Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

His overly calm gaze made the 'invitation,' which should have been oppressive, seem somewhat eerie.

"Heh," the leading elite seemed somewhat surprised by your reaction, then let out a short, cold laugh, "As expected of the 'weapon' that Lord Danzo has taken a liking to, it is indeed... extraordinary."

You silently followed them out of the orphanage, your figure quickly blending into Konoha's intricate network of underground tunnels, eventually arriving at the Root base, a place where the sun never rises.

The intense, stark white searchlight suddenly shone on your face, trying to intimidate you with its sudden burst of light and probe for the slightest hint of panic in you.

You squinted very slightly, and almost instantly your pupils adjusted to the blinding light, returning to the unfathomable darkness, calmly gazing behind the light source at Shimura Danzo, who sat regally in the main seat.

Danzo, leaning on his cane, had a single eye as sharp as a hawk's, scrutinizing you from head to toe with undisguised scrutiny and greed as you stood in the bright light.

It's been years, and that eerie aura about you has only grown stronger. It's a contradictory feeling that mixes extreme danger with pure nothingness, making one want to both destroy you and control you tightly.

"It's been a long time," Danzo's voice was hoarse and gloomy, echoing in the empty underground base. "Little monster."

You remained silent, as if you hadn't heard. Only a fleeting, icy hatred, hidden beneath your slightly lowered eyelids, in the deepest recesses of your dark eyes, betrayed that you were not entirely devoid of emotion.

The hatred vanished too quickly, almost like an illusion.

"It's alright if you don't speak." Danzo seemed not to expect a response from you, speaking to himself with a manic fascination for power and strength flashing in his single eye.

"You will join 'Root' sooner or later. It is your destiny. You were meant to be with us, rooted in the deepest darkness of Konoha, becoming the nourishment that protects this great tree." His words carried a twisted sense of mission and possessiveness.

Just then, you, who had been silent all along, suddenly made a move that surprised everyone.

You looked up at Danzo, who stood high above you, and... you laughed.

The laughter was soft, not even real laughter, more like a short, mocking sound, but in the deathly silent root base, the sound seemed particularly jarring and eerie.

Then, you took a step forward.

It's just this tiny step.

“Swish, swish, swish—!”

As if triggering the most sensitive mechanism, a greater number of Root elites, who had been hidden in the surrounding shadows, instantly appeared!

Countless kunai and blades gleamed with a cold light, all aimed at you. The chilling killing intent locked onto you like a tangible force, and if you made the slightest move, you would be torn to shreds.

The madness on Danzo's face froze instantly. His single eye narrowed sharply, and he leaned forward slightly, exuding an extremely dangerous aura.

Surrounded by deadly intent, you seemed to merely stretch your body, and under the tense gazes of all the Root members, you naturally raised your hand and gently patted away non-existent dust from your black cloak.

The movements were elegant and composed, carrying an almost insulting indifference.

You looked up at Danzo, whose face was grim, and in your distinctive voice, you recounted a trivial matter, saying, "The Dean calls me at this time every day."

After the sound faded, the base fell into a deathly silence.

Danzo's single pupil contracted almost imperceptibly.

Yakushi Nonou does check on your condition regularly every day and reports any abnormalities directly to the Hokage's office.

If they find you're missing today... given how much that old monkey Hiruzen Sarutobi values ​​balance, he'll definitely use this as an excuse to cause trouble, and then things will get really messy.

This is not a reminder at all; it is a naked, chillingly calm threat.

Leaving those words behind, you ignored Danzo's increasingly grim expression, turned around, and walked calmly toward the base exit, just as you had come.

It's as if you're the owner of this place, and you just casually took a look around.

The leader of the elite members of the Root subconsciously wanted to step forward to stop them.

"Let her go." Danzo's cold voice stopped him, his one-eyed man staring intently at your straight back, his eyes churning with suppressed anger and a deeper ruthlessness.

Only after your figure completely disappeared at the end of the passage did Danzo slowly sit back in his chair, his fingers gripping the dragon head of his cane tightly, making a soft clicking sound.

"It's alright," he muttered hoarsely to himself, as if trying to convince himself, "She doesn't have much time left to be arrogant. Sooner or later, she'll become the sharpest knife in 'Root'..."

Nighttime, the ancestral hall of the Hyuga clan.

In a solemn and respectful atmosphere, the flickering candlelight illuminated the ancestral tablets of past generations, a solemn clan gathering that had just ended.

Hiashi Hyuga knelt in the main seat, his face solemn. Below him were the main elders and core members of the Hyuga main family and branch family.

Ultimately, after intense debate and deliberation, the clan council made a cautious and conservative decision: to temporarily reject the Hokage's almost forceful adoption proposal, but not to completely ignore it either.

First, send members of the branch family to approach the so-called taboo Uchiha orphan under the guise of 'observation' and 'contact', to find out her background and danger, and then put her movements completely under the control of the Hyuga clan.

As for the selection...

