Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Sasuke snapped back to reality, feeling the gazes from his brother and mother, especially the look in his eyes that seemed to have heard nothing. His heart sank, and an indescribable sense of suffocation welled up inside him.

He quickly lowered his head to hide his emotions, picked up the spoon again, and tried to sound nonchalant, even with a hint of deliberate disdain, "N-nothing, my hand just slipped."

He paused, then added, as if emphasizing or trying to convince himself, "...arranged marriages are just jokes adults make when they're young, they shouldn't be taken seriously."

"Oh? Is that so?" Mikoto looked at her son's obviously contradictory and slightly awkward expression and thought it was just a child's brother-complex acting up. He was unhappy that his older brother was going to be taken away. She didn't think about it any deeper and just found it amusing, so she didn't continue the topic.

Lunch continued amidst Mikoto's nostalgic and gentle conversation.

Itachi ate his meal quietly, occasionally responding to his mother. He still didn't eat much, but he was very quiet and didn't interrupt Mikoto's memories.

Sasuke seemed somewhat absent-minded, tasting his food, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the person opposite him, only to quickly look away before the other person looked at him.

After lunch, you put down your cutlery, wiped your hands and mouth with the damp towel provided, stood up, and said politely but distantly, "Thank you for your hospitality. I'm going back now."

Just as you were about to turn and leave, a figure moved a step without making a sound, blocking your way between you and the doorway.

He looked at you, his tone still calm, as if he were just asking casually, "Are you satisfied with the books in the library?"

"Not bad." Your evaluation remains as concise as ever.

"Nagi, why don't you play a little longer? It's still early!" Mikoto also spoke up, her tone sincere and warm. "Could Sasuke show you around the clan grounds? Or could Itachi keep you company while you read a book?"

Sasuke stood to the side, not saying a word, but his big eyes stared at you without blinking, his gaze clearly filled with reluctance and expectation, as if silently pleading for you to stay.

Your gaze swept lightly across Mikoto's gentle face, past Itachi's calm yet inquisitive eyes, and finally landed on Sasuke's eyes, which were practically overflowing with all his emotions.

After a few seconds of silence, you finally nodded very slightly. Although you didn't say anything, this gesture indicated that you had temporarily given up your plan to leave immediately.

Because of Itachi's appearance, your attention naturally shifts to him. As you follow him, you occasionally glance at Itachi with the same focus you would show to a 'useful resource'.

Sasuke, who was completely ignored, looked at the silent yet tacit understanding between you two. His face was almost as cold as a stone, his chest was sore and painful, and an inexplicable anger mixed with bitter grievances burned in his heart, almost making him angry to death.

But he stubbornly refused to leave. Instead, he gritted his teeth, silently followed behind, and entered the library again.

He wanted to see what method Nissan used to attract your attention so effectively! He was determined to learn it!

Sasuke thought you would act the same way as in the morning, but Itachi spoke before you even reached the bookshelf.

His voice was clear and gentle, yet it carried a precision that went straight to the heart: "Your modifications and innovations to the structure of ninjutsu are very distinctive. I would like to discuss a few issues with you regarding the reverse deduction of the chakra flow at those nodes."

You suddenly stopped, turned around, and for the first time truly focused your gaze entirely on Itachi, a rare and clear hint of surprise flashing across your face.

"You understood the spell on my wall?" Your subtle change in tone revealed your inner turmoil. The marks were chaotic and disorderly, full of unorthodox leaps of thought that were difficult for ordinary people to understand.

Itachi met your gaze, his tone humble but not subservient, "I only understood part of it."

He cleverly concealed the fact that he had almost completely analyzed the astonishing potential and dangerous nature of those drafts.

You looked at him quietly, scrutinized him for several seconds, and finally seemed to have come to a conclusion, nodding slightly, "Okay."

Thus, Sasuke once again tragically and helplessly stumbled into the world of 'geniuses'.

At first, the discussion was still within a controllable range. You and Itachi each spoke one sentence at a time, with a calm pace and clear logic, exchanging views on several complex issues related to chakra node conversion and attribute fusion.

The atmosphere was even harmonious, like two rigorous scholars exchanging ideas.

Sasuke strained his ears to listen, the obscure terminology and complex derivations making him dizzy, but he still tried his best to keep up and understand what was attracting him.

As the discussion deepened, the topic gradually shifted.

When Itachi mentioned a new ninjutsu concept that required consuming a large amount of Sharingan power in exchange for ultimate power and speed, you, who had been calmly stating your points, suddenly fell silent.

A moment later, you looked up, your dark eyes revealing for the first time a clear disapproval, or even...doubt.

"Why choose this shortcut that overdraws your potential?" Your question goes straight to the heart of the matter, even carrying a hint of subtle blame.

Itachi seemed surprised by your direct questioning, and paused for a moment before replying, "In some situations, extreme power is necessary, and the price is worth it." His tone carried the inherent pride of an Uchiha genius and a certain obsession with power.

Then, something unexpected happened to both Sasuke and Itachi.

You, who are usually almost devoid of emotional fluctuations, actually twitched the corners of your mouth up very slightly, like a sneer of anger at the absurd reality.

