Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Hinata Hatozaki was taken aback, clearly not expecting you to be so direct.

He pondered for a moment, "In my opinion, this marriage is nothing more than a political deal between families. You and I both know the entanglements of interests behind it."

You nodded to yourself, somewhat surprised by Hinata Hatozaki's frankness.

“In that case, why should we waste each other’s time? This marriage was doomed from the start,” you said bluntly.

Hinata Hatozaki looked at you, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. "I agree with your opinion, but we still have to give the family an explanation."

After thinking for a moment, you suggested, "How about this, we pretend to spend some time together, and then find a suitable reason to end this arranged marriage. This way, we can give our families an explanation without affecting our individual lives."

Hinata Hatozaki nodded in agreement, and after reaching a consensus, they began this "fake" interaction.

As you stroll along the streets of your clan's territory, sunlight streams down, casting long, thin shadows on the ground. The oppressive feeling of being watched is like an invisible net, enveloping you.

You and Hinata Hatozaki inadvertently exchanged glances, and both of you caught the disgust in each other's eyes for this kind of surveillance.

Hinata Hatozaki's gaze shifted, and suddenly, as if remembering something, he gestured slightly, indicating that he wanted you to come closer.

You paused for a moment, realizing that, apart from Madara Uchiha, you had almost never been this close to any other member of the opposite sex.

But considering the inherent nobility of the Hyuga clan, you hesitated for a moment before slowly approaching.

Hinata Hatozaki caught a whiff of the faint, bitter fragrance emanating from you, and his heart stirred. Before coming to the Uchiha clan's territory, the clan had already gathered a great deal of information about the Uchiha assassins.

“I heard there’s a portrait gallery in the Uchiha clan’s territory. Why don’t we go in and hide? That way, those people watching us won’t be able to go in openly.” Hyuga Kyuzaki suggested in a low voice, based on what he knew.

You glanced subtly at the clansmen who were monitoring you, and nodded slightly in agreement.

To the ninjas watching, their actions appeared as intimate whispers, instantly creating an ambiguous atmosphere.

Soon, Hinata Hatozaki and you stepped into the portrait gallery, where a faint scent of ink filled the air.

The ninjas monitoring you looked at each other, at a loss outside the gallery. They had received orders from their superiors to simply observe the situation from outside the gallery.

Chapter 18·Portrait

The portrait shop owner was a petite middle-aged woman dressed in plain linen clothes. Upon seeing you and Hyuga Hatozaki's ninja attire, she immediately became terrified, her voice trembling, "My lords, what are you going to...?"

Hinata Hatozaki noticed the fear in the woman's eyes and smiled reassuringly, "We're here to have our portraits drawn, there's no need to be nervous."

Upon hearing this, the woman secretly breathed a sigh of relief and respectfully said, "Please follow me into the elegant room inside, gentlemen."

As you follow the boss, you carefully observe the layout of the portrait studio.

On both sides of the spacious front hall, there are many exquisite paintings, each one lifelike, recording the history and glory of the Uchiha clan.

Meanwhile, Hatozaki chatted with the owner, talking about everything from everyday matters to the operation of the portrait studio, trying to create a relaxed atmosphere and put the owner at ease.

Upon entering the elegant room, we found it simply yet tastefully furnished. A carved chaise lounge sat in the center, next to a painting table with brushes, paints, and paper neatly arranged on it. The owner pointed to the chaise lounge, gesturing for us to sit down.

So, you sit on the far left, and Hinata Hatozaki sits on the far right.

The woman sat in front of the easel, looking at the large distance between the two men, and an awkward expression appeared on her face.

"Excuse me, could you two please come a little closer?" she said cautiously.

You and Hinata Hatozaki exchanged a glance, a hint of unease flashing in your eyes. Then you both slowly moved closer together, stopping when the distance was reduced to thirty centimeters.

"Is this how you two are supposed to be?" The woman asked again, holding her paintbrush.

"That's all, thank you for your hard work." Hatozaki replied with a gentle smile.

Your face remained expressionless, but inwardly you were plotting how to become a high-ranking political figure in the Land of Wind.

For the rest of the time, the only sound in the room was the scratching of paintbrushes on the paper.

Hyuga Hatozaki outwardly cooperated with the portrait drawing, but his eyes kept glancing at the doorway, pondering how to use this opportunity to obtain more information about the Uchiha clan and secure benefits for the Hyuga clan.

Several hours passed, and the woman finally finished her paintings. She handed the two portraits to Hinata Hatozaki and you respectively.

"I had a pleasant day, thank you, Nagi-sama." Hinata Hatozaki put down the portrait and said politely.

You nodded calmly. "It's getting late, everyone should get some rest."

As you stepped out of the portrait gallery, the ninjas watching outside immediately became alert. You parted ways as if nothing had happened and headed towards your respective residences.

The stone path was steaming, and the cicadas chirped incessantly from the branches, their noise making one feel restless and irritable.

