Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

The touch of his palm on the cool skin of his wrist made his heart pound, yet he was reluctant to let go. The surrounding scenery was unreal, but his eyes seemed to only have room for the person beside him.

You walked in silence for a while, the only sound being the rustling of your feet on the fallen petals.

Suddenly you spoke, your voice exceptionally clear in the quiet flower grove, "I remember you used to raise crows."

Your gaze fell calmly on Zhishui's face, with an almost direct inquiry.

Shizuku's heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks began to burn again.

Of course he knows you're referring to the fact that his summoned beast is a crow, while Yuanni is a turtle... The difference in pet species is indeed quite large.

Faced with your all-seeing gaze, Shisui tried her best to make amends, her eyes darting around and her voice sounding somewhat unnatural.

"Uh...yes, yes. Mainly...I want to try out other breeds of pets, yes, try them out!" Even he himself felt that this reason was far-fetched.

You didn't continue speaking, but simply looked away, making it impossible to tell whether you believed it or not.

I stopped, reached out, and let a soft cherry blossom gently fall into my palm, the pink petals contrasting sharply with my pale skin.

Shisui looked at your focused profile and the cherry blossom in your palm, and he was about to say something.

The cherry blossom in your palm was suddenly crushed. At the same time, you looked up, and your dark eyes, under the warm light of the lantern, suddenly turned into three scarlet tomoe, spinning rapidly as if they were alive.

Before Shisui could react, he felt the icy, bone-chilling power of the pupil engulf him like a tidal wave, and the cherry blossoms, lanterns, night sky... everything in his vision began to distort.

He instinctively wanted to resist, gathering chakra to break through the genjutsu, but that power was too domineering and too swift, as if it had already calculated all his reaction paths. The moment his thought arose, it was completely locked down.

It was just a fleeting encounter, not even lasting a second.

Shisui's consciousness completely sank, falling into the illusionary world you wove for him.

In the final moment before his consciousness was stripped away, Shisui was left with only one shocking thought.

He always knew you were a genius, possessing extraordinary talent and composure, but only now, as he enters the illusionary world you created, does he realize how shallow his previous understanding was.

The word "genius" is perhaps just the threshold to meeting you.

You know very well that this young body, though exquisite, lacks the power to intimidate and the aura to command respect.

To achieve his goal, he needed a more impactful image, so he changed his illusionary appearance.

It was in the portrait in the Uchiha Forbidden Pavilion that I saw myself as an adult.

His posture was sharp, his eyes were disdainful, and he exuded a powerful aura that was a mix of arrogance and mystery, a kind of aura that came from someone who had long held a superior position.

So much so that when Shisui saw you in the illusion world, he was completely stunned, his mind went blank.

If, in reality, you are gloomy and aloof yet occasionally reveal a vibrant side befitting your age, then his heart is filled with affection, a protective instinct, and curiosity.

At this moment, the fully grown, charismatic you in the illusion, as if you stepped out of an ancient painting, is a powerful shock to him, a profound and indescribable attraction that originates from the depths of his soul.

A subconscious surrender and throbbing of power and mystery that transcends age and appearance.

Seeing that Zhi Shui was just staring blankly at you without any reaction, you frowned slightly and suddenly moved closer to him, the distance between you instantly shrinking to the point where you could hear each other's breath.

Faced with this sudden close contact, Shisui instinctively stepped back, his heart stopped, and in his panic, he tripped over something, lost his balance, and was about to fall.

You quickly reached out and firmly supported his arm, feeling the warmth and strength in your fingertips.

Zhi Shui used the support to steady herself, her cheeks flushed red, and she almost dared not look directly at you who were so close to her.

As an adult, your height requires him to look up slightly, which adds to the sense of oppression.

Once Shisui had finally adjusted to the illusionary world and your new appearance, he forced himself to calm down, looked at you curiously, and asked the crucial question.

"What do I need to do to be brought into the illusion world?"

You didn't beat around the bush and stated your purpose directly, your voice deep and cold with the maturity of adulthood: "I have already set the script for this world. Please help me activate the kaleidoscope."

"..." Shisui was speechless, his pupils contracting in shock.

Awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan requires enduring extreme pain. He never imagined your pursuit of power would be so demanding, bordering on cruel. What exactly do you intend to do with this power?

