Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

His withered hand slammed down on the hard desk with a dull, chilling thud, making the scrolls on the desk jump.

"Two elite members of the ANBU allowed those scum from the Cloud Village to snatch someone right under their noses! And such an important target at that!"

"I don't care whether the Hyuga clan's young lady lives or dies! But Uchiha Nagi—she must be brought back to me safe and sound! Immediately! Right now!"

He suddenly stood up, his wide robes stirring up a gust of cold wind, and his single eye flashed with undisguised obsession and ruthlessness.

"Even if it means going to war with Kumogakure, we're prepared! Immediately gather all available elites from Root, and the two of you will lead teams to infiltrate the Land of Lightning as quickly as possible, locate their position, and bring them back! If you can't bring them back..."

Danzo didn't finish his sentence, but the unspoken threat, like solid ice, instantly filled the entire space, making it almost impossible for people to breathe.

"Yes!" Kakashi and Shisui bowed their heads simultaneously, their voices tense.

Shisui clenched his fist quietly at his side, his nails digging deep into his palm.

The self-blame for the mission failure, the worry for your safety, and the undisguised coldness in Danzo's words that he regarded you as an important object rather than a living person, all stirred up a complex and repressed emotion in his heart.

Kakashi's face beneath the mask revealed no expression, but deep within his lowered eyes churned an even darker undercurrent.

In his hand, he was tightly clutching the specially made kunai that he had picked up from the traces of battle while searching the northern forest.

The cold metal was almost warmed by the heat of his palm, and it seemed as if your icy aura still lingered on it.

It was his carelessness and misjudgment that led to the current situation. If he had been more cautious at the time, if he had been able to see through Yunyin's true target faster... you wouldn't be in danger now.

You absolutely cannot have anything happen to you.

This thought was branded into his mind, not only because of the Root's orders, and not only because of the Uchiha bloodline secret that might be related to the interests of Konoha.

Furthermore, it was due to a personal obsession that even he himself could not clearly articulate.

The thought of how you might be treated, the thought of those calm black eyes being filled with fear or pain, fueled an unprecedented anxiety and a chilling rage within him.

Meanwhile, inside the Hyuga clan's main residence, the atmosphere was just as heavy as the sea before a storm.

Hiashi Hyuga, dressed in traditional Hyuga clan attire, stood in the courtyard with a grim expression.

Behind him stood dozens of elite Hyuga branch family ninjas, their auras deep and their Byakugan activated. They stood silently, like a sharp blade about to be drawn, the air thick with a silent yet overwhelming killing intent.

"Hiashi, prioritize negotiations and try to avoid a full-scale conflict." The voice of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, came through the crystal ball, carrying a deep weariness and helplessness, but also containing the power of tacit approval.

"But Hinata is the main branch of the Hyuga clan and a comrade of Konoha. Her dignity cannot be trampled on. When necessary, the will of the Hyuga is the will of Konoha."

"As you command, Hokage-sama." Hiashi Hyuga bowed slightly, his tone as cold as iron. He straightened up, a glint of cold light flashing in his pure white eyes. "Let's go!"

Konoha may appear weak and compromising in some ways, but the Hyuga clan will never! The Hidden Cloud Village dared to set its sights on the eldest daughter of the main branch of the Hyuga clan, which has touched a raw nerve that the Hyuga clan must never cross!

This journey is not only to bring Hinata back, but also to make Kumogakure pay a heavy price!

Kabuto Yakushi sat by the window of Dean Nono's house, holding a scroll of medical ninjutsu in his hand, but he couldn't read a single word.

The moonlight outside the window was cold and clear, but his heart was restless and unable to find peace.

Although he knows you have many secrets and may even possess powers he can't imagine, the thought that you might be in danger, injured, or afraid... a sense of powerlessness and frustration grips his heart like never before.

For the first time, he hated his own weakness so much. If he were stronger, if he had the power to protect you, would he be standing by your side today, instead of helplessly staying at home, waiting for unknown news?

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms. The desire to become stronger had never been so intense and burning.

On the training grounds of the Uchiha clan.

Itachi was patiently instructing Sasuke on the throwing technique of the ghoul. Sasuke was learning very seriously, his little face full of focus, striving for perfection in every throw, as if he wanted to catch up with his brother as soon as possible.

Just then, an Uchiha clansman rushed over and whispered a few words in Itachi's ear.

Itachi's handsome face furrowed slightly, almost imperceptibly, but he quickly regained his usual composure.

He nodded, signaling his clansmen to step back.

"Nii-san, what's wrong?" Sasuke stopped practicing and asked curiously.

Itachi turned around, his tone calm and even, as if stating a trivial matter, "Nothing much, it's just that the Hidden Cloud Village seems to be causing trouble. They've deployed a large number of people to the border to abduct some children with bloodline limits, including Hinata, the eldest daughter of the Hyuga main family, and..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Sasuke's instantly tense face, "...The orphanage girl that Shisui-nii needed to protect on this mission, Uchiha Nagi, was also among them."

