Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

As she spoke, she glanced disdainfully at Shikaku, who was snickering beside her.

Shikaku received a look from his wife, coughed twice, suppressed his smile, put on a fatherly air, and asked the most crucial question.

"Shikamaru, I remember that you've always hated trouble, whether it's interpersonal relationships or unnecessary things. You try to avoid anything that might cause trouble. But you seem to treat this Uchiha Nagi very differently. Why is that?"

This question shattered the calm that Shikamaru was trying to maintain. Why? He had also pondered this question inadvertently on countless lazy afternoons when he gazed at the clouds.

Is it because of your eerie black eyes? Or because of the pure innocence that occasionally shines through your eyes, so different from your cold exterior?

Or is it simply because you are Uchiha Nagi, an existence that inherently represents trouble and mystery, yet he cannot easily push you away like he would any other trouble?

Chapter 328 Summer Festival Dance (2)

Complex emotions surged within him, but Shikamaru ultimately avoided his parents' probing gazes, let out a big yawn, and covered it up with his usual lazy tone.

"...I don't want to answer." After saying that, he ignored his parents' teasing looks behind him and walked straight towards his room, his back view carrying a hint of fleeing.

Yoshino did not give up even after watching her son close the bedroom door.

She knew her son's personality well; he seemed to hate trouble, but in reality, he was meticulous and, once he made up his mind about something, his stubbornness was stronger than anyone else's.

She raised her voice, seemingly casually reminding him towards Shikamaru's room, "Shikamaru! The summer festival is in two weeks! Shouldn't you prepare your yukata in advance? Don't be scrambling around later! And I heard that your ninja academy is going to have a large joint ceremony to coincide with the festival!"

Her voice pierced the door clearly, and Shikamaru, who was originally planning to continue lounging around contemplating life, stopped in his tracks.

Summer Festival...

He was silent for a moment, then walked to his desk and opened the calendar on it.

Today is July 1st.

July 3rd is Hyuga Neji's birthday.

July 7th is Kiba Inuzuka's birthday.

The summer festival officially begins on July 15th and continues until the end of July.

During this period, it also coincided with Uchiha Sasuke's birthday on July 23.

Why are so many people having birthdays this month? Shikamaru rubbed his temples, feeling his headache, which had just subsided, starting to flare up again.

Especially Sasuke's birthday, combined with the possible events of last night, made him feel like he had a lump of cotton stuck in his throat, making him feel suffocated.

He knew his mother was deliberately reminding him: summer festivals, yukatas, fireworks, celebrations... these were all elements brimming with ambiguity and youthful energy.

Given your tendency to attract trouble, the scene will likely be quite lively.

Shikamaru leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. He did have an idea.

But he never fights unprepared battles. Blindly rushing in to curry favor will only appear foolish and ineffective, especially when dealing with someone who is exceptionally perceptive and difficult to please.

He needs intelligence and strategy.

"Perhaps... we should inquire about the other people's summer festival plans beforehand, especially those guys' plans, before making any decisions."

Shikamaru muttered to himself, his mind flashing rapidly through Sasuke's cold face, Naruto's boisterous manner, Neji's aloof figure, Kiba's straightforward personality, and even Rock Lee's burning youth...

And, most importantly, Haruno Sakura, who seems to be the closest to you now.

Footsteps stopped in front of your desk. You looked up and saw Uchiha Sasuke standing in front of you, holding a stack of scrolls in his hand. His expression was as indifferent as ever, but his gaze seemed to sweep across your lips.

"Your weekly journal." Sasuke's voice was cool and businesslike as he extended his hand to you.

Instead of acting immediately, you turned your head and gently nudged Nara Shikamaru, who was catching up on sleep at the table, with your elbow.

Shikamaru groggily raised his head, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He first saw you, then his gaze fell on Sasuke standing in front of the table. His sleepiness instantly vanished, and a hint of wariness and distance appeared in his eyes.

"Give him the weekly journal," you said, reminding him.

Shikamaru then remembered that the journal entry you wrote yesterday was still with him, the one you didn't take with you when you left.

Silently, he took out two scrolls from his desk, one for him and the other for you, and handed them over together.

Sasuke's eyes suddenly turned cold as he looked at the two diary scrolls placed side by side, the handwriting clearly from the same person.

Shikamaru and your weekly journal were handed in at the same time? Is it a coincidence, or...?

Sasuke didn't say anything, but simply accepted the scroll with a blank expression.

In the instant he turned to leave, Sasuke's slender fingers subtly separated the two scrolls, casually stuffing Shikamaru's scroll into the middle, while deliberately placing yours at the very bottom of his weekly journal.

It's as if this way you can closely connect your name with his, and keep that annoying Nara Shikamaru away.

