Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

White walls and blue tiles, winding corridors—everywhere reflects the order and restraint of an ancient clan.

Afternoon sunlight filters through the lush garden trees, casting dappled shadows on the clean corridor. The air is filled with the faint scent of sandalwood and fresh herbs, creating a tranquil and elegant atmosphere.

Hinata Hyuga and Neji Hyuga walked one after the other along the corridor leading to the main clan council hall.

Hinata clasped her hands together in front of her, her fingers slightly clenched, her fair face showing a mixture of trepidation and anticipation.

Neji, who was standing beside her, was still young, but he already showed a calm and composed demeanor. The clear Caged Bird mark on his forehead did not diminish the heroic spirit between his brows, but instead added a touch of forbearance.

Just as they were about to reach the entrance of the council chamber, the faint sounds of conversation coming from inside made them both stop in their tracks.

"...The Konoha leadership is finally going to take action against the Uchiha clan." An old and dignified voice rang out; it was the First Elder.

"At that time, the Hyuga clan will undoubtedly become the most prestigious clan in Konoha..." His words were filled with arrogant certainty, as if stating an established fact.

"!!" Hinata's pure white eyes widened instantly, filled with disbelief and shock. The Uchiha Hado technique? What did that mean?

A warm hand promptly covered her mouth, preventing her from making any sound.

Neji shook his head at Hinata, his equally pure white eyes now churning with a similar astonishment, but with an even greater sense of gravity rising within him.

He understood the meaning behind the elders' words better than Hinata; it was not a simple power shift, but rather... bloodshed and purge.

The two stared at each other silently, both seeing immense shock and worry in each other's eyes.

The conversation inside the council chamber continued, with fragmented words such as "timing," "cooperation," and "purge" faintly audible, each word striking the hearts of the two like a heavy hammer.

Neji made a quick decision, gave Hinata a wink, and pulled her along like two silent shadows, swiftly and quietly retreating from the entrance of the council hall until they stopped in a secluded corner of the courtyard.

"Neji-nii-san!" As soon as Hinata was freed, she anxiously grabbed Neji's sleeve, her pure white eyes filled with tears, and her voice was trembling with sobs.

"What should we do? Should we tell Nagi in advance so she can escape quickly!" The terrible image of your dark eyes being stained red by war and blood had already appeared in her mind, and her heart ached as if it were being squeezed.

Seeing Hinata's flustered state, Neji forced himself to calm down and quickly analyzed the situation. "Lady Hinata, you cannot leave the clan territory now."

His voice was serious. “Since the clan head and elders are already aware of and involved in this matter, at this sensitive time, they will absolutely not allow you, especially the heir of the main family, to have any contact with the Uchiha people. That would arouse unnecessary suspicion and even bring trouble to the Hyuga clan.”

Hinata bit her lower lip. She knew Neji was telling the truth. As the eldest daughter of the main branch of the family, she seemed noble, but in reality, her actions were restricted in many ways.

A sense of helplessness overwhelmed her, and tears finally streamed down her face. "But... Nagi..."

"I'll go," Neji said decisively, his eyes resolute. "I'll deliver the message to her."

Although he knew what it would mean for him, the one who had separated from the family, if he were discovered to have secretly passed on such a message.

Hinata looked at Neji as if grasping at a last straw, "Please, Neji-nii-san!"

She gripped his sleeve tightly, as if trying to convey all her hopes and strength to him, "Please tell Nagi to be careful! If all else fails... have Nagi hide in Hinata for a while! I'll find a way to hide her!"

This idea was bold and risky, almost violating clan rules, but for you, Hinata was willing to muster all her courage.

Neji looked at the resolute determination in Hinata's eyes, and his heart stirred slightly. He nodded and solemnly promised, "Okay."

Without saying another word, Neji turned around, and with a few leaps, nimbly scaled the courtyard wall and disappeared beyond the boundary of the clan's territory.

He has to race against time to find you before the tribe starts blocking information or restricting movement.

Hinata stood alone, gazing in the direction Neji had disappeared, her hands clasped tightly to her chest, as if in prayer, pressed against her forehead.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating her pale and worried face.

"You must be safe... Nagi..." she murmured softly, her voice echoing gently in the quiet courtyard.

The faint smell of disinfectant in the ward was somewhat diluted by the fresh fragrance of a few pots of freesias quietly blooming on the windowsill.

You sit quietly by the hospital bed, your eyes reflecting Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno's celebration of your recovery.

Naruto had removed most of his bandages and regained his usual energy. "Hey! You evil old monster Danzo, watch the power of your grandpa Uzumaki Naruto! Shadow Clone Technique!"

