheveled clothes and sat up straight again, but before they could catch their breath, the movie reached another climax with the classic scene of ghosts crawling out of the television.

"Aaaaaah!" Hidan pounced on you again, this time hugging your waist and burying his face in your stomach. "This is terrifying! It's even more terrifying than the curse of the Jashin Cult!"

Deidara intended to mock Hidan, but was startled by the sudden sound effect and instinctively put his arm around Hidan's shoulder again.

This time he deliberately avoided sensitive areas, but the posture was even more ambiguous, with his chest pressed against your arm and his chin almost resting on the top of your head.

You sighed, gave up struggling, and stared blankly at the screen, letting the two boys entwine around you like vines.

In the darkness, you didn't notice that Deidara's gaze had shifted from the movie to your own profile.

The screen light flickered, casting shifting shadows on your delicate features. Deidara found that his fear had vanished without him noticing, replaced by a strange thrill.

Whether by some strange impulse or premeditated plan, Deidara slowly moved closer.

When you turned around to notice something was wrong, your noses almost touched, and Deidara's golden bangs brushed against your forehead, tickling you.

"What are you doing——"

Deidara's heart pounded, his throat tightened, and the movie's sound effects, Hidan's whimpers and screams all faded away. In his world, only your face, so close to his, remained.

Impulse overcame reason, and he closed his eyes and leaned forward.

At the critical moment, you raised your hand to block the kiss. Deidara's lips only touched the cool lines of his palm, but he trembled as if he had been burned.

"Are you crazy?" The force with which you twisted his ear brought tears to Deidara's eyes.

But what made his heart stop even more was that, in the instant of the attack, your thumb unconsciously brushed against his earlobe—a subtle gesture more lethal than any ninjutsu.

"Jajō-sama? Deidara!" Hidan finally looked up and saw the blond boy grinning. Under the blood-red light of the screen, Deidara's ears looked like they were about to bleed.

"It's nothing." You let go of her hand, your tone as calm as if you were discussing the weather.

But Deidara clearly saw you quickly wipe your palm, which had touched his lips, on the hem of your clothes, a gesture that made him both embarrassed and excited.

"N-nothing!" Deidara rubbed his ears and agreed, secretly nudging your leg with his knee. When the other glared at him warningly, he made a gesture of pulling his mouth shut, but in the shadows, he licked the lips that had just touched your palm.

Hidan narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but the sudden burst of horror on the screen immediately diverted his attention. He screamed and hugged your leg tightly again.

You release your grip on Deidara's ear and continue watching the movie as if nothing happened.

Deidara touched his still sore ear, but a smile quietly crept onto his lips. Although he hadn't kissed her, a feeling stronger than fear was quietly growing in the darkness.

The credits rolled on the screen, and bright lights suddenly filled the room, sweeping away all the ambiguity and fear that had just arisen in the darkness.

"You two are such cowards." Your fingertips brushed against the crumpled hem of your shirt, a playful glint in your eyes. "Is this movie really that scary?"

Hidan released his grip on the leg he'd been holding for the entire movie, his silver hair sticking out messily. He touched his nose, a rare look of embarrassment on his face. "This movie was too scary, I couldn't help myself..."

He stole a glance at your calm profile, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "As expected of the Evil God, you're not afraid at all!"

Deidara's situation was much more complicated; he sat stiffly in place, the warmth of your shoulder still lingering on his fingertips.

Under the light, you could clearly see the blush on the tips of his ears spreading all the way down to his neck. The failed kiss in the darkness was like a fire, burning his throat dry.

"Hmph, I... I just didn't expect this movie to be so scary," Deidara tried to sound nonchalant, but couldn't stop stuttering. "But, you wicked woman, don't worry, I'll protect you from now on!"

He regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth; it sounded like a line from a bad romance comic.

Chapter 125 The King's Game (2)

As you stood up, you casually tucked the clay figurine into your sleeve, a gesture that made Deidara's heart skip a beat.

Goodnight, cowards.

"Hahaha! Deidara, look at the way you just did that!" Hidan clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he almost fell over.

"He said he would protect the evil god, but he ended up hiding in her arms in fear! That's hilarious!" His laughter echoed in the room, making the window frames tremble slightly.

Deidara's Explosion Release: Clay Spider was already plastered on Hidan's face. The boy jumped onto the coffee table in a fit of rage. "If you dare tell anyone..." His blue eyes flashed dangerously under the light, "I'll tell Kakuzu about you grinning like an idiot in front of the organization's vault last time!"

Hidan's smile froze. He glanced guiltily towards the door, his voice suddenly dropping, "Hey, we agreed not to talk about this!"