Before Shisui could process and react to this astonishing request, you had already begun to activate the pre-set illusion script.

Shisui felt a blur before his eyes, and when he opened them again, he found himself sitting on a familiar bench in Konoha's square, bathed in warm sunlight and surrounded by people coming and going.

It was as if their conversation had just been a fleeting dream, but then his attention was drawn to a scene not far away.

A black-haired girl was surrounded by a group of slightly older children. The girl had her head down, so her expression was not visible, but the gloomy aura that kept strangers at bay made Zhi Shui recognize her at a glance. It was you, even younger than you are in reality.

Even in the illusion, you remain expressionless, unresponsive to the shouts and shoving around you, like a lifeless porcelain doll.

Those kids seemed to be demanding that you hand over something you had, and they were speaking in a hostile tone.

You ignored them and just gripped what you were holding tighter.

Enraged, one of the children reached out to grab it, even raising his fist as if to attack you.

Shisui's heart clenched, and he instinctively stood up and stepped forward to stop him. He stood in front of you, and although it was just an illusion, the name Shisui of the Body Flicker Technique was still very intimidating among the children of Konoha.

"Stop!" Shisui's voice carried an undeniable authority.

When the children saw that it was the famous Shisui of the Body Flicker Technique, they turned pale with fright and ran away, fearing that Shisui would punish them.

Shisui then turned around and looked at you behind him.

You looked up at Shisui, your dark eyes filled with clear doubt, as if you were thinking.

That look in his eyes...it seemed like this was the first time someone had stood up for you.

"Are you alright, Nagi?" Shisui softened her voice as she asked, calling out his name instinctively to try and make him feel closer to her.

You pursed your lips, a hint of wariness in your eyes. "How do you know my name?"

Shisui immediately realized that you had no memories of reality in the illusion world, and he quickly explained, "I once carried out a mission about you."

The answer was vague but reasonable, barely convincing you, and your wariness lessened slightly.

Shisui couldn't help but become curious. What exactly did those children want to steal from you? He looked over and saw that in your slightly loosened palm, you were holding a kunai that looked quite old.

"Um..." Shisui tried to make his tone sound harmless as he suggested, "Could you please show me your kunai? It looks quite unique."

Upon hearing this, you immediately hid the kunai in your sleeve, moving as quickly as a young animal guarding its food, and your eyes became alert again.

Zhi Shui knows this is a sign that you are unwilling.

Perhaps it was his overly familiar manner that made you, who already lacked a sense of security, feel threatened.

He felt a little disappointed, but he didn't want to force it.

I was just about to turn around and think of other ways to understand the direction of this illusion script.

"Wait a minute," you called out to him.

Zhi Shui stopped and turned around.

You looked at him, a strange light gleaming in your dark eyes, as if you had made up your mind. "Are you very capable?"

Shisui sensed a chance and immediately turned around, a gentle smile on her face, trying to make herself appear more reliable. "I guess so."

He is indeed among the best of the younger generation.

As if afraid you wouldn't believe him, Shisui quickly showed off his skills. He snapped his fingers, and a flock of ninja crows suddenly appeared out of thin air, quickly transforming into different forms under his command.

Sometimes they gather into a shield, sometimes they disperse like a net, and sometimes they form a simple '凪' character.

For someone like you, who is currently portrayed as a solitary and weak individual within the illusionary realm, this is something only a highly skilled ninja could accomplish.

Watching the flock of crows swirling and changing in the air, Shisui's figure was finally clearly reflected in his calm black eyes.

You looked up at Zhishui and asked very seriously, "May I become your disciple?"

Things have developed...how did they get to this point?

Wasn't he supposed to help you unlock the kaleidoscope? How did he end up taking you on as an apprentice? The direction of this illusionary scenario seems to be deviating from his expectations.

The flow of time in the illusionary world is different from that in reality, yet it is so real that it is captivating.

Faced with your sudden request to become his apprentice, Shisui was briefly taken aback, but quickly got into character.

He suppressed his many questions and gave a gentle yet slightly sly smile. "Sure, but..."

He changed the subject, his gaze falling once more on your tightly clenched sleeve. "In exchange, show me that kunai."

He knows that kunai must have been of great significance to you.

You hesitated, a struggle flashing in your dark eyes. That kunai was one of the few things that belonged to the past, the only connection between you and a certain blurry figure.