Hiashi's cold gaze swept over the group of people who had split up, finally settling on a boy who was kneeling quietly at the end.

"Neji." Hiashi's voice echoed in the empty shrine, carrying an unquestionable tone of command.

Hyuga Neji raised his head, his handsome face expressionless, his pure white eyes like two deep pools of water, calmly meeting Hiashi's gaze.

The clear green, crossed caged bird curse mark on his forehead appeared particularly glaring in the candlelight.

"You will approach Uchiha Nagi." Hiashi's order was concise and ruthless. "Observe her, understand her, and if necessary... guide her, bringing her movements completely under the control of the Hyuga clan. Remember, all of this is for the benefit and honor of the Hyuga clan."

All eyes in the shrine were focused on Neji.

That gaze contained scrutiny, expectation, indifference, and also a hint of...pity that was barely perceptible.

Neji listened quietly, and deep within his pure white eyes, something extremely subtle seemed to shatter, only to be quickly covered by an even greater coldness.

He lowered his head deeply, his forehead almost touching the cold tatami mat, and replied in a flat, emotionless voice, "Yes."

Having obtained the obedience they desired, Hiashi and the elders and clansmen in the shrine seemed satisfied. They rose one by one and silently withdrew from the shrine, leaving only the flickering candlelight and Neji still kneeling in a prostrate position.

Only when the heavy doors of the shrine slowly closed, cutting off all outside noise, did Neji straighten up with extreme slowness.

The candlelight flickered on his face, which was covered by heavy shackles. He raised his head and looked at the shrine at the highest point of the shrine, which symbolized the long history and glory of Hyuga.

An indescribable, immense sorrow, like an icy tide, silently washed over his heart.

He himself was a bird branded and forever unable to break free of its cage; his fate had already been decided by a single sentence from the head family.

Now, however, he is ordered by the main family to approach another innocent person who is also labeled as taboo, coveted by various forces, and perhaps also powerless, in order to monitor and control her, all for the sake of that illusory family honor.

Essentially, isn't it just an attempt to drag another free bird into this invisible cage?

Is this the ninja way he was taught... a way he must defend with his life?

The candlelight crackled inside the ancestral hall, illuminating the boy's cold exterior and the heart that was silently struggling, questioning, yet destined to receive no answers.

The cool moonlight shone through the cracks in the high windows of the ancestral hall, mingling with the warm candlelight, but it could not dispel the heaviness and chill of fate that permeated the air.

Kabuto had just finished reviewing his morning medical notes when he heard the excited chatter of other children outside the window, talking about the Uchiha orphan who had been captured by Kumogakure and miraculously returned.

This news was like a shot of adrenaline, instantly filling my chest.

He practically jumped up from his chair, an uncontrollable smile of joy spreading across his face. He wanted to rush to the orphanage's backyard to check if you were alright, if you were injured, or even just to catch a glimpse of your calm, serene figure from afar.

He had just rushed out of the room when he was gently stopped in the corridor by the head of the pharmacist department, Nonou.

"Kabuto," Nono's voice was as gentle as ever, but with a hint of a sigh, "Where are you in such a hurry to go?"

"Headmistress! I heard Nagi-chan is back, I want to go see her!" Kabuto said eagerly, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses.

Nonou looked at him and gently shook her head. "I'm afraid it won't work today. Nagi went out early this morning and isn't at the orphanage."

"She went out?" The smile on his face froze instantly, a bad feeling washing over him. "Where did she go?"

“She went to the Uchiha clan’s territory.” Nono’s tone was flat, as if she were just stating a routine arrangement. “The young Uchiha clan leader said that Nagi could go to their library to read every Friday.”

These words were like a cold awl, piercing his ear and shattering all his previous enthusiasm and joy in an instant!

How could he forget! How could he forget that rainy day, and the seemingly kind but actually malicious promise that Itachi Uchiha made! Every Friday! Today is Friday!

A chilling sensation, mixed with jealousy and anger, instantly shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, making his fingers icy cold.

The Uchiha clan... that Uchiha Itachi, and that Uchiha Shisui!

They're definitely up to no good! They've got their eye on you because you're special, trying to lure you away with those so-called secret scrolls and steal you from their side! They're trying to steal your already scarce, almost untold attention!

Damn it!

Dou suddenly lowered his head, clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, trying to use the pain to suppress the dark emotions surging in his chest.

However, the low and restless aura emanating from him could not be completely concealed.

Nonou keenly noticed his unusual behavior and gently patted his shoulder with concern, "Kabuto? Are you alright?"

“...I’m fine, Headmistress.” When Kabuto looked up again, he forced a somewhat strained smile, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m just... a little worried that it might be inconvenient for Nagi-chan to go alone. Since she has something to do, then... I’ll go back to my room first.”

He turned around almost as if fleeing, crawled back into his room, slammed the door shut, leaned against the cold door, and slowly slid down to sit on the floor, burying his face deep in his knees.

