Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Deidara's face instantly turned red to his ears. He mumbled something like, "I'm not a child, um!", but his body honestly leaned closer to you, completely forgetting what he had just witnessed.

Xiao Nan clenched her fists; she had never felt such a strong urge to use her paper magic to riddle someone with holes.

What gives that blond brat the right to interrupt her good time and then monopolize your tenderness?

"Tanuki," Xiao Nan forced herself to calm down, but her voice still trembled slightly, "What we just did... isn't over yet."

Deidara was instantly jolted awake from his reverie, turning to glare at Konan. "What is it? Huh! What do you want? Huh!"

You look at the two people who are about to clash, and suddenly chuckle. You stand up, and your black robe with red clouds flows like water with your movements.

His left hand casually rested on Deidara's shoulder, while his right hand reached out towards Konan. "How about the three of us discuss...the matter of compensation?"

The suggestion instantly silenced the room so completely you could hear a pin drop.

Konan and Deidara stared wide-eyed at each other, then at you. A complex blush appeared on Konan's face, while Deidara froze completely like a statue.

The culprit simply smiled and waited quietly for their response.

Back in his room, Deidara threw himself onto the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. The Wicked Woman and Konan? When did that happen? Why? Countless questions swirled in his mind, but what tormented him most was...

The way you look into Xiao Nan's eyes, those eyes filled with doting and indulgence—how much he wishes they were looking at him!

"No, I have to figure this out, hmm!" Deidara sat up abruptly, his blond hair disheveled from the movement. "Maybe I'm just seeing things, hmm!"

Starting the next day, Deidara began what he called an "art investigation operation".

He no longer clings to you like before, but secretly observes your interactions with other female members. This observation shatters his already broken heart into dust.

First up is Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin and the Akatsuki's medical advisor. Every time she comes to the base, she brings a ton of gifts, all for you.

Deidara had secretly inspected the gifts, carefully selecting each one, from specially made soldier rations to expensive kimonos.

What shocked him even more was that when he was helping to tidy up Tsunade's room by chance, he discovered that the legendary female ninja's personal belongings, such as her comb, teacup, and even kunai, all had the character "tanuki" engraved on them.

“This is… the name of the wicked woman…” Deidara held Tsunade’s hairpin, his fingers trembling slightly.

What kind of person would engrave another person's name on their personal belongings? The answer is obvious.

Then there's Rin, that seemingly innocent and kind medical ninja, who completely transforms in front of you.

Deidara witnessed firsthand that when he was slightly injured during a mission and went to Rin for treatment, she simply treated his wound in a perfunctory manner.

But when you "happen" to pass by, Lin immediately becomes gentle and tender, not only moving ten times more gently, but also taking the opportunity to "accidentally" touch your wrist and neck.

"Lord Tanuki, your chakra flow seems a bit disordered," Rin's voice was sweet enough to drip honey. "Would you like to go to the medical room and I'll give you a full check-up?"

What infuriates Deidara the most is that Rin constantly badmouths him in front of him, saying things like, "Deidara-kun was doing another explosion experiment at the base today, almost hurting a kid who was passing by!"

Or statements like, "Deidara said your Sharingan is nothing special, his art is the strongest~" are all lies taken out of context!

But all of these pale in comparison to Mei Terumi's blatant audacity.

This elite Jonin from Kirigakure has been sticking to your side almost constantly ever since you recruited him into the Akatsuki organization.

Her behavior was so bold that it made Deidara blush: her fingers lingering a few seconds longer when adjusting your collar, the handkerchief she "casually" used to wipe your sweat after training, and her extremely explicit verbal flirtations.

"Tanuki~ Come to my room tonight? I've learned a new massage technique from the Land of Water~" Mei Terumi's voice always carries a tempting allure that makes one's heart race, and what makes Deidara even more desperate is that you never refuse, but only respond with that enigmatic smile.

After a week of observation, Deidara slumped onto the floor of his room, surrounded by clay sculptures used for recording.

Each sculpture vividly recreates the scenes he witnessed: your ambiguous relationship with Konan in the archives, your intimacy sharing a drink with Tsunade, and the languid way you let Mei Terumi lean on your shoulder...

"I thought... I thought that as long as I defeated Itachi and Yahiko, everything would be fine..." Deidara's voice was hoarse as he dug his fingers deep into his blonde hair. "Why is it that even women... um!"

What pains him most is that all these women present a side of themselves that no outsider has ever seen.

The proud Konan becomes gentle, the dignified Tsunade shows girlish shyness, the strong-willed Mei Terumi transforms into a clingy kitten, and you, always with a touch of aloofness, indulge all their closeness and probing.

"Is this... the charm of a wicked woman?" Deidara murmured to himself, his mind filled with the image of your ever-smiling Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.

