Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

A drop of blood slid down the blade of the kunai. Shikaga Rin did not let go; instead, he gripped it even tighter, as if a drowning person were grasping at the last piece of driftwood.

"Kill me, foster father." The boy smiled, but tears kept streaming down his face. "Anyway, this life was originally yours."

“Tell those nobles,” you suddenly said, your voice barely audible, “that if they dare to touch the Uchiha clan, I will make Kazeto City awash in blood.”

Lu Helin's pupils suddenly contracted. This was not a threat, but a statement of fact. He knew better than anyone how terrifying his "adoptive father" was.

The kunai fell to the ground with a clatter. You broke free from the boy's hand and walked out of the courtyard without looking back.

"Foster Father!" Lu Helin called out from behind, his voice broken and faltering, "I will wait for you... I will wait until..."

He formed hand seals and vanished in an instant, leaving only a few fallen leaves swept up by the air currents and drifting slowly down. He would not stay for anyone, not even this boy who had once shown him kindness.

Because you know better than anyone that in this world, some bonds are destined to be severed, either by your own hands or by the slow erosion of time.

No matter which method you take, the outcome will not change.

On a distant treetop, a crow silently flapped its wings and took flight, its blood-red eyes reflecting its departing silhouette.

You touched the lingering warmth of the talisman and quickened your pace.

What awaits you ahead is endless slaughter and darkness; that is your true destiny.

As you round the bend, the figure under the tree ahead makes your pupils shrink slightly. Tobirama Senju leans against a cedar tree with his arms crossed, as if he has been waiting for a long time.

You walked right past him without pausing, as if he were just an insignificant road sign.

"The Uchiha's hospitality is truly admirable." Tobirama's voice came from behind, carrying its characteristic coldness. "They're even stingy with a word of thanks?"

You stopped in your tracks without turning around. "The Senju's medical ninjutsu is quite impressive."

The air froze for a moment, and Tobirama could be felt to be slightly surprised by the fluctuation of his chakra; he hadn't expected to receive a response.

"You flatter me." Tobirama walked to his side, his red eyes flashing with scrutiny. "The Uchiha's assassination skills are still superior."

You could hear the sarcasm in his words. During the last mission, you almost slit his throat with a kunai, but you missed by half an inch at the last moment.

Looking back now, that might have been a mistake.

"You should be glad my hand was shaking that day." You finally turned to look at him, your eyes reflecting the cold, handsome features of the white-haired boy.

Tobirama's lips curled into a cold smile. "Shaking hands? I thought the Uchiha never made mistakes."

The two stared at each other for a moment, neither looking away.

The birdsong in the woods sounded exceptionally clear, as if measuring the length of this silent standoff.

"Why did you save me?" you asked directly.

Tobirama did not answer immediately. He reached out and caught a falling leaf, twirling it between his fingers. "Perhaps I am just curious why an Uchiha assassin would disguise himself as a minister of the Land of Wind."

The leaf suddenly split in two at his fingertips and fell to the ground.

Your gaze turned slightly cold. He knew more than you expected. "Curiosity killed the cat, Senju-kun."

“But cats have nine lives,” Tobirama replied calmly, “just like you always seem to find a way to escape from dire situations.”

Footsteps approached from afar, interrupting the dangerous conversation.

Lu Helin appeared at the end of the path. He had changed into formal travel attire, with a short sword at his waist.

Upon seeing you standing with Tobirama, the boy visibly paused for a moment, then quickened his pace.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." He bowed to you, his voice now calm, though his eyes were still slightly red.

Shikaga Rin's gaze lingered on Tobirama for a moment, filled with wariness and doubt.

Tobirama's gaze swept back and forth between the two. He didn't understand what had happened between them, but judging from the boy's swollen eyelids and the distance you were deliberately keeping, it certainly wasn't a pleasant conversation.

What surprised him even more was your almost arrogant composure regarding the exposure of your "raccoon dog" identity.

"Let's go." Lu Helin finally spoke, his voice more steady than expected.

He had to maintain the dignity of the nobility, especially in front of the Senju clan. No matter what his adoptive father decided, the interests of the Land of Wind could not be harmed.

As you step forward, passing Tobirama, the sleeves of both of your clothes...

They almost touched, and Tobirama smelled a faint scent of rust—not blood, but the odor of someone who had been with weapons for a long time.

