Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Tsunade's voice carried a hint of lazy laughter as she stepped closer, each step seemingly treading on his heartbeat.

Jiraiya's pupils dilated slightly, and his fingertips unconsciously tightened their grip on the wine glass.

—How did she get here?

"Tsunade?" His voice was lower than expected, his Adam's apple bobbed, and then he forced a smile, "What a rare guest! What, missed me?"

Tsunade gave a soft hum, pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down, crossing her long legs, resting her elbows on the table, and looking at him with her chin in her hand. "Don't flatter yourself, I'm here on important business."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, gestured for the bartender to refill his drink, and said in his usual flippant tone, "Oh? What could possibly make the legendary 'medical genius' come all the way to me?"

Tsunade did not answer immediately. Instead, she took the glass from the bartender, tilted her head back, and took a sip. The lines of her Adam's apple rose and fell slightly with the swallowing motion.

Jiraiya's gaze involuntarily fell on her neck, then quickly moved away.

“I’ve joined Akatsuki.” She put down her glass and looked him straight in the eye. “I hope you will join too.”

Jiraiya's smile froze on his face, his fingers slowly tightened, and the wine glass made a soft "click" sound in his palm.

His gaze gradually turned cold, and his voice was low and serious, "Tsunade, you know I can't join Akatsuki."

"Why?" Tsunade leaned forward slightly, her hair falling loosely, carrying a faint fragrance. "Because they are called 'rogue ninja'? Or is it because you have never truly understood their purpose?"

"Purpose?" Jiraiya scoffed, a hint of sarcasm flashing in his eyes. "To achieve peace through war and slaughter? Tsunade, I've traveled the ninja world for so many years and seen too many organizations that use the banner of 'peace' to ultimately bring only more bloodshed."

“You’re wrong.” Tsunade’s voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable power. “In today’s ninja world, countries are suspicious of each other and wars are constant. It is precisely because of division and antagonism that the Akatsuki organization wants to break this situation.”

Jiraiya paused for a moment, looking at her with a complicated expression, "...You've changed."

"No, I've simply come to terms with reality." Tsunade's fingers gently traced the rim of her cup, her eyes resolute. "Jiraiya, you've always pursued the Child of Prophecy, believing he could bring peace, but have you ever considered that true change might require more drastic measures?"

Jiraiya's breath hitched slightly; her gaze was so intense that he could hardly look directly at her.

He looked away and said in a low voice, "Even so, I could never betray Konoha."

“No one asked you to betray Konoha.” Tsunade suddenly reached out and gently placed her fingertips on the back of his hand. The moment their skin touched, Jiraiya’s back tensed. “I just hope… you can trust me this once.”

"Something's not right with you." Jiraiya's voice carried a dangerous undertone. "Has someone used illusion magic on you?"

Tsunade slammed her hand on the bar, shattering it. Amidst the flying splinters, her golden hair billowed without wind. "Stop using the logic of your vulgar novels to interpret reality!"

The tavern fell silent instantly. The proprietress had already hidden in the kitchen, leaving only a few drunkards trembling in the corner.

When Jiraiya's gaze fell on Tsunade's ring finger, his pupils suddenly contracted. There, he saw an unfamiliar ring with the character "赌" (gamble) engraved on the face and a small "狸" (raccoon dog) engraved on the inside.

"This is......."

"None of your business." Tsunade withdrew her hand and took out a scroll from her bosom. "Take a look at this first."

The moment the scroll was unfurled, Jiraiya's breath caught in his throat. It contained detailed records of the persecution of the Uchiha by the Konoha leadership, Danzo's human experiments, and... everything the Third Hokage tacitly approved.

"The old man...it's impossible..."

"Itachi and Shisui are also in Akatsuki." Tsunade's voice suddenly softened. "And... that girl who changed the fate of the Uchiha clan."