Those eyes seemed to see through everyone's desires and then give just the right response, not too much, not too little, just enough to make people fall into their trap and become unable to extricate themselves.

Chapter 163 - Differences

Inside Yahiko's office, the rain pattered softly outside the window, and the perpetually gloomy sky of Amegakure reflected a gray haze through the glass.

He was looking down at the documents, his brow furrowed, his fingers tapping impatiently on the table, clearly annoyed by the mountain of task reports.

"Knock knock." Two light knocks, and the door was pushed open.

Yahiko didn't even look up, his tone irritated, "I said, just leave the documents on the table—"

"Oh? What a grand attitude."

The familiar voice, languid yet playful, was like a cool night breeze brushing past my ear.

Yahiko suddenly looked up, his annoyance instantly replaced by surprise, and a bright flame ignited in his eyes.

"Li Nu?" He practically sprang from his chair, a smile involuntarily spreading across his lips. "What are you doing here?"

You leaned against the doorframe, your black robe with red clouds loosely draped over your shoulders, the front slightly open to reveal your delicate collarbone. You crossed your arms and looked at him with a half-smile.

"I've come to ask you for something." You spoke slowly, your voice low and soft, yet carrying an air of undeniable authority.

Yahiko raised an eyebrow, rested his chin on his hand, and looked at you with interest. "Oh? What do you want?"

You step closer, your boots making a soft sound on the floor, and stop in front of him, bending down slightly, your long hair falling down, the ends almost brushing his cheek.

"The position of the leader."

Yahiko paused for a moment, then chuckled softly. He reached out, his fingertips gently tracing your chin, his eyes deep and tender. "Weren't you already one?"

You narrowed your eyes, seemingly dissatisfied with his answer, and gently pushed him back into his chair with your fingertips against his chest.

"What I want is a public announcement."

Yahiko looked up at you, his smile undiminished. He suddenly raised his hand, cupped your face, and stroked your skin with his thumb, his voice low and ambiguous.

“I see…” He paused, a sly glint in his eyes, “Then can I be your secret lover, my dear Chief?”

You gave a soft hum, tilted your head slightly, and glanced at him. "No lover, just a companion."

Yahiko chuckled softly, his voice hoarse, "How heartless..."

Before he finished speaking, you placed a kiss on the corner of his lips, as light as a feather, yet it made Yahiko's breath catch in his throat.

The next second, he suddenly grabbed your wrist, pulled you closer, and placed his other hand on your lower back, trapping you firmly in his arms.

"I'm really starting to like you more and more," he murmured, his voice filled with suppressed desire.

You didn't struggle; you simply lowered your eyes slightly, a faint smile curving your lips.

"Tanuki..." Yahiko whispered, his fingers gently stroking your hair, "Kiss me one more time."

You finally looked up. "Give me the leadership position. Everything else is out of the question."

Yahiko chuckled softly, slowly releasing you, but still holding your wrist tightly.

"Alright, whatever you say." His voice was deep. "However, one day..."

You gently withdrew your hand, turned and walked towards the door, your back view languid and elegant, "That day will never come."

He left those words behind, pushed open the door, and left, leaving Yahiko sitting in the chair, his fingertips lightly touching the corner of his lips, a deep smile in his eyes.

In the center of the base, a black sphere, wrapped in layers of Wood Release sealing techniques, stood silently, its surface occasionally flashing with wisps of chakra, like some imprisoned living thing struggling.

A person wearing an orange swirling mask tapped the edge of the mask lightly with their fingers, their posture casual yet deliberately flamboyant.

"Oh dear~ You must have worked so hard!" He drawled, tilting his head to look at his "masterpiece," his tone light as if discussing the weather. "Black Zetsu-senpai was too disobedient, so Tobi had no choice but to lock it up~"

Nagato stood under the corridor, his purple eyes cold and sharp. The ripples of his Rinnegan slowly turned in the shadows. His gaze was fixed on the mysterious man in front of him who called himself "Afei," and the pressure around him was terrifyingly low.

"Who are you?" Nagato's voice was icy cold, his fingers tightening slightly, the repulsive force of Shinra Tensei already gathering at his fingertips.

Afei exaggeratedly took a step back, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender, "Wow! Don't be so fierce~ I'm Afei! A new member of the Akatsuki!"

“I’ve never heard of this person,” Nagato said coldly.

"That's because..." Afei's voice suddenly lowered, carrying a hint of subtle disappointment, "I came to see Senior Tanuki~ Isn't she here?"

The moment that name was uttered, the atmosphere in the courtyard changed abruptly.

Xiao Nan's piece of paper fell silently as she stood beside Nagato, her eyes slightly narrowed.

The scorpion's Crimson Amber shell creaked and rotated, and the puppet's fingers unconsciously tightened.

Deidara poked his head out from the roof, his blond hair soaked by the rain, his blue eyes fixed on Tobi.