"Next time we meet," you whispered, so softly that only he could hear, "remember to use Flying Thunder God Technique."

Tobirama's pupils suddenly contracted. He was still developing this technique and had never used it in front of others.

Has the Uchiha's intelligence network infiltrated to this extent? Or...?

He suddenly realized that you might not be threatening at all, but rather reminding him, a realization that briefly threw his thoughts into disarray.

As Lu Helin watched the silent exchange between the two, a pang of bitterness rose in his chest.

His familiar adoptive father was always like this, keeping his distance from everyone, yet revealing an elusive tenderness at certain moments.

Just like when they found him on the battlefield back then, they could have just left, but instead they gave him a home.

"Lord Senju is also going to Fengdu City?" Shiro Rin broke the silence, his aristocratic smile perfectly masking his true emotions.

Tobirama nodded. "Some medicinal herbs only grow on the borders of the Land of Wind." He deliberately omitted the fact that these herbs were the secret medicine used to research the Sharingan.

You chuckled softly, clearly seeing through his intentions, but didn't point it out. Your gaze swept over an inconspicuous purple wildflower by the roadside, a key ingredient in making the illusion-removing agent.

The air between the three of them froze again. Lu Helin felt a wave of exhaustion. He wished his adoptive father would care more about him, instead of treating them like strangers who happened to be traveling the same road.

Tobirama Senju leaned closer and suddenly whispered, "You saved his life?"

This "he" clearly refers to Shikaga Rin.

Your steps never faltered, "I've killed more people than I've saved."

"Has the frequency of that seal's flare-ups increased recently?"

Your pupils contracted slightly. You hadn't expected Tobirama to not only recognize the seal within you, but also to know its instability. "This has nothing to do with you."

“Yang Release can only provide temporary relief.” Tobirama continued, seemingly ignoring your refusal, “If it continues to worsen, the next attack could be fatal.”

You suddenly stopped, your Mangekyou Sharingan slowly rotating in the shadows. "Tobirama Senju, what exactly do you want?"

Lu Helin, who was walking ahead, noticed something was wrong and turned around to look at you questioningly. You raised your hand to signal him to continue.

"Information." Tobirama looked directly at you, his voice calm to the point of cruelty. "Information about that 'thing' inside you. In exchange, I can provide a more effective sealing technique."

You suddenly laughed, a laugh that sent a chill down the spine of even the bloodthirsty Tobirama Senju. "Trading the Uchiha's secrets for the Senju's help? You're more naive than I thought."

After saying that, you quickened your pace to catch up with Shikaga Rin, leaving Tobirama alone where he was.

The white-haired boy watched your retreating figure, his brows furrowed.

He vaguely sensed that the seal within Uchiha Nagi's body was not only related to her personally, but could also affect the balance of the entire ninja world.

Ahead, Rin Shikaga was whispering something to Nagi, and the concern in the boy's eyes was clearly visible even from a distance.

Tobirama suddenly realized that this seemingly cold-blooded Uchiha assassin might have more complex bonds and secrets than anyone else.

“Foster father…” Shikaga Rin immediately changed his address, “Lord Uchiha, there’s a tea house up ahead, would you like to rest?”

You looked at the simple tea stall by the roadside and nodded in agreement.

When the three sat down, the atmosphere was so subtle that even the old man in the teahouse sensed something was wrong and hurriedly put down the teapot and hid in the back kitchen.

"Will the war between your Senju and Uchiha clans affect the Land of Wind?" Shikaga Rin asked an unexpected question while holding his teacup.

Tobirama glanced at you, and seeing that you didn't intend to stop him, he answered truthfully, "If the nobles don't intervene, the fighting between ninjas generally won't affect the daimyo's mansion."

"Ordinary?" The boy keenly grasped the key word.

“Unless someone deliberately guides things,” Tobirama said, glancing at you meaningfully, “such as using the resources of the nobility to provide convenience to a certain party.”

The teacup was placed on the table with a light touch, and you finally spoke, "Rin, political probing is too early for you."

“I am already fifteen years old, and I have raised… Lord Uchiha.” Shikaga Rin looked directly into your eyes. “I understand enough what war will bring. The Land of Wind will not support either side. This is my decision.”

