Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

A meow made you reluctantly lift your head, and a jet-black ninja cat gracefully leaped onto the windowsill, its red pupils gleaming in the darkness.

You try to stand up, but instead you fall forward.

Instead of the expected cold ground, a pair of strong arms caught your falling body, and the familiar scent of sandalwood enveloped you—the incense that Ban often used.

"Uchiha Nagi!" Madara's voice carried a rare hint of panic.

He supported the back of your neck with one hand, and reached down to your forehead with the other, feeling its icy touch. "Another attack of the cold poison? Why didn't you say so sooner?"

You wanted to answer, but you could only cough up a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto your dark blue tribal robe.

You can vaguely see that Ban's brows are furrowed, and his usually calm and composed eyes are now filled with emotions you can't understand.

"Hang in there." Madara's voice was deep and firm. He picked you up and carried you to the tatami mat in the inner room.

You feel your body being gently lowered, and then Ban's warm palms are placed on your cool waist and abdomen.

A stream of pure chakra slowly flowed in, temporarily suppressing the rampant cold poison. The pain lessened slightly, and you were finally able to see Madara's face, which was right in front of you. His tightly pursed lips and taut jawline showed that he was trying his best to control something.

"The medicine...is all gone..." you managed to squeeze out a few words.

Ban's eyes darkened. "Why didn't you tell me? As your lover, I have the right to know about your physical condition."

You turned your face away, not wanting Ban to see the vulnerability in your eyes.

"I'm sorry." Your voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

Madara did not respond, but continued to channel chakra. His fingers tightened slightly at his waist, and the warmth of his palms emanated through his thin clothes, causing your heart to beat faster uncontrollably.

After an unknown amount of time, you finally fell into a deep sleep.

Half-asleep, you feel someone gently brush away the stray hairs from your forehead, and a warm body embraces you from behind, dispelling the lingering chill within you.

When you wake up again, it is already late at night.

You find yourself being held tightly in Ban's arms, one of his hands even reaching inside your clothes, pressing directly against your waist. Ban's head rests against your collarbone, his breathing even and long.

You froze; this had far exceeded the acceptable limit. "Madara..."

Ban immediately opened his eyes, his dark pupils like deep pools in the moonlight. When your eyes met, you could see the undisguised concern in his eyes.

"I'm here." Ban's voice was hoarse from just waking up, and his hand on his waist tightened slightly, as if confirming your presence.

You felt a pang of panic and gently nudged him, saying, "It's late."

Instead of letting go immediately, Ban lowered his head and kissed the corner of your lips. "Don't you want me to stay the night?"

"Don't joke around." You turned your head away, but couldn't avoid the light kiss. You could feel that Ban's lips were a little dry, with a faint tea fragrance.

"I never joke with you." Ban's thumb stroked your cold cheek, finally letting go reluctantly.

In the end, he got up and left. His back paused for a moment in front of the paper door, as if he wanted to say something, but he ultimately did not turn around.

You waited until his footsteps completely disappeared before you loosened your fist, which you had unconsciously clenched, leaving four crescent-shaped bloodstains on your palm...

“Uchiha Tajima,” Senju Butsuma’s booming voice pulled you back to reality, “Our two clans have fought for a thousand years, with rivers of blood flowing. Today, my Senju clan is willing to put aside our hatred and propose an alliance.”

Tajima sneered, "An alliance? When did the Senju clan become so naive? My Uchiha Sharingan won't close just because of a few nice words."

Hashirama Senju stepped forward. "Lord Tajima, war will only bring more sacrifices. If our two races join forces—"

"Hashirama!" Butsuma shouted sharply, "Step back! This is none of your business!"

You notice that Madara's body leans slightly forward, as if he instinctively wants to stand on Hashirama's side.

Madara's subtle movements did not escape Tobirama's eyes. He narrowed his red eyes and placed his hand on his ninja tool pouch.

Izuna coughed lightly at the opportune moment, and Madara immediately resumed his indifferent demeanor.

“Father,” Madara began, his voice steady, “Hashirama’s words are not without reason. Our people are exhausted from years of war.”

Tajima's sharp gaze shifted to his son. "Are you questioning my decision?"

“No, I’m just suggesting another possibility,” Madara said calmly. “The Uchiha clan needs to recuperate.”

If you stand behind Ban, you can clearly see the taut lines of his back muscles.