“Worth it?” you repeated the word, your tone rising slightly with a cold sarcasm.

Immediately afterwards, you suddenly quickened your pace and began to explain in a clear and organized manner how to achieve similar effects by optimizing the hand seal sequence, subtly adjusting the nature of chakra, and even utilizing environmental factors, while minimizing the consumption of eye power.

The ideas were imaginative yet logically sound, and each suggestion precisely addressed the most energy-consuming and unreasonable aspects of Itachi's concept.

Itachi's expression shifted from a slight frown at the beginning to focused listening, and then to nodding involuntarily, his eyes sparkling with sudden enlightenment and undisguised appreciation.

It was as if you had instantly found kindred spirits whose frequencies were perfectly aligned. The two of you, who were usually taciturn and sparing with words, suddenly became very talkative about a profound and obscure technique.

Sasuke stood frozen in place, mouth agape, staring at the unimaginable scene before him.

For a moment, he didn't even know who to envy or which side to stand on. He had always admired Nissan's talent, but at this moment, you... seemed to have shed that layer of coldness, revealing the brilliance within.

His dark eyes, which were always like deep pools, became exceptionally bright due to his focus and active thinking, as if they had come alive, sparkling with a heart-stirring wisdom and confidence.

Even the usually calm and composed Itachi couldn't help but stare at you, his eyes revealing obvious amazement and... a hint of barely perceptible distraction.

You keenly sensed the sudden change in the atmosphere, especially Itachi's overly focused gaze. Your speech abruptly slowed down, and then you abruptly stopped talking.

A subtle silence instantly fell over the library.

Itachi snapped back to reality, coughing a few times awkwardly as if he'd been burned by something. He then picked up the now-cold tea from the small table beside him and handed it to you, saying, "Have some water." His voice seemed a little lower than usual.

You glanced at him, said nothing, and simply reached out to take the teacup.

Just as your fingertips are about to touch the cup, Itachi's hand seems to imperceptibly move forward half an inch.

And so, your fingertips inevitably touched.

Itachi's body stiffened abruptly, as if he had been frozen in place, and his ears turned bright red in an instant, visible to the naked eye!

He turned his face away abruptly, almost as if he'd been electrocuted, not daring to look at you again, afraid that you would discover his sudden loss of composure.

Sasuke, who had been watching you intently, took in the whole scene. He saw Nii-san's ears suddenly turn red, saw the touching fingertips, and saw your still calm yet seemingly slightly paused movement...

Chapter 238 Panic

"Clang—!"

A piercing cracking sound echoed through the quiet library!

The exquisite ceramic tea set was swept to the ground by Sasuke's arm, shattering into pieces, spilling tea everywhere, and scattering porcelain shards!

The sudden loud noise instantly shattered the ambiguous and awkward atmosphere.

Itachi and you were both drawn to Sasuke, who was frozen in place, his face pale and his chest heaving violently.

Sasuke felt the gaze directed at him, especially those dark eyes, and felt incredibly embarrassed and ashamed. He lowered his head abruptly, almost gritting his teeth as he forced out an explanation, "It's...it's too hot!"

Your gaze slowly shifted from the chaotic fragments on the ground back to Sasuke's forced composure. There was no accusation or anger, only a knowing calm, as if he had already foreseen this outcome.

Subconsciously, she interpreted Sasuke's sudden action as a rejection and unwelcome response to her, an uninvited guest.

So you stopped there.

Turning to Itachi beside you, you nodded very slightly, your voice still calm and even, "It seems I really should leave. We can talk about the technique another time."

Your tone was polite yet distant, devoid of any emotion, yet it made Itachi feel more bewildered than any complaint.

Itachi opened his mouth, wanting to explain his brother's inexplicable behavior, but when the words reached his lips, he found that any explanation would seem pale and powerless at this moment. He could only reply dryly, "...I'll take you back."

You glanced at him indifferently, your eyes seemingly able to see through the lingering turmoil in his heart, and clearly refused, "No need."

Leaving behind those two words, you gave no one time to react. Turning around, your black robes drew a cold arc in the air, and your figure quickly disappeared behind the heavy doors of the library.

Only after the blackness completely disappeared did Sasuke seem to thaw out of his icy state, suddenly realizing that his foolish actions had caused the exact opposite misunderstanding!

He didn't mean to kick you out! He just... just...

A wave of panic and remorse washed over him instantly, making his face even paler.

Itachi withdrew his gaze from the doorway and turned to look at his distraught younger brother beside him, a complex emotion flickering in his usually calm eyes.

Sasuke's unusual attention to you, and his overreaction just now... seem to be more than just a child's tantrum.

After leaving the Uchiha clan's territory, you didn't immediately return to that quiet and oppressive orphanage. Instead, you chose to linger a little longer on the bustling streets of Konoha.

The afternoon sun shines warmly on you, and you are surrounded by noisy voices and lively vendors' calls, but none of these seem to truly blend into your world.

You are like a black and white silhouette walking through a colorful painting, completely out of place with everything around you.

As you walk, a feeling of being watched creeps up your spine like tiny ice spikes.