His tone was too calm, as if it were just an insignificant news item.

Upon hearing this, Sasuke seemed frozen in place, completely stunned.

The shuriken he was holding for practice slipped from his suddenly weakened hand and crashed onto the training ground with a crisp "clang".

The sound abruptly pulled Sasuke back to reality from his daze.

"Nii-san..." Sasuke's voice was a little dry. He lowered his head, avoiding Itachi's probing gaze, and said softly, "I...I'm a little tired. Let's practice again next time."

After saying that, he didn't even wait for Itachi's response. He turned around abruptly and ran towards his room without looking back, his steps somewhat flustered.

He slammed the door shut and leaned against the cold door panel before allowing himself to breathe heavily. In the darkness, he could clearly hear his heart pounding.

The sound was like the beating of drums.

Those calm, unwavering black eyes and that pale, delicate face kept appearing before my eyes.

Are you very strong? Can you get hurt? Will those bad guys from Kumogakure bully you?

Even if it was just a one-time encounter, and the other person might not even remember him, the fateful thrill brought by that first glance and the resentment of being ignored afterwards had already planted a seed in his heart.

He gripped the hardened soldier's ration pill in his pocket, as if it were the only thing that could connect him to you.

Hinata Hyuga's eyelashes trembled a few times, and she let out a painful groan before slowly opening her eyes.

She sat up abruptly, looked around at the cold iron bars, the damp air, the dirty ground, and two blurry figures beside her.

The unfamiliar environment and the pain throughout her body almost made Hinata cry again.

When she saw the black figure beside her, blending seamlessly into the darkness, an inexplicable sense of security quietly arose within her, barely suppressing the surging panic.

Yes... the girl who reached out her hand in the forest, you're still here.

You opened your eyes the instant Hinata's chakra fluctuations returned to normal.

His dark eyes were strikingly clear in the darkness, devoid of any grogginess from just waking up, only a cold, lucid awareness.

You glanced indifferently at Hinata, who had just woken up, and then, without any hesitation, raised your hand and used your elbow to wake Deidara, who was still fast asleep on your shoulder.

"Ugh...who is it...um..." Deidara rubbed his sleepy eyes, muttering in dissatisfaction. His golden head shook for a while before he could focus and see the situation clearly.

Hinata instinctively shrank back in your direction, looking warily at the somewhat boisterous blond boy.

Who is he? Was he also captured? Or...an enemy?

"Finally awake!" Deidara, ever the social butterfly, completely ignored Hinata's wary gaze, yawned, and introduced himself quite naturally, "I am Deidara! The strongest artist of Iwagakure in the future! And you?"

His gaze swept back and forth between Hinata and you, filled with curiosity.

"...Hinata Hyuga." Hinata answered softly, her voice still carrying a hint of weakness and timidity.

Then, Deidara and Hinata's gazes, filled with anticipation and curiosity, fell upon you, who remained silent.

The air was quiet for a few seconds.

Just when Deidara thought you would completely ignore him again, as before—

Your voice was very soft, without any inflection, as if you were extremely unaccustomed to introducing yourself to others, and fell silent again after uttering your name.

"Nagi!" Deidara repeated softly, as if he had discovered something new. "So your name is Nagi! Hmm!"

He finally learned the name of the seemingly fierce girl in black, and felt a strange sense of pride, as if he had overcome some obstacle.

Ignoring his subtle thoughts, you looked up and asked a practical question, "How long have you been locked up here?"

Your directness startled Deidara for a moment, then he counted on his fingers, his tone tinged with complaint, "I was only a couple of days earlier than you guys! Yeah! Seriously, I just came out to find some creative material, and I got dragged here by these unreasonable guys! Damn it!"

Two days, you quickly calculated in your mind.

The time frame was relatively short, suggesting that the guards at Cloud Village might still be operating under a relatively routine rotation system, and their vigilance might not be at its highest.

You suddenly stood up without warning, the hem of your black cloak fluttering gently with your movement, bringing with it a touch of cool air.

You walked to the relatively open space in the center of the cage and stood still. Under the gaze of Hinata and Deidara, you slowly raised your head.

The next moment, his black eyes suddenly changed, the extreme black was replaced by an eerie scarlet, and the two tomoe swirled in that blood-red background.

The Sharingan! In this dimly lit dungeon, that crimson hue appeared particularly striking and eerie.

"!" Hinata gasped, her pure white eyes widening slightly in shock.

She instantly understood the source of that inexplicable sense of familiarity and security: "Uchiha..." A member of the Uchiha clan? But why...?

Deidara's reaction was much more direct. He was startled at first and subconsciously leaned back. Then, a mixture of surprise and a hint of envy appeared on his face, but he refused to admit defeat and stubbornly insisted on his own way.