Uchiha Kawanashi wore a light purple kimono, her hair was tied into a ponytail at the back of her head, and a few wisps of hair playfully fell beside her cheeks.

At this moment, she was carrying an exquisite food box, which contained pastries she had made herself, as she wandered through the intricate alleyways.

Soon, she arrived at a somewhat quaint house, and after confirming that no one was around, she slowly approached.

Just as she was about to reach out and push open the door, a cold voice suddenly rang out from behind her, "What are you doing?"

She shuddered violently, and the food box slipped from her hand, scattering the pastries all over the floor with a "thud," leaving a mess.

Chuan Lan turned around in alarm and saw you staring at her with a puzzled look on your face.

You are tall and slender, your black robe fluttering slightly in the wind, your pale face devoid of color, and your deep eyes revealing an unfathomable expression.

"Ah! Elder Nagi! Why do you walk so quietly? You scared me to death!" Chuan Lan patted his chest, trying to calm his racing heart.

After saying that, she immediately squatted down and hurriedly tidied up the snacks on the ground.

You frowned slightly, not understanding what had happened, but you still bent down and started tidying up with Chuan Lan.

Just then, a strong, bitter aroma wafted over. Chuan Lan's nostrils twitched, and she subconsciously asked, "Hmm? Does Elder Nagi really like bitter tastes?"

Your hands, which were tidying up, suddenly stopped. After a moment of silence, you continued tidying up without answering.

Before long, the outside was finally cleaned up, and you pushed open the door and entered, with Chuan Lan following closely behind.

Although the furnishings inside were not luxurious, they were not monotonous either. Chuan Lan looked around curiously, and soon her gaze was drawn to the small stove in the corner.

On the stove, a flat clay pot was steaming, and the bitter smell was coming from it. Chuan Lan instantly understood where that lingering bitter smell on you came from.

“Elder Nagi…” Chuan Lan’s voice carried a hint of guilt, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know about your health condition!”

You gently set the scroll aside, then picked up the earthenware pot from the stove and slowly poured the medicinal soup into the medicine bowl.

The dark brown liquid was steaming and emitted a pungent, bitter smell.

Chuan Lan frowned as she looked at the bowl of medicine, just imagining the taste.

It was the height of summer, and the heat from the stove made the room feel like a steamer. Chuan Lan's cheeks were flushed red, and large beads of sweat rolled down her forehead.

You noticed that Chuan Lan looked uncomfortable, so you silently walked to the window and opened it. A cool breeze blew in, taking away some of the heat, and Chuan Lan felt a little better.

You picked up the medicine bowl, tilted your head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

Chuan Lan stared at the scene in shock, her mouth slightly agape, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Elder Nagi can actually drink the bitter medicine without even frowning. She's truly a unique person!"

You were puzzled by Chuanlan's praise. Taking medicine was just a daily necessity, nothing to be surprised about.

"Chuanlan, why did you come to find me?" you finally asked, your voice cold and calm.

Chuan Lan scratched his head, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face. "I... I just heard that Elder Nagi lives here, and I was a little curious, so I wanted to come and see. Also, I made some snacks, and I wanted you to try them."

As she said this, a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, "It's a pity, they were all broken."

Looking at Chuan Lan, a warm feeling welled up in your heart. It had been a long time since anyone had cared about you like this since your younger brother died.

You opened your mouth slightly, as if you wanted to say something, but in the end you didn't say anything.

Chuanlan wasn't embarrassed by your silence. Her gaze swept around the room, and she suddenly remembered the ninja cat she had seen before. Her curiosity was instantly ignited, and she turned to look at you, who was tidying up the medicine jars.

"Elder Nagi, where is your ninja cat?"

The image of the jet-black ninja cat appeared in my mind. These past few days, I had been dealing with the covert surveillance of my former subordinates, and my nerves were constantly on edge, causing me to overlook many everyday things around me.

It was only after Kawanashi mentioned it that you realized you hadn't seen Ninja Cat for quite some time.

"Meow—"

You walk quickly to the door and see the black ninja cat sitting leisurely on the threshold, its tail swaying gently.

Upon seeing you, the ninja cat's eyes lit up instantly, and it leaped up, landing steadily on your lap.

You caught the ninja cat somewhat unexpectedly. The ninja cat nestled comfortably in your arms, purring happily.

"Hungry?" you murmured softly, carrying the cat ninja to the table and rummaging through the clutter for food the cat could eat.

In the chaos, the scroll beside them accidentally rolled to the ground.

Seeing your flustered state, Chuan Lan couldn't help but laugh out loud, then immediately explained, "Elder Nagi, the cat isn't hungry. It likes you a lot and is just being affectionate."

"Acting cute?" You paused, a hint of curiosity flashing in your eyes.

Hold the ninja cat high up and observe it closely. The ninja cat seems to sense your gaze, squints its eyes, and rubs against your palm more affectionately.