Your steps did not falter in the slightest, and even the frequency of your breathing did not change, but your perception had been elevated to its peak.

They turned into a relatively quiet street very naturally, their pace unhurried, as if they were just strolling around casually.

The stalker's presence was extremely well concealed; unless your senses were exceptionally sharp, you would hardly notice it. Yet, that presence... carried a strange, familiar quality that didn't bother you.

When you reach the end of the street, a high wall blocks your way. You suddenly stop and turn around without warning!

In the instant you turn around, a sharp palm strike is already aimed at your face, incredibly fast, carrying the unique, pressure-sealing force of the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist.

Just a second before that hand was about to touch you, you saw the attacker's face clearly: white eyes, a clear green cross mark on his forehead, and long black hair. It was the Hyuga branch family boy who had looked at you with complicated eyes at the village entrance that day.

Your attack froze instantly; the potentially fatal palm strike stopped just inches from your nose, the resulting gust of wind ruffling a few strands of your hair.

Neji Hyuga clearly hadn't expected his opponent to suddenly turn around, nor had he anticipated that his attack would be so easily seen through and neutralized.

He quickly stopped, took a half step back, a hint of surprise flashing across his face before turning into solemnity.

He clasped his hands together and bowed slightly to you, his movements precise yet carrying the rigid etiquette unique to the Hyuga clan. "I apologize for following you. I am Hyuga Neji from the Hyuga branch family."

His voice was clear and cool, with a unique purity, yet it also possessed a maturity beyond his years.

You look at him quietly, feeling no disgust or anger at being followed. On the contrary, that inexplicable sense of familiarity resurfaces, even more clearly than at the village entrance.

Your gaze fell on the green curse mark on Neji's forehead, a mark that symbolized bondage and fate, and a gentle light, unnoticed even by yourself, flashed in your dark eyes.

With an almost sighing tone, she uttered her first words upon seeing him: "Your curse mark is beautiful."

Neji was completely stunned, his pure white eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief.

Beautiful? No one would ever use that word to describe the 'caged bird' that the main family had placed on the foreheads of their branch families, a symbol of shame and enslavement.

Are you being sarcastic? But why is your tone so calm, even carrying a hint of... pity?

Before Neji could recover from the enormous shock, you continued speaking, your voice still calm, "I am Nagi, it's nice to meet you."

After saying that, you gave Neji a deep look.

In that instant, Neji seemed to see in your eyes an extremely distant, long-sealed...tenderness.

It felt as if I was not looking at him, but rather looking through him at a distant, unremembered person from the past.

Neji's heart skipped a beat. In a corner of his memory, which had been firmly sealed away, the gaze seemed to have been deeply touched, and a hum of unbearable pressure emanated from it.

Blurry, fragmented images flashed uncontrollably through his mind—an ancient courtyard, desperate constraints, and a figure whose face he couldn't see clearly, yet which filled him with immense peace and longing...

Neji abruptly turned his head, not daring to look into your eyes again, afraid that the eerie familiarity would engulf him. His voice trembled imperceptibly with urgency, "I think we've known each other for a long time."

The moment he turned his gaze away, a faint smile appeared on your lips, but it was so shallow and vanished so quickly that it seemed like just an illusion cast by the sunlight.

You neither denied nor admitted to "a similar feeling."

As soon as you finished speaking, you disappeared without a trace into the shadows at the alley entrance, leaving Neji standing there alone, unable to come to his senses for a long time.

Neji clutched his chest, which was suddenly pounding rapidly, and the 'Caged Bird' curse mark on his forehead seemed to be burning hot.

The fragmented images in my mind became clearer and clearer, finally settling on a breathtaking scene: in a dimly lit Japanese-style room, a woman dressed in a black robe from the Warring States period was gently covering the forehead of a young man kneeling on the ground who looked remarkably similar to her with her slender yet steady fingers.

The man's eyes were tightly shut, his face a mixture of pain and hope, while the woman, radiating a powerful chakra glow, slowly peeled the green curse mark from the man's forehead...

The woman's eyes were just as dark and deep, but they held a touch more of the world-weariness and gentleness that you possess now.

“Nagi…” Neji murmured unconsciously, the name slipping out with a throbbing and sorrow that came from the depths of his soul.

That name sounds so familiar...

It was as if it had transcended the cycle of life and death, and pierced through the barriers of time and space, finally resounding in my ears once again.

A cool breeze blew through the alley, swirling up a few lonely fallen leaves.

The sunlight cast a long shadow of Neji. He stood alone, his pure white eyes filled with confusion, shock, and an indescribable feeling—as if he had finally found a glimmer of light after searching for far too long...

It is the sorrow and tenderness of fate.

Before the sunlight had completely dispelled the thin mist, Kabuto Yakushi was already eager to head to the orphanage.

To his surprise, this time the head pharmacist, Nonou, did not remind him in a gentle yet firm tone, as she usually would, "Don't disturb Nagi too much" or "She needs quiet."

Nono simply stood in the shadows of the corridor, quietly watching him with a complex expression, carrying a hint of barely perceptible pity and sigh.