Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

When you arrived at the hall, the sight before you made your temples throb. Hidan and Deidara faced each other like two cats with their fur standing on end, one wielding a three-month scythe, the other holding a clay spider that had swelled to twice its original size.

Tables and chairs overturned by the blast wave were scattered around them. Kisame held Samehada and watched coldly, while Kakuzu was busy picking up the scattered banknotes.

"Stop it, all of you!" Your voice wasn't loud, but it made the air freeze instantly.

Your black hair was loosely tied back, with a few stray strands falling beside your cheeks. You were holding a piece of experimental data in your hand, and your brows were slightly furrowed, clearly indicating that you had been interrupted from your work.

Deidara's eyes lit up instantly, like a wild beast that had caught its prey.

"You wicked woman! Do you still remember me?" He grinned, revealing sharp fangs, his tone laced with provocation yet also harboring a subtle expectation.

You stared at him for two seconds, then turned away expressionlessly, saying, "I don't remember."

You've only taken two steps when you suddenly feel a tightness on the back of your collar. Deidara has somehow appeared behind you and grabbed your collar.

"You Akatsuki..." Deidara's blond hair brushed against your ear, "...is this how you treat new members? Hmm?"

Your elbow slammed into your back, and Deidara groaned as he released his grip, but took the opportunity to slip something into your palm—a miniature clay figure of you making a face.

“Art is an explosion,” he whispered in your ear, “but I can’t bear to explode this one, hmm.”

You sighed, your fingers gently tracing the silver scythe at your waist, just as you were about to strike—

"Is the welcome party for the newlyweds this lively?"

Orochimaru's effeminate voice came from the second-floor platform. He leaned against the railing, toying with a test tube in his hand, the liquid inside gleaming an eerie purple under the light.

"Little Tanuki, it seems you're quite popular." He glanced meaningfully at the tense crowd below.

Chapter 121 Enemies

Inside the stone corridor, Deidara's fingers gripped your shoulders like iron clamps, forcefully twisting you around.

The boy's burning palm penetrated the fabric, searing the skin on the back of your neck. "Are you really that averse to seeing me?"

His voice was filled with raging fury, and his blond hair trembled slightly with excitement.

Those deep blue eyes were like the surface of a stormy sea, surging with deeper emotions beneath the anger, like the resentment of an abandoned little animal.

He was so close that you could see the sand and dust from Iwagakure clinging to his eyelashes and smell the gunpowder on him.

"Let go!" Your fingers dug into Deidara's forearm, your nails sinking into his taut muscles.

Deidara not only didn't let go, but instead used his height advantage to pin you against the pillar. The coolness of the stone wall seeped into your back through your clothes, creating a stark contrast with the hot breathing of the boy in front of you.

"I won't let go!" His voice was a little hoarse, his gaze sliding from your furrowed brows to your tightly pursed lips, finally settling on your collarbone as your rapid breathing rose and fell.

A strange flutter made his Adam's apple bob, and his earlobes flushed crimson.

You suddenly lowered your head and bit the inside of his wrist. The moment your canine teeth pierced his skin, Deidara cried out in pain.

As the taste of blood spreads across your tongue, you feel the grip suddenly loosen.

Deidara took two steps back, staring incredulously at the bloody teeth marks on his arm. "Are you a dog?!"

You quickly turned and ran away, but Deidara was faster. He lunged forward to grab the hem of the garment that was about to slip away, but was intercepted by two dark figures halfway there.

Itachi's kunai was held three inches in front of Deidara's throat, the cold light reflecting the crimson glow in his Sharingan eyes. Yahiko's water chakra condensed into a vortex in his palm, causing Deidara's blond hair to dance wildly.

"This isn't a place where you can run wild." Yahiko's voice was as deep as the ocean, and a shadow of malice flashed across his eyes as he swept over your disheveled collar.

"I need to see that wicked woman!" Deidara struggled, veins bulging in his neck. He glared at Itachi's all-seeing eyes, then suddenly felt a pang of guilt. "Don't stop me!"

You look down and straighten your disheveled collar. "Deidara, can you please stop messing around!"

"Me, making a scene?" Deidara's voice suddenly rose, echoing between the stone walls. "It was you who ignored me!" After saying this, he was stunned.

The overly direct accusations revealed too much of his inner thoughts, causing the young artist to blush instantly.

Sasori's puppet fingers silently rested on Deidara's shoulder, the metal joints gleaming coldly. "Deidara, watch your words and actions." Chakra threads, faintly visible, wrapped around the blond boy's neck.

The air seemed to freeze. Kisame's Samehada emitted a bloodthirsty buzzing from the corner, Konan's paper butterflies hovered on the beam, observing the situation. Even Kakuzu temporarily stopped counting his money.

All eyes were focused on the blond boy in the center.

“I don’t care,” Deidara suddenly laughed. “I joined Akatsuki to be with her.” He spoke so softly, almost like talking to himself, yet it was clearly audible in the silent hall.

Itachi's Sharingan narrowed slightly. He saw your fingers, which were adjusting your collar, pause for a moment, and he also saw the almost naive certainty in Deidara's eyes when he said those words.