"Naruto! Watch out for his sealing technique! I'm here to help you, Cherry Blossom Rush!"

Their voices echoed in the ward, their movements were exaggerated, and the plot was simple and even a little chaotic, yet it carried a sincere and moving power.

You showed rare tolerance towards the two people in front of you.

Especially after the deaths of Kabuto Yakushi and Dean Nonou, this seemingly noisy yet gloomless bond is like a faint but persistent light, making you subconsciously want to cherish it.

If Kabuto were still alive... he would probably be like Naruto, trying his best to make you happy, clumsily warming himself in his own unique way.

This thought brought a subtle yet distinct sting.

You've drifted off again. Your gaze is on Naruto and Sakura, but your pupils have lost focus, as if they're piercing through them and looking into some distant and sorrowful void.

A gloomy and indifferent atmosphere permeated the air once again, isolating the surrounding liveliness.

Naruto and Sakura, who were putting on a great performance, keenly noticed your momentary lapse in concentration.

The two paused slightly, exchanging a helpless and frustrated look.

During your hospital stay, you often find yourself suddenly immersed in your own world, oblivious to all external sounds and actions, as if everything they do is in vain.

They don't understand what you're thinking or what you're carrying, and can only rely on their sincerity to try to dispel the indifference between your brows in this clumsy way.

Although, the effect was minimal.

Sakura's lips pursed slightly. She wanted to get closer to you, to truly enter your world, and to become the person you could show your true emotions to.

Just then, out of the corner of her eye, Sakura caught a glimpse of a familiar figure standing quietly outside the ward door.

With white pupils and a Konoha headband on his forehead, he exuded a cool and aloof aura.

"Neji?" Sakura asked instinctively, a hint of curiosity in her voice, temporarily pulling herself out of her dejection. "Where's Hinata? Didn't she come with you?"

She thought Neji had come to visit you with Hinata.

Neji did not answer her question. His expression was more serious than ever before, and his eyes did not even glance at Naruto and Sakura, but were fixed intently on you.

It was as if something extremely important and urgent had happened, making him forget even the most basic manners.

Before Naruto and Sakura could react, Neji strode into the ward and grabbed your wrist.

"Come with me!" He pulled you directly out of the ward, his movements so fast that they even created a breeze, causing the delicate petals of the freesias on the windowsill to flutter.

"Neji! What are you doing?!"

Naruto and Sakura exclaimed in surprise at the same time, completely dumbfounded.

They watched as Neji almost forcefully led them out of the ward and disappeared around the corner of the corridor. They looked at each other, their faces filled with confusion and a hint of displeasure at being ignored.

"What's going on?" Naruto muttered, scratching his dazzling blond hair. "Why is everyone who comes to see Nagi-chan acting so strangely? Sasuke is, Itachi is, and now even Neji is like this..."

Sakura didn't reply, but just stared at the empty doorway, her brows furrowing slightly. Because of Neji's unusual behavior, a bad premonition, like a dark cloud, quietly enveloped her heart.

Chapter 288 - Locked Affection (10)

Behind the hospital, in a secluded corner surrounded by tall trees and dense shrubs, Neji finally stopped after walking briskly, letting go of her hand, his chest rising and falling slightly with his rapid breathing.

He turned around, his pure white eyes fixed on you, filled with an unprecedented seriousness and urgency. He lowered his voice, "The Konoha higher-ups are going to purge the Uchiha clan. You must be careful!"

As expected, the message arrived without any surprise on your face; you simply looked at Neji's anxious expression.

I never expected that this boy from the Hyuga branch family would take the risk to come and tell you this news.

"I understand." You're just confirming a trivial fact.

This excessive calmness only made Neji more worried. He stepped forward, lowered his voice, and spoke with an almost earnest tone.

"You can come to Hyuga to hide for a while. Given your special circumstances... the clan leader might still be willing to protect you." He was referring to the mysteries about you that even Hyuga found fascinating.

For your safety, he is willing to plead with the main family, even at the cost of his dignity.

You raised your eyes and looked at Neji seriously. The blush on his face, caused by his anxiety and worry, looked somewhat...adorable in the sunlight.

But you shook your head and declined his offer, saying, "I don't need it."

Then you changed the subject, a knowing glint in your dark eyes, "You should be worried about yourself."

For the rigid and meticulous Hyuga branch family, passing on such a message without authorization would undoubtedly be a serious crime.

Neji's cheeks flushed even redder instantly, as if his secret had been exposed. He looked away somewhat embarrassedly, "...I will."

So you guessed everything. This keen insight made his heart pound, but it also made him even more infatuated.

Time was of the essence, and he could not linger any longer.

Neji took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Time is running out... We'll probably meet again at the Ninja Academy."

