Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

“Um… Nagi,” Sakura jumped down from the stool, hesitated, but couldn’t help but lean forward, reach out her little hand to touch your forehead, and then circle around you, looking you up and down.

"Are you...are you really okay? Is anything still bothering you? Should we go to the hospital again?"

The temperature on my forehead is normal, and although my face is still pale, it's much better than the ghostly pallor I had last night... But why does something just feel so wrong?

Seeing Sakura once again showing such undisguised concern and worry for you, the twisted soft light deep in your dark eyes resurfaced.

You suddenly reached out and grabbed Sakura's wrist, which was dangling in front of your eyes.

My fingers were still icy cold, but the grip was too strong to break free from.

"It's alright." You looked at Sakura's slightly startled green eyes, your voice calm yet carrying a strange stubbornness, "I'll take you out to play."

Sakura instinctively tried to pull her hand back when her wrist was gripped by cold fingers, but her attention was immediately diverted when she heard the words "go out and play"!

Although she was surprised and a little uneasy about your sudden change, Sakura subconsciously felt that this might be your unique way of expressing friendliness, since the two of them had only known each other for a short time. She tried to convince herself to accept it.

Moreover, going out to play alone and going out to play with someone are completely different experiences!

"Okay!" Sakura's face immediately lit up with a bright smile, her unease vanishing in an instant. "I know a really fun place! It's a secret base I discovered before! I'll take you there!"

She excitedly broke free from your hand and dashed back into the room like a happy little bird. "Nagi, wait for me! I'm just grabbing something! I'll be right back!"

You stand quietly in place, your gaze following Sakura's lively and busy figure as she searches for snacks and toys, your dark eyes growing increasingly profound.

The sunlight outlined Sakura's petite figure, and her chattering and rustling as she rummaged through things... all of this was full of vibrant life, forming a stark contrast to the lingering stillness and coldness around you.

However, it is precisely this contrasting warmth and vibrancy that attracts you, a moth accustomed to the darkness, making you desperately want to get closer, to...possess.

In the midst of last night's bone-chilling cold and pain, the only warm embrace I felt was etched into the depths of my soul like a brand.

So... this is what it feels like to want to hold something tightly in your hands?

Your fingertips unconsciously curled slightly. You've finally found the only interesting reason that can make you temporarily endure staying in this huge cage of Konoha.

If... if one day you are forced to betray Konoha to seek out the buried truths and powers...

Would Sakura... be willing to leave with me?

The instant this thought arose, a cold and obsessive glint flashed across your eyes.

Even if she doesn't want to... it's okay.

You'll make her agree, no matter what method you use.

After all... Sakura's embrace was so warm, so warm that even a cold monster like you could no longer bear to lose her.

Now that I've been touched by your warmth, don't even think about escaping so easily.

"I'm ready! Nagi, let's go!" Sakura waved enthusiastically at you with a bright smile on her face, carrying a bulging little bag on her back.

You suppressed all the dark thoughts churning in your eyes, regained your calm and composed demeanor, and nodded gently.

The roar of the massive water flow was like an eternal lament, crashing against the rocky cliffs on both banks and splashing up countless sparkling water droplets that refracted into tiny rainbows in the sunlight.

On both sides of the river, massive and imposing stone statues of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama stand facing each other across the distance, as if eternally freezing that turbulent Warring States period in time.

This place, which should have been filled with a somber atmosphere and a heavy sense of history, was instead enthusiastically turned by Sakura into a 'secret base'.

"How about it? Isn't it spectacular!" Sakura said proudly, hands on her hips. "Although Mom and Dad say it's a bit dangerous here and they don't want us to come often, it's okay to come once in a while!"

Your gaze, however, is immediately drawn to the giant statue of Uchiha Madara on the opposite bank of the river.

The statue's face is sculpted to be cold and majestic, carrying an arrogant air of looking down on the world.

When my gaze fell upon that face, several extremely blurry, fleeting images flashed through my mind without warning: crimson Sharingan eyes, flowing black hair, cold armor, and... a deep-seated bond and despair...

Those fragments flashed by, like pebbles thrown into a deep pool, creating only tiny ripples before quickly sinking.

Immediately following this, a burning pain shot through the area marked below your collarbone, and you instinctively raised your hand to cover that spot.

Why... do I react this way to seeing Madara Uchiha's statue? Where does that inexplicable sadness and unease, seemingly originating from the depths of my soul, come from?

