Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Led by Yuan Ni, you and Zhi Shui venture deep into the secret passage leading to the legendary whirlpool ruins.

The further one goes, the more bizarre and chaotic the surrounding chakra fluctuations become, like countless invisible threads tangling and tearing each other apart, carrying a chilling sense of foreboding.

Shisui subconsciously quickened his pace by half a step, and without hesitation, he turned to the side to shield you behind him. His Sharingan vigilantly scanned the unknown darkness ahead, his body slightly tense, and he entered a fully defensive stance.

"Hey, kid, there's no need to make such a fuss!" Yuan Ni, who was being held by Shisui, couldn't help but complain, his beady eyes full of disdain.

"You're scared by this little trouble? What a waste of your strength and Sharingan!"

Zhi Shui ignored its noise; all his attention was focused on protecting you and dealing with any potential crises.

For him, your safety is more important than anything else.

After passing through the perilous corner passage, we arrived at a massive stone gate. The gate was ancient and heavy, with ancient runes that had long since faded and were now indistinct, faintly radiating a powerful protective barrier.

Yuan Ni cleared his throat, just about to put on an air of erudition and explain how complex and difficult it was to open the stone gate of the Uzumaki clan's powerful barrier technique, and what kind of special chakra resonance or secret method was required, when...

You, walking at the front, were simply driven by some invisible instinct, casually reaching out your pale hand and gently touching the cold, rough surface of the stone gate.

There were no hand seals, no violent fluctuations in chakra, and not even the slightest hesitation.

The next moment, the stone gate, which should have been indestructible, emitted a low, gentle hum, as if the most docile servant had met its returning master.

The flowing light of the barrier gently faded, silently opening a gap large enough for a person to pass through.

Yuan Ni was so shocked that he almost jumped out of Zhi Shui's grasp. His beady eyes widened and his mouth was agape enough to fit his fist.

"This...this is impossible! When did the Uzumaki clan's barrier become so trivial?"

It had heard that countless powerful figures had tried to force their way into the Vortex Ruins but failed. How did this woman manage to do it?

A deep shock also flashed across Shizuku's eyes, but more than that, it was a reaffirmation of the endless mysteries surrounding you.

He looked at you, and you remained expressionless, as if you had only done something insignificant, calmly gazing into the deeper darkness beyond the stone gate.

The stone gate opened completely, revealing the scene behind it.

The dome hangs high, seemingly forming its own little world.

The most eye-catching feature is a soft yet dazzling blue halo suspended in the very center of the space.

Your gazes were instantly drawn to this magnificent and powerful primal force.

Just then, a cold and clear voice rang out in the quiet space, accompanied by a purple figure that quietly appeared next to the 'Origin of Water'.

"After years apart, it turns out to be an old friend revisiting this place."

The voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying a sense of age and a hint of...expectation?

You immediately snapped to attention, instantly shifting your gaze from the 'source of water' to the suddenly appearing figure.

He was a man dressed in an elaborate and gorgeous purple sacrificial robe, embroidered with ancient star and flowing water patterns.

He stood there upright and quietly, as if he had become one with the space. What was most unsettling was that his eyes were closed.

Even so, you and Shisui could clearly feel a gaze, almost tangible, falling upon you, especially... upon you.

"It's him! It's him!" Yuan Ni shouted excitedly, "That's exactly the kind of vibe I felt back then! Cold and charlatan-like!"

You feel a sense of familiarity about this man that you've never felt before!

It's not about details, not about memories, but a resonance that comes from the depths of the soul, like a brand, like... a reunion after many years.

Suppressing the turmoil within you, you spoke first, "Who are you?"

"Long time no see, Lord Tanuki." His voice carried a barely perceptible hint of longing. "I am Lian."

He paused, as if recalling some distant scene: the resolute departing figure of the cold, black-haired girl who spared Akiyama Nana and him. "I am grateful for your mercy in sparing my life, sir."

Lord Tanuki? A mercy that spared my life?

A tearing headache struck instantly, countless blurry fragments flickering wildly, yet impossible to piece together! So familiar! That name, that voice, that aura... but you just can't remember anything!