The tavern lights danced in Tsunade's eyes, and Jiraiya vaguely saw the spirited medical ninja of his youth, whose eyes also shone with that same light.

“She’s a tanuki.” Tsunade’s fingertips lightly traced the rim of her wine glass. “You’ll understand when you see her—”

Jiraiya gazed at the setting sun outside the window and suddenly remembered the Great Toad Sage's prophecy—"The scarlet moon will guide the changemakers."

He grabbed the wine jug and drank it all in one gulp. The burning pain in his throat convinced him that this was not a dream.

"Lead the way." He tossed down the money for the drink, the word "oil" on his headband gleaming faintly in the twilight. "But let me make it clear beforehand—" He suddenly grabbed Tsunade's waist and leaped onto the roof.

"If you dare to lie to me, I'll use you as the model for the female lead in 'Make-Out Paradise' next time!"

"Are you looking for death?!" Tsunade's monstrous punch shattered three rooftops, while Jiraiya's laughter echoed through the forest.

Their chasing figures startled a flock of birds, among which were a few paper butterflies, which quietly flew towards the Land of Rain.

A pale blue light shone from the dome of the Rain Village tower, and Jiraiya's footsteps echoed in the empty hall.

When he saw the three figures standing in front of the water curtain, the copy of "Intimate Paradise" in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

"Yahiko...Nagato...Konan?"

Yahiko stepped forward, his orange hair shimmering like dancing flames in the candlelight. "Jiraiya-sensei, it's been a long time."

Xiao Nan's purple eyes flickered slightly, and paper flowers bloomed silently at her fingertips. "You look... just as before."

A ripple appeared in Nagato's Rinnegan, but he remained silent.

Jiraiya's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, a thousand words stuck in his throat. He subconsciously reached out his hand, but then stopped in mid-air.

These children are no longer the apprentices in that dilapidated hut. Their robes are stained with bloodstains he doesn't know, and their eyes hold a darkness he can't fathom.

What a perfect reunion!

A soft, feminine voice came from the shadows. Orochimaru slowly appeared, his pale fingers gently resting on Konan's shoulder. Jiraiya's pupils suddenly contracted, and his muscles tensed instantly.

"Get your filthy hands off me!" Jiraiya's voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, his chakra overflowing uncontrollably, causing the candlelight to flicker violently.

Orochimaru pulled Konan even tighter, his golden vertical pupils flashing with malice. "What? You're even interfering with a student's freedom to make friends, teacher?"

The paper suddenly exploded, and Konan instantly retreated three steps away, giving Orochimaru a cold glance. "Don't do anything unnecessary."

Chapter 143 - Poster

"You..." His voice was terribly hoarse, "What exactly did you do to my student?"

Nagato finally spoke, her voice seeming to come from a great distance, "We chose this path, teacher."

"For true peace," Yahiko added, his eyes so resolute that Jiraiya was startled.

The sound of rain suddenly intensified, pounding on the tin roof like war drums.

Jiraiya's vision blurred for a moment. He seemed to see the three children sitting around the campfire again, Konan carefully bandaging his training bruises, Yahiko clamoring to learn more powerful ninjutsu, and Nagato secretly slipping the last piece of bread to a stray dog...

"Peace?" Jiraiya suddenly burst into laughter, a laugh tinged with madness. "You call this peace? And this..."

He pointed sharply at Orochimaru, "To associate with this madman who uses living people for experiments?"

Orochimaru slowly licked his lips with the tip of his tongue. "You talk as if your Konoha is so clean, Jiraiya-kun~"

"You bastard!" Jiraiya's chakra erupted instantly, his white hair standing on end like steel needles. Just as he was forming hand seals, Yahiko stepped in front of Orochimaru.

"Please calm down, teacher." Yahiko's kunai was placed between the two of them. "Orochimaru is now our ally."