Even Itachi, who was usually indifferent, slightly raised his eyes, his Sharingan gleaming coldly in the shadows.

"What do you want with her?" Xiao Nan spoke first, her voice soft yet sharp.

As if oblivious to the sudden tension around him, Afei continued to smile and spread his hands, "Of course I've come to seek refuge with my senior! Afei is her biggest fan~"

"Hmph." Scorpion sneered, and Hiruko slowly raised her tail. "Another fool who doesn't know his own mortality."

Deidara leaped off the roof, rushed to Tobi, and grabbed him by the collar. "Hey! You bastard! This wicked woman doesn't have time for a coward like you! Hmm!"

Ah Fei let him pull him along, but his voice beneath the mask suddenly lowered, carrying a strange chuckle, "Oh? And what are you then? Clay boy~"

Deidara's pupils contracted. Before he could react, Tobi's figure had already blurred, and his hand passed right through the other's body, leaving him empty-handed.

"Kamui?" Shisui's voice came from behind. He had somehow appeared at the edge of the courtyard, his Sharingan fixed on Tobi. "Who are you?"

He patted off non-existent dust, his tone still flippant, "I already said it's Ah Fei~"

Just as the atmosphere was about to become tense, someone exclaimed, "It's so noisy!"

A cool, clear voice came from under the corridor, and everyone turned their heads at the same time.

You leaned against the door, your black hair hanging loosely, your Mangekyou Sharingan lazily half-closed, your gaze sweeping over the people in the courtyard, finally landing on A-Fei, a slight smile playing on your lips.

"Ah Fei?" you whispered the name, the last syllable rising slightly, as if carrying a hidden teasing tone.

Afei's body visibly stiffened for a moment, then he resumed his exaggerated posture, hopping and waving at you, "Senior Tanuki! Afei missed you so much~"

"..." You didn't speak, but slowly walked down the steps. The rain silently avoided you at your feet, as if even the elements of nature were making way for you.

You chuckled softly, offering no reply, but instead lightly touched his lips with your fingertip. Then you turned and walked toward the sealed Black Zetsu, your tone languid, "Nice gift, I'll accept it."

Yahiko pushed open the office door, raindrops dripping from his black robe with red cloud patterns onto the ground. His gaze froze the moment it swept across the courtyard; it was the man wearing the orange swirling mask.

In that dimly lit host club, you lean lazily against the sofa, with this gloomy-looking man sitting next to you.

Although the other person was wearing a different mask at the time, the unsettling sense of incongruity was exactly the same.

"Heh..." A cold smile appeared on Yahiko's lips as he slowly walked down the steps, the raindrops parting automatically at his feet.

The atmosphere in the courtyard instantly became tense. Konan's paper flowers fell silently, Sasori's puppet fingers clicked, and Deidara's golden hair exploded like a cat whose territory had been invaded.

You seem completely oblivious to the hostility around you.

Reaching out, he touched the edge of A-Fei's mask, his fingertips lingering on the cold, swirling patterns. "After all this time, is this all you can say?"

"What does Senior want to hear?" The voice beneath the mask suddenly deepened, carrying a dangerous magnetism. "That I think about you every night? That I captured Black Zetsu just to please you?"

In the rain-shrouded courtyard, Rin Nohara's medical kit fell to the ground with a "thud".

Rain soaked her skirt, but she was oblivious. The man with the orange swirling mask, that familiar voice, that feigned frivolity that couldn't hide his melancholy...

The name "Obito..." rolled silently between her lips.

Lin looked at you, lazily approached that figure, and her slender fingers touched the cold mask.

She should be happy that Obito was still alive, that the boy who had shielded her from a boulder and disappeared at Kannabi Bridge was still alive, but at this moment, she only felt a chilling cold.

(Why would he pretend to be someone else to get close to you?)

"So...he's still alive..."

Lin's voice was as soft as a sigh. She should have been overjoyed, but instead, a darker emotion was surging in her chest.

The light in the medical room cast a long shadow of Lin as she stood in front of the medicine cabinet, the glass bottle in her hand reflecting her pale face.

Suddenly, the glass bottle was squeezed and cracked, and the liquid dripped through Lin's fingers, spreading a dark red stain on the tile.

The door to the medical room was suddenly pushed open.

"Senior Lin~ I'm injured!" Afei exaggeratedly jumped in, holding up his bleeding finger, but his voice stopped abruptly when he saw the mess in the room.

The Sharingan behind the mask's hole contracted slightly, locking onto the bloodstained shard of glass in Rin's hand.

The two stared at each other across the pool of liquid medicine on the ground, the air itself seeming to freeze.

"Oh dear, that was an accident~" Lin instantly put on a gentle smile, but her eyes were frosty. "Let me see...where are you hurt?"