Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

But those pure white eyes remained warily fixed on Deidara, as if afraid he might do something surprising again.

You look up at the blond boy whose expression and demeanor are strange, a rare, faint look of bewilderment flashing across his eyes. You really can't figure out what this noisy and troublesome guy could possibly need to talk to you so solemnly and privately.

"Um...that..." Deidara's eyes darted around, he didn't dare to look you in the eye, his hands were behind his back, one foot was unconsciously circling on the ground, and his voice was several decibels lower than usual.

"Thank you for saving me! Yes!" He said quickly, almost holding his breath.

You looked at him quietly without saying a word.

His dark eyes seemed to see right through people, making Deidara feel that his little thoughts were exposed. Of course, he hadn't come just to express his gratitude.

Deidara seemed to have made a huge decision. He suddenly took a deep breath, stepped forward, and pressed his hands firmly against your shoulders.

In an instant, he was once again drawn into those unfathomable black eyes. So close, he could even see the slight trembling of the other's long eyelashes and feel the icy body temperature emanating from the other's body.

His heart pounded in his chest, and his cheeks began to burn uncontrollably, but the words were already on the tip of his tongue, and he was ready to go for it!

"Everyone...everyone says that a life-saving grace should be repaid with one's body!" Deidara's voice stammered with nervousness, but his eyes were unusually bright and stubborn, with the recklessness and seriousness unique to young people.

"You...you wait! Wait until I grow up! I will definitely...will...um!" The last of his signature verbal tics was distorted due to excessive nervousness.

Before you could even react, Deidara was already overwhelmed by the immense shame and his racing heart.

He released his grip abruptly as if he had been burned, his face turning bright red, almost steaming. He turned and ran towards his ninja's direction, his hands and feet moving in disarray, almost as if fleeing in panic.

You remained in the position where your shoulders were being held, your confusion deepening. To repay him with your body? To wait for him to grow up?

What is all this about? But you have excellent emotional control; even if your heart is stirred, it doesn't show on your face at all.

A call filled with anxiety and authority came from not far away. Hiashi Hyuga, leading the elite of the Hyuga clan, arrived in the area almost simultaneously with Kakashi and Shisui, who led the Root Anbu.

Hiashi Hyuga spotted his daughter immediately and quickly went to her.

When Hinata saw her father, her forced strength crumbled instantly. Her eyes reddened, and like a fledgling returning to its nest, she threw herself into her father's warm embrace and began to sob softly. All the fear and anxiety of the past few days finally found an outlet at this moment.

Kakashi and Shisui's gazes immediately locked onto the black figure that stood out from all the surrounding emotional fluctuations.

Shisui immediately rushed forward, squatted down, and his face, which was always filled with a warm smile, was now filled with undisguised worry and urgency. "Nagi! Are you alright? Are you hurt?" His gaze quickly and carefully swept over your whole body, checking for any injuries.

You shook your head, the movement so small it was almost imperceptible.

Kakashi slowed his pace slightly, his gaze becoming more subtle and complex. He first glanced at you to confirm that you seemed unharmed, then his eyes fell on the samurai sword stained with dark red blood at your feet, his pupils contracting almost imperceptibly.

After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice, through his mask, carrying a barely perceptible dryness and guilt, "I'm sorry... it was my mistake that put you in this dangerous situation."

You showed no reaction to Kakashi's apology, and didn't even bother to understand the so-called responsibility or care it implied.

You turned your head slightly, avoiding Shimizu's overly intense scrutinizing gaze, and asked the most practical question directly, "When are you going back?"

Your voice remained calm, showing no sign of the lingering effects of surviving a disaster, as if you had simply completed an ordinary trip.

Shisui quickly replied, "We can leave now! The chaos here has alerted the higher-ups in Kumogakure, and we must evacuate as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, you stood up and glanced at the Root ninja team that had come to Kumogakure to carry out the mission. Many of them were familiar faces, the people who had been monitoring you in rotation for years.

On the other side, Hinata was nestled in her father's arms, briefly recounting her experiences of the past few days in a broken, tearful voice.

When she talked about how she escaped, she instinctively turned her head, pointed in your direction, and said in a voice filled with clear dependence and lingering fear, "...It was Nagi...she saved me and let all the children go..."

Hiashi Hyuga's gaze, which had been comforting his daughter, suddenly sharpened and scrutinized the direction of her finger, landing almost tangibly on the girl in black.

His gaze held the authority of the Hyuga clan head, the scrutiny of the person who saved his daughter, and a complex, indescribable emotion. This orphan of Uchiha blood possessed such uncanny skill and a frighteningly calm demeanor...

Faced with such a scrutinizing gaze that would make even an ordinary genin weak in the knees, you felt nothing, simply looking back calmly, without reflecting any external emotional projection.

There was neither fear nor flattery, not even the slightest ripple of being noticed by the head of the Hyuga clan.

The eye contact lasted less than two seconds before you naturally looked away, gazing back at the swirling clouds in the distance of the canyon, as if that brief exchange of glances had never happened.