"Companion?" Jiraiya's laughter was like the scraping of iron filings. "He doesn't even deserve it—"

Before he finished speaking, the hall was suddenly illuminated by golden light. When you stopped next to Nagato, the Rinnegan user unconsciously lowered his head slightly, like a devout believer.

"Is this one of the legendary Sannin?" You tilted your head and sized up Jiraiya, your red eyes flashing with a dangerous yet captivating light. "He's more serious than the one depicted in 'Make-Out Paradise'."

Jiraiya's expression instantly fell apart. "Wait! How do you know about that book—"

His words were interrupted by Deidara's sudden intrusion. The blond boy rushed in like a whirlwind, and the Clay Bird nearly bumped into Jiraiya's nose. "You wicked girl! You promised to help me improve C3! Huh!"

When he saw the situation in the hall, he instantly bristled, "How come there's another white-haired old man?!"

A deathly silence fell over the scene. Jiraiya's temples throbbed. He turned to his once most docile student, "Nagato, you tell me! What exactly happened..."

His words abruptly stopped when he saw Nagato's hand on his shoulder, and the latter gently squeezed his fingertips in a comforting gesture. This intimate little act struck Jiraiya like a thunderbolt.

“Teacher.” Nagato’s voice was much lower than he remembered. “Stay and see.” A pleading glint flashed in his Rinnegan. “See the new path we’ve found…”

Orochimaru suddenly shoved a bottle of sake into Jiraiya's hand, his snake-like eyes full of mockery, "To celebrate our reunion, how about..."

"Who wants to drink with you!" Jiraiya suddenly shook off his hand, but Tsunade grabbed his collar the next second.

"Enough is enough!" Her fist gleamed with chakra.

As Jiraiya attempted to escape the Akatsuki base for the nth time, he was blasted back into the hall by Deidara's clay spiders. The blond boy crouched on the chandelier, his azure eyes filled with hostility. "Trying to sneak away? Hmm?"

"I was just gathering information!" Jiraiya protested, rubbing his smoking buttocks.

"Heh." Scorpion sneered as he passed by, his tail deliberately brushing against Jiraiya's face. "The 17th time. Commendable perseverance."

Jiraiya collapsed to the ground, tears welling in his eyes. He had originally thought the Akatsuki would be a gloomy and terrifying place, but these legendary S-rank rogue ninjas were putting on absurd shows every day—

For example, right now, you're lying on his back flipping through his manuscript of "Intimacy Paradise," your warm breath brushing against his ear, "This sex scene description is too stiff, we need to add more foreplay~"

"Y-you-you..." Jiraiya's ears turned as red as boiled shrimp. Even the Sharingan's genjutsu hadn't made his heart race like this. "Little girl, don't look at this... Wait, why are you making annotations?!"

"Because it's fun~" Your pen tip traces a smooth arc on the manuscript paper, and your hair brushes against his neck. "Jiraiya-sama's blushing face... is also very cute."

"C-cute?!" Jiraiya's face instantly turned bright red, and what was even more terrifying was that he found his heart racing because of that word.

Suddenly, Kakuzu in the corner started frantically pressing buttons on a calculator, "The odds need to be recalculated... Lady Tsunade's bet amount..."

"Hey!" Tsunade smashed three tables with a single punch.

Jiraiya watched the chaotic scene unfold before him.

"Damn it! I told you not to go near Tanuki's bedroom! Ugh!" Deidara struggled desperately, and the clay spider rolled off his sleeve.

"The Jashin-sama said this is a necessary morning patrol!" Hidan's scythe was stuck in Kakuzu's stitches. "You old codger, let go!"

Kakuzu's green eyes flashed with a cold light. "You two idiots, if you damage public property again, I'll deduct money from your pay."

"This world must have gone mad," Jiraiya thought, crouching down with his hands on his head, recalling an even more horrifying scene from earlier that morning.

His adorable student, Konan, used her paper magic to wrap you up like a cocoon and carry you back to her room; Nagato used his Rinnegan to monitor everyone who approached you; even the most composed Yahiko included sweet nothings in his mission reports!