Madara now has to uphold the dignity of the Uchiha clan while also pushing forward his vision of reconciliation with the Senju.

Just then, Izuna suddenly spoke up, "Brother is right, but..."

He gave Hashirama a meaningful look. "What we need is not weakness and peace, but to make the Senju clan pay for their crimes!"

"Izuna!" Madara gave his younger brother a warning look.

The atmosphere at the negotiating table became even more tense. You felt the chilling poison stirring within your body again, and cold sweat trickled down your back.

Concentrate. If a conflict breaks out now, you must protect the safety of the Uchiha.

Tobirama Senju suddenly sneered, "See, brother? This is the Uchiha you trust. Their so-called peace is just another way of saying we should surrender."

Hashirama shook his head in anguish, "No, Tobirama, Madara..."

"Enough!" Senju Butsuma slammed his fist on the table. "Uchiha Tajima, it seems we can't reach any agreement today. You Uchiha either accept an unconditional ceasefire, or continue the war!"

Tajima's three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotated in his eyes. "Then let's continue the war."

Your heart sank as you saw despair flash across Madara and Hashirama's faces simultaneously.

“Clan Chief, we lost seven elite soldiers in last month’s mission. Continuing the war will only weaken the Uchiha’s strength.” You suddenly spoke, your voice not loud but clear enough.

"It seems the Uchiha assassins have all learned to interrupt," Butsuma mocked. "Tajima, your discipline seems to have slacked off."

Madara's chakra surged instantly, and the tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly. You gently touched his wrist, signaling him to calm down.

Just as the atmosphere was about to become tense, a cold light suddenly shot out from the Senju camp, aiming straight for Madara's throat!

Your assassin instincts activated instantly, and you flashed in front of Madara with a speed that was difficult for ordinary people to detect, accurately knocking down the shuriken with your kunai.

"Protect the clan leader!" Izuna shouted, and the Uchiha ninjas immediately formed a battle formation.

Senju and his accomplices also drew their weapons, while Tobirama had already formed the hand seals for Water Release.

"Stop it, both of you!" Hashirama stepped between the two sides. "This is a misunderstanding!"

You maintain a defensive stance, your back pressed tightly against Ban's chest, and you can feel his strong heartbeat seeping through your clothes, gradually synchronizing with your own rapid pulse.

“It wasn’t a Senju attack,” you whispered to Madara. “The trajectory of the shuriken was wrong; someone is trying to sow discord between the two clans.”

"Go and find the source of the attack!"

Without the slightest hesitation, you went straight in the direction from which the attack came.

The second wave of attacks followed immediately, this time a rain of shuriken carrying poisonous mist. Hashirama and Madara stood back to back, forming hand seals in perfect unison.

"Water Escape·Water Formation Wall!"

Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!

The collision of water and fire produced a large amount of steam, which neutralized the toxic fumes.

But the attack clearly came from more than one direction, with more hidden enemies emerging from various parts of the ruins.

"It seems someone doesn't want us to make peace," Madara sneered, a kunai already in his hand.

Hashirama's expression was grave. "These people are not Senju ninjas."

"It's not from the Uchiha clan either," Madara confirmed. "A third-party force?"

There was no time to think; the enemy was already upon us.

Hashirama used Wood Release to bind several attackers, while Madara's Sharingan genjutsu caused the others to kill each other. The two displayed amazing teamwork in the battle, as if they had been partners for many years.

As the last attacker fell, the sound of more ninja footsteps could be heard in the distance.

Hashirama and Madara turned around alertly at the same time. "It's the Senju reinforcements!" Tobirama jumped down from the height to report, "They sensed the chakra fluctuations here."

Almost simultaneously, Uchiha Kaku's voice came from the edge of the forest, "Young clan leader, Uchiha reinforcements have arrived!"

Reinforcements from both sides poured into the ruins from different directions, and upon seeing each other, tensions immediately rose.

"Uchiha! Prepare for battle!"

"Senju clan, form ranks!"

The situation instantly became extremely tense. Hashirama and Madara stood in the middle, exchanging a complicated look.

"It seems we have no other choice," Madara said in a low voice, a hint of helplessness flashing in his Sharingan eyes.

Hashirama took a deep breath. "At least let's control the scale of the battle."

Madara nodded almost imperceptibly, then raised his voice, "Uchiha Fire Core, lead your squad to protect the east flank! The rest of you, follow me!"