This small movement was swift and almost unnoticed, but it was clearly observed by Shikamaru, who had been watching him out of the corner of his eye.

Shikamaru's wariness and hostility towards Sasuke deepened even further.

Just then, the classroom door was suddenly flung open, and Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno rushed in, their faces beaming with excitement.

Ino leaped onto the podium, hands on her hips, a bright smile on her face, and shouted, "Classmates! Quiet! I have some amazing news, do you want to know?"

The classroom, which was originally filled with various sounds—playing around, chatting, doing homework, and discussing ninjutsu—suddenly fell silent.

Everyone looked curiously at Ino, who was standing on the podium with great enthusiasm.

What would Ino consider incredibly good news at the ninja academy?

Having successfully captured everyone's attention, Ino cleared her throat with satisfaction and solemnly announced, "Just received confirmation! From July 15th until the end of July, our Ninja Academy will have a short holiday!"

"Wow—!" The first wave of cheers immediately rang out. For the ninja academy students with heavy academic workloads, the long holiday was undoubtedly the greatest blessing.

But Ino wasn't finished. She raised her voice, drowning out the cheers, and dropped another bombshell, "And! More importantly! The school has decided to hold a grand summer festival dance on the evening of July 18th, in conjunction with Konoha Village's summer festival!"

"The location is the school's large training ground! Everyone in Konoha Village, whether ninja or villagers, can participate! You can dress up as you like, and most importantly—you can find your own dance partner!"

"prom?!"

"Freely finding a dance partner?!"

"Oh my god! This is amazing!"

The classroom erupted in excitement! Putting aside the long-awaited summer festival, the mere mention of a dance and free dance partners was enough to make these young men and women, just beginning to experience romantic feelings, feel their hearts flutter.

This is something that has never happened before! It seems that this year's Konoha Summer Festival is unprecedented in scale and is destined to be extraordinary.

You look around at the enthusiasm that has instantly ignited, and you don't quite understand this collective excitement. The dance? The partner? It doesn't seem to have anything particularly appealing.

When his gaze turned to Sakura beside him, he saw that her bright green eyes were sparkling, and her face was filled with undisguised anticipation and excitement as she excitedly discussed with Ino what kind of yukata to wear.

You didn't want to seem out of place, and especially didn't want to spoil Sakura's fun, so you copied the way the people around you did, trying your best to make an expression that looked like you were interested.

"Nagi-chan! Nagi-chan!" Naruto was the first to lose his temper, forgetting even the diary he was writing halfway through. His blue eyes shone brightly as he excitedly shouted, "Summer Festival Dance! I want to be your partner! Let's be a team!"

"Idiot Naruto! Don't even think about it!" Before you could even respond, Sakura Haruno immediately stood in front of Naruto with her hands on her hips, like a mother hen protecting her chicks, her tone resolute.

"Nagi would never team up with a loser like you!" she instinctively defended you.

Naruto started shouting indignantly, and Sakura retorted just as fiercely. The two immediately started arguing fiercely at your table.

Amidst the commotion, Nara Shikamaru had somehow sat up straight, leaning slightly closer to your ear.

His voice was very low, "Hey, deskmate...it's time you paid back the favor I did for you last time, right?"

His words were like a clear command, piercing through Naruto and Sakura's argument and reaching your ears directly.

Meeting Shikamaru's unusually clear and serious eyes, he didn't say it outright, but his intention was obvious: he was asking for a dance partner.

Your gaze passes over Shikamaru and falls on Sakura, who is already planning with Ino to wear matching yukatas.

It seems that Ino and Sakura have already made a promise to each other to be dance partners.

As long as Sakura isn't taken away by Sasuke, nothing else matters.

So, under Shikamaru's watchful gaze, tinged with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, and amidst the background noise of Naruto and Sakura arguing nearby, you nodded, "Okay."

A simple syllable, yet it instantly filled Shikamaru's heart with joy and a sense of victory.

He succeeded! Before Sasuke and Naruto, who were clearly more threatening opponents, he secured his place by doing you a favor.

All of this was observed by Sasuke Uchiha, who was watching the commotion. He saw Shikamaru whisper in your ear, and you nod in agreement. A certain resentment was brewing deep in his eyes.

The school bell ignited everyone's energy, and the crowd surged out of the classroom like a tide. Before you could even tidy up your desk, you were firmly grabbed by two hands, one on your left and one on your right.

"Hurry up, Nagi! If we're any later, all the pretty yukatas will be taken!" Sakura Haruno said urgently, her face flushed with excitement.

"That's right! There's a dance at the summer festival this year, we have to pick the prettiest one!" Yamanaka Ino's eyes also lit up, and without saying another word, she dragged you toward the famous clothing street outside the school.