Looking at the determination in the boy's eyes, you suddenly realize that the child who used to follow behind you asking for candy has really grown up.

Tobirama watched this scene thoughtfully. Your attitude towards this noble boy is quite special—you maintain a distance while subtly displaying rare patience.

"Lord Senju," Shikaga Rin turned to Tobirama, his tone becoming more formal, "I propose, in my capacity as the adopted son of the Tanuki of the Land of Wind, that we temporarily set aside our family feuds for the rest of our journey, how about that?"

“Yes,” Tobirama answered first, “as long as she doesn’t stab me in the back.”

You sneered, "The Uchiha's sword always faces the enemy head-on."

Lu Helin breathed a sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly.

Although the atmosphere among the three remained tense, at least a superficial peace was achieved.

As you set off again, you suddenly say, "There's a fork in the road ahead," pointing to the left, "Senju-kun, go that way."

Tobirama raised an eyebrow. "I thought we were on the same path."

"A temporary change." Your tone left no room for argument. "Your chakra will alert the sensory ninjas on the border."

This was clearly an excuse, but Tobirama didn't call it out. He glanced at Shikaga Rin, who was full of vigilance, and suddenly understood something.

“As you wish.” He turned and walked toward the path on the left, turning back before he reached the bend, “That talisman will last for three days.”

You didn't respond, but Tobirama was certain you heard him.

His figure quickly disappeared into the shadows of the trees, leaving only a few startled leaves swirling down.

“Foster father…” Rin hesitated before speaking, “He really was just…”

“Unimportant person,” you interrupt him. “Remember, no matter what happens next, don’t interfere in my battle.”

Lu Helin's expression changed. "You anticipated the attack?"

A cold smile curved your lips. "Nobles won't easily let go of a useful pawn, and you..."

You finally turn around and look the boy in the eye, "It's best to pretend we don't know each other."

The cawing of crows came from afar, shrill and piercing.

Lu Helin suddenly realized that his adoptive father might have chosen this route, which exposed his whereabouts, to lure out the snake.

And you might have let him come along just for...

"Are you going to use me as bait?" The boy's voice trembled, whether from anger or hurt, it was hard to tell.

Your eyes were unfathomable. "A clever child." You turned and continued walking without offering another word of explanation.

Rin stood still, her chest heaving violently.

Finally, he gritted his teeth and followed, his hand gripping the hilt of the knife at his waist tightly. No matter how indifferent his adoptive father was, he had already decided that this time it was his turn to protect her back, even if it meant his utter destruction.

Chapter 30·Wildberries

"That's enough for now." You suddenly stopped. "There are people waiting for you up ahead."

Shika Rin turned around, his eyes almost overflowing with reluctance. "Isn't Lord Uchiha going into the city?"

“I don’t belong here.” Your answer was brief and cold.

Tobirama keenly noticed that as you said those words, your fingers unconsciously rubbed the kunai at your waist, a small gesture that ninjas make when they are nervous.

What are you guarding against? Or rather, what are you hoping for?

Shikaga Rin bowed deeply, and when he raised his head, the composure befitting a nobleman had returned to his eyes. "I look forward to seeing you again, Lord Uchiha."

You didn't respond, you just nodded slightly.

But the moment the boy turned to leave, Tobirama was certain he saw a fleeting, complex emotion in your eyes.

Only after Shikagawa Rin's figure disappeared at the city gate did you turn to Tobirama, "How long are you going to follow me?"

"Until I'm sure you won't turn around and assassinate my older brother," Tobirama said bluntly.

A near-sarcastic smile curved your lips. "Hashirama Senju doesn't need your protection." You paused. "Just like Madara Uchiha doesn't need my protection."

These words were like a key, suddenly unlocking a lock in Tobirama's heart.

He stared at you for a while, then suddenly asked, "Why did you save him?"

For the first time, a crack appeared in your expression. You turned to face the distant mountains, your voice as fleeting as the mountain mist, "A ninja doesn't need to answer such questions."

But Tobirama already had the answer. Looking at your upright back, he suddenly understood the similarity between you and your brother: both of you stubbornly believed in things that were not understood by the world, even at the cost of it.

"Next time we meet," Tobirama said, turning to leave, "I'll use the Flying Thunder God Technique."

You didn't turn around, but your shoulders seemed to relax a little, and the sunlight cast a lonely shadow on you.