A bittersweet feeling swelled in his chest, causing him to unconsciously increase the force of his blows.

Sasori's outer shell suddenly disintegrated, and his true form leaped out of the puppet, his pale fingers aimed directly at Deidara's throat. "You fool..."

"Stop!"

Konan's Paper Release separated everyone like an avalanche, with tens of thousands of paper pieces forming a barrier around Nagi, each one inscribed with the spell "Silence".

Yahiko seized the opportunity to pull you behind him, his eyes beneath his headband flashing with rare anger.

"Rookie Code Number One," Nagato reminded him, holding the rules set by the organization, "No harassing your comrades."

Nagato's voice echoed between the stone walls, "Deidara, now that you've joined Akatsuki, you must abide by the organization's rules."

Deidara stubbornly raised his chin. "I know the rules, but my affair with her isn't over yet." As he said this, his gaze was fixed on you like a hook.

Your black hair swayed gently as you shook your head. "Deidara, what do you want?" Your voice was weary.

“I want to partner with you and complete the mission together.” Deidara’s eyes suddenly lit up. He took half a step forward, the soles of his boots scraping against the stone ground with a screeching sound.

You unconsciously step back, thinking, "My partner isn't someone I can just do whatever I want with."

“Why not?” Deidara’s voice suddenly rose, echoing in the stone chamber. “I think we’re a good match!” When he said “good match,” his tongue touched the roof of his mouth, with a strange kind of obsession.

Xiao Nan's blue hair flowed over her shoulders like water. She walked over slowly, her voice gentle yet unyielding, "Stop arguing, calm down first."

Deidara glanced at her, his lips moved, but he ultimately remained silent.

“Deidara,” Konan continued, her voice like a clear spring, “you’ve just joined the organization and there are many things you don’t understand yet. Tanuki also has her own plans, and we will take into account the issue of partners.”

The boy seemed to have all his strength drained away. He suddenly squatted down, hugged his knees, and buried his face in his arms. His blond hair fell down, obscuring his expression, revealing only a reddened tip of his ear.

You stand aside, watching him quietly. Moonlight shines through the cracks in the rocks onto his curled-up figure, as if gilding him with a fragile silver edge.

Suddenly, I recalled the scene when I first met Deidara. He was standing on a clay bird, his cheeks covered in dust, but he was smiling smugly and brightly, as if the whole world was not enough to make him bow his head.

—And now, the way he hugs his knees reminds one of a fledgling bird getting soaked in the rain.

You sighed softly and sat down beside him. The stone steps were cold, and the chill seeped into your skin through your clothes.

The boy's body stiffened visibly for a moment. He turned his face to the other side in a huff, his voice muffled between his knees, "Don't you hate me?" His tone was trying his best to sound nonchalant, but a slight tremor was revealed at the end of his voice.

“I don’t dislike it,” you carefully choose your words, “I just find it troublesome.”

"What's the difference between this and dislike!" Deidara suddenly turned his head, his blue eyes shining brightly.

His cheeks flushed with excitement, and his bangs stood up in a messy updo, like a cat with its fur standing on end.

The emotions in Deidara's eyes were too raw: grievance, anger, resentment, and something deeper, like a soft core hidden under thorns, which could be hurt if one was not careful.

You opened your mouth, but found that words were so pale at this moment, and you didn't understand why this boy could always disrupt your rhythm in the most direct way.

A cool breeze blows, ruffling the stray hairs on your forehead. You lower your eyes, looking at the intertwined shadows on the ground, and suddenly feel tired.

Perhaps you don't not understand, you just dare not understand.

When Deidara saw that you ignored him, his arrogant demeanor instantly wilted, and his golden eyelashes trembled uneasily, like butterfly wings wet with rain.

"What...did I do to you again?!"

His voice suddenly softened, with a slight upward inflection at the end, a coquettish tone he himself didn't even realize.

You glanced at him sideways, and the boy's flustered appearance inexplicably amused you. A playful smile unconsciously curved your lips. "You really are just a child."

This sentence is like a key, instantly unlocking a hidden gate.

The sunlight fell perfectly on your smiling face, the corners of your eyes slightly upturned, and your dark pupils shimmered with a vivid light he had never seen before.

The boy felt his heart suddenly go out of control, pounding so loudly it seemed the entire base could hear it.

"I'm not a child!" He abruptly turned his face away, his ear tips turning so red they were almost bleeding, but his voice rose a few decibels in a boastful manner, his fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of his clothes, crumpling the fabric into messy wrinkles.

This scene was witnessed by everyone.

Yahiko's fists clenched so tightly at his sides that they cracked. He took a half-step forward, but was gently stopped by Konan's paper butterfly. The word "calm down" on the paper was faintly visible under the light.

Sasori's puppet strings had silently wrapped around Deidara's ankle. When he saw the boy's infatuated expression because of your smile, his pale fingertips pierced his palm, and a drop of blood slid down the puppet strings.

Shisui leaned against the wall in the distance, his kunai spinning rapidly. He seemed nonchalant, but every time you got close to Deidara, the kunai's spinning speed would suddenly increase.