You felt somewhat helpless, but you didn't try to break free. You passively followed the two of them through the bustling streets.

Inside the clothing store, the kimono fabrics were colorful, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of new fabrics and incense.

Sakura and Ino wandered among the clothes racks, picking up one yukata after another, holding them up in front of them, commenting on each other's opinions, their laughter ringing out.

"How about this cherry blossom pink one? It really complements my skin tone!"

"Inoboro, yours is too flashy! Look at mine, this light blue one, isn't it so elegant?"

"What do you know about a broad forehead! This is called glamorous!"

You sit quietly in the store's rest area, leaning against a soft cushion, watching them exude energy.

A yukata is just clothing, and a ball is just an event; neither is as appealing as a high-difficulty ANBU mission.

Her sharp and edgy demeanor clashed with the warm and girly atmosphere of the store, drawing curious glances from the staff and other customers from time to time.

Just as Sakura and Ino were having a great time trying on clothes, the shop door was pushed open again, the wind chimes rang crisply, and Hinata Hyuga walked in somewhat timidly.

When she saw you, Sakura, and Ino in the store, her fair cheeks instantly flushed red, and her heart raced, especially when her gaze fell on you.

Memories of her bold confession while drunk on Saturday flooded back, making her wish she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

"Hinata, you're here to buy a yukata too!" Sakura greeted Hinata warmly upon seeing her, temporarily putting down the clothes she was carrying.

"...Yes, yes, that's right." Hinata responded softly, but her gaze quickly darted in your direction.

Seeing that you simply looked back at her calmly, without showing any disgust or mockery, Hinata felt a little relieved and secretly encouraged herself: It's okay, Nagi is very friendly...

Hinata's furtive glances at you did not escape Ino Yamanaka's keen observation.

Her eyes lit up, and she immediately put on an incredibly enthusiastic smile, grabbing Hinata's arm. "Hinata, you've come at the perfect time! Come help me see which of these two is better? I really can't decide on my own!"

Ino subtly pulled Hinata out of your sight, half-forcibly leading her to the other side of the shop, and began to have a heated discussion about the colors and styles of yukatas, trying to distract her.

You find the wait incredibly boring, and the warm air inside the shop and the deepening twilight outside the window induce a slight drowsiness.

I leaned back a bit, adjusted to a more comfortable position, slowly closed my eyes, and drifted into a light sleep amidst the noise.

After some time, a familiar dog barking woke you from your sleep.

You open your eyes to find the store already lit up with warm lights, while the sky outside is completely dark.

Sakura, Ino, and Hinata seem to have made their final choice and are waiting in line at the cashier to pay.

The source of the dog's barking was Akamaru.

Kiba Inuzuka had also arrived at the store at some point and was standing in front of a special pet clothing counter, holding up a dog vest with flame patterns on Akamaru while muttering to himself.

"Akamaru, what do you think of this? We need to look our best for the summer festival!"

Akamaru didn't seem to like the vest very much, and he twisted his body and made a sound of protest.

By this time, Hinata had already paid the bill and was carrying an elegantly packaged bag.

As if she had suddenly remembered something important, she turned around to face Sakura, Ino, and you, who had just woken up. Her voice was still not loud, but it carried obvious expectation and courage.

"Um... tomorrow, tomorrow is Neji's birthday. After school... would you all like to come to the Hyuga's house with me? Neji said you'd all be very welcome."

Chapter 329 Summer Festival Dance (3)

"What?! Neji's birthday is tomorrow?" Ino exclaimed first, her face full of surprise.

"Why didn't you tell us beforehand? It was so sudden, we didn't even have time to prepare a gift," Sakura chimed in, her tone tinged with annoyance.

Although Hyuga Neji is powerful, he is arrogant and doesn't interact much with others. But he is Hinata's brother after all, so his birthday gift can't be too impolite.

Hinata quickly waved her hand to explain, "It's... it's my brother who told me not to tell him in advance... He felt that everyone is busy with their studies, and he was already very happy that they could come to celebrate with him. He didn't want everyone to spend money to prepare gifts."

"I see..." Ino nodded in understanding, then patted her chest and confidently assured, "Don't worry, Hinata! We'll definitely invite everyone to come! We'll make sure Neji has a lively and unforgettable birthday!"

Hearing their conversation, Ya immediately chimed in with a grin, "My birthday is on Sunday! A few days after Neji's! You'd better prepare a present for me in advance! I won't mind!"

His matter-of-fact manner left the girls speechless for a moment, falling into a brief silence.

"...Okay." Sakura finally replied helplessly. After all, they were classmates, and everyone was used to Kiba's straightforward personality.