"Nagi?" Sakura had already quickly spread out the picnic blanket she brought and was taking out snacks and homemade sandwiches when she turned around and saw you covering your collarbone and frowning. She immediately came over worriedly.

"What's wrong? You don't look well. Are you still feeling unwell? Shall we go back?"

You slowly lowered your hand, forcibly suppressing the sudden stinging pain and emotional turmoil, your face regaining its usual calm, and gently shook your head, "It's nothing."

Sakura carefully examined your complexion, making sure it wasn't as frightening as last night, before she relaxed a little. She patted the empty seat next to her, "That's good! Come sit down! Sunbathing is the most comfortable thing!"

So you sat side by side on the picnic blanket.

The warm sunshine dispelled the chill of the waterfall's spray, and a gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and damp earth.

Sakura squinted her eyes contentedly, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.

Although you appeared relaxed, your dark eyes, out of the corner of your eye, keenly caught several extremely well-hidden dark figures flashing past at lightning speed in the woods not far away.

Root ninjas?

An alarm bell rang in your mind, but you remained outwardly calm, as if you hadn't noticed anything.

"Nagi! Nagi!" Sakura's excited voice interrupted your vigilance. Sakura held a sandwich that looked... rather ordinary in both hands and presented it to your mouth like a treasure, her emerald green eyes filled with expectant light.

"Try it! This is the first sandwich I've ever made! See how it tastes!"

Chapter 248 - Dirty

The sandwich bread seemed a little overcooked, with slightly charred edges, and the vegetables and ham slices inside were showing. The sauce also seemed unevenly spread.

You lower your eyes, looking at the food that's almost touching your lips, then glance at Sakura's expectant expression that says, "Praise me!"

After a moment of silence, he finally opened his mouth slightly and took a small bite from Sakura's hand.

A complex flavor instantly spread through my mouth: the burnt bitterness of the bread, the astringency of the lettuce, the saltiness of the ham, and a... overly strong, slightly pungent taste of tomato sauce.

You chewed a few times expressionlessly, then swallowed.

Under Sakura's sparkling gaze, you reluctantly commented, "...It's alright."

"Really?!" Sakura's eyes widened in surprise, as if she had received the highest praise! She didn't mind the part you had bitten at all, and took a big bite right off the nick!

Your gaze falls on Sakura's pink lips touching the spot where you just bit her, watching her share the same food without any reservations, and something seems to subtly stir within you.

A strange, burning emotion quietly spreads, making it increasingly difficult for you to maintain inner peace.

However, the next second, "Pfft—! It's so sour!!" Sakura's face instantly scrunched up, and she spat out the sandwich in her mouth, sticking out her tongue and fanning herself with her hand.

"There seems to be way too much ketchup! It's so sour! Nagi, is there something wrong with your sense of taste?! How can you call this 'okay'?!"

She looked at you, who remained expressionless, with a mournful expression, and sighed, "I really can't expect you to give me any reliable feedback!"

But Sakura's frustration came and went quickly.

She quickly cheered up, clenched her little fists, and her eyes brightened again. "But it's okay! The sandwich failed, but I have another trick up my sleeve! I can make cookies! This time I'll definitely succeed!"

As she spoke, her gaze fell upon you, carrying a hint of slyness and an air of undeniable authority. "But, since we're out having fun, we can't let me be the only one doing all the work! You need to get involved too! I'll teach you how to make cookies!"

And so, you embarked on your first and perhaps last journey into a completely new and unfamiliar field: making cookies by hand.

Sakura enthusiastically explained the steps, "First, soften the butter, then add powdered sugar and stir... then add the egg liquid... finally sift in the cake flour and..."

You stand to the side, looking at the bottles, jars, flour, and sugar, and for the first time, a clear...confusion appears in your eyes.

You can't understand why taking these seemingly unrelated things, mixing them together in a specific order and proportion, and then putting them in a glowing box, would turn them into so-called cookies.

Sakura couldn't understand why someone who seemed so smart and capable would be so...clumsy at something so simple.

"No, no! The butter needs to be softened to this extent! I don't mean to heat it up with chakra until it melts!"

"Powdered sugar! It's powdered sugar! Not granulated sugar! Good heavens, that's how you use a sieve!"

"Add the egg mixture in batches! Don't pour it all in at once! Look, the oil and water have separated!"

"Just knead the flour into a dough! Don't knead it with the same force you use to fight an enemy!"

Sakura, who was initially patiently teaching Sakura, gradually became increasingly frustrated.

Seeing your serious expression while you were doing destructive things, she finally couldn't take it anymore!