At the entrance to Konoha Village, the atmosphere was heavy and subtle, quite different from the usual welcoming of mission teams returning from their missions.

At the forefront were the Hyuga members, standing silently like a silent bamboo forest, their pure white eyes all fixed on the returning group.

Slightly ahead of the Hyuga clan was the true power core of Konoha: the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Danzo Shimura.

They each led their trusted secret agents, standing there clearly separated by distinct lines.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore the Hokage robes, his face bearing his usual seemingly gentle yet unfathomable smile, wisps of smoke rising from his pipe.

But when his gaze swept across the group and finally landed on that slender figure in black, beneath that gentle expression lay a deep sense of apprehension and scrutiny.

The strange phenomena along the Naga River, the special report from Root, the unusual actions of Kumogakure... the mysteries and potential risks surrounding this Uchiha orphan are growing ever larger.

Danzo Shimura, leaning on a cane, had his single eye gleaming like a lurking viper, its greed and determination undisguised.

The way he looks at you isn't like he's looking at a person, but rather like he's looking at a weapon of immense power.

Besides these important figures, a number of Konoha villagers who had heard the news and come to see what was going on also gathered around. They whispered among themselves, their curious, speculative, and fearful gazes also focused on the girl in black.

"That's the orphan from the Uchiha clan?"

"I heard that the Hidden Cloud Village was there specifically to capture her..."

"She looks so small and thin, is she really that amazing?"

"Her eyes...they looked so scary, so dark and gloomy..."

Various murmurs spread low through the crowd like a buzzing tide.

Chapter 233·Dafu

You seem completely oblivious to the suffocating pressure of the attention, remaining calm and indifferent, your pale cheeks almost transparent in the sunlight, your long, dark hair gently swaying in the breeze.

He slightly raised his eyes, sweeping them over the crowd ahead, past Hiruzen Sarutobi's hypocritical smile, past Danzo's undisguised greed, past the villagers' curious yet fearful faces, past the complex white eyes of the Hyuga clan...

Just as you were about to look away, your gaze suddenly stopped.

Among the Hyuga branch family members, a boy standing slightly at the back is staring at you intently.

The boy looked to be about your age, with the same pale skin, long black hair, and wearing the simple kimono that was standard for the Hyuga branch family.

What's most striking are his pure white eyes, which are now clearly reflecting your image, but the look in his eyes is completely different from the complex emotions of the other Hyuga clan members.

Filled with intense curiosity, a sense of inquiry as if piercing through the fog, and hidden deep within was a trace of... an indescribable sadness and a feeling of familiarity?

Your mind is rapidly filtering through all the fragments of memory.

It was certain that he had never met this boy from the Hyuga branch family before, neither in the orphanage nor in the limited activities they had previously shared.

But...why?

Why does your heart flutter inexplicably the moment you look at him? It's as if it comes from the depths of your soul, like a blurry reflection on the bottom of water, quietly emerging yet impossible to grasp in any concrete shape.

This feeling was extremely subtle, fleeting, and so quick it was like an illusion.

She glanced at the boy again, trying to find any clues on his unfamiliar face, but found nothing.

The boy seemed to notice your lingering gaze. His pure white eyes flickered almost imperceptibly, then he lowered his head slightly, avoiding your gaze, as if that profound look had never happened.

You slowly withdrew your gaze, lowered your eyelids, and your face remained calm and expressionless, as if the momentary tremor and doubt had never existed.

"Nagi." Shisui's voice rang out from the side, carrying a hint of subtle reminder. He keenly sensed the unusual atmosphere around him, especially Danzo's almost tangible possessive gaze, which made him subconsciously want to protect you behind him.

Kakashi also took a half step forward, seemingly casually, but just enough to block Danzo's view.

His gaze swept over you, confirming that you were unharmed, and then he nodded slightly in the direction of the Third Hokage and Danzo. "Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo, the mission target has been safely brought back."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag on his cigarette, slowly exhaling the smoke. His voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable authority. "You've worked hard. The Hidden Cloud Village must provide an explanation for this incident. Hiashi, regarding the shock Hinata suffered and the losses incurred by the Hyuga clan, the village will fully support you in seeking justice."

Hiashi Hyuga bowed slightly. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."

Danzo snorted coldly, slamming his cane heavily on the ground, his one eye fixed on you. "Now that he's back, Root will take over the follow-up matters. Information regarding Kumogakure needs to be interrogated at the highest level immediately..."

"Danzo." Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted him, his tone still calm, yet carrying the decisiveness of a Hokage, "The children have just been through a dangerous situation and need rest and a check-up by the medical team. We'll talk about the interrogation later."

Danzo's face instantly darkened, but he ultimately did not refute the Hokage's decision on the spot; however, the greed and coldness in his eyes intensified.

You seemed completely oblivious to this silent exchange about your future, simply standing there quietly, radiating an aura of detachment that seemed to isolate you from everything.

The sunlight falls on you, but it seems to bring no warmth, only making your dark eyes appear even more unfathomable. They silently devour all gazes that fall upon you, whether kind, malicious, curious, or greedy, drawing you deeper and deeper.