There was an invisible barrier that firmly blocked your exploration. You subconsciously raised your hand to your forehead, and your body swayed almost imperceptibly.

"Nagi!" Shisui, who had been watching you closely, immediately noticed and stepped forward to firmly support your arm, his voice filled with undisguised worry.

He stared sharply at the man who called himself Lian, his gaze filled with vigilance. Whoever made you feel uncomfortable was his enemy, regardless of who they were.

Lian looked at you, who were in unbearable pain, and seemed unsurprised, only letting out a soft sigh.

“I know that your memory is currently clouded and you have many questions.” He bowed slightly and made a gesture of invitation. “This is not the place to talk. Please follow me.”

As he spoke, he clapped his hands lightly.

The crisp applause echoed through the cave.

As applause erupted, the ground beneath their feet and the surrounding stone walls suddenly began to shift. The once smooth stone walls slid apart to the sides, revealing an even darker and colder secret passage.

Extremely low temperatures, accompanied by chilling dampness, surged forth from the depths of the secret passage as if they were tangible, instantly causing the surrounding temperature to plummet and breath to turn to frost.

Even before stepping inside, one can feel a chill that seems to freeze to the bone.

The sharp headache came on suddenly and went away quickly, as if it were just a stress response to a brief touch on the depths of the soul.

You glanced at Shisui beside you, whose eyes were full of worry, and shook your head slightly to indicate that you were fine.

Lian had already stepped into that darkness, her figure about to be swallowed up by the thick darkness.

Without any hesitation, you stepped forward and followed. Shisui immediately followed closely behind, making sure to pack the Enma in his ninja tool pouch even tighter to prevent it from freezing.

Yuan Ni muttered softly, "It's so cold, so cold," but didn't dare to complain loudly.

The secret passage led downwards, and the surrounding stone walls were gradually covered with glistening frost. After walking for an unknown amount of time, a faint light appeared ahead.

Stepping out of the narrow passage, the sight before him made Shisui gasp, and even your pupils contracted slightly.

At the end of the secret passage was a cave constructed of crystal, in the center of which sat a coffin carved entirely from crystal.

The coffin lid was transparent.

You can clearly see a young girl lying inside.

She was dressed in gorgeous and ancient Warring States period attire, her golden hair spread out like clouds, her face was serene and rosy, and there was even a faint smile on her lips, as if she was just asleep and would wake up in the next second.

“The source of water can keep a corpse from decaying for a thousand years.” Lian’s cold voice echoed in the empty crystal cave, carrying endless sorrow and loneliness. “After the princess died, I brought her here.”

Shisui snapped out of his shock, his brows furrowing deeply. He looked at Lian, who had his back to him, and asked in a low voice, "You knew we'd come all along?"

All of this seems too coincidental.

Lian slowly turned around and looked at Zhishui. Although his eyes were closed, Zhishui still felt a chill that seemed to penetrate him completely.

“To be precise,” Lian’s voice was flat, “I have been waiting for you here all along.”

He gently raised his hand, and a wisp of chakra flicked from his fingertip, lighting up several ancient candles on the wall one by one.

The flickering candlelight and the shimmering blue water intertwined, making his pale face appear even more eerie.

You stood beside the still water the whole time, without saying a word.

Shisui clearly sensed the source of that chilling feeling of being seen through; this ripple could truly glimpse certain... future trajectories.

As if to confirm his guess, Lian turned her gaze to him, her tightly closed eyelids seemingly conveying a heavy sense of pity.

“I see your end,” Lian’s voice, like a final judgment, struck Shisui’s heart with chilling force. “You’re doomed.”

"!" Shisui's heart tightened suddenly, his breath stopped abruptly, and all the blood in his body seemed to freeze instantly, even though he had been mentally prepared.

But being pronounced so definitively still left him feeling a chilling despair.

Shisui didn't know how to react and could only stand there stiffly. Suddenly, you grasped his hand, which was trembling slightly with shock and fear.

You took a half step forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhishui, your dark eyes fixed on Lian, your voice clear and calm, "No, there's still a chance for his fate."

Shisui suddenly turned to look at you, and an indescribable warmth and support welled up in her heart.