Itachi stood in the shadows, the three tomoe in his Sharingan slowly rotating. His expression remained calm, but the shuriken in his sleeve had already torn through the inner lining.

Hidan angrily kicked over a rock at his feet, shouting, "Why should Lord Jashin bother with a brat like this?!"

Shiro looked at you with concern, while Kimimaro silently stepped forward, his bone sword faintly visible in his sleeve.

"I'm his partner."

Sasori suddenly spoke, his metallic voice causing the air to freeze. He slowly walked towards Deidara, his Hiruko shell gleaming coldly under the light.

Nagato raised an eyebrow slightly. "Are you sure?" He looked at Sasori with a questioning gaze.

At this moment, Sasori's gaze was fixed on Deidara, the coldness in his eyes almost freezing into ice. His calculations were very clear: rather than letting this blond brat follow you around all day, it's better to keep an eye on him personally.

Sasori didn't answer, but used the puppet strings to pull Deidara to his side. The boy struggled and protested, "Who wants to play with a puppet like you—uh!" A puppet string precisely sealed his mouth.

"It's settled then." Scorpion looked at you, a dark undercurrent swirling in his eyes. "I will 'properly' mentor the newcomer."

You blinked, suddenly realizing something, and nodded with a soft laugh, "That would be... perfect."

Deidara shook his head desperately under Sasori's grip, but when he saw you turn and leave, he suddenly fell silent because you turned back and winked at him, your lips silently saying, "Be a good boy."

This small movement made Deidara forget to struggle for a moment, and also made him not notice the dangerous glint in Sasori's eyes. The boy's golden hair fell down, covering his red cheeks, but not the curve of his lips that was secretly raised.

At the end of the corridor, Hidan angrily tugged at Kakuzu's sleeve, "Why did that blond brat—"

"Shut up." Kakuzu counted the crumpled banknotes. "If you keep making noise, I'll sell you to a money exchange."

Back in the lab, Orochimaru licked his lips and glanced at the gloomy faces of the others. "Looks like someone's going to have insomnia."

As night deepened, some people tossed and turned in the Akatsuki's base, some secretly plotted, and others stared blankly at the crooked clay figurines.

And all of this stemmed from that strange Uchiha girl.

The sky over the Land of Rain was always shrouded in dark clouds, and fine rain fell like sorrowful threads, as if the entire country was immersed in a gloomy melancholy.

The streets of the capital were unusually deserted after being washed by the rain. Deep puddles had formed on the stone pavement, and only a few pedestrians hurried by, splashing up murky water.

The atmosphere in front of the Daming Prefecture was as heavy as the oppressive weather.

Upon seeing you, the guards immediately gripped their weapons tightly and shouted loudly,

"Halt! Who goes there?"

Their voices sounded particularly harsh in the rain, trembling slightly, clearly intimidated by the powerful ninja aura emanating from you and Yahiko.

"Go and inform the Daimyo that the leader of Akatsuki and Tanuki have come to negotiate with him." Yahiko's voice was deep and powerful, as if there was an invisible pressure that made the surrounding air heavy.

The guards exchanged a glance, hesitated for a moment, but seeing the unwavering expressions on Yahiko and your face, they turned and hurriedly went inside to report.

A moment later, the guard came out, his face pale. "The daimyo agrees to see you. Come with me."

Yahiko and you enter the Daimyo's mansion and walk through a long corridor. The walls on both sides of the corridor are covered with paintings depicting the history of the Land of Rain, but no one is in the mood to appreciate them at this moment.

You have arrived at a spacious and magnificent hall, which is luxuriously decorated. The pillars are carved with exquisite patterns, and the floor is covered with a thick red carpet, so soft that you can hardly hear your footsteps.

The daimyo of the Land of Rain sat in the highest seat in the hall, dressed in magnificent robes embroidered with gold thread and precious gems, highlighting his noble status.

His face was slightly overweight, and his eyes revealed arrogance and indifference, as he tried to use this superior attitude to cover up his inner unease.

"So you're from Akatsuki? Hmph, just say what you want." The Daimyo's voice was deep and hoarse, carrying the authority and pressure of a superior, but beneath this authority, one could vaguely detect a lack of confidence.

Yahiko stepped forward and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your Excellency, we have come here today to discuss the future of the Land of Rain. Under your rule, the Land of Rain is currently plagued by frequent wars, and the lives of ordinary people are extremely difficult."

"Our Akatsuki organization has the capability and determination to change this situation. We will take over the political and military power of the Land of Rain and lead this country back to prosperity."

His words were concise and clear, yet every word carried weight.

Upon hearing Yahiko's words, the Daimyo's face instantly turned ashen. "Insolence! Your Akatsuki organization is nothing but a bunch of rogue ninjas, daring to covet my country! You're dreaming!"

Chapter 122 Farce

His voice became shrill with anger, his hands gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, and his body trembled slightly, as if he was trying his best to control his emotions.

You stand aside and sneer, "Your Excellency, do you think you have any other choice? Your country is beset by internal and external troubles, and your army is suffering defeat after defeat against the rebels. You have lost control of the situation."