The sun shone brightly outside the window, but his world seemed to be instantly shrouded in dark clouds.

Meanwhile, inside the restaurant at the Uchiha clan's territory.

Sasuke was sitting at the dining table, eating the sumptuous breakfast prepared by his mother, Mikoto, somewhat absentmindedly.

His father, Fugaku, had already gone to the guard headquarters to handle some business, and his older brother, Itachi, had been urgently summoned away by the Anbu early in the morning. He was the only one left in the restaurant, which seemed rather deserted.

He poked at the fried egg on the plate, feeling a strange emptiness in his heart. Was today another day of training alone?

Just then, the doorbell in the entryway rang.

"Sasuke! Go see who's here?" Mikoto's voice came from the kitchen, where she was carefully preparing lunch for her husband.

"Oh!" Sasuke responded, jumped off the chair, and jogged to open the door.

Standing outside the door was a senior Chunin from the Uchiha clan, the Eighth Hokage of Uchiha.

When Yashiro saw that it was Sasuke who opened the door, he quickly said, "Young Master Sasuke! A girl has arrived at the clan's gate. She says the young clan leader has granted her permission to visit today! The guards dare not let her in without permission, so what do you think..."

A girl? Granted permission by the young clan chief?

Sasuke's heart skipped a beat. Without any hesitation, he immediately thought of that girl with black hair and black eyes, as cold as moonlight!

"I understand!" Sasuke's voice was filled with an urgency he himself didn't realize. He didn't even have time to change his shoes. He just quickly grabbed a dark blue clan robe embroidered with the Uchiha fan crest from the clothes rack next to him, put it on, and rushed out with the Eighth Hokage!

"Sasuke! Who is that? What are you doing..." Mikoto peeked out from the kitchen, only to see her son's retreating figure and the rattling door. She frowned in confusion, "This child, why is he acting so strangely today?"

Sasuke ran towards the clan's gate at almost his fastest speed, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, almost losing all rhythm.

When he saw the slender figure standing quietly outside the clan's gate, dressed in old black clothes and looking out of place in the bustling clan's territory, his breath caught in his throat!

Chapter 236 - Photographs

It really is you! Uchiha Nagi!

Uchiha Yatsuho quickly stepped forward and introduced, "The young clan leader has an urgent mission today and was summoned by the Anbu early this morning. He won't be back for the time being. This is our clan leader's second young master, Uchiha Sasuke."

Sasuke tried to straighten his small back, attempting to appear more reliable and ruthless. He looked at you and found that those unfathomable black eyes had finally landed on him.

Almost simultaneously, you frowned slightly. Beneath your clothes, the skin of your collarbone once again radiated that subtle yet distinct burning sensation, as if the mysterious curse had been reactivated by your proximity to the boy.

Sasuke saw that you were finally looking directly at him, and although your eyes were still calm and expressionless, he quickly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension, "Brother has a mission and won't be back for a while."

Upon hearing that Itachi could not keep his promise, you turned around and left almost without hesitation.

For you, the only purpose of this trip is the Uchiha library. Since the guide is not here, there is naturally no need to stay.

Seeing that you were about to leave so decisively, Sasuke panicked and, abandoning all pretense of maintaining a cool image, shouted, "Hey! Didn't you want to go to the library?!"

You paused, but didn't turn back.

Seeing this, Sasuke's heart nearly jumped into his throat. He quickly added the most crucial sentence, "I...I can take you there too! I know the way! And I have the necessary permissions!"

These words were like a spell, instantly freezing you in place.

You slowly turned around, your dark eyes looking at Sasuke again, a hint of scrutiny and weighing flashing across them.

Watching the interaction between these two little devils, Uchiha Yatsushiro belatedly realized that young master Sasuke and this unfamiliar girl seemed to know each other, and that young master Sasuke clearly wanted her to stay.

He immediately said tactfully, "Ah... since Young Master Sasuke knows him, then... then I'll leave the guest to you! I have a mission to complete, so I'll take my leave now!"

After saying that, Uchiha Hachimokuh seemed relieved and immediately disappeared in an instant, leaving the two of them alone.

Sasuke secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that you were finally not leaving, but on the surface he still tried to maintain his feigned indifference and said dryly, "Come with me."

You didn't speak, but silently followed half a step behind him, calmly surveying the interior of the Uchiha clan's territory, showing no intention of exchanging any words with the young master leading the way.

Sasuke walked ahead, feeling the calm yet intensely present gaze behind him, and couldn't help but feel a little frustrated and defeated.

He finally had a chance to be alone with you, so why is the atmosphere so...cold and awkward? How should he talk to you? How can he get you to look at him more?

The library of the Uchiha clan is an ancient and solemn building, filled with the unique aroma of old paper mixed with the faint scent of ink, quiet and dignified.

Sunlight streamed through the high windows, transforming into clear beams of light that illuminated the slowly floating dust particles in the air.

As you walk to the door, almost without pausing, you instinctively want to step into that realm containing countless knowledge and power.