He paused, his voice hoarse, "You must... take good care of yourself."

After saying that, he didn't hesitate any longer. He looked at you deeply, as if trying to etch your image into his heart. Then he turned around, and with a few leaps, he nimbly disappeared behind the layers of greenery, as if he had never been there.

All that remained was the rustling of leaves in the wind; the news Neji brought didn't stir much emotion in your heart.

My fingertips gently brushed over the throbbing spot on my shoulder, where Sasuke Uchiha had left his teeth marks that morning.

Judging from Itachi Uchiha's plan, besides fulfilling the orders of the Konoha leadership and bearing the stigma of traitor, another crucial purpose of this inevitable massacre of his clan was probably to... stimulate his only younger brother to awaken the Sharingan.

Itachi needed to get Sasuke away to ensure he wasn't at the scene of the massacre, but he also needed to make him 'coincidentally' return afterward to witness the tragedy and experience the extreme emotional impact.

Since that's the case, you should help Itachi out and save him the trouble of getting Sasuke away.

Sasuke's uncontrolled biting in the morning makes you feel very uncomfortable.

But a Sasuke who has experienced the pain of his clan's annihilation, whose heart is filled with hatred and trauma, yet who has no choice but to rely on you... seems to become interesting.

On the day the Uchiha clan was massacred, the sky was an excessively clear blue, and the sunlight was so bright it was almost blinding.

Konoha Village continues to operate according to its established rhythm, with hustle and bustle coexisting with tranquility, as if it were just one of countless ordinary days.

You woke up earlier than usual, and instead of letting your raven-feather-like hair fall loose as usual, you sat by the window of the ward, letting the cool morning light outline your serene profile.

When Sakura Haruno came to visit as usual, you unusually took the initiative to say, "Sakura, help me tie my hair."

Sakura was taken aback for a moment. Although she was puzzled as to why he suddenly cared about her hairstyle, she was more overwhelmed with joy.

Even the smallest thing I can do for you is enough to make Sakura's heart race.

"Okay, okay!" Sakura nodded quickly, walked behind you, and carefully combed your long hair with her fingers.

Your hair was quickly tied up, and you stood up to change into the uniform of the Dark Division, the dark fabric contrasting sharply with your pale skin.

As you prepare to leave the ward, you turn around and walk towards Sakura, who seems a little lost.

Under Sakura's surprised gaze, you leaned slightly closer to her, and the distance between you instantly shrank to the point where you could hear each other's breaths.

Sakura could even count your eyelashes and feel the cool pressure emanating from you. Her heart pounded wildly, almost bursting out of her chest.

"Don't go out tonight, get some rest."

Sakura opened her bright green eyes wide, completely immersed in this sudden closeness and instructions, and nodded subconsciously.

The corners of your mouth seemed to curve slightly. "I'll take you to buy the latest comic books tomorrow."

Her eyes lit up, all her unease and doubts vanished, replaced by anticipation and excitement. She nodded vigorously, "Yes!"

You reached out and gently pinched Sakura's flushed cheeks, then turned and left the ward without hesitation.

Sakura stood there blankly, her fingers involuntarily touching the spot you had just touched, the burning heat spreading rapidly from the point of contact throughout her body.

Why... do I feel like you're becoming more and more charming?

The gentleness within the gloom, the concern within the indifference, makes people know there is danger, yet still can't help but want to get closer and want to absorb more.

She must have been reading too many romance comics lately... Yes, that must be it.

Sakura shook her head violently, trying to suppress the almost offensive, burning emotions deep within her, afraid to think about it further.

The atmosphere in the Dark Unit's rest room was even more somber than usual. Kakashi Hatake leaned against the wall, holding "Icha Icha Paradise" in his hand, but he couldn't concentrate on reading a single word.

When he caught a glimpse of that familiar figure walking in out of the corner of his eye, his body stiffened.

You walked straight toward Kakashi.

Kakashi instinctively turned his face away, avoiding your gaze. He knew what was about to happen tonight. As the captain of the Dark Guard who knew part of the inside story, he could only choose to remain silent, and even... become an accomplice in some way.

How should he face you?

"Kakashi-senpai," you stopped in front of him, "don't you have anything you want to say to me?"

Kakashi clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his lips beneath the mask were pressed together.

What could be said? That the Uchiha clan would be massacred tonight? That all of this was tacitly approved or even promoted by the Konoha leadership? That he was powerless to do anything about it? Any words at this moment seemed so pale and cruel.

A long time passed, so long that Kakashi could almost hear his own heart pounding like a drum, "...No."

He chose to keep it a secret. Perhaps, not knowing it was a form of protection for you? Even though he himself couldn't convince himself of this idea.