Jiraiya leaped up with a somersault, only to bump into Itachi, who was holding a bowl of red bean soup. The usually expressionless Uchiha genius suddenly revealed murderous intent towards him. "Stay away from her, senpai."

Shisui appeared instantly, a shuriken pressed against Jiraiya's back. "I heard you taught Lord Tanuki a strange ninjutsu yesterday?"

"I only taught you Summoning Jutsu!" Jiraiya yelled in despair, turning around to see Kisame fanning him with Samehada, Kakuzu counting money to buy him candy, and even Hidan making a little doll in Jiraiya's likeness out of Jashin Statue...

"What kind of hellhole is this..." Jiraiya flipped through his notebook with tears in his eyes, only to find that he had unconsciously drawn many sketches of your profile.

Meanwhile, you, the culprit, are leaning against the window, secretly eating Itachi's three-colored dumplings, your Sharingan narrowing into crescent moons with delight. "Looks like everyone really likes Jiraiya-sama~"

A rare bright sun pierced through the thick clouds, casting its warm rays upon the damp land.

In your yard, a comfortable recliner sits quietly, and a small table next to it is piled with all sorts of snacks and a few antique books.

Lying comfortably on the recliner, the sunlight gently caresses your face. You slowly close your eyes, fully enjoying this hard-won warmth and tranquility.

But after a short while, a shadow suddenly blocked the golden sunlight.

Your brows furrowed slightly, a hint of annoyance at being disturbed, and you slowly opened your eyes, only to be greeted by Yahiko's smiling face.

"Yahiko?" You propped yourself up and sat up, your eyes full of curiosity, wondering why he would come to find you at this time.

Yahiko didn't say anything, but simply handed you a promotional poster.

You take the poster with a puzzled look, only to see that it advertises a seven-day vacation to the Water Kingdom.

The beautiful pictures showcase a large amusement park with towering Ferris wheels and thrilling roller coasters.

There's also a bustling food court where pictures of all sorts of delicacies make your mouth water.

And there's a fun-filled water park, with huge water slides and wave pools that seem to offer a refreshing breeze.

“I guess you’ll like this?” Yahiko broke the brief silence first, his eyes filled with anticipation, as if he really hoped you would be interested in the suggestion.

As you carefully examine the poster, a sense of longing does indeed well up within you.

But after a moment, you looked up at Yahiko and asked, "Have we been too relaxed lately?"

In your opinion, the Akatsuki organization has a more important mission and goals, and such a leisurely vacation seems somewhat inappropriate.

Yahiko's expression turned serious. "Since we took control of the political and military affairs of the Land of Rain, we've been waiting for an opportunity to start a war against the Shinobi World. Although I don't know when it will begin, the current situation certainly doesn't suggest that it's the right time yet."

His voice was deep and firm, and his eyes revealed his plans and thoughts for the future.

“That being said, I feel…” You wanted to express your concerns, but Yahiko raised his hand to interrupt you.

"Enjoy life while you can, right?" Yahiko's lips curled into a slightly sly smile, trying to ease your concerns with a relaxed atmosphere.

The next day, the Akatsuki members gathered for a meeting. Tsunade, Hidan, Shisui, and Konan all brought out the exact same Land of Water tourism poster.

You were stunned and stood there, while Yahiko chuckled softly beside you.

“I was just about to talk about this today.” Yahiko stepped forward, placed his hands on the conference table, and glanced at each member.

Deidara and Hidan were the first to be unable to contain their excitement.

Deidara jumped up excitedly, waving his hands in the air. "Wow! This is amazing! I've been wanting to do this for ages!"

Hidan chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, we've been cooped up in this awful place for ages! Finally, something fun is here!"

Everyone else had happy smiles on their faces, but Kakuzu sat in the corner with a pained expression on his face.