She practically stormed forward, grabbed your flour- and butter-covered hand, and forcefully pulled you along.

"Like this! See clearly! Gently rub! Yes! Like this!"

Sakura stands behind you, almost pressed against your back to reach your hand, her little head peeking out from your shoulder, puffing out her cheeks and giving orders, her warm breath brushing against your ear.

"I really didn't expect that! You seem pretty smart, how come you can't even make such a simple cookie!" Sakura kept complaining, her pink hair occasionally brushing against your cheek, bringing a slightly itchy touch.

You didn't feel embarrassed or annoyed at all by Sakura's sarcastic remarks.

If you turn your head slightly, you can see Sakura's face, which is very close to yours, slightly pouting because of her focus and a little bit of anger.

I could clearly feel the warmth and softness of that small body behind me, hear her slightly rapid breathing from excitement, and smell the scent of her hair, carrying the warmth of sunshine and a faint sweet fragrance...

At this moment, all of Sakura's attention, all her emotions, all her actions... are completely focused on you alone.

This feeling of being completely occupied and tightly surrounded strangely brings you an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and security.

You even deliberately slowed down your movements a little, or made a mistake occasionally, just to prolong the time you were being taught step by step and receiving full attention.

Then your gaze falls on Sakura's pink hair, which is like blooming in the most splendid spring day, bright, vibrant, and carrying an undeniable, warm vitality.

Just like her.

At the most inopportune time, in the most illogical way, so recklessly yet so naturally... I barged into your dark and cold world.

You lowered your eyes, concealing the darkness within them.

You might even start to feel that learning to make these seemingly useless desserts isn't so unappealing after all.

At least, it allows you to rightfully possess this warmth for a very long time.

Sakura walks side by side with you on the way home, still excitedly chattering about the oddly shaped but edible cookies she baked today, and the magnificent scenery of the Valley of the End.

You listen quietly, occasionally responding with a very soft voice, but your eyes are warily scanning the dwindling crowd and the darkening street corner.

The feeling of being watched... is back again.

Moreover, it is denser and more undisguised than before.

You stopped abruptly, reached out, and pulled the still excited Sakura behind you, your action carrying an undeniable sense of protection.

"What's wrong, Nagi..." Sakura's words caught in her throat.

From the shadows in front and on both sides, dozens of figures dressed in identical Root uniforms silently emerged!

They completely blocked the road ahead, and their chilling killing intent spread like a tangible force, utterly dispelling the last vestiges of warmth in the evening.

The leader of the root tribe stepped forward, his gaze beneath the mask locking onto the pink-haired girl you were protecting behind you. His voice was hoarse and familiar, carrying a cold, businesslike quality.

"Uchiha Nagi, the usual routine, come with us."

"W-What rules?" Sakura was so frightened that her face turned pale, her small hands tightly gripping the fabric behind your back, her voice trembling.

Looking at these clearly hostile ninjas, she felt as if unknown dangers lurked everywhere around her.

You completely shielded Sakura behind your slender frame, facing the Root leader directly, and said, "Let Danzo come in person, I'm not going."

The refusal was decisive and without any room for maneuver.

The Root leader seemed surprised by your direct resistance and let out a mocking sneer, "Heh... You'd better think carefully about your current position and identity. Without the Hokage's laughable protection, you're nothing more than a disobedient dog that we Root can easily take back."

A blatant threat, imbued with the cruelty and indifference characteristic of the roots.

You didn't answer, you just stood there silently, but the cold aura emanating from you became even more sharp.

The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense, with both sides locked in a stalemate, and a battle was imminent.

Just then, you suddenly turned your head slightly and whispered to Sakura, who was trembling with fear behind you, in a voice only the two of you could hear, "Go home and wait for me."

"No!" Sakura refused immediately without thinking, her voice trembling with tears, her little hands gripping even tighter. "This is too dangerous! I can't leave you alone!"

Your voice was lower, yet carried a reassuring calmness: "Hurry up, don't affect my performance."

These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly waking Sakura up.

She suddenly realized that staying here would not only be of no help, but would also be a burden to you.

Sakura looked up at your profile, which remained expressionless.

A strange sense of trust overcame her fear. Sakura bit her lower lip, finally releasing her grip on your clothes. She nodded forcefully, her voice choked with emotion, "...Then...you must be careful! I'll find someone to rescue you!"

After saying that, she turned back every few steps, her eyes red, and ran quickly toward home.

Every time I turn around, I see your straight back, like an insurmountable barrier, standing between you and those terrifying ninjas.