"Hmph! What Sharingan... It looks sinister, but it's nowhere near as good as my explosive art! Hmm! Art is an explosion! The most beautiful thing is the moment of sublimation!"

Hinata listened to Deidara's nonsensical remarks, and a hint of helplessness and unspoken frustration couldn't help but show in her pure white eyes.

She subconsciously felt that this strange blond boy was simply a nuisance.

You look so calm and strong, while this Deidara... is like a noisy, immature child.

Having awakened your Sharingan, you completely ignored Deidara's incessant chatter.

The crimson twin tomoe slowly rotated, meticulously scanning and analyzing the structure of the cage, the material of the iron bars, the internal structure of the keyhole, and even the flow of chakra guarding the distant passage entrance.

Chapter 231 The Secret Passage

Deidara's clamor gradually subsided. Although he was unconvinced, he had to admit that the Sharingan did indeed have a strange charm.

Hinata hugged her knees even tighter, curling herself up into a ball.

The Uchiha and Hyuga clans, the two oldest dojutsu clans in Konoha, actually met in this place and in this way.

In just a dozen or so breaths, you took a step and silently walked to the metal lock.

Under the curious yet nervous gazes of Hinata and Deidara behind you, you naturally raise your right hand, palm down, and lightly press it onto the cold lock.

From an angle out of their sight, a golden light quietly appeared in his palm, emitting a soft "zzzz..."

A very faint, unusual sound emanated from the sturdy metal lock, which deformed rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye, like hot wax.

Finally, with a soft "click," the entire lock cylinder structure completely failed, and the heavy lock fell to the damp ground like mud, making a dull sound.

The cage door slid open silently, leaving a crack.

"!!" Hinata covered her mouth in surprise, her pure white eyes filled with disbelief.

"Hey! You... how did you do that?! That's amazing! Hmm!" Deidara jumped up, clinging to the iron bars, his golden eyes flashing with shock and intense curiosity, almost forgetting where he was.

Without turning back or offering any explanation, you precisely sensed the brief gap when the patrolling ninjas changed shifts at the far end of the passage.

"Go." You reached out and pushed open the cell door, while simultaneously pressing precisely into an extremely hidden recess in the side stone wall.

With a mechanical hum, a hidden door, just wide enough for one person to pass through, silently slid open on the stone wall, revealing an even deeper, darker passage behind it.

You turned around and glanced indifferently at the two people still stunned in the cage. Your eyes were calm and expressionless, yet they carried an unquestionable commanding tone.

Hinata and Deidara instantly understood, suppressing their shock and questions, and quickly followed.

Your figures quickly disappeared into the hidden door, which closed silently as if it had never been opened, leaving only an empty cage and a shapeless metal lock on the ground.

Behind the hidden door was a narrow, damp secret passage that reeked of mildew.

The stone steps underfoot were slippery, and cold water droplets dripped from above, making a monotonous and unsettling "drip-drip" sound. The passage was pitch black, so dark that you could hardly see your hand in front of your face.

Hinata trembled with fear, instinctively clutching the corner of your cloak tightly, barely breathing and afraid to make a sound.

Even the usually talkative Deidara became much quieter in this environment. He nervously swallowed, trying to keep up with your pace, and occasionally looked back warily, as if afraid that something terrible might suddenly appear in the darkness.

Even in the dark, you can precisely avoid obstacles and puddles, and you can see in absolute darkness, calmly leading them deeper into the passage.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, they could vaguely hear indistinct conversations coming from ahead.

You immediately stopped and raised your hand to signal the two people behind you to be quiet. You listened carefully and the conversation gradually became clearer, seemingly coming from a crack or vent in the corridor wall.

"...We actually managed to capture the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan's main branch! Heaven truly blesses Kumogakure! Keep a close eye on Konoha's movements, and refrain from any rash actions for now. For the sake of the village's strength and future, these children...we cannot hand over a single one!"

An old, authoritative voice spoke, its tone filled with barely concealed excitement and greed.

"Yes, Raikage, sir." Another respectful voice rang out; it was the ninja leader who had captured you.

"There's just one thing I don't understand. Why would we risk a complete falling out with Konoha's Root, and force our way in under such tight surveillance, to get that Uchiha orphan..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was impatiently interrupted by the aged voice, "This is none of your business! That orphan, since he is valued so highly by the Konoha leadership, who even uses the power of 'Root' to secretly monitor him, must possess some immense value or secret that we are yet to discover!"

"Although the true reason why the Naga River reversed course and the cherry blossoms withered overnight six years ago remains unknown, all the clues vaguely point to the time of that child's birth! This could not possibly be just a coincidence!"

The old man's voice carried a hint of strategic planning and unwavering confidence: "We must find out exactly what she's hiding!"