Lian seemed unsurprised by your rebuttal. He nodded slightly. "Of course, of all things in this world, only you, my lord, can break all these curses and reverse the predetermined fate."

Shisui was initially warmed by your protection, but was immediately shocked by the content of the short conversation between you and Lian.

You...knew all along?

Do you also have... a kind of precognitive ability?

So you already...foresaw his fate?

The sheer volume of information overwhelmed Zhi Shui's brain, making it difficult for him to process it all at once.

You ignored Shisui's shocked expression and returned your attention to Lian. Since the other party could foresee the future, perhaps your biggest question could be answered.

"In that case, can you see my future?"

Upon hearing this, Lian gave a wry smile and shook his head, "I cannot see that."

His tone carried a deep sense of powerlessness: "The fate of adults is shrouded in layers of mist, and the causes and effects involved are too great, far beyond the scope of what can be perceived. Forcibly trying to pry into it will only result in a backlash."

This answer was actually within your expectations; you were already mentally prepared for no answer.

Even we ourselves cannot fully see the future, let alone others.

But regarding the past, perhaps...

You were silent for a moment, then asked, "What was I like during the Warring States period?"

Even though you've lost all your memories, based on those fragmented senses, familiar objects, and the attitude of the person in front of you, you've deduced that you were once a ninja during the Warring States period.

Lian seemed lost in distant memories. After a long while, he uttered three words: "arrogance, power, contradiction."

Arrogant because of power, and superior to all living beings.

Powerful enough to influence the course of a battle, awe-inspiring.

The contradiction lies within your heart, in your choices, in thoughts and feelings that no one can understand.

These three words subtly sketch a vague yet sharp outline for you.

That person from the Warring States period, named "Uchiha Nagi"...you yourself.

"So," your gaze swept over the crystal coffin, then returned to Lian, your dark eyes showing no trace of sympathy or curiosity, only an almost cold scrutiny, "this princess, is she the only one I can save?"

The emphasis falls on the three words "only me," carrying a sharp, all-knowing edge.

“You’ve already saved everyone.” Lian’s voice lowered, carrying an indescribable weariness and reverence. “I just want to take one more gamble.”

He didn't directly deny your conclusion, but his words conveyed a much heavier message.

Has he saved everyone?

You don't understand what Lian meant by the first half of her sentence; it seems to involve a completely forgotten past.

But an intuition tells you that you seem to have touched the edge of a truth that has been hidden by layers of concealment.

"How can you be so sure I can save her?" You need more concrete reasons, not this vague 'gamble' and ambiguous reverence.

"Because before this, I had already used these 'eyes' to deduce countless outcomes and futures, and all possibilities pointed to despair and the end."

Ultimately, you are the only variable in this seemingly hopeless situation.

His words carried a sense of fatalistic heaviness.

Immediately afterwards, he raised his hand and pointed at Uchiha Shisui beside you.

“And you need to have your own power.” Lian’s voice left no room for doubt. “Going it alone, you can’t fight against your predetermined fate. You need power, you need followers, you need… power enough to change everything.”

You turn to look at still water, and he is looking at you too.

The shock of being declared "dead" and the astonishment of hearing Lian point out that you need power still lingered in his eyes.

Their eyes met, and Shi Shui's heart raced uncontrollably once again.

He saw the fleeting glint in your eyes—not a question, but something awakened, something called "ambition" or "determination."

You quickly looked away and faced Lian again. "What is your sincerity?"

Lian was not surprised by your almost indifferent reality. He bowed and performed an ancient kowtow, his voice clear and firm, "Until the princess wakes up, Lian is willing to provide all the help he can."

"Including my precognitive abilities, my knowledge of ancient secrets, and... some of the resources of this site."

His promises were resounding, positioning himself as a temporary but extremely valuable ally and collaborator.

Chapter 269 - Heartfelt Concern (5)

“Your abilities are not absolute, and your ability to foresee the future is also subject to bias and blind spots. As for the rest,” your gaze swept over the crystal coffin, “they are not within my consideration.”

"Furthermore, I do not accept temporary allies; it must be a complete break or there's no point in talking."