A battle inevitably broke out, and the ninjas of the two clans quickly clashed, with the sounds of kunai colliding and ninjutsu exploding echoing throughout the air.

Hashirama and Madara were forced to engage in a symbolic exchange in order to maintain their respective image as young clan leaders.

"Can't we really sit down and talk properly?" Hashirama asked in a low voice after blocking Madara's fire jutsu, his voice full of sincerity.

Madara's attack was fierce, but he was clearly holding back: "It's too late to talk about this now, Hashirama. The clansmen are watching."

"Then let them see our true strength!" Hashirama suddenly raised his voice, his hands rapidly forming hand seals, "Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!"

Huge trees emerged from the ground, dividing the battlefield.

A hint of admiration flashed in Madara's eyes, and he immediately activated his Mangekyou Sharingan. "That's more like it! Hot Mom Hasishi! Let me experience your true strength!"

The two moved at high speed through the tree world, each collision causing violent chakra fluctuations, but in reality, their attacks skillfully avoided vital points.

“There’s an open space to the northwest,” Hashirama whispered during a close encounter. “We can lure the battle there and reduce casualties among our people.”

Madara nodded almost imperceptibly, then unleashed a powerful fireball that sent Hashirama flying in the intended direction. The two gradually moved away from the main battlefield and arrived at an open area.

Once they were certain that no one from their clan could see them, the two stopped simultaneously.

Your toes lightly touched the decaying tree stump, tracing the lingering chakra trail in the air.

The Nanga Forest is exceptionally deep and secluded in this area, with even the midday sunlight being shattered by the thick canopy.

"It's too obvious..." You frowned slightly, your steps continuing but a growing sense of vigilance rising within you.

The traces left by these attackers seemed to be deliberate; they deliberately broke branches or left footprints at intervals, as if afraid of losing them.

The moisture deep in the forest condenses into dewdrops that hang on spider webs, and your breath forms a faint white mist in the air.

He suddenly stopped, not because he had spotted an enemy, but because he realized that the surroundings were too quiet—even the chirping of insects and birds had disappeared, and only the thumping of his own heartbeat could be heard in his ears.

A bone-chilling cold suddenly shot up your spine and up your neck without warning. Your left hand unconsciously pressed against your chest, where it felt as if ice spikes were slowly rotating under your skin. The cold poison that you usually suppressed with medicine and chakra suddenly began to stir.

"Not now..." You grit your teeth and keep going, but the scene before you begins to distort.

The tree trunk bent like a melting candle, and unreal ripples spread across the ground. You shook your head, forcing your Sharingan to stay focused, and finally spotted three attackers dressed in gray-brown ninja outfits in an open space a hundred meters away.

Just as I was about to form the hand seal, my heart suddenly clenched.

A sharp pain shot through your body like lightning. You groaned and knelt on one knee, your fingers digging deep into the damp soil.

The cold toxin roamed through my blood vessels like a living thing, bringing new pain with every heartbeat.

Even more terrifying, a huge red moon suddenly appeared before my eyes, filling the entire field of vision, and there seemed to be dark shadows wriggling in that eerie blood color.

"The Eye of the Moon... Project..." A vague whisper echoed in my mind, indistinct as to whether it came from a man or a woman.

You've never heard these words before, yet you inexplicably feel a fear that comes from the depths of your soul.

Cold sweat dripped down your chin. Just then, your Sharingan detected something unusual about the shadow on the ground—besides your own shadow, a blurry black figure was slowly approaching from behind.

The shadow twisted and deformed, stretching out tendril-like branches like melting asphalt.

Chapter 24 Decay

The aura of death was overwhelming. You wanted to turn around, to form hand seals, but the chilling poison made your arms feel as heavy as lead.

You can clearly feel that presence getting so close it's almost touching your hair; something cold and sticky is reaching towards the back of your heart...

The instant the thought flashed through your mind, a strange burning sensation suddenly surged in your abdomen.

Golden light seeped from beneath the skin, condensing into a translucent metallic shield on the back.

A piercing "clang" sounded, like sharp claws scraping against a steel plate.

"Golden Escape?!" a shrill voice exclaimed in surprise. "Impossible!"

Taking advantage of the excruciating pain, you turn around and catch a glimpse of a pitch-black creature rapidly burrowing into the ground.

The thing had a humanoid outline but flowed like liquid, and its pale eyes met yours at the last moment, filled with shock and greed.