Chuan Lan bent down to pick up the scroll from the ground, and as soon as she unfurled it, she froze.

In the painting, Nagi Uchiha sits next to a Byakugan-wielding boy. Although neither of them is smiling, the relationship between them is hard to describe.

The boy's Byakugan was highly distinctive, clearly indicating that he was a member of the Hyuga clan.

Kawanashi remembered that the young clan leader, Uchiha Madara, seemed to care a great deal about Elder Nagi.

"Elder Nagi, are the Hyuga clan members in this painting your friends?" Kawara looked up, her eyes full of curiosity.

You then remembered the painting, gently placed the ninja cat on the ground, and calmly explained, "The person in the painting is the young head of the Hyuga clan, who should be my marriage partner at present."

"Huh?" Chuan Lan's eyes widened in shock, her mind instantly going blank.

Elder Nagi has a marriage prospect. If the young clan leader, Madara Uchiha, finds out, given how much he cares about Nagi, wouldn't he go crazy?

Just as Chuanlan was lost in thought, the ninja cat who overheard your conversation suddenly flashed its red eyes.

"Then young clan leader..." Before Chuan Lan could finish speaking, the ninja cat rushed over like a gust of wind, snatched the scroll, and nimbly jumped out of the window.

You and Chuanlan were both stunned by this sudden turn of events.

"Elder Nagi, I'm sorry, I didn't know Ninja Cat would suddenly act like this." Chuan Lan said with a face full of guilt, and hurriedly apologized.

"It's alright, you go back first, the cat will be back soon." You waved your hand, your words carrying a hidden meaning.

Although Chuan Lan felt something was off, since you've already said that, she couldn't stay any longer.

After saying goodbye, Uchiha Kawarashi walked home along the winding street, still puzzled by what had just happened.

After Chuan Lan left, the room fell silent.

You slowly walk to the window, gazing in the direction the ninja cat has gone. The image of Uchiha Madara clearly appears in your mind, and you strongly suspect that this ninja cat has some connection with him.

"Could it really be you?" You know that all you have to do is wait quietly, and that person will soon come to you.

Ban sat alone in the dimly lit room, the walls around him seemingly swallowed by darkness, with only a flickering candle casting shadows on his face.

He clutched the scroll he had obtained from the ninja cat tightly in his hand. The image of Nagi and Hinata Hatozaki sitting side by side in the painting was like a sharp blade, piercing his heart.

His eyes were icy cold, and he exuded a chilling aura. The ninja cat beside him squatted obediently on the ground, its red eyes flashing eerily in the darkness, occasionally letting out low whimpers, as if sensing its master's anger.

Meanwhile, in the living room of the clan head's residence, Uchiha Tajima and his sons were sitting around the dining table, waiting for Madara's arrival.

The exquisite dishes gleamed enticingly in the candlelight, but no one had any appetite for them. Suddenly, a rapid knocking on the door shattered the silence like a thunderclap. Izuna quickly got up and strode to open the door.

Fire Core was filled with anxiety and his breathing was rapid. As soon as he saw Tajima, he shouted, "Clan Chief, something bad has happened! The young clan chief has killed several elders of the old clan and is now heading to the inn where the young clan chief of Hyuga is staying."

Upon hearing this, the people inside the room were instantly stunned and stood frozen in place, their expressions frozen, as if time had stood still at that moment.

After a brief silence, everyone came to their senses and hurriedly followed the fire core as they rushed outside.

Tajima was well aware of Madara's feelings for Uchiha Nagi. In order to quell the turmoil caused by his old subordinates, he had no choice but to agree to let Nagi and the young Hyuga clan leader spend some time together, thinking that this marriage would ultimately fail.

Unexpectedly, Madara found out about this and took such an extreme action. Knowing Madara's personality, Tajima unconsciously increased the speed of his steps.

Hinata Hatozaki was talking with his confidants in a hotel room, discussing politics.

With a loud bang, the door was kicked open with great force, sending splinters of wood flying. The two looked up in confusion and saw Ban standing in the doorway with a gloomy face, looking menacing.

Hinata Hatozaki knew Madara; they had met a few times at various clan gatherings.

However, they didn't have much interaction, and Madara's sudden appearance filled Hinata Hatozaki with doubt.

"Young clan leader of the Uchiha clan, what are you doing here?" A trusted confidant reacted quickly, standing in front of Hyuga Hatozaki and looking at Madara warily.

Madara's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, fell coldly on Hyuga Hatozaki's face, a mocking sneer curling at the corner of his mouth, "This is the pretty boy who wants to marry into the Uchiha clan, he looks nothing special."

Upon hearing this, Hinata Hatozaki did not show any anger on his face. Instead, he smiled and replied, "It is indeed my honor to be able to marry Nagi-sama."

These seemingly humble words sounded like a provocation to Ban.

An intense killing intent surged in his eyes, and his chakra surged wildly, just as Madara was about to make his move.