He unconsciously rubbed the necklace between his fingers, "...I promise I won't tell you about how scared you were tonight and ran into the evil god's arms."

"Who, who snuggled into her arms!"

Deidara hummed a little tune as he pushed open the hall door. He hadn't slept well last night; his dreams were filled with those beautiful Sharingan eyes and that kiss that almost came true. Although he only managed to kiss the palm of the hand in the end, it was enough to make him savor the memory all night.

He sensed something was wrong as soon as he stepped into the hall.

All eyes turned to him, a faint smile playing on their lips, their eyes filled with mockery.

Deidara paused, narrowing his eyes warily. "...Why are you all looking at me like that? Hmm?"

Kakuzu sat on the sofa, slowly counting his banknotes, and said without looking up, "Hey, Deidara, I heard you were pretty brave when you went to the movies yesterday."

"No way!" Deidara's voice suddenly rose, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, "Don't listen to their nonsense—"

"Hidan told us everything~" Kisame suddenly appeared behind him, his rough hand slapping heavily on his shoulder. "I didn't expect you to have such guts, huh?"

Deidara whirled around, his blond hair arcing angrily through the air, his gaze shooting like a kunai at Hidan in the corner.

Hidan was pretending to be pious as he wiped the blood-stained three-month scythe, but his trembling shoulders completely betrayed him.

"I accidentally let it slip~" Hidan looked up with a smile that showed no remorse.

"Hidan! I'm going to kill you! Hmm!" Deidara roared and pulled out his clay, but the moment he formed hand seals, he met Itachi's deep gaze.

"How does it feel to have your plan fall through?" Itachi's voice was as light as a feather, yet it made Deidara's blood run cold instantly.

Scorpion's cold laugh came from the pile of puppets, "You've finally met your match." Hiruko's tail wagged gloatingly, its mechanical joints clicking and clapping as if applauding.

Deidara's ears turned bright red. He opened his mouth to retort, but Nagato had appeared before him at some point, a rare...compassionate look emanating from his Rinnegan.

"Don't take it too seriously." Nagato's voice carried an eerie gentleness. "Everyone is just..." He suddenly reached out and ruffled Deidara's frizzy blond hair, "...moved by the pure emotions of teenagers."

The entire hall erupted in deafening laughter. Kisame's Samehada was rolling around on the ground, Kakuzu unusually threw away his account book, and even Konan's paper flowers were scattered everywhere from laughing.

"This is no joke!!" Deidara wailed. "My image is completely ruined! Ugh!"

He vowed to find a chance to blow Hidan, that traitor, to smithereens!

Uchiha Shisui's curly hair swayed gently in the wind, like a cluster of dancing black hair. He stood beside the wooden stake, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the patterns on the kunai, until that familiar figure appeared in his field of vision.

“Lord Tanuki.” When Shisui said the word “Lord,” the tip of his tongue lingered subtly on his palate for a moment.

His star-like eyes held an excessively focused light, and even the shadows cast by his eyelashes were deeper than usual.

Your robe swept across the grass with a rustling sound as you casually leaned against a nearby tree trunk. This action caused Shisui's Adam's apple to move imperceptibly.

"What surprise will the little crow give me today?" As you tilt your head, a strand of black hair slips down from behind your ear, landing right in the hollow of your collarbone.

“A new discovery about illusion.” Shisui suddenly took a step forward, and the two shadows overlapped in the setting sun.

Just then, a moth flew by. Shisui gently flicked his finger, and the moth suddenly changed direction, circling around you with fascination.

You reach out to touch it, but the moth deftly avoids you, finally landing on the tip of your still water finger.

"Interesting." Your Sharingan shifted slightly. "You altered its perception?"

"The essence of illusion is deception." Shisui conjured a chakra-formed raven from his fingertips, its black wings brushing past your ear. "But the most skillful deception..."

The crow suddenly split into countless points of light, each reflecting your profile from a different angle.

Shisui's Sharingan glowed faintly in the shadows, "It makes the recipient willingly succumb to its power."

When you look up, Zhi Shui can see his reflection in your pupils. The seemingly gentle young man is now carefully tracing every inch of your features with his gaze.

You nodded thoughtfully, completely unaware that Shisui's left hand, clasped tightly behind his back, was digging into his palm with his nails. "But this kind of illusion must be very mentally taxing, right?"

“Indeed.” Shisui suddenly moved closer, and just as you looked up in surprise, he took a half step back, pretending to adjust his headband.

“So every day I do… special training.” He looked meaningfully into your eyes, “like staring at the most beautiful illusions and practicing staying awake.”