But the desire to become stronger, and the inexplicable trust in the powerful ninja before him, ultimately triumphed over the instinct to protect the secret.

After a long while, as if you had made a crucial decision, you reluctantly handed the kunai in your hand to Shisui.

Shisui took the kunai and examined it carefully.

It feels cool to the touch, the material is ordinary, and the style is a common one, nothing special.

If one had to point out something special, it would be that a small character '夙' is engraved at the end of the kunai's handle with extremely fine craftsmanship.

What does this mean? Is it a name? A code? Or some kind of symbol? Could it refer to a person?

Shisui harbored many doubts, but outwardly remained calm and composed.

He returned the kunai to you, saying, "Since you want to become my disciple, come with me." Shisui extended his hand to you with a warm smile.

To become stronger, you nodded without hesitation and placed your small hand in his warm palm.

From that day on, news gradually spread throughout Konoha that the famous Shisui of the Body Flicker had adopted an orphan disciple.

The news caused a slight ripple, but it was quickly submerged in the routine.

Shisui began to teach you ninjutsu knowledge seriously, from the most basic chakra extraction to shuriken throwing, with patience and meticulousness.

You have exceptional talent; you grasp concepts quickly and can even apply them to other situations. Your rate of progress is astonishing.

Sometimes, when he's not busy with tasks, he'll take you out for dessert. Watching you eat the tricolor dumplings little by little gives him a secret sense of satisfaction.

He'll take you to the Uchiha clan's territory, ostensibly to let you experience the clan atmosphere, but actually to secretly listen to the gossip of those aunts and uncles, and then you'll look at each other and chuckle.

In these daily interactions, Shisui also discovered your hidden personality: a sharp tongue.

Especially when faced with all the pretty dresses and cute hair accessories he buys for you, you always refuse to wear them, and you might even say the most hurtful things in the most indifferent tone with a blank expression.

"Did the teacher learn her aesthetic sense from the old lady next door?"

Chapter 272 - Heartfelt Concern (8)

Helpless, Shisui could only buy you a well-fitting dark samurai robe, which unexpectedly suited your cool and aloof temperament.

You are not as obedient as you seem. Your thirst for knowledge is almost obsessive. Every now and then, you use the stealth techniques of the Still Water Cult to sneak into the forbidden areas of various families to read their books, almost triggering the alarm system several times.

Therefore, Zhishui always had to step in to clean up the mess, explaining to the clan leaders with a smile, "The student is ignorant, I will definitely discipline him strictly."

After a while, Shisui went from being a gentle older brother to an irritable master who would get goosebumps if he found you missing.

You're always the fastest to admit your mistakes, and your attitude is incredibly sincere, but you never change, and you'll do it again next time.

Days passed by like this, and amidst playful bickering, mutual "torture," and mutual dependence, Zhishui and you developed a very intimate and trusting relationship.

Shisui even had a fleeting feeling that it wouldn't be bad to stay in this world, which was constructed by illusion but was full of life.

He almost forgot that this was just a "script" you set up to unlock the kaleidoscope.

until that day.

Zhi Shui completed a time-consuming task and returned home full of anticipation, only to find the house empty; you were not there.

With a bad feeling, he rushed to the ninja school, only to be told that you had already finished school.

Anxiety washed over him like ice water; he frantically searched everywhere for his whereabouts, asking in every possible place he might be, but to no avail.

Just when he was on the verge of collapse, a colleague from the Anbu immediately brought news: Danzo and his Root had taken you away!

The reason given is that they suspect you possess some unknown and dangerous power, and they want to extract it from you.

Shisui had never been so angry; a surge of rage mixed with immense fear instantly overwhelmed him!

Danzo knew perfectly well who he was and what the Root organization was. You've fallen into their hands...

Without the Hokage's permission, relying on his knowledge of the Root's location and his concern for you, he forcibly broke into the eerie and terrifying Root base.

He fought his way in, ruthlessly overcoming every obstacle he encountered. When he finally broke through the last line of defense and stormed into the deepest interrogation room...

He saw Danzo holding a cold, black shackle, trying to put it around your neck, where you were curled up in a corner, covered in wounds.

Shisui's eyes were bloodshot. He killed several Root members who rushed up to block him, and rushed to your side like a madman, forcing Danzo back with a single sword strike.