Behind the crowd, in a corner unseen by anyone, the Hyuga branch family boy with his head down had his hands trembling slightly, clenched into fists.

The inexplicable familiarity and fluttering feeling are not unique to you.

The Konoha leaders left with their own calculations and thoughts, while the Hyuga clan escorted their eldest daughter back to their clan's territory, and the curious villagers gradually dispersed.

Ultimately, the task of escorting you back to the orphanage fell to Kakashi.

The two walked silently along the secluded path leading to the orphanage, one after the other. The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees. Occasionally, birdsong could be heard from afar. Everything should have been peaceful and soothing.

Kakashi found the journey exceptionally difficult, the girl beside him so quiet it was as if she didn't exist, with only the faintest footsteps reminding him of her presence.

He wanted to say something to break the suffocating silence and bridge the gap, even if it was just some trivial chatter.

He asked how you were injured, but you were clearly unharmed. He asked what happened in the Cloud Hidden Dungeon, which involved mission secrets and would inevitably bring up unpleasant memories. He asked what you liked to eat, but he suppressed the thought as soon as it popped into his head.

It was too abrupt, and too... stupid.

Countless topics rolled over his tongue, only to be rejected one by one. He chose to remain silent, suppressing all his emotions and words under a lazy indifference, just as he always had.

But his gaze, hidden beneath the silver hair and mask, always involuntarily drifted toward the black silhouette beside him.

Just then, a figure appeared suddenly in front of the path like a gentle breeze, breaking the silence.

It was Uchiha Shisui who had returned.

His face wore his usual warm smile, which seemed to dispel all gloom. His gaze went straight past Kakashi and landed on you. He magically produced an oil paper bag that was still emitting a slight warmth.

“Nagi,” Shisui’s voice was light and gentle as he handed you the oil paper bag, “It’s sweet!”

His appearance was so natural, his gifts so direct, as if you were already old friends, not just mission targets and guards you had only met a few times.

You stopped walking, tilted your head slightly to look at Zhishui, and then your gaze fell on the oil paper bag in his hand.

After a few seconds of silence, you reached out your pale hand and took it, inevitably making a brief touch with Shi Shui's warm fingers.

Opening the oil paper bag reveals several plump, white, and soft-looking daifuku, freshly baked and still emitting an enticing sweet aroma and warmth.

Kakashi stood there, watching this scene unfold.

He looked at Shizuku's overly warm smile, at you actually accepting the gift, and at the almost blindingly natural interaction between the two of you.

An extremely unfamiliar and sharp emotion pierced his heart without warning. Kakashi's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment, and his brows furrowed tightly.

It's...jealousy.

This realization startled him, followed by a deeper sense of self-loathing.

How could he have such feelings? Shisui was just expressing friendliness, and you simply accepted the food... It's perfectly normal.

But...why did Shisui's smile seem so irritating? Why did that bag of sweets seem so superfluous? Why did the way you took it...make him feel an indescribable irritation and...a cold sense of being excluded?

He had never found Shisui's smile so glaring, and even felt an absurd urge to step forward, separate them, and knock that bag of daifuku to the ground...

This dark, out-of-control thought alarmed Kakashi. He clenched his fists tightly at his sides, his nails digging deep into his palms, using the pain to force himself to calm down.

Just as he was struggling internally, you, who had been quietly watching Dafu, seemed to sense something and suddenly raised your head.

Those dark eyes stared straight at Kakashi. Even though he was wearing a mask and thought he had hidden his emotions very well, the momentary stiffness and the extremely subtle disorder in his aura still seemed to have caught your attention.

Your gaze was calm, without any probing or questioning, simply 'looking' at him.

Kakashi's heart skipped a beat, and he almost stopped breathing!

Under such gazes, he felt exposed, all his pretense was fragile and laughable, his body tensed up instinctively, as if gripped by an invisible hand, even his fingertips turned cold.

He couldn't even imagine how he would react if you showed even a hint of disgust or contempt...

Fortunately, you only glanced at him briefly, as if you had just confirmed something insignificant, and then you looked away without a care, returning your attention to the oil paper bag in your hand.

There was no disgust, no curiosity, not even any emotion in those eyes... only pure indifference.

It's as if his intense inner struggle and ugly jealousy were nothing more than a tiny speck of dust in the air, not even worthy of your attention for a second longer.

The immense pressure suddenly disappeared, and Kakashi almost instinctively breathed a sigh of relief, his tense muscles slowly relaxing.

But what followed wasn't relief, but a colder sense of loss. So... he didn't even have the right to evoke a single emotional response from you?

Shisui didn't seem to notice Kakashi's strange behavior. When he saw that you had accepted the daifuku, his smile became even brighter. He gave you a few more words of advice, such as "get some rest," and then disappeared again like a breeze. He came suddenly and left just as quickly.

Once again, only Kakashi and you remained on the path, but the atmosphere was even more stagnant and cold than before.

You quietly take out a daifuku and eat it in small bites, as if you are just completing a task of eating.

The sweet taste melted in my mouth, but it seemed unable to warm the coldness all over my body.